EU Circularity Push: The EU activates new vehicle rules requiring 25% recycled plastic in cars from 2036, with a 15% intermediate target and extra design-for-recycling requirements. Spain Inflation & Energy Strain: Spain’s July inflation jumps to 3.6%, the highest since May 2024, driven by fuel and electricity costs amid heatwave pressure. UK Growth Slows: The ONS reports UK GDP up 0.4% in Q2 after 0.6% in Q1, as political unrest and the Middle East war weigh on costs. Germany Water Stress Hits Trade: Low Rhine levels are disrupting German shipping and raw-material flows, sparking a debate over dredging versus restoration. Business Skills Squeeze (UK): Small firms cut training as higher taxes and employment costs bite, risking a widening skills gap. AI & Finance Infrastructure: GoodData.AI says it can shrink BI migration in Germany/Austria/Switzerland from 18 months to weeks, while Interactive Brokers adds access to the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Trade & Supply Chains: China’s imports from Germany fall as other EU countries gain share, while Rail Baltica’s Latvia phase faces cost-cutting and possible scope changes. Retail Real Estate (Spain): NEPI Rockcastle buys MegaPark Barakaldo near Bilbao for about €254m, entering Spain’s retail property market. Elections Under Scrutiny (Zambia): EU observers monitor Zambia’s vote as economic hardship and media freedom concerns test President Hichilema’s second-term bid.