EU sanctions and asset seizures: Russia has moved to place the Russian assets of European retailers under temporary management, including Nestlé and French groups Auchan and Leroy Merlin, citing “unfriendly” ownership. Ukraine war and EU support: Kyiv says it received a new EUR 3.3bn EU tranche for drones and missiles, as Russia continues missile strikes including a deadly glide-bomb attack on Sumy. EU politics and rights: Former Zelensky press secretary Yulia Mendel was barred from entering the European Parliament after Kyiv sanctions her, while Hungary’s Ukraine policy is framed as a bid to humiliate Kyiv and block its EU path. Energy costs and EU tax debate: EU leaders discussed a bloc-wide windfall tax on energy firms as fuel prices hit records; Germany is weighing fuel tax relief amid coalition pressure. Digital identity and privacy: New reporting asks whether digital driver’s licences could enable tracking, stressing legal limits and optional use. Children online safety: The EU’s KIDS Act push for under-13 social media limits and tighter rules for younger users keeps gaining momentum. Canada-EU “associate member” push: Mark Carney’s pitch for an EU associate status for Canada sparks backlash in Washington and confusion over what the term would mean in practice. Security and tech: France warns of Russian “hybrid attacks” targeting critical infrastructure, while a UK probe raises concerns about sensitive police data stored on Microsoft cloud.