1. Tactical moves
In the war of images and symbols, the West has stepped up: almost all EU foreign ministers met in Kyiv today to pledge their support for Ukraine. Such a meeting had never taken place outside the EU before, it said.
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Borrell
Photo: HANDOUT / AFP
Now, Ukraine cannot shoot foreign ministers in the fight against the Russian aggressors, as a colleague pointed out today at our conference. Conflict researcher Fabian Hoffmann of the University of Oslo puts it more elegantly: "Something else is more important for Ukraine than symbolic support – it needs weapons, and fast," he writes in a guest article. From his point of view, the German government is "delaying the delivery of Taurus missiles with flimsy arguments" (more here). Sure, strong images and words fizzle out if no action is taken. On the other hand, all the politicians' trips not only have a symbolic effect, but they also serve as self-assurance: Anyone who travels to the war zone with camera accompaniment takes on themselves to follow up their appearance with further deeds.
From Biden to Scholz, from Macron to Strack-Zimmermann – what risk do celebrities take when they travel to Kyiv, mostly by train? (Here is an overview in pictures.) "Nobody from the federal government likes to talk about the quite complex preparations," reports my colleague Matthias Gebauer. "However, since the visit of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who was the first cabinet member to travel to the Ukrainian capital in May 2022, insiders have been murmuring that there are agreements with the Russians in the run-up to such visits."
Quite generally, it is said that there are still contacts with Russia. The U.S. military has a kind of red phone to avoid possible escalations; the German BND has similar channels of communication. Commenting on the US president's visit in February, his national security adviser said quite frankly: "We informed the Russians that President Biden was going to Kyiv. This was done a few hours before his departure for reasons of conflict avoidance." It is likely to be very similar before German political celebrities board the night train to Kiev, says Matthias.
Read more here: How foreign politicians are protected in Ukraine
2. Wait for the doctor to come
Make a doctor's appointment online? Then you can get treated right away because of the lame finger you get when you click endlessly through grayed-out calendar views. On today's bridge day, many practices remained closed from the outset – the doctors in private practice are on strike.
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Doctor with patient (symbolic image): Is someone being treated unfairly in the dispute between Lauterbach and doctors?
Photo: Tom Werner / Getty Images
They think: Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) takes care of hospitals, but not their needs. Due to inflation and a lack of budget increases, there is less and less money left. The minister counters on the short message platform X, formerly Twitter: "On average (median), however, they earn around 230,000 euros per year after deducting all costs. Should the contribution rate for employees increase so that the fee continues to rise?"
My colleague Martin U. Müller, himself a physician, describes the situation as follows: "We have more doctors than ever before, and yet in many places patients have to beg for an appointment." Doctors in private practice would like to pretend that they are normal entrepreneurs with all the risks. "That's only partly true, because the statutory health insurance companies give them a kind of sales guarantee," says Martin. "Nevertheless, I understand that doctors would like to be reimbursed for every service they provide."
Perhaps, however, the wrong impression is already conveyed during the studies: "7900 euros net are certainly enough for a good life and give recognition," says Martin. "But if a doctor is suggested that he will definitely live in a thick villa with a Mercedes G-Class, that certainly no longer describes the reality of many doctors today."
Read more here: Is 7900 euros net too little?
3. Cheers to the rescue boats
Do you remember all the abbreviations in the pandemic? Aha rules, R-value, even Sars and Covid-19 are acronyms (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Coronavirus Disease 2019). Today, the abbreviation mRNA celebrated its comeback in the headlines, it stands for messenger ribonucleic acid in German (warm greetings to the colleague who has to set this text to music).
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Nobel Prize winners: Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó
Photograph:
Peggy Peterson / dpa
Today it was announced that the Hungarian-born scientist Katalin Karikó and the US scientist Drew Weissman will receive the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Both conduct research at the University of Pennsylvania. Their work paved the way for the rapid development of corona vaccines.
