Middle East Tensions: A cargo vessel off Yemen’s coast exchanged fire with an armed craft; UKMTO said the small boat turned away, as Iran-US diplomacy stays strained and the Red Sea remains volatile. UK Politics: A fresh wave of unrest around Labour leadership and Reform’s rise keeps the spotlight on the Makerfield byelection and the Henry Nowak case, with unverified prison rumours adding fuel. Markets & Retail: The FTSE hovered near three-week lows as investors weighed the Iran war’s travel hit; WH Smith shares plunged after a second profit forecast cut and an equity raise. Competition Watch: The CMA confirmed it will investigate the Paramount-Warner Bros merger, with a phase 1 decision due by early August. Defence & Jobs: Defence Secretary John Healey promised more UK-based defence contracting via national security exemptions, while pressure grows over defence spending and possible tax rises. Energy & Cost of Living: A proposal to delink gas and electricity pricing could save households about £185 a year, as energy bill support concerns continue. Social Care Tech: Person Centred Software bought Camascope to reduce medication errors by linking medication data to wider care records. Crime & Safety: Debate over knife violence flared again after high-profile London and Belfast attacks. Immigration & Exploitation: The BBC reported hundreds of UK-bound migrants kidnapped in Libya and threatened with forced organ removal.