Conservative leader Merz overcomes historic defeat to become Germany’s chancellor

BERLIN (AP) — Conservative leader Friedrich Merz succeeded in becoming Germany’s next chancellor. His election on Tuesday drew applause and a palpable sense of relief in the parliament chamber after a historic loss in the first round of voting threatened the new government’s promises of stability. No other postwar candidate for German chancellor has failed to win on the first ballot. The stunning but short-lived defeat sent shock waves throughout Europe. As the most populous member state of the 27-nation European Union and the continent’s biggest economy, Germany is Europe’s diplomatic and economic heavyweight. Many had hoped Merz’s ascension would help the continent navigate the war in Ukraine and the confrontational trade policy of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ukraine drone attacks briefly shut down Moscow’s international airports

(AP) — All four international airports around Moscow temporarily suspended flights Tuesday as Russian forces intercepted more than 100 Ukrainian drones fired at almost a dozen Russian regions, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said. Nine other regional Russian airports also temporarily stopped operating as drones struck areas along the border with Ukraine and deeper inside Russia, according to Russia’s civil aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, and the Defense Ministry. The Moscow region was later attacked for a second time, with the capital’s major airports of Vnukovo and Domodedovo forced to ground flights again, while the city’s air defenses intercepted three drones, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

Israel says it has disabled Yemen’s main airport with airstrikes against rebels

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military says airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have fully disabled the international airport in the capital, Sanaa. It says several power plants were also struck in the area on Tuesday. Israel launched similar attacks on Monday in retaliation for a Houthi missile strike Sunday on Israel’s international airport. The Houthis confirmed the strike on the airport in Sanaa. The Houthi-controlled SABA news agency says three people were killed and 38 others wounded. It cited health officials. The Houthis have targeted Israel throughout the war in Gaza in solidarity with Palestinians there, while also targeting commercial and naval vessels on the Red Sea.

UK and India sign a ‘landmark’ trade agreement after years of tough negotiations

LONDON (AP) — Britain and India have agreed on a hard-wrought free trade agreement that will reduce or eliminate tariffs on Scotch whisky and scores of other products. The deal announced Tuesday comes more than three years after negotiations started — and stalled — under a previous British government. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X that the deal was “ambitious and mutually beneficial.” The British government called it a “landmark.” It said the deal will slash Indian import taxes on whisky, cosmetics, medical goods, car and airplane parts and other goods from the U.K. Talks started in 2022 but had not made a breakthrough by 2024, when they were suspended while both countries held elections.