Household bill rises hit single parents hardest
03 Apr 2025
As April begins, families across the UK face steep increases in household bills—including energy, water, and council tax—placing a particular strain on single parents and low-income households. Citizens Advice warns that millions are already at breaking point, with many spending over 40% of their post-housing income on essentials. Stories from struggling families highlight how even full-time workers are forced to take extra shifts or skip family time to make ends meet. While the minimum wage and some benefits are rising, many say it’s not enough to offset the rising cost of living. Suggestions to save money include switching service providers or seeking council tax reductions. Political leaders remain divided on solutions, while families urge for lasting support in the face of mounting financial pressure.
Tensions are rising in Birmingham as an all-out bin strike continues, leaving rubbish uncollected and sparking health concerns, including reports of large rats and one resident allegedly being bitten. With the city council being overseen by commissioners after declaring bankruptcy, the Government has said it cannot legally intervene, insisting it remains a local matter. MPs from across the political spectrum have criticised the inaction, branding it a 'national embarrassment’. The Unite union, representing a small group of holdouts, is accused of blocking depots and preventing contingency plans. Communities minister Jim McMahon and Labour MP Preet Gill both called for a resolution, stressing the urgent need for compromise. Meanwhile, residents across the region remain frustrated by the visible impact and potential health risks of uncollected waste.
Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are challenging the Government in the High Court over the imposition of 20% VAT on private school fees. The Education Not Taxation campaign argues the policy disproportionately harms SEND families, many of whom are making significant financial sacrifices to access specialised education their children can't receive in state schools. Families testified to working seven days a week and missing precious time with their children just to afford tuition. The campaign estimates around 35,000 SEND pupils could be forced out of private schools due to the new tax, into a state system already described as 'in crisis.' While the Treasury argues the tax will raise £1.5 to £1.7 billion a year, families insist it's a breach of their rights and deeply unfair to vulnerable children. The case continues in the courts.
Experts warn the UK is wasting billions annually by failing to diagnose and care for people with bipolar disorder. An estimated one million people live with the condition, yet many are misdiagnosed, undertreated, or entirely overlooked. Patients have undergone years of suffering, misdiagnosis, and crisis before they finally received proper care. New data put the cost of bipolar-related care and economic loss at £9.6 billion a year. Yet experts say that with early diagnosis, consistent medication, and specialist care programmes, hospital admissions could be dramatically reduced and lives transformed. One model in South London has seen readmission rates drop by 80%. Despite the evidence, care remains patchy and specialist services limited. Campaigners and clinicians are urging a national care pathway and greater access to psychiatrists to stop the cycle of crisis and neglect, calling the current situation both a human tragedy and a financial folly.
A new report from Fusion, based on a survey across 186 universities, found that 12% of non-Christian students engage with the Bible weekly - often through social media. Among Christian students, the number rises to 29%. Half of all students believe the Bible is relevant today; this drops to 32% among non-Christians and 27% among those with no religion. While only 19% of non-religious students believe the Bible is reliable, many still want to explore its teachings. Some find parts of it offensive or contradictory, yet remain intrigued by what it has to say about life and truth in a confusing world. Fusion’s Adam Mitchell-Baker says this interest reveals a deep hunger in students, even amid cultural opposition. In an age of unstable role models, Jesus and the enduring truth of Scripture offer hope and clarity. Fusion’s vision is to put a Bible in the hands of every student in the UK.
France: Marine le Pen barred for five years
03 Apr 2025
Marine le Pen has been barred from public office for five years due to EU fund embezzlement, jeopardising her 2027 presidential hopes. Though her four-year jail sentence (two years suspended) is pending appeal, the disqualification took immediate effect. Her party, National Rally (RN), appeared stunned and unprepared, holding emergency talks. While an appeal might overturn the ban, odds remain slim. Party president Jordan Bardella would be a potential successor, but not everyone is a fan, partly because he is only 29. Despite the ruling, Le Pen defiantly vowed to fight on, decrying the court’s decision as political. In the short term, the RN may gain support as the verdict reinforces their anti-establishment stance. Long-term, losing the charismatic le Pen may weaken their appeal. Meanwhile, in parliament she may abandon any pretence of cooperation, potentially destabilising prime minister François Bayrou's fragile administration.
Russia: Putin orders 160,000 conscripts
03 Apr 2025
Vladimir Putin has ordered the conscription of 160,000 new troops between April and July, targeting citizens aged 18 to 30. The spring draft is part of Russia’s biannual conscription cycle; the previous autumn round brought in 133,000 recruits. The decree also confirms that those whose conscripted service has ended will be discharged. Last year, Russia raised the conscription age limit from 27 to 30, and now maintains a military force of approximately 2.4 million, with 1.5 million on active duty. Despite increasing manpower, Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to take a heavy toll. Western and Ukrainian estimates suggest over 768,000 Russian troops have been lost—killed, wounded, missing, or captured—since the invasion began in 2022. November 2023 marked a grim record with over 2,000 casualties in a single day. Ukraine, too, has suffered significant losses; Volodymyr Zelensky has recently acknowledged over 43,000 soldiers killed. The drawn-out conflict remains costly and unresolved, as both nations brace for further battles.
Myanmar / Thailand: devastating earthquake
03 Apr 2025
A catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on 28 March, with the effects being felt as far away as Thailand and China. The death toll has already surpassed two thousand, with over 3,400 injured and many still trapped under rubble. Collapsed bridges and crumpled roads have delayed rescue efforts, and the secretive ruling junta has taken the unusual step of appealing for international assistance. In Mandalay, people are digging through debris with bare hands due to equipment shortages, while temperatures soar above 39°C (102°F). Communication breakdowns have forced rescue teams to rely on social media to locate victims. With rising temperatures and limited resources, rescuers fear more deaths are inevitable. Despite the odds, emergency workers remain committed to saving lives while grappling with overwhelming loss and unbearable heat.