attacks since saturday morning. hello, i'm ritika gupta. welcome to the programme. of the centre—right christian democrats, after the party secured 30% of the vote. were the top issues for voters, following the collapse of chancellor olaf scholz�*s

coalition last fall. but merz now faces the challenge of forming a coalition government and has already discounted bringing in the afd. our europe editor katya adler reports. germany's next chancellor, usually pretty dour in his demeanour, allowed himself a brief beam at the party germany will have a reliable government again. tomorrow" is what he said.

germany's next chancellor, but he knows the challenges at home and abroad are huge. and the eu that success orfailure here shame on you, shame on you! while on the other side of berlin, the hard—right afd said the party leader. this success in germany. considered too extreme by traditional parties here. the afd says they're wrong.

but voters i met at this berlin market today said politicians had no time to lose. we are drowning in problems. i think we need to build . a new government quickly, because the world feels like a dangerous- place right now. donald trump, vladimir putin — germans worry about the safety and of ukraine. germany is the second—largest donor of military aid on the ground there. berlin's brandenburg gate is a military monument that

of its biggest powers. it has been an interesting evening. poll results, you see all of the chancellor a big table on german television where they talk about the results and the possibility of how things go forward from here. a democratic deficit in germany's system ever, close to 20% of the vote. post—war history that a far—right party has been that successful and, yet, they will not be part of any

government because, as you said, the other centrist parties have all said they will not form a coalition with the far right. that is historically, since the end of the war, something that the centrist parties have agreed now, if you look at a olaf scholz that you just mentioned for his party. still, they look likely to go into coalition negotiations in the coming weeks. tonight, saying his party had the biggest share of the vote, for, but regardless, certainly now, he had the mandate he talked about foreign policy, he said that what he is seeing of the us, speaking aboutjd vance�*s speech at the munich

security conference, supporting the afd, that that was as brazen as the type of interference that was coming from moscow. so, very strong words on the relationship with the us. interesting to hear that now from who is likely to be the next chancellor. president donald trump congratulated germany's conservative parties — posting on his truth social platform, "the people of germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration, that has prevailed for many years. friedrich merz on the hand said europe needed independence from washington in the elections as outrageous. among a flurry of calls to allies on sunday, british prime minister keir starmer spoke with french security needs. both leaders are heading

to washington this week for and on monday, the uk and eu are expected to announce aggression in ukraine. gains currently stand. are controlled by russia, while the purple shows areas that have been regained or held by ukrainian forces. overnight, russia launched its largest drone attack yet, from there, the bbc�*s ukraine correspondentjames waterhouse sent this report. most were shot down, but some always break ukraine's this attack preceded a wartime

fixture in the capital, this year, there was an elephant in the room, legitimacy, without an election. ukraine's leader gave a surprising response. not in 20 years. the white house is demanding access to billions of dollars worth of ukraine's natural minerals, in exchange and could in the future. mr zelensky says america's help so far had been agreed as grants, not loans. translation: when the us sells weapons to israel, - 100% interest? i just want a dialogue with president trump. i'm not signing something that

will be paid off by ten generations of ukrainians. in this anniversary press conference. clearly, he and donald trump have a relationship that is far from ideal. and you get the sense outwardly, at least, plan that he didn't think was in the interests of ukraine, and that would have profound consequences for the course of this war. in russia, the invasion�*s architect, vladimir putin, at the moment, any peace deal looks set to favour him and not kyiv.

security in a post—war europe without america. these anniversary press have varied hugely conferences have varied hugely during the full—scale invasion. once took victory, there was once took a victory, a much anticipated counter—offensive. but this time, all of talk was about time, all of the talk was about donald trump and his dena“! tj"? and his. gent“: ~ ~ , , ~ ~ ~ , foreign dm3'1�* t3"? 333 “is. gent“: ~ ~ , , ~ ~ ~ , foreign policy. of america's foreign policy. his switching of but this press conference, there was no karen to demands was no karen to his demands outwardly. zelensky outwardly. president zelensky in ukraine, there has been a rallying around as political rallying around as washington has continued to attack him. he has been for not conveying, criticised for not conveying, �* conveying better conveying his country's needs ahead of donald trump returning to office. he talked if; hoping hoping donald trump would to ukraine some da . he come to ukraine some day. he says he has invited him in the 5 but the reality is we are past. but the reality is we are more likely to donald trump more likely to see donald trump with vladimir putin at a

with. vladimir p3tin. 393 , 3 in the with. vladimir p3tin. 393 ~~ ~ in the middle east location in the middle east before he comes to kyiv. appears to be injeopardy. in the long—awaited peace deal. release of israeli hostages was secured. israel now says its army will step up "operational readiness" around gaza, in possible preparation to west bank for the first time in two decades. residents in three refugee camps have been israel katz, saying the israeli army will occupy the territory for a year.

