EU Sanctions Friction: Italy has joined Bulgaria in pushing back on EU plans to blacklist Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, with Rome citing Vatican concerns and broader unease over travel and trade restrictions. NATO Funding for Ukraine: Ahead of the Ankara summit, diplomats say EU members and Canada will pledge €70bn in military aid for Ukraine in 2026 and 2027, with Italy reportedly raising objections to putting the pledge in writing. Energy Transition at Sea: Monaco’s 13th Energy Boat Challenge (8-11 July) will showcase foils and electric, hydrogen and methanol propulsion, with a public village and decarbonisation focus for yachting. Italy-Linked Connectivity: Neos reactivates a direct Rome–Holguin route, restarting weekly flights and aiming to strengthen eastern Cuba’s tourism links. Grid Stress Reminder: A record European heatwave has driven major excess deaths, with France and Belgium reporting thousands more fatalities, underscoring the pressure on health systems. Local Energy Impact: An Italian restaurant owner in the UK says an energy-supplier tenancy dispute led to power cuts and the loss of £5,000 of food, highlighting how energy access can hit small businesses fast.