Society: That changes in October

With the start of the heating season, gas prices could fall because two gas levies fall to zero. Anyone who heats with heating oil or liquid gas should not miss the deadline for fuel assistance. October brings many changes in Germany:

Two gas levies fall to zero

As of October 1st, two surcharges that make up part of the gas price will be eliminated for the time being. Specifically, the control energy levy falls from 0.57 cents per kilowatt hour and the conversion levy falls from 0.038 cents to zero cents each. How the suppliers pass this on is still unclear.

Application deadline for fuel assistance

Anyone who heats with fuels such as heating oil or liquid gas and was particularly affected by price increases last year can apply to the authorities for fuel assistance by October 20th. The heating cost subsidy of a maximum of 2000 euros is subject to conditions.

State elections in Bavaria and Hesse

On October 8th, the people of Hesse and Bavaria will decide on the composition of the new state parliaments. Around 4.3 million eligible voters are called upon to cast their votes in the state elections in Hesse. In Bavaria, 9.4 million people are entitled to vote.

Summer time ends

Sleep an hour longer: Daylight saving time ends in Germany and most European countries on the last Sunday in October. On the night of Sunday, October 29th, the clocks will be set back from 3 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Microsoft programs

The software company is offering its Microsoft 365 and Office 365 program packages without the Teams communication service from October and is reducing the monthly subscription price by two euros. The background is a procedure by the EU Commission.

Autumn holidays in several federal states

The last schoolchildren in southern Germany have only just returned to their classes, and the first federal states are already starting their autumn holidays: in North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony and Thuringia, the time has come from October 2nd (with school ending on September 29th). .

Sat.1 main news starts ten minutes earlier

Sat.1 will start its primetime news segment from October 16th at 7:45 p.m. This means the daily news format will be ten minutes longer.

Ban on flavored tobacco for tobacco heaters

Chocolate, vanilla, cherry or other flavors will no longer be allowed in tobacco for tobacco heaters starting October 23rd. Previously, the ban on flavored tobacco only applied to cigarettes and rolling tobacco. In addition, there must be warnings with text and images on the heater packaging.

Shocking images on cigarette packets at checkouts?

The Federal Court of Justice plans to announce a judgment on this question on October 26th. The non-smoking initiative Pro Rauchfrei had sued because cigarettes were offered through vending machines at the checkouts of two Munich supermarkets without any warning signs being visible to customers from the outside.

What good things are coming to the book market?

Orientation for reading fans is available at the Frankfurt Book Fair, this year in its 75th edition. It starts on October 18th, initially for the specialist audience. Two days later, private visitors can also come to the trade fair. The guest country of honor this year is Slovenia.

What innovations can game fans look forward to?

Essen’s leading trade fair for board games, “Spiel ’23”, promises answers from October 5th. A good 850 exhibitors from 55 nations will present innovations relating to card, board and dice games. Last year almost 150,000 visitors came.

Corona vaccine for children

The new adapted corona vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer for children between the ages of five and eleven will be delivered from October 2nd. The preparation was adapted to the omicron subline XBB.1.5.

Higher prices for DHL business customers

The parcel service will gradually increase its prices for business customers from October 1st, citing inflation and higher wages as the reason for this. Nothing changes for private customers.