Bild: Ingrid van Bergen has gone blind and is too poor for a nursing home / Ingrid van Bergen erblindet und zu arm fürs Heim
FAZ: EU states agree on climate target until 2040 / EU-Staaten verständigen sich auf Klimaziel bis 2040
Funke: Suspicion of embezzlement against senator: Opposition demands parliamentary inquiry / Untreue-Verdacht gegen Senatoren: Opposition fordert U-Ausschuss
Handelsblatt: The problem child: the car industry / Problemfall Auto
RND: Federal Youth Council rejects conscription / Bundesjugendring lehnt Wehrpflicht ab
SZ: Success against online fraudsters / Erfolg gegen Online-Betrüger
Tagesspiegel: EU countries agree: 90 percent fewer emissions by 2040 / EU-Länder einig: 90 Prozent weniger Emissionen bis 2040
taz: Start spreading the news. Left’s winning today. We want to be a part of it. New York. New York / Start spreading the news. Left’s winning today. We want to be a part of it. New York. New York
Welt: Dobrindt bans „Muslim Interaktiv“ / Dobrindt verbietet „Muslim Interaktiv“
The government adopts several measures to reduce bureaucracy. The projects, drawn from various ministries, are to be implemented quickly and are expected to deliver relief worth at least 100 million euros. Plans include digitalizing property purchase contracts, simplifying trade regulations, and eliminating selected reporting obligations. In addition, the cabinet agreed on around 50 further measures to be decided by mid-2026 to accelerate planning and approval procedures. By the end of the legislative period, bureaucracy costs are to be reduced by a total of 16 billion euros. welt.de, handelsblatt.com
Hamas hands over another body to Israel. Israeli soldiers recovered the body of a reportedly kidnapped hostage in Gaza on Wednesday evening, after Hamas handed it to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The person’s identity will now be forensically confirmed in Tel Aviv.tagesspiegel.de
- Israel returns 15 more bodies of Palestinian victims to Gaza, bringing the total number of bodies handed over to 285, according to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.
- The body handed over on Tuesday was that of 19-year-old Itay Chen, the last remaining hostage in Gaza with German citizenship. The Israeli soldier, who also held U.S. citizenship, was killed on October 7, 2023. tagesschau.de
- Germany’s ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, expressed deep sadness but also relief for the Chen family, saying their son and brother had finally returned from Gaza. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier conveyed his condolences to the Chen family, acknowledging their long months of uncertainty.
- The World Health Organization launches a large-scale vaccination campaign in Gaza, aiming to immunize 44,000 children within ten days against polio, measles, mumps, and rubella, with further rounds planned in December and January.
- Aid organizations criticize blockades in distributing winter aid. The Norwegian Refugee Council reports that Israel has repeatedly blocked the entry of aid shipments, leaving thousands of pallets with tents, blankets, and cooking gear stuck in neighboring countries.
President Volodymyr Zelensky calls for more international support to protect Ukraine’s energy system. Due to ongoing Russian attacks, strengthening air defenses and securing energy infrastructure are the top priorities. Russian forces continue to target power and transformer stations, prompting new power cuts across the country to stabilize the grid.
- Ukrainian energy experts warn of severe winter blackouts following sustained Russian attacks on power distribution networks. Energy expert Oleksandr Kharchenko said cities like Kyiv must prepare emergency plans, as extended heating plant failures during deep frost could cause a „technological catastrophe.“
- The Northern European military coalition Joint Expeditionary Force will deepen cooperation with Ukraine. UK Defense Minister John Healey said the agreement will help Kyiv prepare for potential NATO membership, including joint actions against hybrid threats, air defense, and critical infrastructure protection.
Opposition leader Petro Poroshenko accuses President Zelensky of persecuting political opponents under the guise of law enforcement. welt.de
Chancellor Friedrich Merz backs Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in the Syria debate. Merz dismissed reports of internal criticism, saying he „fully supports“ Wadephul, who had opposed deportations of Syrian refugees citing the country’s destruction. Media reports suggest his remarks comparing Syria’s state to post-WWII Germany caused irritation within the party.spiegel.de, zdfheute.de
The National Security Council adopts an action plan against hybrid threats. Chaired by Chancellor Merz, the new council approved a cross-ministerial plan to strengthen counterespionage and protect critical infrastructure, citing increasing Russian activities. The council also discussed reducing strategic dependencies on critical raw materials. n-tv.de, zeit.de
- Northern German coastal states plan joint drone defense following increased drone overflights. Officials will meet in Hamburg on Friday to coordinate under the „Northern German Drone Defense Competence Cluster.“
Chancellor Merz calls for strengthening the steel industry ahead of Thursday’s „Steel Summit“ in Berlin. Lower Saxony’s premier Olaf Lies urged concrete outcomes and a „steel pact“ to ensure fair trade, protection measures, and affordable energy prices.zeit.de
Health Minister Nina Warken announces a new comprehensive care concept. She plans to further develop—not abolish—the current care level system and integrate it into a broad reform addressing financial strain, staff shortages, and rising personal costs in nursing homes. Nursing Council President Christine Vogler warned against abolishing Level 1, saying it would weaken access to preventive support.apotheken-umschau.de
More News
- Green Party leader Felix Banaszak criticizes cash offers to Afghans to deter entry into Germany. welt.de
- Human rights activists warn government against violating international law with such payments. rnd.de
- Federal Youth Council rejects conscription. rnd.de
- Cem Özdemir: „In Baden-Württemberg, we’re kind of the CSU of the Greens.“ rnd.de
- Defense Committee criticizes Defense Minister Pistorius over digital radio issues. tagesschau.de
- Left Party and Greens call for a digital tax. t-online.de
- 2026 Westphalian Peace Prize goes to NATO. stern.de
The Ball of the „Breakfast Directors“ is probably the most self-ironic ball in political Berlin – a mix of satire, style, and networking charm. It began after the turn of the millennium, when communications and public affairs professionals simply met for breakfast. From that emerged the circle of „Breakfast Directors“ – and soon after, the ball itself. For over a decade now, it’s been an evening of dancing, debate, and laughter.
