Arctic Shipping Push: South Korea’s PanStar Acro has set off on the first commercial Northern Sea Route container voyage to Europe, calling at Felixstowe, Rotterdam and Gdansk, aiming to cut distance versus Suez and test viability amid Middle East disruption. Middle East Pressure on Trade Lanes: Trump says Iran isn’t ready for the “right deal” as US economic pressure tightens, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains far below pre-war levels. Road Safety Tragedy: Seven people died in northeast England after a wrong-way car hit a marked police vehicle on the A66 near Middlesbrough; two officers were among the dead. Driving Test Bottleneck: A reported 21-week average wait for driving tests is keeping young people out of work, with calls to expand delegated examiner schemes so accredited employers can test staff. Infrastructure Milestone (Wales): Conwy’s new Sappers Bridge deck has been installed, set to become the first true suspension bridge built in the UK for almost a century. Local Disruption (Rail): Merseyrail services were disrupted after a person was hit by a train near Freshfield station. Public Health & Enforcement (Scotland): Glasgow Trading Standards seized 1.4m illicit cigarettes and vapes over five years. Safety Warning (Rail): Leicestershire Police warned after children were filmed climbing the Quorn railway bridge, described as the most alarming incident seen.