German Rearmament: Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s push to boost Germany’s conventional forces and spending to about €150bn a year by 2029 is stirring unease in France and nearby states over Europe’s shifting power balance. Climate Finance: Reuters warns Europe’s extreme weather is turning into a recurring public-budget bill as many losses go uninsured; EU climate disasters have already hit about €822bn since 1980, with a quarter in the last four years. Wildfires Across Europe: Rain offered brief relief in Belgium’s High Fens, but this summer has brought deaths, evacuations and massive burn areas across France, Spain, Greece and Croatia. Energy Costs & Drought: Gasoline and diesel prices rose sharply across many countries amid Iran-related energy shock and Hormuz risks, while low river flows are disrupting logistics and even cooling for power plants. EU Migration Politics: A new EU “return” migration push is being framed as a break from integration’s promise to keep people beyond majority rule, with Ceuta-linked tensions driving calls for faster application. Markets: European stocks slid again as US-Iran tensions and geopolitics weighed on sentiment. Tech & Health: Samsung’s Galaxy Buds hearing-aid feature got US FDA clearance, but Europe isn’t yet confirmed; Godavari Biorefineries secured a European patent for an oncology formulation. Space: ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot is set for a historic spacewalk with NASA’s Anil Menon.