Today’s news in star-Ticker.
Today’s news in star-Ticker:
7.54 a.m.: Altmaier expects an economic boom in the coming year
The only executive Federal Minister of Economics, Peter Altmaier, does not expect a booming economy in Germany until next year. “The growth this year will be less than we all imagined,” said the CDU politician in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”. The scarcity of raw materials and the increased energy prices are having an impact. The German economy is growing vigorously, “but it will only really become a boom in the next year with over 4 percent.” The prerequisite is to stabilize the international supply chains. More microchips would have to be manufactured in Europe too.
Altmaier presented the new economic forecast in the morning. According to information from the German Press Agency, the government expects gross domestic product to grow by only 2.6 percent in 2021. In April she had expected an increase of 3.5 percent.
7.43 a.m.: Large raid against money laundering gang in NRW
In order to stop a money laundering gang, a large number of officials raided several cities in North Rhine-Westphalia. The State Criminal Police Office and the Cologne Public Prosecutor announced that 46 suspects were being investigated on suspicion of money laundering in particularly serious cases. In the morning, 250 emergency services were deployed in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen and other cities. The officers searched a warehouse in Ratingen. The investigators examined a total of 49 properties, including residential and commercial premises. On behalf of the Cologne public prosecutor’s office, officials from the joint financial investigation group of the LKA and the customs investigation office in Essen were on the road, as well as local police officers.
6.09 a.m.: The majority of Germans want to be forced to protect the climate
The vast majority of Germans consider climate change and its consequences to be the greatest challenge facing mankind this century and 72 percent think that it also affects their everyday lives. This was the result of a survey by the European Development Bank (EIB). In the fight against climate change, six out of ten Germans would welcome a tax on products and services that contribute most to global warming. According to this, 88 percent are in favor of a guarantee of at least five years for electrical or electronic equipment. 85 percent said they are in favor of replacing short-haul flights with more environmentally friendly express train connections.
EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle said a large majority of Germans are demanding stricter measures and better solutions, such as green electricity, from the authorities in order to get a grip on climate change. The EIB finances projects for clean energy, energy savings, sustainable mobility and innovation.
6:01 a.m.: Video consultation hours increase sharply in the corona crisis
In the corona crisis, medical consultations via video consultation have increased significantly. In the first half of 2021 there were more than 2.25 million such digital contacts in practices of doctors and psychotherapists, as an evaluation by the Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance (Zi) showed. Before the pandemic, no 4,000 video consultation hours had been billed for the whole of 2019. The greatest demand was therefore in April 2020 with almost 604,000 video consultation hours. In the first three months of 2021 there were more than 400,000 in each case, and the numbers have fallen slightly since March.
The institute explained that the use of psychotherapy services for children and adolescents has noticeably increased. This is a matter of concern and needs to be monitored closely.
5.37 a.m.: Sudan’s head of government disempowered by coup back home
The head of government of Sudan, who was ousted by a military coup, was brought home after his arrest by the army. Hamdok returned to his private house with his wife, said the ex-prime minister’s office. However, it remained unclear whether Hamdok regained freedom of movement.
After the coup on Monday, the deposed prime minister was initially detained in the house of the chief Sudanese general, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. However, the exact circumstances of Hamdok’s return home are vague. It is unclear whether he is under some kind of house arrest. An army representative said that “security measures” had been taken around the house of the deposed head of government. According to Hamdok’s office, he is “under close surveillance”.
5.19 a.m.: Shopping in Australia is complicated for unvaccinated people
Life in Australia is getting more and more complicated for the unvaccinated. In the metropolis of Melbourne and the rest of the state of Victoria, the following will apply in future: As soon as 90 percent of the citizens there are fully vaccinated, unvaccinated people are only allowed to enter shops that are essential for daily life, such as supermarkets and drug stores. The region’s Covid-19 officer, Jeroen Weimar, said it would be a few more weeks before this rule comes into force. According to the government’s plans, the 90 percent mark should be reached on November 24th.
Australia is generally planning very strict requirements for people without a corona vaccination certificate. In the future, only twice vaccinated people should be able to leave the country without a permit and enter without a strict two-week quarantine. There are still discussions about whether unvaccinated tennis professionals who want to take part in the Australian Open in Melbourne next year are allowed to enter the country at all.
