Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK’s benefits system is broken and fixing it is a “moral imperative”, a day after a backbench Labour revolt saw him forced into a U-turn on welfare cuts. The prime minister told the Welsh Labour Party conference in Llandudno that the government would not take away the welfare “safety net that vulnerable people rely ...

Scandinavian interior style is not all about pared-back, minimalist living and functional, identikit furniture. Here’s why the century-old Svenskt Tenn idea of abundance, exuberance and “luxe cosiness” is still popular today. The stereotypical image of Swedish design is of pale wood, neutral, tasteful tones and pared-down, minimalist forms. The origins of this partly lie in Sweden’s espousal of functionalism (funkis ...

The government has confirmed major concessions to rebel Labour MPs over its planned changes to benefits. People currently receiving personal independence payment (Pip), or the health element of universal credit, will continue to do so. However, the planned cuts will still affect future claimants. What is Pip and how is it changing? Pip is paid to 3.7 million people who ...

Hundreds of bodies responsible for overseeing and running parts of the NHS in England will be scrapped, the government has said. The organisations to be abolished include Healthwatch England, which advocates on behalf of patients, and the National Guardian’s Office, which supports whistleblowers. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the current system was too complex and the NHS needed “more doers ...

“What an absolute bloody shambles!” When we tell you that this is the unvarnished view of a Labour MP now willing to back Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s benefits plans, you get a sense of how much anger this row has provoked and is still provoking. And there are still plenty who are not happy and still either pushing for further ...

Sarjis Alam, the Northern Regional Coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), stated that no conspiracy or propaganda can derail the nation as long as the spirit of the July uprising remains strong. He asserted that no fascist force can rise if the people stay united. He made the remarks while speaking at a mass rally organized by Islami Andolan ...

The NBR Reform Unity Council has announced that its complete shutdown of tax, customs and VAT offices will continue into Sunday, alongside plans for a fresh round of peaceful marches. The declaration came on Saturday through a statement issued after observing the first day of the shutdown. According to the statement, all offices under the National Board of Revenue will ...

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a month-long programme to the anniversary of the student-led uprising in July. The party’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, unveiled the program at a press conference held Saturday at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a month-long programme tocommemorate the anniversary of the student-led uprising in July. The party’s Secretary General, Mia ...

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s only Nobel Laureate and global pioneer of microfinance, turned 85 on Saturday. Born on June 28, 1940, at Bathua village under Hathazari upazila of Chattogram, Prof Yunus’s birthday has, for the past 15 years, been globally observed as Social Business Day. However, according to his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, there were no official celebrations ...

Anti-Discrimination Student Movement spokesperson Umama Fatema has left the organisation, aFacebook post of her confirmed the matter. She made the announcement in the Facebook post on Friday (June 27). “A central council of the organisation has been made on Wednesday. I just ended my formal journey with the anti-discrimination student movement,” the post said. She alleged widespread irregularities within the ...