All posts tagged: der

Der Orbán-Schock – POLITICO

Der Orbán-Schock – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Die Abwahl von Viktor Orbán erschüttert die AfD. Für Alice Weidel bricht ein zentraler strategischer Anker in Europa weg. Pauline von Pezold und Frederik Schindler besprechen unter anderem, warum die Niederlage in Ungarn die Machtkämpfe in der AfD-Außenpolitik neu befeuert. Nach einer beispiellosen öffentlichen Schlammschlacht ist der verteidigungspolitische Sprecher zurückgetreten. Ein Blick hinter die Kulissen eines Konflikts, in dem es um mehr als Wehrpflicht und NATO ging, sondern auch um Machtfragen. ⁠Eine Einschätzung von Frederik Schindler lest ihr auch hier. ⁠ Während die Parteispitze die Vetternwirtschaft-Affäre totschweigen will, sorgen die neuen „Untersuchungsausschüsse“ für Kopfschütteln. In Sachsen-Anhalt prüfen Vertraute ihre eigenen Mentoren , und in Niedersachsen soll ausgerechnet der als rechtsextrem eingestufte Jens Maier die Korruption aufklären. „Inside AfD“ ist der POLITICO-Deutschland-Podcast über die umstrittenste Partei des Landes. Trotz Radikalisierung und Beobachtung durch den Verfassungsschutz wächst die AfD weiter. Wie ist das möglich? Was treibt ihre Anhänger, Strategen und Gegner an? Wie funktioniert das Innenleben der Partei? Und was bedeutet ihr Aufstieg für das politische System Deutschlands? Antworten liefern immer mittwochs ⁠Pauline von Pezold⁠ von POLITICO …

Former von der Leyen aide’s new role reflects EU competition policy shift – POLITICO

Former von der Leyen aide’s new role reflects EU competition policy shift – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Speaking with POLITICO, Whelan denied that his role was to build a bridge between von der Leyen and the competition department. “I don’t think the president and the EVP are in need of bridges,” he said. Ribera — who as the top socialist in the Commission is a foil to Christian Democrat von der Leyen — also framed the department’s future mandate through a philosophical lens, calling for enforcement grounded in fairness and protecting the vulnerable.  “In these uncertain times, our responsibility is more important than ever: to enforce rules firmly, to remain free from any distorting pressures, to act with integrity,” Ribera wrote. European Commission Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition Teresa Ribera arriving at the European Pulse Forum in Barcelona on April 10. | David Zorrakino/Europa Press via Getty Images Bridge builder or not, competition bubble insiders say Whelan has the bureaucratic and political chops to both manage that relationship and execute on the new competition agenda. “Highly intelligent, politically savvy, pragmatic, open-minded, and a strong believer in vigorous enforcement,” is …

Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy – POLITICO

Von der Leyen uses Orbán defeat to push for end of veto in EU foreign policy – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Any change would be highly controversial, with even some typically pro-EU countries likely to balk at the prospect of losing control of foreign policy and facing the possibility of having to wave through decisions they oppose. The Commission would move quickly to engage with the incoming Hungarian government once it takes office, noting that incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar had signaled a clear pro-European direction during the campaign. “We can already see that [he] is very clear on the European path … committing the new government to continue working with us,” she said, adding that progress on EU funds and reforms would be a priority because “the Hungarian people deserve it.” Von der Leyen welcomed the outcome of Hungary’s elections, calling it “a day to celebrate” and said the EU was stronger and more united as a result. “The people of Hungary have spoken and they have reclaimed their European task,” she said. “It is a victory for fundamental freedoms.” Orbán, the EU’s most autocratic leader — a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump and …

Koalition fordert weitere Lockerungen beim Autopaket der EU – POLITICO

Koalition fordert weitere Lockerungen beim Autopaket der EU – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

