war in Ukraine
Federal Network Agency fears total failure of Russian gas supplies. President Müller appeals to the population: If the gas flow from Russia is “motivated to be reduced for a longer period of time, we have to talk more seriously about savings”. Ifo President Fuest advocates import duties on Russian energy. Ukraine has accused the Russian army of dropping phosphorus bombs on Snake Island. To the live blog
Historian Clark warns against “Putin equals Hitler” analogies. The historian Christopher Clark, who teaches in Cambridge, calls for a move away from one-to-one comparisons along the lines of “Putin resembles Hitler”. These equations appeal to emotions, but almost always lead to a dead end, because the similarities are always limited and partial. To the guest article (SZ Plus)
New Turkish reservation against NATO accession of Sweden and Finland. No sooner has a joint memorandum been signed than there is a quarrel: President Erdoğan demands the immediate extradition of 73 “terrorists” from Sweden – the government in Stockholm has committed itself to this. These are apparently Kurds living in Sweden and followers of the religious Fethullah Gülen movement. Go to Article
What is important today
State health ministers are calling for corona powers. “This time we want to be involved”: Because of the corona wave expected in autumn, the federal government is to present a new infection protection law before the summer break, which will give them significantly more opportunities to adopt protective measures. Go to Article
Employees: At high tide in the Ahr valley, the district administrator was “not himself anymore”. In the Rhineland-Palatinate investigative committee on the flood disaster last summer, the then district administrator of the Ahrweiler district, Jürgen Pföhler, was described as “extremely personally affected” and “nervous”. Members of the crisis team were apparently almost unable to act in the face of the disaster. Go to Article
Very few citizens celebrate the farewell party to free Hong Kong. On the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to the People’s Republic, China’s President Xi praised the “true democracy” that now reigns in the city. Most counter-demonstrators stay at home for fear of repression. Go to Article
BGH grants fundamental right to thermal insulation. In a legal dispute in Berlin, the Federal Court of Justice approved a renovation of the facade, although the converted house now protrudes into the neighbor’s property. After all, the measure serves to protect the climate – and thus the common good. Go to Article
Lampaert surprises at the Tour de France. The Belgian wins the opening time trial in Copenhagen in pouring rain. Tadej Pogacar, the favorite for the overall win, distances his biggest rivals and gains first seconds. Go to Article