translation: i'd be happy to do that, if it is for- the peace of ukraine. and the vatican says pope francis remains in a critical condition in hospital, but hasn't had any respiratory attacks since saturday. hello and welcome to newsday. is celebrating in germany,

after exit polls put them on course for victory, with 28.5% of the vote. leader, friedrich merz. achieve what he called "real independence" from the united states. other parties have been adamant that they will not form historically low score was a "bitter" defeat, and the free democratic party's results mean it will likely be heading out of parliament. our europe editor katya adler is in berlin. with a spring in his step, the man likely to be germany's next chancellor — usually pretty dour to serious business.

translation: dear friends, the world outside _ won't wait for us. we need to get our domestic politics right. "let's celebrate now and the hard work begins at home and abroad are huge. germany's economy is so big, it's such a key player in nato and the eu that success orfailure here impacts all of europe. shame on you, shame on you! and germany is divided. was smiling through gritted teeth.

said the party leader. since world war ii, no far—right force has ever had this success in germany. considered too extreme by traditional parties here. the md says they're wrong. bargaining, bartering, even bickering is usual. had no time to lose. we are drowning in problems. because the world feels like a dangerous- donald trump, vladimir putin — germans worry about the safety germany is the second—largest

donor of military aid to kyiv, after the us, but it's not sure it's ready to send boots on the ground there. of which germany or europe have right now. this continent is scrambling this continent is scrambling to get its act together. to get its act together. tonight's results point tonight's results point to stronger leadership from one to stronger leadership from one of its biggest powers. of its biggest powers. katya adler, bbc news, berlin. katya adler, bbc news, berlin. world leaders have been world leaders have been reacting to the election reacting to the election results in germany. results in germany. us president donald trump says us president donald trump says on truth social that it "looks like the conservative party on truth social that it "looks in germany has won", forward" to working describing it as a "great day for germany" and adding that he thinks "the people that he thinks "the people of germany got tired of germany got tired of the no—common—sense agenda". israel's prime minister, israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, wrote on x that he's "looking forward benjamin netanyahu, wrote on x to working closely with your upcoming government to further strengthen the partnership between our two countries". mark rutte, dutch politician and nato secretary—general, says on x he's "looking says on x he's "looking

forward" to working with friedrich merz, adding that it's "vital" europe steps up on defence spending "and your leadership will be key". and denmark's prime minister, mette frederiksen, has congratulated merz, saying that "in uncertain times, we need a strong europe and a strong germany". earlier, i spoke to rachel rizzo, senior fellow at the atlantic council europe center — a non—partisan think tank, and benjamin alvarez gruber, the us correspondent for deutsche welle, for more anaylsis. some possibilities now is they need a majority. one of them might be a so—called grand coalition, that is the conservative cdu party with the social democrats, the spd, something we saw under angela merkel when she was together with olaf scholz, who was the finance minister in the coalition. so that's one possibility.

and the other will be the so—called kenya coalition — so three parties, the green party in green, the social democrats in red and cdu in black, so the flag of kenya. but of course, these coalition talks are difficult and tricky. and germany's likely next chancellor said he wants these negotiations to continue as quickly as possible, to have a strong germany, he said, to take a more active role not only in europe, but also on the international stage. and tell us a bit more about what merz said. he was also quite critical about the us. he was really critical. and after the first exit polls came out, he strongly criticised not only donald trump, but also elon musk, what he called was interference. he compared what elon musk has been doing by praising the far—right afd party, by giving airtime to party leader alice weidel, to intervention from moscow, and he said that...

