Israel / Gaza: attack on hospital condemned, famine officially declared, Pope’s plea
A deadly double strike on a hospital in Gaza has drawn sharp international condemnation. At least twenty people were killed, including five journalists and four health workers, when two consecutive strikes targeted the facility. The UN, describing the attack as ‘unacceptable’, called for those responsible to face justice. The IDF claimed the strikes were aimed at a Hamas-operated camera, but did not explain why a second strike was deemed necessary. There have been escalating protests inside Israel, with families of hostages and supporters demanding that Netanyahu agree to a ceasefire deal. The humanitarian crisis is deepening across Gaza: a UN-backed body has confirmed that a famine is taking place in Gaza city (a claim described as an ‘outright lie’ by Israel), and most of the territory’s population faces dire shortages of shelter, food, and medical care after months of war. Pope Leo XIV has joined the Latin and Greek Orthodox patriarchs of Jerusalem in a powerful plea for an immediate end to the war: see
Iran: nuclear negotiations resume, executions mount, radicals battle reformists
Iran’s nuclear negotiations with the E3 countries (Germany, France, and the UK) have resumed in Geneva. With a packed agenda, the focus is on lifting sanctions, which have caused severe damage to the country's economy in recent years. Tehran’s foreign minister indicated a willingness to engage in indirect talks with the USA, but only on condition that military options would be abandoned. Inside the country, deep divisions have sharpened between reformists, who are calling for suspending uranium enrichment, cooperating with the IAEA, and easing repression, and hardliners, who demand the continuation of nuclear activities and reject compromise. Human rights concerns are mounting, with executions surging to at least 160 in a single month - a 54 percent increase compared to the previous year - bringing the year’s total to more than 800. Reformist voices, though accused of betrayal and sedition, continue to press for reconciliation and freedom for political prisoners.
South Africa: opposition leader found guilty of hate speech
Opposition leader Julius Malema has been found guilty of hate speech by the country’s equality court after inflammatory remarks he made at a 2022 rally. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) chief, known for provocative statements, said that ‘a revolution demands that at some point there must be killing’, following an incident where a white man allegedly assaulted a party member. The court ruled that while condemning racism is acceptable, these words amounted to incitement to violence. Malema and his party rejected the judgment, saying the words had been taken out of context. The conviction adds to Malema’s history of controversy, including a ban from entering the UK and criticism from Donald Trump for incendiary remarks and songs. His case underscores the continuing struggle with racial tensions in South Africa more than three decades after apartheid ended.
Ecuador: closure of controversial mine splits community
The story of Rio Blanco reveals both the promises and perils of large-scale mining projects in vulnerable communities. Initially welcomed by locals with hopes of jobs and development, a Canadian mining project quickly soured amid broken promises, environmental damage, and land disputes. Successive companies failed to deliver on social commitments while accusations mounted of arsenic contamination, drying wetlands, and loss of farmland. Tensions escalated, splitting the community between those desperate for employment and those fighting to protect land and water. Protests, blockades, and violence culminated in a court ruling suspending operations due to the government’s failure to consult Indigenous communities. Yet conflict has persisted, with violence against activists and threats of illegal mining. Today, the people of Rio Blanco struggle with fractured trust, environmental scars, and ongoing uncertainty, as they seek sustainable alternatives and a future free from exploitation.
USA: Federal Reserve governor threatens to sue Trump for unfair dismissal
The conflict between Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook and Donald Trump represents a profound clash over institutional independence and executive authority. Trump says he has dismissed Cook, alleging mortgage fraud, but her attorney insists the president lacks the power to remove a governor in this way. According to the Federal Reserve Act, governors should serve a fourteen-year term and may only be removed ‘for cause’, but what qualifies as ‘cause’ is unclear. Trump’s move follows similar attacks against other prominent Democrats, raising concerns about politicising independent regulators. Legal scholars note that recent supreme court rulings granted broader executive authority over some agencies, but not over the Federal Reserve. Cook, refusing to resign, has vowed to challenge Trump’s actions in court. The outcome of this struggle could potentially set a historic precedent. In a separate development, Trump has fired the head of the Centre for Disease Control, Susan Monarez, only a month after she was appointed: see
Poll reflects 'quiet revival' as more young people embrace belief in God
A new YouGov survey has revealed a marked increase in young adults believing in God, signalling what many church leaders describe as a ‘quiet revival’. Among 18- to 24-year-olds, 37% now affirm belief in God—up sharply from just 16% in 2021. Although down from a January peak of 45%, the figures still indicate a significant generational shift. By comparison, belief among 25 to 49-year-olds stands at 25%, while older age groups remain steady, with around 27% of 50- to 64-year-olds and 32% of those over 65 continuing to express faith. Notably, disbelief in any spiritual power among younger adults has dropped from 19% in 2022 to 12% today. Bishop Jill Duff of Lancaster welcomed the findings, noting a clear openness to God, Christianity, and the supernatural among younger people. She described this as evidence of a growing spiritual awakening which is already being observed in churches across the nation.
