BREAKING NEWS

Merkel, left agree to third round of exploratory coalition talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel'sconservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) have agreed to holda third round of talks on Thursday to explore the possibility offorming a coalition government, party sources told Reuters.

Merkel needs to find a partner for her third term after shewon September's election but fell short of an absolute majority.She meets the Greens for a second round of talks on Tuesday butis more likely to team up with the SPD, who came second.