survivors of the southport speak for the first time attack speakfgr the first time the attack speakfar the first time the horror of being about the horror of being confronted by a knifeman at the taylor swift class. i taylor swift dance class. i knew if i didn't taylor swift dance class. i knew if i didn't get out everyone was going to die. i zt—ne: jug: 24i7: thouht, id to thought, iéneed to get just thought, i need to get some help. just thought, i need to get some help-— just thought, i need to get some help. morning at saint peter's this morning at saint peter's square in the vatican. the critically ill with remains critically ill with pneumonia and kidney complications. hello.

let's start in germany, where the man expected to be the next chancellor, friedrich merz, says his mr merz was speaking after his conservative christian democrats won sunday's election, which also saw large gains for the far—right afd. voter turnout reached its highest since with the west overwhelmingly cdu. non—far right parties and has called for a government applause.

meanwhile, flags were waving at the afd election base. the beer is flowing, so is the german sparkling wine. but activists i've been speaking to say they are a bit disappointed about the result. they'd hoped to do a little better. nevertheless, this is the party that is in pole position to form the next government. what priorities does the next german government have to deliver on? well, i think the most important thing is but also, internationally, we have to figure out trump in the government.

this stark assessment. doesn't care about europe. for now, though, it's time to build bridges at home. never an easy task. where does germany go from here and for the economy, which and what for the economy, which has been languishing in recession for years? its recession for two years? its place in europe relations elaee ifi; eerfiee eee rfilaf'fifii occupant eleee i'fi; eefeee eee felef'eee occupant of eleee ie eefeee eee felef'eee occupant of the with the newest occupant of the white house? i spoke to the white house? ispoke to the of a podcast who gave his host of a podcast who gave his take the outcome. it really did move significantly the right in

elections. there was a these elections. there was a record turnout. germany is in recession. donald trump and vance vigorously supporting far right? e far rightithey e far right.ethey are e far right.ethey are against e the far right. they are against spending on and on "end" a", eee—ei'ee eec�* "ft “of ~ ~ ~ ' f ,, kremlin. 191“: a" w's-e a”! "ft "* ~ ~ ~ ' f ,. kremlin. it "new!" nn; eee—ei'ee en;5! "n“ ”557 55 55 55 5 5 55 kremlin. it wants �*renfn: “n; ukane en;5! "ft '"5 55 55 55 5 5 55 kremlin. it wants to �*renfn: “n; u"3ne ;3n;5! "ft '"5 55 55 55 5 5 55 kremlin. it wants to chip —e at europe and the euro. away at europe and the euro. will the eu's biggest country up will the eu's biggest country up to make this moment step up to make this moment were really up to were really squaring up to donald trump make the infrastructure and defence decisions needed so as entries germany can make only on the comeback, not only on the stage but on the sta-e stage ;nd maybe even the less relevant? iii!!— make the far less relevant? the critical talks _ make the far less relevant? the critical talks that _ make the far less relevant? the critical talks that will begin, what the up will this critical talks that will begin, wha their up will this critical talks that will begin, wha their worst jp will this

critical talks that will begin, wha their worst performance is critical talks that will begin, wha their worst performance for was their worstjoerfe-“martee fer shoz. was their worstfeerfermartee fer shoz. to was their werstfeerfermahee fer shoz. to think it is olaf shoz. to think it is likely the cd you have to e egfj'qjith e e e eeleipewithethem e e e eeleipewithethemtoe e e eeeleipewithetieieet toemakee e e upewith them to make a join up with them to make a coalition? it join up with them to make a coalition? _ coalition? i think it is more than likely. _ coalition? i think it is more than likely. - was - coalition? i think it is more - than likely. - was conducted than likely. this was sofiducted the than likely. this was soao�*uctea the shadow than likely. this was conducted the shadow of the far under the shadow of the far right, the that have right, the afd. that may have to drive this very high helped to drive this very high turnout of 84%. voters were their channelling their dissatisfaction with the german quo. the impact was felt these o. the impact was felt these incumbent act was felt these incumbent act was�* ift -=44:e eeeleikeee, theee e e e eleikeee, theeeteraeditiohale e you like, the traditional democrats and as you christian democrats and as you were describing the socialists, oldest party germany's oldest party dates 7 to the 19th century. this ecan eeeif youelike,e fra . mentation framentation of the fragmentation of politics in nevertheless there was have as. eebee ’ ’ e have be chalitione still have to be coalition politics. coalition politics, course, what the afd

