Transport Disruption: The Welsh Government has admitted failures on the Ebbw Vale to Newport rail line after weeks of cancellations and reduced services, saying it has revised plans from late July and is using older “legacy” trains to boost reliability while fleet issues are addressed. Cricket—England vs Pakistan: England named a 16-man squad for the first two Tests at Headingley starting August 19, with Joe Root as permanent captain, Jordan Cox promoted to bat at No. 3, and Dan Lawrence recalled after a strong County Championship season. Water Quality Crisis: New Environment Agency figures show only 14.3% of England’s surface waters meet “good ecological status”, while every surface water body fails chemical standards, with persistent pollutants blamed. Mental Health Overhaul: England is expanding mental health support with 100 new walk-in community centres and 59 dedicated emergency departments, backed by £343m, aiming to catch problems earlier. Health Warning (Wales): Public Health Wales reports 10 cyclosporiasis cases linked to Welsh travellers returning from Mexico, advising extra caution as the infection can cause explosive diarrhoea. Retail Crime (Scotland): Scotland’s retail crime taskforce chief met independent retailers after reports of rising theft and racist abuse targeting shopworkers. Business (NI/Ireland): Tesco Ireland and Northern Ireland has appointed Andrew Yaxley as CEO, swapping roles with Booker’s Geoff Byrne. Sports/Entertainment: A Grim Reaper-costumed man was arrested after a hospital roof stunt in North Wales; and Aldi is piloting “smart” milk bottle tags to track recycling journeys.