The Ukrainian president is visiting the White House today with a specific request for a weapon. Driver's licenses should be made more affordable in this country.
With these and three other topics from Germany and the world, you are well informed for your Friday.
This is what it's about: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (47) is meeting with US President Donald Trump (79) at the White House today. There, he wants to obtain approval for the sale of Tomahawk cruise missiles to his country, which have a range of up to 2,500 kilometers (graphic above).
That's why it's important: Zelenskyy repeatedly emphasizes that only a policy of strength can force the Russian leadership to give in – the long-range weapon could give Ukraine an important strategic advantage.
Here's how it continues: Trump announced another meeting with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin (73) on Thursday – it is to take place in Budapest, the date is still unclear.
This is what it's about: The AfD has announced that it will withdraw from the MDR Media State Treaty if it takes power after the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt in 2026. The signature of the Minister-President is sufficient for this.
That's why it's important: It would be a media-political earthquake. For years, the AfD has railed against the broadcasting fee and alleged "loyalty to the state" and unfairness at ARD and ZDF. The right-wing populists want to reduce the public broadcasting budgets by 90 percent. In effect, this would amount to dismantling the broadcasters. Saxony-Anhalt's withdrawal from MDR could boost this plan.
So it continues: ARD, ZDF, and others have been fighting for their legitimacy for a long time. The reform process is stalled because of a dispute between the federal states over future funding. The public broadcasters are facing crucial months.
The issue: German industrial companies are complaining that computer chips are increasingly being delivered with significant delays or, in some cases, not at all. Spontaneous price increases are also commonplace.
Why it's important: Important industries depend on semiconductors. They are used in cars, and they are also indispensable in medical technology and telecommunications.
Here's what's next: The digital association Bitkom is demanding that politicians push chip manufacturing in Germany to create more competition and reduce dependencies.
This is what's happening: The British overseas territory of Anguilla is benefiting from the AI boom. The reason is the Caribbean island nation's .ai domain extension—website visitors associate it with "artificial intelligence."
Background: Since the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) established country codes in the 1980s, they have been repeatedly misused – .tv for Tuvalu, for example, is frequently used by television stations. Anguilla receives fees for the registration of each domain with the .ai extension, which already account for 23 percent of the island nation's total revenue.
Here's what's next: Domain registrations are intended to become a long-term and sustainable source of income for Anguilla, helping the British overseas territory diversify its economy.
This is what happened: According to plans by Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (57, CDU), the cost of driving licenses is to be significantly reduced.
That's why it's important: According to the Ministry of Transport, the average cost for a Class B driver's license is currently around €3,400, though in some cases it can be €4,000 or even more. This puts many people in financial difficulty.
Here's what's next: Schnieder is planning a cost brake that starts with training in driving schools – with simplifications and digital solutions for the theoretical and practical parts.
And if you're looking for some clever entertainment with the weekend approaching, we recommend:
We wish you a pleasant weekend,
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