Consumer Tech & Retail: Michaels CEO David Boone says Canadians are shifting from screen time to “analog crafts,” with analog craft searches up 150% and back-to-school personalization driving demand. Home Insurance Meets Retail: Ikea is partnering with insurtech Urban Jungle to bring digital-first home insurance claims closer to the store experience in the UK. Mobile & Payments: Dealer Cash selected PSQ Payments to handle complex auto-dealership consumer collections via mobile and agent-assisted web payments. Customer Rights: India’s Rohtak consumer commission ordered Apple India to refund Rs 45,500 over an iPhone 15 defect dispute, plus compensation and costs. China Consumer Slowdown: China’s July retail sales and industrial output missed forecasts, with weaker investment adding pressure on the post-pandemic recovery. Food & Health Trends: A study highlights rising gluten-free demand in Africa, pushing bakeries to turn cassava, millet, sorghum and teff into premium products. Illegal Fishing Watch: A Philippines Supreme Court fight over vessel tracking is backed by fisheries transparency groups, warning it could weaken enforcement and seafood export access. Crypto & Consumer Finance: TRON’s flagship tokens entered a deflationary era after buyback-and-burn moves, aiming to convert protocol revenue into token-holder value. Infrastructure & Connectivity: Vietnam is accelerating 6G prep, cutting the learning curve from 8+ years for 4G to about 2 years for 5G. Energy & Logistics: Algeria’s Sonatrach began Jet A1 supply to Niger, building a new Sahel fuel corridor. Cyber/Service Disruption: AT&T customers in Reseda reported outages after vandalized fiber lines, with service later restored.