Counterterrorism detectives have taken charge of an inquiry into the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a Russian double agent, and his daughter Yulia. They collapsed in Salisbury, and remain in a critical condition in intensive care. Many fear it is a Kremlin-sponsored assassination attempt. On 7 March Boris Johnson said that Britain would respond ‘robustly’ if evidence of Russian state responsibility emerged. Meanwhile theories across the internet range from a vote-winning ploy two weeks before the Russian presidential elections to warning other Russian operatives of the risks when working with foreign intelligence agencies. Conspirators and traitors are rife in Russia. Last January, two Russian cybersecurity officials were arrested for aiding the CIA. Modern Russian spies are no longer lured by ideological reasons; it is more a case of western agencies providing financial incentives.

Tim Dieppe of Christian Concern has written an in-depth article defining ‘multiculturalism’ and explaining how it is opposed to missionary activity or attempts to morally reform cultures, and therefore opposed to Christianity. He states, ‘From a Christian perspective we can reject the idea that “all cultures are equal”. Every culture proclaims certain values and ethical norms which are in direct conflict with another culture. It makes no sense to say that they are all equal. Is a culture that values free speech equal to one that does not? Is a culture that values women’s rights equal to one that does not? Is a culture that promotes promiscuity and homosexuality equal to one that does not? What about slavery, racism, polygamy, FGM, etc? All these are cultural practices, and they are clearly not equal.’ His article reminds us that our Christian faith glorifies God as superior to any idol or idea, so Christianity is directly opposed to multiculturalism. See also the Europe article below.

In February the BBC reported that some schools are persuading parents to home-school troubled children so that their exam results do not count against the school. They are worried about poor Ofsted inspections, league table positions, and even losing their jobs because of academy takeovers. On 4 March the Times reported that religious extremists are exploiting lax home education laws to expose children to hate-filled material at scores of unregistered schools. Extremist texts seized from the schools allege that boys and girls can marry once they reach puberty, and one blames rapes on the way women dress. At least 350 unregistered schools have been set up across Britain, according to Ofsted, and over 50,000 children in the UK are currently being home-schooled.

Further to last week’s article in the World section about Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre being closed, this week Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols called on the Israeli government to protect Jerusalem’s holy sites. A joint letter to the Israeli ambassador expressed their ‘deep concern at the discriminatory taxation of churches in Jerusalem’. Their letter said that the proposed taxes might seriously damage the Christian presence in Jerusalem, Christian families, and the Christian institutions, including hospitals and schools, which serve many of the poorest people, regardless of their background. Their letter continues, ‘These violations of historic agreements risk undermining prospects for peaceful coexistence between communities, at a time of already heightened tensions.’

The Trussell Trust runs a network of over 400 foodbanks across the UK, giving emergency food and support to people in crisis. Already this year they have given 586,907 three-day emergency food supplies to people in financial emergencies. Thousands of vulnerable people are finding that they cannot manage their budget when an unexpected extra expense occurs. They are barely surviving. On 7 March Trussell Trust’s Welsh branches called on Christians with knowledge of the welfare system to volunteer to help people, following a new Joseph Rowntree report revealing that a quarter of Welsh people are in poverty. Although overall poverty in Wales has gone down, specific groups, such as pensioners and single parents, have not seen any improvement.

Meghan Markle was baptised and confirmed by Justin Welby at a private ceremony at the Chapel Royal on the evening of 6 March. Meghan was raised a Protestant, went to a Catholic school, and previously married a Jewish man. She will marry Prince Harry at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on 19 May. The decision for her to be baptised and confirmed before the wedding will be seen as a nod to the Queen's strong faith and traditions within the monarchy.

Silent synagogues are witnesses to the fall of a fundamental branch of European civilisation as they are converted into museums, swimming pools, shopping centres, police stations, and mosques. The stars of David and the kipás are vanishing as Europe's Jews feel unsafe when carrying or wearing symbols of their faith. Recently two men attacked an 8-year-old Jewish boy wearing a yarmulke in a Sarcelles street. It is not an isolated incident, but the ‘new normal’ for French Jews. European elites are preaching cultural relativism and multiculturalism; which is now resulting in attacks on Jews and deChristianisation as historic churches are being demolished. The most recent was flattened in Germany to make room for a coal mine. Religious symbols are an integral part of civilisation. Religion plays a key role in society and in its cohesion. When the old symbols disappear, the new ones - with their own identities - take their place. Is religion being replaced with multiculturalism? See also article 3 in the UK section.

Transparency International reported, ‘Unfortunately this week we were reminded again of the terrible risks facing journalists who report on corruption. Ján Kuciak, a Slovakian investigative journalist, and his fiancée were shot dead in their home. Ján had been investigating Mafia activity in Slovakia - including suspected links to the highest levels of the Slovak government. Police confirmed that his murder was most likely linked to his investigative work.’ This delved into the Slovakian ‘Ndrangheta Mafia, one of the world’s most powerful and fearsome criminal groups, which holds a dominant position in Europe’s cocaine market and many other criminal fields, including weapons trafficking, fraud, corruption, intimidation, and extortion. One in five of the journalists killed since 2012 were covering a corruption story. Research reveals that countries with the least protection for press and activists also have the worst rates of corruption. Progress against corruption globally is stalling.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US president Donald Trump are to meet in person by May, it has been announced, an extraordinary overture after months of mutual hostility. This news came after South Korean officials had held talks with Mr Trump at the White House. They passed a verbal message from Mr Kim, saying the North Korean leader was ‘committed to denuclearisation’. Mr Trump hailed ‘great progress’ but said sanctions would remain in place. South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said the news was like a miracle. ‘If President Trump and Chairman Kim meet following an inter-Korean summit, complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula will be put on the right track in earnest’, he said. China welcomed the development, saying the Korean peninsula issue was ‘heading in the right direction’. However, correspondents say the North has halted missile and nuclear tests during previous talks, only to resume them when it felt it was not getting what it demanded. The dramatic announcement came days after a high-ranking South Korean delegation had met Mr Kim in Pyongyang. See

Arriving in pickup trucks and shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, suspected Islamist terrorists in coordinated attacks struck both the French embassy and the army headquarters in Burkina Faso's capital on 2 March. There was great confusion, especially near the embassy, and gunfire continued until midday. At least 90 were wounded in the attacks. Five of the extremists were killed near the embassy, and three others near the army headquarters. Landlocked Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries in Africa, shares a border with Mali where Islamic terrorism has been an ongoing threat. President Macron of France visited the country three months ago: it is a former French colony, and has not experienced the same level of violence as some of its neighbours. So far no group has claimed responsibility; it could be an organised group or local insurgents. Please pray for all the wounded to experience complete healing physically, emotionally, and spiritually.