Gitanas Nausėda, the incumbent, has led polls in campaign focused on war in Ukraine and threat from Russia

Lithuanians are going to the polls on Sunday in a presidential election amid growing fears about Moscow and security in the Baltic region.

The incumbent, Gitanas Nausėda, a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its two-year war with Russia, is the clear favourite among the seven candidates after a campaign focusing on security concerns in the Baltic states, according to polls showing he had a 29% share of the country’s 2.5 million voters.

US says parliamentarians must choose between Kremlin-style laws or Euro-Atlantic democratic path

An estimated 50,000 people marched peacefully in heavy rain in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Saturday night after the US said parliamentarians had to choose between Kremlin-style laws or the Euro-Atlantic democratic path they had embarked upon.

The march was the latest in a series of public protests against a “foreign agents” bill that would require media and commercial organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from outside the country to register as “agents of foreign influence”.

Smarter sanctions must end the state sponsorship that allows settlements to grow and the political influence of religious zealots to flourish

Which country today brushes aside credible accusations of war crimes in a military campaign where its actions are under investigation for genocide ? Which nation’s political leadership endorses the illegal, violent expropriation of land and reduces its most steadfast friend – whose protection is vital to its survival – to threaten to withdraw support? Unfortunately, the answer is Israel, which has turned its unchecked anger on the Palestinians after Hamas massacred 1,200 of its citizens and took 253 others hostage. Revenge has led to an intensifying conflict with devastating consequences.

While the recent violence is unprecedented in its ferocity, Israel has had a history of rogue conduct. But a deeper crisis for the country lies beneath the defiance with which far-right Israeli cabinet members respond to Joe Biden’s warning that the US would withhold arms should Israel invade Gaza’s southernmost city, Rafah. There appear to be no limits to how far extremists in Israel will go in disregarding world opinion.

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The June European elections are my first as a French citizen – and they’re in time to vote for the rising star of the left, Raphaël Glucksmann

Exclusive: Wopke Hoekstra says EU must press ahead with cutting greenhouse gases and use policy to bring about economic benefits

Europe’s climate chief has warned against politicians trying to use the climate crisis as a wedge issue in the forthcoming EU parliament elections , calling instead for climate policy that will bring wider economic benefits.

Wopke Hoekstra, the EU commissioner for climate action, said Europe had no choice but to press ahead with strong measures to cut greenhouse gases , whoever is in power, but added that more attention was needed to help businesses thrive in a low-carbon world.

Warm welcome for Chinese president contrasts with rest of EU, with up to 18 cooperation agreements expected

Hungary has rolled out the red carpet for Xi Jinping in a show of warmth that contrasts with wariness in the rest of the EU about China’s stance on trade, global politics and human rights.

On the third and final stop of his first European tour in five years, Xi was given a ceremonial welcome by Hungary’s president, Tamás Sulyok, at Buda castle, in Budapest, before talks with Viktor Orbán. The Hungarian prime minister, the EU’s longest-serving leader, has sought to deepen ties with Beijing and blocked EU motions criticising China’s human-rights abuses.

Police arrested dozens of people in Amsterdam, with university occupations continuing in Netherlands, Belgium and Spain

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Thirty-two people were arrested as Dutch police broke up a Gaza war protest at the University of Amsterdam, in a second day of unrest over the conflict. Police said the offences included public violence, vandalism and assault.

Video captured by Reuters appeared to show officers in riot gear striking protesters and police knocking down makeshift barricades of desks, bricks and wooden pallets that seemingly had been used to set off fire extinguishers in hopes of pushing them back. The footage appeared to also show police dragging several students away as hundreds shouted: “Shame on you!”

Some believe little will change even with a far-right surge, but others say ballot could be defining moment for bloc

Up to 450 million citizens in the EU’s 27 member states will go to the polls between 6 and 9 June to elect more than 700 members of the European parliament, the world’s only directly elected transnational assembly.

The European parliament elections – more commonly called the European elections – take place every five years and, since the parliament plays an essential role in elaborating EU law, help shape the political direction of the bloc.

Former foreign secretary to call for next government to seek much closer ties with bloc on foreign policy and defence issues

David Miliband will on Wednesday urge British ministers to forge closer links with the EU and condemn the “absurd” lack of cooperation between London and Brussels on foreign and defence issues.

The former foreign secretary will give a speech at the Irish embassy in London in which he will criticise the Conservatives for their attitude towards the EU and call on the next government to seek much closer ties.