UK teacher fired for telling child Britain is still a Christian state
A primary school teacher who told a Muslim pupil that 'Britain is still a Christian state' was dismissed and reported to safeguarding authorities after the comment was deemed hurtful to Islam, triggering a police investigation into an alleged hate crime. The incident occurred after the teacher reprimanded boys for washing their feet in school sinks — an action linked to prayer preparation. He reportedly explained that the King is head of the Church of England and that Islam is a minority religion in the UK. Though the police later dropped the case, the school dismissed him, and a safeguarding officer recommended he be barred from working with children. The teacher successfully appealed the ban and is now suing the local authority with the support of the Free Speech Union (FSU). Lawyers argue that prayer had been informally banned on the playground and that expectations around behaviour had been unclear. Lord Toby Young of the FSU said it was alarming that stating an 'incontestably true' fact could lead to such consequences, warning of growing threats to free speech within education.
Ukraine: Zelensky’s response to Trump’s criticisms
Donald Trump’s push to end the war in Ukraine is increasingly shaped by his impatience with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders who he believes are obstructing peace and future US–Russia economic ties. Stating that ‘Russia has the upper hand’ (a claim disputed by experts), he insisted Zelensky must ‘play ball’. Meanwhile, Zelensky and European partners worked to revise the US-led peace proposal, removing provisions which they considered unacceptable and stressing the need for firm security guarantees. Many commentators, alarmed by Trump’s pressure on Kyiv and his favourable posture toward Moscow, warn that conceding to Russia would reward aggression and endanger broader European security. In reply to Trump’s claim that Zelensky is using the war as an excuse to avoid holding elections, Zelensky has offered to do so if security could be guaranteed, although it would mean altering the constitution: see
Responses to Trump’s criticisms of ‘weak, decaying’ Europe
Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Europe, portraying the continent as weak’, ‘decaying’, and threatened by immigration. Using inflammatory language, he echoed ‘great replacement’ conspiracy themes, claiming that European countries risk becoming non-viable due to immigration. He insisted European cities such as London and Paris have fundamentally altered, and once again made a personal attack on London’s mayor Sadiq Khan. His remarks followed the recent release of a new US national security strategy warning of Europe’s supposed ‘civilisational erasure’ and signalling support for nationalist parties. European leaders reacted with dismay: Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected the idea that Europe needs saving, calling parts of the strategy unacceptable. Pope Leo XIV also cautioned that the shift in US policy risks damaging the long-standing transatlantic alliance, and European Council president António Costa warned Trump not to interfere in Europe’s affairs (see).
Israel again the deadliest country for journalists
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) report that 2025 was the third consecutive year in which Israel was identified as the deadliest country for journalists; 29 Palestinian reporters were killed amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. The organisation stated that 67 journalists were killed worldwide, noting that many deaths occurred in conflict zones where reporters were ‘targeted for their work’. It criticised what it called a failure of international bodies to protect journalists, and highlighted a global decline in governmental courage to defend press freedom. Mexico ranked second with nine journalist deaths, while Ukraine and Sudan also remained highly dangerous environments for media workers. RSF also said that 503 journalists are currently imprisoned globally, with China (121), Russia (48), and Myanmar (47) leading in detentions; 135 journalists are missing, and twenty are being held hostage. Press freedom groups continue to condemn Israel’s restriction of independent media access to Gaza, where monitoring groups claim that hundreds of journalists have been killed over the past two years.
Because of your prayers and support, IPC has experienced one of our most fruitful years ever. We have seen a supernatural widening of the global prayer family and a deepening of unity across nations, denominations, and generations.
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As we look toward 2026, the opportunities before us are extraordinary. Across the world, God is opening doors for united, strategic, Scripture-anchored prayer like never before. Nations are shaking, harvest fields are ripening, and the global Church is awakening a longing for deeper connection, collaboration, and breakthrough.
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