India, May 7 -- Friedrich Merz succeeded Tuesday in his bid to become the next German chancellor during a second vote in parliament, hours after he suffered a historic defeat in the first round. The conservative leader had been expected to smoothly win the vote. He needed a majority of 316 out of 630 votes but received 310 in the first round - well short of the 328 seats held by his coalition. Merz received 325 votes in the second ballot. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier appointed Merz as chancellor. "With a slight delay, but all the more heartfelt, my congratulations on your election," Steinmeier told Merz.P13...