Bild: TV star Michael Schanze: I lost 93 kilos with weight-loss injections! / TV-Star Michael Schanze: Mit Abnehmspritze habe ich 93 Kilo abgespeckt!
FAZ: Merz: „No longer any reason“ for Syrians to seek asylum in Germany / Merz: Für Syrer „keinerlei Gründe“ mehr für Asyl in Deutschland
Funke: Now law: 560,000 trees must be planted by 2040 / Jetzt Gesetz: Bis 2040 müssen 560.000 Bäume gepflanzt werden
Handelsblatt: Industrial electricity price to take effect in January / Industriestrompreis soll ab Januar kommen
RND: Merz invites Syrian president to talks on deportations / Merz lädt syrischen Präsidenten zu Gesprächen über Abschiebungen ein
SZ: Train delays worse than ever before / Bahn so unpünktlich wie nie zuvor
Tagesspiegel: New financial gap at Deutsche Bahn: Federal government cuts funding, 100 million euros missing / Neues Finanzloch bei der Bahn: Bund streicht Förderung, 100 Millionen Euro fehlen
taz: Another NSU trial after all / Doch noch ein NSU-Prozess
Welt: Dobrindt already preparing deportations to Syria / Dobrindt bereitet bereits Abschiebungen nach Syrien vor
Government agrees on deportations to Syria: Reports of internal disagreements over the return of Syrian nationals have been denied by a government spokesperson. The goal, they said, is to stabilize the situation in Syria so that voluntary returns become possible. At the same time, the government is working on legal and organizational measures to allow future deportations of criminals to their home country, as outlined in the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD. zdfheute.de, zeit.de, faz.net
- The debate was sparked by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who, during a visit to Damascus, said that given the destruction, people could hardly live there with dignity. He doubted that a large number of Syrian refugees would return voluntarily in the near future.tagesschau.de
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that the civil war in Syria is over; he continues to reject asylum for Syrians. He assumes that many people will voluntarily return to their homeland to help with reconstruction after the war. He sees no obstacles to deportations and plans to hold talks with Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa. zdfheute.de
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt defended deportations to Syria, referring to the corresponding agreement in the coalition treaty.
- CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann said on ntv’s morning show: „The situation is crystal clear: criminals must be deported. And war refugees or former war refugees must, of course, find their way back to Syria in the future—at least where possible.“ n-tv.de
- Deputy parliamentary group leader Günter Krings said that the level of destruction in a country is not a valid argument against „voluntary or mandatory return“; who else should rebuild a destroyed country if not its own citizens?zdfheute.de
- Chancellery Minister Thorsten Frei sees no fundamental obstacles to returns to Syria. As an example, Frei mentioned „young men of Arab origin and Sunni faith“; according to him, they face neither danger nor destitution in Syria.
- Hesse’s Interior Minister Roman Poseck urged the government to stay the course on migration reform and pursue talks on returns to Syria.
- SPD domestic policy spokesman Helge Lindh considers deportations of criminals and dangerous individuals to Syria justifiable but rejects blanket mass deportations, calling instead for case-by-case reviews.
Bild Sunday Trend by Insa: CDU/CSU 25.5% (+1), AfD 25.5% (-0.5), SPD 15%, Greens 11%, Left 11% (+0.5), BSW 4%, FDP 3% (-0.5), Others 5%. bild.de
Incidents despite ceasefire in Gaza: In southern and central Gaza, Israeli strikes caused several deaths and injuries, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli army said that armed Palestinians had approached soldiers and posed a threat, prompting air and ground responses. The military stated that the attackers crossed the „yellow line,“ behind which Israeli troops had withdrawn as part of the ceasefire.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed confidence that Hamas will continue to respect the ceasefire in Gaza. He also called for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to be involved in implementing the U.S. peace plan.
- Foreign ministers from the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan urged Israel to uphold the ceasefire and once again promoted a two-state solution. Only this could bring lasting peace, said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at a conference on Gaza’s future.
Muslim countries, however, do not want to take responsibility for disarming Hamas. handelsblatt.com - Israel has identified three bodies handed over by Hamas on Sunday as the remains of soldiers killed in the October 7, 2023, attacks. Eight bodies of Israeli hostages remain in Gaza.
- Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon continue: Two people were killed and several civilians injured in new strikes near Nabatieh. Among the dead was reportedly a Hezbollah commander. Increased Israeli military activity was also observed along the border.
UKRAINE
Ukraine to open arms export offices in Berlin and Copenhagen: The goal is to launch in 2025 to deepen cooperation with Western partners. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans to involve more international partners in joint weapons production. Among the systems suitable for export, he listed naval drones and artillery guns. Serial production of the Ukrainian missile models Flamingo and Ruta is expected to begin by the end of the year.
- Serbia signals openness to selling its ammunition stockpiles to European partners, who could then do as they wish with them—including transferring them to Ukraine. President Aleksandar Vučić said this could contribute to European security, even if Serbia does not formally see itself as supplying a party to the war.
- The European Commission praised Ukraine’s strong commitment to reform in its latest accession report but urged greater efforts in the rule of law. It criticized political pressure on anti-corruption bodies and restrictions on civil society, which must be reversed, according to the report.
- Ukraine needs another 750 million dollars to finance sufficient gas imports for the winter, according to government sources in Kyiv. President Zelensky pointed to intensified Russian attacks on energy facilities aimed at wearing down the civilian population.
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche announces industrial electricity price for early 2026: Talks with the EU Commission on a state-subsidized industrial electricity price are nearing completion. Companies in energy-intensive sectors will need to prove pledged investments in efficiency and sustainability. Reiche called the measure key to maintaining the international competitiveness of Germany’s steel industry. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has scheduled a high-level meeting for Thursday to discuss the sector’s situation.zeit.de, faz.net, spiegel.de
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announces expanded municipal support: Strengthening cities and municipalities is essential for effective government action, he said. At a municipal conference in Mannheim, Dobrindt announced plans to triple the budget of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance next year. The Technical Relief Agency’s funding is also set to rise by 60 percent. He added that municipalities need not only financial resources, but also greater autonomy to address local challenges. swr.de, zdfheute.de, stern.de
Federal Office for Information Security urges legal protection for ethical hackers: The BSI is calling for a rapid reform of the so-called hacker paragraph. BSI President Claudia Plattner said that those who responsibly report security vulnerabilities must not face legal risks. A draft law is already being reviewed by the Justice Ministry. The former coalition had prepared a similar reform to adapt criminal law to cybersecurity realities. yahoo.com
Labour Minister Bärbel Bas plans to ease occupational safety rules for small businesses: Companies with fewer than 50 employees will no longer be required to appoint a safety officer, according to Bas. She intends to present her proposal on Wednesday to the „Relief Cabinet,“ where other ministries will also introduce initiatives to reduce bureaucracy for businesses, citizens, and public administration.handelsblatt.com
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants regular cabinet meetings focused on cutting red tape.
Environment Minister Carsten Schneider rejects industry criticism of emissions trading: The system has nearly halved greenhouse gas emissions over the past two decades, he told DLF. However, he is open to extending the EU emissions trading scheme beyond its current timeframe. Schneider also warned against shifting production to third countries with more polluting technologies. The topic is expected to be a major point of contention at next week’s UN Climate Conference in Brazil. zeit.de
The federal government cuts subsidies for air traffic control: Lower Saxony’s Transport Minister, Grant Hendrik Tonne, warns that this could force the closure of numerous regional airports. A total of 44 airports nationwide are affected, including Braunschweig-Wolfsburg, Emden, and Wilhelmshaven in Lower Saxony. While €50 million is still allocated for 2025, operators will have to cover the full costs from the following year. Tonne called this a break with past funding practices, saying it endangers the viability of many small airports. At major airports, airlines already bear air traffic control costs. kreiszeitung.de
Other news:
- More Afghans with admission permits will arrive in Germany on Tuesday. rnd.de
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul holds phone call with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi; postponed
- China trip to be rescheduled soon. spiegel.de
- Society less divided than many perceive. welt.de
- North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister President Hendrik Wüst calls for major relief measures for industry ahead of the steel summit at the Chancellery. rp-online.de
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Arson attack on AfD politician Bernd Baumann’s car: The vehicle belonging to the AfD parliamentary secretary in the Bundestag was burned out early Monday morning in front of his home in Hamburg-Othmarschen. Police discovered the fire around 3:20 a.m., and state security took over the investigation during the night. The car was registered to Baumann’s wife. A letter of confession circulating online on the left-wing platform “Indymedia” points to left-extremist perpetrators from the Antifa scene. Baumann’s party called it an attack on democracy and demanded a tougher stance against political violence. spiegel.de, handelsblatt.com
Only one quarter of Germany’s territory remains suitable for a nuclear waste repository: According to new geological studies, mainly areas in northern Germany, but also some in the south, are considered suitable. By the end of 2027, the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal aims to propose specific regions for above-ground exploration. The final decision on the permanent storage site will be made by the Bundestag and Bundesrat, which are expected to designate a safe site for highly radioactive waste by 2050. zdfheute.de
Other news:
- Berlin: House of Representatives aims to double the number of trees to one million by 2040. spiegel.de
- Berlin: Interior Senator Iris Spranger calls for better drone defense after the BER incident. rbb24.de
- Bavaria: Investigation launched against police officer after shooting of Bundeswehr soldier. rnd.de
- NRW: Suspect from Remscheid reveals fourth weapons cache. faz.net
- Schleswig-Holstein: Chancellor Friedrich Merz becomes godfather to a seal at the Friedrichskoog Seal Station on the North Sea.
