Journalist Anis Alamgir was released from Kashimpur Central Jail-2 in Gazipur on Saturday after securing bail in two separate cases. Senior Jail Superintendent Al Mamun said the approval for Alamgir’s release reached the jail around midnight on Friday. He was freed after authorities verified the necessary documents. On Wednesday, a Dhaka court granted bail to Alamgir in two cases filed ...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is to offer a package of support to households struggling with higher heating oil costs following the global impact of the US-Israel war in Iran. In an interview with the Times, Reeves said she has “found the money” to help, adding the Treasury is also looking at “different options” to help those most vulnerable to soaring energy ...

The prime minister’s independent ethics adviser has said he will not investigate Sir Keir Starmer over his appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US. Sir Laurie Magnus said documents released in relation to his appointment indicated “the relevant process for a political appointee was followed”. The Conservatives had asked him to investigate after the government published a series ...

The end is nigh for hereditary peers, whose inherited right to sit in the House of Lords is set to be stripped from them after the passage of a new law this week. The 92 remaining hereditary seats will be scrapped when the current session of Parliament ends, which is expected to be in May. But, for some, the end ...

A former Labour MP and minister had died aged 66 after suffering from brain cancer for years, his family have said. Phil Woolas, who served in both the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown governments and as MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth between 1997 and 2010, died on Saturday morning. The Scunthorpe-born politician held several ministerial roles including for local ...

A north-west London borough has the highest rate of active tuberculosis (TB) in the capital, according to new data. The National TB Surveillance System said 44 in every 100,000 residents had active TB in Harrow, and cases “still seem to be rising”, the council said. Laurence Gibson, Harrow’s director of public health, said the current cohort of residents with TB ...

Hammersmith and Fulham’s first two Green Party councillors have only attended one meeting each since defecting from Labour last summer despite claiming they would offer residents “real representation”. Councillor Trey Campbell-Simon and Councillor Liz Collins have just held onto their seats with council rules stipulating any member who misses all meetings over a six month period is removed. As such ...

The rush for Eid shopping is underway and I’ve been unable to resist joining the crowds looking for a new outfit. It is safe to say I may have got carried away. Eid-ul-Fitr, the celebratory festival marking the end of Ramadan, is due to take place on Thursday, March 19 or Friday, March 20 depending on when the new crescent ...

A major London road drenched in history has been named one of the most memorable streets in the world. The Strand is a ‘truly special’ stretch that should be walked at least once in this lifetime, according to the Telegraph. The Westminster thoroughfare is rubbing shoulders with pretty spots such as Philosopher’s Path, a cherry-tree-lined walk in Kyoto, and Rio’s ...

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman left Dhaka on Saturday morning for the United States to attend a series of engagements in support of Bangladesh’s campaign for the Presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). On his way to New York, the foreign minister will make a brief stopover in Türkiye, where he is scheduled to ...