Latest news with #Bas
DW
3 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Germany: Social Democrats pick Bärbel Bas as new co-leader – DW – 06/29/2025
Germany's Social Democratic Party has elected its new leadership, placing Bärbel Bas in office alongside her reelected co-chair Lars Klingbeil. Bärbel Bas comes from a humble background. Her father was a bus driver, her mother a homemaker. Bas was born in 1968 in Duisburg, an industrial city in the Ruhr region characterized by coal mining and iron and steel production. As a working-class child with five siblings, secondary school and an academic education were not a likely path. She attended secondary school, which qualified young people for basic vocational training, and then became an office assistant. But when that wasn't enough for her, she did a second apprenticeship, got involved as a works council member and continued her education while working to complete a two-year evening course at a business academy. Bas began her political career at the same time. In 1988, she joined Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), became a city councilor and made her way into the country's parliament, the Bundestag. In 2009, she won her first direct parliamentary mandate in Duisburg and became the parliamentary secretary and deputy leader of the SPD parliamentary group. From 2021 to 2025, she was president of the Bundestag, the second-highest state office in Germany. And now, she heads the SPD alongside Lars Klingbeil. At the SPD party conference in Berlin on Friday, Bas pointed out that she wasn't born into her political and professional career. "But I had the chance to progress step by step," she said. "I have continued to educate myself and worked my way up." Bas wants to ensure that this kind of professional advancement through is possible for many more people in Germany. "That's also why I joined the SPD back then," she said. Bas belongs to the SPD's left wing. As co-leader of the party, her role will be to act as counterweight to Lars Klingbeil, who belongs to the party's conservative wing. Now in his third term, the 47-year-old has co-chaired the party since 2021. That makes him partly responsible for SPD's disastrous election defeat in February, when it received just 16.4% of the vote — the worst result since the end of the 19th century. With Klingbeil, Bas will now have the task of rebuilding the SPD and leading it forward. It will be a daunting task for a deeply wounded party, and it showed at the party conference. Klingbeil was only reelected by just under 65% of the party's delegates — a poor result laden with frustrations. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Immediately after the election defeat, Klingbeil positioned himself for the new governing coalition with the leading conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), expanding his power to become both finance minister and vice chancellor. Saskia Esken, his SPD co-chair at the time, was sidelined until she eventually gave up. "I found much of what came from within my own ranks, but also from outside as comments, to be unfair," she said in an interview with the , in which she also admitted to making mistakes. "But the way I was maligned was disproportionate and undignified." Speaking on Friday, Bas agreed with Esken's assessment. "You, dear Saskia, have had to experience that it can sometimes be damn lonely in politics — even in a party with over 350,000 members," she said at the party conference. "You have had to experience that solidarity is not always a given — not even in social democracy." As such, Bas said she'd considered whether she should take on the party chairmanship. But her decision was clear: "It's not acceptable for us women to avoid responsibility. It's about visibility, respect — and yes, it's also about power!" Bas now has power not only in the SPD, but as Germany's new labor minister. In that role, she has taken on the mammoth tasks of reforming unemployment benefits and patching up the crumbling pension system, the latter of which is plagued by demographic changes that make it unlikely there will be enough to support the aging population. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The conservatives are pushing to cut social benefits, something which Bas has rejected outright. She sharply criticized talk of allegedly lazy Germans and attempts to turn the term "welfare state" into a dirty word. This is "shamelessly punching down" she said, adding that a society based on solidarity with dignified work for all should be at the heart of politics. Delegates celebrated her stance on Friday, electing her as the party's new co-chair with 95% of the vote. Bas knows that she has the historically difficult task of saving the SPD from further disintegration. "But I always say: if it were easy, others could do it too," she said.