- Thuringia: Authorities refuse to hire AfD member over doubts about constitutional loyalty; labor court reviewing settlement. welt.de
- Thuringia: SPD district administrator of Nordhausen, Matthias Jendricke, introduces work requirement for young citizen’s benefit recipients. welt.de
EU countries push for cutting red tape and industrial reform: Germany and 18 other EU member states have submitted a joint declaration at the „Friends of Industry“ conference to EU Commission Vice President Stephane Séjourné, calling for a more competitive industrial sector and less regulation. The signatories demand a systematic review of existing EU regulations to eliminate unnecessary burdens on businesses.zeit.de, welt.de
Cuts in development aid overshadow World Social Summit in Doha: Government representatives, UN organizations, and civil society groups are meeting in Doha to discuss strategies to fight poverty and social inequality. The focus is on measures promoting full employment, decent work, and social cohesion. However, the talks are overshadowed by recent cuts in international development aid, which raise doubts about the feasibility of these goals. The summit is expected to provide new political momentum for the 2030 Agenda. evangelische-zeitung.de
Other news:
- 33 cities reach joint climate agreement ahead of COP30. zeit.de
- Brussels admits substantial EU funds went to spyware manufacturers. heise.de
- EU countries want to give Frontex more authority against drones. euractiv.de
- Trump diplomats reportedly threatened EU colleagues and their families. watson.de
- EU lawmakers plan to challenge the Mercosur trade deal in court. euractiv.de
Share of women in leadership positions stagnant for years: Women remain significantly underrepresented in executive roles in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office, only 29.1 percent of all managers in 2024 were women—a figure that has barely changed since 2014. Nationwide, 540,000 women held leadership positions, compared with 1.32 million men. In an EU comparison, Germany also lags behind the average of 35.2 percent female executives. zdfheute.de, tagesschau.de
OECD reports employment gap among migrants in Germany: Migrants are significantly less likely to be employed than native-born citizens, according to the new OECD Migration Report. In 2024, 69.6 percent of migrants in Germany were employed, compared to a rate 10.3 percentage points higher among natives. Only Turkey and the Netherlands recorded larger gaps. The OECD noted that the disparity is particularly pronounced among highly qualified workers. zeit.de
Other news:
- Consumer sentiment declines again. n-tv.de
- Mechanical engineering sector continues to struggle with falling orders. n-tv.de
- Every second Deutsche Bahn train was delayed in October, marking a new low. rnd.de
- Low-cost airline Ryanair reports profit increase. tagesschau.de
- OpenAI and Microsoft secure AI computing capacity from internet provider Amazon. zeit.de
- Kiel Institute for the World Economy: 75 million new jobs expected in Africa by 2029. table.media/africa
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Autumn in Germany isn’t just about golden leaves and pumpkin soup—it’s Schunkel season. As the air gets crisp, locals grab a beer, lock arms, and sway (that’s schunkeln) to cheesy Schlager hits at every Oktoberfest afterparty and village fair. It’s the German way of staying warm—through rhythm, laughter, and just a touch of collective embarrassment. Prost to togetherness!