Donald Trump’s decision to authorise airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities has strengthened North Korea’s belief that nuclear weapons are vital for regime survival. While both nations seek deterrence, North Korea’s approach is rooted in preserving the Kim regime itself, backed by its extensive nuclear and missile arsenal. A US strike on that arsenal is highly unlikely, due to the country’s ability to target Seoul and US interests in the Indo‑Pacific. Its deeply buried nuclear facilities and alliances with Russia and China further complicate any potential attack. Experts have warned that Trump’s decision has had a significant impact on Pyongyang’s foreign policy, strengthening its belief that possessing nuclear weapons guarantees survival. With deepening mistrust of the USA, North Korea will be even less likely than before to change its belligerent attitude.

A deadly attack on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus on 22 June has shaken Syria, especially its Christian community. At least 25 people were killed when an armed man opened fire and detonated a suicide bomb. The attack, claimed by both IS and another group, has spotlighted serious security concerns for Syria's new government. Labour affairs minister Hind Kabawat called for unity, stressing the shared pain of Christians and Muslims. The end of Bashar al-Assad's brutal regime was meant to usher in a hopeful era, yet the recent attack raises questions about the new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and his ability to protect religious minorities. Despite promises of inclusivity, tensions and mistrust linger. The Mar Elias attack intensifies fears that minorities may be forced to leave the country, highlighting the fragile nature of Syria's recovery. The government's response to these security and sectarian threats will define its legitimacy and shape its future.

A brutal attack on Al Mujlad Hospital in West Kordofan has left over forty dead, including children and medical staff, in one of the deadliest assaults on a medical facility since the war began in April 2023. WHO chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus condemned the attack as ‘appalling’; it is not yet clear whether the army or the RSF was responsible. The fighting between the two sides has deepened a crisis which has left millions displaced and malnourished. Al Mujlad was the area’s only functioning hospital, and its loss intensifies the plight of communities already grappling with disease, famine, and displacement. Humanitarian organisations have warned that children bear the greatest toll, with rising malnutrition and exposure to exploitation. As Sudan’s war enters its third year, the call from global health leaders is clear: the targeting of hospitals and health workers must end immediately to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.

57 Colombian soldiers have been seized by civilians and armed rebels in the Micay Canyon area, a vital cocaine-producing area in the southwest. The first group was captured on 21 June during an army operation in El Tambo; then another platoon was surrounded by roughly 200 residents near El Plateado. General Federico Alberto Mejía called the incidents a ‘kidnapping’ by rebels who infiltrate local communities, acting under the command of a FARC dissident group that refused the 2016 peace accord. President Gustavo Petro, committed to peace, announced that the release of the soldiers is ‘imperative’ as tensions rise. The government is struggling to regain control of rural areas as splintered armed groups move to dominate territories abandoned by FARC after the peace agreement. This crisis has reignited fears across Colombia, evoking memories of the bloody cartel violence and political assassinations which plagued the nation in the 1980s and 1990s.

Zohran Mamdani, a 33‑year‑old state lawmaker and self‑described socialist, has won New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani, focusing sharply on rising living costs, promised free buses, free childcare, affordable housing, and a higher minimum wage, financed by taxing the wealthy. If elected in November, he would be the city’s first Muslim and Indian mayor. His victory reflects growing progressive momentum. Cuomo, seeking a comeback after a sexual harassment scandal, conceded defeat, stating, ‘Tonight is his night’. Critics question Mamdani’s experience, fearing he may be ill‑prepared for crisis management. Current mayor Eric Adams, indicted on corruption charges, announced he will run as an independent.The outcome of the primary, held amid sweltering temperatures, and the outcome of this race could indicate the type of leader Democrats are looking for during Donald Trump's second term.

