Germany today (Thu 22 Oct): Clocks go back on Sunday, feminist magazine Emma to close after 50 years, Bayern draw 2-2 with Arsenal

Hello! Here is the news for Thursday, 22 October. The clocks change this weekend, and the first autumn storm arrives on Friday. One story from each area — politics, economy, society, culture, arts, entertainment and sport.

1. [Politics] State premiers: cut the electricity tax for everyone

• States push the federal government — Cut the tax from 2.05 ct/kWh to the EU minimum of 0.1 ct
• A 3-person home (4,000 kWh) would save about €93 a year — Verivox estimate; 2 people €65, single €35
• More tax money than expected — The 22 Oct tax estimate sees about €11bn more a year
• Finance minister hesitant — Wants a plan for how to pay for it
• What it means for you — Nothing is decided yet; your bill doesn't change for now

Source: zdfheute.de · t-online.de · zdfheute.de (tax estimate)

2. [Economy] Tobacco tax law took effect a year early — by mistake

• In force since 21 October — The plan was January 2027; a mistake brought it forward
• Shop prices stay the same for now — Customs tolerates the old prices
• About €8.77 a pack in 2027 — Finance ministry estimate for 20 cigarettes; today about €8
• €11.36 by 2030 — Prices rise step by step every year

Source: zdfheute.de · lto.de

3. [Society] This Sunday, the clocks go back one hour

• Sunday 25 October: 3 am becomes 2 am — One extra hour of sleep
• Phones switch by themselves — Ovens, microwaves, car clocks and watches don't
• Winter time (CET) starts — The UK and Ireland change the same night
• Darker evenings — A good week to check your bike lights
• EU plan to end clock changes is stuck — No progress since the 2019 Parliament vote

Source: zdfheute.de · netzwelt.de

4. [Culture] Feminist magazine Emma to close after 50 years

• Alice Schwarzer (83) announced it on 21 Oct — She founded the bimonthly magazine in 1977
• Last issue on 8 December — A double-length look back at 50 years of topics; one more regular issue comes out on 27 October
• Not about money, she says — Sales are falling but still cover costs; the team simply feels it's enough
• The archive goes to Marbach — Letters and campaign material will be kept and opened at the German Literature Archive
• Why it matters — For decades Emma was the loudest voice of German feminism, and a divisive one

Source: zdfheute.de · tagesspiegel.de (dpa)

5. [Arts] Milo Rau's Wagner premieres in Berlin on Saturday

• Sat 24 Oct, 6 pm, Deutsche Oper Berlin — The Swiss director takes on "Der fliegende Holländer" (The Flying Dutchman)
• A road movie through post-war Germany — It tackles Wagner's antisemitism and German–Israeli relations today
• Conductor: Giedrė Šlekytė — Her first Wagner at this house
• Want to go? — Further dates on 28 and 31 Oct and in November, with talks after the later shows

Source: tagesspiegel.de · vol.at · oper-in-berlin.de

6. [Entertainment] Luise Bähr leaves ZDF's "Die Bergretter" after 12 years

• Emergency doctor Katharina since 2014 — One of the main faces of ZDF's mountain-rescue drama is leaving
• Next: a new ZDF crime series — Working title "SOKO Spurenjäger", set in northern Germany
• Last episode not announced yet — ZDF hasn't said how Katharina will leave the show
• Her take — Sad, but above all grateful, she told ZDF

Source: zdfheute.de · t-online.de

7. [Sports] Bayern draw 2-2 with Arsenal in the Champions League

• Wed 21 Oct, league phase matchday 3, Munich — A sold-out Allianz Arena (75,000) saw a draw
• Goals: Eze 25′, Davies 35′, Kane 61′ (pen.), Rice 82′ — Bayern turned it round, then conceded late
• Bayern have 5 points from 3 games — Arsenal have 7; the race for a top-8 spot (direct to the last 16) is tight
• Leipzig lost 4-1 at Real Madrid — They held on until half-time, then fell apart

Source: sportschau.de · t-online.de · t-online.de (Leipzig)

Weather

City	Fri 23 Oct	Sat 24 Oct	Sun 25 Oct
Berlin	🌧️ 12° / 6° light rain	🌧️ 12° / 8° rain, windy	🌧️ 13° / 8° rain, windy
Hamburg	🌧️ 11° / 6° light rain	🌧️ 12° / 8° rain, windy	🌬️ 13° / 10° rain, stormy
Munich	☁️ 11° / 4° cloudy	⛅ 10° / 4° some sun, windy	🌧️ 12° / 6° rain
Cologne	🌬️ 14° / 10° rain, stormy	🌧️ 14° / 9° rain, windy	🌬️ 14° / 10° stormy
Frankfurt	🌧️ 14° / 8° rain, windy	🌦️ 13° / 7° showers	🌦️ 15° / 8° showers

Tip: the first autumn storm (low "Luise") hits the west on Friday and lasts in the north until Monday. Umbrellas won't survive it — take a rain jacket with a hood. (Forecasts: wetter.com, DWD)

German from today's news

Word	Meaning	Example from the news
die Stromsteuer	electricity tax	Die Länder wollen die Stromsteuer senken.
das Versehen	mistake, oversight	Das Gesetz trat aus Versehen in Kraft.
die Zeitumstellung	the clock change	Die Zeitumstellung ist am Sonntag.
die Zeitschrift	magazine	Die Zeitschrift „Emma" wird eingestellt.
die Premiere	opening night	Die Premiere ist am Samstag.
das Unentschieden	draw (in sport)	Bayern spielt Unentschieden gegen Arsenal.

Hold on to your hat this weekend — and enjoy the extra hour on Sunday. Bis morgen! 🇩🇪