Category: News Story

STORY

The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Darul-Uloom School London after trustees failed to resolve a long-running dispute over ownership of the land on which the school operates. The regulator says its enquiries indicate the site is held on trust for the charity rather than belonging to any individual, and it has warned the stalemate risks putting charitable property at serious risk.

The move escalates earlier engagement by the Commission, which had set repeated deadlines for the trustees to bring the matter to a conclusion. The inquiry will examine the administration, management and governance of the charity, including whether trustees have complied with their legal duties in handling the dispute. The scope may be widened if further regulatory issues emerge.

Darul-Uloom School London has been registered since 1995 and provides Islamic and national curriculum education to children and young people. The Commission previously opened a separate statutory inquiry in 2018 following an altercation on the charity’s premises; that case concluded in May 2022 with findings of serious misconduct and mismanagement, and two former trustees were disqualified.

STORY

The Office for National Statistics has said that inflation rose by an unexpected 3.8% in July, bringing into question the Bank of England’s decision to cut interest rates. The ONS said that transport, particularly air fares, made the largest upward contribution to the monthly increase which was a little higher than the Bank of England had anticipated. The increase was the highest since January 2024, but the Bank of England said that it was committed to bringing down inflation to the target 2%.

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A High Court judge has granted Epping Forest District Council an interim injunction to stop the Bell Hotel in Essex being used to house asylum seekers, a decision lawyers for the Home Office warned could trigger copycat legal bids by other councils and heap fresh pressure on an already stretched accommodation system for migrants. Mr Justice Eyre ordered the operators to cease use of the site for asylum housing by early September while the case proceeds, after ruling the change of use breached planning controls. The council argued the venue no longer functions as a hotel and that continued use had inflamed local tensions.

The ruling follows weeks of protests outside the Bell Hotel, some involving far-right groups, after criminal charges were brought against individuals staying at the site. The council told the court that closing the venue would reduce the risk of further disorder and improve safety for both residents and asylum seekers. The judge allowed time for compliance and the owners may still seek to appeal. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s late attempt to intervene was rejected, with the court noting the Home Office had known about the case since 12 August. In submissions, counsel for the Home Office said the shortage of asylum accommodation was “acute” and cautioned that if Epping succeeded there could be similar applications elsewhere.

STORY

The UK and the Republic of Korea have pledged to accelerate work on an upgraded free trade agreement and expand cooperation across technology, defence industry and clean energy after a Senior Economic Dialogue held in Seoul on 18 August 2025 co-chaired by Second Vice Minister Kim Jina and UK Indo-Pacific minister Catherine West. Officials said five rounds of talks on the enhanced UK–ROK FTA have concluded and both sides aim to finish negotiations by the end of 2025. They also signalled support for a first UK-ROK Investment Dialogue and for enabling a Joint Defence Exports memorandum of understanding to spur defence industrial collaboration.

The communiqué highlights plans to deepen science and technology links in artificial intelligence, quantum, engineering biology and space, with both governments backing their Digital Partnership and the next Digital Partnership Forum. On economic security, London and Seoul will step up work with like-minded partners on resilient supply chains for critical minerals through the Minerals Security Partnership.

Energy transition featured prominently, with agreement to strengthen the UK-ROK Clean Energy Partnership ahead of COP30 and to explore cooperation on nuclear fuel supply chains, including potential UK investment in LEU and HALEU capabilities. Development cooperation will continue under the Strategic Development Partnership, including workshops to align ODA implementation systems by the end of 2025, and both countries discussed the upcoming eighth replenishment of the Global Fund, which the UK will co-host with South Africa.

The two countries also committed to closer coordination in multilateral forums including the G7, G20 and CPTPP, and welcomed proposals to strengthen links between business, parliamentarians and academia through a UK-Korea High Level Forum. They agreed to hold regular Senior Economic Dialogues to track progress and identify new areas for cooperation.

STORY

Joseph Boam has been removed as deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council after just three months in the post. Party sources confirmed he is no longer the deputy leader of the council and has also left his cabinet role overseeing adult social care, with Reform UK saying the 22-year-old has been moved to a more minor support role.

Boam was elected in May and appointed to the leadership team as Reform formed a minority administration at County Hall. His departure from the deputy role follows weeks of scrutiny and internal unease within the group, though accounts of the reasons for the dismissal are currently unclear. One party source characterised the process as a decision following “inner machinations” and said it was not due to a specific breach, while separate reporting highlighted prior controversy over Boam’s social media activity.

Reform UK remains the largest group on the council following May’s local elections, running a minority administration under leader Dan Harrison. The party has not announced a permanent replacement for the deputy leadership.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer said President Donald Trump’s efforts have brought the prospect of ending Russia’s war in Ukraine “closer than ever,” while insisting the next step must be further talks involving President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a statement issued today, Starmer said he had spoken with Zelenskyy, Trump and European partners this morning and that all sides stood ready to support the next phase of diplomacy.

