Bild: Bird flu alert / Vogelgrippe-Alarm
FAZ: Federal Constitutional Court strengthens rights of church employers / Bundesverfassungsgericht stärkt Rechte kirchlicher Arbeitgeber
Funke: S-Bahn deploys paramedics at Berlin stations / S-Bahn schickt Rettungssanitäter auf Berliner Bahnhöfe
Handelsblatt: The end of managers? / Das Ende der Manager?
RND: Air taxis, delivery drones, emergency medicine: Why do drones revolutionize war – but not our everyday lives? / Flugtaxis, Lieferdrohnen, Notfallmedizin: Warum revolutionieren Drohnen nur den Krieg – nicht aber unseren Alltag?
SZ: The federal government must continue to save money / Der Bund muss trotzdem weiter sparen
Tagesspiegel: US sanctions against Russia: Moscow reacts angrily, Pistorius remains skeptical / US-Sanktionen gegen Russland: Moskau reagiert wütend, Pistorius ist skeptisch
taz: Battle of the fossils / Kampf der Fossilen
Welt: Billion-euro tax surplus complicates reform plans this autumn / Milliarden-Steuerplus erschwert Herbst der Reformen
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticizes Knesset decision on the West Bank: In Israel’s parliament, a law providing for the application of Israeli law in the West Bank has cleared its first hurdle. According to Rubio, the bill could significantly hinder U.S. President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts to stabilize the Gaza Strip. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party did not support the bill, individual coalition members voted in favor. The West Bank is intended to become part of a Palestinian state; this Palestinian state is a central element of the so-called two-state solution meant to end the decades-long conflict with Israel. rnd.de, zdfheute.de, spiegel.de
- After talks with Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism about progress in implementing the U.S. plan for Gaza. Despite major challenges, he voiced confidence that the plan could be successfully carried out.
- U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized the first vote on a possible annexation of the West Bank as a „stupid political stunt,“ saying he felt personally insulted by it. He reaffirmed that the U.S. continues to strictly reject any annexation strictly. spiegel.de
- U.S. President Donald Trump has clearly warned Israel of the consequences of a possible annexation of the West Bank. In a mid-October interview with Time Magazine, he said that Israel would lose U.S. support in that case.
Islamic countries oppose the annexation of the West Bank, calling it a grave violation of international law. In a joint statement, they warned of the consequences such a move could have for regional stability. - Germany sharply criticized the recent Knesset vote. The Foreign Office called it a „fundamentally wrong“ step and emphasized the need to continue implementing the ceasefire in Gaza and the 20-point plan.
- WHO evacuates children from Gaza: For the first time since the start of the ceasefire, 41 severely injured or ill children were flown out of the Gaza Strip for treatment. The countries that received them were not disclosed. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for more countries to take in patients and urged Israel to allow further evacuations and border openings, including toward the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Israel postpones decision on journalist access to Gaza: International journalists will continue to be denied free access to the devastated Gaza Strip, even after the ceasefire agreement. The Supreme Court in Jerusalem granted the government an additional 30 days to decide on the Foreign Press Association’s request to allow international reporters to enter Gaza. The FPA criticized the delay as an Israeli stalling tactic.
EU summit postpones decision on use of frozen Russian assets: EU leaders failed to reach an agreement on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Instead, the European Commission is to draft proposals to cover Kyiv’s financial needs for 2026 and 2027. Belgium, where most of the funds are held, blocked an immediate decision, citing liability risks and demanding guarantees from other member states. The final communiqué merely notes that support for Ukraine will continue, without naming specific funding sources. rnd.de, zdfheute.de, spiegel.de
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the EU summit to provide long-range European weapons after U.S. President Donald Trump declined to commit to supplying Tomahawk missiles. Ukraine intends to use these systems for strikes deep inside Russian territory, which Zelenskyy said „makes a big difference“ for Russia.
Zelenskyy welcomed the new EU sanctions against Russia and called for further pressure. The new sanctions package aims to reduce Russia’s energy revenues significantly and includes additional measures in the financial and trade sectors.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expects an exemption for Rosneft Germany from the new U.S. sanctions. Merz believes the latest sanctions on the Russian oil sector will not apply to Rosneft’s German subsidiary, as Washington is likely to exempt companies with less than 50% Russian ownership. Rosneft Germany has been under federal trusteeship since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Germany nevertheless intends to discuss the issue with the U.S. government. bloomberg.com
Coalition of the Willing meets in London to discuss further Ukraine aid: Germany is represented by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. Also expected are Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and several European heads of government. The goal is to better coordinate aid for Kyiv and increase pressure on Russia. France, the U.K., and Germany lead the alliance of about 30 countries. Discussions also include the supply of additional precision weapons, including German Taurus cruise missiles.
