Border Tech & Travel: Contactless facial recognition is rolling out at UK e-gates so returning Britons won’t need to scan passports at airports like Birmingham and East Midlands, with wider rollout planned. Public Safety: North Wales is in shock after 6-year-old Harrison Glynne Jones died after being hit by a van; in Blackpool, armed police found a dead dog during an assault investigation. Politics & Defence: Wes Streeting backed higher UK defence spending, echoing US/Nato pressure. Energy Costs: Andy Burnham blamed decades of privatisation and underinvestment for high bills, while the diesel price surge keeps fuel worries in focus. Football & Finance: The UAE warned it could halt billions of UK investment after Manchester City’s guilty verdict over “sham” sponsorship deals. Culture & Community: Brighton hosts “Coast is Queer” LGBTQ+ literature festival; Inverness stages a mental health arts exhibition; and Houghton Feast returns with parade and road race. Royal & Media Buzz: Prince Harry and Meghan were pictured holding hands on a Cotswolds pub outing, while Strictly viewers and presenters face fresh backlash. Tech & Space: NASA says 34,054 objects are tracked in Earth’s low orbit.