Bild: Brother, we are free / Bruder, wir sind frei
FAZ: Hamas holds no more hostages / Die Hamas hält keine Geiseln mehr
Funke: Israeli hostages freed – Trump sees „lasting harmony“ / Israelische Geiseln kommen frei – Trump sieht „dauerhafte Harmonie“
Handelsblatt: Interest on credit / Zinsen auf Pump
RND: How emotional the reunion of Hamas hostages with their families was / So emotional war das Wiedersehen der Hamas-Geiseln mit ihren Familien
SZ: Free after 738 days / Frei nach 738 Tagen
Tagesspiegel: Relief over a bitter deal / Erleichterung über einen bitteren Deal
taz: A good day / Ein guter Tag
Welt: Finally free / Endlich frei
All living Israeli hostages of Hamas are free: all 20 hostages have returned to Israel after 738 days in Hamas captivity. Among those released are four German-Israeli citizens. According to Israeli media, several of them are in good health, while nothing has yet been disclosed about the condition of the others. In Tel Aviv, thousands celebrated their release. rnd.de, zdfheute.de
After the release of all living Israeli hostages, Hamas began handing over the bodies of those killed. According to the Israeli army, four coffins with human remains were handed over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. The partial fulfillment of the agreed transfer of 27 dead and one soldier caused outrage in Israel.
- Parallel to the hostage release, Israel freed around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners from jails. In Beitunia in the West Bank and in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip, they were received with cheers and celebratory gunfire. According to official figures, a total of 1,968 people were released, including those sentenced to life imprisonment.
- US President Donald Trump spoke of a day of joy and hope. Speaking before the Knesset in Jerusalem, he said peace in Israel had been restored and the forces of chaos in the region weakened. The Middle East peace marked the beginning of a new era. Trump spoke of a „new harmony“ between Israel and its neighbors and was greeted with standing ovations by lawmakers. zdfheute.de
- During his appearance, Trump called for a pardon for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing corruption charges. Trump praised him as a strong leader in times of war and called him „a good man.“ stern.de, n-tv.de
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Donald Trump as Israel’s best friend in the White House and thanked him for his commitment, saying no US president had done as much for Israel as Trump. Israel’s President Isaac Herzog plans to award Trump the Presidential Medal of Distinction, the country’s highest civilian honor.
Agreement on a ceasefire formally signed by the mediating states: US President Donald Trump, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani signed the document at a ceremony in Sharm el-Sheikh marking the end of hostilities. Egypt declared that the agreement should lay the foundation for lasting stability. Trump said the war in Gaza was over and announced the beginning of reconstruction. The exact contents of the agreement have not yet been disclosed. handelsblatt.com, n-tv.de
- Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reaffirmed his support for a two-state solution as a prerequisite for lasting peace. He said Palestinians have the right to live in an independent state alongside Israel.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the signing as a historic step and spoke of the end of the war in Gaza. At the same time, he cautioned that the peace process must now continue with „realistic optimism.“ faz.net
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called the temporary end of fighting a day of joy but warned against excessive expectations. What matters, he said, is that the Palestinians distance themselves from Hamas and move toward a civil political process.
- The EU is demanding a seat on the planned peace council, which will oversee the transition phase in Gaza. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pointed to Europe’s financial support for the Palestinians and the planned border protection missions in Rafah.
- According to US President Donald Trump, the second phase of peace negotiations has already begun. The goal is the disarmament of armed groups active in Gaza and the establishment of a technocratic government without Hamas participation. Trump’s plan calls for a gradual implementation under international supervision.
UN intensifies humanitarian activities in the Gaza Strip after the ceasefire: several areas previously inaccessible have been reached for the first time in months, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. It is an important first step toward stabilizing the tense humanitarian situation. The UN is focusing on the supply of essential goods and medical aid. Despite progress, the need for humanitarian support remains significant, according to the UN. Continuous access to those in need and sustainable funding for humanitarian assistance remain crucial.