Russian fighter jets violate Lithuanian airspace: According to the Lithuanian armed forces, a Su-30 fighter jet and an IL-78 refueling aircraft entered Lithuanian territory from the Kaliningrad region by about 700 meters. In response, Spanish NATO Eurofighters currently securing Baltic airspace were scrambled. President Gitanas Nausėda called the incident a blatant violation of territorial integrity and announced a diplomatic response. Similar incidents occurred over Estonia in September. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have no fighter jets of their own; NATO has secured Baltic airspace since 2004. Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Russia’s airspace violation over Lithuania „no coincidence“ and another provocation by Moscow. tagesschau.de, n-tv.de
Tax forecasters expect around 33.6 billion euros in higher revenues by 2029 compared to the previous estimate. However, the additional revenue will benefit only the federal states and municipalities. The federal government will not gain any additional income overall due to planned tax relief measures. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil highlighted the effectiveness of the investment package in promoting economic growth, but emphasized the continued pressure to consolidate. According to current planning, the federal budget gap for 2027 to 2029 amounts to 172 billion euros. All ministries are still required to save. Klingbeil sees no reason, based on the current tax forecast, for the federal government to compensate the states for lost revenue. Despite expected burdens from VAT reductions and commuter tax allowances, he noted that states and municipalities, unlike the federal government, can expect higher revenues in the future. zdfheute.de, n-tv.de, faz.net
Karlsruhe strengthens the right of self-determination for church employers: Church employers are generally allowed to select applicants based on their religious affiliation. The Second Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court thus overturned a previous ruling by the Federal Labor Court, which had awarded compensation to a non-denominational applicant who was rejected by the Diakonie for discrimination. The court emphasized that churches may independently determine the requirements for religious affiliation as long as they are related to the job profile. Rejected applicants therefore are not automatically entitled to compensation. tagesschau.de
Bird flu spreading rapidly: In a video conference, the federal and state agriculture ministers discussed measures to contain the outbreak. No results were initially announced. Cases are increasing nationwide, and tens of thousands of animals have had to be culled in several regions. Most recently, a farm in Baden-Württemberg was affected, where about 15,000 animals had to be killed. Authorities have established a three-kilometer protection zone around the farm. According to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, more cranes are infected than ever before; wild birds are considered the main carriers of the virus. tagesschau.de
Other reports:
- Economics Minister Katherina Reiche makes surprise visit to Kyiv.
- Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer calls for public libraries to open on Sundays and public holidays.
- CSU leader Markus Söder demands EU measures to limit the entry of Ukrainians.
- Self-Determination Act: Several thousand people have changed their gender entry.
Debate over Merz’s „Cityscape“ Remarks Sparks Outrage among Migrants
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s comments linking Germany’s „cityscape“ to deportations have drawn strong criticism from migrant communities and organizations in Bavaria. Many described his words as divisive and reminiscent of far-right rhetoric. While Merz later emphasized the importance of immigration for the labor market, critics said his remarks undermine migrants’ sense of belonging and fuel fear and exclusion. br.de
Other news:
- Hamburg: Continuous surveillance of empty Scholz apartment costs millions per year.
- Lower Saxony: CDU local politician Marco Walczak comments on Facebook using a Nazi slogan.
- Lower Saxony: Germany’s first offshore wind farm Alpha Ventus to be dismantled after 15 years.
- Schleswig-Holstein: Number of accidents involving e-scooters on the rise.
EU summit calls for rapid reduction of bureaucratic hurdles. EU leaders have urged the European Commission to take swift and concrete steps to cut red tape to boost the competitiveness of the single market and ease the burden on businesses. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the commission must act much faster than before. Member states also called for existing regulations to be consistently simplified. n-tv.de
- EU countries want more flexibility in meeting climate targets and are demanding a review of the planned ban on combustion engines from 2035. The Commission is to present proposals soon to better balance climate protection and economic competitiveness. Member states are also pushing for stricter rules to protect minors online, including harmonized age limits on social media platforms such as TikTok and Facebook.
- European Council President António Costa sharply contradicted Chancellor Friedrich Merz over remarks he made about the Mercosur trade deal.
Other reports:
- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola rebukes Chancellor Merz over the EU supply chain law.
- A broad „industry alliance“ protests against key elements of the EU’s emissions trading system.
- EU Parliament passes new rules for plastic manufacturers to limit microplastics.
- MEPs urge Commission President von der Leyen to dismiss EU Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi amid allegations of a Hungarian spy network.
Hungary: Rival mass rallies mark national holiday
Prime Minister Viktor Orban and opposition leader Peter Magyar each drew tens of thousands to competing demonstrations in Budapest. Supporters of Orban’s ruling Fidesz party joined a „peace march“ where he again criticized EU aid to Ukraine. At the same time, Magyar’s liberal-conservative Tisza party launched its election campaign with a „national march,“ accusing Orban of being too close to Russia and calling for political renewal. The rallies signal the unofficial start of Hungary’s spring parliamentary election campaign, where Tisza currently has strong polling prospects. n-tv.de, zdfheute.de, zeit.de
The majority of companies see infrastructure as a competitive disadvantage. According to a survey by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln), 84 percent of companies say shortcomings in roads, bridges, and rail networks are harming their business operations. What was once a location advantage has now become a burden. IW Köln warned that without long-term, reliable investment, Germany’s competitiveness will continue to decline. The institute sees potential for improvement in the targeted use of the €500 billion special infrastructure fund approved in March.
Other business news:
- VW and Mercedes are seeking alternative suppliers amid a looming shortage of semiconductor chips.
- Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales plan to merge their space operations to create a European counterweight to Elon Musk’s Starlink.
- Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla plans a major restructuring to decentralize the company; a detailed concept is expected in December.
- The larkspur has been named „Flower of the Year 2026,“ highlighting the loss of species in agricultural landscapes.
- Google unveils a new super algorithm for quantum computing.
- State media regulator Eva Flecken calls for stricter rules for „algorithm moguls.“
- NZZ Deutschland appoints Florian Eder as editor-in-chief, succeeding Marc Felix Serrao.
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While Halloween in Germany looks a lot like the American version today — with costumes, parties, and pumpkins — its local twist is all about „Rübengeister.“ Long before pumpkins became the symbol of spooky season, children in southern Germany carved grotesque faces into hollowed-out turnips („Rüben“) and placed candles inside to ward off evil spirits. These eerie root lanterns were paraded through villages on chilly October nights, a tradition that predated American trick-or-treating by centuries.
So next time you see a glowing pumpkin in Berlin, imagine its humble German ancestor — a terrifying turnip guarding the doorstep from ghosts.