Just a jaw-dropping paragraph in Trevor Phillips's column for The Times. This is a policy that, by his own account, has left parents of a particular race too frightened to walk their children to school. And that's the example he chooses of the "vigour" we "need". www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Delighted to see Hotwells School in Bristol maintaining its secular status - and not being taken over by a religious school. Schools should be MORE inclusive and pluralistic - not segregating children according to religion or forcing a particular religion on them. discover.swns.com/2025/11/tv-p...

The state — and state schools — must not teach any religion as truth or push it on children. It’s simple: would Christian parents want their kids taught Islam as fact? Or Muslims want their kids taught Christianity? Exactly. That’s why we keep all religious indoctrination out of public education!

"Today is one of the most difficult moments in our history" says the Ukrainian President who stayed to lead his country against Russia's invasion. It seems he and his European allies are willing to reject Donald Trump's Russia-favoured peace plan, and risk the consequences of losing vital aid.

Money, lies, and god, with Katherine Stewart – could America’s religious right destroy democracy here too? | Humanists UK Convention 2025 – Humanists UK share.google/akmm2qcahYcY...

The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford

A very welcome ruling in Northern Ireland - supporting that basic right of freedom of/from religion. The state - and state schools - should not teach a religion as truth or push it on children. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c2...

'This is what we've been working for since we set up shop 10 years ago.' Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator speaking on BBC Talkback. The ruling means the RE curriculum will have to be re-written because it currently amounts to 'indoctrination.' soundcloud.com/humanistsuk/...

BREAKING: The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of a Belfast-based non-religious father and his child that the exclusively Christian teaching of Religious Education and mandatory Christian collective worship in Northern Ireland are discriminatory under human rights law.

This ruling should also prompt the governments in England, Scotland, and Wales to revisit the requirement for mandatory collective worship. We hope it is now repealed. You can read the full story on our website: humanists.uk/2025/11/19/s...

It seems Ukraine is once again being forced to accept a Russia-US brokered peace deal that amounts to Moscow’s maximalist demands & Kyiv’s capitulation. Two unknowns: whether Trump saw Zelensky’s corruption scandal as political opportunity, and what will happen if he refuses.

This perfectly encapsulates why we need the BBC

Information underpins democracy and the BBC is a key part of that. We need to protect our institutions open.substack.com/pub/christin...

Faith schools in the UK are a problem. As @profaliceroberts.bsky.social says here, every child deserves the chance to explore the world through evidence and reason. But the divisive and discriminatory nature of faith schools is failing thousands of children. 🧵 www.justgiving.com/page/nofaith...

You can be assured that tendentious memo by Michael Prescott, and the co-ordinated combination of the Telegraph, Mail, Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and the White House means that the BBC hit job has been long in the planning, and has some insider help

Today one Russian paper suggests the US midterms “could undermine Donald Trump’s power & hurt Russia.” Other papers focus on Russia’s economic problems: “Zero growth in the 4th quarter…a gradual increase in crisis phenomena in manufacturing.” #ReadingRussia

I don’t think it’s about left/right politics. It’s just about whether you believe in kindness, respect, dignity, equality. And never, ever sacrificing vulnerable minorities on the altar of political ideology.

Today one Russian paper warns that “one Poseidon drone would be enough to send that cocky little island [Britain] to the bottom of the sea.” Other papers: “[China’s] imports of Russian oil down 21%”, plus “increased risk of bankruptcy” for Russian companies. #ReadingRussia

I’ve been a bit quiet - away in Greece, visiting archaeological sites, swimming in azure seas - and for the first time in ages I left my laptop at home! I was back to writing today with renewed vim and vigor, full of energy and ideas… 1/4

Some Russian papers showcase the country’s new nuclear-powered cruise missile and underwater drone. Another paper: “Citizens have begun to actively economise on food.” #ReadingRussia

I have a very bad feeling about this...

In today’s Russian papers: nuclear-powered cruise missiles, poisonous snakes and economic pressures: “Russian industry is balancing on the verge of an all-industry collapse.” #ReadingRussia

“A Led By Donkeys spokesperson said: “It’s good the police now accept it’s not illegal to project a film about Donald Trump’s close relationship with America’s most notorious child sex trafficker on to a wall.” www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

From today’s Russian papers: “There isn’t a single reason Moscow should agree to a ceasefire [in Ukraine].” Same paper accuses Trump of “intellectual laziness.” Another: “Everything we’ve seen suggests [Trump] is not ready to take tough measures against Russia.” #ReadingRussia

The US trade deal with South Korea includes the creation of a $350bn investment fund that will be controlled by Donald Trump.

From his post announcing the deal: "South Korea will give to the United States $350 Billion Dollars for Investments owned and controlled by the United States, and selected by myself, as President."

Unless there's some fine print to this, Trump could, in theory, invest $350bn in right-wing news companies, parochial schools or South Florida golf courses.

University research has amazingly positive, real-world impacts around the globe. This cancellation of funding - funding that had been granted - has immediate negative effects. Heart-breaking. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Fantastic to see this - the law in England & Wales catching up with where we’re already at, morally, ethically & in practice. Really important to make sure women’s rights are protected in law - we’ve seen how easy it is to erode those rights in other countries.

Great news as judge rules that nih grants that were abruptly axed should be reinstated. Judge said “If putting these words together, DEI, is somehow offensive ... does that mean [the government’s] policy is homogeneity, inequity, and exclusion” 🧪

Trump's attacks on Harvard are about more than reforming higher education. It's the latest in an effort to erode a traditional pillar of support for American liberalism that has been going on for decades. www.bbc.com/news/article...

A really fascinating article - for anyone interested in how misinformation and politics are related. Spoiler alert! “Misinformation and radical-right populism must hence be understood as inextricable and synergistic—two expressions of the same political moment.”

What an amazing piece of life-affirming, humane, compassionate good news!