Andrew Ffrench

King Charles officially opened the UK Space and Defence Gateway at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, recognising the growing economic importance of the UK space sector. Officials highlighted the hub’s role in boosting collaboration across government, industry, and academia, while RAL Space and other cluster organisations emphasised ongoing contributions to technological innovation, satellite development, and environmental research.

A new traditional butcher’s shop, Brown’s Traditional Butchers, opened on Bath Street in Abingdon and drew long queues of customers. Owners Martin and Louise thanked the community for its strong support, describing the launch as the realization of a long‑held dream and acknowledging the hard work involved. They expressed appreciation for customers’ patience during the busy opening weekend and emphasized their commitment to serving the community for years to come.

King Charles officially opened the UK Space and Defence Gateway at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, a major space and defence hub intended to foster collaboration between government, academia and industry. The initiative aims to accelerate innovation, investment and business growth within the UK space economy. Notable attendees included astronaut Tim Peake and space minister Liz Lloyd, who emphasised the site's economic importance. Speakers highlighted Harwell’s status as Europe’s largest space cluster and RAL Space’s longstanding role in global space projects. The King also visited Oxford’s Schwarzman Centre and Oriel College earlier in the day.

A community campaign to buy and reopen The Rose & Thistle pub in Haddenham has raised over £84,000 toward a £750,000 goal, with organisers urging further donations to reach a decisive tipping point. A public meeting drew about 70 attendees, and supporters are encouraged to join the effort, host events, or invite campaign speakers. Singer Tony Hadley has endorsed the initiative, citing the importance of preserving village pubs. The pub, closed since 2019, is at risk of being sold for residential conversion if funds are not raised in time.

Marks & Spencer plans major investments in refrigeration and store equipment after heatwaves caused fridge failures during high temperatures reaching 37.7C, with the company preparing for possible future peaks of 45C. Climate projections from the Met Office highlight an increasing likelihood of extreme heat. ShareAction and institutional investors pressed the retailer to restore pay levels to the real living wage after recent increases left staff earnings below the voluntary benchmark. M&S cited cost pressures including higher national insurance and packaging taxes, while its chairman suggested alignment with the real living wage may return next year. The company also announced the opening of its largest standalone food store in Godalming on July 16.

The BBC has renewed the crime comedy series Ludwig for a third season ahead of the release of its second. Starring David Mitchell, the show continues the story of puzzle designer John Taylor as he investigates his missing twin while working with police as a consultant. Producers and BBC executives praised the series’ strong audience response and creative direction, with the next season expected to air after the second debuts in August.