Retail & Consumer Tech: SoftMaker is rolling out SoftMaker Office Professional 2026 as a true one-time purchase for Windows, Mac and Linux, aiming squarely at buyers who want Microsoft-format compatibility without subscriptions. Media & Streaming: RTL’s consolidation push continues after folding Sky Deutschland into RTL+; the combined platform now has 12.4m paid subscriptions, underscoring how European broadcasters chase scale as ad budgets shift online. Auto Demand in China: Mercedes’ slide mirrors wider pressure on German carmakers in China, where local rivals and Chinese brands are taking share. Food & Brands: Lotus Bakeries is pouring at least €500m into Biscoff production across Belgium, the US and Thailand through 2030, betting on social-media recipes and cross-category growth. Supply Chain Shock (Germany): The Rhine is hitting record-low navigability near Kaub, with some sailings effectively stopping and barges running far below capacity—raising logistics costs and forcing freight onto road and rail. Health & Science (Germany): German researchers link farm-exposure microbes to lower asthma risk in children, adding weight to the “hygiene hypothesis” with farm-barn and nasal-sample findings. Biotech (Germany-linked): Boehringer Ingelheim expands its equine health pipeline by acquiring Swiss Evax AG, targeting therapeutic vaccines for allergic skin diseases in horses. Consumer Policy (France): France’s new opt-in ban on unsolicited telemarketing calls starts today, with tougher rules meant to curb intrusive sales pitches.