BERLIN – Die Koalition fordert von der EU weitere Lockerungen für die CO2-Flottengrenzwerte und eine weitergehende Abkehr vom faktischen Verkaufsverbot neuer Verbrennerautos ab 2035. Darauf einigten sich die Spitzen von Union und SPD in ihrem Beratungsmarathon über das Wochenende. Das geht aus dem Beschlussdokument hervor, das POLITICO vorliegt (hier). Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz sprach davon, das Ziel „echter Technologieoffenheit“ erreichen zu wollen. Die Forderungen entsprächen weitgehend den Positionen der deutschen Autoindustrie und der IG Metall, sagte Merz.  Im Einzelnen beschloss die Koalition für das Autopaket diese Forderungen:  Die Verschärfung des Utility Factors für Plug-in-Hybride ab 2027 müsse ausgesetzt werden. Er beschreibt, zu wie viel Prozent ein Hybridfahrzeug elektrisch und damit CO2-frei fährt. Mehremissionen oberhalb des Zielwerts von 90 Prozent sollen nicht vollständig kompensiert werden müssen.  Die von der Europäischen Kommission vorgesehene Quote für Grünen Stahl müsse erreicht werden. Fahrzeuge, die ausschließlich mit erneuerbaren Kraftstoffen betrieben werden (inklusive fortschrittlicher Biokraftstoffe), sollen in der Flottenregulierung unverzüglich als Nullemissionsfahrzeuge angerechnet werden können. Die Einführung von Supercredits für kleine Elektrofahrzeuge und eine „einseitige Begünstigungen wie auf der Grundlage des Längenkriteriums …

Von der Leyen waits just 17 minutes to celebrate Orbán’s heavy defeat – POLITICO

Von der Leyen waits just 17 minutes to celebrate Orbán’s heavy defeat – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber, to which the victorious Tisza opposition party belongs, also couldn’t contain his glee at Orbán’s defeat. Orbán’s populist-nationalist Fidesz party left the center-right EPP group in 2021 to join the far-right Patriots for Europe. “Tonight is the victory of the people of Hungary!” Weber wrote. “They confirm that our centre-right, people-first politics win elections.”  “Substance. Solutions. Unity — not empty slogans and fears,” he added.  Orbán’s 16-year reign ended Sunday night with a landslide victory for the center-right opposition, led by Magyar, who is on track to win around two-thirds of the 199 seats in Budapest’s parliament.  Many of the political reactions to Orbán’s loss focused on what his defeat would mean for Europe, after years in which he thwarted EU unanimity on matters such as aid for Ukraine while barracking Brussels for tougher migration rules and nationalist policies. “Hungary’s place is at the heart of Europe,” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola wrote.  French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Magyar: “Together, let us advance a more sovereign Europe, for the security of our continent, our competitiveness, and our democracy.” Source …

Kallas shrugs off von der Leyen tensions – POLITICO

Kallas shrugs off von der Leyen tensions – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister who took up the High Representative role in December 2024, straddles multiple EU power centers — serving as a Commission vice president under von der Leyen while also chairing meetings of EU foreign ministers and working closely with member countries. That hybrid setup has long created overlap — and occasional turf battles — with the Commission president, a leading figure in the center-right European People’s Party, while Kallas belongs to the liberal Renew Europe group. One flashpoint has been von der Leyen’s decision to establish an intelligence cell within the Commission, mirroring capabilities already housed in Kallas’ European External Action Service. “In my view, we cannot simply duplicate efforts in Europe,” Kallas said. “If something is already being done well in one place, then let it be done there.” She acknowledged “institutional tensions” had been present “from the very beginning,” but framed them as a question of efficiency rather than rivalry. “Europe needs to function as a single team,” she said, noting that citizens “don’t perceive the difference” between …

Wer zahlt für das 15-Milliarden-Defizit der Krankenkassen? – POLITICO

Wer zahlt für das 15-Milliarden-Defizit der Krankenkassen? – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Deutlich mehr als gedacht muss Gesundheitsministerin Nina Warken sparen, um ein Defizit bei den Krankenkassen und damit weiter steigende Beiträge zu verhindern. Gleichzeitig sind die Reformvorschläge ihrer Finanzkommission deutlich umfangreicher als erwartet. Joanna Lehner und Jürgen Klöckner sprechen über die wichtigsten und größten der 66 Ideen und analysieren, ob und wie es Warken gelingen kann, sich damit in der Koalition durchzusetzen. Im Policy Talk erklärt dann die Vorständin des Dachverbands der Betriebskrankenkassen, Anne-Kathrin Klemm, für wie realistisch sie die Vorhaben hält, wie viel Kraft sie der Gesundheitsministerin zutraut und wo sie trotz aller Hoffnung skeptisch bleibt. Außerdem ist Frida Preuß vom Pro-Newsletter „Industrie & Handel“ zu Gast. Sie berichtet, wie in der Welthandelsorganisation (WTO) um Reformen gerungen wird, an wem und woran diese scheitern könnten – aber auch, warum sie keinesfalls scheitern dürfen. „Power & Policy“ zeigt jede Woche, wo und wie die Entscheidungen in der Wirtschaftspolitik fallen. ⁠Jürgen Klöckner⁠ und ⁠Joana Lehner⁠ von POLITICO sprechen mit Top-Entscheidern und liefern Off-the-Record-Einblicke aus der Redaktion und Machtzentren. Präzise Analysen, lange bevor Gesetze beschlossen sind. Der Podcast …

