Eurotopics.net

The situation in Iran is coming to a head. The regime has responded to ongoing protests, which began at the end of December, with increasingly lethal force and mass arrests. The internet has been blocked for days, making it difficult to get a clear picture of the news situation. Europe's capitals are taking a tougher stance towards Tehran, while US President Trump has openly threatened military intervention.

Grok AI on Elon Musk's X platform has recently enabled users to digitally undress people in photos. After thousands of posts with sexualised images of women and minors were published, authorities in several countries took action. X responded by limiting access to this feature to paying subscribers.

On Monday, Russia's war in Ukraine reached day 1,418. Putin's 'special military operation' against its neighbour, which began on 24 February 2022, has now lasted longer than the ‘Great Patriotic War’ - this is how the German-Soviet War during WWII between June 1941 to May 1945 is referred to in Russia.

The appeal trial against Marine Le Pen for embezzlement of EU funds begins in France today. 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 - including the 2027 presidential election. Commentators discuss what is at stake.

After more than 25 years of negotiations, the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur is close to being finalised after a qualified majority of EU ambassadors approved it on Friday, overruling countries like France and Poland. Now, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen can put her signature to it with the partners in South America, and then the EU Parliament must also vote on it.