Channel tragedy: Two men died trying to cross the English Channel into the UK, while two women were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening burns after a gasoline-and-seawater reaction, as prosecutors investigate and the year’s death toll at the border reaches at least 24. Border tech: “Contactless borders” using facial recognition is set to roll out at Birmingham and East Midlands first, with wider airport coverage planned, aiming to cut queuing and speed up processing. Cost of living & pensions: The government says it has no plans to reduce the NHS pension age for ambulance workers despite calls to drop it to 60, and the Warm Home Discount returns for winter 2026/27 with £150 support for eligible households. Economy/jobs: UK services growth continues but job losses have now run for two years, with S&P Global reporting slower workforce decline alongside rising input costs. Security & defence: The US has withdrawn all B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford after a suspected terror threat, following arrests linked to the incident. Food & shopping: Which? names Aldi the cheapest supermarket for a basket of 93 items, while Lidl confirms a £600m expansion with 50+ new stores and about 2,000 jobs. Politics & culture: The Green Party’s motion equating Zionism with racism draws sharp condemnation from the UK’s chief rabbi and Israel.