Church Tax Paradox in Germany: Despite hundreds of thousands quitting Catholic and Protestant churches, Germany’s church tax haul rose to over €12.5bn in 2025 as higher wages lift income-tax-linked payments. Middle East Balancing Act: Europe keeps walking the line on Iran, with Bulgaria approving U.S. use of an airbase while insisting it’s not “part of the war,” as Tehran pushes back. EU Border Shock—Ceuta: Spain’s Ceuta influx is framed by leaders as a potential geopolitical “weapon,” with talk of another push and renewed pressure for tighter EU border controls. Heatwave Costs: Record heat and drought are already erasing EU growth—one estimate puts the summer’s hit at €180bn, driven by lost productivity, weaker agriculture, and strain on power and transport. Chinese EVs vs Tariffs: Chinese EVs reached 14.2% of western Europe sales in early 2026 despite EU tariffs up to 35.3%, underscoring how competition can outlast trade barriers. Digital Governance Push: Estonia and Bangladesh vow to deepen ties, with Estonia offering e-governance support and cooperation on secure data exchange. Agriculture Innovation: Ireland’s Teagasc launches a grass-based dairy-beef project across several EU countries to boost pasture use, welfare, and farm profitability. Energy Security Watch: EU gas storage is lagging—Germany and the Netherlands are far below typical early-August levels—raising fears of another fuel crunch. Defence Industry: Cambridge Aerospace will showcase its Skyhammer low-cost interceptor for counter-drone defence at Future Forces in Prague.