Energy Storage Finance: UAE power firm Masdar secured £97m financing for UK battery energy storage projects totaling 205MW/540MWh, with sites in Rochdale, Cardiff and Chesterfield, extending its broader renewables-and-storage push. Montenegro Clean Energy Pipeline: Masdar and EPCG advanced Montenegro’s solar-plus-storage expansion, including first 150MW solar projects under the 2GW partnership, keeping momentum on local decarbonisation. Industrial Decarbonisation in the Region: Portugal’s Bondalti completed a €76m REPower Chemicals decarbonisation upgrade, cutting CO2 by 36,000+ tonnes and highlighting how public support can modernise heavy industry. Airline & Travel Operations: EasyJet’s overbooked Gatwick–Tivat flight left a newlywed couple separated for nearly a day, underscoring oversales and passenger-rights friction. Payments & Retail Tech: Nayax launched its cashless payment suite in North Macedonia for unattended merchants, expanding card acceptance for vending, parking and kiosks. EU Border & Logistics Pressure: New biometric border rules triggered major summer queues at the Croatia–Serbia crossing, a reminder that travel and trade flows can hinge on systems rollout. Media & Competition: Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery antitrust trial dates are contested (Nov 2026 vs April 2027), with potential downstream effects for content markets. Water Policy Shockwaves (US): Arizona leaders reacted to a federal Colorado River FEIS that could sharply increase Lower Basin cuts, showing how water planning can quickly reshape industry and agriculture.