NATO & Defence Politics: At the Ankara summit, Trump pressed allies over spending while Rutte said Europe is already matching the US at about 4% of GDP on defence-related outlays; leaders also unveiled major arms deals and discussed possible US troop reductions, with Greenland again dominating the backdrop. French Domestic Politics: France’s appeals court cleared Marine Le Pen to run for president in 2027 but under an electronic monitoring regime after her EU-funds conviction was upheld. EU Sports Governance: EU lawmakers are pushing for an investigation into FIFA boss Gianni Infantino after FIFA changed rules mid-tournament following Trump’s intervention in the Balogun red-card case. EU Migration & Borders: The EU’s Entry/Exit System is blamed for summer airport chaos, with Ryanair warning of major queues and disruptions as the system ramps up. EU Enlargement: The Commission’s push to open a new Serbia accession cluster stalled over member-state concerns about rule of law and judicial independence. Security & Tech Sovereignty: Germany’s Fraunhofer unveiled a RISC-V secure element chip built and manufactured in Dresden, aimed at giving connected devices a transparent, EU-aligned trust anchor. Environment & Health: Research flags health risks for European white storks as landfill “junk food” boosts survival but may expose them to plastics and heavy metals. Trade Rules: Serbia-UK origin rules now allow extended cumulation, easing preferential exports for sectors like food, textiles, electrical goods and automotive.