European Union

In an interview for the British podcast The Rest is Politics, Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, said that she would vote in favour of unification with Romania if a referendum were held on the issue. She noted that for a small country like Moldova, it was becoming "increasingly difficult to survive as a democracy, as a sovereign country." Reactions in both countries are divided.

In France, Marine Le Pen's appeal trial against her conviction for misusing EU funds has begun. In the first instance, the judges ruled that the presidential candidate of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) is barred from standing for election for five years - which would include the 2027 presidential election. Commentators discuss whether Jordan Bardella, the current leader of the RN party and only 30 years old, could replace her as its presidential candidate.

Ukraine has long been plagued by corruption and cracking down on graft is seen as a key requirement of its bid to join the European Union

Nicola Procaccini warned the proposed budget would create a European “superstate”

The Spanish minister warned that maintaining sanctions on an acting president could complicate dialogue “with the person representing the country internationally”

In today's edition: Grid fees, battery fail, planetary hot-streak

Who they are, how they operate and what role they play in repressing the protests in Iran

In today's edition: Help from Ukraine, tobacco, alcohol and sugar taxes

In today's edition: Huawei ban chatter, EU-US biometrics deal harms, Knafo report

Plus Mark Rutte's remarks with Renew, and deepening defence cooperation with India