far-right have made historic ains, - far-right have made historic gains, exit - - far-right have made historic gains, exit polls - - far-right have made historic gains, exit polls buti historic gains, exit polls but afd historic gains, exit polls but md in second place, the since any far—right in germany since world party in germany sincewprid �*ii. volodymyr zelensky says he's willing to give i would be happy to do it for the peace ukraine. it is for the peace of ukraine. if you need me to leave this chair, i am if you need me to leave this chair, iam ready if you need me to leave this chair, i am ready to do that. and i can also exchange it for nato membership for ukraine. the vatican says pope francis remains in a critical attacks since saturday. hello and welcome to newsday.

on course for victory, with 28.5% of the vote. this is the man expected to be germany's new his priority is to strengthen europe, so the continent can achieve what he called "real independence" from the united states. finishing in second place, with around 20% of the vote. other parties have been adamant that they will not form outgoing german chancellor olaf scholz demeanour — allowed himself a brief beam at the party faithful, before getting down

to serious business. won't wait for us. we need to get our domestic politics right. germany will have a reliable government again. "let's celebrate now and the hard work begins at home and abroad are huge. impacts all of europe. as friedrich merz was speaking inside party headquarters, these protesters outside tried to drown him out. was smiling through gritted teeth. "they wanted us to halve our

support, but we doubled it," said the party leader. this success in germany. it will be frozen out of government, though, considered too extreme by traditional parties here. even without the afd, coalition building is a tricky business. had no time to lose. translation: we need a new government fast. | money, migration, defence. because the world - feels like a dangerous and of ukraine.

but it's not sure it's ready to send boots on the ground there. this continent is scrambling to get its act together. tonight's results point to stronger leadership from one of its biggest powers. world leaders have been reacting to the election results in germany. like the conservative party in germany has won", israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu wrote on x

mark rutte, dutch politician and nato secretary—general, leadership will be key". and denmark's prime minister, mette frederiksen, has congratulated merz, saying that "in uncertain times, she's a senior fellow at the atlantic council europe center and we can speak to the us correspondent for deutsche welle. benjamin, showing 7 showing the cdu are showing that the cdu centre—right party looks to have looked this and to get have looked this an and huge! ~ ,, , , ., win, what is the have looked this up and huge! ~ ,, , , ., will n, what is the have looked this an and huge! ~ ,, , , ., will be what is the have looked this an and huge! ~ ,, , , ., will be what is th be have looked this up and huge? ~ ~ , , ~~ ~ will be what is th be tricky as we 'ust heard as we just heard on business as we just heard on the report to talk to the other parties there. some the report to talk to the other parties there. so is} possibilities now is they need a majority, one of them might

be a so—called grand coalition, thatis be a so—called grand coalition, that is the conservative cdu e with the social party with the social democrats, the spd, something saw under angela merkel we saw under angela merkel when she was together with olaf scholz who was the finance in the coalition, so minister in the coalition, so thatis minister in the coalition, so that is one possibility. the other will be the three party coalition commended the green other will be the three party coaliti the )mmended the green other will be the three party coaliti the social ided the green other will be the three party coaliti the social democrats een other will be the three party coaliti the social democrats in n party, the social democrats in riyadh cdu in black, so the riyadh and cdu in black, so the flag of kenya. but of course, 7 coalition 77 coalition talks are these coalition talks are difficult and tricky —— in red. germany's likely next and germany's likely next chancellor said he wants these negotiations to as 777777777: if?” n n to have quickly as possible to have a he to active role not in a more active role not only in europe, but on europe, but also on the stage. europe, but also on the staue. , ., international stage. tell us a bit more _ international stage. tell us a bit more about _ international stage. tell us a bit more about merz, - international stage. tell us a bit more about merz, he - international stage. tell us a bit more about merz, he was also quite critical about the us. ., , also quite critical about the us. . , ., , also quite critical about the us. ., ,~ ~ us. he was really critical. and after the _ us. he was really critical. and after the first _ us. he was really critical. and after the first exit _ us. he was really critical. and after the first exit polls - us. he was really critical. and after the first exit polls camel after the first exit polls came out, he strongly criticised not