abercrombie—winstanley. israel we have seen delaying the release of �* 600 the release of over 600 palestinians, hamas is shutting those 7 those until 7 those until they 77 those until they are? dowrrthese talks until they are and dowrrthese tatks untit they are and then dowrrtheee tatke untit they are and then you have the us freed and then you have the us envoy to the middle east steve witkoff set to go to israel next week. can he break that witkoff set to go to israel - next we- he break that witkoff set to go to israel - next we-eak that witkoff set to go to israel next we-eak t logjam? thank you. well, i believe i can. _ logjam? thank you. well, i believe i can. we - logjam? thank you. well, i believe i can. we have i logjam? thank you. well, i. believe i can. we have seen believe he can. we have seen from very beginning lrgm the very beginning exactly you gym the very beginning exactly you this is fragile. as you said this is fragile. many missteps, some hurdles along the way. the along the way. certainly, the releases of the hostages have been very for been very difficult for israelis to watch before they have made it home. and of course, the of course, the release of palestinian even more for tor faiestinians. important for palestinians. so there have hurdles, there there have'been'hurdlee', there been there have'heen'hurdlee', there been stumbles along the have been stumbles along the way, but have gotten much way, but we have gotten much further we thought we further than we thought we would from the very beginning. it was always clear that it was !t 333'3t3�*3y3 ete3r th3t it “3133 to !t 333'3t33y3 3te3r th3t it 333 to have to have a lot of !t 333'3t33y3 3te3r th3t it 333 to have not ave a lot of !t 333'3t33y3 3te3r th3t it 333 to have not only; lot of !t 333'3t33y3 3te3r th3t it 333 to have not only by it of !t 333'3t33y3 3te3r th3t it 333 to have not only by the handholding. not only by the states with regard to

united states with regard to but with in the israel, but with 33 in the egypt, jordan, saudi and the united arab arabia and the united arab emirates and of course, qatar to keep these on to keep both these parties on track. with special envoy 7 vto 7 7 to the region heading to the region later this week, it is entirely possible and we have heard him say we expect him to move his eey'we'expecthimto move hie forward , eey'we'expecthimto move hie forward, there eey'we'exoeothimto move hie forward, there may be this 777 gelay. but the israeli people these hostages gelay, but the israeli people these hostages home. —— want these hostages home. —— role. so the prime minister will have that on him will have that pressure on him both domestically and from in the: inthezregion in thezregzion and 77: in thezregzion andthe those in the region and the united states. but ultimately, do ou united states. but ultimately, do you - israel _ do you think israel wants peace? because they sent peace? because they have sent tanks into the bank tanks into the west bank and told troops to be ready for an extended stay.— told troops to be ready for an extended stay. yes. well, that is the question. _ extended stay. yes. well, that is the question. and _ extended stay. yes. well, that is the question. and of - extended stay. yes. well, thati is the question. and of course, what kind of peace is it going to be? we're talking about the long—term of rebuilding the gaza strip. it is going to take israel to say yes to that. we have seen the incursions in the west bank, 40,000 people west bank, 1.10 rqoi) people so west bank, 1,10er people so far. we have seen displaced so far. we have seen the israelis say that they want

