British Isles
Birmingham City Council signs off 'devastating' cuts
Birmingham City Council, Europe's largest local authority, has approved significant service cuts to address a financial crisis, including a 21% increase in council tax over two years. The council, facing bankruptcy, must save…
Understanding why our young people have such poor mental health
A recent study by the Resolution Foundation revealed that 34% of UK youths aged 18-24 exhibit symptoms of mental disorders, the highest rate among all age groups. This marks a significant shift from…
NHS England leaders welcome £6bn budget boost but say much more is needed
NHS England leaders have responded positively to the £6bn budget increase from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aimed at addressing rising demands, tackling the care backlog, and upgrading outdated IT systems. The budget for 2024/25…
German ambassador refuses to apologise for leaked call 'revealing British troops in Ukraine'
Germany's ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, has declined to apologise for a leaked call that inadvertently exposed details about British troops in Ukraine. The leak, attributed to Russia, revealed a conversation between…
Street preacher wins settlement from police
Avon and Somerset police have confessed they acted ‘disproportionately’ when stopping pastor Dia Moodley from criticising other religions while street preaching. The notice was issued in 2021, to prevent him from ‘passing comments…
Cathedral’s 900 years of ministry recognised
A motion has been introduced in the Scottish parliament to formally recognise St Giles' Cathedral, a landmark in Edinburgh with a history spanning 900 years. MSP Miles Briggs commended the cathedral for its…
Justin Welby: ‘God is greater than our fears’
The Archbishop of Canterbury, in his presidential address at General Synod, illuminated the enduring message of faith and resilience amidst global turmoil. He highlighted the pivotal role of faith in navigating through adversity,…
Jess Philips: ‘I am weary’
For nine years in succession, Labour MP Jess Phillips has read a list of women killed by men in the past twelve months, criticising the lack of attention given to women's safety in…
Met examining MP’s comments for hate speech
The Metropolitan Police is ‘assessing’ a report of hate speech made against MP Lee Anderson after comments which he made on 23 February. The force said it had received the report after the…
New guidelines to stop pupils joining protests during school hours
The Department for Education has issued new guidelines prohibiting children from attending protests during school hours, following accusations that teachers allowed pupils to skip lessons for pro-Palestine rallies. Thousands of students participated in…
