Good morning. Tensions with Iran are escalating dramatically after a US F-15E fighter jet was shot down, leaving two crew members missing and prompting an urgent rescue operation. Tehran has offered rewards for capturing the airmen while Iranian media broadcasts images of the wreckage, but there's a potential diplomatic opening as former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has floated the first detailed peace proposal from a senior regime figure. Meanwhile, experts are disputing the US military's account of a deadly strike on an Iranian sports hall, adding another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation.
On the investment front, there's growing optimism among market watchers who are moving back into equities after staying cautious during Trump's early presidency, while AI investors might want to temper their chaos betting since history shows established companies often navigate tech revolutions better than expected. Closer to home, retail giant M&S is pushing for stronger action against staff abuse and crime following recent disorder, and there's tragic news from London where 14-year-old Eghosa Ogbebor was shot dead in Woolwich with three arrests made.