DW
4 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Bärbel Bas offers new hope for ailing SPD – DW – 06/29/2025
Germany's Social Democratic Party has elected its new leadership, placing Bärbel Bas in office alongside her reelected co-chair Lars Klingbeil. Bärbel Bas comes from a humble background. Her father was a bus driver, her mother a homemaker. Bas was born in 1968 in Duisburg, an industrial city in the Ruhr region characterized by coal mining and iron and steel production. As a working-class child with five siblings, secondary school and an academic education were not a likely path. She attended secondary school, which qualified young people for basic vocational training, and then became an office assistant. But when that wasn't enough for her, she did a second apprenticeship, got involved as a works council member and continued her education while working to complete a two-year evening course at a business academy. Bas began her political career at the same time. In 1988, she joined Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), became a city councilor and made her way into the country's parliament, the Bundestag. In 2009, she won her first direct parliamentary mandate in Duisburg and became the parliamentary secretary and deputy leader of the SPD parliamentary group. From 2021 to 2025, she was president of the Bundestag, the second-highest state office in Germany. And now, she heads the SPD alongside Lars Klingbeil. At the SPD party conference in Berlin on Friday, Bas pointed out that she wasn't born into her political and professional career. "But I had the chance to progress step by step," she said. "I have continued to educate myself and worked my way up." Bas wants to ensure that this kind of professional advancement through is possible for many more people in Germany. "That's also why I joined the SPD back then," she said. Bas belongs to the SPD's left wing. As co-leader of the party, her role will be to act as counterweight to Lars Klingbeil, who belongs to the party's conservative wing. Now in his third term, the 47-year-old has co-chaired the party since 2021. That makes him partly responsible for SPD's disastrous election defeat in February, when it received just 16.4% of the vote — the worst result since the end of the 19th century. With Klingbeil, Bas will now have the task of rebuilding the SPD and leading it forward. It will be a daunting task for a deeply wounded party, and it showed at the party conference. Klingbeil was only reelected by just under 65% of the party's delegates — a poor result laden with frustrations. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Immediately after the election defeat, Klingbeil positioned himself for the new governing coalition with the leading conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), expanding his power to become both finance minister and vice chancellor. Saskia Esken, his SPD co-chair at the time, was sidelined until she eventually gave up. "I found much of what came from within my own ranks, but also from outside as comments, to be unfair," she said in an interview with the , in which she also admitted to making mistakes. "But the way I was maligned was disproportionate and undignified." Speaking on Friday, Bas agreed with Esken's assessment. "You, dear Saskia, have had to experience that it can sometimes be damn lonely in politics — even in a party with over 350,000 members," she said at the party conference. "You have had to experience that solidarity is not always a given — not even in social democracy." As such, Bas said she'd considered whether she should take on the party chairmanship. But her decision was clear: "It's not acceptable for us women to avoid responsibility. It's about visibility, respect — and yes, it's also about power!" Bas now has power not only in the SPD, but as Germany's new labor minister. In that role, she has taken on the mammoth tasks of reforming unemployment benefits and patching up the crumbling pension system, the latter of which is plagued by demographic changes that make it unlikely there will be enough to support the aging population. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The conservatives are pushing to cut social benefits, something which Bas has rejected outright. She sharply criticized talk of allegedly lazy Germans and attempts to turn the term "welfare state" into a dirty word. This is "shamelessly punching down" she said, adding that a society based on solidarity with dignified work for all should be at the heart of politics. Delegates celebrated her stance on Friday, electing her as the party's new co-chair with 95% of the vote. Bas knows that she has the historically difficult task of saving the SPD from further disintegration. "But I always say: if it were easy, others could do it too," she said.
