Initial exit polls appear to confirm what we have known for weeks: that the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) have got the most votes in the federal election, with Friedrich Merz most likely to be the next chancellor.

The Pope remains in a critical condition and is now showing an "initial, mild" kidney insufficiency - but is "vigilant" and took part in Mass in hospital with those caring for him.

A British couple in their 70s who run education programmes in Afghanistan have been arrested by the Taliban, their children say. 

The Hezbollah faithful packed into Lebanon's largest stadium to show their support for the group and pay their respects to their charismatic leader Hassan Nasrallah who was killed in a massive Israeli airstrike.

Israeli tanks have moved into the Occupied West Bank shortly after the defence minister declared an escalation of its operation - ordering troops to remain there "for the coming year".

Police in Spain have arrested 48 people in connection with a suspected human trafficking ring - believed to have lured more than 1,000 women to the country for sex work.

Four people have been arrested after a man was killed and seven police officers wounded in a knife attack in eastern France which has been linked to Islamic extremism.

A man who has been released from prison after 30 years for a crime he says he never committed has been readjusting to life - and getting used to just how connected people are now.

Ukraine's president has said he would step down in return for peace and NATO membership for his country.

Pope Francis is still receiving a high flow of oxygen but has suffered no further crisis, Vatican sources have said.

Voters are heading to the polls in Germany's general election.

Visits by prime ministers to the American president matter much more to us "Brits" than they do to them.

Donald Trump has said a deal for Ukraine's rare earth metals is "pretty close" and the US is targeting "anything we can get" in exchange for the aid it's provided.

Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this is a "significant moment" for European security amid the continued fallout between the Ukrainian leader and Donald Trump.

A suspected drugs boss known as "The Fly" has been recaptured nine months after escaping during an ambush that killed two French prison officers.

One person has been killed and two police officers seriously injured in a knife attack in eastern France.

The man arrested for stabbing a Spanish tourist at Berlin's Holocaust memorial is a 19-year-old Syrian refugee, according to prosecutors.

A man whose credit card was stolen and used to buy a winning lottery ticket is appealing for the thieves to come forward - so they can split the cash. 

The release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners planned for Saturday has been postponed "until the release of the next hostages is secured without humiliating ceremonies", Israel has said.

A British skier has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff in the French Alps.