History of ghosts and murder awaits Japan PM Kishida in 1929 mansion

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the prime minister's official

 residence in Tokyo on Oct 14, 2021.

PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO (BLOOMBERG) - For the first time in nearly a decade, a Japanese prime minister is set to live in the official residence for the premier - a century old structure that is a monument to art deco aesthetics and clouded by an ominous history.

On Saturday (Dec 11) afternoon Premier Fumio Kishida will move into the two-story 5,183-square-meter stone and brick mansion that was opened in 1929, according to the Nikkei newspaper. The Cabinet Office could not immediately be reached by Bloomberg for comment.

The residence underwent a renovation completed in 2005, which reportedly was proceeded with an exorcism by a Shinto priest to ward off evil spirits that some in political circles worried had gathered over the decades.

Mr Kishida, who took office about two months ago, is moving to be nearer to the prime minister's office, a glass and steel structure opened in 2002 a few meters away, to be quickly on hand in case of an emergency. He has been living at a residence for lawmakers, Jiji Press reported, and will be the first premier in the mansion since Mr Yoshihiko Noda in 2012.

The last two prime ministers stayed away. Mr Kishida's predecessor Yoshihide Suga commuted to work from the housing complex for parliament members. The location may have helped him wheel and deal with lawmakers away from the media.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lived at his private residence in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, about 15 minutes away from the office by car. Even though the official residence was unoccupied, it still cost taxpayers around 160 million yen (S$1.9 million) a year for upkeep, according to Mr Noda.

Mr Abe had lived in the official prime minister's residence for about 10 months during his first time as prime minister in 2006-2007. During that period, the revamped residence became the home to six, short-serving premiers who averaged a little over a year in office and was seen as an inauspicious place for a new leader.

Mr Abe didn't go back when he returned as premier in 2012, and became the country's longest-serving prime minister.

The original residence and office was built as Tokyo emerged from a devastating earthquake in 1923 and inspired by the Imperial Hotel designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

The hotel officially opened the same day the temblor struck Tokyo and it survived the cataclysmic event that levelled large parts of the capital and killed tens of thousands of people.

Three years after the prime minister's office opened, young naval officers barged in and assassinated Prime Minister Tsuyoshi Inukai in 1932.

Four years later, the facility was the site of another military uprising, but then Prime Minister Keisuke Okada hid in a closet and survived. Five people were fatally shot and what was thought to be a bullet hole left above a main entrance door served as a reminder of the insurrection that came as the country plunged into militaristic rule.

As Japan emerged from the destruction of World War Two and for the decades that followed, there were no major revisions to the facility, which grew outdated and was seen by many cabinet office workers as gloomy. Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori told Mr Abe that he saw ghosts there, according to a Sankei newspaper report.

Its grand halls were still put to use hosting foreign guests, such President George H.W. Bush, who became ill during a 1992 banquet there and vomited on the lap of Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa as he passed out.

The government has spent about 8.6 billion yen to transform the residence into a homelike environment. Its intricate word carvings and ornate rooms have been painstakingly restored. Its idiosyncratic decorations have been preserved, including stone owl carvings standing guard outside.

Now all it needs is a new resident.

THE ASCENDENT MASTERS ARE DENISOVANS

Our Extinct Cousins Reached 'The Roof of The World' a Long Time Before Homo Sapiens

If it wasn't for an extinct relative of modern humans known as the Denisovans, some researchers suspect our own species might never have made their home on the highest and largest plateau in the world.

© Fei Yang/Moment/Getty Images

Carly Cassella

The Tibetan Plateau, sometimes called the Himalayan Plateau, is nicknamed 'the roof of the world' because it sits, on average, 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level.

This vast sweep of elevated land, which cuts through Mongolia, China, and Russia, is usually considered one of the last places that Homo sapiens settled permanently. Studies suggest there have been periods of occupation by various ancestors taking place over the past 160,000 years, but gaps in the record are hard to interpret.

Have there always been people up on the roof of the world, or is each period a resettlement by a new community?

A geneticist and an archaeologist have now suggested another timeline that works just as well with the limited evidence we have on hand.

The researchers incorporated both archaeological and genetic evidence to develop two, contrasting models of occupation: one continuous and one divided up over time. Crucially, the two models can be tested, potentially telling us one day how far back modern populations stretch.