- Hamas is fighting rival clans and attempting to reestablish itself as a police force; US President Donald Trump has promised the terrorist organization „temporary armament.“
UKRAINE
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accuses Moscow of dangerous provocations: every time a Russian drone or aircraft violates European airspace, there is a risk of escalation, whether intentional or not. Kallas called for Europe’s economic strength to be translated more strongly into military deterrence to prevent further escalation. During her visit to Kyiv, discussions focused on military and financial support. stern.de
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope after the Gaza ceasefire that a peace solution could also be found for Ukraine; he said Russian aggression remains the central source of global instability.
- According to the White House, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Donald Trump in Washington on Friday for a working lunch focused on ongoing hostilities and possible steps toward a ceasefire. A Ukrainian delegation is preparing parallel talks in the US on defense matters.
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on US President Donald Trump to work toward peace negotiations in Ukraine following the Gaza agreement. Germany, he said, places great expectations on Washington’s influence and is ready to support a US-led initiative diplomatically.
- At the upcoming EU summit, member states plan to discuss using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. The European Council President Antonio Costa said the Commission would be tasked with examining options for using around 200 billion euros held in Belgium. The goal is to ensure long-term financial support for Kyiv.
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul pledged support to Bulgaria and Romania in countering Russian drone attacks, disinformation, and hybrid threats. He said both countries are key partners for Europe’s security. The ability of the EU to maintain unity and effectiveness against external and internal challenges would be decided in Southeastern Europe.
Bild-Sonntag Insa poll: CDU/CSU 25 percent (+0.5), AfD 26.5 percent, SPD 14 percent (-0.5), Greens 11.5 percent (+0.5), Left 10.5 percent (-1), BSW 4 percent, FDP 4 percent. bild.de
Intelligence reports say Russia is prepared for escalation with NATO: tagesschau.de, faz.net, handelsblatt.com, zdfheute.de
- Germany’s foreign intelligence service (BND) sees Europe in a phase of „icy peace,“ in which a Russian attack or military incidents could occur at any time. BND chief Martin Jäger warned during a parliamentary hearing that Moscow would not shy away from direct confrontation with NATO if necessary. The goal of Russia’s strategy is to divide Western societies and paralyze them through intimidation. The BND assumes that Russia is expanding its hybrid attacks through espionage, sabotage, and disinformation to destabilize European democracies.
- The Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) observes an increase in hostile operations targeting military infrastructure, including drone flights, arson, and election interference. Disinformation campaigns aim to „sow doubt about NATO’s strength and unity and undermine the morale of soldiers and civilian staff,“ said MAD head Martina Rosenberg. The new Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania is considered particularly vulnerable; MAD has established a special unit there. n-tv.de
- The new head of Germany’s domestic intelligence service, Sinan Selen, said Germany faces an increasingly aggressive and escalatory strategy from Russian intelligence. While Eastern and Northern Europe show sharper awareness of the threat, the danger is not yet sufficiently recognized in Germany. Selen called for a firm stance against this „shadow war“ waged by Russia, which he described as the main source of current security disruptions in several EU countries. n-tv.de
Right-wing extremism remains the biggest extremist problem in the Bundeswehr: MAD president Martina Rosenberg said right-wing extremism accounts for the majority of all known extremist incidents. These include racist statements and the singing of certain songs. In 2023, MAD recorded around 1,000 suspected cases, about 800 of which had right-wing extremist connections—similar to the previous year. stern.de
SPD rejects automatic conscription system: SPD parliamentary leader Matthias Miersch told RTL/ntv that voluntariness and clear goals are key, not fixed trigger dates. Reports of an agreement with the CDU/CSU on a lottery procedure were denied; instead, he said the goal is to make military service more attractive. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius continues to rely on voluntary enlistment, while the CDU/CSU demands clearer criteria for potentially reactivating conscription. n-tv.de, rnd.de, spiegel.de
- FDP proposes a „25+ Contingent Model“ to strengthen the Bundeswehr. Defense policy must aim for radical professionalization of the armed forces, said FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann. An increase of 25,000 soldiers is „realistically achievable through voluntary service.“
- A Forsa poll shows that 54 percent of Germans support reinstating conscription, while 41 percent oppose it. Support is highest among CDU/CSU and SPD voters, while most supporters of the Left Party oppose it.
