Border & Home Affairs: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says she’s “laser-like focused” on securing the UK border, pointing to removals up 41% since Labour took power and promising further reforms to tackle Channel crossings. Health: NHS is calling people born before 1961 forward for shingles jabs after a rule change, with two doses spaced 6–12 months apart. Public Safety & Weather: Met Office forecasts 31C and a 48-hour amber health alert for parts of England, warning of increased risk for people aged 65+ and those with conditions. Crime & Justice: Andy Burnham is considering exempting child sex offenders and other serious sexual abusers from an early release scheme amid prison overcrowding pressures. Transport Disruption: A lorry hit a bridge affecting Birmingham’s Snow Hill line, while a separate wildfire near rail tracks halted services to London Liverpool Street and caused M25 smoke chaos. Local Emergencies: Wildfires in Birmingham (Perry Hall Playing Fields, Barr Beacon, Hay Mills) have triggered road closures and public “stay away” warnings. Energy Bills: DWP urges eligible households to check their energy bill names for Warm Home Discount savings, as VAT on domestic electricity bills is set to be removed from October. Business & Tech: London AI firm ATAVUS says it has launched a 10GW+ renewable energy pipeline within four months. Culture: Justin Hardy, director of The Wicker Man trilogy’s final film Wrath of the Gods, has died aged 61 ahead of its August premiere.