In the discontinuous model, humans visited on and off for tens of thousands of years, until finally staying put around 9,000 years ago.

Alternatively, current evidence could also support permanent colonization that began on the plateau between 30,000 and 40,000 years ago. If so, the long genetic lineage might have passed on some helpful tricks for living up where the air is thin.

According to recent DNA analyses, a single crossbreeding event between Denisovans and H. sapiens in East Asia, no sooner than 46,000 years ago, might have infused our species with the genes they needed to make their home in such a low oxygen environment.

"Although we don't know if [Denisovans] were adapted to the high altitude, the transmission of some of their genes to us [could] be the game changer thousands of years later for our species to get adapted to hypoxia," says anthropologist Nicolas Zwyns from the University of California, Davis.

"That to me is a fantastic story."

Whether that's a true story, however, is not yet clear.

Archaeological evidence on its own suggests Denisovans first appeared on the Tibetan plateau about 160,000 years ago. But it's still not known whether these early humans made their home here all year round or just visited on occasion.

The same is true of our own species. The first archeological evidence of H. sapiens on the plateau reaches back 40,000 years, but continuous occupation may not have occurred here until after the last glacial period roughly 11,000 years ago.

Given significant patches in the archaeological timeline, the truth will likely only be figured out if we incorporate genetic data, too.

Today, most modern Tibetans have DNA containing a special variation in the Endothelial Pas1 (EPAS1) gene, which helps humans withstand the lack of oxygen found at high altitudes by increasing oxygen transport in the blood.

In 2010, a Denisovan finger bone found in the mountains north of the Tibetan plateau showed a comparable genetic quirk. So did Denisovans living on the plateau have a similar haplotype?

The short answer is: Maybe. We just don't have enough Denisovan remains to confirm.

According to the authors of the current paper, recent genetic research has shown all East Asians, including Tibetans, hold the same patterns of Denisovan DNA.

This suggests genes across the region were derived from the same interbreeding event, which was specific to East Asians, and probably occurred between 46,000 and 48,000 years ago.

Only after this intermixing did H. sapiens make it to the top of the world, possibly as a result of the genes they acquired from Denisovans in the lowlands.

But how long would it have taken for those high-altitude genes to be positively selected for in the East Asian population?

Research on the EPAS1 gene haplotype in modern Tibetans suggests the quirk was positively selected for anytime between 2,800 years ago and 18,300 years ago.

But the genetic divergence of modern Tibetans and Han Chinese seems to have occurred 30,000 years ago, which might indicate earlier selectivity.

Until we know more, the authors of the current paper argue we shouldn't rule out the possibility that H. sapiens permanently lived on the Tibetan Plateau as far back as 40,000 years ago.

"Currently the low-resolution data does not allow a complete validation/rejection of either hypothesis," the authors write.

"However, the models could establish an interpretative framework with clearly archaeological and genetic predictions for further studies."

The study was published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution.

Indian boy with passion for peaks moves mountains

On eve of International Mountain Day, Sai Sudhir Kawade, 12, tells of his wish to one day tackle the roof of the world, Mount Everest

Ahmad Adil 

|11.12.2021

NEW DELHI

A 12-year-old from western India is making a name for himself by scaling mountains both at home and abroad.

The family of Sai Sudhir Kawade, a seventh-grade student in Maharastra State, said he has been fond of mountaineering since the tender age of 4 years old.

On the eve of Saturday’s International Mountain Day, Sai told Anadolu Agency that after scaling several peaks in India and abroad and attending several trekking expeditions, he wants to tackle the roof of the world, Mount Everest.

"I started (mountain) trekking in my childhood and over the years it has become my passion," said Sai. "I will continue what I am doing till I achieve my dreams in life."

Sai's father, Sudhir Shashikant Kawade, said when he took his son to a nearby fort, one of his friends, a mountaineer, suggested that Sai should focus more on mountaineering.

"My son's first hike was at the age of 4 when he hiked Shivneri fort in Maharashtra with me,” said Kawade, referring to a 17th-century military fortification.

“I used to take him regularly there and then he developed an interest in trekking and mountaineering.”

He added: "A local friend who is a mountaineer suggested that my son has great ability and he should move ahead in this. Since then, the family has been providing him with all kinds of support and we’re proud of what he’s doing."

