The Sensemaker

Peter Mandelson has made things go from bad to worse for Keir Starmer

It was only 14 months ago that Labour was celebrating a landslide majority

Have we reached peak veganism? The future feels flexitarian

High prices and ultra-processed food fears are turning Britons off plant-based ‘meat’. But perhaps we have come to prefer a more flexible diet

Israel’s strike on Qatar dispels any belief that it is focused on peace

Netanyahu wanted to kill Hamas leadership. Cratering the ceasefire process may be enough for him

Joseph Kony is being tried in the ICC – without him

The court’s first in-absentia hearing could set a precedent for how to pursue cases against Netanyahu and Putin

Nepal faces a dangerous power vacuum

The prime minister has resigned in the middle of escalating protests

Venezuela has become Donald Trump’s convenient enemy

But it’s unclear how far the president is willing to go

Google: from a search to an answer engine

A recent court ruling helps it continue on this journey

Cracker Barrel: The latest in a long line of botched rebrands

Despite the risk of a costly stumble, there’s a reason brands still risk it all

Mounjaro price hikes will make obesity even more unfair

They may also drive lower-income groups to the black market

Not everyone has rushed to help Afghanistan

A muted international response leaves rescuers with a difficult task

England’s top flight holds all the riches

Premier League teams have spent nearly £3 billion on players this summer. Other countries can’t keep up

Nvidia is a victim of an AI cold war between Beijing and Washington

The US is reluctant to help China climb the technology ladder

France is heading towards political limbo again

An audacious decision by the prime minister means trouble in the Élysée

Swamp life takes hold in Windermere

Other countries can keep their lakes clean. Why can’t Britain?

Junta calls for elections in a country it barely controls

There is little expectation that December’s vote will be free or fair

No news is bad news when it comes to local journalism

Fleet Street’s dedicated paper has gone out of business

Spanish blazes foretell a fiery future

Resilience and public awareness can mitigate against raging wildfires. But climate change is the elephant in the room

The Epping injunction is a gift to Labour’s opponents

An asylum hotel ban may not be replicated elsewhere. It’s still bad news