EU Deal Update: The EU Council has greenlit and authorized the signature and provisional application of a comprehensive association agreement with Andorra and San Marino, aiming for closer ties and participation in an expanded internal market, plus cooperation on research, education, the environment, and culture. Botany in San Marino: The Huntington in San Marino is drawing huge crowds for a rare double bloom of titan arums (“corpse flowers”), with two plants (Odorysseus and Odora) peaking for only about a day as the famous odor pulls in visitors. Local Tech & Grid Resilience: Pasadena is set to overhaul a long-running utility communications setup under a $425,000 contract, replacing aging equipment used to exchange real-time data with CAISO to improve cybersecurity and monitoring. Emergency Training Funding: Pasadena City Council is considering extra state funding to expand Urban Search and Rescue training through 2028, supporting a regional task force. Water Tech Project: Marin Municipal Water District approved a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to advance a drought resiliency pipeline concept to replenish reservoirs using Sonoma County rainwater. Travel Policy Watch: Russia published the full 2026 list of countries eligible for its unified e-visa, with specific application timing and a short stay limit.