Far-right activist Tommy Robinson was sentenced to 18 months in prison after breaching a court order not to repeat false allegations about Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi. Robinson, who founded the English Defence League, was initially sued for libel in 2021 and ordered to pay £100,000 to Hijazi after his unfounded accusations severely impacted the teenager and his family, who had relocated to the UK for refuge. The court issued an injunction barring Robinson from continuing these allegations, which he breached by producing a film entitled Silenced and making further comments in interviews. Robinson admitted that this constituted contempt of court. His case has sparked protests from his supporters, who gathered in London demanding his release.

On 30 October a major fire erupted at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow, Cumbria, where the UK’s next-generation nuclear submarines are being constructed. Emergency services were called to the facility after the fire broke out around midnight. Local authorities assured residents there was no nuclear risk, but two people were hospitalised with suspected smoke inhalation. The shipyard, with a long history of submarine construction, has faced similar incidents in recent years, including a 2018 fire and a 2017 carbon monoxide leak. Thick smoke from the blaze, visible for miles, has raised concerns among locals, who were asked to avoid the area while emergency services worked to contain the fire.

A petition signed by nearly 60,000 UK citizens has urged Keir Starmer to safeguard the right to silent prayer after recent arrests of pro-life advocates outside abortion clinics. Alliance Defending Freedom UK (ADF UK) initiated the petition, highlighting that 'buffer zones' around clinics, initially meant to prevent demonstrations, have evolved into 'censorship zones' that criminalise silent prayer. Recently, pro-life advocate Adam Smith-Connor was convicted for praying silently within a designated buffer zone and fined nearly £10,000. ADF UK warns that censoring prayer creates a dangerous precedent for restricting thoughts deemed 'offensive’. The petition calls on Starmer to repeal the recent Public Orders Act, which will soon extend buffer zones to all clinics nationwide, punishing violations with prison time and unlimited fines. It argues that free expression, including silent prayer, is essential for a democratic society. See

On 25 October, 12,000 participants joined Dublin’s 'March for Jesus,' a faith-centred event hailed as historic for the city. The march drew Christians across denominations for a unified display of worship and community. Holding signs proclaiming 'Jesus is our King’, participants sought to bring light to the nation. One pastor commented that the march reflected a societal hunger for God beyond 'superficial' ideologies, calling it a sign of spiritual revival. Catholic bishop Alphonsus Cullinan also endorsed it, saying that it symbolised the light of Christ amidst divisive policies. Many saw the event as a healing moment, bridging historical divides between Northern Ireland and the Republic, as well as between Ireland and Great Britain. The march echoed a global movement that began in London in 1987, highlighting shared faith and hope for spiritual awakening.

At least 95 people have lost their lives in south-eastern Spain after relentless rains triggered flash floods. In one town an unprecedented year’s worth of rainfall (491 mm) occurred within just eight hours. Floodwaters wrought havoc across the region, toppling bridges, sweeping cars through streets, and leaving many people clinging to trees to survive. Over a thousand troops have been dispatched for rescue operations as numerous individuals remain trapped or unaccounted for. King Felipe VI expressed deep condolences, while emergency services, overwhelmed by the crisis, have struggled to respond to hundreds of distress calls. Questions have arisen over poor forecasting and delayed flood warnings, which some believed left them vulnerable on roads and low-lying homes: see https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyx75ppr79 Flights, trains, and schools have been suspended. Of many contributory factors, a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely. Temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions: see also the World article on the UN and climate change.

State prosecutors in Georgia are investigating possible election fraud following opposition claims that the results of the recent parliamentary elections were falsified. They will question president Salome Zourabichvili, a vocal critic of the election process; she has declared the results invalid due to a ‘Russian special operation’ – a charge denied by Russia. Joe Biden and the EU have expressed concerns over irregularities and democratic decline in Georgia. Although the ruling Georgian Dream party was declared the winner with 54% of the vote, the opposition condemned the results as a ‘constitutional coup’. International observers noted instances of voter intimidation, bribery, and ballot stuffing, but did not go as far as labelling the election as rigged. The electoral commission has defended the election as fair, but said that it would conduct a recount at a small number of randomly selected polling stations.

The UN has warned that global climate action is ‘falling miles short’ of what is required to avert economic and environmental catastrophe. According to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), current national plans would cut emissions by just 2.6% by 2030, whereas scientists assert emissions must decline by 43% by then to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. With the likelihood of keeping global warming within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels said to be ‘virtually zero’, there are calls for ambitious commitments before the upcoming COP29 summit in Baku. UNFCCC chief Simon Stiell notes that robust climate plans could generate economic growth, better health, and clean energy solutions. Poorer nations say they need increased financial aid from wealthier nations to transition from fossil fuels and manage climate impacts, while Greenpeace has called for urgent action to confront this huge challenge. See also Europe article about flash floods in Spain.

The recent decision by the Israeli parliament to ban UNRWA from operating in Israel and Gaza has met with widespread condemnation. Israel has justified the decision by citing alleged links between some UNRWA staff and Hamas, but said it will continue cooperating with other UN agencies on humanitarian assistance for Palestinians. UNRWA has been labelled a terrorist organisation, and all official contact with the Israeli government has been blocked. This decision, opposed by the USA and other nations, raises concerns over worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where more than 1.9 million have been displaced. A UNICEF spokesman has warned that without UNRWA, critical necessities such as food, water, and medicine could not be distributed effectively. That would likely cause the collapse of Gaza’s fragile humanitarian system.

As 5 November draws near, the presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is extremely close, with Harris at 48% and Trump at 47% support according to a recent poll. Harris garners stronger personal support, especially on issues like reproductive rights, uniting the country, and protecting democracy, while Trump is seen as stronger on the economy, immigration, and foreign policy. Trump’s supporters focus on economic issues, particularly inflation, whereas Harris’ supporters prioritise protecting democracy. Both candidates have a gender divide in support, with independent women favouring Harris and independent men leaning toward Trump. The poll also highlights a nation divided on political violence: 77% believe current political discourse encourages violence, with more fearing escalation if Trump wins (57%) than if Harris does (42%). Emotions run high, with nearly equal numbers expressing fear (47% for Trump, 45% for Harris) and excitement (41% for Trump, 40% for Harris) depending on the winner. Both candidates inspire complex reactions, reflecting shifts from past elections and a broader concern about the country’s direction. For a discussion about what difference the result of the election would make, see

Cuba has had one of its toughest weeks in years, with a nationwide blackout leaving its ten million citizens powerless for days, alongside devastation from Hurricane Oscar. For many, energy shortages have become routine, but this prolonged blackout forced people to resort to firewood when regular gas supplies ran out. The government has blamed US sanctions for hampering infrastructure upgrades, while critics argue that mismanagement has directed funds to tourism instead of energy. President Miguel Diaz-Canel warned against protests, no doubt wishing to avoid a repetition of the widespread demonstrations over similar issues in 2021. The government suspended all non-essential work and schools for a week, to avoid another collapse on the grid. Electricity generation now meets only 60-70% of demand, and there has been a 25% production drop since 2019. Hurricane Oscar’s destruction further underscored the nation’s vulnerability, leaving Cubans braced for more challenges as the crisis continues.