NGEN

Two public readings on the theme of media, using the internet as an example, will take place in Berlin in October. The first, titled "Hate the Media, Become the Media", is scheduled for 15 October at 7 pm at Erreichbar in Kreuzberg, and the second for 22 October at 8 pm at Kleinod in Neukölln. The events promise a broad mix of texts covering media criticism and online culture, with entry details available locally.

Brown bears spend much of the year hidden in the forest and are active mainly at dusk. In Finland, people have developed a pragmatic relationship with the animals: they are seen as part of the ecosystem and are protected, though encounters between humans and bears do occur. The topic is drawing attention as interest grows in how Finland coexists with its large predator population.

Forensic experts in Austria are examining the human remains stored beneath the cathedral square of St. Pölten, where some 22,000 people were laid to rest over the centuries. The finds, discussed by journalist Florian Klenk and forensic professor Christian Reiter, show what the skeletons reveal about past lives, diseases and burial customs, drawing wide public interest in local history and forensic science.

New Jersey Business & Industry Association leader Siekerka is urging New Jersey businesses to consult lawyers about the state's stringent independent contractor rules. The warning highlights concerns that companies relying on contract workers could face legal or financial penalties if they misclassify employees, and the association is pressing firms to review their workforce arrangements now.

Attention is turning to the CDU in Thuringia and the balance of power in the state parliament in Erfurt. A report in Thüringer Allgemeine quotes criticism that the Left party is acting as a 'sham opposition' in the Thuringian Landtag, fuelling debate over how the government majority and opposition lines are actually drawn in the state.

Journalist Ulrich Heyden, a German who has lived in Moscow since 1992 and occasionally writes for the newspaper junge Welt, reports that the German state discriminates against German citizens living in Russia with regard to their pensions. According to his statements, retired Germans residing in Russia are treated unfavourably in pension matters. The claim is circulating in German-language discussions about the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine conflict for bilateral relations.

The Bremen-based YouTuber known as Coldmirror, who built much of her career on comedic Harry Potter parodies, has publicly distanced herself from the franchise. She cites statements by author J.K. Rowling, whose comments on transgender issues have drawn sustained criticism. The move is being discussed in German-language media and social networks, highlighting the ongoing tension between fans of the series and Rowling's public positions.

The Thing, a Soviet listening device hidden in a carved wooden plaque gifted to the US ambassador in Moscow in 1945, is being recalled as a masterpiece of espionage. It contained no battery or electronics — just a resonant cavity and antenna, activated by external radio waves, making it a fully passive microphone that eavesdropped on the American embassy for years.

Covid prevalence is rising quickly according to two independent wastewater or monitoring measurements in Vienna. Commenters point to Austria's vaccination policy, described as unusually sensible for the German-speaking region, and suggest it is time to take advantage of the broad protection it offers. The figures are being shared as a warning sign of a new infection wave in Austria.

A golf clip tagged with Japanese golf hashtags is circulating on social media, carrying labels such as 'gengen' and 'par tea' alongside golf-related tags in Japanese and English. The post links to a golf clip-sharing site and is grouped under Japan golf content. Beyond the tags and link, no further details about the player, event or shot are given.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are set to face each other for the bronze medal in cricket at the Asian Games, with both teams aiming to finish their campaigns on a high. The third-place playoff carries added weight as the countries look to lift spirits among their national contingents at the Games.

German defence company Rheinmetall has launched its first surveillance satellite into space, according to reports from defence media. The move marks Rheinmetall's entry into orbital reconnaissance, a growing field as European armed forces seek independent satellite-based intelligence capabilities amid heightened security concerns in Europe.