UK Manufacturing: S&P Global says the UK manufacturing PMI hit a four-year high in May, but firms warned the pickup may be short-lived as clients front-load orders amid price and supply-chain pressure. Markets & Geopolitics: London stocks opened lower as hopes for a US-Iran deal stayed uncertain, with analysts flagging potential economic stress if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Renewables M&A: Drax agreed to buy Bluefield Solar Income Fund in a roughly £561m deal, aiming to expand clean energy capacity and boost earnings visibility. Takeover Watch: easyJet confirmed US investor Castlelake is considering a bid, calling any timing “highly opportunistic” while stressing regulatory and execution challenges. SME & Finance: Fidelity Bank Nigeria will launch a quarterly business forum to support SME growth, starting in Port Harcourt on June 3. Cross-Border Payments: BIS and GLEIF showcased an LEI-based open finance prototype to streamline KYB/AML checks for SMEs onboarding across borders. Energy Investment: iNVERGY India inaugurated a Dasna BESS “giga factory” with 3 GWh annual capacity and INR 200 crore-plus investment. AI Governance Funding: Geordie AI raised $30m to help enterprises understand and govern AI agents. Trade Links: Dubai Chambers held talks in Addis Ababa to deepen Dubai-Ethiopia trade and investment ties.