Europe, Africa, South America

Family members said that in 2018 – at just 9 years old – Sai successfully climbed the Stok Kangri peak in the legendary Himalayas.

In 2019, he went to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, and then to Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest peak. He was accompanied by two mentors – both ace mountaineers.

The elder Kawade claims his son has trekked 100 mountain ranges. "His next planned summit is to climb the Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America in 2022," he said.

He also said that he has been getting support from everyone, including administrators at his school.

Sai’s father said his expeditions are sponsored mostly by contributions and donations that keep his son climbing.

"I'm not financially well-off and it is not my capacity to sponsor all his expeditions. His trips mostly rely on donations and contributions. Whenever a summit is scheduled, then people contribute funds," he said.

For his part, Sai said he has two dreams: "To hike to Mount Everest and also become a para-commando."

​​​​​​​"I am working hard to achieve my dreams," he said.

His father echoes his son’s views.

"My son has an aim that he wants to join the Indian Army when he is older. I am sure he will do it and serve his country," he said.

India has produced a number of youngsters who have scaled mountain peaks and achieved success.

Trekking is currently one of the latest trends in India, with many northern states witnessing a large number of enthusiasts taking part in trekking programs.

‘Gentle giants’: rangers prepare for return of wild bison to UK

Animals arrive in Kent in spring 2022 and will create forest clearings – described as ‘jet fuel for biodiversity’

The rangers will manage the first wild bison to roam in the UK for thousands of years. Photograph: Tom Gibbs and Donovan Wright



Damian Carrington 

Environment editor
THE GUARDIAN
Sat 11 Dec 2021 

“When you see them in the wild, there’s this tangible feeling of humility and respect,” says Tom Gibbs, one of the UK’s first two bison rangers. “The size of them instantly demands your respect, although they are quite docile. I wouldn’t say they are scary, but you’re aware of what they can do.”

The rangers will manage the first wild bison to roam in the UK for thousands of years when four animals arrive in north Kent in the spring of 2022. The bison are Europe’s largest land animal – bulls can weigh a tonne – and were extinct in the wild a century ago, but are recovering through reintroduction projects across Europe.

“They are magnificent animals, truly gentle giants,” says colleague Donovan Wright, who spent 20 years working with rhino, cape buffalo and other large animals in southern Africa. “The Kent project is very different, but it’s no less important.”

Wright says: “How amazing will it be to track the largest land mammal in the UK on foot right here in [Kent]? To experience something like this only five miles from Canterbury would be just incredible, and help people reconnect with nature.”

Gibbs and Wright have just returned from training with wild bison herds in the Netherlands, where they were reintroduced in 2007. The £1m Kent project is called Wilder Blean and is run by the Kent Wildlife Trust and the Wildwood Trust, and funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery. A principal aim is for the bison to rewild a dense, former commercial pine forest.

Tom Gibbs (L) and Donovan Wright. Photograph: Tom Gibbs and Donovan Wright

“What makes bison a keystone species is that they strip bark off of trees by rubbing up against them, and by eating it,” says Wright. “Those trees die and that allows light to reach the forest floors. And, wow, that’s like jet fuel for biodiversity – all of a sudden, you’re creating habitats for other species to thrive.

“Also, just by their sheer size, they carve amazing trails through the vegetation, and they love dust bathing, creating big open patches. That’s all fantastic for pioneer plants, insects and sand lizards.” The insects living on the dead wood left behind are amazing for woodpeckers and bats too, Wright says.


Return of the bison: herd makes surprising comeback on Dutch coast

The rangers visited the Kraansvlak project in the Netherlands, where people can walk freely through the area occupied by 14 bison and where there has never been a dangerous incident. But part of the training was learning the animals’ behaviour to ensure safety.

“You read the animals, so if they’re giving you signs that they’re not really comfortable with your presence, you just back away,” says Gibbs. The signs include staring, alert ears, heads flicking up and down, pawing of the ground, or the herd fanning out. “In reality, the bison are the ones who maintain the [50 metre safety] distance, by moving away.”

Like the bison in Kraansvlak, the animals in Kent will wear GPS collars, but these can get damaged and so tracking skills are needed to ensure the rangers can find the animals without startling them. Broken twigs and tufts of fur on branches are clues, as well as hoofprints in softer ground.

