Pension Overhaul: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz backed a sweeping reform that would gradually raise the retirement age beyond 67, scrap early retirement at 63, and add a Swedish-style capital-funded pillar starting in 2031. Ukraine Security: Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha met Germany’s Johann Wadephul to press for stronger air-defense support and keep EU accession talks moving, ahead of a Ukraine recovery conference in Gdansk. Rail Disruption: Deutsche Bahn suspended services nationwide after a GSM-R communications failure, stranding passengers for about two hours before trains resumed step by step. Heatwave Crisis: Europe braced for record-breaking heat, with France reporting its hottest June day on record and deaths linked to extreme temperatures, while Germany warned of possible near-40°C conditions. V4 Reset: Hungary’s Péter Magyar said the Visegrád Four is “back” with a focus on competitiveness, energy prices, EU enlargement, defense industry cooperation, and Schengen border protection. US Sanctions on Cuba: The US Treasury added Cuban entities tied to Gaesa and sanctioned Alejandro Castro Espín’s wife, escalating pressure on Cuba’s military-linked networks.