demilitarise j demilitarise syria, that to demilitarise syria, that they are to stay in they are going to stay in syrian territory, they syrian territory, that they have delayed their departure from lebanese territory. that a lot to be "3— '3“3—333 �*3“"“. tl3�* " " " a lot to be for one even with? 7 even with? fsupport of united many of the united st3t333 m3oy of ~ . ~ allies the united st3t333 m3hy of ~ . ~ allies from the united st3te33 m3hy of ~ . ~ allies from the united israel's allies from the united states and from those . the states and from those in the that are looking for region that are looking for peace will be long—term peace will be greater caution as advising greater eaotioh 33 move advising greater eao'tioh as move forward. advising greaterreautienflae - move forward.- advising greater! ' - move forward. they move forward. but the stance from _ they move forward. but the stance from the _ they move forward. but the stance from the us - they move forward. but the l stance from the us - been they move forward. but the i stance from the us - been a 3 bit 3 3 . bit confusing? . bit confusingrof late. have steve 77 have steve witkoff going to trum- , trum-, we trum- , we saw israel, and trump, we saw putting a lot of initially putting a lot of pressure on benjamin netanyahu initially putting a lot of pr get re on benjamin netanyahu initially putting a lot of pr get that] benjamin netanyahu initially putting a lot of pr get that phase min netanyahu initially putting a lot of pr get that phase one netanyahu initially putting a lot of pr get that phase one of etanyahu initially putting a lot of pr get that phase one of the yahu 77 and then saying he doesn't de3l 3h3 then. 333-g he 3333"t what israel does, -m two or resumes 1 to two or resumes the phase two or resumes the war. how do you square the two? trump. it is president donald trump. it is president donald trump. it is president donald trump. it is president donald trump. and he often donald trump. and'he often eaye that are at odds with donald trump. and'he often eaye other. ire at odds with donald trump. and'he often eaye other. we at odds with donald trump. and'he often eaye other. we have is with donald trump. and'he often eaye other. we have to nith each other. we have to watch those actions turn out to

and he saying be. and what he is saying publicly may be very different from what he is saying fyomzwhat he is saying to put additional privately. to put additional33, 33 on hamas to do pressure on hamas to do better with those of but he has also said hostages. but he has also said that he wants to be a peace president and when the prime minister was not moving quickly to the 7 to the ceasefire in we saw 77 we saw donald and place, we saw donald trump and envoy get that moving his envoy get that moving forward. so we should not doubt forward. so we ehould not doubt abilities if he is his abilities if he is this will help determined this will help him achieve what he wants, which is that stature of peace that stature of bringing peace to the middle east. he is from 33 333 ifrioimihisfi 333 3 ééfr’o’rii’ 575751155, 7 ééfr’o’rii’iiié’ilizé, the h33rifl35 frem hie elli333 th3 ' the h33rifl35 fr3m hie elli333 th3 ' the and the mm the reion about qataris in the region about what they want as well what what they want as well and what it is going to take to get that deal he has been looking for —— the emma ratti is. i deal he has been looking for -- the emma ratti is.— on the point 7 7 ion the point about from -mm is in the isinthe me if region is in the middle east. he has picked the guys at mitt riviera of the middle but has 7 has not ” ' ”hasrnoth’adfih ' has not had support 7 has not had support from that has not had support from arab leaders, it would those arab leaders, it would displace over 2 million palestinians and we have seen the arab leaders met in saudi

arabia to discuss a what could counterproposal. what could that look like?— that look like? well, the auain, that look like? well, the _ again, donald| president again, donald trump, putting a proposal out like that, a proposal, it not a iii— actually has jettisoned plan actually has jettisoned the leaders in the to the leaders in the region to come together and figure out the way forward. we heard 15 20 years of president yeggg 20 years of president to think it will take a seems to think it will take a long time to rebuild the gaza strip, but i remind everyone nag a tsachi and hiroshima nuclear were after nuclear bombs were dropped on those cities were rebuilt in 20 years —— nag tsachi. if those things z 7 with the right things in it will not take that place. it will not takethat 3333 33 333 33 the place. it will not taketh3t3 3 33 33 33 3 333 the plan place. it will not taketh3t3 3 333 33 33 3 333 the plan the nations place. it will not taketh3t3 3 33 33 33 3 33 looking .an the nations place. it will not taketh3t3 3 333 33 33 3 33 looking at the nations place. it will not taketh3t3 3 333 33 33 3 33 looking at will nations place. it will not taketh3t3 3 333 33 33 3 33 looking at will require |tions place. it will not taketh3t3 3 33 33 3 3 33 looking at will require a ons deai of funding. wiiiii 77 a great 77 77 a great deal; 77 a great dealfof require a great deal of political lift. and so the pay require a great deal of po�* is :al lift. and so the pay require a great deal of po�* is got ift. and so the pay require a great deal of po�* is got to and so the pay require a great deal of po�* is got to be d so the pay require a great deal of po�* is got to be strong e pay require a great deal of po�* is got to be strong foray require a great deal of po�* is got to be strong for all off is got to be strong for all off is got to be strong for all of the parties combined. for israel what that deal looks ierael what that deal loohe a peace, real in