The rangers also learned how to encourage the bison into a corral for quick health checks. “There are a few tricks of the trade, such as certain foodstuffs,” says Gibbs, but these are kept secret to avoid the public trying to attract the bison unnecessarily. It took five years before the Kraansvlak rangers were confident the public could enter the bison area alone, but Wright is not setting a timescale for the Kent project. “We are treading very carefully,” he says.

The Kent herd will be founded by a young bull from Germany and an older female from the Highland wildlife park in Scotland, who will be the matriarch. “She looks beautiful and we’re really confident that she’s going to be a fantastic leader for the group,” says Gibbs. Two young females from Fota wildlife park in Cork, Ireland, will complete the group, which will roam and feed freely across 210 hectares (519 acres).

The rangers expect the bison to breed – females produce one calf a year – and the site is licensed for up to 10 animals. In future, they hope to provide bison to found other sites in the UK, as well as exchanging animals across Europe. All 7,000 bison living in Europe are descended from just 12 zoo animals, and the species is still classed as vulnerable, so maximising genetic diversity is very important.

Preparations are now under way at Wilder Blean for the arrival of the bison. “We’re putting up a 1.4-metre electric fence to contain the bison and then, on the perimeter, we’ve got a 6ft deer fence to keep the people out,” says Wright.

Ponds are also being dug for the bison to drink from, as well as the longhorn cattle, Exmoor ponies and “iron age” pigs that will help restore the landscape. Wright says: “We had another interesting dilemma: how do you get a herd of bison safely over a public footpath [that crosses the site]? The answer was bison-sized tunnels, so we are working on that at the moment.”

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and the rangers hope the bison project will be a beacon for a wider recovery. “By using nature-based solutions, we can really turn the tide and help mitigate the effects of the current climate and biodiversity crises that we face,” says Wright.

“A lot of people feel frustrated about a lack of action but I think this project is a real beacon of what can be done,” says Gibbs. “We can’t wait for the bison to arrive and for them to start doing what they do best.”

LIVING NOT FAR FROM ELK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK, KNOWN FOR ITS BISON AND WOOD BUFFALO M ORE THAN ELK.

How does sunlight affect human body? 

Watch the experiences of people living near the Arctic Circle

Areas in the extreme north of the earth face a long, harsh winter with continuous darkness for months.

New rules on UK arms trade make it ‘easier’ to sideline human rights

Emma Graham-Harrison 

The government has brought in new rules for the arms trade that experts fear will make it easier to ignore human rights concerns when deciding whether to allow international sales of UK-made weapons.

The revised Strategic Export Licensing Criteria could also make it harder for critics to challenge any deal in court, warned Martin Butcher, policy adviser on conflict and arms for Oxfam, who said the changes “would reduce accountability and transparency and will lead to more UK arms being used to commit war crimes and other abuses.”

The secretary of state for international trade, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, introduced the revised criteria for licensing arms sales in a written statement to parliament on Wednesday. Ministers now appear to have more discretion to allow sales. One new provision allows exports if a minister decides there is only a “theoretical” risk that a buyer would break rules about the use of weapons.

 Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

 The secretary of state for international trade, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who has introduced revised criteria for licensing arms sales.

Under the new rules “[the government] will not refuse a licence on the grounds of a purely theoretical risk of a breach of one or more of those criteria”, Trevelyan’s statement said. This means that export licences could be issued to governments implicated in serious abuse, Butcher said.

“This gives a lot of wriggle room and lessens transparency over arms licensing,” he said. “In the context of arms sales to Saudi being used in Yemen, this means that if the minister believes there is only a theoretical risk of arms being used to target civilian infrastructure or residential areas, they will issue the licence.”

Even under previous tighter export-control rules, two-thirds of countries classified as “not free” because of their dire record on human rights and civil liberties received weapons licensed by the UK government over the past decade.

Between 2011 and 2020, the UK licensed £16.8bn of arms to countries criticised by the US-funded human rights group Freedom House. Of the 53 countries castigated for a poor record on political and human rights on the group’s list, the UK sold arms and military equipment to 39.