4.38 a.m.: RKI registers 23,212 new corona infections – the incidence is increasing significantly
The nationwide seven-day incidence has increased significantly. The Robert Koch Institute stated the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants and week in the morning as 118.0, the previous day it was 113.0, a week ago it was 80.4. The health authorities in Germany reported 23,212 new corona infections to the RKI within one day.
4.29 a.m.: Back stairs in the Empire State Building after a Corona break
After a forced break in the corona pandemic, around 200 participants in the legendary flight of stairs in New York’s Empire State Building ran up the 1,576 steps of the skyscraper for the first time. Wai Ching Soh from Malaysia finished first in 10 minutes and 46 seconds. Soh finished second in 2019, when it took him almost 30 seconds longer. In the women’s category, the American Cindy Harris was the fastest to reach the top after 14 minutes and one second. The record of 9 minutes and 33 seconds over the 86 floors was set in 2003 by the Australian Paul Crake. The men’s winning record is held by the German Thomas Dold, who was seven times the fastest between 2006 and 2012.
In 2020 the race had to be canceled due to the corona crisis. This time, due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, only significantly fewer participants than usual were allowed to compete. In addition, a corona vaccination had to be proven at the 43rd edition of the run and hygiene and distance rules applied.
3.31 a.m.: According to the survey, tiredness after the time change is quite common
About every third person in Germany has experienced the time change at some point. In a representative study by the Forsa Institute on behalf of the health insurance company DAK-Gesundheit, 30 percent of those questioned stated that they had already had physical or psychological problems. 70 percent said no. Fatigue or weakness (80 percent), difficulty falling asleep or sleep disorders (67 percent) and poor concentration (42 percent) were mentioned as problems.
Accordingly, women have had rather bad experiences with setting the clocks forwards or backwards: 39 percent of them mentioned problems, for men it was only 21 percent. The time change is generally unpopular: 78 percent of people in Germany find it superfluous and want it to be abolished. Only 17 percent think it makes sense. In 2013 it was 29 percent. This Sunday (October 31st) the clock will be set back to two in the morning at three in the morning.
2.41 a.m.: Brazilian Senate Committee recommends indicting President Bolsonaro
A parliamentary committee of inquiry into the Brazilian government’s corona policy has attributed some serious crimes to President Jair Bolsonaro and recommended an indictment. After six months of work, the committee passed Senator Renan Calheiros’ final report by seven votes to four. Accordingly, Bolsonaro is held responsible for at least nine crimes – from deceiving the public to inciting criminal offenses to crimes against humanity.
In total, according to the 1289-page report, apart from Bolsonaro, 79 other people are to be called to account, including three sons of the president, other politicians and business people and two companies. It is unclear what consequences the report will have and whether the recommendations will also lead to indictments.
2.37 a.m.: Climbing fans can soon climb outside of New York skyscrapers
Anyone who has always wanted to climb the outside of a skyscraper can soon do it in New York. From November 9, visitors aged 13 and over at the “30 Hudson Yards” skyscraper – secured with ropes, helmets and other protective equipment – can climb a small part of the outer wall to around 390 meters using steps, the operators said. It is the highest outdoor climbing offer on a building in the world. Tickets cost the equivalent of around 160 euros. The skyscraper has been offering the “The Edge” viewing platform since 2020, from which visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Manhattan.
0.04 a.m.: The 3G rule must not be used in doctor’s offices
The Federal Ministry of Health has pointed out that medical practices are not allowed to make the so-called 3G rule a prerequisite for medical treatment. Contract doctors are obliged to treat patients, said a ministry spokesman for the newspaper “Die Welt”. In the corona pandemic, they should “not make treatment dependent on compliance with the 3G rule”. The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Health had previously announced, according to “Welt”, that complaints about “practices in 3G or 2G operation” had already been submitted in the outpatient sector.
3G stands for “vaccinated, recovered or tested”. The rule means that a full vaccination against the coronavirus, a recovery from Covid-19 or a negative test is required to enter a location. With the 2G rule, only those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered are admitted.