This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Bernadette Keough and in the early hours of Monday the 24th of February, these are our main stories.

Friedrich Metz is in poll position to become Germany's next chancellor,

as exit polls show his centre-right grouping has won the general election.

The far-right AFD appears to have come second.

Vladimir Zelensky has told reporters he'd be willing to give up his presidency

if it would help bring peace to Ukraine.

Tens of thousands of mourners in Lebanon have taken part in the funeral of the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Also in this podcast, the Sudanese army says it's made another significant advance against its rivals.

And...

She was smoking like a trooper. She had two cigarettes going on either side of her i was very

intimidated by her and also with myself my my voice was a little bit higher and i listened to it and i think

oh lord the BBC's veteran film correspondent remembers interviewing betty davis

exit polls from Germany's snap general election suggests the Conservative Christian Democrats

have won with about 30% of the vote.

The far right, alternative for Germany, appears to have come second with around 20%, its highest national share ever.

If confirmed, the figures are in line with polling before the election.

Speaking afterwards, Friedrich Meertz promised to waste no time during negotiations to form the next government,

but he's made clear that it will be without the AFD.

Now we will talk to each other and the main thing is to re-establish a government in Germany

that is capable of acting as quickly as possible with a good parliamentary majority.

Because, dear friends, the world out there is not waiting for us,

...