The UK government has already admitted that a Saudi-led coalition has attacked Yemen using weapons made by British companies. The UK supplied more than half of combat aircraft used by the kingdom for its bombing raids, in a campaign that has faced accusations of serious human rights abuses.

The changes also appear to allow the government to decide whether it should take sanctions, embargoes and other restrictions into account when making decisions about handing out licences.

Related: £17bn of UK arms sold to rights’ abusers

“The new criteria allow government ministers to weigh up different factors and if, ‘overall’, they think a transfer should go ahead, they can ignore factors which should be used to deny a transfer,” Butcher said.

The new rules seem to be modelled in part on the US arms-licensing stance, and will allow the country to put political or strategic decisions ahead of concerns about violating international humanitarian law, he added.

“This is a radically different approach to the past criteria … it seems that if the UK government’s allies are in a conflict, this will be taken into account when considering licences.”

The Department for International Trade said that the “UK takes its export control responsibilities very seriously” and the changes “in no way represent a weakening in the UK’s export control regime”.

MP Alyn Smith, who represents Stirling for the SNP, said: “The UK arms export regime wasn’t much cop to begin with, given the dubious regimes around the world it already somehow justifies exports to, but these changes will weaken it even further. Worse still is the sneaky way they have tried to bounce it under everyone’s radar while so much of the political class are distracted by the shambles of a government.”

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Rheinmetall presents its robotic vehicle with high-tech autonomy [video]

By TOC On Dec 10, 2021

BERLIN, ($1=0.89 Euros) – The German defense company Rheinmetall has released a video with its new combat robotic platform Autonomous Combat Warrior Wiesel, learned BulgarianMilitary.com, citing to the Defense Express.

Photo credit: Defense Express / YouTube

“A mature platform is combined with the achievement of high-tech autonomy” this is how the developers describe the platform. It is noted that the Autonomous Combat Warrior Wiesel is equipped with an “ultra-modern autonomous kit” that can be used on such tracked and wheeled vehicles as Boxer, Lynx, or HX.

The Rheinmetall unmanned platform can traditionally be controlled both remotely from the operator’s panel and by selecting a stand-alone mode by programming its path on the battlefield at certain points.

The “robotic tank” can overcome obstacles on its own, as well as follow the main machine in convoy mode. In addition, in the next generations of these machines, the company plans to implement functions for “determining the behavior of soldiers off the road.”

Among the tasks that the new machine will perform – both transport and combat, and, as noted by the company, the machine will be able to “work at a safer distance.”

Photo credit: Defense Express / YouTube

Rheinmetall introduces unusual combat module

In mid-year, the German company Rheinmetall presented a futuristic remote-controlled combat module called Natter 7.62. Rheinmetall says the station uses special mounting technology to reduce vibration.

The station is modular, it can integrate various mounting kits for the location of weapons ranging in size from 5.56 x 45 mm to 7.62 x 51 mm, according to the company.

This module was developed primarily for trucks, taking into account the load capacity of the truck roof of 105 kg. According to Rheinmetall, the station uses “carbon-based mounting technology” that reduces vibration.

The station includes an “all-weather FlexEye sensor system installed coaxially with the armament line”, capable of simultaneously displaying multiple targets on the operator’s monitor screen during combat. The station has both manual and automatic target tracking. The Natter combat module has a “high probability of first hit, high angular accuracy and speed, a self-stabilizing platform, and a probability of scuba diving.”

“The combat unit sets standards in the field of protection class, operational capabilities and dynamic guidance on asymmetric threats through the use of innovative software modules in the latest remotely controlled combat stations from Rheinmetall,” says the developer.

USS Zumwalt super-destroyer is rusting near California, literally

By Boyko Nikolov On Dec 11, 2021

WASHINGTON – The US Navy’s USS Zumwalt, which has been testing for a year and cost US taxpayers at least 4.4 billion US dollars, is rusting, according to new photos taken in Southern California waters, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.

Photo credit: @cjr1321 in Twitter

The photos show that the ship’s anti-radar absorbing plates are deeply discolored and covered with rust, which raises worrying questions.

Experts say that the occurrence of such corrosion and rust occurs when “ships that have been deployed for long periods, executing high tempo operations, not those that spend the vast majority of their time tied up to the pier at one of the Navy’s most well-equipped harbors,” writes Tyler Rogoway of The Drive. Opinions of experts in the field are contradictory – some say that while a ship operates such rust is not a problem for the ship, while others say that in addition to “discomfort in appearance” this rust speaks of problems with USS Zumwalt systems.

