In Thailand, where less than one percent of the population is evangelical Christian, social media are proving to be a powerful tool for evangelism. Stephen Cox, part of an IMB team in Chiang Mai, has been using digital engagement to share testimonies of first-generation Thai believers who once sought fulfillment in Buddhism but found true peace in Christ. Recognising the shift from traditional evangelism to digital platforms, his team launched social media ads asking,'How can we pray for you? ' After national tragedies, including flooding in Chiang Mai and a tragic school bus fire in Bangkok, they created an ad addressing the world’s brokenness, linking to a gospel message and disaster relief resources. The results have been remarkable: the campaign has reached over 980,000 people, with 70,000 watching testimonies in full and over 500 reaching out to learn more. Churches in the USA funded the ads, while Thai believers followed up with those interested. Cox and his team continue to pray for many more to come to Christ through digital outreach.
Experts warn that the Government cannot boost economic growth without addressing the mental health crisis affecting young people. A coalition of four mental health organisations has called for urgent action, rejecting claims that the crisis is exaggerated or over-medicalised. The statistics are alarming: one in five children and young people struggle with anxiety or depression, and the number of 16-34-year-olds who say mental ill health limits their ability to work has quadrupled in a decade. The economic impact is staggering, with an estimated £24 billion lost annually in workplace productivity and £1 trillion in lifetime lost earnings. Additionally, the cost of delays in accessing support stands at £295 million per year. Campaigners are urging the Government to increase investment in mental health services, improve early intervention, and investigate social media’s role in rising mental distress. The government has pledged £26 million for new crisis centres and plans to provide specialist mental health professionals in schools, but critics say the response remains inadequate.
Keir Starmer has faced criticism in parliament over the UK’s agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, amid reports that the cost of the deal had risen from £9bn to £18bn. Both the Government and Mauritius denied the £18bn figure but have not provided an alternative amount. Under the agreement, the UK would retain a lease on Diego Garcia (home to a UK-US military airbase) for 99 years. However, the deal was paused for review after Donald Trump’s re-election, as some US Republicans fear it could benefit China. Mauritius’ new prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, has criticised the deal negotiated by his predecessor, citing concerns over inflation-proof payments. Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of 'shovelling money to Mauritius’ while cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners. Labour argues that growing international legal pressure has made the UK’s control of the islands unsustainable, while critics argue no binding international ruling has been made. The future of the military base remains a key point of debate.
Hundreds of thousands of women in the UK will be screened for breast cancer using AI technology in a groundbreaking trial designed to reduce waiting times and improve early detection. The £11 million trial will involve nearly 700,000 patients, replacing one of the two radiologists typically used to review mammograms with AI. Experts believe AI could increase accuracy and speed up diagnoses, allowing radiologists to focus on other areas of patient care. The trial will take place in thirty sites nationwide, with different AI technologies being tested to determine the most effective. Smaller studies have already suggested that AI may be better than human doctors at detecting breast cancer from mammograms. However, with a 40% shortfall in consultant radiologists expected by 2028, medical leaders emphasise the need for continued investment in screening services. Health secretary Wes Streeting, himself a cancer survivor, has pledged to prioritise early detection and patient care in the upcoming National Cancer Plan.
A panel of fourteen neonatal experts has questioned the convictions of Lucy Letby, claiming they did not find murders in their medical examination of evidence. Letby, a former neonatal nurse, was convicted in 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Her legal team continues to challenge the verdicts, with her case now under review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). At a press conference, retired medic Dr Shoo Lee argued that medical failings, not murder, were responsible for the babies' deaths. He cited poor hospital procedures, staff shortages, and delays in care as contributing factors. His evidence was previously rejected in Letby’s failed appeals. The CCRC is now assessing her case, though it does not determine guilt or innocence. Meanwhile, Letby is serving fifteen whole life orders in prison, with previous appeals unanimously dismissed by judges.
The Government has announced an extra £250 million in funding for flood defences in England, bringing total investment to a record £2.65 billion. The funding aims to protect 66,500 more properties over two years, following accusations that the previous government underfunded flood defences, leaving communities vulnerable. Floods minister Emma Hardy criticised past Conservative leadership, calling the situation a 'dereliction of duty’. She stated that flood assets were in their worst recorded condition, putting lives, businesses, and homes at risk. In response, the Government has approved 31 new projects and allocated £36 million for urgent repairs to defences damaged by extreme weather. With climate change increasing flood risks, the Government is also considering reforms to the 'flood formula, ' which determines funding based on property protection. The aim is to prioritise natural flood management alongside traditional defences. Critics, however, question the origins of this new funding and whether it repackages previous Conservative investments. As severe weather events become more frequent, long-term flood prevention remains a pressing issue.
Outlook bleak for theological education
06 Feb 2025
The future of theological education in the UK looks uncertain, with experts predicting that half of all Bible colleges may close within the next two years. Declining enrolment, financial struggles, and shifting educational models have left many institutions at risk. The CofE, which relies on these schools to train ministers, has seen a 40% drop in ordinands since 2019. Factors for this decline include secularisation, the cost-of-living crisis, and changing church dynamics. Some conservatives argue that a lack of doctrinal clarity within the CofE has contributed to the uncertainty. Others point to a global shift away from traditional seminary models, with institutions now exploring nonresidential programmes, microcredentials, and hybrid learning. St Mellitus and WTC have introduced flexible learning models to reach lay leaders and working professionals. Capernwray Bible School, which attracts mostly international students, sees a potential revival of faith through broader access to theological education. Experts believe these changes could reshape theological training for the future.
Sweden: ten dead after school shooting
06 Feb 2025
A mass shooting at an adult education centre in Örebro has left ten people dead, including the suspected gunman, in what prime minister Ulf Kristersson called ‘the worst mass shooting in Swedish history’. Police have stated that the suspect acted alone, and have ruled out ‘ideological motives’. A number of others were injured, and local hospitals cleared extra space so that they could treat victims. Witnesses described scenes of terror, with students attempting to aid the wounded as gunfire erupted. Authorities locked down nearby schools for safety, and emergency rooms were cleared for victims. Kristersson called the tragedy a ‘painful day’. He asked people to give police the freedom and the space they needed to do their investigations, and stressed that there was no further risk to attending school the next day.