Here you will find the most important news of the day, the most popular stories of SPIEGEL + and tips for your end of workday.

The topic of the day: Air strikes in India and Pakistan

For decades, a conflict between Pakistan and India has been smoldering around the Kashmir region. Several times, the conflict between the two nations was violent. Now things are getting worse again. What happened?

  • At least 40 Indian soldiers were killed in a suicide attack this weekend, India blamed Pakistan.
  • On Tuesday, the Indian Air Force allegedly violated the Pakistani airspace, killing several terrorists and trainers, according to some sources. Pakistan denies losses or damages.
  • On Wednesday, Pakistan declared that its own air force had attacked targets in the Indian part of Kashmir.
  • As a result, Indian planes apparently flew again in the Pakistani airspace. Pakistan shot down two of them. India did not confirm the information.

FAROOQ KHAN / EPA-EFE / REX

Indian soldiers next to the remains of an Indian plane

The conflict is particularly explosive because Pakistan and India are each nuclear powers. My colleague Hasnain Kazim has analyzed the situation. He also describes the propaganda currently taking place in both countries. Because Pakistan has captured one of the downed pilots and shows it in videos of the world. And these videos try both countries now on Twitter for themselves to use.

The conflict between Pakistan and India and the dispute over Kashmir is already more than 70 years old. Since the end of British colonial rule in India in 1947, both countries have claimed the region for themselves. Twice they already waged war for Kashmir. My colleague Wieland Wagner explains the background of enmity.

Quote of the day: "It is an honor to meet Chairman Kim, I think your country has tremendous economic potential, unbelievable, unlimited."

That's what US President Donald Trump said about North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un. The summit of the two leaders started in Vietnam's capital Hanoi (here are the first pictures). There are more talks on Thursday. This should be particularly about the denuclearization of North Korea, on which Trump and Kim agreed at a first summit in Singapore in June. But now it needs tangible results, writes my colleague Marc Pitzke. Why the summit is important for South Korea, explains my colleague Katharina Graça Peters.

DPA

Donald Trump (l.), Kim Jong Un

News: What you need to know today

  • Cohen attacks Trump: The former lawyer Donald Trumps has unpacked before the congress. He blamed the US president heavily: "He's a racist, he's a scammer, he's a fake," he said.

AFP

Michael Cohen

  • German consumers waste nine billion euros on electricity costs: In our electricity mirror you can test whether you consume too much and what you can change.
  • The number of road deaths in Germany is increasing: on German roads in 2018, after two years of decline, there were more deaths than before. More bike and motorcyclists were killed.

DPA

Traffic accident (symbol image)

  • A bundle of cash for the 9/11 terrorist helper: There was a breakdown in the deportation of the terrorist aid Mounir al-Mottassadeq after SPIEGEL information. Despite anti-terrorist sanctions, the Moroccans were paid around 7000 euros.
  • Living in the parking garage: Authors of a new study suggest how affordable living space could be created - through numerous apartments on multi-storey car parks and supermarkets.

Opinion: The most discussed comments, interviews, essays

Hans-Peter Friedrich, the right-wing turnaround: The former Federal Minister of the Interior keeps coming up in the network with ranting statements. Sascha Lobo dedicates Friedrich's tweets to his column.

When did you last hug someone? The more people touch each other, the more stable is their relationship, scientists say. This insight can be used profitably in everyday life, at work and in politics, says Harald Schmidt.

MIRROR ONLINE

Harald Schmidt

Stories: The most read texts at SPIEGEL +

How Hitler conquered German cuisine: food was political for the National Socialists. Stew and wholegrain bread should help win the war. In fact, dietary habits changed.

You have never seen the world like this before: German geographer Simon Küstenmacher collects fascinating maps. Where are most shipwrecks, how do animals migrate through Africa, which countries have the highest density of heavy metal bands?

Simon Küstenmacher

How to recapture your house after burglars were there: My colleague Katharina Stegelmann was burgled a good year ago. How she deals with it, she tells here.

My evening: the recommendations for your end of workday

What you might see: The second part of the Clásico Weeks is coming up. Real Madrid welcome FC Barcelona to the second leg of the Cup semi-finals (21:00, TV: DAZN). The first leg in Barcelona ended 1-1. Real has therefore scored an away goal - and now wants to use the home advantage against the defending champion. But there is trouble for superstar Gareth Bale. And at the weekend, both teams meet again in the league.

AFP

Gareth Bale (l.), Lucas Vázquez

What you might hear: Andy Anderson died of cancer at the age of 68. Reason enough to listen to several bands and musicians again. With Anderson on drums, The Cure released its first top ten hits in the UK: "Speak My Language" and "The Love". Also with Iggy Pop Anderson appeared as a drummer. Among other things with the Sex Pistols and Peter Gabriel he worked as a studio musician.

I wish you a nice finishing time.

warmly

Andreas Evelt from the Daily Team

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