UK Cost-of-Living Push: New PM Andy Burnham’s first week brought a bigger-than-expected inflation dip (June CPI 2.6%) plus moves to cut household bills, including VAT removal on electricity from October 1 and lower bus fares—though funding is raising eyebrows. Digital ID Scrapped: Burnham killed off “BritCard”/digital ID plans, with the reported £1.8bn price tag redirected to the electricity VAT cut, a blow for firms and services that expected universal ID take-up. EU Competition & Privacy: EU rulings tied to Android and the Digital Markets Act are worrying tech firms and could affect how third-party apps access permissions—raising practical security and privacy concerns for small businesses relying on safe customer data. SME Lending Dealmaking (UK): Iwoca hired Qatalyst Partners for a sale expected to value it at over £1bn, underlining continued investor appetite in SME finance. Cross-Border Trade Help (UK): eBay expanded international shipping support to the UK, aiming to reduce customs and returns friction for small sellers exporting to the EU and beyond. Germany Stress Signal: A study flags a sharp rise in insolvencies among German partnerships and corporations, pointing to tougher conditions for suppliers and local employers. Slovakia Logistics Boost: FedEx opened a new Košice facility to speed international processing and make exporting easier for smaller firms. EU Tourism Snapshot (France): France’s summer tourism appears stronger than feared, with booking data pointing to higher arrivals and accommodation demand. Protest Over Trade Deals (India): Samyukta Kisan Morcha staged protests demanding cancellation of FTAs with the US, EU, UK and others, arguing they could hurt farmers, MSMEs and food security.