so he criticised it basically pretty strongly. we know that elon musk has been supporting the afd not only in the last couple of days. only two days ago, he shared a video of bjorn hocke, one of the more radical figures within the afd, that has been fined for using a nazi slogan and can also legally be called a fascist, according to a german court order. so pretty strong words there. it remains to be seen how the first conversation between berlin and washington will unfold. yes, he hasn't even formed a government yet and, already, such strong language. thanks very much for getting as across that. benjamin alvarez gruber, us correspondent for deutsche welle. rachel, what is your key takeaway from the election results that we've seen so far, that seem to have the cdu, merz, on track to govern? so this is a big win for the cdu. i think former chancellor, or soon—to—be former chancellor olaf scholz's spd—led government was increasingly seen as weak and ineffective, and i think that people

really got tired of that. nothing was really getting done in the government. so this is a clear mandate to friedrich merz and the cdu and its bavarian csu sister party to form a government and hopefully lead germany out of its economic doldrums and create a scenario where it's a stronger economic player. hopefully, it can de—risk itself a little bit more

that the afd is the only party that can save germany. and as friedrich merz said, this is the sort of election the united states. in the united states is able to shape a similar message as the right in germany. it's pulling on these grievances related to things like immigration, and other issues like nato and the transatlantic relationship that people are frustrated with. they feel like their concerns are not being heard and they're able to really latch onto these grievances and create a pretty strong political message.

and i think we're seeing that in germany, we've definitely seen that in the united states. but we're seeing it in other countries in europe as well. especially france. so let's see how this sort of plays out in the coming months and years. but certainly, the afd and the far—right, orthe right—wing in the united states, are political bedfellows at this point. benjamin, i want to ask you what happens next in the forming of a government after this election. so olaf scholz, the current chancellor, was asked if friedrich merz could join him on international trips, they reminded him of when he did the same under angela merkel, but he quickly responded saying he was the finance minister by then. but of course, the conversations will be long, also from the afd. alice weidel said that she is stretching out her hand and said maybe others in the cdu party would be open to talking to them. but as your colleague just mentioned, there is this

firewall, meaning that all the political parties in germany would not have a coalition with the afd. that's something that the us vice presidentjd vance criticised and led to a lot of you could say shock or raised eyebrows in munich during the munich security conference when he said it is now time for these firewalls. what is now clear is that these smaller parties like this new alliance is not reaching the 5% threshold,

coalition and there will be an argument to have only to have a coalition with one other party, that might be the social democrats. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. her home on tuesday. any suspicious circumstances. was stabbed at a primark store in nottingham on sunday morning. the 17—year—old victim is in hospital, with serious the stabbing happened.

between a van and a tram in manchester city centre. officers are understood to know who the offender you're live with bbc news. european leaders are rallying behind ukraine, as it approaches three years of war. among a flurry of calls to allies on sunday, president emmanuel macron about meeting ukraine's security needs. separate talks with president trump. on monday, the uk and eu are expected to announce a fresh round of sanctions against russia for its here's a look at where territorial gains currently stand. the regions in red — in ukraine's east — that have been regained or held by ukrainian forces. overnight, russia launched

its largest drone attack yet, here's our correspondent there, james waterhouse. than it does in washington. 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, ukraine's leader gave a surprising response. to give up my post, i'm ready. not in 20 years. i'm not going to be

in powerfor decades. the white house is demanding access to billions of dollars�* worth of ukraine's natural minerals, in exchange mr zelensky says america's help so far had been agreed as grants, not loans. qatar, saudi arabia, the uae, do they earn i'm not signing something that will be paid off by ten clearly, he and donald trump have a relationship that is far from ideal. and you get the sense outwardly, at least, for the course of this war. in russia, the invasion�*s

architect, vladimir putin, medals were also given to troops fighting in ukraine. his new relationship with washington has been at the moment, any peace deal looks set to mark the three—year anniversary of an invasion demonstrations across europe, from prague to paris. but leaders here are now working out how to provide security in a post—war europe without america. these anniversary press conferences have varied hugely during the full—scale invasion. at once, there was talk of victory, a much—anticipated counter—offensive.

