Around 50 Labour MPs have signed a letter objecting to the decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in a forthcoming parliamentary by-election, BBC News understands. They have written to Sir Keir Starmer to warn the decision is a “real gift” to Reform UK, as polling suggests Burnham may be Labour’s “very best chance at winning” the ...

Airlines are paying out millions of pounds in compensation to passengers every year after initially saying no, as consumer groups accuse firms of trying to put customers off making claims for severe delays or cancellations. Almost £11m was paid in the year to October 2025 to passengers whose claims were rejected or left unresolved before being escalated to an independent ...

An outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India’s West Bengal state has sparked concern in parts of Asia, with some tightening screening measures at airports. Thailand has started screening passengers at three airports that receive flights from West Bengal. Nepal has also begun screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport and other land border points with India. Five healthcare workers in ...

London’s night tsar role, which was held by radio DJ and broadcaster Amy Lamé until 2024, will be retired in favour of a commission appointed by London mayor Sadiq Khan. This move is one of a series of recommendations outlined by London’s Nightlife Taskforce, which is made up of key hospitality figures including nightclub Fabric operator Cameron Leslie, UKHospitality chair ...

A colander may not be the first thing that springs to mind when kitting your kitchen, but make no mistake — it is an essential. It was one of the first items I bought when I moved into my home, and I reach for mine every day, whether I’m straining pasta, washing strawberries, or draining tins of legumes. Aside from ...

A former FIFA president suggested that international soccer fans should not travel to the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing safety concerns tied to President Donald Trump’s policies that critics call “authoritarian.” Sepp Blatter made the comment in a social media post on Monday, Jan. 26. The 89-year-old led FIFA for 17 years before resigning amid a corruption ...

European Council President Antonio Costa, center left and European Commission President greet officials at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday that India and the European Union have reached a free trade agreement to deepen their economic and strategic ties. The accord, which touches a whopping 2 billion people, was concluded after nearly two ...

Jayiya Nagorik Party (NCP) leader and parliamentary candidate in Dhaka-8 constituency Nasiruddin Patwari demanded the expulsion of his rival, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, following an alleged physical assault at a local cultural event. Speaking at an emergency press conference in Fakirapool, Patwari appealed directly to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman to take disciplinary action against Abbas, ...

The interim government has not taken any decision to implement the proposed new pay scale, said Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan on Tuesday. While responding reporters, the adviser said, ”The government has only received the Pay Commission’s report and has not taken any decision to enforce it.”

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has accused the Conservatives of “betrayal” as she became the latest MP from the party to defect to Reform UK. She is the third sitting Tory MP to join Nigel Farage’s party in the last eleven days, and takes Reform’s tally of MPs to eight. At a press conference following her defection, Braverman said she ...