Plans are being laid out which could see pupils who come from a single ethnic or religious community required to mix with children from other backgrounds.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid will call on schools to teach “British values”, with one of the key measures being to boost English language skills.

There are currently 770 thousand people in Britain that can speak hardly any English at all.

Daniel Singleton is the national executive director of Faith Action – a national network of faith-based and community organisations.

He told Premier teaching people English isn’t an attack on other cultures.

“There’s not any shortage of people who want to learn English and what we have to remember is that just because someone is not speaking English, doesn’t mean necessarily they’re speaking the same language as all the other people they’re around,” he said during Premier’s News Hour.

“So actually, English is the common factor that draws people together.

A consultation paper on the plans – launched by Mr Javid with the backing of £50 million of Government money – follows the 2016 Casey Review, which warned that social cohesion cannot be taken for granted in multicultural UK.

He said: “Britain can rightly claim to be one of the most successfully diverse societies in the world. But we cannot ignore the fact that in too many parts…

The Jan Linders chain of shops have sold the Trappist beer for the equivalent of £9 a bottle, almost five times more than the monks charge.

The Brothers of the Abbey of Saint Sixtus in Westvleteren in Flanders normally sell Trappist in a glass at a bar opposite their abbey and, for the fortunate, a special phone line can get a customer two crates of 24 bottles for up to £39 which they need to pick up at the abbey and provide their postcode for in advance.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the abbey’s spokesperson said: “A price of almost ten euro per bottle is contrary to the ethical standards and values the monks stand for”.

They added that the monks do not make it for profit but just to make a living and any profit is given to charity.

A spokesperson from the supermarket chain said they had made minimal profits and had bought it as a reward for loyal customers.

It appears to have been bought through middle men, somewhat undermining the exclusivity of the beer.

The abbey responded: “We especially hope that it will not happen again.”

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Stephen Carter from Middle East Concern said although Andrew Brunson’s accusations are shocking, formal charges could lead to his freedom.

“He’s been held for nearly a year and a half just on the basis of an accusation,” he said.

“But now there’s a formal charge, a court will have to decide whether the case will proceed to trial.

“It’s expected that it will proceed to trial. That does provide an opportunity for acquittal, potentially. That’s what we’re praying for.”

Brunson was jailed in December 2016 over alleged ties with the Fetullah Gulen movement; an organisation authorities believe was connected with a failed coup in Turkey the summer before.

Gulen is a well-known political opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who is in the United States.
 
After almost a year and a half in jail, Brunson was charged with being a member and leading actor of the terrorist group on Tuesday. He has consistently denied the accusations.

Although Carter remains hopeful for a good outcome he said many political commentators have warned “there’s not a great deal of optimism that Turkey is in the mood to do such a deal at the moment”.

He added that the pastor’s imprisonment isn’t a typical case of Christian persecution and noted that the US and Turkey have a strained political relationship.

Carter told Premier: “This is primarily because of the passport in his pocket rather…

The director of inter-orthodox relations for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland spoke before Britain announced it is expelling 23 Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Speaking with Premier, Fr Joseph Skinner said: “This attempted murder is a criminal and evil action but we should not rush to apportion blame before we know the full facts [and] before there is real proof.”

MPs were also told by Prime Minister Theresa May in the House of Commons that the UK Government and the Royal Family would be boycotting this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

She said the UK has also ended high-level contacts with Russia and that the country was “culpable” for the attack which took place on Sunday 4th March and involved Novichok – a substance developed in Soviet Union.

Russia, which has fiercely opposed the suggestion it was involved in the attack on Mr Skripal, called the expulsion of its diplomats from the UK “unacceptable, unjustified and short-sighted”.

Asked whether he personally felt the UK Government has rushed in its response, Fr Skinner replied: “Yes, the Government’s appointed itself judge and jury.”

Fr Skinner insisted that the Russian Orthodox Church is separate from politics but it prays regularly for “peace of…

The 76-year-old passed away “peacefully” at his home in Cambridge early Wednesday morning, according to his family, after battling motor neurone disease for many decades.

Most Rev John Sentamu tweeted: “Stephen Hawking a giant of science & humanity whose hope & trust enabled him to keep the greatest equaliser – death – at a long distance.

“Very honoured he came to my graduation at Cambridge. Sojourner Truth go well and may the Angels of God welcome you! Love and Prayers to your daughters.”

The renowned British scientist was given just years to live after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in his twenties.

The Archbishop of Canterbury and Prime Minister also paid tribute to the professor.

Professor Stephen Hawking’s contribution to science was as limitless as the universe he devoted his life to understanding. His was a life lived with bravery and passion. As we pray for all those who mourn him, may he rest in peace.

— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) March 14, 2018

Theresa May said he was “one of the greatest scientists of his generation” and “his legacy will not be forgotten”, while Most Revd Justin Welby highlighted Prof Hawking’s contribution to science.

He tweeted: “Professor Stephen Hawking’s contribution to science was as limitless as the universe he devoted his life to understanding.

“His was a life lived with bravery and passion.

“As we pray…