Iran: ‘unimaginable joy’ for an undercover believer
Bita’s life in Iran was marked by abandonment, abuse, and despair. Raised in hardship, forced into servitude, and married at 14 to an unfaithful addict, she endured decades of rejection and loneliness. Broken and suicidal, she was rescued by a friend, then invited to a secret house church. There she first heard of Jesus’ love for the brokenhearted, and for the first time she felt truly seen. That night she surrendered her shattered life to Christ. Immediately, her children noticed a change: her burdens lifted, and joy began to replace despair. Later, at a women’s conference for persecuted believers, she testified that God had wiped away bitterness and given her 'unimaginable joy.' Though she must still worship in secret, hiding her Bible and whispering prayers, Bita’s faith is unshaken. She longs to help other women find the same freedom and healing in Jesus. Her story mirrors numerous Iranian women who, despite persecution and rejection, are discovering the beauty of Christ’s redeeming love.
More councils consider asylum hotel legal challenges
A landmark High Court ruling has opened the way for local councils to challenge the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers. The judgement came after Epping Forest District Council successfully argued that protests around a hotel in Essex, earmarked for 140 asylum seekers, had caused 'evidenced harms’ including violence and arrests. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch hailed the ruling as a 'victory for local people’, encouraging other Tory-run councils to pursue similar action. At least four more Conservative councils are now exploring legal challenges, and two Labour-controlled authorities are reassessing their options, in light of the precedent. Reform UK has also urged its councils to follow suit. Hotel use for asylum seekers peaked during the Covid pandemic, housing over 56,000 people in 2023. Current figures show a 15% decline, with 32,345 still accommodated in March. The Government has pledged to phase out asylum hotels by 2029, pledging alternative housing through faster asylum decisions and reduced small-boat crossings.
Far-right link taints ‘patriotic’ grassroots flag movement
A grassroots campaign called 'Operation Raise the Colours' has seen activists in over a dozen English towns hoisting hundreds of Union and St George’s Cross flags on lampposts. Organisers claim the movement aims to restore national pride and community spirit, with some £13,000 raised to buy flags. However, its credibility has been damaged by links to far-right groups. Britain First donated 250 flags, and organiser Andy Saxon has publicly supported its leader Paul Golding and activist Tommy Robinson. Britain First, with roots in the BNP, is notorious for promoting 'remigration' and anti-Muslim rhetoric; its leader has criminal convictions for religiously aggravated harassment. Critics warn that what is presented as patriotism risks being hijacked by extremist groups. Councils in Birmingham and Tower Hamlets have removed flags, citing safety and political concerns, while twelve Reform UK-controlled councils have pledged not to take them down, calling removals 'shameful’. The controversy highlights how national symbols can be co-opted into culture wars, deepening division rather than fostering unity.
Students receive GCSE and BTec results
On 21 August pupils across England, Wales and Northern Ireland received GCSE, BTec and other Level 2 results. The GCSE pass rate is similar to last year, which saw a third consecutive decline after the Covid pandemic. With more 16-year-olds in the population and rising demand for sixth form places, competition is fierce. Some colleges have expanded capacity, but others warn they will have to turn students away. Concerns over possible VAT on private school fees may also drive more families toward state provision. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson praised pupils’ resilience but condemned entrenched inequalities, noting that only 19% of white British working-class children achieved strong passes in maths and English in 2024 - virtually unchanged from 2017. About 170,000 students have received BTec results and 110,000 Cambridge Nationals, while in Scotland exam pass rates have risen. For many students who began secondary school during lockdown, these results mark the culmination of years of disrupted learning, testing both their determination and the system’s ability to provide equal opportunity.