Consumer Protection & Utilities: Philippines lawmakers renewed pressure to separate technical vs nontechnical power losses, warning consumers shouldn’t pay for theft or metering irregularities. Energy Costs & Affordability: Poland reintroduced fuel VAT cuts and daily petrol price caps to lower pump prices, while India’s retail inflation edged up and wholesale inflation cooled. Household Savings: Bihar approved extra rooftop-solar subsidies under PM Surya Ghar, boosting support for residential systems via direct benefit transfers. Consumer Tech & Safety: Consumer Reports says most top-load agitator washers are mediocre on water use, with many models far above efficient limits. Payments & Retail Tech: Adyen warned AI chatbots at checkout could weaken retailer loyalty as software chooses products and initiates payments. Spam & Scams: South Africa saw a surge in spam calls, while US courts faced TCPA claims tied to robocalls. Food & Health: Nestlé launched new UK cereals aimed at “healthy ageing,” and FSSAI trained food firms on labeling and advertising rules amid front-of-pack warning label scrutiny. Brand & Marketing: Lay’s rolled out a South India fiery chilli flavor, and Foxtale named Shah Rukh Khan as ambassador. Regulation Watch: Trump’s new drone tariffs target heavier drones, with knock-on effects for consumer and defense-adjacent markets. AI & IP: Zimbabwe’s IP law readiness for deepfakes and fake voices is under debate as identity becomes commercially valuable.