his switching of sides. but at this press conference, there was no cowering to his demands outwardly. and for president zelensky in ukraine, there has been continued to attack him. but he has been criticised for not conveying, better returning to office. he talked about hoping donald trump would come to ukraine some day. he says he's invited him in the past. but the reality is that we're more likely to see donald trump east before he comes to kyiv. of international history at oxford university. margaret, thank you for your time today. or time today. todaygnmenday three years time today. todayrorrmonday three years since marks three yearssince. russia —— launched its invasion marked —— launched its invasion on ukraine, the conflict much longer than 77 what tv 77 what is 77 77 what is key thing that. what is the key thing we should understand about this relationship and ukraine? anaia'andflkraine 51 w russian point of anaia'andfttkraine} w russian point of view, is and always been ukraine is and always has been part of russia, that claim is

z= very shaky indeed. vladimir putin that essay 2022 in which said the in 2022 in which he said the russians and ukrainians have gassians and ukrainians. have —w 77—7 been gassians and ukrainians have ~ ~ been one gassiane and ukrainians. have ~ ,. been one people. and always been one people. and ukrainians have developed as a separate nation have i iiiéfig’hi" " ' ' iiiéfig’hiié " ' ' ii}; right it; sovereignty ' think therightto'sovereignty the right to and the right to self—determination which russia won't exist. the sirn ptywontexist. and the being simptywon't'exist. and the being spun simptyfion't'exist. and the being spun that narrative being spun that ukraine somehow promote the war by to be independent i by wanting to be independent i think is absolute nonsense. and think is absolute nonsense. and ukraine is _ think is absolute nonsense. and ukraine is not _ think is absolute nonsense. and ukraine is not even _ think is absolute nonsense. and ukraine is not even invited to its own peace talks that involve it —— provoked the war. its own peace talks that invo is it —— provoked the war. its own peace talks that invo is perhaps ivoked the war. its own peace talks that invo is perhaps not ed the war. its own peace talks that invo is perhaps not so the war. that is perhaps not so unprecedented, but do unprecedented, but what do you make of the warming of make et thefietmfienf " between —— relationships between —— between the us and russia, is that something we have not seen before? fiegéz—éf tensions m before? fie—if tensions the two and 7 ot better got better between relations got better between the two after the end of the cold war for a but the which the -resent —: = -: of the united administration of the limited seems the states seems to show for the dictatorship is on russian dictatorship is on stroke is extraordinary and stroke —— is extraordinary and unprecedented. even the during

the second world the the second world war, the recognised he ran a society. president different society. president flatters himself he has a trump flatters himself he has a good relationship with very good relationship with president putin, putin is freehee'ttfetiee’fetih' ie enjoying that very probably enjoying that very trump has already much. trump has already to give away two appeared to give away two things russia wants that ukraine should notjoin nato and russia should hang onto the land it already taken in land it has already taken in ukraine, that ukraine should notjoin and russia should e-= §-—e the land it has already in . in ukraine. 7 "7-7 w'ww-hw if; v? hasralsordelegitimise to trump has also delegitimise to president zelensky�*s position calling a 77 has not 'h;;;n;{h;a ’ w 555355213 elections ukraine has not held elections they due to hold last they were due to hold last year, but that is of course because of the war ongoing at moment. europe is already z saying saying that j saying that they 5 also saying that they perhaps cannot depend on the us at the moment. we at a very strange here? crossroads here? we are, i think. things _ crossroads here? we are, i think. things that - crossroads here? we are, i think. things that we - crossroads here? we are, i i think. things that we thought was semipermanent and we should never think that probably never think that

internationally have suddenly changed shifted. the united changed and shifted. the united states was a great guarantor of western of nato, alliance 7 7 allia’nqeqa w " allia’nqeqa a; the military alliance and that seems to have changed the united states com pletety; the iolhited states �* seems completety.rthe iolhited states �* seems to completety.rthe united states �* seems to be completety.rthe united states �*seems to be getting close now seems to be getting close to once regarded as to countries once regarded as russia of course and it is very difficult china, and it is very difficult to see how it is going to play out. what we are seeing is no retaining of we took for for a very 7 for a very time. 77 an 5 wghavesaid —— an overturning. we have said a german election as well play out as well. and the person most likely to become the next chancellor friedrich chancellor there, friedrich merz, said as recently that the me! said as ereflt' that tree — . — —— — — that like me! said as scent' that tree — . — —— — — that like they are elections that like they are heading in the he beé bethe "gail�*s been; ' w "lathe assuage; will as the ghansetter and needs to witt he the ehahsetter ahd needs to rely less on europe needs to rely lee: on,” a a. as, . , united states europe needs to rely lee: ea--- a a. as, . , united states and be more the united states and be more eetied itself. he the united states and be more tag itself.— §= think. this has been coming i think. this has been coming for some time and this is apparently happen suddenly, but of? n of 7 underlying n of 7 underlying tensions some of the underlying tensions have been there sometime. and

