The morning situation: Donald Trump signs Corona aid package

Nashville bomber killed in the explosion +++ Maas does not want to give way in the dispute with the USA over Nord Stream 2 +++ Roger Federer cancels Australian Open +++ The news on Monday morning.

–

Good morning, dear reader,

He refused for a long time and not only received heavy criticism from his designated successor Joe Biden, but now US President Donald Trump has finally signed the multi-billion dollar Corona stimulus package. The sudden U-turn is likely to be related not only to the growing pressure from within our own ranks, but also to the impending shutdown. If it had come to a standstill, his presidency would have ended in a mess. The Republican Trump lost the presidential election on November 3rd against the Democrat Joe Biden. Trump refuses to admit defeat. Biden is due to be sworn in on January 20th.

Trump’s delayed signature of the 5500-page legislative package, however, has consequences. On Saturday, measures for a more generous regulation of unemployment benefits expired without replacement. Because Trump only signed the law on Sunday, millions of unemployed people will receive little or no support for a week.

The headlines to start the day:

Trump gives up blockade and signs corona aid package

The incumbent US President Donald Trump signed a corona stimulus package that had been passed by Congress with a bipartisan majority. This came out on Sunday evening (local time) from a statement by the White House on the bundle of measures worth around 900 billion US dollars (about 740 billion euros). This also averted an impending standstill of government business from Tuesday. The package is intended to help financially struggling citizens, provide impetus for the troubled economy and provide additional funds for vaccinations and the fight against the coronavirus. Trump had surprisingly threatened to veto the legislative package earlier this week. He called the package a “shame”.

Trump demanded, among other things, that most US citizens should receive a one-time aid payment of $ 2,000 per adult. The economic stimulus pact only provides for a payment of $ 600. Now the White House has said the House of Representatives will vote on an increase in the payment on Monday. Trump’s Republicans in the House of Parliament had rejected such an effort by the Democrats on Thursday. In addition, the approval of the Senate would also be required. The Republicans there had been barring a major stimulus package for months. The chances of success of Trump’s wish seemed rather uncertain.

Investigator: Nashville bombers killed in explosion

The Nashville bomber is dead: The lone perpetrator was killed in the explosion of his trailer on Christmas Day. The motive behind the act is still unclear, said representatives of the public prosecutor and the FBI Federal Police on Sunday (local time). The detonation, which was preceded by a warning to residents, caused massive property damage in the city center, and three people were injured.

The perpetrator was identified on the basis of DNA samples, said the local FBI chief Douglas Korneski. Investigators had found human tissue near the exploded trailer, which could be compared to other DNA samples after a search of his home. “We have come to the conclusion that a person named Anthony Warner was the bomber,” said prosecutor Donald Cochran. “He was there when the bomb detonated and he was killed in the explosion,” said Cochran.

Maas does not want to give way in the dispute with the USA over Nord Stream 2

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas does not want to give in in the dispute with the USA over the Nordstream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline, even after the upcoming change in power in the White House. “We don’t need to talk about European sovereignty if it means that in the future we will only do everything as Washington wants,” said the SPD politician of the German press agency with a view to January 20 Planned replacement of US President Donald Trump by Joe Biden. “The federal government will not change its stance on Nordstream 2.

Roger Federer cancels Australian Open

Grand Slam record winner Roger Federer will not take part in the Australian Open at the beginning of February due to a lack of training after two knee operations. The AP news agency reported, citing a statement by Federer’s manager Tony Godsick. “Roger has decided not to play the Australian Open in 2021,” it said. The 39-year-old Swiss has made great strides in both his knees and his fitness in recent months. Nevertheless, after consulting with his team, he decided that in the long term the best decision for him would be to return to professional tennis after the Australian Open. ”

What is important today:

Federal cabinet advises on Brexit agreement

The Federal Cabinet will hold a conference call on Monday (9:30 a.m.) on the Brexit agreement between the EU and Great Britain. After a long struggle, both sides agreed on the contract on December 24th. The approval of the governments of the EU states is a prerequisite for the agreement to come into force temporarily.

The time until the end of the year is no longer sufficient for a regular ratification process, including with the involvement of the EU Parliament. Therefore, the agreed rules should initially be put into effect provisionally. The Federal Cabinet will initially only decide on the provisional application. A meeting of the EU ambassadors is also planned for Monday to discuss reactions, questions and possible objections from the member states.

Trial of journalist after reports of corona crisis begins in China

In the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai, the trial of a journalist who criticized the government’s corona crisis management from Wuhan in February begins on Monday (2.30 a.m. CET). According to court files viewed by the AFP news agency, 37-year-old Zhang Zhan is accused of “stirring up disputes and causing unrest” with her reports. You face up to five years imprisonment.

The coronavirus first appeared in Wuhan at the end of last year. Within a short period of time, it spread massively in the metropolis that Zhang reported live from in February. She was arrested in May. According to her lawyer, her health is “extremely bad”. The journalist went on a hunger strike in June and was force-fed.

You can read more news here at stern.de.

We wish you a good start to the day.

Your stern editorial team

tim
DPA
AFP

–