EU Accession Push: Chisinau has been invited under the Irish EU Council Presidency to present its negotiating position for Cluster 6 “External Relations,” as officials stress the need to keep reforms moving. Interim Government: President Maia Sandu appointed Deputy PM Eugeniu Osmochescu as acting prime minister from July 8, after Alexandru Munteanu’s resignation, while consultations with parliamentary factions are set to begin. Political Tensions: Moldova’s pro-Russian opposition is pointing to possible splits inside the PAS majority over who can secure enough support for a new government. EU Talks & Parliament Diplomacy: Speaker Igor Grosu joined a Belgrade conference of EU candidate-state speakers, meeting Ukraine’s Ruslan Stefanchuk and Serbia’s Ana Brnabić, and urged a merit-based accession process. Security & Borders: Moldova’s foreign ministry warns citizens traveling to Russia and Belarus may face long checks and phone inspections; Deputy PM Mihai Popșoi also warns that Russian citizenship can mean being sent to the front. Economy & Trade: IMF forecasts put Moldova’s growth around 3.5% annually (2027-2031), while Chisinau faces a potential loss of over 90 million lei owed by bankrupt Air Moldova. Justice & Accountability: MoldATSA-linked criminal probes continue, with Anastasia Taburceanu named in an investigation into alleged abuse of office. International Cooperation: Moldova’s soldiers will march in France’s July 14 National Day parade, and Japan is set to help restore two key historical buildings in Chisinau. Human Trafficking Crackdown: Interpol reports “Global Chain” led to 1,024 arrests across 59 countries and identified Moldova among the countries with victims.