only donald trump, but also musk, 7 z z musk what i z muskwhathe iiufiifmtiig £51143" iiufiiflifistiig es'fiéé'iiis elon musk, what he called his interference. he compared what interfere'ncerhe'com pared—what musk has been interfere'ncerhe'compered'what musk has been doing by elon musk has been doing by praising the far—right afd party, giving airtime to party, by giving airtime to party, by giving airtime to party leader, alice weidel, to intervention from moscow. and said, he criticised it he said, he criticised it basically pretty we basically pretty strongly. we know elon musk been know that elon music has been, — w 7—7 ”as, e the afd know that elon music has heenrr r rer ere r r ee r re the afd not only in last of days. firmly the last couple of days. only two days ago, he a of the radical of one of the more radical within afd has figures within the afd that has been �* using a nazi been fined for using a nazi slogan and can also legally be called a to a called a fascist according to a , court order. so pretty german court order. so pretty words there. it remains strong words there. it remains to be seen how the first te lee =een he“ the f=�* ' ' ~ ' " between te lee =een he»! the f=* , , ,, r rr between berlin te he aaa" haw the f=* , , ,, r rr between berlin and will unfold. will umiialcih [a not - formed a and already such 77 5 thanks 5 é tha n ks for strong language. thanks for getting as a that, the us correspondent for deutsche rachel, what your key

from the election takeaway from the election results have seen so far resolts we have seeh so far seem to have the cdu merz track to govern? on track to govern? so this is a big win _ on track to govern? so this is a big win for _ on track to govern? so this is a big win for the _ on track to govern? so this is a big win for the cdu. - on track to govern? so this is a big win for the cdu. i - on track to govern? so this is a big win for the cdu. i think| e—_e chancellor or soon - chancellor or soon to ? chancellor or soon to be former chancellor or soon to be former— former chancellor or soon to be former chancellor or soon to be former chancellor olaf scholz's spd led — former chancellor olaf scholz's spd led government was _ seen - spd led government was seen as weak and increasingly seen as weak and ineffective. and think that e really -ot tired of people reallygot—tired—ef - nothing 7 7 7 people really got tired of nothing was really that. nothing was really getting done in the government. so getting done in the government. 50 this_ getting done in the government. 50 this is— getting done in the government. 50 this is a — getting done in the government. so this is a clear mandate to merz and the cdu and friedrich merz and the cdu and its bavarian csu sister party to form _ its bavarian csu sister party to form a _ its bavarian csu sister party to form a government and hopefully lead to germany out of its — hopefully lead to germany out of its economic doldrums and create — of its economic doldrums and create a — of its economic doldrums and create a scenario where it a create a scenario where it is a stronger— create a scenario where it is a stronger economic z= -:2 z= _2 candy risks hopefully candy risk itself a little — hopefully candy risk itself a little bit more from china and bgegcg mge u. . .!,!llw,!: on hes? new - m- leaning on security and - -- on- leaning on security and —— on risk itself. it is also a big day for afd, a party— is also a big day for afd, a party created in 2013 and it doubted _ party created in 2013 and it doubled its showing over 90% today— doubled its showing over 90% today from 9% in the last

federat— today from 9% in the last federal election. although it will he — federal election. although it will be kept out of government because — will be kept out of government because of this firewall against the far—right, they are definitely going to be loud and will be interestin- to will be inistin- to see it will be interesting to see what — it will be interesting to see what role they end up playing here — what role they end up playing here. , ., ., what role they end up playing here. , . ., ., i. ., ~ here. yes, and what do you make ofthe here. yes, and what do you make of the - of— here. yes, and what do you make of the - of the _ here. yes, and what do you make of the - of the far-right - we are seeing in in �* parts 5 in �* parts of j in �*parts of the; and'also in other parts of the as well, especially given world as well, especially given we saw even elon musk world as well, especially given we things en elon musk world as well, especially given we things up elon musk world as well, especially given we things up going iiusk world as well, especially given we things up going into election? this election? §e—%§e we have seen this election?§ - we have seen him i this election?; - we have seen him on i mean, we have seen him on x over— i mean, we have seen him on x overand— i mean, we have seen him on x overand overagain i mean, we have seen him on x over and over again saying that the atd— over and over again saying that the afd is— over and over again saying that the afd is the only party that the afdrisrthe only a _ ,-, save the afdrisrthe only party that save germany —— yes, can save'getmanytyes —m cansave'ge ,, -- _that need absolutely. that germans need to show — absolutely. that germans need to show up for the afd in w- lggsghoyv up for the afd in election. friedrich lggsghoyv up for the afd in said, ction. friedrich lggsghoyv up for the afd in said, this i. friedrich lggsghoyv up for the afd in said, this is friedrich lggsghoyv up for the afd in said, this is the riedrich lggsghoyv up for the afd in said, this is the riedi of merz said, this is the sort of election— merz said, this is the sort of election meddling we see from —e like russia, not the actors like russia, not the united _ actors like russia, not the united states. but i think it goes — united states. but i think it goes to— united states. but i think it goes to show that the in goes to show that the _ in the - goes to show that the in the united right—wing in the united states is able — right—wing in the united states is able to— right—wing in the united states is able to shape a similar message is the right in germany. it is on these

