Heatwave toll: France reported about 1,000 extra deaths during a record-breaking European heatwave, with most fatalities among people aged 65+ and many dying at home, as temperatures kept shattering records across the continent. Energy & cooling strain: The same extreme heat is pushing power systems and public services to the limit, while cities and households scramble for cooling solutions. Hydrogen supply shift: Germany is deepening energy ties with Algeria, signing deals aimed at grid upgrades and green hydrogen development to support Europe’s longer-term low-emissions plans. EV freight rethink: Octopus and CATL are backing Swaptopus, a battery-swapping push for electric trucks designed to cut downtime by swapping packs within minutes across European routes. AI infrastructure pressure: A reported Gemini capacity limit affecting Meta highlights how Europe’s AI ambitions are constrained by scarce compute and cloud infrastructure. Digital tax trade war: The EU vowed to defend its digital-services-tax stance after Trump threatened 100% tariffs on exports to the US. Social media age checks: Australia doubled penalties for failing its under-16 social media ban and is tightening regulator powers—an approach Europe is watching closely. Defence tech lessons: Europe is looking to emulate Ukraine’s air-defence integration, but faces interoperability hurdles across national systems. Tax haven update: Spain removed Gibraltar from its non-cooperative tax list after it met OECD-style transparency and minimum-tax standards. Smart care in heat: Rome is using EU-funded smart bracelets to remotely monitor elderly residents during the heatwave, aiming to prevent emergencies and falls.