Corona

Heating costs for this winter will be lower for many households in germany than in the previous year, or at least they will not increase.

Due to the renewed mild weather, energy consumption for heating fell by one percent, the internet portals verivox and check24 reported, citing the degree day figures of the german weather service. Last winter, the weather in germany had already turned out to be quite warm on average, thus helping to reduce costs for most households. This year the months of january and february, which are very hot, have been particularly mild.

This especially favors tenants and homeowners who heat with oil. Since the beginning of the year, oil prices have been on the rise, and the corona crisis has accelerated this development, sometimes with hectic fluctuations. Customers in germany have only partially benefited from the price slide on the crude oil markets because demand for heizol has risen enormously and in some regions the delivery periods of heizol traders extend into june. In addition, heating oil is currently significantly more expensive in southern germany than in the north, which can be explained by regional market conditions.

According to a study by the bundesbank, the corona crisis has put a heavy strain on the wallets of many people in germany.

More than 40 percent suffered income losses or other losses because of the pandemic or the measures taken to combat it, a survey found. Around 2000 people took part after the first lockdown in may. At 46 percent, employed persons were much more affected by financial consequences than non-employed persons (28 percent), who mainly include pensioners and retirees.

In the initial phase of the corona crisis, the respondents expected their monthly net income to fall by an average of 64 euros over the next twelve months, according to the bundesbank. The differences, however, were rough: 40 percent expected their income to fall by more than 500 euros per month, while 8 percent expected no change. A good half (52 percent) expected an increase of about 290 euros – especially employees as well as pensioners and retirees, who expect to keep their jobs, respectively. Age differences continue to remain.

It was unusual for visitors, performers and organizers: the rakoczy weekend without rakoczy festival. But: even if the rough party mile in the city center was missing, the crowds and program highlights like saale brennt, rakoczy-ball or festzug, many got their money’s worth at the corona-compliant alternative program. "I think we have succeeded in spreading rakoczy flair", says spa director sylvie thormann. The guests had taken it well. In principle, we return to the beginnings of the rakoczy festival, when only the historical were the focus of the festival.

Pleasant atmosphere

Vesna konhauser and her husband have been visiting bad kissingen for the rakoczy festival for more than 25 years. So also this time in the corona year. The couple made themselves comfortable at the luitpold casino, watching the historical strolling and listening to the cuban live music at the spielbank restaurant. "I find it also so quite pleasant", says konhauser. You don’t miss the crowds that usually come to rakoczy. But it lacked the usual program highlights, first and foremost saale brennt on friday evening as well as the historical procession and the final fireworks on sunday evening. "That is already a pity. The weather was perfect this year", means it.

Rakoczy riding tournament should take place again

For the performers of the historical spa guests, the alternative program sometimes meant more work. About for christina gold, who in a normal year takes part in the pageant and can be seen there on the carriage of the kurgartencafe. This year she was in costume to fub in the city on saturdays and sundays. "It is more strenuous, otherwise we have it easier", it says. The equestrian club had less to do, even if some riders were in the park. "We sincerely hope that the equestrian quadrille will be allowed to take place again next year", says the chairman ulrike waldhofen. She announced that after a break of several years, a rakoczy riding tournament will take place again in 2021.

More than 200 days lay between the two dress rehearsals for the performance of "A strullendorfer im himmel" (within the framework of the 16. Kulttour), performed by the junior group of the "kulturbanausen. Corona also changed the theatrical world of amateur actors in a way that had never been thought possible. The planned premiere in the spring fell exactly on the beginning of the lockdown. Seven months later now the second attempt of the youngsters with an age range of nine to nineteen years.

"The kids were crestfallen. It was a huge letdown after the intense rehearsal weeks at the beginning of the year. Trenches were also flowing. It didn’t take long to decide that a second attempt would be made, especially since everything was prepared. Just think of the ugly stage", theresa "terry" schwarzmann, who has been at the helm of the association for a year and a half, looks back on a period of uncertainty. In july the "cut" was made, the reset button was printed, no one from the youths bailed out, so that the planning part 2 could start.

Even away from the stage boards there was a lot of organizing and planning going on. First, the maximum capacity had to be tapped out – with the result: 52 visitors per match day instead of the 120 in previous years. The ratsel’s solution for this year: eight performances instead of four! Makes over 400 visitors, after eight times "sold out could be reported. "The junior group in this form is certainly a unique selling point of the ‘kulturbanausen’ in the entire district", female youth director bernhard zollner, who together with georg lodes and claudia thomsen invested a lot of time and heart and soul for these performances. "Almost all marz tickets were exchanged and not returned. We are long past the point that only family members come to the performances. The group has already gained many regular visitors."

Former u.S. President barack obama has urged his successor donald trump to overcome his ego and concede defeat in the election.

"When their time is up, it’s their job to put the country first and think beyond their own egos, their own interests and their own divestments," democrat obama told the CBS network in an interview aired sunday evening (local time). Republican trump, on the other hand, on monday sharpened his unsubstantiated accusations of fraud in the election in which his democratic opponent joe biden was declared the winner.

"The most fraudulent election in history"!", trump wrote on twitter. "I won the election!" Twitter provided both tweets with warnings, including that another election winner had been declared.