A Middle East shock reaches the eurozone through the price of oil
Higher crude prices are doing what diplomacy hasn't — dragging Europe's currency and economy into a conflict its leaders are trying to…
1 d ago · 2 min read
Politics
Burnham's by-election win turns a slow Labour drama into a live leadership question
The Greater Manchester mayor is back in the Commons after the Makerfield by-election — and the maths of a Starmer challenge suddenly matters.
✦ Catch me up — 60-second brief
- Burnham won the Makerfield by-election, triggered when Josh Simons stood down.
- A Labour leadership challenge needs the backing of a fifth of the party's Commons MPs — 81.
- Starmer has suggested Burnham may not actually take a seat until 2028.
Asia walks into 2026 as the world's growth engine — and its biggest trade-risk
India and Vietnam are still posting growth above 6%, capital is chasing chips and AI, and the thing most likely to spoil…
1 d ago · 2 min readAI's centre of gravity shifts from the chat box to the to-do list
The newest models are faster and sharper, but the real change in 2026 is what they're being pointed at: finishing tasks, not…
1 d ago · 2 min readA nanoscale trick keeps a superconductor working where it usually quits
By sculpting the surface beneath an ultrathin film, researchers in Sweden pushed it to stay superconducting at higher temperatures and stronger magnetic…
1 d ago · 2 min readA very large study ties common food preservatives to heart risk
Across more than 112,000 people, regularly eating foods with certain common preservatives tracked with higher rates of high blood pressure and heart…
1 d ago · 2 min readAustralia and India set the pace as the Women's T20 World Cup heats up in England
Twelve teams, seven venues and a familiar pair already pulling clear: the holders and India are making the group stage look like…
1 d ago · 2 min readA galaxy-sized opening shows the box office still belongs to the familiar
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie powered 2026's biggest debut, and the year's other winners share its DNA: known worlds, pre-sold audiences.
1 d ago · 2 min readMobile is now a $240 billion pillar of Africa's economy — and the operators want more
Phones already carry 7.8% of the continent's GDP. The next phase is less about coverage and more about turning networks into platforms.
2 d ago · 2 min readAustralia and New Zealand tighten the trans-Tasman bond — as the airlines fray it
Albanese and Luxon signed up to a closer defence future at Noosa. Days earlier, their travellers were stranded by the very link…
2 d ago · 2 min read