Cookie Policy

A cookie is a small text file stored on your device by your browser when you visit a website. Cookies let a website recognise you across pages, remember preferences and measure how the site is being used. 'Similar technologies' include browser local storage, pixel tags and software development kits used by third-party services; where the effect is similar to that of a cookie, we treat it the same way in this Policy.

We group cookies into three categories: (a) strictly necessary cookies, which are required for the site to function — for example, session state, security and consent state; (b) analytics cookies, which help us understand aggregate usage of the Services; and (c) advertising cookies, which are set only where the Services display advertising or use affiliate networks that require them.

These cookies are essential to deliver the Services and cannot be turned off in our systems. They store items such as your consent choice, dark-mode preference and short-lived session identifiers used for security and abuse prevention. No personal information beyond what is required for that purpose is stored.

Where enabled, we use Google Analytics to understand how readers use the site so we can improve editorial coverage and site performance. Google Analytics processes information such as IP address (anonymised), pages viewed and referrer, and stores identifiers in cookies whose lifetimes are set by Google. The processing is governed by Google's privacy policy.

If and when the Services display third-party advertising or use affiliate networks that set cookies, those cookies help the provider serve, cap and measure adverts and attribute affiliate referrals. Advertising cookies are set only after you have consented, where consent is required.

Where applicable law requires prior consent for non-essential cookies, we ask for that consent on your first visit and provide clear controls to accept, reject or manage categories individually. You can change your choice at any time using the cookie controls linked from the site footer. If you have not been shown a consent banner, that is because the local requirements in your jurisdiction do not require one for the categories in use.

You can withdraw consent for non-essential cookies at any time. In addition to the on-site cookie controls, all mainstream browsers let you block, delete or restrict cookies. Blocking strictly necessary cookies will break parts of the Services. Cookie handling is browser-specific — you may need to repeat your preference on each device and browser you use.

Our Services do not respond to browser Do Not Track signals separately, because there is no consistent industry or legal standard for how a site should react. You retain full control through the cookie controls and your browser.

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the technologies we use or in applicable law. The current version and its effective date are shown at the top of this page.