1.
Pelosi travels, China rages
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The nationalist Chinese newspaper Global Times published a cover story on Monday about Nancy Pelosi's trip to Asia
Photo: Thomas Peter / REUTERS
As if we didn't already have enough worries, another problem is coming to a head in the Far East, which in the worst case could shake the world: China's agitators are overturning;
they threaten the US because America is interfering in an allegedly internal Chinese matter.
Several Chinese military aircraft were already circling over the narrow stretch of sea between China and Taiwan today and came very close to the unofficial center line.
Allegedly, there was also a cyberattack on the Taiwan government website.
China is acting so aggressively because for days it has had to expect US politician and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to travel to Taiwan.
This afternoon, when it was already night in the Far East, Pelosi actually landed in Taipei.
In doing so, she ignored all threats from China.
Shortly before their landing, Chinese fighter planes again took off over the Taiwan Strait.
Not a senior American official has been to Taiwan in 25 years.
The USA supports the democratic country.
But they respected certain borders out of consideration for China, which denies Taiwan's independence and repeatedly threatens an invasion.
My colleague Bernhard Zand describes Pelosi's motives for her trip as follows: »The fact that she stands up for the beleaguered Taiwan lies in the logic of her political career, which, however, is threatened with a deep cut.
Her party's poll numbers are poor;
It is considered unlikely that she will return to the House of Representatives as the majority leader after the congressional elections in November.« The 83-year-old Pelosi therefore also has her political legacy in mind.
How does it go from here?
Pelosi is expected to stay overnight in downtown Taipei with her US delegation.
She could visit parliament on Wednesday morning and meet Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-Wen.
And how is China reacting?
Not clear.
What is certain is that this is a dangerous situation, for Taiwan, but possibly also for the world.
We will keep you up to date on spiegel.de.
I'm afraid it's going to be a restless hour.
Read more here: How the world could slide into the next major crisis
2.
The death of Bin Laden's successor
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Sawahiri in a video speech in 2012. The pictures often looked like he was sitting in a passport photo booth
Photo: AFP
When the people in Kabul's Sherpur residential area were awakened by an explosion at 6:18 am on Sunday morning, they probably first thought of the obvious: another suicide bomber, presumably from "Islamic State".
A terrorist attack of the kind that, according to our reporter Christoph Reuter, occurs every few weeks in Kabul, even after the Taliban took power last year.
But now we know: It was two American Hellfire missiles fired from a drone.
They met an old man who was apparently unsuspectingly standing on his balcony: Aiman Mohammed Rabi al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's successor in the al-Qaeda terrorist network.
In a TV speech, US President Joe Biden confirmed the death of the top terrorist: "Justice has been served." Biden said the operation was a clear signal to all enemies of the USA: "No matter how long it takes, it doesn't matter where you're hiding: If you're a threat to our people, the US will find you and eliminate you."
The question is how Sawahiri went into hiding in Kabul without the support of the Taliban.
My colleague Christoph describes the situation as follows: »Angry, with beatings and threats, armed Taliban fighters drove away foreign journalists who wanted to look at the house on Tuesday morning and blocked the entire street.
The Taliban have been embarrassingly caught in a blatant violation of their agreement with Washington to renounce international terrorism in the future and not to become a safe haven for al-Qaeda.”
In fact, US intelligence services are said to have noticed earlier this year how Zawahiri's family went to Kabul.
The house was under surveillance for months, Sawahiri observed.
And it was noticed that the top terrorist had a daily ritual: staying on the balcony often and for a long time.
Read the full story here: How the US managed to take out Zawahiri - on his balcony
3.
Mercedes only for the rich
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Beautiful, expensive, electric: Mercedes boss Ola Källenius presents himself as the EQXX concept vehicle
the future of the brand
Photo: PR
When I was 18, I bought a Mercedes.
Well, it wasn't a new one.
The car had served as a taxi for more than 15 years, some engines and transmissions were worn out and according to the previous owner it had clocked up around two million kilometers.
But, hey: Mercedes!
I drove through Europe like Count Koks.
In the future, CEO Ola Källenius seems to want to appeal to this special feeling of luxury: Mercedes should become a luxury brand, as Michael Freitag and Margret Hucko from our sister magazine "manager magazin" have researched.
The average price for a new car should therefore rise from 70,000 to 85,000 euros, adjusted for inflation.
Every fifth vehicle should come from the range of 100,000 euros and more.
And the compact entry-level models of the A and B class?
Apparently away with it.
But Michael and Margret have also encountered critics who fear that the luxury (hui) could quickly turn into swank (ugh).
In metropolitan areas, large cars are increasingly being targeted by vandals;
public mood is changing, at least in Europe.
"I think this strategy is a mistake," says Baden-Württemberg's Green Minister of Transport, Winfried Hermann, about the economically most important group in his state.
»That will also lead to acceptance problems.«
In any case, 18-year-olds of tomorrow will have a harder time than me to become a Mercedes owner for little money, because Källenius apparently wants to get out of the classic taxi business.
Read more here: Should ordinary people no longer drive Mercedes?
