London’s deputy mayor for policing and crime has defended her decision to block a proposed contract between the Metropolitan Police and US technology firm Palantir, despite warnings the move could lead to cuts to frontline policing. Kaya Comer-Schwartz was questioned by the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee over her refusal to approve the deal, which the Met says is ...

Downing Street is to make a full apology on behalf of the state to those affected by historical forced adoption in England, the education secretary has confirmed. Bridget Phillipson, giving evidence to MPs on the education select committee on Wednesday, described it as a “shameful period” in UK history. She said the prime minister would have more to say, but ...

The UK and the European Union should not waste time “looking backwards” to Brexit, Keir Starmer said on Wednesday, as he comes under pressure to reconsider rejoining the EU. The prime minister reaffirmed his government’s manifesto commitment to not re-enter the bloc, but said there had been “real progress” with the relationship, which was “slowly but surely building”. Starmer’s potential ...

The leader of one of the country’s biggest teaching unions has said Andy Burnham is Labour’s best chance for beating Reform in a general election. The general secretary of NASUWT, Matt Wrack, was speaking to the Guardian in the run-up to Thursday’s Makerfield byelection, in which the Greater Manchester mayor hopes to return to parliament and pave the way for ...

Both of these sausage-based delights are great for a gathering, can be prepared in advance and go really, really well with ice-cold beers. God bless the sausage. Whether your team is winning, losing, embarrassing or delighting, everyone will consider you the Cristiano Ronaldo of half-time snacks if you bang either of these out. The prawn and sausage toasts can be ...

Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi on Wednesday expressed his government’s desire to further elevate bilateral ties by strengthening people-people engagement and increasing trade. In a courtesy meeting with Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, the Iranian envoy also reiterated Tehran’s wish to expand mutual cooperation in various areas including education, culture and the development of Bangladesh. The ...

Studying abroad in 2026 is no longer just about choosing a country, it is about choosing the right future. For Bangladeshi students, changing visa rules, rising costs, and endless advice can make the process overwhelming. Below, we break down everything that matters, from budget and university choices to visas, scholarships, and deadlines, to help make the decision easier. Below, we ...

Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said on Wednesday that women’s participation in the Jatiya Sangsad as well as across different sectors of the country has increased significantly compared to the past. He made the remarks when a delegation of UN Women Bangladesh, led by its Representative Gitanjali Singh, made a courtesy call on him at his office ...

Britain’s competition watchdog introduced new rules Wednesday requiring Google to be more fair and transparent in how it ranks search results, as part of moves tackling the technology giant’s dominance. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) designated Google with “strategic market status” last year, subjecting it to special requirements under new targeted measures focused on technology giants. Under new requirements ...

Bangladesh-based education and study-abroad platform Banglay IELTS has earned two international accolades, winning the titles of “Best Newcomer Bangladesh 2026” and “Best Newcomer South Asia 2026”. According to the organisation, the awards recognise its efforts to make IELTS preparation more accessible and effective through Bangla-language learning support. Founded as an online initiative, Banglay IELTS has steadily expanded its presence across ...