Starmer welcomed the openness of the United States, alongside Europe, to provide robust security guarantees to Ukraine as part of any agreement, calling it “important progress” that would help deter further aggression from Moscow. He added that the UK will continue tightening sanctions on Russia “until [Putin] stops his barbaric assault,” noting the measures have already had a punishing impact. The Prime Minister reiterated that Britain’s support for Ukraine will continue “as long as it takes.”

STORY

The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Edmund Kell Unitarian Church and Elizabeth Kell Community Hall amid concerns that almost £300,000 may be unaccounted for, alongside questions over governance and safeguarding at the Southampton-based charity. The regulator said it began engaging with the excepted charity in April after trustees applied to change its structure. During that process, the Commission reviewed accounts and obtained information about the charity’s investments, identifying funds initially estimated at around £290,000 that could not be accounted for, prompting the escalation to a formal inquiry.

Investigators will examine whether trustees have fulfilled their legal duties, the adequacy of financial controls, and whether there has been any loss or misappropriation of charitable funds. The scope also covers the sufficiency of safeguarding arrangements, including potentially unmanaged risks relating to a connected individual. The Commission may widen the inquiry if further regulatory issues emerge. The charity is “excepted”, meaning it is not required to register with the Commission but is still subject to charity law and regulation. The inquiry was formally opened on 29 April 2025 under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011. At its conclusion, the Commission intends to publish a report setting out the issues examined, actions taken, and outcomes.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited 10 Downing Street today for high-level talks with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, just 24 hours before a pivotal meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Arriving to a warm welcome outside the famous black door, Zelenskyy was greeted with a warm handshake and brief exchange before the two leaders moved inside for discussions lasting around an hour.

The talks covered a wide range of issues, including long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, expansion of drone production and the UK’s role in the PURL weapons supply programme. The pair also discussed the 100-year UK–Ukraine partnership, reflecting both sides’ desire for deep and enduring ties. Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity and emphasised that the UK would be ready to intensify pressure on Russia if required.

The visit takes place against a backdrop of continued Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, alongside Ukrainian counterattacks targeting Russian oil facilities. With Trump signalling openness to the idea of security guarantees for Kyiv but offering few specifics, the London meeting is widely seen as a move by Zelenskyy to secure strong backing from the UK and the EU before potentially decisive talks between Washington and Moscow.

STORY

Anas al-Sharif, a 28-year-old Al Jazeera journalist, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on 10 August 2025, near the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Al-Sharif, who had been reporting on the ongoing conflict, is among a growing list of journalists targeted in the region, sparking widespread condemnation from international press freedom groups. It is thought that four other journalists were killed during the same airstrike, which has received international condemnation.

The Israeli military confirmed the airstrike but alleged that al-Sharif was involved with Hamas, a claim that has been vehemently disputed by Al Jazeera and numerous human rights organisations. According to the network, there is no substantiated evidence to support these accusations, and the attack is seen as part of a broader pattern of targeting journalists. Al Jazeera has described al-Sharif as “one of Gaza’s bravest journalists,” and has vowed to continue his work despite the tragic loss. His death highlights the risks that journalists face in conflict zones, particularly in Gaza, where press freedoms are becoming increasingly restricted.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his Government’s intention to swiftly seize control of more areas within the Gaza Strip, particularly Gaza City and central refugee camps. The goal, he stated, is to install Israeli “security responsibility” and set up a civilian administration without oversight from Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu framed the move as a necessary step to end the war and ensure national security. He stressed the operation would be limited in duration and followed along by aid corridors supplying food, water and medical assistance to civilians displaced by the fighting.

Yet amid his rationale of “freeing Palestine from terrorism,” critics warned this strategy could devastate Gaza further. International leaders, Germany, the UN, and the EU among them, have condemned the plan as a dangerous escalation that risks turning Gaza into a humanitarian disaster zone. The UN Secretary-General flagged potential mass displacement and a rise in civilian casualties, urging immediate reconsideration. Meanwhile, humanitarian organisations are alarmed as Gaza is already facing a deteriorating humanitarian crisis, marked by widespread malnutrition, constrained aid delivery, and rising child fatalities. Critics say even with assurances of aid, the proposed military incursion could worsen suffering rather than alleviate it.

Netanyahu’s proposal comes against the backdrop of intense conflict that began with Hamas’ October 2023 attacks, followed by months of Israeli military operations. While Israel claims to control roughly three-quarters of Gaza, Gaza City remains a stronghold for Hamas, with a population enduring months of bombardment, displacement and poverty.