German Elections: Voters in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania go to the polls as AfD’s momentum threatens Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s grip, with CDU performance and coalition math in the spotlight. Russia-NATO Security: European leaders warn that Russia’s post-election escalation could include drones, sabotage and missile tests, while Latvia’s president says parts of NATO may struggle to repel attacks. EU Defence Union: The Commission’s push for a European Security Council feeding into a Defence Union—explicitly naming Turkey as a potential “stakeholder”—sparks questions about process and powers. Macron–Carney Ties: Macron meets Canada’s PM Mark Carney in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to deepen economic and defence cooperation, framed by energy security and US trade pressure. AI and the Economy: An IMF note says AI could lift EU productivity by about 1% but risks wider inequality, grid strain and greater reliance on foreign tech unless the single market is completed. Pope Leo in France: Pope Leo XIV’s France visit spotlights clerical abuse reforms and the assisted dying law debate. Space Ambition: Macron calls for Europe to develop its own crewed capsule within a decade as the space sector industrialises. Energy Costs: Greece floats a temporary fuel-tax cut if EU rules allow exceptional interventions, while France faces sharp diesel price differences between stations.