Following ongoing Pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have taken place at university and other campuses nationwide, the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham have secured court orders to end student protests occupying campus areas. The High Court's orders ruled in favour of the universities, determining the students were trespassing and suggesting alternative protest methods. The protests, part of a broader movement across British universities, accuse institutions of being complicit in Palestinian casualties and call for divestment from arms firms. In Birmingham, Mariyah Ali, a named defendant, expressed disappointment but remains committed to her cause, considering an appeal. In Nottingham, former student River Butterworth faced legal action. Mr Justice Johnson concluded that the protesters had no substantial case against the universities and that their human rights were not infringed. The London School of Economics had similarly barred encampments in May.

The Church of England’s General Synod has endorsed a plan to allow standalone services for blessing same-sex couples, advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion while accommodating conservative theological views. This decision, part of the Living in Love and Faith initiative, follows years of debate. Although same-sex marriages remain prohibited in Anglican churches, blessings called Prayers of Love and Faith were authorised in February 2023, with the first blessings integrated into regular services starting in December. The new plan permits standalone services for these blessings. Details are still being worked out, and clergy will not be compelled to participate. Additionally, the church will develop 'delegated episcopal ministry' for bishops with differing theological views. The Archbishop of York described the decision as a compromise, emphasising that it provides a way forward for the church. Calls to lift the prohibition on same-sex civil marriages for clergy were acknowledged but not yet addressed. Reactions were mixed: LGBTQ+ inclusion group Together for the Church of England praised the decision, while conservative Anglicans, represented by John Dunnett, criticised it as insufficient. See

A Russian cruise missile has struck Okhmatdyt, Ukraine's largest children's hospital, in central Kyiv. The attack caused significant damage, including a collapsed roof that killed two hospital workers and injured 16 people, including seven children. Thousands of children, including those with cancer, undergo treatment at the hospital every year. The strike was one of forty launched against several Ukrainian cities, which resulted in at least 36 deaths and 125 injuries. Moscow, which habitually denies targeting civilian infrastructure, claimed the hospital was hit by a Ukrainian missile. The latest UN figures show over 30,000 civilian casualties since February 2022: see

Emmanuel Macron has urged France's mainstream political forces to form a coalition after the elections resulted in a hung parliament. The New Popular Front, which emerged as the largest bloc with around 190 seats, have demanded that Macron accept their pick for prime minister and allow them to form a government. They insist that respecting the election results is essential for democracy. Any new government - of the left, centre, or a broader coalition - could quickly fall victim to a no-confidence vote from the opposition if it has not secured sufficient support. One commentator has said that it will have to seek to pass laws on a case by case basis, with ad hoc agreements. For more details about how Marine le Pen’s dreams have unravelled - her party unexpectedly came third in the elections - see