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European and global headlines today point to policy moves and market stabilisation: EU finance ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss proposals — including using frozen Russian assets (around €140bn) — as one way to bolster funding for Ukraine; in the Netherlands Vincent Karremans framed the recent Nexperia standoff over automotive semiconductors as a “wake‑up call” that highlighted Europe’s need for supply‑chain resilience. In Asia, markets firmed after the US resolved its government funding impasse, while Japan took two practical domestic steps — temporarily raising its gasoline subsidy by 5 yen to 15 yen per litre to ease consumer costs, and amending police powers to allow the use of rifles in efforts to prevent fatal bear attacks as authorities seek to protect communities. On the sporting front, France can clinch qualification for the 2026 World Cup with victory over Ukraine, keeping a national moment of excitement on the calendar. Overall, the cycle underscores policy responses to economic and security challenges alongside signs of market calm and sporting anticipation.