‘Non-religious’ Brits believe in God or afterlife
A new study reveals surprising levels of spiritual belief among Britons who identify as 'non-religious’. While 46% of the population now describe themselves this way, a quarter of this group still believe in God or a higher power. Broadened to include belief in 'something beyond the natural world,' the figure rises to 45%. One third (33%) of non-religious respondents also believe in some form of afterlife. Interestingly, some who identify with a religion see it only as cultural, with 15% denying belief in God. The findings align with this year’s Bible Society research showing a 'quiet revival’ and Youth for Christ data indicating over half of young people are open to spirituality. Dr Rob Barward-Symmons of the Bible Society suggests rising interest reflects a backlash against loneliness in the digital age, with young people particularly seeking meaning and healing. Analysts see opportunity for Christians to share the gospel with a generation searching for truth and hope.
France: Macron’s options after prime minister ousted
France faces a huge political crisis after lawmakers voted to oust prime minister François Bayrou’s minority government over his controversial austerity measures. His plan to cut €43.8 billion from the budget, including the elimination of public holidays, proved too bitter for lawmakers to swallow, leading to his removal by a wide margin. Emmanuel Macron must now name a fifth prime minister in less than two years, but his options are fraught. Any new premier will confront the same fractured parliament, where ideological divides between socialists and conservatives leave little space for compromise. A snap election would most likely lead to another hung parliament, while a technical caretaker government risks political paralysis. Though Macron’s resignation as president is highly improbable, his authority appears diminished. Financial markets are watching nervously as doubts grow over France’s ability to curb its soaring debt and deficits. Latest update: a new prime minister has been sworn in, but a grassroots group ‘Let’s block everything’ organised widespread protests, some violent, on 10 September. See
Poland: reactions to Russia’s drone attacks
Russia’s unprecedented drone strikes on Poland on 9 September are framed as both a test and a warning to Europe and NATO. Moscow, adept at ‘salami-slicing’ escalation, is probing allied resolve with incremental provocations - from bombings in Kyiv to GPS jamming: each crossing a new line while eliciting mostly rhetoric. Similar tactics enabled the 2014 seizure of Crimea, and hitting Polish territory is a larger slice meant to measure the alliance’s willingness to honour Article 5. A direct military response is deemed unlikely, yet inaction risks projecting weakness and inviting the next escalation. Sanctions talk will grow, but prior rounds neither deterred invasion nor reversed it; energy sanctions that might bite remain politically constrained. The strikes also serve as a warning against deeper Western involvement in Ukraine: Russia’s deniable, ambiguous tactics could complicate any future allied deployment after a ceasefire. The core question: can NATO deter without stumbling into a wider war?
Qatar: Israeli airstrike on Hamas leaders
The dramatic airstrike by Israel on Hamas leaders in Qatar on 9 October marks a new twist in a war already destabilising the wider Middle East. Qatar, long considered Hamas’ political base and a central mediator in ceasefire negotiations, condemned the attack as a flagrant breach of international law, while regional powers including the UAE and Saudi Arabia denounced it as an assault on sovereignty. The strike targeted Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’ exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator, but reports indicate he and others survived. Coming just a day after Hamas’ armed wing killed six people in Jerusalem, the move risks collapsing fragile ceasefire talks. In Gaza City, Israeli evacuation orders have spread panic among civilians, many already displaced and trapped in worsening conditions. This year Israel has struck Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and Iranian-linked targets in Syria and Iran, heightening fears of a regional war.
