Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election

Andy Burnham has won a special election to the British parliament, clearing a path for him to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the party leadership. Burnham, Labour’s former Greater Manchester mayor, defeated the Reform U.K. party by more than 9,000 votes, taking nearly 55% of the vote, in the election in Makerfield, in north-west…

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Oil drifts lower as Strait of Hormuz reopens, focus shifts to demand outlook

Oil was in choppy trade on Friday, as markets assess the implications of the interim U.S.-Iran deal and signs that shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz is recovering. International benchmark Brent crude futures for August fell 0.45% to $79.49 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for July declined 0.31% to $76.36 per barrel. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Vice…

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shipping resumes as fragile peace takes hold

The first signs of a post-war recovery are emerging across the Middle East after the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum aimed at ending the conflict. Oil tankers are once again transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and daily routines are returning to the streets of Tehran. Here are some images related to the deal: Strait…

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Japan core inflation holds steady in May, matching expectations despite energy price concerns

An employee at the Celsior Wadamachi supermarket in Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Soaring food costs are a key component driving broader inflation higher, with data Friday expected to show consumer price growth has stayed above the central bank’s 2% target for four straight calendar years. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Japan’s core inflation…

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