Germany was gearing up on Thursday for an early election after Chancellor Olaf Scholz pulled the plug on his ruling coalition.
Mr Scholz plans to hold a confidence vote in January, which his rump minority government is likely to lose, clearing the way for a general election in March. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz called on Thursday for the vote to be brought forward to next week.
The pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) also called for an earlier election after exiting Mr Scholz's three-party coalition. Party leader Christian Lindner was sacked as finance minister late on Wednesday after budget talks broke down, in what proved the final nail in the government's coffin.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier indicated he would be willing to dissolve parliament, saying Germany "needs stable majorities and a government that is able to act". The head of state has the final say on whether to move forward the election, which was previously scheduled for September 2025.
He called on politicians to "live up to the scale of the challenges" amid voter concern over the future in Germany and the world, including after the US election. "The end of a coalition is not the end of the world. It is a political crisis that we must put behind us,” he said.
Formed in 2021, the first coalition between Mr Scholz's Social Democrats, the FDP and the Greens took power with an agenda to modernise Germany but has been beset by infighting and crises ranging from wars in Ukraine and the Middle East to illegal migration and a limp economy.
The final straw was a proposal by Mr Scholz suspend Germany's constitutional debt limit to avoid spending cuts while ensuring support for Ukraine, with all eyes on whether Kyiv's Nato allies will maintain their backing after Donald Trump's US election victory. The FDP refused to back more borrowing.
Mr Scholz wants to push through his economic policies before parliament is dissolved, relying on cobbled-together majorities in the Bundestag. Chancellery aide Joerg Kukies was appointed Finance Minister on Thursday as the government's collapse leaves the Social Democrats and Greens to hold the fort. Green Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said the government was still functioning and was "firmly determined to fully fulfil the duties of office" until new elections are called.
Polls show all three ruling parties face a scathing verdict from voters, with Mr Merz's opposition Christian Democrats favoured to win the next election. Mr Merz said the government "lacked the strength" to revive Germany's economy. He said Germany could not afford months of limbo until a new government is formed.
"There is absolutely no reason to wait until January for the confidence vote. The coalition has no majority any more," Mr Merz said as he called for an election in the second half of January. "It is important that we very quickly return responsibility to the voters."
The chancellor's plan is for a confidence vote on January 15. If he loses, Mr Steinmeier will have three weeks to dissolve parliament, followed by an election within 60 days. "We need a government that is able to act, that has the strength to make the necessary decisions for our country," Mr Scholz told reporters.
Scholz accuses finance minister of blocking legislation
Mr Scholz said he fired Mr Lindner for his obstructive behaviour on budget disputes, accusing him of putting party before country and blocking legislation on spurious grounds. It comes with Europe rushing to form a united response on issues ranging from possible new US tariffs to Mr Trump's foreign policy.
Mr Lindner was focused on the short-term survival of his own party, Mr Scholz said. "Especially today, one day after such an important event as the US elections, this kind of selfishness is utterly incomprehensible," he said.
Speaking after Mr Scholz, Mr Lindner said the chancellor had tried to force him to break a constitutionally enshrined spending limit known as the debt brake, a move that Mr Lindner, a fiscal hawk, refused to support.
"Olaf Scholz refuses to recognise that our country needs a new economic model," he told reporters. "Olaf Scholz has showed he doesn't have the strength to give his country a new boost."
The SPD and the Greens, while at odds on some issues, agree that targeted government spending is needed.
Government at odds on how to rescue the economy
Germany's next government will have to tackle a flatlining economy, ageing infrastructure and rising support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) amid anger over illegal migration and extremism. With France also facing political uncertainty after snap elections this year, turmoil in the EU's two largest economies could hamper efforts to deepen the bloc's integration.
However, the collapse of the government could also be a blessing given the tensions within it, said ING economist Carsten Brzeski. "Elections and a new government could and should end the current paralysis of an entire country and offer new and clear policy guidance and certainty," he said.
The coalition has been at odds over how best to rescue Europe's largest economy, which is facing its second year of contraction and a crisis in its economic model after the end of cheap gas from Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and amid increasing competition from China.
Mr Scholz said he had proposed capping energy costs for companies to bolster Germany's appeal as a place to do business. He wanted a package to help save jobs in the ailing motor industry, as well as increased support for Ukraine.
The FDP had proposed public spending cuts, lower taxes and less regulation as the answer to the malaise. It also wants to slow Germany's shift to a carbon-neutral economy.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Letswork%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOmar%20Almheiri%2C%20Hamza%20Khan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20co-working%20spaces%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.1%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20with%20investors%20including%20500%20Global%2C%20The%20Space%2C%20DTEC%20Ventures%20and%20other%20angel%20investors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2020%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Scoreline
Germany 2
Werner 9', Sane 19'
Netherlands 2
Promes 85', Van Dijk 90'
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Dir: Ron Howard
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson
3/5
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
General%20Classification
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yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
Reading List
Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever
Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays
How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.4-litre%2C%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E617hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E750Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh630%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Barack Beach, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Way Of Wisdom, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Woodditton, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Secret Trade, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Mark Of Approval, Antonio Fresu, Mahmood Hussain.
9.25pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Tradesman, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic
John Zubrzycki, Hurst Publishers
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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