Eater
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
A Slew of Very Cool Cocktail Bars Dominate June Openings in Houston
1120 Dennis Street in Houston Why vacation in Tulum when Tulum is available in Houston? Tago, located in Midtown, offers dinner service with a menu featuring items such as pulpo served over hominy with savory tomatillo sauce, a duck mole tostada, ceviche, spicy watermelon and tuna aguachile, as well as adobo chicken, filet steak, and mushroom risotto. There is also a summery cocktail menu with drinks including a Mango Suave (gin, mango, lime, and sugar) and the French Kiss (vodka, Chambord, lime, and pear, served with a bottle of prosecco). It's also a late-night spot — some might say club — with bottle service. The dark interiors feature velvet couches surrounding tables, a spot-lit bar, and a tree growing from the center of the room. Outside is a patio with light wood furniture that looks like a wonderful resort escape. 4520 Washington Avenue in Houston Straight out of the mind of Abbas Dhanani, founder of Burger Bodega, comes a pop-up that Houston needs this summer: Bas's Cheesesteaks. The first pop-up will happen on Monday, June 30, at 11 a.m. and go until it sells out, with more dates to be announced on social media. Dhanani said in a press release that he wanted to honor cheesesteak culture in Philadelphia, while bringing it to Houston — and that cheesesteaks are his favorite sandwich. Diners should try the Bas (white cheese and sliced rib-eye beef on a seeded hoagie roll with or without onions). 18207B Egret Bay Boulevard in Houston Making sushi accessible to all is the mission of this restaurant and its executive chef, Leo Hirai. Hand rolls from the menu are made fresh to order; options include classics like tuna and salmon, as well as items such as spicy scallop and lobster. It also offers curated hand roll sets to make ordering easier for those who are new to sushi. Located down by NASA, this strip mall outlet has a sushi counter with swivel stools, and the color scheme of tan and red is punctuated by adorable art of kittens cuddling with rolls of sushi. 1815 North Durham Drive in Houston The owners are the folks behind now-closed Flying Fish slipped this ad-hoc bar into the same space in the Greater Heights area. The new operation is serving beers from the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium and, for opening, burgers from Rodeo Goat, both businesses also owned by the team behind the Kid (who were also behind the now-closed Meddlesome Moth in Dallas). Though this bar opened back in April, per a report on it is hosting its official opening party now. One interesting note: To keep it adult, kids are not allowed in after 7 p.m. 1226 West Clay Street in Houston After closing in Spring Branch, this inventive cocktail bar is back at a new location between River Oaks and Montrose. It shares a space with Emma Jane, making it a tea house by day and cocktail bar by night. Imbibe exotic cocktails like the Operation: White Flame (vodka, dry vermouth, Earl Grey, and caviar), an Ottoman Fashion (Scotch, coffee, cardamom, and fig), or the Culture Exchange (reposado tequila, pineapple, and miso agave). There are also small bites, including a Crudo 'Hot Pot' featuring wagyu and Hawai'i shrimp with a warm and savory custard, Morel Sunomono with preserved wild mushrooms in chilled dashi, and the KFC: Korean fried chicken with peanut sauce, Maggi aioli, and citrus-cured fennel. 4500 Montrose Boulevard in Houston An immersive tiki bar is coming to Montrose, in the back of Betelgeuse, on July 2. Created by Chris Cusack and Brian Dibala, the space aims to 'represent the space between death and vacation,' per a press release, with decor that brings the hyper reality of the movie Betelgeuse to mind, and certainly owes a debt to filmmaker Tim Burton. Drinks include options like Brown Butter Rum Old Fashioned (brown butter fat-washed Planteray and Smith and Cross, rich paradise syrup, blended bitters), This Sunset Should be Illegal (mezcal, acid-adjusted orange juice, orange liqueur lime punch syrup, fassionola) for $17, and a Pistachio Mai Tai (Probitas, El Dorado 8, and Hamilton 151 rums, house pistachio orgeat, orange liqueurs, lime, fire, and a pretty flower). It will only hold 50 people at a time, and reservations will go live on Resy at any minute — you'll want to snap one up. 2102 North Shepherd Drive in Houston The Heights lands a cute spot selling shave ice and frozen cocktails. Owned by Shawn Bermudez and Matthew Pak of the Burger Joint, this place has a menu of Hawai'i-style shave ice that includes flavors such