This year’s ball, on November 27, will support Zweitzeugen e.V., an initiative that keeps the stories of Holocaust survivors alive – so that remembrance has a future.
Tickets (donation): www.fruehstuecksdirektoren.de
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt bans the Islamist organization Muslim Interaktiv. The group is accused of denying Israel’s right to exist, calling for a caliphate, and deliberately radicalizing young people. According to Dobrindt, Muslim Interaktiv aims to divide society — primarily by targeting youth for radicalization. As part of the ban, security authorities searched 19 locations in Hamburg, Berlin, and Hesse, seizing cash, data storage devices, and handwritten notes. The Interior Ministry had been monitoring the group for about a year and a half. rnd.de, n-tv.de
Further news:
- NRW: Court rules against deportation protection for Syrians. handelsblatt.com
- Lower Saxony: Prosecutors file charges against police officers after the fatal shooting of a young man during an Easter operation in Oldenburg.
- NRW: State parliament approves broadcasting reforms. n-tv.de
- Bremen: Henrike Müller nominated as Bremen’s new Environment Senator. n-tv.de
- Berlin: Central Council of Jews honors activist Karoline Preisler with the Paul Spiegel Prize for Civil Courage. tagesspiegel.de
The EU agrees on a weakened 2040 climate target. Shortly before the World Climate Conference, EU environment ministers in Brussels reached an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. Five percentage points of the reduction may be achieved through the purchase of emissions certificates from non-EU countries, effectively lowering the required reduction within the EU to 85 percent. Additionally, the start of the emissions trading system for buildings and transport has been postponed to 2028. tagesschau.de, sueddeutsche.de, zdfheute.de
- Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said Europe could play a key role at the upcoming meeting in Brazil starting Monday.
- Greenpeace criticized the adjusted targets, saying the EU is heading to Belém with a weak climate goal and ignoring scientific warnings.
- Green Party parliamentary leader Katharina Dröge called the EU’s agreement a „disastrous signal“ to the conference: „If Europe slows down on climate protection, the world slows down with it.“
The European Commission plans to expand a cross-border high-speed rail network between major cities. By 2040, key European capitals should be connected by trains traveling at least 200 kilometers per hour, making routes such as Berlin–Copenhagen significantly faster and turning rail travel into a more attractive alternative to short-haul flights. The total cost is estimated at around 345 billion euros, to be financed through national contributions, private investors, and EU funds. Commission Vice President Raffaele Fitto described the project as a contribution to greater European connectivity and economic momentum. rnd.de, spiegel.de, tagesschau.de
Further reports:
- The EU will maintain a central ticketing system for European rail travel. euractiv.de
- The aviation industry calls for improvements to the EU’s sustainable transport investment plan. aerotelegraph.com
- Despite high demand, the EU will clearly miss its target for expanding chip production. spiegel.de
- Digital Markets Act: How Apple is undermining EU regulation. heise.de
- Ankara reaffirms its goal of joining the EU defense program „Safe.“ stern.de
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Industry receives more orders again in September. After four consecutive declines, German industry recorded an increase in orders in September. According to the Federal Statistical Office, incoming orders rose by 1.1 percent compared to August, mainly thanks to gains in the automotive and electrical equipment sectors. However, overall order levels in the third quarter remained 3.0 percent below those of the previous quarter. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs therefore sees no sign of a sustained turnaround yet.
Further news:
- Demand for electric cars remains high. zdfheute.de
- Housing shortage in Germany: The number of new apartments is expected to decline again in 2025. spiegel.de
- Employee survey: one in two receives a Christmas bonus. spiegel.de
- Disastrous survey: Deutsche Bahn employees are losing faith in the company. n-tv.de
- Trembling poplar, named „Tree of the Year 2026.“ evangelisch.de
The Germany List is a business portal created by longtime American expats Lindsey Küster and Eleanor Mayrhofer to make life easier for internationals living in Germany. Frustrated by the scattered, time-consuming search for everyday services, they built a centralized platform where immigrants can easily find trusted businesses — from therapists and dog walkers to photographers, coaches, stylists, and specialty foods. Unlike traditional expat services that focus mainly on tax advice and relocation, The Germany List addresses the broader needs of everyday life.
Germans love their rules — but they love bending them just as much. Take „Kein Fahrrad abstellen!“ (No parking bikes!) signs, for example. You’ll often see three bikes chained directly underneath, as if to say: We saw the sign. We just disagree. A perfect mix of order and rebellion — served the German way.