EU Sanctions & Trade: The EU’s 21st Russia sanctions package now includes entities based in India, raising fresh hurdles for ratifying the EU-India trade deal being pushed as a major “mother of all deals” moment. Ukraine Defense Industry: Ukraine says it has signed nearly 20 joint defense production agreements with European partners, aiming to scale domestic output and cut reliance on Chinese components. Migration Pact Glitch: Eurodac, the EU’s asylum database, suffered a technical malfunction on the day the new migration and asylum pact entered into force, with member states gradually linking in. Aviation Rights Update: EU institutions have reached a political agreement to reform air passenger rights, including tighter rules on delay compensation and protections for people with disabilities. Energy Storage & Hydrogen: The EU unveils a new €1.5bn battery booster, while Denmark-Germany hydrogen plans move forward with new cross-border infrastructure steps. Climate & Oceans: Scientists warn a “cold blob” in the Atlantic may signal weakening AMOC ocean currents, adding urgency to Europe’s climate resilience debate. Dutch Caribbean Funding: Curaçao and other Dutch Caribbean islands could nearly double access to EU OCT funding for renewable energy, adaptation and digital projects.