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Global headlines today blended policy momentum, consumer protection and cultural highlights: European leaders Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz met in Berlin to push a renewed agenda for EU digital sovereignty, while the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority opened inquiries into online pricing practices at a range of firms — from ticket platforms like StubHub and Viagogo to retailers including Wayfair and Marks Electrical — as part of a broader drive to ensure clearer, fairer checkout pricing for consumers. At COP30 in Belém, Pope Leon XIV used a video message to call for concrete political action on climate change, underscoring renewed moral and diplomatic pressure for tangible progress. In entertainment, Tom Cruise received an honorary Oscar, a celebration of his long career and contributions to filmmaking. In regional politics, Victoria’s new Liberal leader Jess Wilson signalled a shift toward budget, health and housing priorities, reshaping the state’s political focus. And in Japan, the Imperial Household Agency reported that Princess Kako tested positive for COVID-19, a reminder that public-health vigilance continues to matter.