France and Germany Pledge Closer Cooperation

France and Germany are to sign a new treaty on Tuesday aimed at breathing new life into their place at the centre of the European Union.

In the draft, the two countries agree to establish common positions and issue joint statements on major EU issues - formalising their existing co-operation.

Also on the programme: a new machine-learning tool scientists are developing to help predict life threatening heart problems; and as the periodic table turns 150, we learn about elements that are becoming increasingly scarce.

(Photo: Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, Credit: Getty Images)