Olaf Scholz was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany on Wednesday, bringing the curtain down on Angela Merkel's 16-year term at the helm of Europe's biggest economy.
Watching from the public gallery in parliament, Mrs Merkel was given a standing ovation by MPs before they voted to confirm Mr Scholz's appointment.
Mr Scholz, 63, won the vote by 395 to 303, winning the required majority in the 736-seat parliament and clearing the final hurdle for his three-party coalition.
He takes power with a mission to modernise Germany but faces the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian troop build-up on Ukraine's eastern flank.
The Ukraine crisis occupied Mrs Merkel until her final hours in office, with Berlin under pressure from Washington over the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Russia.
She was briefed by US President Joe Biden on Tuesday after his call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, amid fears the Kremlin is planning to invade its former Soviet neighbour.
“It must be quite, quite clear that it would be an unacceptable situation if there were a threat to Ukraine,” Mr Scholz said.
The new chancellor said his first foreign trip would be to Paris, where French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed his appointment with a call to “write the next chapter together".
Global leaders, including those of the UAE, sent congratulatory messages to Berlin. The President, Sheikh Khalifa, sent a cable to Mr Scholz with his congratulations while Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, sent similar messages.
Mr Biden extended his "congratulations" to Mr Scholz and "is looking forward to building on the strong ties between our two nations," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Moscow said it was hoping for constructive relations with Mr Scholz, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying there was “no alternative to dialogue".
After taking the oath of office and moving into the chancellery in Berlin, Mr Scholz said he would strive for “a new beginning for our country” but described the pandemic as a “great, unfinished crisis".
“It’s a great challenge and I’m very grateful that the people and parliament of this country have given me this task,” he said of his new role.
The new Cabinet, with Russia critic Annalena Baerbock as foreign minister, was sworn in at a ceremony with Germany's president.
Mr Scholz, a Social Democrat, is the ninth postwar chancellor and the fourth in the reunified Germany.
A former mayor of Hamburg, he led the party to victory after years as a junior partner to Ms Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), in a “grand coalition” in which Mr Scholz was finance minister.
After winning September's election, he sealed a coalition deal with the Greens and Free Democrats (FDP), the first such alliance at national level.
Armin Laschet, the defeated CDU candidate at the election, was among the first to congratulate Mr Scholz in parliament.
“Although we fought for a different result, we can be happy that there is such respect among democrats in our country,” he said.
The coalition parties plan to slash Germany's carbon emissions, overhaul its creaking digital infrastructure, modernise citizenship laws, raise the minimum wage and speed up the building of new homes.
Green co-leader Robert Habeck will take on an expanded economy and climate ministry to lead the race to net zero, while FDP chief Christian Lindner is the new finance minister.
Their four-year programme to revamp Germany is called “Dare More Progress”, a hat tip to Cold War-era chancellor Willy Brandt and his pledge to “Dare More Democracy".
Before taking office, the coalition partners used their new majority to amend Germany's coronavirus laws, tightening restrictions on public transport and in workplaces.
They were criticised by the Christian Democrats, who are going into opposition, for allowing a state of emergency to expire despite a surge in infections leading up to winter.
Mr Scholz wants 30 million Germans to be vaccinated, or given a booster, by the end of the year amid frustration over the number of unprotected people.
He expressed support for a nationwide vaccine mandate, an issue to be debated by parliament in the new year.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Read more about the coronavirus
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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The five pillars of Islam
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
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