Removing rust on the ship can also be a major obstacle. Some experts note a very important fact – the number of the ship’s crew is half [175 sailors – ed.] Then that of other destroyers. And although an automated process would solve the problem to some extent, the small number of sailors on the ship and the daily tasks they have to perform will have a serious impact on the time it takes to get the ship in order and eliminate corrosion.

Photo credit: @cjr1321 in Twitter

Photo credit: @cjr1321 in Twitter

Most disturbing, however, is the material from which the USS Zumwalt deck is built. This is a composite deck, which according to its characteristics should significantly reduce corrosion on it. For reference, a sister ship, the USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002), has a deck cabin made of steel.

The problems of the USS Zumwalt do not end there. Tests of this ship continue, but the US Navy will still have to integrate additional systems on it, as well as complete the other ship systems. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), this will cost more than $ 169 million, the minimum. Thus, the idea of ​​the Pentagon USS Zumwalt to become operational in 2021 or at least in 2022 fails. GAO predicts that USS Zumwalt will be ready to carry out its military missions only in 2025.

“As of September 2020, the Navy plans to request $169 million to install its four new systems on at least one or more DDG 1000 ships and would need to request further funding to complete the remaining ships’ systems. Though the Navy plans to fully mature these technologies by ship integration, the integration will not occur until several years after the Navy plans to achieve initial operational capability in December 2021. As a result, the DDG 1000 class ships will remain incomplete and incapable of performing their planned mission until at least 2025,” the GAO report said.

The USS Zumwalt role

The Zumwalt class was designed with multimission capability. Unlike previous destroyer classes, designed primarily for deep-water combat, the Zumwalt class was primarily designed to support ground forces in land attacks, in addition to the usual destroyer missions of anti-air, anti-surface, and antisubmarine warfare.

Zumwalt is equipped with two Advanced Gun Systems [AGS], which are designed to fire the Long Range Land Attack Projectile [LRLAP]. LRLAP was to be one of a range of land attack and ballistic projectiles for the AGS, but was the only munition the AGS could use. LRLAP had a range of up to 100 nautical miles [190 km; 120 mi] fired from the AGS. It was to be a key component for ground forces support, but LRLAP procurement was cancelled in 2016 and the Navy has no plan to replace it. Since Zumwalt class cannot provide naval gunfire support the Navy has re-purposed the class to surface warfare.


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Germany's new finance minister announces billions in climate investments

Christian Lindner has made his debut as finance minister by announcing a €60 billion euro injection in the climate. The funds will be sourced from previously unused debt.


Christian Lindner has been finance minister since the new coalition government was sworn in on Wednesday

Germany's new Finance Minister Christian Lindner announced a plan on Friday to invest an extra €60 billion (roughly $68 billion) in climate policies.

The financing comes from left-over, unused debt borrowed by the government in 2021 and it is expected to be passed as part of a supplementary budget on Monday.

"I have handed the draft supplementary budget to the Cabinet today," Lindner said in his first major appearance as finance minister.

The lawmaker from the liberal pro-business Free Democrats Party (FDP) said the investment would be a "boost for the economy."

'No further borrowing'

A tweet from the finance ministry said they would "get a second supplementary budget 2021 on track to tackle the effects of the pandemic and also prepare €60 billion for future investments."

"There will be no further borrowing," it added.

The German government had already taken out €240 billion in debt to support businesses during the pandemic, but had only used €180 billion.

The conservative Christian Democrats, now in opposition, questioned if such a reallocation was permissible under budgetary law.

Lindner also said that some of the funds would be earmarked for the "digitalization" of the German economy.

FDP comes out swinging

The FDP joined a three-way coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens — the so-called "traffic light" coalition.

The new government was sworn in on Wednesday under new Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the SPD.

Holding the finance ministry was long the ambition of the FDP,especially given that the foreign minister's post (often held by the FDP in the past) traditionally goes to the second strongest party in a coalition, in this case the Greens. They also managed to get their coalition partners to agree to not increase tax or borrow more money.

This has led some to question where investments for the government's ambitious climate plans will come from.

