Back-to-school retail tech: Google is rolling out AI Mode, virtual try-on and smarter price tracking to help students shop with more conversational searches. Shipping & competition: Amazon is expanding shipping access via Amazon Supply Chain Services, putting pressure on FedEx and UPS as more businesses can use Amazon logistics. Middle East supply shock: UAE supermarkets are bracing for Iran-war-driven shipping disruptions and higher freight costs, with some items seeing temporary gaps while retailers absorb part of the inflation. Monetary policy watch: The ECB is signaling it may pause another rate hike while keeping September options open as Strait of Hormuz uncertainty feeds back into euro-zone inflation. EU sustainability rules: New EU rules bar large firms from destroying unsold clothing and shoes, pushing resale or donation instead. Retail security controversy: A facial-recognition system is being used at a discount grocery store to flag alleged shoplifting, raising privacy concerns about how retail security is deployed. India retail expansion: Reliance Retail plans to rapidly scale JioMart, dark stores and omni-channel platforms to improve availability and unit economics. Retail investing risk: Korean retail investors face amplified volatility from leveraged ETFs tied to semiconductors. Charity retail shake-up: The British Heart Foundation confirms 87 charity shop closures by March 2027 as costs and shopping habits change.