Discover the First Horror & Fantasy Magazine, Der Orchideengarten, and Its Bizarre Artwork (1919-1921)

Discover the First Horror & Fantasy Magazine, Der Orchideengarten, and Its Bizarre Artwork (1919-1921)

Published by José Betancourt

From the 18th cen­tu­ry onward, the gen­res of Goth­ic hor­ror and fan­ta­sy have flour­ished, and with them the sen­su­al­ly vis­cer­al images now com­mon­place in film, TV, and com­ic books. These gen­res per­haps reached their aes­thet­ic peak in the 19th cen­tu­ry with writ­ers like Edgar Allan Poe and illus­tra­tors like Gus­tave Dore. But it was in the ear­ly twen­ti­eth cen­tu­ry that a more pop­ulist sub­genre tru­ly came into its own: “weird fic­tion,” a term H.P. Love­craft used to describe the pulpy brand of super­nat­ur­al hor­ror cod­i­fied in the pages of Amer­i­can fan­ta­sy and hor­ror mag­a­zine Weird Tales—first pub­lished in 1923. (And still going strong!) A pre­cur­sor to EC Comics’ many lurid titles, Weird Tales is often con­sid­ered the defin­i­tive ear­ly twen­ti­eth cen­tu­ry venue for weird fic­tion and illus­tra­tion. But we need only look back a few years and to anoth­er con­ti­nent to find an ear­li­er pub­li­ca­tion, serv­ing Ger­man-speak­ing fans—Der Orchideen­garten (“The Gar­den of Orchids”), the very first hor­ror and fan­ta­sy mag­a­zine, which ran 51 issues from Jan­u­ary 1919 to Novem­ber 1921. The mag­a­zine fea­tured work from …

Melissa Auf der Maur’s memoir captures the beauty and brutality of ’90s rock

Melissa Auf der Maur’s memoir captures the beauty and brutality of ’90s rock

Published by Sam Flores

If you’re a music fan, especially if you are young enough to remember the ’90’s, you know who Melissa Auf der Maur is, even if you don’t recognize her name. She’s the woman who stepped into the bass spot in Hole when Kristen Pfaff died literally moments after “Live Through This,” Hole’s second album, was about to be released, which also happened to be not long after Kurt Cobain decided to leave the planet. It was an intense and disorienting time if you were simply a fan of the music; multiply that by approximately a gigaton if you were anywhere adjacent. Auf der Maur takes everyone along on the ride with the publication of her expansive memoir “Even the Good Girls Will Cry.” But this isn’t just 400+ pages of stories about Courtney Love and Billy Corgan and Lollapalooza (although there is a lot of that, and plenty of people will be picking this up just to read these stories). Auf der Maur had a life and a presence before playing in Hole (and later, …

Hole’s Melissa Auf der Maur: ‘Courtney Love is a maniac and a hero – and yes, you can be both’

Hole’s Melissa Auf der Maur: ‘Courtney Love is a maniac and a hero – and yes, you can be both’

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Imagine the Nineties rock band Hole as a big American house. If frontwoman Courtney Love is the hurricane door and the library, the broken faucet and the pentagram scrawled on the basement floor, then Melissa Auf der Maur is the wind chime hanging outside on the front porch. When Hole went pop, transitioning out of the indignant poetry of “Teenage Whore” and “Doll Parts” into luxurious radio hits like “Celebrity Skin” and “Malibu”, it was Auf der Maur, the ethereal Canadian on bass, who served as the glue connecting both worlds. Her background vocals, those gorgeous oohs and aahs, trailed Love’s guttural fury, adding calm and beauty to the darkest of spaces. It was a role she was expected to fill in reality, too. The 22-year-old Auf der Maur joined Hole in the summer of 1994, mere weeks after the fatal …