1. The winter chaos in the US is a case of extreme weather - which is becoming more common as a result of global warming
The often rainy bad weather forecast for Christmas Eve in most regions of Germany is no reason to look enviously at the USA, where it is much colder.
US authorities have issued a weather warning for 280 million people as a winter storm wreaks havoc in many parts of the country.
People are threatened with frostbite, extreme ice and power failures.
US President Joe Biden tried to warn people with a dramatic wording and advised caution when traveling over the holidays.
He said, 'This isn't just a snowy day, like from childhood.
That is serious."
The images now showing up from the US make cinema fans like me think of Ang Lee's great 1997 film The Ice Storm.
The film with Christina Ricci, Tobey Maguire, Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline is about the disintegration of the classic, fundamentally questionable American family image, but also about the deadly dangers that drastic cold snaps mean for civilization.
Incidentally, in the German “Eissturm” cinema trailer from 25 years ago, a bit naively, a “frosty climate” is mentioned.
Today it is said from the USA that more than 4500 pre-Christmas domestic flights have been canceled.
A winter front with extreme cold, heavy snowfall and freezing winds is expected in several states.
In the US media, experts warned of the possible emergence of a particularly severe storm, a so-called "bomb cyclone".
Here is a map based on current satellite data.
Enlarge image
A firefighter tackles a fire at an apartment building in Philadelphia.
The extinguishing water froze within a few minutes
Photo: Matt Rourke / dpa
In large parts of the country, temperatures fell by around 15 or even more than 22 degrees Celsius in a short time when the low-pressure system appeared.
In many places, the lowest temperatures ever recorded could be measured.
The entire central and eastern part of the USA is particularly affected by the cold.
"Violent winter storms occur in the USA from time to time," says my colleague Julia Merlot from the SPIEGEL science department.
The last one listed by the National Weather Service was December 16-17, 2020.
“Climate change is often discussed on such occasions.
However, extreme cold events are by no means an indication that the earth is not warming.
Quite the opposite: extreme weather – both hot and cold – is occurring more frequently as a result of global warming.«
In the past, for example, less ice cover in the Arctic Ocean and more snow in Siberia caused cold snaps in the USA.
"Both phenomena weaken the polar vortex over North America, which normally separates cold and warm air masses," says Julia.
This allows polar air masses to advance to mid-latitudes.
"The role of climate change in the current winter storm still needs to be analyzed."
A small glimmer of hope for this Christmas: From the weekend it will be warmer again, at least in parts of the northern Rocky Mountains and in the High Plains.
Then the temperatures could rise by 33 degrees Celsius within a short time.
Read more here: Wind, ice - and felt up to minus 50 degrees
2. The case of a possible BND double agent who might have spied for Russia alarmed politicians in Berlin – Robert Habeck called it “particularly alarming”
It is strongly reminiscent of dark spy films and the grim times of the Cold War, which became known today about a suspected Russian spy in the German Federal Intelligence Service.
The arrest of a BND employee named Carsten L. who apparently worked for Russian services on Thursday was justified with the suspicion of treason.
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann finds the case significant.
"If the suspicion is confirmed, an important blow against Russian espionage has been struck here," wrote the FDP politician on Twitter.
"It shows how vigilant we must be."
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Headquarters of the BND in Berlin (symbol image)
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
Other German politicians are also worried after the arrest.
The official Carsten L. is suspected of having passed on secret information to Moscow.
Should the suspicion be confirmed, the BND would have had a double agent in its own ranks - and that while Russia was at war in Europe.
"The case of the arrested employee reminds us to be vigilant," said the head of the FDP parliamentary group, Christian Dürr, to SPIEGEL.
"We must prevent the Russian regime from gaining access to information from our security authorities at all costs."
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) called the alleged case of treason "particularly alarming", precisely because it was about the BND.
BND President Bruno Kahl said in Berlin that Russia was an actor "whose unscrupulousness and willingness to use violence we have to reckon with."
According to the Criminal Code, treason can be punished in particularly serious cases with a prison sentence of at least five years or even life imprisonment.
"The alleged case of treason at the BND has startled the politicians in Berlin from their pre-Christmas lull," says my colleague Wolf Wiedmann-Schmidt, who deals with the work of the secret services.
»Everyone knew that Russia had been aggressively espionage in Germany for years.
But if Moscow really did manage to have an agent in the ranks of the BND while war raged in Europe, then that would have a new dimension."
Many details in the case are not yet known, and the extent of the alleged betrayal of state secrets to the Russians is unclear.
According to my colleague, however, it is undeniable that »Berlin politicians and the authorities are very nervous.«
Read the whole story here: Alleged BND traitor – politics sees “completely new quality”
3. Because of violations of the rule of law in Hungary, the EU is holding back many billions in aid funds - it is uncertain whether the Orbán government will give in
Since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, many politicians in the EU seem to have worse concerns than the violations of the rule of law by the Hungarian government under right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Today, however, the EU Commission decided to step up the pressure on Hungary.
The authorities of President Ursula von der Leyen do not want to grant Hungary any more structural funding for the time being.
In addition to the blockade of 6.3 billion euros already decided by the other EU states on the proposal of the Commission, there are further billions in aid that has not been paid out for the time being.
All in all, Hungary is at risk of losing 22 billion euros.
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
Photo: Marton Monus / REUTERS
My colleague Markus Becker reports from Brussels that the Orbán government is facing enormous difficulties.
»The economy is weakening, government debt has risen rapidly recently, inflation is at 26 percent.
Orbán needs the money from the EU – urgently.«
Lately it seemed as if the conflict between Brussels and Budapest had cooled down a bit.
