Bild: The drama behind Michael Schanze’s 195 kilos / Michael Schanze: Das Drama hinter seinen 195 Kilo
FAZ: Spahn accuses Wadephul of damaging the coalition’s image / Spahn wirft Wadephul vor, Bild der Koalition zu beschädigen
Funke: Suspicion of embezzlement: Dubious subsidies in the cultural administration / Untreueverdacht: Dubiose Zuschüsse in der Kulturverwaltung
Handelsblatt: Wildberger expects billions in relief / Wildberger rechnet mit Milliarden-Entlastung
RND: Left-wing Democrat Zohran Mamdani wins New York mayoral election / Linker Demokrat Zohran Mamdani gewinnt Bürgermeisterwahl in New York
SZ: Karlsruhe overturns triage law / Karlsruhe kippt Triage-Gesetz
Tagesspiegel: Major doubts about the pension system: Citizens fear for their retirement benefits / Große Zweifel am Rentensystem: Bürger fürchten um Altersbezüge
taz: „Apparently, we disrupted the cityscape“ / „Wir haben wohl das Stadtbild gestört“
Welt: Federal government offers Afghans money / Bundesregierung bietet Afghanen Geld an
Zohran Mamdani wins New York mayoral election: Left-wing Democrat Zohran Mamdani is the new mayor of New York and the first Muslim to hold this office. The 34-year-old defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. During his campaign, Mamdani promised a rent cap, free buses and childcare, and higher taxes for the wealthy and corporations. US President Donald Trump had threatened to cut federal funding if Mamdani won. The newcomer could become a significant political opponent to Trump. zeit.de, t-online.de
- Democrat Abigail Spanberger wins gubernatorial election in Virginia.
- In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
GAZA
Fatal incident at the „yellow line“ in the northern Gaza Strip: An armed man reportedly crossed the so-called „yellow line“ in the northern part of the coastal area and approached soldiers, who then shot him. The attack represented an „immediate threat,“ according to the Israeli military. In the south of Gaza, the army also reported a „precise strike“ on several facilities labeled as terrorist.
- Hamas has again handed over human remains in Gaza. According to the Israeli army, the body belongs to an American-Israeli soldier. There are still seven deceased hostages in Gaza. welt.de
- As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel has handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians to Gaza. The step took place on Monday, one day after Israel received the remains of three hostages. For each Israeli hostage, Israel is to return the bodies of 15 deceased Gaza residents.
- The US is advocating for a UN mandate for the Gaza security force. sueddeutsche.de
- The UN World Food Programme has supplied food to one million people in Gaza since the ceasefire began. The nutritional situation has slightly improved, the organization said, but it urged the opening of more border crossings, as only two are currently allowing aid deliveries.
- Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan plans to strictly monitor the use of German aid funds for Gaza’s reconstruction. She stressed that no other partner country is scrutinized so closely; no funds from the 200-million-euro package have yet been disbursed.
- The Foreign Office has lifted its travel warning for parts of Israel. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul justified the step with progress in the peace process and said it aims to further promote German-Israeli exchange. tagesschau.de
UKRAINE
Germany increases Ukraine aid by three billion euros: The 2026 budget will allocate a total of 11.5 billion euros. The proposal, prepared by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil in coordination with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, is to be submitted before the conclusion of next week’s budget talks. handelsblatt.com
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky views progress toward EU membership positively. According to the latest European Commission report, Ukraine is ready to open the first three negotiation chapters, and Zelensky calls for a united European approach without artificial obstacles.
- He rejects the idea of partial EU membership.
- South Korea’s intelligence agency NIS reports that North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to Russia since September. They are reportedly engaged in construction, demining, and guard duties near the Russian-Ukrainian border.n-tv.de
- The US has eased some sanctions on Belarus, including measures against the state airline Belavia. The move followed the release of 52 prisoners as part of a rapprochement effort, though most sanctions remain in place.
Want to get visibility in German politics? Use the *Politbriefing* to put your message in front of Germany’s political insiders. Our weekday newsletter reaches key decision-makers and influencers in Berlin and beyond — giving your cause the attention it deserves.
See our media kit and let’s talk about how we can help you reach the right audience. Contact us: +49 (0)30 692023535 | werbung@capital-beat.tv — We’re happy to advise you!
RTL/ntv trend barometer by Forsa: CDU/CSU 24 percent (-1), AfD 26 percent, SPD 14 percent (+1), Greens 12 percent, Left Party 12 percent, BSW 3 percent, FDP 3 percent, Others 6 percent. n-tv.de
Health Minister Nina Warken to consult with federal states on triage legislation: Following the Federal Constitutional Court’s ruling, Warken said the states are responsible and announced talks to coordinate next steps.zdfheute.de, zeit.de
- Karlsruhe has declared the 2022 triage reform unconstitutional. The regulation, passed by the Bundestag, concerned the allocation of intensive care resources when capacities are limited. It aimed to prevent discrimination against elderly, dependent, or disabled people in such cases. The judges ruled that the federal government lacks legislative authority.
