Wildfires in Wales: Crews are battling a major blaze in Blaenavon, covering about 80 hectares, with smoke reported as far as Cardiff and Caerphilly. Cost of living and VAT: Andy Burnham’s VAT cut on electricity bills from October will not apply in Northern Ireland until EU rules are sorted, with Stormont expected to get equivalent funding instead. Court case in Essex: An Essex teen accused of sending racist Instagram messages to England footballer Jess Carter is due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court in August. Charity closures in Scotland: The British Heart Foundation will shut four shops in Scotland as part of 87 UK closures by March 2027. Northern Ireland jobs outlook: Ulster University forecasts Northern Ireland will top one million workforce jobs by 2032, driven by private services and construction momentum. Roads watchdog survey: Transport Focus ranks the M56 among England’s best motorways for driver satisfaction, while the M27 is named the worst. Sports: England’s World Cup third-place run continues to draw global praise, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino congratulating the Three Lions. Politics: Andy Burnham’s first call with Scotland’s John Swinney reportedly shut down hopes for an independence referendum, with “agree to disagree” the message.