EU Digital Identity: From 2027, Europeans will be able to store and use ID cards, driving licences and university degrees in the EUDI Wallet, aiming to speed up cross-border services. AI & Competition Law: The Commission forced Meta to reopen WhatsApp access to ChatGPT across the EEA, a rare enforcement move that could reshape AI market rules. Tech Courts: Google urged the EU’s top court to dismiss an antitrust appeal over a €1.7bn fine, arguing the lower court was right. Ukraine Defence Industry: The EU and Ukraine agreed a bloc-wide drone production deal, pairing Kyiv’s battlefield know-how with European industrial scale. Energy Efficiency Crackdown: Brussels launched infringement action against EU states, including Spain, for late rollout of 2024 building energy-efficiency rules. Democracy & Media: A new European Centre for Democratic Resilience is under scrutiny, with independent media independence at the centre of the debate. Culture Funding: The Commission withdrew a €2m Venice Biennale grant over the Russian pavilion reopening. Sports Sanctions: Nine EU countries want funding cuts for sports bodies that allow Russian and Belarusian athletes back. Climate & Safety: Europe’s heatwave toll estimates are rising, with calls to protect vulnerable people and reduce heat risks. History & Society: New DNA research suggests a Neanderthal population crash 75,000 years ago, with one surviving group repopulating much of Europe.