AI-generated summary
Eckhard »Ecki« Seeber war über vier Jahrzehnte der persönliche Chauffeur von Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl und fuhr ihn mehr als fünf Millionen Kilometer. Nach Kohls Tod 2017 nahm Seeber am Gedenkgottesdienst teil.
Eckhard »Ecki« Seeber, der über viele Jahre der Chauffeur des ehemaligen Bundeskanzlers Helmut Kohl war und als dessen enger Vertrauter galt, ist am Montag im Alter von 87 Jahren gestorben. An diesem Dienstag wäre sein 88. Geburtstag gewesen, wie seine Tochter in Ludwigshafen gegenüber der Nachrichtenagentur dpa sagte. Der Spiegel hatte zuvor darüber berichtet.
Seeber war rund vier Jahrzehnte lang der Chauffeur Kohls und fuhr ihn insgesamt mehr als fünf Millionen Kilometer weit. Nach dem Tod Kohls im Juni 2017 hatte auch Seeber an dem Gedenkgottesdienst teilgenommen.
Selbst soll Seeber seine Stelle einmal so beschrieben haben: »Der Chef macht die Politik, und ich fahre.«

CSU leader Markus Söder has publicly confirmed Chancellor Friedrich Merz as chancellor despite the turmoil within the Union following the election results. At the same time, he supports the nomination of Ilse Aigner as a candidate for federal president and hopes for a decision within a few weeks.

Cristiano Ronaldo left the Portuguese national team's training camp and flew to Madrid. The 41-year-old said on Instagram that he would explain the reasons for his departure in due course. National coach Jorge Jesus had previously announced that Ronaldo would not start in the Nations League game against Denmark.
CSU leader Markus Söder sees Chancellor Friedrich Merz firmly in office despite domestic political turbulence and emphasizes that a change of chancellor would only be possible under extreme constitutional conditions. At the same time, he is campaigning for the Bavarian state parliament president, Ilse Aigner, as a candidate for the office of federal president and is hoping for a decision within the CDU/CSU and SPD at the end of October or beginning of November.
In a public hearing in the Thuringian state parliament, lawyers, experts and celebrities discussed possible party ban proceedings against the AfD. As a descendant of a Nazi victim, Hape Kerkeling warned of the danger to democracy, while AfD lawyer Christian Conrad warned of unconstitutional consequences of a trial. Experts saw a racist worldview and a threat to the state as arguments for a trial.
During the arrest of a 51-year-old suspected sex offender in Dresden, a police officer seriously injured the man with a shot. The man had previously pulled out a knife and threatened to hurt himself before attacking the officers. The investigation is ongoing and the use of service weapons is being examined.
The Swiss sociologist and activist Jean Ziegler, known for his sharp criticism of the major Swiss banks and global capitalism, died in the year of political upheaval against the power of the banks in Switzerland.