EU-Western Balkans Summit in Montenegro: EU leaders used the Tivat meeting to push faster, security-linked enlargement, framing the Western Balkans as a “geostrategic necessity” amid Russia-Ukraine and wider instability. Online Safety & Misinformation: A BIRN report warns young people across the Western Balkans (including Montenegro) struggle to spot online fakes in fast, personalized feeds, urging better platform transparency and stronger media/official skills. Franco-German Defense Tech: The €100bn Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is effectively dead after Airbus–Dassault disputes over workshare and patents, with Germany and France signaling no workable deal—leaving Europe to rethink next-gen fighter plans. Montenegro EU Path & Regional Ties: Montenegro’s PM met Bosnia’s leadership to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, energy, tourism, education, and science, with EU integration as a shared goal. Local Tech/Science Angle: The Ocean Race reported eDNA sampling in the Mediterranean, using sailors’ seawater data to detect thousands of biological groups—aimed at better tracking ocean hazards and invasive species. Biosphere Conservation: UNESCO expanded its biosphere network, including Sablayan (Philippines) and Shkodra Lake (Albania), highlighting ecosystem protection and conservation-linked development. Global Peace Index 2026: Iceland tops and the UK drops to 39th as the index flags worsening global peacefulness driven by armed conflict.