e vigorously. if is a continuation of what there is a continuation of what there is a continuation of what the germans call a grand coalition between the conservatives and the that will open the socialist, that will open the door for more from the seer fer mere sniping front the: �* right. door for more sniog .. riuht. ; 5, far right. the leader of the fda is saying _ far right. the leader of the fda is saying this - far right. the leader of the fda is saying this new- far right. the leader of the fda is sayin: wills new- far right. the leader of the fda is sayin: will not w - far right. the leader of the fda is sayin: will not last . far right. the leader of the j fda is sayin: will not last in government will not last in coalition form the peeople eeeeeeeeeee ee people will come as you sort of fight against say, sort of fight against that. they are arguing their presence within government. talk through what is being talk us through what is being said in brussels about all of marine le pen in france distancing himself to a from fronete afg frone1e afg and their more degree from afg and their more policies. your thoughts extreme policies. your thoughts on how brussels will navigate all of this. on how brussels will navigate all of this— on how brussels will navigate all of thia— all of this. one has to think about what _

all of this. one has to think about what the _ all of this. one has to think about what the afd - all of this. one has to think about what the afd really l aboutwhat'th'e afg really it in ways represents. it is in many ways the far right of the european far right. other leaders of far right ”he ”eases ef parties the neofascist parties like the prime minister italy and prime minister of italy and marine pen but they do not mam mm sit with that -a in the even sit with that party in the same european parliament group. same european parliament group; think what is interesting, i think what is interesting, though, about the afd and these thoughgaheut'the'efe eee these who sit with the parties who sit with the very �* right —— with the sovereign far right —— with the sovereign terrace, they're very far terrace. they'teslery far ; ;e they have been pushing right, they have been pushing mainstream conserving chests —— is by the conservatives far :-= e that is another reason right. that-is another reason germany will not let them that is into government. that is not what is expected certainly not what is expected time, even we have this time, eventhough wehave far right already in seen the far right already in government in italy, the eee eanedee e

eeegegsii . e ... flee... . quickly, what do you make e friedrichemerz's friedrich merz�*s comments of friedrich merz�*s comments about donald what sort e e e what sort of administration? what sort of ~ ;;; —— ; . is he forging at pathway is he forging at this point at a very tricky time, especially week? we are especially this week? we are going to look at ukraine in a moment. we have emmanuel macron in washington today. your on friedrich merz and thgughts on friedrich merz and initial comments about his initial comments about donald trump and his team in 7donald trumpandhis team in white house. donald trumpandhis teamim - wm— the white house. this is very what the white house. this is very _ what was - the white house. this is very _ what was said - the white house. this is very i _ what was said about interesting what was said about merely being on the side of e e �* europe. one :-=: 2:2 put this in the context should put this in the context that merz�*s predecessor, angela merkel, trump in his mgckglsdonald trump in his... . administration previous administration would not even shake her hand at a meeting in the white house. from the get go, friedrich merz taken this ta ken this stance taken this stance to be has taken this stance to be to achieve independence strong to achieve independence from the united states. that is he last night. he

what he said last night. he previously said he will not be dwarfed with donald trump and the us. friedrich merz is very tall, he is a banker, a business guy. he even worked for us investment firm in reality the blackrock. in reality the situation will be very difficult in dealing with donald trump. the traditional alliance between german conservatives and us alliance between german conservativt has d us or less ;ndeeloeneeee ;ndeeloenemeleisk gone. ll) bounce and elon musk been openly advocating have been openly advocating for the party with fascist the afd, the party with fascist elements. meanwhile, the donald administration is moving trump administration is moving ahead, making what looks like huge concessions the hose sensessiens towardeths 5 55 55 5 55 55 and towards vladimir russians and towards vladimir putin. that said, signs putin. that said, all the signs are in erdssels that friedrich will be steadfast in his merz will be steadfast in his support of ukraine and that he continue to ee eechritieriuéetl; bé ee eechetieedéeteé bé criticeal e ee eechetieedéetl; bé critical if will continue to be critical of apparent us policy shift the apparent us policy shift towards russia.—

some of the to the of the election in podcast is based germany. that podcast is based in brussels. we will be at the picture the german economy, picture for the german economy, as in recession for as mentioned in recession for two years. what is the new leader promising when it comes injecting e eeeinjectingegroveth e e e ee injecting growth into economy in europe? we biggest economy in europe? we will be looking at that on 24th february 2022, president putin gave operation" in ukraine. shortly after, ukrainian infrastructure came under and russian tanks and troops poured into ukraine. behind ukraine. with french president emmanuel macron about meeting

both leaders are going to washington this week for gains currently stand. are controlled by russia, while the purple shows areas attack yet, targeting at least 13 regions, including the capital kyiv. our ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse, has this report. the simplest of routes. in this war, seemingly abandoned by its biggest

ally, america. siding with russia. some people, they listen to russia position, but many people understand us. i know many, i have many friends from europe that support ukrainians. are called up to fight. dimko enlisted as a drone pilot last year. i ask him what impact the politics have had to me personally, it

doesn't change a thing. just more deadly. the force from the blast shattered the windows she's anxious, so she prays every day for the war to end. must remain ours.

