UK prisons security: The government will spend £35m to fit up to 13,000 heavy-duty steel grilles in prison windows to block drone smuggling, aiming to finish by spring next year. UK politics and unrest: Broadcaster Mehdi Hasan argues Belfast violence is being pushed by far-right networks linked to Elon Musk and JD Vance, warning that a “centre-left” approach has failed. EU enlargement and diplomacy: EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos maps accession progress as Ireland prepares to host her; meanwhile Moldova’s MPs meet June 11 on EU-labelled drafts, and EU-Georgia visa dialogue is set for Brussels. Ukraine talks pressure: France, Germany and the UK have asked Russia for talks after an E3 London summit pushed ceasefire negotiations. Climate and health: Copernicus says May 2026 was Europe’s second-warmest on record, with heatwaves and severe flooding; separate research flags toxic plankton shifting along the North East Atlantic, threatening shellfish safety. Defence and pensions: Bulgaria approves a plan to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, while France’s pensions advisory council urges a rise in retirement age to 67½ by 2070. Energy and social policy: Bulgaria operationalises compensation for energy-intensive firms; in the UK, the TUC presses an “emergency social tariff” to cut bills for low-income households. Security and markets: EU officials sign off on performance requirements for a security-focused autonomous Earth observation programme that could unlock extra ESA funding. Tech and regulation: EU moves to tighten cyber considerations in renewable procurement and continues its push on AI access and competition rules.