Orbán gave up his opposition to a €18 billion loan package for Ukraine and the global corporate minimum tax.
He had previously blocked both with his veto.
Today, the EU Commission made it clear that, in its opinion, the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, which among other things provides for a functioning judiciary, has not been fulfilled in Hungary.
Among the reasons she cites is a law that forbids minors from accessing information about homosexuality or gender reassignment, as well as "serious risks" to academic freedom and the right to asylum.
In Hungary itself, politicians loyal to Orbán report that they still have access to European funds.
However, the country will probably only be paid out smaller amounts that account for less than two percent of the total expected aid amount.
"Hungary can only get the rest of the money once all the Commission's demands have been met," says my colleague Markus.
"Particularly unpleasant for Orbán: The Commission alone decides when that is the case - the approval of the EU states is not necessary."
Read the whole story here: EU freezes all structural funding for Hungary
What else is important today
Three dead after shots in Paris – Suspect arrested:
Three people were killed and others injured by shots in the French capital.
The police arrested a suspect.
The act of a right-wing extremist, according to Mayor Hidalgo.
RKI expects more streptococcal and pneumococcal cases:
Flu, RSV, Corona: According to the Robert Koch Institute, around nine million people in Germany have an acute respiratory disease.
And in addition to viral infections, bacterial pathogens are now also rampant.
Meta pays $725 million over Cambridge Analytica scandal:
The dubious consulting firm Cambridge Analytica got hold of the data of millions of Facebook users, and the case is still disputed to this day.
A class action lawsuit should now result in a settlement.
ICE knife attacker sentenced to 14 years in prison:
In November 2021 he suddenly attacked four men on a train and seriously injured three.
Now the 28-year-old has been found guilty of attempted murder.
126 million sick days due to depression and anxiety disorders:
In Germany, significantly more people did not show up for work due to mental illness in 2021 than in the previous year.
The length of absences has also increased.
My favorite story today: an interview with food critic Jürgen Dollase
Jürgen Dollase, probably the most important restaurant critic in Germany, grants my colleague Eva Thöne and my colleague Arno Frank an instructive and entertaining interview while dining together.
Even the picture of the conversation, in which the three are sitting together, makes me a little jealous, Dollase's statements even more so - I would have liked to have sat at the table!
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Visitor Dollase with Arno Frank (left) and Eva Thoene (right) in the SPIEGEL canteen
Photo: Philipp Schmidt / DER SPIEGEL
The clever culinary expert not only talks about carrots, beetroot, sauerbraten and fine cuisine, but also about the nature of all witty cultural criticism work in general.
"A critic should always aim to help make something better," says Dollase.
»Otherwise he is not a critic, but a complainer.«
Read the whole interview here: »Have you by any chance already eaten the veal fillet in bitumen?«
What we recommend today at SPIEGEL+
Script for a coup d'etat:
incitement, conspiracy, abuse of office - the US committee on the storming of the capitol has presented its conclusion.
On 845 pages, he traces the attempted coup in 2021.
At the heart of the branching plot: Donald Trump.
Saxon CDU leadership is internally irritated by the federal party:
The CDU district administrator of Bautzen is criticized for anti-refugee statements.
Secretary General Czaja distanced himself.
According to SPIEGEL information, this caused frustration in a chat with the Saxon state association.
What employees in online retail really earn:
Business in the internet and mail order business has been booming for years – especially at Christmas time.
However , not much of the record turnover reaches the employees .
Feldmann's deep fall:
The regional court in Frankfurt am Main considers the former mayor to be guilty of accepting an advantage.
The 21,000 euro fine could also jeopardize the SPD politician's pension entitlements.
Hackers have stolen password vaults from LastPass customers:
LastPass has been hacked twice this year.
The second time, the provider of the popular password manager announced that customers' digital safes went missing.
They should react now.
Which is less important today
Enlarge image
Actress Nora Tschirner: "It was really nothing bad"
Photo:
Fabian Sommer / dpa
Raised up quickly:
Nora Tschirner, 41-year-old actress, fell while recording for the show "Dalli, Dalli" while wearing a rabbit costume.
According to a ZDF spokeswoman, Tschirner was slightly injured in the action game, and the recording was then briefly interrupted.
The "Bild" newspaper reported the incident rather dramatically and described it as a "horror accident".
A kneecap was dislocated.
In an Instagram video, however, Tschirner assured her followers last night: "I'm doing very well because I still have to laugh.
It really wasn't a bad thing."
Typo of the day
, now corrected: "Trump advisor Steve Bannon had already announced in a small circle in October 2020: 'He will announce victory.
But that doesn't mean he's a winner.
He'll just say he's a winner.'"
Cartoon of the day:
Christmas present
And tonight?
Could you watch actor Daniel Craig's recent appearance in the film »Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery« on Netflix.
My colleague Oliver Kaever writes that it is "the perfect film for the festival" and "a feel-good bath for cleansing the emotions".
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Daniel Craig in »Glass Onion«: Freed from Bond at last
Photo:
John Wilson/Netflix
The sequel to the smash hit »Knives Out« is a crime comedy about a tech billionaire (Edward Norton) who invites his best friends to his own island of showoffs in Greece to play a game of find-the-killer together.
Serena Williams and Hugh Grant make wonderfully funny guest appearances, Daniel Craig plays the dandy detective Benoit Blanc, with a thick Southern accent and, according to Oliver, "the most outrageous retro wardrobe and the brightest mind".
I wish you a nice evening.
Yours sincerely,
Wolfgang Hoebel