giving up territories is wrong and unnecessary. ukraine and europe aren't even at the negotiating table, for the first time since the second world war. james waterhouse, bbc news, kyiv. president zelensky has been speaking this morning to mark anniversa of the third anniversary of russia's invasion of ukraine. he said he is proud of the absolute heroism of the .5 5; 55.5. also absolute heroism of the 5: n 5f5f5 also hails three ukrainians and also hails three years of resistance on this anniversary. we have more on ukraine later in business. but now the the vatican says pope francis remains in a critical condition,

these are live pictures from the vatican — the pope has now been in hospital for over a week. his condition is critical. catholics to pray for him. pope francis had been struggling with bronchitis for some time. he said he'd ask a priest to read his address for him. but the 88—year—old went on working, receiving 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 fontheschufrch very important- a--- but all in the church know this is serious. a kidney problem, too. nicola and herfamily are catholics from manchester, following the updates closely. it's really sad to see that he's gotten worse and he's in a worsening, critical condition. illness and he was going to be ok, but now it is quite concerning.

in a city full of pilgrims, many are doing the same. here, and they know he is not out of danger. sarah rainsford, bbc news, rome. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

have spoken publicly for the first time about what happened. in wielding a knife.

a warning, you may find the details of this report distressing. and a special event was organised — a taylor by two teachers. has spoken publicly. supported by her parents, and the yoga teacher he opened the door and just grabbed a child. saw him coming for me. and he must have got my back. he moved right next to me.

the teachers and their teenage helper knew they had to get everyone to safety. i remember shouting for them to get down and get out. he killed everyone. ijust thought, "i need to get some help." having been stabbed five times, leanne moved more of the girls to safety. with her in a toilet. ijust kept saying, "there's children inside, there's children inside." my brain's going 100 miles an hour but my body won't do anything.

and then people are asking me questions and just saying, "go and get the children." are you ok? yeah, ijust... i just don't know what else i could have done. three little girls would not survive — seven—year—old elsie dot stancombe and six year old bebe king both died on hart street. but died later that night. people have told us how you tried to help the kids — get them out. incredible bravery. you just don't feel brave when you're the adult. the police said we'd all be dead if me and heidi hadn't done what we'd done. like, that doesn't take that away. siren wails. the physical wounds

from that day are healing, but the psychological impact is impossible to measure. the survivors have chosen to speak as part of the healing process, in tribute to the little girls who didn't judith moritz, bbc news, southport. there will be a later. and on bbc one at 8pm. if you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this report, details of organisations offering information and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline. arrested in afghanistan has written to the taliban pleading for her parents' release. peter reynolds, 79, and his wife barbie, 75,

from her parents in more than two weeks. vincent mcaviney. the couple have a long—standing relationship with the country in the 1970s in kabul. and for the better part of two decades, they have lived in the country doing aid work programmes — so working in schools, working with women and children. returned to power. had left at the time, but they refused to go — they were incredibly dedicated to this country

colleague and a translator, as well. we don't know what has exactly happened. children, but for the last two weeks, their children say they have been detained, given they have been able to operate the last three years the taliban have been for their parents' release, saying they have done nothing the rules of course changing rapidly in those three years — but their children say they have been meticulous about following all of the rules and they are just there trying to help those that they can. the trouble is the foreign office is no longer is able when the taliban came back. there are very few

ngos operating in the country whatsoever. the foreign office also don't recognise the taliban authority in the country. to those governing the country now to please release their parents. we know they have some medical issues which are concerning their children. because, at the moment, there is no comment we will be back in a with latest business news e e etehz eoefeereebeueildienege and the prospect of rebuilding ukraine if is ukraine if peace is negotiated. i will be back just 18 i will be back injust 18 minutes. ——just

i will be back injust 18 minutes. —— just a a few minutes. hello. across the western side of the country. of port ellen here in argyll and bute. the centre of low pressure was actually some way away from our shores, near iceland, but nevertheless, through the irish sea. but a few stronger gusts, 79mph gusts at capel curig. 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 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, so it's a frost—free start to the day. quite mild. slow to pull away here. 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, but this time, the majority of the showers will be and mostly dry weather with some sunshine. temperatures stilljust running a degree or two above average given that there's not going to be that much sunshine

to 10 degrees celsius. in towards the end of the week, so we should see a change through thursday night and into friday morning. bye for now.

inject economic growth? we'll hear from berlin. what would it take for the country to rebuild and the emotional part, and we have to be able we hear from the boss of ferrari about what's driving