At New Birth Church in Georgia, Pastor Jamal Bryant recently turned an altar call into an unexpected job fair. During a September service, he invited unemployed members to the altar for prayer, then asked hiring managers present to share opportunities. The response was immediate: directors, supervisors, and business owners stepped forward, resulting in over 300 job offers for struggling congregants. Bryant praised the church’s faith in action, noting the need amid rising black unemployment, which recently reached 7.5%, the highest since late 2021. Economists warn the downturn is hitting black communities disproportionately, particularly as cuts in federal employment take effect. While national leaders debate solutions, New Birth showed what a church family can achieve by caring for one another in practical ways. Stories like this echo the early church’s example of meeting both spiritual and material needs. God is still using His people to bring provision, dignity, and hope.

Donald Trump has met Keir Starmer at Chequers during his second state visit to the UK, following the announcement of £150 billion in American investment. The funds, pledged by major firms including Blackstone, Prologis, and Palantir, are expected to create around 7,600 jobs across Britain. The leaders are set to sign a 'technology prosperity deal' to boost UK artificial intelligence development, while also discussing trade, investment, and foreign policy. The talks come after a Windsor Castle state banquet, where both Trump and the King hailed the 'special relationship' between the UK and US. While Starmer hopes to spotlight renewed transatlantic ties and economic opportunity, both governments face awkward questions, including ongoing controversies linked to Jeffrey Epstein and differing positions on Israel. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will also host a Downing Street reception for US and UK business leaders to showcase deeper cooperation. The visit marks a significant moment for strengthening economic and diplomatic bonds between the two nations.

The Government’s new 'one in, one out' deal with France to deport Channel migrants has hit delays, as deportation flights were grounded for a third consecutive day. The Home Office is appealing a High Court ruling which halted the removal of a man claiming to be a victim of modern slavery. Home secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned 'last-minute, vexatious' appeals, vowing to fight attempts to block removals and pledging to review the Modern Slavery Act to close loopholes. She insisted that Britain’s generosity was being exploited and promised to 'robustly defend the public’s priorities’. The UK-France pilot scheme, agreed by Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron in July, would return asylum seekers arriving illegally in small boats while allowing approved applicants to enter the UK through a legal route. Officials maintain flights will still go ahead in the coming days, despite setbacks. Critics warn, however, that deportations must carefully consider genuine trafficking cases and vulnerable individuals. Breaking news: the first deportation has taken place. See

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood has branded Elon Musk’s language at a London rally 'abhorrent’, after he warned of violence linked to uncontrolled migration and called for Parliament’s dissolution. Mahmood insisted: 'No-one gets to mess with British democracy’, stressing that Britain is a tolerant and diverse nation. Musk’s remarks, delivered in conversation with activist Tommy Robinson at the 150,000-strong 'Unite The Kingdom' march, were condemned across the political spectrum. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Musk was 'deeply irresponsible, deeply dangerous’, while Downing Street called his words inflammatory and threatening to public order. Debate also arose over whether Musk’s Tesla and energy ventures should receive UK contracts, with critics urging government review. Nigel Farage defended Musk’s appeal to 'fight' through free speech and elections, though others accused him of fuelling division. As protests and counter-protests highlighted national tensions, Mahmood affirmed that English identity embraces both long heritage and diverse backgrounds.

Conservative councillor Clare De Silva has expressed her sadness at fellow Christian Danny Kruger’s defection to Reform UK. Kruger, MP for East Wiltshire since 2019 and formerly shadow work and pensions minister under Kemi Badenoch, announced his move alongside Nigel Farage, who appointed him to lead a new Reform team preparing for government. Calling the decision 'very painful’, Kruger declared, 'The party is over: the flame is passing from one torch to another’, and praised Farage as 'our last hope' on the right. De Silva told Premier Christian News she was shocked and saddened, calling the departure a poignant loss. While disagreeing with his choice, she stressed the importance of Christians disagreeing well in politics: 'I know Danny is a God-fearing man and will have made this decision really carefully… we should disagree well.' The moment highlights both division and opportunity for grace among believers in public life.