A long-running legal battle has concluded after the UK Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal concerning Kristie Higgs, a Christian teacher dismissed in 2018 for expressing her views on gender and sexuality in private Facebook posts. Higgs had shared a petition challenging government RSE policies and commented on two children’s books promoting gender fluidity. Though her comments were not related to her teaching, she was dismissed by the school, which claimed the issue was her language, not her beliefs. However, in February 2025, the Court of Appeal ruled that her dismissal amounted to unlawful religious discrimination, affirming that belief-based expression outside work is protected under the Equality Act. The Supreme Court’s refusal to revisit the case makes this ruling final. Higgs expressed relief, calling it a victory for Christian free speech. The Christian Legal Centre, which backed her case, hailed the decision as a landmark precedent safeguarding freedom of belief and speech for Christians in the UK workplace and beyond.

Captain Brian Walpole, once commander of British Airways’ Concorde fleet and recipient of an OBE, has enjoyed an extraordinary aviation career. From RAF training to piloting over 800 supersonic transatlantic flights at 1,350mph, he experienced the awe of seeing the earth’s curvature at 60,000 feet. Yet it wasn’t until his late forties that he truly began to see not just the world, but the Creator behind it. A dinner conversation led him to Guildford Baptist Church, where a long journey of scientific and spiritual enquiry began. Influenced by Josh McDowell’s Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Brian was convinced of Jesus’ resurrection and the truth of the gospel. While his own conversion was gradual, his wife Rosemary had a dramatic encounter with the Holy Spirit, and their daughter Shelley went on to serve in ministry in Canada. Now in his nineties, Brian continues to testify that no human accomplishment compares to knowing Christ. His story is a powerful reminder that eternal truth outshines earthly success.

A new partnership between CURE International and Biblica is set to distribute over 87,000 Bibles in 22 languages to families receiving free surgical care at children’s hospitals across Africa and the Philippines. These hospitals, run by CURE, offer operations for conditions like spina bifida and hydrocephalus. The initiative brings physical healing and spiritual hope, rooted in CURE’s founding mission inspired by Luke 9:2 - to preach the Kingdom of God and heal the sick. CURE has performed over 330,000 surgeries and shared the Gospel with over 2.1 million people since 1996. Biblica’s role is to ensure Scripture is available in the heart languages of the patients. The collaboration addresses deep spiritual and cultural challenges, including widespread beliefs in curses and witchcraft surrounding disability. Through intentional ministry, Bible distribution, and community connections with local pastors, CURE is seeing lives transformed as parents witness healing and turn to faith. This $500,000 effort is a striking example of Kingdom collaboration bringing the light of Christ to the most vulnerable.

Rachel Reeves’ new spending review represents a pivotal moment for the Labour government, aiming to launch a narrative of 'renewal' after a challenging first year. With £600 billion allocated over four years, the review balances significant capital investment with modest growth in day-to-day departmental spending. Major announcements include £14.2 billion for nuclear power at Sizewell C, £15 billion for public transport in the North and Midlands, and a new rail link between Liverpool and Manchester. An additional £113 billion in capital spending will target the government's three pillars: health, security, and the economy. However, this largesse will be offset by tighter controls on daily budgets, with unprotected departments - particularly the Home Office and local councils - facing real-term cuts. Discontent is rising over pressure to reverse disability cuts, lift the two-child benefits cap, and increase winter fuel support. While Reeves insists the rises are funded by tough tax decisions, growing public dissatisfaction may force further fiscal changes by autumn. The Government hopes visible investment projects will reassure voters and build lasting trust. Breaking news: the UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, a worse result than expected, which Reeves has described as ‘disappointing’. See

Ballymena, County Antrim, has experienced three consecutive nights of violent unrest following a protest over an alleged sexual assault. Initially peaceful, the protest escalated into serious disorder after two teenage boys appeared in court, denying the charges via a Romanian interpreter. Demonstrations turned hostile as crowds in the Clonavon Terrace area threw petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks, and bottles at police officers. The police deployed riot control measures including baton rounds and a water cannon. Seventeen more officers were injured overnight, bringing the total to 32, and five arrests were made. Several cars were set ablaze, and windows of local homes were smashed. Police have described the violence as 'racist thuggery’, suggesting that ethnic tensions had contributed to the escalation. Authorities are calling for calm amid concerns about further disturbances and are urging communities to reject hatred and violence. Update: on the third night a leisure centre in Larne was set on fire.