International
Muslim student loses High Court challenge against Michaela School’s prayer ban
Muslim student loses High Court challenge against Michaela School’s prayer ban
Michaela Community School in Wembley, led by headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh, insisted its approach promoted ‘inclusion and social cohesion between pupils’
A Muslim student at a London school once dubbed Britain’s strictest has lost a High Court challenge against its ban on prayer rituals.
The pupil, who cannot be named, took legal action against Michaela Community School in Wembley claiming its policy was discriminatory and “uniquely” affects her faith due to its ritualised nature.
In an 83-page judgment dismissing the student’s case, Mr Justice Linden said: “It seems to me that this is a case…where the claimant at the very least impliedly accepted, when she enrolled at the school, that she would be subject to restrictions on her ability to manifest her religion.
“She knew that the school is secular and her own evidence is that her mother wished her to go there because it was known to be strict.
“She herself says that, long before the prayer ritual policy was introduced, she and her friends believed that prayer was not permitted at school and she therefore made up for missed prayers when she got home.”
The judge upheld the student’s challenge to a decision to temporarily exclude her from the school.
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Katharine Birbalsingh, the founder and headteacher of Michaela Community School, has hailed the ruling as a victory for all schools.
“The court’s decision is therefore a victory for all schools.
“Schools should not be forced by one child and her mother to change its approach simply because they have decided they don’t like something at the school.”
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan also welcomed the judgment on the free school’s prayer rituals ban.
She said: “I have always been clear that headteachers are best placed to make decisions in their school.
“Michaela is an outstanding school and I hope this judgment gives all school leaders the confidence to make the right decisions for their pupils.”
The case was heard at the High Court in January. Ms Birbalsingh, insisted its approach promoted “inclusion and social cohesion between pupils”.
She had planned to appeal the ruling if the school lost, telling the Sunday Times after the January hearing: “I will not divide children according to race and religion; it will not happen under my watch.”
The court was told the pupil, referred to only as TTT, was making a “modest” request to be allowed to pray for around five minutes at lunch time, on dates when faith rules required it, but not during lessons.
She argued the school’s stance on prayer – one of the five pillars of Islam – unlawfully breached her right to religious freedom and was “the kind of discrimination which makes religious minorities feel alienated from society”.
The policy was first introduced in March last year, the court heard.
Additional reporting by PA News Agency
Muslim student loses High Court challenge against Michaela School’s prayer ban
inews.co.uk
International
UK says it’s developing radio frequency to blast out drones
UK says it’s developing radio frequency to blast out drones
The United Kingdom is making strides in military technology, developing a cutting-edge weapon using radio waves to counter drones.
Known as the Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW), this innovative system utilizes radio waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components of enemy vehicles and drones, halting their operations or causing them to fall out of the sky.
Operable across land, air, and sea, the RFDEW boasts a range of up to 1 kilometre, with potential for future extensions. Its development follows UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s commitment to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.
With an estimated cost of 0.10 Pounds (0.12 dollars) per radio waveshot, the RFDEW offers a cost-effective alternative to conventional missiles and holds promise for effectively countering drone swarms.
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Utilizing a mobile power source, the technology generates pulses of radio frequency energy in a directed beam, capable of delivering sequenced shots to single or multiple targets. It can be mounted on various military vehicles, enhancing flexibility and adaptability on the battlefield.
Minister of State for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge highlighted the significance of such advancements in enhancing the effectiveness and safety of UK armed forces. He emphasized the importance of defending against unmanned systems, especially in light of recent global conflicts.
The RFDEW system will undergo rigorous testing with British soldiers during summer. Developed under Project Hersa by a collaborative team from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), in partnership with UK industry, this technology represents a significant leap in military capability.
DSTL chief executive Paul Hollinshead underscored the transformative impact of such systems, emphasizing their potential to provide decisive operational advantages and enhance national security. He credited decades of research, expertise, and investment in science and technology for enabling the development of world-class capabilities like the RFDEW.
UK says it’s developing radio frequency to blast out drones
International
Just in: In assassination attempt, Slovakia’s Prime Minister shot multiple times
Just in: In assassination attempt, Slovakia’s Prime Minister shot multiple times
Robert Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister, has been taken to hospital in a “life-threatening condition” after he was shot multiple times on Wednesday.
According to his official social media account, the 59-year-old leader was hit in the abdomen outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova.
Police have detained a suspect. There was no immediate information on the motive.
Reuters reported Zuzana Caputova, President of Slovakia, as condemning the “brutal and ruthless” attack on Fico.
She said in a televised statement, “A physical attack on the prime minister is, first of all, an attack on a person, but it is also an attack on democracy.”
The Russian ambassador to Slovakia Igor Bratchikov also condemned the shooting of Fico.
“I strongly condemn this act of violence and express my conviction of the necessity of punishment for the perpetrators,” Bratchikov said in a letter to Fico that the Russian embassy shared on its Facebook page.
Fico, a third-time premier with the left-wing Smer (Direction) party, won Slovakia’s September 30 parliamentary elections, staging a political comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian and anti-American message.
International
Updated: Three years after separation, Melinda resigns as co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Updated: Three years after separation, Melinda resigns as co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Melinda French Gates said on Monday she would resign as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that she helped lead for about 24 years.
In May 2021, the couple announced their plans to divorce after 27 years of marriage. Despite their breakup, they agreed to continue working together at the foundation.
But that other agreement has broken down too.
“After careful consideration and reflection, I have decided to step down from my role as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” Melinda, 59, wrote in a statement on Instagram on Monday, May 13.
“My last day at the foundation will be June 7.”
As part of her separation agreement from former husband and founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, Melinda said she would receive additional $12.5 billion for her charitable work.
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According to her, she plans to put the funds in her next venture of helping women and their families.
“I will tell you more about what this will look like in the near future,” she added.
Melinda also said, “This is not a decision I came to lightly.
“I am immensely proud of the foundation that Bill and I built together and of the extraordinary work it is doing to address inequities around the world.”
Three years after separation, Melinda resigns as co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates
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