British Isles

Many at risk of flu this Christmas

19 Dec 2019
The flu season has started early this year. Doctors are predicting a rise in cases, with hundreds of thousands possibly having Christmas ruined by flu. GP consultations for flu-like illness were up by…

280,000 homeless in England this Christmas

19 Dec 2019
Shelter revealed that 135,000 children are homeless in Britain, one in 200 people in England are without a settled home, and 280,000 people are recorded as homeless. However, the charity pointed out that…

Northern Ireland: strike and Stormont

19 Dec 2019
On 19 December, 15,500 NI nurses began a twelve-hour strike over pay and staff numbers. The NI secretary, Julian Smith, believes the action illustrates why it is important that power-sharing is restored. He…

Modern slavery: prayer and praise

19 Dec 2019
Pray that the new UK government will prioritise efforts to eradicate modern slavery, both in the UK and around the world. Pray that the departments with responsibilities to tackle slavery will be strengthened,…

‘When we’re weak he comforts us’

13 Dec 2019
A Christian footballer has expressed how his family is leaning on God following the recent death of his two-year-old daughter. Benik Afobe has spoken publicly in the wake of Amora's death on 29…

Women rescued

13 Dec 2019
After raiding fifteen sites in Luton, police found eleven Romanian and Hungarian women in their twenties, speaking little or no English, believed to be victims of sexual exploitation. Eight men were arrested and…

Intercessor Focus: new ministers, new season

13 Dec 2019
We do not know who will be ministers in Boris Johnson’s new cabinet, but we can pray that it will be God who develops and reshapes it and its various offices. May each…

Christmas cards 'deeply offensive'

12 Dec 2019
The owner of a card company has said Christmas is not just about religion after producing a range of cards which mock Christianity. One card reads, ‘Mary just needs to admit she slept…

Catholic politician sues Lib Dems

12 Dec 2019
Just days after Robert Flello, a practising Roman Catholic, was selected to stand for the Lib Dems for this week's general election, he was stood down and told by party officials that his…

CofE Christmas advert

12 Dec 2019
On 8 December the Church of England released its 2019 Christmas Advertisement, putting real-life stars at the heart of its campaign to invite people to church this Christmas. Dragons, talking carrots, and ET…