EU Politics: An EU party alliance could be de-registered in the European Parliament, with the ESN group facing a funding ban that could effectively end it—raising fresh rule-of-law concerns. Slovak Science & Energy: Slovak Academy of Sciences researchers join the SUNFLOWERS project to develop safer, longer-lasting, more recyclable next-gen battery materials, including anode options that could reduce reliance on graphite. Fintech Expansion (EEA): Alpaca says it has completed EEA passporting to 29 countries via its Spain hub, letting regulated investment services scale across the bloc under MiFID II. Climate & Health: Europe’s heatwave fallout keeps mounting: France reports a sharp jump in excess deaths, while drought is pushing Italy’s Po waterways into a “critical state.” Sustainability Tech (Licensing Model): Soane Materials’ first European licensee in Slovakia, CleanlyEco, will produce detergent sheets using Soane’s patented chemistry—no factories, just royalties. Education Skills: An OECD assessment flags that a notable share of college students in developed countries read and do math at very low levels, with Slovakia among those showing higher underperformance. Hydrogen STEM: Switzerland’s Hydrogen Grand Prix final drew 85 teams from 20+ countries, including Slovak participants, showcasing fuel-cell mini-vehicle engineering. Local Tech/Industry: ZETKAMA’s Valve Service highlights preventive maintenance and monitoring to cut downtime and costs for industrial valve systems.