The situation in the morning: Putin is now playing Che Guevara

Putin is looking for friends

It is convenient for politicians when there is no opposition and no free media in their own country.

Then you can easily spread the biggest nonsense.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin is now developing his own narrative for his attack on Ukraine:

He accused NATO of interfering in Ukraine because it was concerned with "its supremacy, its imperial ambitions."

In fact, the Putin melody à la Che Guevara sounds familiar.

Even in Soviet times, Moscow liked to pretend to be the advocate of the poor in the so-called Third World.

While many communists at the time still acted out of honest conviction, today Putin is just looking for an excuse for his twisted power politics.

The West is united at the NATO summit, but Putin is pretty much alone and is hoping for more support around the world.

With his slogans against the alleged imperialists from the West, he could most likely find them in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

This rhetoric is also well received in Beijing.

As is well known, people there also like to use the old anti-colonial slogans, seasoned with a fine pinch of anti-Americanism, just like in the old days.

In line with this, Putin is said to be ready to allow grain and fertilizer deliveries from Ukrainian ports again for the first time.

The main buyers are in Africa and the Middle East, for example.

So there, where he is looking for allies.

He can't let them starve to death.

• Researcher on Putin's war communications: "Right now the Russian narrative is being completely remade" 

You can find more news and background information on the war in Ukraine here:

• That happened at night:

  a Russian rocket apparently hit an apartment building in Odessa, killing at least ten people.

  And: Chancellor Scholz explains that the Kremlin chief made the decision to go to war months in advance.

  The overview.

• Russia is allowed to deliver to Kaliningrad again – this is what the deal looks like:

  The EU Commission wants to clarify the controversial transit to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and is accommodating the Kremlin.

  Lithuania feels like a loser in the conflict. 

• Why the Russians gave up Snake Island:

  Thanks to western weapons systems, Ukraine has liberated the long-contested island.

  Moscow speaks of a voluntary withdrawal.

  But the truth is different. 

• What the Panther KF51 reveals about the future of warfare:

  Most tanks used in the Ukraine war are not state-of-the-art.

  A new combat device from German production now shows what the machines could soon look like. 

A court as an election worker

It may sound a little paradoxical, but right now, the US Supreme Court is probably the best electoral agent for US President Joe Biden and the Democrats.

So far, it actually looked as if they would be punished by voters in the upcoming midterm congressional elections in the fall.

But now, thanks to the Supreme Court, the prospects for Biden and his people may not be quite so bleak.

Because the court, which has been dominated by conservatives since Donald Trump took office, is currently delivering a series of decisions that get many Americans' blood pumping.

Whether it's the abortion ruling or the gun rights relaxation, virtually any of the rulings of the past few days are poised to lure the Democratic constituency, as well as many swing voters, to the polls in November -- where they could then vote against the Republicans, who are giving the country that messed everything up with their judicial appointments.

Now the court has also massively restricted the powers of the Biden government in climate protection.

For the Democrats, the message for the elections is therefore very simple: The only chance to legislate to reverse this and other decisions of the court is to secure the party a decent majority in Congress in the fall.

That's what you call luck in misfortune.

• US law professor on the Supreme Court's shift to the right: "It doesn't look as if this court fears any consequences" 

Expert report on corona policy

It's a well-known phenomenon: During the pandemic, most Germans suddenly became corona experts.

Now the moment of truth could come.

A commission of experts presents an evaluation of previous government restrictions.

For the first time, there will be a reasonably concrete overview of the topic with real data - and not just felt assumptions.

The legally prescribed evaluation is primarily intended to shed light on the requirements within the framework of the »epidemic situation of national importance« that has been in force for several months.

The next major corona wave is feared for autumn and winter.

The traffic light coalition in Berlin also wants to position itself after the report has been presented.

• Virologist Drosten on the fight against Corona: “I would actually like to correct myself” 

Here is the current quiz of the day

The starting question today: In 2021, consumer prices in Germany will rise more than they have in almost 30 years.

What percentage was the inflation rate compared to the previous year?

loser of the day...

... are the

.

In a fit of typical structural conservatism, they have rejected a proposal to lower the minimum age for premiership in the Free State.

According to the law in Bavaria, only those who are at least 40 years old can become prime ministers.

A rogue who thinks evil of it.

The Greens in Bavaria see the rejection of the application as a targeted blockade of their possible top candidate for the next state election.

Group leader Katharina Schulze is 37 years old and is now not allowed to run for office.

You can think what you want of Katharina Schulze, but the age limit of 40 years is of course nonsense.

Nothing speaks against thirty-year-olds being able to take on top positions.

In France, Emmanuel Macron was 39 when he became president.

Oh yes, and what about Franz-Josef Strauss?

He was appointed Federal Minister in 1953 – at the young age of 38.

Of course, age wasn't a problem.

The latest news from the night

• RKI publishes weekly report:

  Higher incidences, more outbreaks in old people's and nursing homes, more patients with Covid-19 in intensive care units again: The current management report of the Robert Koch Institute paints a somewhat positive picture.

• Trump insults committee witness:

  Cassidy Hutchinson caused a stir with her testimony before the Capitol Committee – and got ex-President Trump further into trouble.

  He now attacked the former White House employee vigorously.

• FBI puts »crypto queen« on the list of the ten most wanted criminals:

  Ruja Ignatova invented the Gaga currency OneCoin, robbed millions of investors of their money – and then disappeared without a trace.

  Now she's on the US Federal Police's famous "Ten Most Wanted" list.

The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today

• "I think that's blasphemy":

  Annette Kurschus now supports arms deliveries to the Ukraine.

  Here the EKD chairwoman explains her change of course – and what she still thinks is right about the attempted reconciliation with Russia.

• The lightweight:

  Jair Lapid has achieved his dreams: he is the new Israeli prime minister.

  However, only on an acting basis – in order to remain in office, he must win the next election.

  What does he stand for? 

• This damn pressure to perform:

  the kindergarten had recommended waiting for my son to start school.

  We decided against it.

  After a year of school, I ask myself: was that right? 

• The gambler:

  At 25 he was lazy – and unknown.

  At almost 29, Oscar Otte from Cologne is now writing an unlikely success story in Wimbledon.

  And it doesn't even have to end against the Spanish "prodigy" Carlos Alcaraz. 

I wish you a good start into the day.

Yours, Roland Nelles