Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, has produced a new Christmas film, an adaptation of the beloved 1972 novel The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Jenkins describes the process of securing the rights to the novel as miraculous, crediting God and a fan of The Chosen for the breakthrough. The novel, which Jenkins calls ‘such a Jesus story’, tells the tale of six misfit children who unexpectedly take over their small town’s Christmas pageant, ultimately revealing the true meaning of the holiday. Jenkins and his wife have a personal tradition of reading the book every Christmas, and he spent years praying to obtain the rights to make the film. He was finally able to acquire them, partly due to the mother of one of the rights-holders being a fan of The Chosen. The film opens in US cinemas on 8 November, marking what Jenkins sees as a divinely timed calling fulfilled.

Chanen Johnson, wife of New Orleans Saints player Juwan Johnson, shared a heartwarming video of her husband reading Proverbs 31 over their newborn daughter in the hospital. The video, posted on 11 October, quickly gained nearly 100,000 likes. In the clip, Juwan reads aloud the passage praising a wife of noble character, saying, “Charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Chanen's Instagram post highlights their deep Christian faith, which is reflected in both their lives. She captioned the video, "POV: You just gave him a baby girl and this is what he does.” In a previous post, Chanen mentioned how Juwan read Scripture to her before childbirth, easing her anxiety. Juwan's faith is also visible on his social media, where he emphasises ‘Jesus over everything else’ and encourages fellow believers to seek God’s face rather than His hand. His testimony highlights the importance of faith and surrender to God’s will.

As winter approaches, UK health experts are warning of a potential ‘tripledemic’ involving Covid, flu, and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The past two winters have seen high numbers of deaths due to flu or Covid, with December and January being the peak months. To mitigate the impact, the NHS is encouraging vaccinations, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly, pregnant women, and people with long-term health conditions. Over 2.8 million are eligible for the Covid jab, and 4.2 million for flu shots. These vaccines are essential not only for saving lives but also for reducing hospital admissions and alleviating pressure on NHS services. Symptoms of Covid, flu, and RSV can overlap, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath, making it difficult to distinguish between them. Vaccination, along with good hygiene practices and early diagnosis, is crucial in protecting against the severe impacts of these respiratory viruses this winter.

Amid fears of changes to tax-free ISAs in the upcoming Budget, Britons are rushing to maximise their savings in these accounts. Concerns stem from remarks by Rachel Reeves, who previously suggested a cap of £500,000 on tax-free ISAs, sparking fears that she might target ISAs for a tax raid. As a result, investments in stocks and shares ISAs have surged; one provider reported a 156% increase in contributions in September compared to the same period last year. The number of ISA millionaires has tripled in three years, with over three thousand holding more than £1 million in their ISAs, and thousands more nearing that figure. Analysts credit this growth to the power of compounding and investing in stocks and shares rather than just relying on cash ISAs. Proposed changes could reduce the £20,000 annual contribution limit or introduce a cap, worrying investors seeking to save for their future amid an increasingly taxed environment.