Displaying items by tag: United Kingdom

'Goodness of God' by Bethel Music has topped the Premier Praise Worship 100 List for the second consecutive year. The 2024 list, released on Pentecost Sunday, highlights contemporary worship anthems and classic hymns which resonate with Christians. 'I Speak Jesus' by Charity Gayle climbed to fourth place, while timeless hymns like 'Be Thou my vision' and 'Amazing grace (My chains are gone)' remain popular. Premier's director of content, Charmaine Noble-McLean, praised the spiritual heritage and enduring significance of these songs and hymns, emphasising their role in bringing comfort, hope, and glory to Jesus.

Rishi Sunak surprised many by calling for a UK general election on 4 July, aiming to secure a fifth term for the Conservatives. Parliament will be suspended shortly, marking the start of a five-week campaign. Sunak's decision, earlier than anticipated, came after April's inflation fell to 2.3%, providing him with a narrative of successful governance. Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer seized the moment, positioning the election as a chance for change from Tory 'chaos.' SNP leader John Swinney and other opposition figures echoed similar sentiments. This election, the first since 2015 not requiring parliamentary approval for the date, will feature new constituency boundaries and require voter ID. It follows a period of political turbulence, marked by scandals, cabinet resignations, Boris Johnson's resignation, and Liz Truss’s brief tenure.

Rishi Sunak has pledged 'comprehensive compensation' for those affected by the UK's infected blood scandal, following a damning public inquiry. The scandal, which involved the infection of 30,000 people with HIV and hepatitis through NHS treatments in the 1970s and 1990s, has led to around 3,000 deaths, with more expected. The inquiry found that authorities exposed victims to unacceptable risks and attempted a cover-up, marking it as the NHS's largest treatment disaster. The Government, reportedly setting aside £10 billion, will outline the compensation plan, covering categories like injury, social impact, autonomy, care, and financial loss. Sunak condemned the scandal as a 'day of shame for the British state' and assured the House of Commons of the Government's commitment to funding the compensation. Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer also apologised for Labour's past involvement and supported swift compensation for victims. The inquiry's 2,527-page report emphasised that the disaster was avoidable and involved deliberate concealment by officials.

Average weekly attendance at Church of England services rose nearly 5% in 2023, marking the third consecutive year of growth. Children's attendance increased by almost 6%. Although total attendance remains below 2019 levels, the gap has significantly narrowed. Justin Welby praised the efforts of clergy and congregations, highlighting the rise in children's participation as particularly encouraging. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, emphasised the positive impact of focusing on outreach, new Christian communities, and revitalising parishes. The full Statistics for Mission report will be released in the autumn.

More than fifty cases of cryptosporidium have been confirmed in Brixham, Devon; around 17,000 households were instructed to boil their water. The Health Security Agency reported 57 cases, up by eleven since last Friday, with more expected. Pennon Group, South West Water's parent company, announced £3.5m in compensation for affected customers while reporting £166.3m in profits. The boil water notice has been lifted for 14,500 homes but remains for 2,500. The outbreak, probably caused by animal faeces entering a damaged pipe, has led to increased health measures and support for local businesses.

Twenty passengers, including six Britons, remain in intensive care after a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow encountered severe turbulence. Singapore's prime minister has promised a thorough investigation following the death of 73-year-old Geoffrey Kitchen, who suffered a suspected heart attack. A total of 79 passengers and six crew members were injured. The turbulence occurred over Myanmar's Irrawaddy Basin, causing the plane to drop 6,000 feet. The airline’s CEO apologised for the traumatic experience.

Michael Gove has addressed the rise in antisemitism in Britain, warning it signals broader societal dangers. In his speech, Gove likened the situation to historical instances where countries becoming unsafe for Jews indicated a descent into darkness, referencing Nazi Germany and others. He criticised the display of anti-Jewish symbols at pro-Palestine marches and called for stricter measures against such displays of hatred. Gove urged the House of Lords to pass a bill preventing public bodies from boycotting Israeli-linked businesses. His comments follow a record 4,103 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023.

UK Cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, are visiting Saudi Arabia to strengthen trade ties amid reports of Riyadh authorising lethal force to clear land for a new desert city. Dowden is leading a 450-strong delegation of British businesses at the two-day summit aimed at promoting economic ties. Downing Street defended the visit after the BBC reported claims of Saudi forces using deadly force to evict villagers for The Line, a 105-mile-long metropolis in Neom. See Rishi Sunak’s spokesman emphasised the importance of the UK-Saudi relationship and confirmed ministers would address human rights concerns. Campaigners criticised the visit, urging an independent investigation into the reported killings. Amnesty International highlighted the need for businesses to assess risks in Saudi Arabia. Dowden announced a new joint task force for higher education cooperation and projected a £3 billion investment from Saudi Arabia to sustain 2,000 UK jobs.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is set to outline six pledges as part of his pre-election pitch. These commitments include establishing a border security command to tackle criminal gangs behind small boat crossings and also the recruitment of 6,500 teachers. At an event in Essex, Starmer will say these pledges mark 'a decade of national renewal’. The six steps are: 1) sticking to tough spending rules for economic stability; 2) cutting NHS waiting lists with 40,000 more weekly appointments funded by tackling tax avoidance; 3) launching a border security command; 4) establishing Great British Energy, a publicly-owned clean energy company; 5) increasing neighbourhood police officers to reduce antisocial behaviour; and 6) recruiting 6,500 teachers by ending tax breaks for private schools. These steps will form a key part of Labour's election campaign. The Conservatives criticised the plans, arguing their current policies are effectively strengthening the economy and immigration system. Labour's pledges aim to prove the party's reliability with public money and defence.

The graduate visa route, which allows overseas students to stay in the UK for up to three years post-graduation, should remain, according to a Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) report. This follows concerns from Home Secretary James Cleverly about potential abuse for immigration purposes. Despite calls from former immigration minister Robert Jenrick to abolish the visa, the report found no evidence of widespread abuse and highlighted its importance for funding British universities and supporting the government's international educational strategy. It emphasised the visa's role in helping universities expand course offerings and cover financial losses from domestic students and research. In 2023, 114,000 graduate route visas were granted, primarily to students from India, Nigeria, China, and Pakistan. The MAC recommended maintaining the route and implementing a mandatory registration system for international recruitment agents to prevent exploitation. The British Chambers of Commerce supported the findings, citing the need for skilled workers. Despite some initial low-wage employment, many graduate visa holders transition to skilled roles, enhancing their job prospects and wages over time.