Merz insists he will stay as German chancellor despite heavy losses in state elections – Europe live

CDU suffered heavy losses in two regional elections, including in home state of former leader Angela Merkel, where it polled just 4.9%

EU senior diplomats will resume talks later today on maintaining sanctions against nearly 3,000 Russian individuals and companies, with the issue deadlocked over the status of tycoon Alisher Usmanov.

The EU last week agreed a one-week extension to stop the sanctions expiring, after France joined Slovakia in pushing for Usmanov to be removed from the list.