News and background to the war in Ukraine:
"Militarily, I'm afraid the war will last a long time."
Lieutenant General Alfons Mais assumes a long-lasting military conflict in the Ukraine.
The military is also skeptical about making peace with the “Putin system”.
"If Putin can only travel to North Korea and Syria, the goal has been reached."
Ukraine wants to create its own tribunal before which the Russian president is to be indicted.
Andriy Smirnov is involved in the planning as Zelenskyy's deputy chief of staff and says what his country wants to achieve with it.
Ukrainian grain freighter reaches Istanbul much later than planned:
For the first time since the beginning of the war, a Ukrainian freighter has been able to leave the port of Odessa.
Now it should be through the Bosporus - but the Turkish authorities are curbing expectations.
Find all the latest developments on the war in Ukraine here: The News Update
(Would you like to receive the "Situation in the evening" conveniently by e-mail in your inbox? Here you can order the daily briefing as a newsletter.)
What else is important today
Merz cancels participation in event with US Senator Graham:
Friedrich Merz is not discussing publicly with US Senator and Trump friend Lindsey Graham: The CDU leader is staying away from the debate – apparently he does not like the further occupation of the panel.
Young man dies in police operation in the station district:
In Frankfurt am Main, the police have been called to an argument.
During the operation, a police officer fatally injured a man with a gunshot.
Chinese influencer grills a great white shark – now she faces imprisonment
: The video blogger Tizi has almost eight million followers on Chinese streaming platforms.
However, a recording of her eating a great white shark called the police into action.
My favorite story today: boss land tax
All property owners in Germany must submit a declaration to the tax office by the end of October.
It is about a total of more than 36 million plots.
Among them are some that belong to the mother of my colleague Michael Brächer from the business department.
She is 70 years old.
In addition to a house, she owns two fallow fields and a piece of deciduous forest, of which her father, however, could no longer say exactly where it was.
"What my mother doesn't have is a computer," Michael writes.
“So she needs my help because you have to file the new property tax return electronically.”
Michael describes the process as follows: »My mother reads out the data and I type them in.
When it comes to the year of construction, we can get by with the statement >Before 1949<, but it gets complicated when it comes to the living space: unheated conservatories count for half, balconies for at least a quarter.
You don't have to specify carports, garages do.
Somehow we make it through the form, but then our final boss comes: the potato field.
With the real estate tax portal of the Federal Ministry of Finance you can indeed declare >undeveloped land ready for construction<, but no arable or forest areas.
>But there are trees on the symbol!< says my mother.
"But it's not the same," I explain."
That's how it went for a while.
At some point, Michael realized that his mother was missing a “certificate file” from the tax office.
Too bad that's it.
He broke things off first.
There's still time until the end of October.
Read the whole story here: And then comes the boss
What we recommend today at SPIEGEL+
Why Baerbock's UN appearance didn't catch fire this time:
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is campaigning for a world free of nuclear weapons at the United Nations.
But unlike her appearance in spring without any effect.
There are reasons.
"This is really a big deal":
President Biden's climate package was on the brink for a long time.
Now dissenter Joe Manchin has surprisingly relented.
The US climate expert Alden Meyer describes what this means for the UN climate negotiations.
Why I regret throwing away the old backpack:
Two years ago, tidying icon Marie Kondo got her own TV show and everyone took part - including our author.
Today she finds: What a gross mistake!
Which isn't that important today
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Insightful: singer Beyoncé
Photo:
Andre Durao / imago / Pacific Press Agency
Self-criticism: US singer Beyoncé, 40, has changed a song's lyrics on her new album.
In the original version of the song "Heated" she uses the word "spaz" in different variations, which in German can mean "turn off" or "romp", but is also used as a derogatory term for people with disabilities.
Activists had complained about the choice of words.
"The word that was not intentionally used in an offensive manner will be replaced," US media quoted a spokeswoman for Beyoncé as saying.
A few weeks ago, after similar criticism, the singer Lizzo replaced the same word in her song »Grrrls«.
Typo of the day
, now corrected: You face ten years in prison: Brittney Griner before the Russian court.
Cartoon of the day:
skills shortage
And tonight?
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Beyoncé on one of the current album pictures: So it's not just her.
But she has it.
Photo:
Columbia International/Sony Music
In addition to the song just mentioned, there are 15 more on the new Beyoncé album »Renaissance«, about which my colleague Laura Ewert formed a clear opinion: »It's really very good.« The 28-time Grammy winner Beyoncé celebrates one huge celebration of black music in all its facets.
The seamless transitions from one track to the next are masterpieces of dance leadership.
"This album will define the dancefloor," writes Laura.
You can listen to the first single »Break My Soul« here;
It's best to put your furniture aside beforehand.
If you noticed something about this evening situation, please write to me by e-mail (alexander.neubacher@spiegel.de ) or via Twitter (@Alex_Neubacher ).
I wish you a nice evening.
Yours sincerely,
Alexander Neubacher
Here you can order the »Situation in the Evening« by e-mail.
