NATO & Defence Finance: At the Ankara summit, NATO countries pledged at least €140bn in military aid for Ukraine over 2026-27 and flagged new arms purchases worth $50bn, alongside a push for drones, air/missile defence, unmanned systems and advanced tech. Luxembourg in the Mix: Luxembourg is among the founding backers of Canada’s proposed Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, but a ratings expert warns it may struggle to earn a top AAA label without bigger “economic heavyweight” shareholders. AI Infrastructure in Europe: The ÆTHER consortium unveiled plans for a European AI gigafactory in Strasbourg, targeting 42 MW first and more capacity later, as Europe tries to build sovereign compute. Digital Sovereignty (Payments): A Luxembourg-focused debate highlights how Europe’s payment rails still depend on global card networks, raising the stakes for control of the “rails” behind trade and security. EU Tech Regulation: In Luxembourg, the EU General Court dealt Apple a blow in its DMA fight, confirming Apple as a gatekeeper for the App Store and iOS and clearing the way for faster enforcement. Local Tech & Sustainability: Google’s planned Bissen data centre faces mounting criticism over sustainability, with an environmental group warning it could consume huge electricity unless standards improve. Luxembourg Climate Finance: Luxembourg and IUCN launched the third phase of a blue natural capital programme aimed at strengthening small-scale fisheries and coastal livelihoods.