Defence Tech: A “flying laboratory” Boeing 757 (Excalibur) was spotted over Dorset, used to trial radar, sensors and comms for the UK’s next-gen GCAP fighter programme. GovTech & Local Services: Arcus Global says demand is rising as UK councils consolidate legacy systems onto cloud platforms, citing 26% recurring revenue growth since 2022 and 88% customer recommendation scores. AI & Work: LinkedIn UK’s boss pushes back on “AI is killing jobs” claims, saying the hiring slump is more tied to the wider economy than automation. Fintech Expansion: Epos Now secured up to £90m from HSBC UK to expand across North America and Europe, boosting its AI-powered business software. EV Charging: BYD plans 300 ultra-fast “five-minute” flash chargers in the UK by year-end, scaling to 600 by 2027. Energy Storage: EQONIC won a place in the UK’s £452m Battery Innovation Programme to accelerate digital-twin-driven battery manufacturing. Regional Tech Growth: West Yorkshire launches Tech West Yorkshire to connect 9,700 digital/tech/AI firms and build a stronger regional ecosystem. Public Safety & Disorder: A Sudanese man appeared in court in Belfast charged over a knife attack that sparked violent anti-immigration riots. Amazon Jobs: Amazon confirmed £1bn+ investment in Northamptonshire, including a £500m Northampton fulfilment centre and a second £500m Kettering site, creating 4,000 jobs.