It comes on Wednesday

Budget Week Highlights: Merz vs. Scholz in plenary discussion

BERLIN: An exchange of blows over Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government and the traffic lights coalition’s policy on the energy crisis is expected in the Bundestag on Wednesday. The occasion is the debate over the Chancellery’s budget. The four-hour public debate is traditionally the highlight of budget deliberations in Parliament. Schulz (SPD) and opposition leader Frederik Merz (CDU) will speak. The focus should be on Traffic Lights’ efforts to mitigate higher energy prices for citizens – but also on the citizens’ income settlement announced on Tuesday.

Mediation Committee to agree to a compromise on the citizen’s income

BERLIN: The mediation committee of the Bundestag and Bundesrat will deal with a settlement over citizens’ income negotiated between the traffic lights coalition and the union on Wednesday (7 p.m.). Parliament and the Council of States could approve a mediation outcome, which is expected this week. The law could then go into effect as planned on January 1. The Traffic Light Government’s planned Citizens’ Allowance is intended to replace existing Hartz IV benefits.

High Court rules on Scottish independence referendum

LONDON: In the row over Scotland’s second independence referendum, the UK’s highest court announced its decision on Wednesday (10.45am CET). At the request of the Scottish provincial government, the High Court in London decides whether the provincial parliament in Edinburgh can hold a referendum without London’s consent. In the first referendum in 2014, the majority of Scots voted to remain in the union with Great Britain. Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon argues that Brexit, which Scots clearly rejected in 2016, has changed the situation.

Shareholders’ approval of Credit Suisse’s capital increase

ZURICH: Troubled Swiss bank Credit Suisse wants to get out of the crisis by raising capital. Shareholders will decide this at an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday. The total revenue is about four billion francs (4.1 billion euros). The semi-governmental National Bank of Saudi Arabia will acquire 9.9 percent of the shares. The bank wants to shrink after four consecutive quarterly losses. She wants to focus on Swiss business as well as wealth management and asset management, for example pension fund assets.

Shot the assigned attorney? BGH announces verdict in the Falk case

Karlsruhe: On Wednesday (2pm) it will be decided whether former multi-millionaire Alexander Falk will serve a prison sentence for a second time. In July 2020, the Frankfurt District Court sentenced the publisher’s heir to four and a half years in prison for incitement to grievous bodily harm. He is said to have commissioned criminals to shoot a business lawyer out of anger, revenge and honor. Falk denied this and appealed to the Federal Court of Justice (BGH). This was negotiated in the summer. Now the Karlsruhe judges are announcing their verdict.

Rapper Flair’s trial continues – verdict possible

BERLIN: Rapper Flair’s trial will continue on Wednesday (9 a.m.). The 40-year-old musician is charged with insult, bodily harm, threats and damage to property before the Berlin-Tiergarten District Court. In one case, in March 2020, Flair, whose real name is Patrick Lusinski, is said to have attacked, threatened and insulted a TV crew who wanted to interview him as he was leaving a store. The verdict can be announced on the second day of the hearing.

The start of the match against Japan: The German Football Association started after the “One Love” scandal in the World Cup

DOHA: After the uproar over FIFA’s ban on the “One Love” captain’s armband, Germany’s national soccer team kicked off the World Cup in Qatar. At Al Shalifa International Stadium in Doha, Japan is the opening contender on Wednesday (2pm/ARD and MagentaTV). National team coach Hansi Flick reported on Tuesday that the German Football Association (DFB) professionals were “shocked” by the world federation’s ban on the colored captain’s armband. However, the decision should have no impact on sporting success.