New government's green goals

Under pressure from the FDP, the government promised to return to the so-called debt brake that severely limits borrowing.

"Only by ensuring stable finances can we meet the requirement of fairness between the generations," Lindner said on Friday.

The coalition has pledged to source at least 80% of the country's energy from renewable sources by 2030, as well as increasing the number of electric vehicles on the road from 500,000 to 15 million in the same time frame.

Germany's new government: A left-wing rebel gains influence in chancellor's party

Does Germany's ruling party risk its new-found unity when firebrand Kevin Kühnert takes on a top job? 

The former party youth leader must put his differences with Chancellor Olaf Scholz aside and ensure support for him.



Kevin Kühnert has a leading role in the SPD

Germany's new coalition government headed by the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) has only just taken office — and already the incoming party secretary, Kevin Kühnert, wants to see amendments to the coalition deal with Greens and neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP). Left-winger Kühnert makes no secret of the fact that he is not satisfied with what has been agreed, for example, on rent caps or on topping up unemployment benefits.

Many leftist demands fell by the wayside in the negotiations, as the business-oriented FDP leans towards the right of the political spectrum. However, Kühnert insists that several issues have been earmarked for scrutiny and further discussion among the three parties.

The SPD must state its positions clearly and forcefully, according to the 32-year-old, who has long-term strategy in mind: The Social Democrat party, he says, "will continue to exist after this current term of government expires." Therefore, he said, the party must remain true to "its core positions."

Kevin Kühnert has big plans for the party and for his own future, and he has never left any doubt about that. In 2005, the Berlin native joined the SPD at the age of just 16. From 2012, he made a career for himself in the party's youth organization, the "Jusos" (from Junge Sozialisten, or "Young Socialists"), first as head of the Berlin division, then from 2017 as federal chairman.

Vociferous opponent of the grand coalition

After Germany's 2017 general election, Kevin Kühnert campaigned vehemently against his party again entering into a coalition with Angela Merkel's conservatives. He failed, but only by a narrow margin.

Then, in late 2019, Kühnert and his Jusos supported the two left-wing outsiders Saskia Esken and Norbert Walter-Borjans for the party chairmanship over party moderate and then Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and his running mate.

Kühnert describes himself as a socialist. He has been a member of the SPD executive committee since 2019.

In that year he ruffled feathers with his call for major German companies like BMW to be collectivized and their profits to be democratically controlled. He also called for an end to property ownership: "Thinking it through logically, everyone should own no more living space than they themselves live in."

The comments triggered outrage among SPD moderates.

By 2021 Kühnert seems to have mellowed down. The university dropout is openly gay and lives with his husband in the German capital. He has come to focus on his party career.

He successfully ran for the Bundestag, giving up the Jusos' chairship and beating his high-profile rivals from the Greens and the Left Party to do so.

In his new role as the SPD's general secretary, Kühnert will have to be the chief organizer and coordinator for the party as a whole.

Politics is the search for compromise

The new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, must be able to rely on his party's support. But Kühnert admits that political differences remain between him and the chancellor. "If I said otherwise, I would be lying," Kühnert openly admits.

During the election campaign, Kühnert loyally supported Scholz and also ensured that the Jusos' leadership conspicuously held back on criticism.

Kevin Kühnert and Olaf Scholz know that they now depend on each other. Without Scholz, the SPD would not have won the Bundestag election; but Kühnert is considered the SPD's greatest young talent.

Cooperation will not always be completely harmonious. That became clear recently at the Jusos' federal congress when Olaf Scholz called on the youth organization to hold back on criticizing the coalition partners FDP and the Greens. He argued it would make more sense to focus on attacking the center-right CDU/CSU opposition than the coalition partners.

Kühnert, however, rejected the lecture and countered that it would make sense to show confidence: In a coalition, he said, it is necessary to work well together, but at the same time to make clear what the substantive differences between the parties are, and to let them play out. "The FDP and the SPD don't come from the same political mold, is a fact you can't hide."

As SPD general secretary, Kühnert says he does not want to deepen divisions, but he wants to ensure that the Social Democrat Party remains visible as the center of power in its own right and is not dwarfed by the chancellor's office or seen merely as an appendage of the government. Whether this can succeed without friction and conflict remains to be seen.

This article has been translated from German.