In case you forgot, here's how it works: The mRNA in the vaccines is artificially produced in the laboratory. In the case of Corona, she has the task of transmitting the blueprint for the so-called spike protein, with which the virus docks onto human host cells and infects them. Through the vaccination, this blueprint is channeled into the cells. Subsequently, the blueprint is read in the cell and the spike protein is formed.
As a result, the immune system is activated and forms antibodies against the spike protein, among other things. The vaccinated person usually feels this activation through the known vaccination reactions, i.e. headaches, pain at the injection site, fever or fatigue. The mRNA contained in the vaccine is then completely broken down by the body.
Read more here: First they argued about the copier, then they revolutionized medicine
What else is important today
German arms exports on the verge of record highs: In the first three quarters alone, the German government approved arms exports worth 8.76 billion euros. The previous record is thus likely to be exceeded by the end of the year. The largest buyer of the weapons: Ukraine.
Playmobil Group cuts hundreds of jobs: The toy manufacturer Playmobil has been in crisis for a long time. Now the parent company is announcing considerable job cuts: In Germany alone, 370 people are to lose their jobs. Worldwide, there are even more.
AfD leadership wants office ban for European election candidates: In the dispute over questionable CVs of its own European election candidates, the AfD leadership has made a decision. There are to be party order measures against the two candidates – but they are allowed to remain on the electoral list.
What we recommend today at SPIEGEL+
A fatal signal: Jérôme Boateng had beaten his ex-partner, two courts were convinced of this in the ongoing proceedings. Nevertheless, the Bavarians speak of a "private history". This is how violence against women is trivialized.
FDP top candidate links the existence of the traffic light to a "recognizable turnaround" in refugee policy: The Bavarian FDP top candidate Martin Hagen sees the traffic light coalition in danger without a change of course in refugee policy. In the SPD, too, there are voices calling for greater commitment on the part of the chancellor.
Serbia's green men: Belgrade troops are marching on the border with Kosovo, Western diplomacy has failed. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is taking high risks. Is there a threat of another war in Europe?
Are smart people more unhappy? More followers on the net, a new car – what makes us happy? Here, coach and psychology lecturer Christian Thiele talks about the influence emotional intelligence has on our well-being.
What is less important today
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Photograph:
Justin Setterfield / Getty Images
A clear change: Jürgen Klopp, 56, and his Liverpool FC are examining the chances of an appeal against the scoring of the game after the serious video evidence breakdown in the 1-2 defeat at Tottenham. A goal scored by Liverpool's Luis Díaz, 26, was wrongly disallowed for offside. The linesman had raised the flag, the video referee did not correct this decision. The responsible referees' association then admitted that this had been a "significant human error". The club said it was investigating "the options available".
Mini concave mirror
Here you will find the whole concave mirror.
Cartoon of the Day
And on a holiday?
Could you take care of getting tickets for the European Football Championship in Germany: On Tuesday at 14 p.m., the first ticket application phase for the tournament begins on the Uefa website. With 24 participating teams, there are a total of 2.7 million tickets for 51 matches in ten stadiums. Prices range from 30 to 1000 euros.
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European Championship mascot: Is cash payment still possible?
Photograph:
Neundorf / Kirchner-Media / IMAGO
The sale and the raffle run exclusively via the official EM homepage (www.euro2024.com ). Fans have already been able to pre-register here, but can also do so before applying. Applications for all 26 matches will be open from Tuesday until 51 October. The only restriction: Interested parties can only purchase tickets for one game per day. As with the World Cup in Qatar, tickets will only be available digitally – and no longer on paper as in the past. It doesn't seem to matter when fans apply in the specified period. So being fast doesn't help.
And if you are not looking for tickets in your own interest, but in the euphoric order of much younger family members: Yes, children also have to pay in full. "Babies or toddlers, who could theoretically sit on their parents' laps, are not exempt from this," reports my colleague Marvin Rishi Krishan from our sports department. "Unlike in the Bundesliga, ticket prices are not divided into full-paying and reduced." (Read more here.)
I wish you every success.
Have a nice evening. Heartily
Yours, Oliver Trenkamp, newspaper editor in the editor-in-chief