as Coco Loco (blue coconut and lime syrup, sweetened condensed milk drizzle, mochi, toasted coconut flakes, and a coconut ice cream base), Aloha Island (blue coconut and passion fruit syrups, sweetened condensed milk drizzle, mochi, toasted coconut flakes, and a vanilla ice cream base), and Happy Rainbow (strawberry, pineapple, and vanilla syrups with strawberry and pineapple puree, sweetened condensed milk drizzle, fresh strawberries and pineapple, rainbow mochi, and a vanilla ice cream base). There are also frozen cocktails, such as the Very Piña Colada (a frozen piña colada topped with blue coconut and pineapple shave ice), strawberry frosé, and Island Dream (a frozen Miami Vice topped with passion fruit and pineapple shave ice). See More: Houston Restaurant Openings
Hypebeast
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Bas and The Hics Break the Confines of Genre on 'Melanchronica'
'Genre-defying' has become such a buzzword in the music space. It's rare that an artist, especially solo, is able to seamlessly break the rules of genre in a way that feels imitative or uninspiring. Some of the best genre-defying offerings as of late, those that truly bend and blur the constraints and confines of any one category, tend to come from cross-genre collaborators. FlumeandVince Stapleshave dialed in their joint electronic-trap sound on the rapper's projectBig Fish Theoryand tracks like 'Smoke and Retribution.' The Australian DJ also teamed withJPEGMAFIAlast month forWe Live In A Society,another project that melds electronic and hip-hop music. Similarly,The Alchemisthas expanded the jazz-rap ether with his work withLarry June. Basis the latest hip-hop artist to offer up a true testament to the definition of 'genre-disregarding' album. The Dreamville musician teamed up with English electronic-jazz duoThe Hicsfor an expansive collaborative album entitledMelanchronica. 'Melanchronicaspeaks to our modern human condition, the longing for genuine emotional connection in an overstimulated, ultra-technologically connected, apathetic, and increasingly individualistic society,' said Bas of the album's innate inspiration. 'It's the thoughts that linger when we detach from it all and take an honest look at ourselves and our surroundings. There's a range of emotions expressed faithfully. I want the listener to experience them all on this journey.' 'To me, the album defines chronic melancholy and intense awareness of the yin and yang of life,' echoed The Hics' lead vocalist, Roxane Barker. 'As I look back now, I realize this album is kinda me learning to express myself without fear of judgment — judgment of myself and judgment from others. So, because of that, I hope it inspires people to also do that through art, movement, or whatever gets you closer to your true self.' Sam Paul Evans of The Hics adds: 'For me,Melanchronicameans a case of 'chronic melancholy.' It could also represent a new genre of music. When we hit that 10-track mark, I was looking for something to define the general mood of the project. I loved how simply being in a state of chronic melancholy, forming Melanchronica, summarized that perspective. For those who've followed the journey of how Bas and The Hics came together, this project is a testament to the true power of collaboration, communication, and friendship.' StreamMelanchronicaout on all streaming services now.
The Star
09-06-2025
- The Star
Track switch repairs causes delays on Kelana Jaya LRT line
KUALA LUMPUR: Commuters on the Kelana Jaya LRT Line are experiencing delays between the Pasar Seni and Bangsar stations as repair work on the track switch system continues. Rapid KL, in a statement on Facebook, explained that trains are being manually operated along the affected stretch and will move at a reduced speed while technical teams work to resolve the issue. "Our technical team continues to work tirelessly to resolve the issue. Please follow the instructions of station staff for further assistance," the statement read. Passengers are also advised to consider alternative travel options where possible. The statement has sparked a wave of responses online, with many netizens complaining about being late for work and calling for a more efficient contingency plan. Some suggested that Rapid KL provide Bas Perantara (feeder buses) to help ease congestion and ensure smoother connectivity during the disruption. Others expressed frustration that no immediate alternative was in place despite similar breakdowns having occurred in the past. Rapid KL apologised for the inconvenience and thanked passengers for their patience and understanding.
