What is the debt brake? A measure that requires the federal and state governments to maintain balanced budgets, effectively prohibiting them from borrowing a penny more than they can repay.
This is a big deal historically in a country that has been committed to fiscal responsibility and pacifism since its out-of-control defense spending in the run-up to World War II. The package allows for “necessary defense spending” above 1% of GDP to be exempt from debt limits, a measure Germany feels is necessary as Europe takes the reins on its own security in the wake of the US withdrawing support.
It's also a major policy victory — along with a significant amount of debt — for the incoming parliament before it even assumes power. Far-right and far-left parties have criticized the move as “deeply undemocratic,” arguing that such a sweeping fiscal measure shouldn’t be passed before the new government, in which they will have greater influence, is in place. While parliament is aiming to form a new government by late April, mid-May is a more realistic timeline.
Microsoft unveiled a new set of commitments guiding its community‑first approach to AI infrastructure development. The strategy focuses on energy affordability, water efficiency, job creation, local investment, and AI‑driven skilling. As demand for digital infrastructure accelerates, the company is pushing a new model for responsible datacenter growth — one built on sustainability, economic mobility, and long‑term partnership with the communities that host it. The move signals how AI infrastructure is reshaping local economies and what people expect from the tech shaping their future. Read the full blog here.
The Israeli government unilaterally passed measures that allow Jewish settlers to purchase land in the West Bank, overriding past laws that effectively banned the sale of property there to anyone other than Palestinian residents.