Nuclear & Energy Security: Hungary’s Paks nuclear plant narrowly avoided a full shutdown as the Danube hit record lows during the heatwave; PM Péter Magyar said the last turbine was “a few millimetres” from stopping before water levels rose slightly, while officials pushed energy-saving measures to keep the grid stable. Regional Water Crisis: The Danube drought is also forcing emergency steps abroad, including Romania blasting rock to divert cooling water to Cernavodă, as Europe’s shrinking rivers cut power output and disrupt shipping. Grid Strain in Practice: Hungary moved to voluntary and targeted demand cuts, with businesses adjusting operations and transport services slowed to ease electricity pressure. EU Climate Policy Debate: A Hungarian clean-air group argues against EU plans to weaken emissions trading, saying carbon pricing can support growth when revenues are recycled. Real-Economy Investment: Appeninn, a Hungary-based investor, bought a €100m+ retail portfolio in Poland from Dekada, adding 11 properties and €10m+ annual gross rental income. Business & Tech: Vodafone’s network strategy highlights ongoing vendor geopolitics, with Samsung’s role in Europe’s RAN market under scrutiny. Retail/Property: The Appeninn-Dekada deal underscores cross-border expansion despite broader economic stress from drought and energy constraints.