6 d. ago German parliament sits for first time with AfD as main opposition

Far right party doubles its number of seats, while chancellor-in-waiting, Friedrich Merz, hopes to form government before EasterGermany’s new parliament sits for the first time on Tuesday with the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) the strongest opposition faction, as negotiators seek to iron out key differences on tax and migration that are likely to dominate a new coalition government under Friedrich Merz.The 630 members of the Bundestag, 230 of whom are newly elected, will sit in parliament at a unique time in postwar German history. The AfD has doubled its number of seats to 152, while centrist parties are overhauling the country’s military and fiscal policy in response to rising threats to European security. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago German parliament sits for first time with AfD as second biggest party

Far right party doubles its number of seats, while chancellor-in-waiting, Friedrich Merz, hopes to form government before EasterGermany’s new parliament sits for the first time on Tuesday with the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) the second biggest force, as negotiators seek to iron out key differences on tax and migration that are likely to dominate a new coalition government under Friedrich Merz.The 630 members of the Bundestag, 230 of whom are newly elected, will sit in parliament at a unique time in postwar German history. The AfD has doubled its number of seats to 152, while centrist parties are overhauling the country’s military and fiscal policy in response to rising threats to European security. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago German parliament's upper house gives final approval to huge defense and borrowing package

The prospective next German government’s plans to enable higher defense spending by loosening strict debt rules and to set up a huge infrastructure fund that’s aimed at boosting Europe’s biggest economy have cleared their final parliamentary hurdle with approval by the upper house

Politics

1 week ago Malaysia approves a new search for MH370 more than a decade after the plane disappeared

Malaysia’s government has given final approval for a Texas-based marine robotics company to renew the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean more than a decade ago

Events

1 week ago Germany's likely next leader seeks approval for huge defense and infrastructure package

Germany’s would-be next chancellor Friedrich Merz is asking lawmakers to allow the country to put “whatever it takes” into defense and to authorize an enormous fund for investment in its creaking infrastructure

Politics

1 week ago Bundestag prepares to vote on historic borrowing package in key test for Merz

Likely next chancellor needs two-thirds majority to back €500bn infrastructure fund and relaxation of debt rulesGermany’s likely next chancellor is to face a key vote on plans to unlock a record level of state borrowing, which he argues is necessary to boost the country’s military spending and inject growth into its ailing economy.Ahead of the crucial Bundestag vote on Tuesday, Friedrich Merz has faced a barrage of complaints from the opposition and from within his own ranks that he is not coupling the historic levels of spending planned – as much as €1tn (£840bn) – to demands for reform. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Merz presses Greens to name their terms for German defence spending rise

‘What more do you want from us?’ asks chancellor-in-waiting as he seeks urgent support for fiscal rule changesGermany’s chancellor-in-waiting has tried to win over the Greens to his ambitious but controversial plans to raise the country’s defence spending, promising to expand the scope of the plans and demanding of them: “What more do you actually want from us?”The outgoing parliament met on Thursday to debate the creation of a €500bn (£420bn) fund for infrastructure investment and radical changes in Germany’s borrowing limits in order to boost defence spending. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Merz makes offer to Greens as he seeks to increase German defence spending

Chancellor-in-waiting attempting to garner support for fiscal rule changes before new parliament convenesGermany’s would-be chancellor has attempted to win the support of the Greens for his proposed fiscal rule changes, offering to expand the scope of defence spending and demanding to know: “What more do you want from us?” The outgoing parliament is meeting to debate the creation of a €500bn (£420bn) fund for infrastructure investment and radical changes in Germany’s borrowing limits in order to boost defence spending. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago German parliament to debate radical borrowing rule changes to boost defence

Election winner Friedrich Merz also trying to seal €500bn fund to revive economy before new parliament convenesGermany’s outgoing parliament is meeting on Thursday to debate the creation of a €500bn (£420bn) fund for infrastructure investment and radical changes in the country’s borrowing limits in order to boost defence spending.Friedrich Merz, whose conservatives won last month’s election and who is on the verge of becoming the new chancellor, wants to seal the funding deal before the new parliament convenes in less than two weeks. An expanded group of far-right and far-left MPs could oppose it in the new Bundestag, a so-called “blocking minority” Merz is keen to avoid. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Germany's prospective new government struggles to win support for defense, infrastructure plans

Germany’s Greens say they won't support the prospective next government’s plans to loosen debt rules for defense spending and draw up a huge infrastructure investment fund

Politics

3 w. ago Welcome to Upper Lawn, the 60s Wiltshire retreat of brutalism’s first couple

Pioneering architects Alison and Peter Smithson’s no-frills glass box near the ruins of a grand 18th-century folly was an experiment, a second home and a ‘fairy story’ – all of which awaits whoever buys it next Upper Lawn is a weekend retreat in Wiltshire built by the late architects Alison and Peter Smithson for themselves and their family and used by them from 1959 to 1982. It’s a place of obvious delight, thanks to a garden enclosed by old stone walls in which it stands, a clump of grand old beech trees just outside, and broad views of sweeping countryside beyond. The house itself is a well-proportioned, thoughtfully detailed, somewhat rustic glass box that makes good use of the transparency and openness that modernist building methods made possible. It’s also a work of less obvious riches, a material diary of building and dwelling, a three-dimensional essay on the passage of time. Now it is being put up for sale by its owners for the past 23 years, the graphic designer Ian Cartl...

Politics

4 w. ago Tories fight abolition of hereditary peers as Labour’s Lords reforms stall

Keir Starmer’s plan to replace upper house was scaled back to scrapping hereditaries – but even that is proving difficultWhat is the House of Lords and what do peers do?Calls for Labour peer to be investigated over cash-for-access claimsAbolishing hereditary peers was supposed to be the easy part of House of Lords reform for Labour, which grandly set out plans three years ago to replace the second chamber altogether. But on Monday Conservative peers will make an effort to clog up the legislation as it goes through parliament, suggesting delays to allow abolished hereditaries more time to find a job, allowing some of them to stay, or even converting them to become life peers.As a detailed scrutiny of the bill gets under way, 116 amendments have been put forward, which are likely to be debated individually. Some propose progressive changes such as cutting numbers of peers, introducing attendance requirements and getting rid of bishops from the house, but many are aimed at watering dow...

Politics