Energy Bills Shock: Germany plans a strategic gas reserve equal to 10% of storage capacity, to be filled in 2027–2028, funded via consumer levies—expected to add about €42 a year to household energy bills, while energy-intensive firms could face much larger costs. EU Waste Crackdown: A new EU ban stops large companies from destroying unsold clothes, shoes and accessories, forcing sales, discounts, alternative markets or charity—only limited exceptions apply. Fashion Compliance Watch: The rules require reporting on discarded goods and will later extend to medium-sized firms, raising pressure on retailers’ inventory and returns handling. Solar Funding Block: The EU is moving to block funding for certain Chinese inverters and related equipment over cybersecurity concerns, sparking uncertainty for solar project timelines. Retail Tech & Safety: Ryanair reassures passengers after a mid-flight incident where a window was damaged and a passenger was nearly sucked out, with an independent investigation underway. German Auto Market Signal: EVs have seen price declines in Germany and are now outselling petrol and diesel for the first time, reshaping consumer expectations for new and used cars. Cybercrime Alert: A WebDAV-based phishing toolkit tied to AI-assisted development was exposed after a server was left open, highlighting faster, more automated fraud tooling.