EU Enlargement Overhaul: The European Commission outlined how the bloc could change before taking in new members, including faster steps in accession talks without unanimous consent, possible early access to parts of the single market, and stronger tools to respond if new members later breach rule-of-law standards. Ukraine Accession Details: Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said Ukraine’s agriculture-heavy economy could get targeted arrangements in the last remaining cluster, aiming to protect EU farmers while helping Kyiv regain access to historic export markets. Russia “Plague” Watch: WHO said it is following closely the death of a lab worker in Russia’s Irkutsk region amid reports of pneumonic plague; UK health officials also urged more information via international channels while stressing the risk to the wider UK public is very low. Ukraine War Alerts: Zelenskiy said updated intelligence points to Russia preparing a massive attack, urging citizens to respond to missile alerts as defence readiness depends on allied weapon supplies. EU Health & AI: The EU launched CHAIN, an EU4Health-funded network to use health data and AI to improve cardiovascular care across Europe. Trade & Sanctions: EU envoys are set to approve a major new Russia sanctions package, with most new listings tied to the military-industrial complex. Energy & Climate: A report found EU sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply hit 2.8% in 2025, clearing the 2% minimum, with production capacity expanding toward future blending targets.