On the one hand there are the EU Commission and the EU Parliament, they want to significantly increase the budget. On the other side: Germany. The largest net contributor, together with other donor countries, wants to reduce the Commission's proposal by several hundred billion euros.
There is now a compromise proposal on the table from Ireland, which currently holds the EU Council Presidency. It does envisage cuts, but not nearly as big as those demanded by the donor alliance. The Irish proposal leaves agricultural subsidies and compensatory aid for economically weaker regions, which are the largest expenditure items, largely untouched. But Germany also wants to save money here. This in turn is rejected by Italy, Spain, France and Poland, all countries that have to fear the wrath of the agricultural lobby and angry votes for the right-wing populists in the coming elections.
For us, the onset of autumn cold is just unpleasant. In Ukraine, it points to the beginning of another harsh winter of war, in which Russia is trying to wear down the population with attacks on the infrastructure: Ukrainians are supposed to freeze without heating until they surrender (more on that here).
At this critical time, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Ukraine to defend itself against drones and missiles from Russia. The Ukrainian government feels increasingly abandoned by the USA. The US President is in the election campaign and wants to bring down diesel prices, which is why he is now buying fuel from Russia (more on that here). Trump demands that Ukraine no longer target Russian refineries. But she doesn't stick to it.
Now President Volodymyr Zelenskyj complains that Ukraine was not warned about Russian missiles in two nights (more on this here). And the Ukrainians say Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet suddenly ran much slower at times, making defense even more difficult (more on that here). Is Trump punishing Ukraine?
If, like my colleague Matern von Boeselager, you have a penchant for unhealthy eating and think the upcoming banishment of the McRib from McDonald's offerings is scandalous (more on that here ), then I'm sorry to tell you: it gets much worse. It is becoming increasingly difficult for us to ruin our health with what we put in our mouths.
The evening before last, the coalition agreed on a sugar tax (more on that here ), which will soon make sweet lemonade unaffordable. Today the Bundestag is voting on a galloping increase in tobacco tax, according to which a pack of cigarettes will cost an average of around nine euros from next year and almost twelve euros from 2030 (more on this here). And from now on, alcohol consumption outside of restaurants is prohibited in every train station in the country (more on that here).
By the way, I suspect that the ban on alcohol on the platform that comes into force today could be primarily a marketing measure by the railway: People should now be even more happy when the train finally arrives and then toast it straight away. Because drinking is still allowed in the ICE compartment.
More background information here: There is now a nationwide ban on alcohol at train stations – what does that mean?
…are once again the rule of law and freedom of the press in Turkey. Yesterday, the opposition-affiliated broadcaster Halk TV was placed under state receivership because its CEO Cafer Mahiroglu is being investigated for bribery, tender fraud and money laundering. He rejects all accusations, and there are good reasons to believe him: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government repeatedly allows the judiciary to prosecute unpleasant critics.
The full story here: Turkish government takes control of opposition television station
