The German conservatives of Friedrich Merz and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) reveal that they have reached an in-principle agreement to form a government that plans to invest heavily to revive and rearm Europe’s largest economy. Friedrich Merz, who won Germany’s February 23 election, says alongside Lars Klingbeil of the SPD that they have successfully finished exploratory talks and will now move towards formal talks to build a coalition government. SOUNDBITE