Friedrich Merz climbs the summit of power – the situation in the morning

Love Readers, dear reader,

The federal eagle has landed. If you read this, has Friedrich Merz enter Canadian soil. It is the first G7 summit for the still official boy Chancellor.

The question arises whether he has just as confidently as the dress rehearsal, his inaugural visit in Washington A few weeks ago. If Merz dances through this diplomatic mine field without prejudice, he offers a unique opportunity. Not although, but especially when Trump’s moods get out of control. And that’s the only reliable one on him.

May Merz succeed in a similar feature as his unpopular predecessor seven years ago? Angela Merkel Use Trump’s dangerous Machismo masterfully at the time. In the end, it was not its bad fuck-off mentality, but the historical photo, as Merkel, as the leader of an alliance of the reasonable to the stubborn US president, prevented himself from the summit 2018 in the collective memory.

The job as the leader of the free world, it has become free. Merz would have good cards when applying.

In the current edition of the “5-minute talk”, my Berlin colleagues also look fuller in the Rocky Mountains:

In the morning (around 6.30 p.m. German time), the West Elite comes together for the first working session. Tomorrow at this time, at best, you have agreed on a joint course for Iran/Israel. Trump, the first under unequal, but on the Wladimir Putin, which is relevant to him as a peace bringer.

How should a community that has alienated its leader so radically and at the same time depends on it, ever come to a denominator without revealing your own values ​​and interests? And even if the self -tested glorious seven is granted a rare moment of connection: what does that mean?

The G7 are the Rolling Stones of world politics. A group that lives from dried laurels that has long since exceeded its zenith, but does not want to admit that. Whose front man strives for a solo career. Maybe it’s time for a new foundation.

What is typical German for you? Roast pork with dumplings? Tennis socked feet in sandals? Radio crater in the country?

For me it is (unfortunately): the ZDF television garden. A show that would have to be punished due to acute violations of the good taste. If I only have to watch for two more minutes, how the audience on the Lerchenberg Mainz, when clapping, consistently refuses to feel of rhythm, I break out in tears.

You now know me a little, I tend to exaggerate. But not very.

If the average age of the ZDF is 65 years old, I think to myself, the Otto-normal television gardener must be biblical age. I was all the more astonished when I spotted several millennials when I looked into yesterday’s edition, perhaps even one or the other gene-Zler in the audience. They did not blink SOS into the cameras, but actually looked as if they had strayed almost voluntarily into these entertainment prehols.

The appearance of singer Katja Ebstein is said to have taken care of “irritation”. I have to believe that first, the whole event irritates me as such. In any case, this woman Ebstein, known as an ESC icon, is said to have only succeeded in the Potpourri of her best hits thanks to friendly support from the retort. That means: she is said to have “sung” on playback. If you have to, you can make the appearance.

Because I, you have already noticed it, am a very unsuitable critic when it comes to hits and I avoid the Eurovision as reliably every year as moderator Joachim Lambi, I don’t want to allow myself to be a judgment. This is not a fact check. Even if the lack of lip synchronity paired with a devilish slab -close vocals also makes me puzzled.

Perhaps the 80-year-old has also not only been impressive, but also her vocal cords. What’s the name of? There are always miracles.

A few days ago I have in Tomorrow | Stern Written that I no longer feel safe in my homeland Cologne. The neck hair does not always stand up and everywhere, but more and more often – and no longer just in dark streets.

Unfortunately, this fear is more than just a feeling. Like the federal police at us at star communicated, there were 609 knife attacks at German train stations in 2024. U-railway stops not even included:

As in the past week, very little happens apart from the very big one. Can still change. With our luck, it will probably be.

For more than two weeks, I now guess you from distant South Korea. Shortly before the way home, I actually kick the best known of all the Heinwehenden nunks: I miss German home cooking. So: Thai kitchen.

Certainly I ride in my favorite tophair restaurant in the north of Cologne twice a week, order number 102 with a glassy view, Khao pad with chicken.

I miss this not only because of the confidante, every time it is newly great. But above all, because the Thai people have one thing in mind: the fork!

Name me a cultural brouse, but I just don’t understand why in a world that exist in the fork and spoon, still eaten with chopsticks.

The fact that I have refused to do all the years of this high art is now revenge. Also did not help tutorials shortly before departure. In contrast to Japan, things are not made of wood, but made of metal. Which further shortens the already short time window until the inevitable cramp of the hand.

Sure, insofar as you don’t get any most embarrassing and at some point the sticks ramming in the dumplings at some point, it looks chic, of course. But when it comes to aesthetics: Why do the Koreans cut their meat with scissors?!

I wish you a great day – Annyeonghi Gyeseyo!