North Sea Gas Investment: Equinor and partners are putting about $412m into Project TWIN at the Troll Field to boost North Sea gas output, targeting around 11 Bcm and first production as early as 2028, with electricity-powered offshore assets aimed at lower emissions. UK Energy Politics: North Sea industry groups are urging expected Labour leader Andy Burnham to “rethink” opposition to new oil and gas licences, warning a critical moment for jobs and investment as Labour’s stance could reshape the UK’s energy strategy. Heatwave Climate Shock: Europe’s record-breaking “heat dome” has been confirmed as virtually impossible without human-caused climate change, with scientists linking the event to far higher odds of extreme nighttime temperatures; Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic set new highs while France’s health system and funeral services are overwhelmed. Grid & Storage Push: Google and Energy Dome back a long-duration CO2 battery project in Ireland (Offaly), aiming to support grid stability when renewables dip. Power Infrastructure vs Nature: French plans for a 65km, 400kV line through the Camargue reserve face a fresh challenge from environmental groups, warning of harm to flamingo nesting and migration routes. Energy Security & Markets: Oil prices slid sharply as Hormuz traffic eased, while BNP Paribas cautioned lower crude may take months to feed through to inflation. EU External Links: Kazakhstan and the EU signed about €10bn in deals in Brussels, including rare-earth supply ambitions, as the bloc seeks strategic resources. EU Services Demand: Eurostat data shows electricity and gas still dominate EU services energy use, with renewables at 8.7% in 2024.