Energy & Consumer Costs: Oil majors’ profits surged on Middle East-driven energy price spikes, with BP’s Q2 profit more than doubling to $5.73bn and Saudi Aramco up 44%—prompting fresh political heat on “windfall” earnings and calls to cut consumer fuel prices. Renewables Dealmaking: Shell will sell its European onshore renewables portfolio to TotalEnergies (about 500MW in operation/in-development across the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and the UK), while TotalEnergies also lines up a KKR stake sale in a separate 1.2GW portfolio that includes German assets. Retail & Fashion Demand: Hugo Boss reported Q2 operating profit ahead of forecasts (€59m EBIT) but sales fell to €905m as macro and geopolitical uncertainty kept consumer demand subdued. Air Travel Pricing Pressure: Lufthansa’s Q2 core profit plunged as jet fuel costs jumped, leading to a revised 2026 core profit outlook of €1.7–€2.2bn. Climate Impact on Everyday Life: Europe’s shrinking rivers are increasingly disrupting power generation and shipping, with record-low Rhine levels flagged as a supply-chain warning for industry and logistics. Tech for Consumers: Rokid launched its AI smart glasses in Canada with prescription-lens support via Ming’s Optical, following earlier moves into key European markets including Germany. Sports & Media Business: FIFA’s leadership crisis deepened after a plan to bring private investors into tournament commercial operations triggered backlash across major regions.