Paul Kirby

Paul Kirby Europe digital editor in Berlin Reuters Friedrich Merz (C) wanted a strong mandate and to form a coalition fast, but it may take time Friedrich Merz’s conservatives have won Germany’s election, well ahead of rival parties but short […]

Paul Kirby Europe digital editor in Germany BBC Merz is convinced he is on track for victory and has exuded confidence in party rallies Germany’s rival political leaders will take their fight for votes right to the last minute in

Paul Kirby Europe digital editor Reuters Three Americans and two Russians made up the two teams at the talks in Saudi Arabia that have underscored an end to Western isolation of Moscow. The men described the meeting as preparing the

Paul Kirby Europe digital editor EPA-EFE Friedrich Merz (L) is favourite to become the next chancellor but every German government has to form a coalition German voters decide on 23 February who will run their next government, with Friedrich Merz’s

Estonian military The patrol boat Raju’s main task will be to protect the Estlink 1 power cable Nato has said it will enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea, and Estonia has sent a patrol ship to protect its

A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, has sunk in the Mediterranean between Spain and Algeria after an explosion in the engine room, Russia’s foreign ministry has confirmed. It said 14 members of the crew were rescued and taken to the

Gisèle Pelicot: ‘I never regretted decision to make trial public’ French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to Gisèle Pelicot for the strength she showed in the mass rape trial of her husband and 50 other men. Describing her as

CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP It was Gisèle Pelicot’s decision to open the case to the public that has given the trial international significance Judges in the French city of Avignon will hand down verdicts on 51 men on Thursday in a mass

Caver Ottavia Piana has been airlifted to hospital after a painstaking rescue deep underground in a cave system in the Bergamo area of northern Italy. Piana, 32, had been exploring an uncharted area of the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave on

As head of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection troops, Igor Kirillov – who has died in an explosion in Moscow – was accused by the West of overseeing the use of chemical weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine. Ukraine’s