Brussels has warned that no deal on easing border checks for UK food imports will be reached unless Britain agrees to expand youth mobility schemes. The proposed sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement - central to Labour’s plan to reduce food costs by 2027 - would align rules on plants, animals, and food products, cutting supermarket prices and border delays. But EU negotiators insist progress depends on allowing more young Europeans aged 18 to 30 to live and work in the UK. Cabinet office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds pressed for urgency during talks in Brussels, stressing the need for relief as food inflation has risen for five consecutive months, with key staples up 5.1% annually. European diplomats, however, argue the SPS deal is more important for Britain than the EU. Meanwhile, UK firms face possible exclusion from bidding on EU defence projects worth €150 billion unless terms are finalised soon, with France resisting UK involvement. The Government faces mounting pressure as household food costs continue to climb.

MPs have warned against scrapping education, health and care plans (EHCPs) for children with special educational needs and disabilities. In a new report, the education select committee calls for EHCPs to remain as a vital 'backstop of accountability' for families, alongside statutory minimum standards for SEND provision in all schools. The eight-month inquiry highlights the unsustainable strain on the system, with 638,745 children now holding EHCPs - the highest since their introduction. Despite a decade of rising funding, outcomes for many pupils remain poor, and parents often face exhausting battles to secure support. The committee recommends more training for teachers, greater specialist provision, and funding increases in line with inflation. Campaigners stress that EHCPs give children enforceable rights, while the Government insists reforms will strengthen provision and reduce the need for conflict. MPs argue that long-term sustainability requires an inclusive, well-resourced education system backed by cross-agency cooperation.

Watched by US military officers and delegates from Turkey and Hungary, Russia and Belarus have launched large-scale military exercises across their territories and nearby seas, showcasing advanced weaponry and tactical nuclear capabilities near NATO’s eastern flank. The drills, involving roughly 6,800 troops as well as fighter jets and missiles, practised modern combat tactics like drone-assisted infantry assaults. Relations between Washington and Minsk seem to be improving; Belarus has recently released 52 political prisoners, prompting the Trump administration to ease some sanctions. Meanwhile, NATO allies remain uneasy after Russian drones repeatedly violated Polish and Romanian airspace. European leaders worry the exercises highlight Russia’s growing nuclear reach and evolving battlefield strategies, while Moscow insists it is open to dialogue but blames Western nations for obstructing progress toward resolving regional tensions.

Ten years after Angela Merkel opened Germany’s borders to migrants with her famous ‘We can do this’ pledge, the nation continues to grapple with the political and social repercussions. Syrian refugee Anas Modamani, who arrived alone at 17 after a perilous journey and became briefly famous for a viral selfie with Merkel, now lives in Berlin with German citizenship and an IT career. Between 2015 and 2024 Germany registered 2.6 million first-time asylum requests - over a third of the EU total - primarily from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. While many Germans initially embraced ‘Willkommenskultur’, the mood has now changed significantly, evidenced in the rise of the far-right AfD. Current chancellor Friedrich Merz has tightened border controls, though courts have blocked some measures. As public opinion hardens - 68 percent now favour fewer refugees - applications from Syrians and Afghans have fallen. Modamani senses a colder atmosphere and says he might leave if hostility grows.

A UN commission of inquiry has concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza since the 2023 war with Hamas began. The 72-page report cites four of the five acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention - killing, causing serious harm, deliberately inflicting life-destroying conditions, and preventing births - along with statements by Israeli leaders, as evidence of genocidal intent. It highlights widespread civilian deaths, collapsed infrastructure, repeated displacement, and a UN-declared famine. Commission chair Navi Pillay said speeches by Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials, combined with Israel’s military conduct, support the inference of intent to destroy those living in Gaza in whole or part. The commission also warned other nations of their legal duty to prevent and punish genocide, noting potential complicity if they fail to act. Israel’s government rejected the findings as false and biased, arguing that its operations are targeting Hamas in self-defence and comply with international law. Meanwhile, the long-awaited offensive by the Israeli military against Gaza City has begun: see