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Starting November 1, a new EU-wide processing fee of two euros per package will be introduced on imports from third countries such as China and the USA, in addition to the Austrian package tax, to tackle the massive import of cheap products. #Paketsteuer #EU #OnlineHandel (translated)

The author said they had asked police officers outside Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw on 30 October whether the officers were going to shoot at them. They also said a video showed them reading aloud a document marked “VERY URGENT!” that bore the name and signature of Poland’s Deputy Chief of Police. https://t.co/TA6u9nhFV8 #Poland #ConstitutionalTribunal #Police #PL

The article discusses the five main conclusions from various scientific studies about the effects of social media on children and the controversial debate surrounding possible prohibitions, with experts arguing that such a ban could be counterproductive to the autonomy of young people. #SocialeMedia #GezondheidVanJongeren #Onderzoek (translated)

Ghosts, Trolls and the Hidden People: An Anthology of Icelandic Folk Legends by Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir (Editor) This unique and enchanting book opens the door to a captivating world of Icelandic folk legends. The six chapters are each based on a different setting: farm, wilderness, darkness, church, ocean and shore. The anthology provides translated tales from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as introductions by the author which place these often-supernatural happenings in the context of Icelandic society. The legends include tales of hidden people, trolls, ghosts, sea monsters and even polar bears, exploring themes of love, revenge and conflict. The book highlights the tension between Christianity and heathen beliefs, past and present, nature and humanity, and divides within society. Drawing from a wide variety of Icelandic sources, this book makes these colourful, entertaining, lively stories available to non-Icelandic speakers, many for the first time.

The author said the Czech Republic had joined the United States and other countries in voting against Cuba’s resolution at the United Nations. They argued that Havana’s regime bore sole responsibility for the suffering of its people and described the facts as incontrovertible. The post also tagged the US State Department, Marco Rubio, the Czech Embassy in Washington and the United Nations. https://t.co/yCkZl0p0on #Cuba #UnitedNations #HumanRights #CZ #US #CU

The author called for peace and said leaders needed to work hard to achieve it, with those holding greater power and responsibility working hardest. They said they had signed “A Call for” alongside Icelandic President Halla Tómasdóttir and former Irish President Mary Robinson. https://t.co/T8rDBmBeZd #Peace #Leadership #GlobalUnity #IS #IE

Starting November 1, 2026, buyers ordering from non-EU countries will have to pay a processing fee of two euros per item, in addition to existing customs fees, which will especially lead to higher costs on bargain days like Singles' Day and Black Friday. #EUAbgabe #OnlineShopping #Zollgebühren (translated)

The Styrian start-up "Lebensstimmen" will offer digitized funeral speeches starting in 2027, with the Viennese cathedral pastor Toni Faber appearing as an AI-generated double to create personalized video speeches for funerals, with the videos being editable only by living users. #KITrauerreden #DigitalerDoppelgänger #Lebensstimmen (translated)

Leonard M. Schmedding reported that China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is planning measures for a new generation of intelligent manufacturing. Chief Engineer Wang Weiming presented the plans to the press of the State Council on October 20. The goal is to implement artificial intelligence along the entire manufacturing chain—from development to production and operation to customer service. According to Schmedding, Wang mentioned more than 13,000 already established advanced-level smart factories as well as over 1,000 application scenarios in 20 industries, including steel, automotive, and pharmaceuticals. Intelligent machine tools, robots, testing devices, and control systems with adaptive processing and inline inspection, as well as construction machinery, agricultural machinery, and medical devices, should be promoted. Schmedding referred to these product groups as central areas of German engineering. In addition, China, according to Schmedding's representation, wants to support partner countries in building their own smart factories through mechanisms such as BRICS standards and the exchange of experiences. He wrote that countries that set standards could later sell the machines needed for that purpose. #KünstlicheIntelligenz #Maschinenbau #SmartFactories (translated)

Florian Warweg stated that the federal government has since confirmed that pensioners in Russia have 200 euros deducted from their pensions each month. When he inquired at the government press conference in September, he was initially told that this was merely his claim. As evidence, Warweg referred to a subsequent statement from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs regarding questions from the government press conferences on September 28 and October 5, 2026. The ministry stated that fees would be deducted for transfers of statutory pensions from Germany to accounts at Raiffeisen Bank International AG in Russia. The bank justified this with higher compliance risks and additional auditing and processing efforts. Despite efforts, alternative payment methods that could avoid the fees have not been found. According to the statement, statutory pensions would be transferred free of charge within the SEPA area. For payments outside this area, the benefit provider bears the costs up to the commissioned financial institution; fees from further correspondent banks are not covered by the German Pension Insurance or the Pension Service. Affected individuals could have their pension transferred to an account in another country, provided they meet the personal requirements and can set up an account there, according to the ministry. Warweg asked why the ministry initially labeled the deduction as an unfounded claim and then acknowledged it about two weeks later. He noted that the ministry had provided the supplementary information, while the Foreign Office, despite a commitment, had not sent any follow-up and later declared itself not responsible. The inquiry was about what advice it would give to affected German pensioners in Russia. #Rentner #Bundesregierung #Russland (translated)

Scientists urge UK govt to launch inquiry into unequal health impacts of air pollution. Rivers polluted. Datacentres adding to pollution. Richest 1% produce up to 56 times more carbon emissions than the poorest 50%. Don't bear the social cost. Redistribution can save lives, cut healthcare costs.