germany. it is pulling oflthese _m_ germany. it is pulling or- these related things immi-ration other like immi - ration and, 0th like immi ration and chec like immigration and other like and the issues like nato and the transatlantic that transatlantic relationship that people — transatlantic relationship that people are frustrated with. they— people are frustrated with. they feel like their concerns not being heard and they are not being heard and they are not being heard and they are able _ are not being heard and they are able to really latch onto these — are able to really latch onto these grievances create these grievances and create a pretty— these grievances and create a pretty strong political message. and i think we are seeing — message. and i think we are seeing - in— message. and i think we are seeing in germany, we have seeing that in germany, we have _ seen _ seeing that in germany, we have _ seen that— seeing that in germany, we have seen that in the states. but we - states. but we are united states. but we are seeing _ united states. but we are seeing it other countries in bis as hell. as rarell. especiallyr gurope as i- -- '. 5 so europe as ggii ggggg'giig -m- europe as well. especially so let's see how this europe as well. especially plays» let's see how this europe as well. especially plays out �*s see how this europe as well. especially plays out in;ee how this europe as well. especially plays out in the how this europe as well. especially plays out in the coming, months and years. certainly, the afd— months and years. certainly, the afd the far—right or the afd and the far—right or the afd and the far—right or the united the right—wing in the united states— the right—wing in the united states are political bedfellows at , ., from % om after % om _fter this also heard from merz after this election, he was speaking elections he was soeehihoee , e �*saying elections he was soeahm—e , e �* saying �* germany elections he was soeahihafi , ,, �* saying �* germany was earlier saying'howgermanywas to have to think going to have to think about its relationship with the united states and perhaps become independent it become more independent from it as benjamin was telling us about as well. your on

quite 77 quite a 77 quite a dramatic 77 quite a dramatic shift, isn't it? absolutely. these are words i isn't it? absolutely. these are words - i never _ isn't it? absolutely. these are words - i never thought - isn't it? absolutely. these are words - i never thought i i words that i never thought i would — words that i never thought i would hear an incoming would hear from an incoming german— would hear from an incoming german chancellor. i the and german relationship has us and germanrelationshiph. us and germanrelationshlphas _m- us and germanrelationshlphas for decades as one 7= the stron-est in l the strongest in europe - l the strongest in europe and l of the strongest in europe and to hear— of the strongest in europe and to hear an _ of the strongest in europe and to hearan incoming of the strongest in europe and to hear an incoming chancellor saying. — to hear an incoming chancellor saying, look, we really need to ’222 ili think about a strategy independent of the united states— independent of the united states is pretty but states is pretty shocking. but ithink— states is pretty shocking. but i think it _ states is pretty shocking. but i think it goes to show that europe _ i think it goes to show that europe and germany are really waking up to the fact that the us's— waking up to the fact that the us's geopolitical priorities uss. --olitical -riorities .. , shifted uiggeopolitical priorities , shifted and us's eo olitical riorities to fted mg us's eo olitical riorities to step and g usngeopolitical priorities , to step up andttee usngeopolitical priorities , to step up the and re uiggeopolitical priorities , to step up the plate : uiggeopolitical priorities , to step up the plate in need to step up to the plate in terms — need to step up to the plate in terms of— need to step up to the plate in terms of providing for their - defence _ terms of providing for their defence and as i said decoupling as i said before from — decoupling as i said before from china. in the hope is that 7 furherto thi-ht 77 led be led by friedrich government led by friedrich merz— government led by friedrich merz will be able to do just this — merz will be able to do just this i_ merz will be able to do just this. i don't think it means the — this. i don't think it means the dissolution the relationship of transatlantic relationship of the i and _ transatlantic relationship of the and german relationship, the us and german relationship, i certainly— the us and german relationship, i certainly hope what i i certainly hope not. what i would _ i certainly hope not. what i would like to see is a germany would like to see isra g a would like to see isra ger—many - a europe would like to see isra germany a europe more able to