like a peace, real peace in the region. forthose like a peace, real peace in the region. for those the regiero ferthe3e in the " additional p353“ additiehel military relationship. military security from the united guarantees from the united states. and for the guarantees from the united states. and f a the guarantees from the united states. and f a state some palestinians, a state at some point in the future. all of palestinians, a state at some point things uture. all of palestinians, a state at some point things need. all of palestinians, a state at some point things need to ll of palestinians, a state at some point things need to bef = -= = it's 77 to take it's77 to take an ol3ce3 lt�*s doiod to t3k3e 33— 3? amount ol3ce3 lt�*s goiog to t3k3e 33— 3? amount of ol3ce3 lt�*s goiog to t3k3e 333 3 3 amount of diplomacy incredible amount of diplomacy to get it done, but it inet it done but itcan -~ 7et it done but itcan -~ 7'et it done but itcan -~ mm let's look at some other stories making news. 23—year—old jenny hall was last seen leaving her home on tuesday. any suspicious circumstances. on sunday morning. the 17—year—old victim is in hospital, with serious injuries, after being stabbed in the chest.

of young people outside the store before the stabbing happened. between a van and a tram in manchester city centre. is and are actively looking to bring him into custody. you're live with bbc news. a british couple in their seventies has been arrested by the taliban in afghanistan. our reporter frances read is across the story and joined me a little earlier. so these are so certainly

concerning, tell us we concerning, tell us what we know. peterand concerning, tell us what we know. peter and barbie reynolds retained while returning were retained while returning their home around 100 miles of kabul, where themselves. 5 themselves. and 5 basing themselves. and apparently, had been apparently, they had been retained when returning back to the house that they live a mountainous area there. the couple has a long couple has a very long long—standing relationship with long—3t3odi3g rel3tiehehip 3ith in long—3t3odi3g rel3tiehehip 3'ith in the long—3t3odi3grrel3tiehehip 3'ith in the country afghanistan in the country itself, they have been running training projects within w ' 333}; 77 jfor almost two afghanistan for almost two now. so schools and decades now. so in schools and also with women and children and women and peter and and women and girls; peter and have based themselves in bobby have based themselves in a mountainous area. and when 3 meertai"333 3r333"d 3heh taliban returned to power the taliban returned to power in 2021, most westerners 7 but the couple 7 7 decided to stay in afghanistan, they insisted on theif daughter ' ' theifdaughtertold ' ' theifdaughteirtold the ' ' fact. their daughter told the sunday times they were just trying to help the country they andthey ' "shd'th’eivieréf ” and they were meticulous loved and they were meticulous about sticking to the country's rules, as they were rules, even as they were changing quite quickly the

came back 77 came back into came back into power. to the pa news e.— the couple were agency, the couple were arrested their arrested alongside their american friends, as well as a �*at the time american friends, as well as a �* at the time that translator at the time that were detained, they were detained, taliban confirmed british 7 had been 20 days ago. and around 20 days ago. and reportedly. _ around 20 days ago. and reportedly, an _ around 20 days ago. and reportedly, an employee from the rebuild had the connection to made the connection to president donald trump and his �* stance �* sta nce to new stance when it comes to foreign aid since he has returned to white house. is foreign aid since he has retu the to white house. is foreign aid since he has retu the to at hite house. is foreign aid since he has retu the to at the house. is tried to use this in order have tried to use this in order to gain concessions from governance —— code? it western governance —— code? it is far too early to make that ie far too early to'mahe that of connection, but we know kind of connection, but we know that the system has been since trump back into the white house came back into the white house a few weeks ago. global just a few weeks ago. global aid was appended in a matter of in 7 7 7777i7n7fact7,7777 7 7 777 7 7 7 7777i7n7fact,7after7 7 777 7 7 7 7777i7n7fact,7afterpr7es7ide7nt 7 days, in fact, after president trump froze all foreign assistance provided by the us on his to the white on his return to the white house. course,