- The Marburger Bund called the ruling an important victory for the medical profession. The court clarified that state regulations must not unduly restrict doctors’ professional freedom.
Germany takes in more vulnerable Afghans: 31 particularly at-risk individuals with approved court rulings arrived in Hanover after going through screening and security checks. They flew from Pakistan via Istanbul. The arrivals come despite the admission program being halted since May, while many Afghan families remain in Pakistan waiting to enter Germany. welt.de
- Afghans waiting in Pakistan to travel to Germany are reportedly being offered money by the federal government if they give up their resettlement approvals. Families could receive up to 14,000 euros if they return to Afghanistan instead. The Interior Ministry describes the plan as a voluntary return program that also includes support for relocation to third countries. tagesschau.de
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urges moderation in the debate on Syrian returnees: Steinmeier criticized the tone of discussions following Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s remarks on Syrian refugees. He expressed understanding for Wadephul’s cautious assessment after visiting war-torn Syria and said people should be allowed to process the devastation before drawing political conclusions. n-tv.de
- Steinmeier also spoke out against a quick return of Syrian refugees. Given the ongoing instability in Syria, he called for a careful balance between humanitarian responsibility and security concerns.
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized that the government remains united in its goal of enabling more returns, including to Syria. While returns have not yet been possible, he said work is underway on solutions and voluntary return programs.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz signals greater support for northern ports: After a meeting with the state government in Schwerin, Merz stressed the importance of strong port infrastructure for Germany’s export economy. „We want to do more to ensure that the ports are well developed,“ he said, though he made no specific funding commitments. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Minister-President Manuela Schwesig called for additional funding, such as from federal special funds, arguing that the current 38 million euros per year is insufficient. ndr.de
Other reports:
- National Security Council meets for the first time. augsburger-allgemeine.de
- Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger expects billions in relief. handelsblatt.com
- Defense Committee chair and CDU military expert Thomas Röwekamp moves away from lottery-based selection. n-tv.de
- Bundestag President Julia Klöckner comments on prostitution, calling Germany the „brothel of Europe.“ faz.net
- CDU environmental politician Andreas Jung calls for speeding up the search for a nuclear waste repository. deutschlandfunk.de
- Monopolies Commission criticizes high prices for charging electric cars. n-tv.de
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz cancels last-minute participation in Latin America Summit in Santa Marta; Colombia expresses irritation. sueddeutsche.de
- Federal Data Protection Authority approves first service designed to counter the flood of cookie banners. heise.de
Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister-President Daniel Günther reshuffles cabinet: Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack and Agriculture Minister Werner Schwarz are retiring. Their successors will be former Interior State Secretary Magdalena Finke and state parliament member Cornelia Schmachtenberg. Günther emphasized the close cooperation with the departing ministers and noted that their decision to step down had been agreed internally before the summer break; both had informed him some time ago that they did not plan to remain in office for the entire legislative term.ndr.de, welt.de
Other news:
Berlin: Allegedly illegal allocation of funding; Greens and Left Party consider setting up an investigative committee. tagesspiegel.de
Brandenburg: Berlin and Potsdam plan closer cooperation on refugee policy. tagesspiegel.de
North Rhine-Westphalia: SPD politician Iris Stalzer sworn in as mayor of Herdecke. spiegel.de
North Rhine-Westphalia: Nearly twice as many attacks on refugee shelters. zdfheute.de
North Rhine-Westphalia: Cologne Imposes Budget Freeze Due to Growing Deficit. ksta.de
Thuringia: Minister-President Mario Voigt opposes EU cap on agricultural subsidies. n-tv.de
Hesse: The state allocates special funds to municipalities and hospitals. faz.net
Hesse: All-clear for drinking water in Wiesbaden. wiesbadenaktuell.de
Baden-Württemberg: Investigators arrest teenager suspected of belonging to a splinter group of the online network 764. tagesschau.de
Hamburg: Senior member of the banned Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) arrested. n-tv.de
Brandenburg: Majority for state media reform treaty in doubt; BSW announces it will not approve. dwdl.de
Telekom and Nvidia to build billion-euro AI factory in Munich: Deutsche Telekom is entering the artificial intelligence data center business and, together with Nvidia, will build an AI factory in Munich. The investment volume amounts to around one billion euros. All data processing will take place in Germany and be handled exclusively by European staff. Telekom CEO Timotheus Höttges called the project a decisive step for industrial competitiveness, while Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger highlighted its significance for Germany as a leading AI hub. n-tv.de
Other news:
- 33 million people employed in Germany’s SME sector — more than ever before. n-tv.de
- Pension report: Germany’s retirement system faces a crisis of confidence. zdfheute.de
- The German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation has detected harmful „forever chemicals“ in numerous drinking water samples. swr.de
- Bosch announces short-time work at its Ansbach and Salzgitter plants due to supply problems with chip manufacturer Nexperia. stern.de