=-—= their own two feet i their own two feet and - on their own two feet and a - equal— on their own two feet and a equal partnership, more equal partnership, rather than _ more equal partnership, rather than the — more equal partnership, rather than the junior and senior we than the junior and senior _ we have - partnership we have seen partnership we have = _ seen between partnership we have - _ seen between the thou7ts, rachel. for your thoughts, rachel. benjamin, iwant for your thoughts, rachel. benjamin, i want to you iiiiiiis in what happens next in the forming of a government after this election. 50 forming of a government after this election.— this election. so olaf scholz the current _ this election. so olaf scholz the current chancellor- the current chancellor was askedif the current chancellor was asked if friedrich merz could join him on they reminded him of trips, they reminded him of when did the same under when he did the same under angela merkel, but he quickly responded saying he was the finance minister by then. but of course, conversations of course, the conversations will be long, from the will be long, also from the afd. alice weidel said she out her hand and stretching out her hand and said may be others in cdu said may be others in the cdu party would be to party would be open to talking to them. but as your colleague just mentioned, is just mentioned, there is this firewall meaning that all the political parties in germany not have a coalition? not have a coalitionrwith afd. t have a coalitionrwith afd. that e a coalitionrwith afd. that isa coalitionrwith afd. that is something vith afd. that is something that the afd. that is something that the afd. that is something that the us vice jd ahd and led to a all

could say or raised you could say shock or raised eyebrows in munich during the security conference when munich security conference when said it is now time for firewalls. what 7 firewalls. what is now these firewalls. what is now clear is that the smaller like this new alliance not 7556556113197 7notreac7hing7the” 7notreac7hing7the75% is not reaching the 5% threshold, it is the same for fdp, the party the fdp, the pro—business party thatis the fdp, the pro—business party that is led by leno. that is led by christian leno. it the reason had ' had this 7 had this election earlier theyrhadrthisrelection earlier planned, the snap than planned, the snap election desk christian lindner. he announced he would not continue his political career. but was criticism _77 this 7 coalition there thrill be argument and there willhean argument only and there willrheanrargument only two parties as part have only two'par'ties as part the government that is 77 friedrich merz 777 77 friedrich merz 7 7 friedrich merz hoped he that friedrich'l�*etere hoped he need that friedrich'l�*etere heped he need to have a would only need to have a coalition with party, coalition with one other party, that might be the social but what is democrats. but what is really remarkable here is also what many parties and many political parties and leaders to ask themselves

leaders need'to'asic themselves �* it is possible that both how it is possible that both far—right afd and the teiahtetfiehethelett , , ,, strong, tarir'éht est? and thelett , , , ,, strong, especially 777 7 7 7 before moving 7 7 before moving to young leaders. before moving to the us, i the afd and then, i already saw how we re were on social strong they were on social media and tiktok, going to and trying schools and university, trying to with people and to interact with people and trying show them their 777 7 7 andthat 7 7 and that is what 7 and that is what the eee h7a7s —— re re— e er re {a}. 7 7 gang. 7 7 {a}. 7 7 gang. to; 7 57a; 7 7 gang. to; gm afd has been saying. they told friedrich merz that he he has an agenda he will not be able push forward if he goes into to push forward if he goes into coalition the green party coalition with the green party also with the social and also with the social democrats. merz to have a and also with the social democrats. by rz to have a and also with the social democrats. by easter, to have a and also with the social democrats. by easter, but 1ave a and also with the social democrats. by easter, but it ve a government by easter, but it remains to be seen how coalition, these coalition this coalition, these coalition talks on and also, if they talks take on and also, if they succeed. , ., succeed. yes, thanks very much forgetting _ succeed. yes, thanks very much forgetting as — succeed. yes, thanks very much forgetting as l cross _ succeed. yes, thanks very much forgetting as l cross that, - forgetting as a cross that, benjamin, and to rachel. thank you, european leaders are rallying

behind ukraine as it among a flurry of calls to allies on sunday, british prime minister sir keir starmer spoke with french president emmanuel macron about meeting ukraine's security needs. both leaders are heading to washington this week for for its aggression in ukraine. here's a look at where territorial 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, targeting at least 13 regions overnight, including the capital, kyiv. here's our correspondent there, james waterhouse. in kyiv, warfatigue has a different meaning a record 267 russian drones were launched in one night. most were shot down,

but some always break ukraine's stretched air defences, like here in zaporizhzhia. this attack preceded a wartime fixture in the capital, this year, there was an elephant in the room, donald trump siding with moscow and claiming that he lacks legitimacy, without an election. ukraine's leader gave a surprising response. translation: if, to achieve peace, you really need me . to give up my post, i'm ready. i can trade it for nato, if there are such conditions. not in 20 years. the white house is demanding access to billions of dollars for the military aid it's provided to date and could in the future. as grants, not loans.