Other news:
- President Frank-Walter Steinmeier temporarily relocates his office to Andernach, Rhineland-Palatinate. swr.de
- Federal government awards multi-billion-euro contract: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius orders more than 400 wheeled armored vehicles. t-online.de
- Health Minister Nina Warken wants to review the effectiveness of nursing benefits. tagesspiegel.de
- Lower Saxony’s Premier Olaf Lies advocates flexible implementation of EU climate goals.n-tv.de
- Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer opposes a ban on names like „veggie sausage.“ n-tv.de
Broadcast Commission coordinator Heike Raab: „A fire has been lit that has been heavily fueled with oil.“ dwdl.de
Bavaria: Digital Minister Fabian Mehring calls for the end of analog administration by 2030. heise.de
Thuringia: More deportations failing. otz.de
North Rhine-Westphalia: Espionage charges against Düsseldorf couple accused of spying for China dropped.
Saxony: Teachers’ associations demand immediate relief after a study on overtime. saechsische.de
Saxony-Anhalt: Premier Reiner Haseloff promotes closer economic ties in the Baltics. n-tv.de
Rhineland-Palatinate: Tourism numbers rise sharply. swr.de
- Middle East: EU announces deployment of border guards at the Gaza border.
- EU Commission: Hungarian commissioner Várhelyi rejects espionage allegations. zeit.de
- EU legal committee wants to weaken supply chain law. euractiv.de
- Trust crisis: how the EU aims to win over Gen Z. dw.com
- WHO warns of antibiotic resistance. spiegel.de
France’s opposition files no-confidence motions against the Lecornu government: both the right-wing and left-wing populists have submitted motions of no confidence against Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his newly formed cabinet. The National Assembly is to vote on the motions midweek. If supported by the Socialists, the new cabinet could fall. The Socialists are demanding concessions, including the suspension of the pension reform. The new government held its first meeting on Monday; budget deliberations are set to begin Tuesday. n-tv.de, faz.net, zdfheute.de
The minimum training wage in dual vocational programs is set to rise to 724 euros in 2026, according to the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training. This represents a 6.2 percent increase from the previous year. In later years, the minimums will be 854 euros in the second year, 977 euros in the third, and 1,014 euros in the fourth. The adjustment is meant to reflect general wage trends and inflation. rp-online.de
Share of immigrant innovators in German patent applications rises: according to the German Economic Institute, in 2022 roughly one in seven patent applications came from inventors with foreign roots—up from one in twenty in 2000. The institute notes that immigrants are contributing increasingly to Germany’s innovative strength and that skilled immigration is becoming crucial to the country’s competitiveness. zdfheute.de
- Authorities take down over 1,400 fraud websites.
- Rheinmetall forms joint venture with Poland’s largest defense group, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa.
- Sharp increase in business insolvencies in July and September.
- Sources in the rail industry report major job cuts planned at DB Cargo; unions outraged.
- The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences goes to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for their theories on innovation-driven economic growth.
- German Book Prize awarded to Dorothee Elmiger for her novel „Die Holländerinnen.“
In some parts of Germany, especially Bavaria and Swabia, there’s a charming autumn tradition called „Kürbiswiegen“ — pumpkin weighing. Villagers bring their biggest pumpkins to the local fair or farmers’ market, where each one is ceremoniously weighed in front of a cheering crowd. The winner doesn’t just get bragging rights — often a keg of beer or a sausage platter is part of the prize.
The funny part? Many participants secretly guard their „pumpkin-growing tricks“ — from singing to the plants to giving them beer mixed with sugar water. Some even name their pumpkins for good luck.
It’s the perfect blend of rural pride, playful competition, and that very German love of turning everything into a well-organized community event.