Middle East

Featured
Humanists UK
Government to keep 50% faith cap on free school admissions

Humanists are celebrating a partial victory after the Department for Education announced it will keep restrictions on faith-based admissions criteria in new state-funded free schools in England – the so-called ‘50% cap’. However, Humanists UK, which led the campaign against these proposals, has said it is certain that new schools with 100% selective admissions policies will nevertheless… Read more »

Latest articles

News
Reports claim HMS Cornwall was in internationally-disputed waters
Murky waters confuse MoD’s Iran hostage stance

Internal Ministry of Defence (MoD) documents on the 2007 Iran hostage crisis highlight a clash with what defence secretary Des Browne told parliament last year. The papers suggest the 15 Royal Navy personnel captured by Iran in 2007 were taken in internationally-disputed waters, rather than official Iraqi territory. The Times newspaper claims to have obtained… Read more »

News
High Court rules dropping of BAE-Saudi probe 'unlawful'
Dropping of BAE-Saudi Arabia probe ‘was unlawful’

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) acted unlawfully when it abandoned its investigation into alleged Saudi Arabian slush fund payments at BAE Systems, the high court has ruled. The SFO halted its corruption probe in December 2006 after pressure from the government, citing national security concerns. Tony Blair’s administration said Saudi Arabia was threatening to withdraw… Read more »