qatar, saudi arabia, the uae, do they earn i'm not signing something that will be paid off by ten that was the most relaxed we've seen president zelensky in this anniversary press conference. and you get the sense outwardly, at least, that he would not accept a mineral deal or a ceasefire plan that he didn't think was in the interests of ukraine, and that would have profound consequences in russia, the invasion's architect, vladimir putin, medals were also given to troops fighting in ukraine. his new relationship with washington has been described as "promising" by the kremlin. to mark the three—year

anniversary of an invasion more analysis on this in a moment. around world and a moment, around the. world and the uk, this is bbc across the uk, this is bbc news. disappeared in county durham five days ago. her home on tuesday. remote area of teesdale", and there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances. on sunday morning. the 17—year—old victim is in hospital with serious

police believe there was an altercation between a group the stabbing happened. after a three—year—old girl was killed in a crash officers are understood to know who the offender is and are actively looking to bring him into custody. after colliding with the tram, the van ended up on the pavement, where it hit the girl. you are live with bbc news and we will return to ukraine in' ~~ - ~ , recent developments there. the recent developments the:e.eee ,. eereree rre ,. has been the recent developments the:e.eee re eeeeeee eee ee has been almost three years it has been almost three years since the war. thanks for your what we need to about

that we are under trump we are under trump administration, 1der trump administration, the �* rehgagihg rarith russia. europe us engaging with russia, europe looking to rely less on the united states?— united states? well, it certainly _ united states? well, it certainly does - united states? well, it certainly does seem i united states? well, it| certainly does seem like united states? well, it - certainly does seem like we've lived a century in the last few days and we may not want to necessarily too much into necessarily read too much into it want to see things it and want to see how things out because anything can play out because anything can happen. that being said, it does seem to 777777 7do7es7s7€787m to people sides 7sides of the 7 7 "1g; o7f7t7he world7777 7 7 77si7d7e757 o7f7t7he health; en teeth sides: at the entertainer ”’"w "www” us en teeth sides: at the entertainer "w” "www us is en teeth =ld== fifth: eerlefnat ' " ' us is pulling back from its ii commitment 7” commitment to 7777prihciples7 7 7 7 7 7 7777pr7in7ciple7s7of7 7 7 7 7 7777pr7in7ciple7s7of7state7 77 7 77 7 77 the prineipftee at state and the the prineipftes at state and the that sovereignty! and the idea that " , " ,,, , ~ , states should not powerful states should not just invade smaller neighbours like russia did to ukraine three years ago. and we observe not only that principle at risk in actions and 77actions and statements of the actions and statements of the actions and statements of the trump administration over the trump administration over the last week, but also a to human rights. no commitment to human rights. no mention by the us of the ongoing administration of the ongoing attacks on ukrainian

attacks on tthrainiah'eisitiahe "r the attacks on ukrainiahe'a'are , ,, ,, . ,, ,. the start of the war, the kidnapping of ukrainian children and the military�*s practice of rape of prisoners and ukrainian civilians. so how we get so i would did we get here? so i would venture to that trump ggg’gire to say that trump has consistent in his ggg’gire to say that trump has of consistent in his ygg’ggre to say that trump has of russia, mt in his ggg’gire to say that trump has of russia, as in his yeg'ggre to say that trump has of russia, as we 'iis ggg’gire to say that trump has of russia, as we know, support of russia, as we know, but also his animosity but also in his animosity basically towards or a basically towards or can a stick foreign policy personal stick foreign policy on towards the based on animosity towards the person of volodymyr zelensky going back when trump going back to when trump tried to pressure a few to pressure zelensky a few years ago during a campaign years ago du—ring'a'campaign biden to get involved against biden to get involved in politics. so that kind of 7-7 —77 7- a m nursing of a grievance on the part of our leadership is certainly not out of character for the president and may be what is behind some of the kind of on asking to

