Volkswagen Job Cuts: VW CEO Oliver Blume warned employees the automaker may need to cut another 50,000 jobs on top of already planned reductions, with a “theoretical” total of up to 100,000 as the group targets a 20% cost gap amid tariff pressure and China competition. EU Defence Cooperation: Leaders in Paris backed a “coalition of the willing” to build a shared European ballistic missile defence programme, with UK participation also tied to the EU’s €90bn Ukraine support loan. EU Sanctions on Surveillance: The EU imposed new sanctions on Russia-linked firms including VK over mass surveillance technology used to repress civil society. Energy Costs & Jobs: Germany confirmed a strategic gas reserve sized at 10% of storage capacity, funded via consumer levies—raising household bills while adding pressure on energy-intensive industry. Corporate Compliance in Germany: Germany moved to tighten its corporate fines regime with new sentencing guidelines, putting internal investigations and compliance frameworks at the centre. Labour Market & Skills: Eurostat data put EU cultural-sector employment at 8.9m people in 2025, with women at 49.6% and the biggest shares in the Netherlands, Estonia and Malta. Public Health in Europe: A U.S. Ebola patient infected in DR Congo was admitted to Frankfurt in isolation as cases rise and staff at a DRC Ebola centre struck over unpaid wages. UK Hiring & Recycling: A new £15m+ plastic film recycling plant in Darlington is set to create 120 jobs. Air Travel Rights: EU261 passenger protections are highlighted for travellers facing long delays and last-minute changes when flying to Europe.