diff --git a/.github/workflows/python/github.py b/.github/workflows/python/github.py
index 89e72b5991..1abbbb03c9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python/github.py
+++ b/.github/workflows/python/github.py
@@ -31,20 +31,20 @@ def __init__(self):
 
     def get_reviews(self):
         """ Get a list of reviews on a Github pull request as json object """
-        reviews = self.session.get(self.api + 'repos/{}/pulls/{}/reviews'.format(self.github_repository, self.pr_id))
+        reviews = self.session.get(self.api + f'repos/{self.github_repository}/pulls/{self.pr_id}/reviews')
         reviews.raise_for_status()
         return reviews.json()
 
     def update_review(self, review_id, body):
         """ Update a review given by `review_id` and set its body to `body` """
         payload = {'body': body}
-        resp = self.session.put(self.api + 'repos/{}/pulls/{}/reviews/{}'.format(self.github_repository, self.pr_id, review_id), json=payload)
+        resp = self.session.put(self.api + f'repos/{self.github_repository}/pulls/{self.pr_id}/reviews/{review_id}', json=payload)
         resp.raise_for_status()
         return resp.json()
 
     def post_review(self, body):
         """ Post a pull request review containing `body` and requesting changes """
         payload = {'body': body, 'event': "REQUEST_CHANGES"}
-        resp = self.session.post(self.api + 'repos/{}/pulls/{}/reviews'.format(self.github_repository, self.pr_id), json=payload)
+        resp = self.session.post(self.api + f'repos/{self.github_repository}/pulls/{self.pr_id}/reviews', json=payload)
         resp.raise_for_status()
         return resp.json()
diff --git a/.github/workflows/python/pycodestyle_comment.py b/.github/workflows/python/pycodestyle_comment.py
index 89eca1936f..4cce4d4028 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python/pycodestyle_comment.py
+++ b/.github/workflows/python/pycodestyle_comment.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def style_error_format(style_error_list) -> str:
     """ Format the list of pycodestyle errors and return them a one string. """
     ret = ''
     for error in style_error_list:
-        ret += '* {}\n'.format(error)
+        ret += f'* {error}\n'
     return ret
 
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def style_error_format(style_error_list) -> str:
         style_errors = list_style_errors()
 
         if style_errors:
-            print("Found {} errors.".format(len(style_errors)))
+            print(f"Found {len(style_errors)} errors.")
 
         gh = github.Github()
 
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 29549fadc3..35db89ab43 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Please refer to the change log for a full list of changes.
 ---------------------------------
 
 ### Requirements
-Python 3.8 or newer is required
+Python 3.8 or newer is required.
 
 ### Tools
 
diff --git a/contrib/example-extension-package/setup.py b/contrib/example-extension-package/setup.py
index 3d6774693f..d662eca34d 100644
--- a/contrib/example-extension-package/setup.py
+++ b/contrib/example-extension-package/setup.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
     entry_point = '.'.join(file.with_suffix('').parts)
     file = Path(str(file).replace('intelmq/bots', 'mybots/bots'))
     module = '.'.join(file.with_suffix('').parts)
-    BOTS.append('{0} = {1}:BOT.run'.format(entry_point, module))
+    BOTS.append(f'{entry_point} = {module}:BOT.run')
 
 setup(
     name='intelmq-example-extension',
diff --git a/intelmq/bots/collectors/rsync/collector_rsync.py b/intelmq/bots/collectors/rsync/collector_rsync.py
index 112deb1f17..3829c8a3f8 100644
--- a/intelmq/bots/collectors/rsync/collector_rsync.py
+++ b/intelmq/bots/collectors/rsync/collector_rsync.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 from intelmq.lib.bot import CollectorBot
 
 
-class Time(object):
+class Time:
     def __init__(self, delta=None):
         """ Delta is a datetime.timedelta JSON string, ex: '{days=-1}'. """
         self.time = datetime.now()
diff --git a/intelmq/bots/experts/modify/expert.py b/intelmq/bots/experts/modify/expert.py
index a9945449a4..f6cdbbb439 100644
--- a/intelmq/bots/experts/modify/expert.py
+++ b/intelmq/bots/experts/modify/expert.py
@@ -17,10 +17,7 @@ def is_re_pattern(value):
     """
     Checks if the given value is a re compiled pattern
     """
-    if sys.version_info > (3, 7):
-        return isinstance(value, re.Pattern)
-    else:
-        return hasattr(value, "pattern")
+    return isinstance(value, re.Pattern)
 
 
 class MatchGroupMapping:
diff --git a/intelmq/bots/outputs/smtp_batch/output.py b/intelmq/bots/outputs/smtp_batch/output.py
index d24d114671..5661ea7339 100644
--- a/intelmq/bots/outputs/smtp_batch/output.py
+++ b/intelmq/bots/outputs/smtp_batch/output.py
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ def cli_run(self):
         with open(self.mail_template) as f:
             self.mail_contents = f.read()
         if self.alternative_mails:
-            with open(self.alternative_mails, "r") as f:
+            with open(self.alternative_mails) as f:
                 self.alternative_mail = {row[0]: row[1] for row in csv.reader(f, delimiter=",")}
 
         print("Preparing mail queue...")