1. Kate's Frankenstein photo
Anyone who uses the photo editing program Photoshop has a) something to hide or b) a sense of humor.
It cannot be ruled out that the British Princess Kate even has both: In the picture published by Kensington Palace on Sunday, the Princess of Wales can be seen with her three children George, Charlotte and Louis, posing on a terrace.
So far, so idyllic.
But shortly after it was distributed, several news agencies withdrew the photo due to an "inconsistency" in the depiction of Princess Charlotte's left hand.
In general, the photo appears to have been "manipulated in a way that does not meet AP's photography standards," the agency told the astonished world public.
A kind of Frankenstein photo, deliberately stitched together from visual set pieces?
Shocking.
While the world conspiracy was looming online and image forensic experts were talking shop about whether Charlotte's sweater fits her hand, why Kate's head looks so blurry and what Louis is actually doing with his middle finger, the Princess hastily apologized for "any confusion": "Like many amateur photographers." Photographers, I sometimes experiment with image editing," wrote Kate on
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The Princess of Wales
Photo:
Daniel Leal/AFP
However, Kate's alleged Photoshop fail is subtle compared to the original image editing in the world of celebrities and politicians: In May 2023, the press office of the Belarusian dictator Lukashenko published a photo of the ruler that was supposed to show him at a meeting with military officers: Stare , wrinkle-free and a complexion like something out of “Barbie”, no question, the wax figure Lukashenko went viral.
Just like the fake photo of the Republican US politician Paul Gosar, who once operated on President Obama to have a second, significantly lighter thumb.
Similarly anatomically correct: his team gave former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison two left feet in a family photo.
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Show me your shoes: The family photo of Australia's former Prime Minister Scott Morrison - once with old sneakers (below), once with two left new ones (above)
Photo: Australian Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet / REUTERS
Because they wanted to replace Morrison's worn-out dad sneakers with bright white ones.
The politician at least reacted calmly: “Message to my department: I didn’t ask for shoes to be polished.
But if you're going to photoshop, please focus on my hair (i.e. the lack of it)."
Have you encountered a Photoshop fail lately?
Feel free to send it to me, if enough come together, we'll publish a best-of in tomorrow's evening report.
Read more here: This wasn't royal photo editing
2. Muffensausen
Loriot would have liked the word: cable sleeves.
I'll leave it to your imagination as to what exactly is behind it, but one thing is certain: the ominous sleeves are an expensive problem for the Tesla factory in Grünheide, Brandenburg.
Left-wing extremist activists from the “Vulkan Group” boast of having shut down the mast (including the cable sockets) that supplies Tesla’s Gigafactory with electricity.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office is investigating, allegedly hundreds of millions of euros in damage. "It is currently impossible to say how long it will take until production can be fully resumed," says Tesla, both worried and stilted.
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Tesla factory in Grünheide
Photo: Lisi Niesner / REUTERS
A global high-tech player with self-driving cars, Elon Musk flies to Mars and suddenly everything comes to a standstill because of a few burnt muffs?
My colleague Alexander Demling analyzed the case.
His insight: Grünheide is no exception.
Tesla also does not have its own power supply in the two US plants.
"This is remarkable because Northern California and Texas regularly experience blackouts: in February 2021, for example, the power grid in Austin collapsed in heavy snowstorms."
Are German car manufacturers safer?
Not really, says Alexander.
"Tesla's German competitors are holding back with malice," he writes to me.
“They know the same thing could happen to them.”
Many ICE drivers are familiar with the clinker gas power plant that supplies VW's main plant in Wolfsburg with electricity.
But that is the exception.
“Most car factories in Germany are probably as vulnerable as Tesla’s Gigafactory.”
Read here which safety measures German car manufacturers are relying on - and when things could continue in Grünheide
3. The real Oscar moment
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Main prize for “Oppenheimer”: Director Christopher Nolan (front right) with the production team Emma Thomas and Charles Roven
Photo: Mike Blake / REUTERS
The Oscars are like a child's birthday party: everyone is totally excited, someone suddenly starts crying and it always takes longer than planned.
The only difference: Not everyone goes home with a souvenir at the end.
But only 23. At least that's how many categories there are at the Academy Awards.
The short version: Sandra Hülser didn't win, "Oppenheimer" won (seven!) and a Godzilla film also won an award, if I understood that correctly.
