Auto Industry Pressure: Mercedes boss Ola Källenius says Germany needs a “productivity offensive” as car profits slide 26% in Q2 and China pressure worsens, highlighting a big cost gap versus Hungary. Aerospace Manufacturing: Diehl Aviation opens a new production facility in Craiova, Romania, to make commercial aircraft components and create up to 500 jobs as output ramps. Industrial Skills & Jobs: Make UK urges UK policymakers to act on falling confidence and tight margins, calling for faster Industrial Competitiveness support, a 12-month delay to business rates changes, and a higher employer National Insurance threshold. Energy & Climate Risk: Spain and France brace for another heatwave; Spain lifts wildfire evacuation restrictions for thousands, while French firefighting capacity remains strained. Ukraine War Impact on Industry: Ukraine hits a major Russian refinery near Ryazan, adding pressure to Russia’s fuel supply chain. EU Battery Push: The European Commission launches a €1.5bn call for European battery manufacturing projects. Manufacturing Tech & AI: PwC finds 59% of Indian industrial manufacturers expect AI to play a significant role in the next five years, with automation and analytics leading adoption. Policy & Regulation Watch: The EU shifts machinery safety responsibilities toward operators under a new Machinery Regulation. Trade Tensions: Germany is reportedly mapping Chinese trade vulnerabilities as EU-China tensions rise.