Public research university, formed by merger in 2004, based in Manchester, England.
GSK has announced a three-year plan to cut costs by £1.9bn and relocate its Cambridge R&D hub, housing 1,000+ scientists, with Stevenage to close by 2029. Some staff will move to Ware, which will be upgraded, while overall spend on R&D will be redirected to late-stage trials and new drugs.
Labour has elected Andy Burnham as party leader, linking his regional track record to a bid for prime minister. He has vowed to devolve power from London to the regions, including moving parts of the PM’s office to Manchester, and to pursue a major housing program and public control of essential services. Challenges include a sluggish economy and high living costs, with Reform UK and the Green party vying for influence.
UKRI has announced it will stop funding the Lovell telescope and the e-Merlin network after March 2028, prompting concern among scientists about Britain’s radio astronomy capabilities. The Jodrell Bank site faces potential closure if alternative funds aren’t found, though its engagement center remains open.
Across Greater Manchester, voters head to the polls in the region’s landmark byelection. Labour seeks a straightforward win to consolidate a new national leadership, while Reform UK and the Greens contest crucial seats. The outcome will shape Labour’s early dominance and test its regional strength.
Researchers reveal a vast whale graveyard in the southeastern Indian Ocean, extending to depths of 7,000 metres and spanning hundreds of kilometres. The site hosts hundreds of fossil skeletons and five modern whale falls, highlighting a thriving deep-sea ecosystem that feeds on whale carcasses. The findings, published in Nature, deepen understanding of deep-sea life and whale evolution.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has begun the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, a 10-year program that will image the southern sky every few nights. The telescope has started regular operations from its Chilean mountaintop site and is already returning new detections, including thousands of asteroids and transient views such as Comet 3I/ATLAS.
A global humanitarian picture shows funding shortfalls and ongoing emergencies across Mozambique and Somalia. OCHA and NGO reports highlight displacement, disease, food insecurity and the need for sustained aid amidst conflict and climate shocks. New funding gaps risk undermining relief efforts and recovery.
A wave of data from the Home Office and football bodies shows rising incidents at matches, with officials arguing current policing funding—with taxpayers shouldering about £70m annually—cannot continue. The debate centers on safety, policing costs, and the future role of clubs in funding security outside stadiums.