And the show?
Jimmy Kimmel makes a Trump joke, Al Pacino "The Godfather" stumbles in his presentation and Ryan Gosling - with sunglasses and a pink glitter suit - performs his "Barbie" hit "I'm just Ken" together with, surprise, Guns'n' Roses cylinder guitarist Slash, who plays soulful fantasies in B major over the sugar anthem.
“We often don’t notice anything about the actual show,” my colleague Marc Pitzke writes to me.
He followed the awards for SPIEGEL for the 20th time, wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, of course.
After their appearance, the winners come backstage to the journalists and give interviews: »When Cillian Murphy was thanking us for his Oscar, Da'Vine Joy Randolph was chatting with us backstage.
It was difficult to listen to both at the same time.
I chose Randolph,” says Marc.
His favorite moment every year is the end of the show: the stars float down the theater stairs, waiting for their chauffeurs.
Everyone is relaxed, taking selfies, hugging each other, the Academy is serving espresso to combat the cold.
“This time I ran into Jeffrey Wright, Annette Bening and America Ferrara in three minutes,” writes Marc.
Read here what the five golden findings of this year's award are
What else is important today?
Sweden does not want nuclear weapons on its territory:
Sweden joined NATO just a few days ago, and now Prime Minister Kristersson is making it clear: his country should not become a nuclear base.
Israeli police are said to have denied hundreds access to the Temple Mount:
Israel wants to allow Muslims to pray at the Aksa Mosque during Ramadan.
But on the eve of the month of fasting, security forces reportedly forcibly prevented young men from entering.
Otto Group gets a female boss for the first time:
the Hamburg family business is being reorganized.
Michael Otto wants to give up the lead.
His son Benjamin moves up, but not to the intended position.
Meanwhile, the CEO will be a woman.
For the first time, authorities order internet access to a household:
an internet connection is a must for many citizens.
But in some places it is either slow or expensive.
Now, for the first time, a provider has been obliged to provide a household with an affordable connection.
What we recommend today at SPIEGEL+
How good is your district at reducing CO₂?
Protecting the climate and still creating new jobs – only a few regions in Germany are able to do this, shows a new study.
What makes the green transformation so difficult and how your district performs.
The beneficiaries of the Boeing crisis:
While the US manufacturer Boeing is plunged into crisis due to massive safety deficiencies, Airbus and its Brazilian competitor Embraer are flying high.
What do they do better than their arch rival?
Advantage Russia - nothing more:
Ukraine lacks soldiers, ammunition and defense systems.
Russia currently has an advantage and could gain territory.
But that doesn't mean the war is lost for Kiev.
Do you want to pass on your assets?
Just not with a foundation!
Renate wanted to leave her children and grandchildren an inheritance worth millions and at the same time retain control over it even after her death.
She opted for a family foundation – with disastrous results.
Which is less important today
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Photo: Christian Beutler / KEYSTONE / picture alliance / dpa
Professor Punk:
Campino
(61), singer of the Toten Hosen, will give two lectures at the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf.
The first on April 2nd is entitled: “Kästner, Kraftwerk, Cock Sparrer.
A declaration of love for everyday poetry.
The guest professorship of celebrities is a gift from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to the university; the series has existed since 1988. For his second lecture, punk professor Andreas Frege, as the singer's real name is, apparently takes aim at himself.
The title: “Everyone has something to say.
The cacophony of our time."
Mini concave mirror
You can find the entire concave mirror here.
Cartoon of the day
And tonight?
Santé:
As an avowed supporter of "Dry Monday", I recommend the article by my colleague Gerald Franz to you, or rather to the liver: The enjoyment experts from Gault & Millau tested alcohol-free wine from Germany - with surprising insights.
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Photo: Ekaterina Molchanova / iStockphoto / Getty Images
“More than half of the nine wines presented are non-alcoholic sparkling wines or seccos,” writes Gerald.
»Probably not a coincidence, as carbonic acid helps to create freshness and a pleasant mouthfeel.
It's not for nothing that the most successful dealcoholized drink to date has been wheat beer." No matter what sparkles in your glass this evening, enjoy it!
And then tomorrow “Tipsy Tuesday” again.
You can read which wine performed best here.
A lovely evening.
Heartfelt
Your Jens Radü, head of duty