and canada my own europe and canada my own country very used to the country got very used to the united states being the great power and depending, we have the united states depended on the united states and allowed it to make decisions for us. and we are recognising have to look recognising we have to look after ourselves. is after ourselves. this is overdue. in that, i president trum - president trum- has iven think president trump has given and countries as europe and countries such as a wake—up call, but it u-oin to going to be difficult 7 h w politically, 7 h j politically, it 7 h w politically, it is or because politically, it is or is difficult to spend more money defence and europe money on defence and europe itself is not united on how to itself is not unitedroh how to with itself is not united? - -= t with , ., �*economies are also �* economies are also not their economies are'atso not in the strongest u; 77 to fund 77 toffurnfd'that? to fund that soft of position to fund that sort of decision making. margaret, thank you very much. we will have to it there. appears to be injeopardy. just hours ago, hamas said it will not continue negotiations with israel unless hundreds of palestinian prisoners in the long—awaited peace deal. in a move supported by the white house, israel said

release of israeli hostages was secured. israeli tanks have been deployed in the occupied residents in three refugee camps have been expelled from the area, with the defence minister, israel katz, saying the israeli army will occupy the territory for a year. more than 50 palestinians have been killed in the west bank large crowds have gathered large crowds have gathered for the funeral of hezbollah's for the funeral of hezbollah's former leader hassan nasrallah, former leader hassan nasrallah, who was killed in an who was killed in an israeli air strike in beirut in september. the official funeral had been the official funeral had been delayed to allow time delayed to allow time for the withdrawal of israeli for the withdrawal of israeli forces from southern forces from southern lebanon, though some lebanon, though some troops still remain. troops still remain. israeli aircraft flew low over israeli aircraft flew low over beirut during the ceremony. alongside nasrallah's casket was that of his chosen beirut during the ceremony. successor, hashem safieddine, who was killed by israel days later.

the vatican says pope francis remains in a critical condition, but hasn't had any further respiratory attacks. these are live pictures from the vatican. the pope has now been in hospital for over a week. the leader of the roman catholic church has been admitted to hospital multiple times during his 12—year tenure, including being treated for bronchitis at the same hospital in march 2023. our europe correspondent sarah rainsford reports from rome.

today, he should have been saying mass here at st peter's, his traditional appearance with the angelus prayer was also the mass was one of the big events in a jubilee year for the church, very important to the pope. a kidney problem, too. nicola and herfamily are catholics from manchester,

up until recently, it looked like it was just a small quite concerning. translation: we're very, very sorry. - we're here, worried for him. the pope's sudden downturn yesterday really shook people here, and they know he's not out of danger. thank you for your company. goodbye for now. hello. 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

through the irish sea. we had gusts of wind quite widely of around 50 to 60mph, but a few stronger gusts, 79mph gusts at capel curig. there were a few gusts elsewhere that reached the 70s over 100mm over the hills of cumbria. until the early part of monday, with the rain heavy enough showers for scotland and northern ireland. it will continue to blow a gale out west. towards the first part of monday morning. so it's a frost—free start to the day. quite mild. we start off, though, with rain still across east anglia and south—east england. slow to pull away here. broadly speaking, though, monday is a day of sunshine and northern ireland. and england with time,

so it's one of those days through the afternoon. around the london area. tuesday, another day of sunny spells and showers, eastern wales probably seeing relatively few showers for the time of year. with temperatures closer to average, around 7 in towards the end of the week, so we should see a change to drier, sunnier weather conditions. through thursday night and into friday morning. bye for now.

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 — friedrich merz — set to take control of europe's he wants a new government in place by easter. the euro opened higher in asian trade on monday as investors continue to monitor election results. germany's economy is so important to the european union for some time now.

in china but also here in asia more broadly.