As the back-to-school season approaches, a major debt advice charity is urging the Government to introduce a statutory school uniform grant for England. While families in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland receive support of £93 to £200 per child, just 22 out of 153 English councils offer any dedicated help, creating a postcode lottery of support. The average uniform cost now exceeds £340 for primary pupils and £450 for secondary students. Money Wellness says current Department for Education reforms, such as limiting branded items, will not be enough for low-income households. With council budgets under pressure, many families are turning to uniform banks for affordable or donated items. Some families welcome the destigmatisation of second-hand clothing and its environmental benefits. Campaigners stress that without a consistent national scheme, children risk being disadvantaged based on where they live.
Downing Street has refused to confirm whether the UK will proceed with recognising Palestinian statehood in September if Hamas remains in power or hostages are not released. Keir Starmer previously stated that recognition depends on Israel meeting certain conditions, including a ceasefire, increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, halting annexation of West Bank land, and engaging in a peace process. However, critics argue the move could reward Hamas, especially in light of comments by its leader Ghazi Hamad claiming recognition is a 'fruit' of the 7 October attacks. Families of British hostages and some Labour MPs have voiced strong objections, insisting recognition should be tied to the hostages’ release. Despite calling Hamas 'pariahs' with no future role in Gaza, Starmer’s spokesperson said no single party will hold veto power over the decision. The Government insists its focus remains on increasing aid, ending suffering in Gaza, and promoting a two-state peace solution. A final decision is expected at the UN General Assembly in September. See
The election of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the next Archbishop of Wales has drawn sharp criticism from senior leaders across the global Anglican community. Vann, currently Bishop of Monmouth and a patron of a pro-LGBT group, will be enthroned at Newport Cathedral. She has stated that gay marriage in the Church is 'inevitable’, though she acknowledges theological opposition within the Church in Wales. The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) called the appointment a 'serious error’; chairman Archbishop Laurent Mbanda has warned that it compromises biblical truth and bows to cultural pressure. Nigerian Primate Henry Ndukuba accused the Church in Wales of sacrificing the authority of Scripture for a postmodern agenda. Justin Badi Arama of South Sudan labelled the move a 'divisive rejection' of historic Anglican teaching. The controversy reignites tensions between progressive and conservative Anglicans worldwide. Former archbishop Justin Welby also faced criticism for appearing to shift from traditional biblical views on sexuality during his tenure.
Kate Forbes stepping down from politics
07 Aug 2025
Scotland’s deputy first minister Kate Forbes has announced she will step down from politics at the 2026 Holyrood elections to prioritise family life. In a letter to first minister John Swinney, Forbes - who has represented Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch since 2016 - expressed deep gratitude for her time in office, but said she didn’t wish to miss more of her daughter’s early years. A committed Christian, Forbes has often drawn attention for her faith-based positions, including her public opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. These views sparked controversy during her 2023 SNP leadership bid, which she lost to Humza Yousaf. When Yousaf resigned in 2024, she declined to stand again and supported Swinney. Despite political challenges, Forbes has been a vocal advocate for Christian engagement in public life. Speaking to the Evangelical Alliance, she urged believers to step into political service, citing the positive impact of Christian values across Scottish communities.
Donald Trump has described talks on 6 August between his envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin as ‘highly productive’, claiming that ‘great progress’ has been made toward ending the Ukraine war. The Kremlin issued a vague statement confirming the exchange of ‘signals’ but did not give further details. The meeting occurred days ahead of Trump’s ceasefire deadline, amid mounting frustration over stalled peace efforts. Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders were briefed on the talks and reiterated the need to end the war. Despite Trump’s threats of increased sanctions, including raising the tariff on India to 50% for buying Russian oil, Russia has continued its attacks on Ukrainian cities. Three years into the invasion, peace talks have repeatedly failed, and Russia’s preconditions remain unacceptable to Kyiv. Meanwhile, the USA has approved $200 million in military support to Ukraine, with Trump still open to meetings with both Putin and Zelensky. The humanitarian toll of Russian strikes remains devastating and ongoing.
A major scandal has erupted in Greece, with European prosecutors accusing senior government officials, including ministers and MPs, of orchestrating a large-scale scheme to defraud the EU of agricultural subsidies. It is claimed that individuals illegally claimed payments for non-existent or unusable pastureland, depriving legitimate farmers of support. However, those who have been accused are likely to evade justice because, despite widespread criticism, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is blocking a full-scale investigation, using legal loopholes and his party's parliamentary majority. A 3,000-page dossier has implicated former agriculture ministers and top officials in a coordinated effort to bypass controls, intimidate investigators, and ensure fraudulent payments were processed. Despite internal warnings and blocked payments, whistleblowers were forced out, and payments resumed under political pressure. Even though the extent of damages has not yet been assessed, Brussels has ordered Greece to forfeit nearly €400 in funding, over a fifth of the direct payments it had been due to receive next year. The case offers damning evidence that after three bailouts and a financial crisis that lasted over a decade, Greece still hasn’t cleared out the rot.
After nearly two years of war in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to escalate the conflict further by ordering a full military occupation of the territory, despite international outrage, domestic opposition, and dissent within Israel's own military. Critics allege that his push is politically motivated, aimed at preserving his fragile coalition and delaying his corruption trial. Analysts question whether the Israeli army, already strained and suffering from troop shortages and internal resistance, can sustain such an operation. Over 600 ex-military officials have urged Donald Trump to intervene diplomatically, stating that in their professional opinion, Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat. Despite widespread destruction, the goal of rescuing all the Israeli captives has not been achieved. Public support continues to decline, and many accuse Netanyahu of prioritising political survival over peace or national security. Further escalation could deepen the humanitarian catastrophe and international isolation.
A new report has revealed that over 22,000 people, most of them Christians, have been killed by Islamist militants across Africa in the year to June 2025. This marks a 60% increase in violence since 2023. The Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) network, now controlling more than half of Burkina Faso, was responsible for over 80% of fatalities in the Sahel region. In Somalia, al-Shabaab killed more than 6,000 people, while the Islamic State in Somalia (ISS) is emerging as a global IS hub. The Allied Democratic Forces, linked to IS, claimed a deadly church attack in eastern Congo, killing 43 during a night service. Media restrictions and loss of state control across 950,000 square kilometres are masking the true scale of violence. The report warns of growing danger to Christian communities throughout Africa.