Arms buildup persists under Trump's leadership. Current status as of the morning. - Trump continues with enhancements.
In the world of politics, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced her intention to develop a plan for Europe to break free from Russian energy, following the attack on Ukraine and the ongoing tensions with Russia.
Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump has intensified his government's approach since the attack on MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk. Trump has suggested revoking the licenses of broadcasters that air negative reports about him, echoing his previous criticism of the media. Some Republicans are concerned that these attacks on freedom of expression have gone too far.
In a more light-hearted note, Oktoberfest, the famous folk festival in Munich, is set to begin tomorrow. Millions of visitors are expected to attend, paying high prices for the festivities. The Wiesn, as it is locally known, is said to unite everyone, according to Christine Zerwes.
In cultural news, Taylor Swift's concerts in Stockholm reportedly increased the overall happiness level in the city, according to a study by Micael Dahlen, the world's first professor of happiness. However, Dahlen warns that making things easy for oneself ultimately leads to unhappiness.
On the economic front, despite political support for Ukraine, EU countries bought €21.9 billion worth of fossil fuels from Russia last year, accounting for about ten percent of Russia's energy revenues. This figure is more than the amount of financial support EU countries sent to Ukraine during the same period. Germany still receives gas from Russia via LNG terminals.
In sports, Emil Agyekum, a German athlete, qualified for the 400m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo as the fifth fastest.
Finally, for those interested in staying updated with the news, readers can sign up to receive the morning briefing as a newsletter. Today's morning briefing was written by Lisa Becke. If you have any feedback, you can reach out to [email protected].
In international news, former US President Barack Obama spoke about the importance of fighting for democracy and values in Pensylvania two days ago. Additionally, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to have a phone call.
In the entertainment industry, ABC removed its late-night star Jimmy Kimmel from the air due to pressure from Trump's government. The details of this decision are still unclear.
That's all for today's roundup. Stay tuned for more updates!