of focus on asking ukraine to make and to up natural resources without _m asking the same of russia, who is actually, as we the is actually, as we know, the perpetrator of the invasion. perpetrator of the invasion, with that in mind, the coming out from trump rhetoric coming out from trump and his administration committee think that has committee think. that has putin? it just emboldened putin? it hasjust notched years, but notched three years. but we also seen the largest have also seen the largest russian drone attack of the war so far just russian drone attack of the war so farjust happen just leading so far just happen just leading up so farjust happen just leading up to this three year anniversary of invasion. lt certainly has certainly emboldened. diplomacy is a lot about and language and signalling and language and trump, excuse me, has trumet “sex ms; thetinhash "' ' '" thought that trumet “sex ms; thetinhash "' ' w thought that he could always thought that he could outlast west, that there be fraction among would be a fraction among european states or euggggan states or between and the or something 7 out7f the 77 out of the blue 7 out of the blue that 7 coming out of the talus thatr—rr , ,, , weaken the coming out of the talue thatr—rr , ,, , weaken the quite strong might weaken the quite strong support that europe and the us 777 to ukraine. and now have given to ukraine. and now we see us president

we see the us president basically mimicking the language of after a phone putim e lan7gu7a7ge77t7h7at 77 questioningelahguage that the legitimacy of questions the legitimacy of president zelensky. saying, effildefif §§l§fi§h¥ §§¥lfi§ is zelensky not holding white is zelensky not holding and has elections?ranerelensky has let/a —— is. none popularity. —— white is. none of which is true and in fact is wildly off, pulse by my colleague "gledf was, has colleague showed zelensky has approval of 63% of the ukrainian population. —— polls. but why do this? earlier, he was saying that would was saying thatfhe would trade presidency if it meant in ukraine or lar peace in ukraine orfor membership �*nato for ukraine. membership of nato for ukraine. we will have to leave it there, i your thoughts. the already—fragile ceasefire between israel and hamas appears to be injeopardy. just hours ago, hamas said it will not continue negotiations

are released, as initally agreed between both parties in the long—awaited peace deal. it was delaying the prisoner release until the next release of israeli hostages was secured. westbankfonthe first time residents in three refugee camps have been expelled saying the israeli army will occupy the territory more than 50 palestinians have been killed in the west bank since the gaza ceasefire was signed last month. these are live pictures from the vatican. the pope has now been

in hospital for over a week. leader of the roman catholic church has been 77 7 7tohospital 7 7 77dliri7ng during his 12 year times during his 12 year tenure, including being treated bronchitis same for bronchitis at the same hospital back in march of 2023. pope is from argentina, pope francis is the first latin and the first latin american and jesuit to lead roman firstjesuit to lead the roman catholic church. more on catholic church, moreen this and the story and the german elections as on our website. you can as well on our website. you can also take this with you wherever you go by downloading mobile app rup mobile app up to our mobile app and keep up to speed. thank you for your goodbye �* now. hello. sunday was a wet and a windy day, the strongest winds they drove some pretty big waves onto the shore away from our shores, near iceland, but nevertheless,

this was quite a strong area of low pressure running up through the irish sea. park, or eryri national park. until the early part of monday, with the rain heavy enough with across england and wales. showers for scotland and northern ireland. it will continue to blow a gale out west. those winds will very gradually ease down as we get towards the first part of monday morning. temperatures, to start off monday, 7 to 10 degrees, quite mild. and south—east england. slow to pull away here.

broadly speaking, though, monday is a day of sunshine and showers, the showers frequent for scotland and northern ireland. and england with time, so it's one of those days that's about four above average, for example, around the london area. but this time, the majority of the showers will be across western areas of the uk. eastern scotland, central and eastern england, and mostly dry weather with some sunshine. of low pressure is set to move across the country, bringing given that there's not going to be that much sunshine around, it's going to be a cooler day overall, celsius. in towards the end of

the week, so we should see through thursday night and into friday morning. bye for now.

friedrich merz is set to lead europe's largest economy

as the ai revolution continues, we'll find outjust how much it's boosting business revenue. hello and welcome to business today. i'm steve lai. germany's centre—right cdu party are on course to win office in the country's pivotal elections, with their leader — largest economy. merz will now begin coalition talks and says he wants a new government in place by easter. as investors continue to monitor election results. for more on this, let's speak to our business reporter sura njana tewari. what more can you tell us? election at a very time globally.77 uncertain time globally. germany's is so uncertain time globally. germany': to is so uncertain time globally. germany': to the is so important to the european but china importantrto the european but china is the union, but also china is the eu's union, but also china is the eu's second largest trading eeee 7777bii7t77 ,, , ,, 7 but 7relation7s between partner, but relations between the bloc and beijing have been strained �*some time make—up of the coalition that is eventually formed will be very important to economies and

partners in china, but