house. some of course, afghanistan one of the countries impacted by that, the 33533933 ifi333333 3737 {533 3353 7 7 7 i 3333333 i3133333 337 the? e333 7 7 7 i was 33933933 lfi§33f33 3737 3533 353 7 7 7 i was felt across the term i was felt across the world in different world in many different countries, including 3 where american aid afghanistan, where american aid 3 been funding life—saving has been funding life—saving services —— the turmoil. and that has come to an but nationals actually british nationals were actually not to to asked not to travel to afghanistan way before 77 trum7p 7 back 77 trump 7 backinto president trump came back into the white so it is way the white house. so it is way early to make that kind of too early to make that kind of connection because there was a risk of detained anyway, before77 7 before77that, 77 before77that, so 7 7 before77that, so it 7 7 7 7 753135337, soit7wl7>ul7d7 7 even before that, so it would be �*too early to make that be far too early to make that kind of clear link. the foreign office's ability help in kind of clear link. the foreign off is �*s ability help in kind of clear link. the foreign off is also ility help in kind of clear link. the foreign off is also ility hel limited. uk is also extremely limited. there is no embassy kabul, there is no embassy in kabul, there is no help they can whatsoever. and7 there provide whatsoever. and there is no official recognition is no official uk recognition the taliban either, is of the taliban either, that is another part of it. the another part of it the children for what it's couple's children for what it's worth have written to the m askin for their taliban asking for their release, but they say they have not heard from their parents now in more than two so now in more than two weeks, so they are becoming very, very they are becoming very. very in a to the

concerned. in a letter to the teller they say, our parents have expressed —7 ther'em'mtmer�*t t3 stating that they afghanistan, stating that they would rather sacrifice would rather3sacrifice their than part of lives than become part of the ransom or be ransom negotiations or be traded. the foreign office here london 77 london has 77 to in london has declined to comment and it's the and the couple's family not the uk asoirernnfent did not want the uk government to involved in this case. condition, but hasn't had any further respiratory attacks. sarah rainsford sent this report from rome. his condition is critical. catholics to pray for him. "i hope he makes it," she tells me.

guests even on the day he was hospitalised. but for the crowd outside, there was no sight of him. the mass was one of the big events in a jubilee year

a kidney problem, too. following the updates closely. up until recently, it looked like it was just a small here, and they know he's not out of danger. plane after what the airline called a "security

arrested in romania. mohamed amra escaped police last may in an ambush that left two prison officers dead. he changed his appearance, and a smile, as he's escorted out of court in bucharest. authorities said he was caught with the help of fingerprints. france's macron hailed the arrest of amra, actors guild — or sag awards. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. sunday was a wet and a windy day, the strongest winds they drove some pretty big waves onto the shore of port ellen here in argyll and bute. the centre of low pressure

was actually some way away was quite a strong area of low pressure running up we had gusts of wind quite widely of around 50 to 60mph, that was the strongest gust, that's in snowdonia national park, or eryri national park. there were a few gusts elsewhere that reached the 70s over 100mm over the hills of cumbria. and a met office amber weather warning that remains in force until the early part of monday, with the rain heavy enough to cause some localised surface waterflooding issues here. so, next few hours, yes, we've got that rain to contend with across england and wales. it will continue to blow a gale out west. those winds will very gradually ease down as we get our temperatures, to start off monday, 7 to 10 degrees, so it's a frost—free start to the day. quite mild. we start off, though, with rain still across east anglia

and showers, the showers frequent for scotland a trough will push eastwards, bringing showers across wales temperatures stay mild, 10 to 13 degrees your highs that's about four above average, for example, around the london area. tuesday, another day of sunny spells and showers, but this time, the majority of the showers will be across western areas of the uk. eastern scotland, central with some sunshine. now, heading into the middle part of the week, a weak area of low pressure is set to move across the country, bringing showers or probably more longer spells of rain. around, its going to be a cooler day overall,

a change to drier, sunnier weather conditions. bye for now.

this is bbc news. hour, which is straight after this programme. i'm stephen sackur. measuring the health of a democratic system is not an exact science, and on that basis, well, india's democracy some independentjournalists face intimidation,

my guest today is one of india's best—known, most—experienced journalists, n ram, director of the hindu publishing group. in today's india, is it possible to speak truth to power? it's a pleasure, stephen. the vigour, the vibrancy of the indian media scene. you began your career, let's say, in the late �*60s. it's a positive story, isn't it?