UK government borrowing was lower than expected in July, following a rise in tax and National Insurance receipts. Borrowing – the difference between public spending and tax income – was £1.1bn in July, which was £2.3bn less than the same month last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. It was the lowest July figure for three years, the ...

Labour has lost almost 200,000 members in the past five years, according to the party’s latest annual accounts. The party’s membership has been steadily falling since Sir Keir Starmer became leader in April 2020, from a peak of 532,046 at the end of 2019. Despite the party’s landslide election victory last summer, it shed another 37,215 members over the course ...

More than half of the council areas with asylum seeker hotels are fully or partly controlled by Labour, according to BBC analysis of figures released by the government. On Tuesday, Conservative-controlled Epping Forest District Council won a temporary injunction in the courts to stop 140 asylum seekers living at the Bell Hotel in Epping. The ruling could hinder the government’s ...

The Supreme Court’s Appellate Division has set September 4 to deliver the final judgement on a petition filed challenging a High Court (HC) order that acquitted all convicts, including BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, in the sensational August 21 grenade attack case. A six-member bench, led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, on Thursday fixed the date upon completion ...

One of the most valuable violins in the world, crafted three centuries ago and once owned by composer Niccolo Paganini, is to be played at a top UK classical music festival. The violin, known as the Carrodus, is one of only around 150 made by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu known to have survived down the centuries, and was acquired by ...

Israel has approved a highly controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank, advancing plans to build around 3,400 housing units in the sensitive E1 area east of Jerusalem. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the international community, which warns the move threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state. The E1 zone, covering approximately 12 square kilometres between ...

A committee formed to investigate the looting of stones from Bholaganj ‘Sada Pathor’ in Companiganj upazila ofSylhet district, has submitted a report. The body led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Padmasan Singha submitted the report to the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) on Wednesday. Officials declined to disclose the findings. The report was submitted shortly after removed DC Sher Mahbub ...

Asian stock markets retreated on Wednesday, following a decline on Wall Street led by technology giants like Nvidia, which have benefited from the recent surge in artificial intelligence enthusiasm. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.7% to 42,787.28 amid weakness in chip-related stocks. Exports from Japan fell slightly more than expected in July, pressured by higher U.S. tariffs. Key semiconductor equipment makers ...

Bangladesh got off to a winning start in the four-nation SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship beating host Bhutan by 3-1 goals held at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu on Wednesday. In the proceeding, Alpi Akter scored a brace while Sauravi Akanda Prity supported her with a lone goal to secure Bangladesh’s facile victory after leading the first half by 1-0 goal. Rinzin ...

Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman left Dhaka for China on Thursday morning on a four-day state visit. According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release, the Army Chief will hold courtesy meetings with senior civilian and military officials of China and exchange views aimed at strengthening bilateral military cooperation. General Waker is scheduled to return home on August 27.