The proportion of cancer patients diagnosed at early stages has reached a record high in England, with 58.7% of cases identified at stages one and two between September 2023 and August 2024. This marks a 2.7 percentage point rise since before the pandemic, significantly improving survival rates. Public awareness campaigns and innovative screening approaches, such as mobile lung and liver cancer screenings, have been credited for the progress. However, challenges remain. England is still well short of its target to diagnose 75% of cancers at early stages by 2028. Nearly one in three patients faces delays of over 62 days from urgent referrals to starting treatment. NHS England’s national cancer director, Dame Cally Palmer, acknowledged the progress but pointed out the need for further improvement, as the UK lags well behind other European nations. Cancer Research UK also called for a fully-funded national cancer plan to enhance resources and transform care. Early detection saved patients like Paul Nelson, 72, whose cancer was found through routine checks.
Scotland: NHS will struggle to last another year
02 Jan 2025
Scotland’s NHS faces a critical future: the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned it may not survive another year without urgent reforms. It has stressed the need for transformative changes to maintain the NHS’s founding principle of free care at the point of need. BMA chairman Dr Iain Kennedy described the system as 'in constant crisis’, with understaffed facilities leaving doctors physically and mentally exhausted. A recent survey revealed 99% of doctors are deeply concerned about increasing pressures, with many reporting dangerously overcrowded emergency departments and unsustainable workloads. Dr Kennedy called for a comprehensive workforce plan, long-term funding strategies, and integrated approaches to primary, secondary, and social care. Without reform, more people may be forced into private healthcare or left without access to necessary treatment. The Scottish government acknowledged the concerns, proposing record investments in health and social care. See also
Channel migrants: over 36,000 arrivals in 2024
02 Jan 2025
In 2024, 36,816 people crossed the English Channel in small boats, a slight increase from 2023’s 29,437 but fewer than the record 45,774 in 2022. Tragically, 2024 became the deadliest year for crossings, with 77 lives lost. On 29 December, a group of 291 migrants arrived, capping a year of heightened risks and debates over immigration policies. The Government continues to collaborate with French authorities to curb crossings, while critics argue for legal, safer routes for those fleeing war and persecution. Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council emphasised the urgent need for policy changes to prevent future tragedies. Labour scrapped the controversial Rwanda deportation plan after winning the election, drawing criticism from opposition leaders who want tougher deterrents. The Home Office highlighted efforts to target people-smuggling gangs and protect lives but acknowledged new challenges as smugglers adapt their methods. More than 150,000 people have crossed the Channel since 2018.
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, called for transformative change in the CofE during his Christmas sermon, amid ongoing criticism over abuse scandals. Justin Welby resigned in November following backlash over his handling of prolific abuser John Smyth. Cottrell, set to assume leadership on 6 January, acknowledged the Church’s failures and emphasised the need for justice, humility, and action. His remarks drew mixed reactions. While he urged the Church to 'kneel in penitence' and focus on supporting vulnerable groups, some survivors criticised his leadership. One victim expressed dismay over his involvement with priest David Tudor, who faced abuse allegations but continued serving for years under Cottrell’s oversight. Local clergy reported frustration among parishioners: Rev Matt Woodcock of St Stephen’s Church, York stressed the need for reassurance at the community level, despite widespread disappointment in national leadership.
President Ilham Aliyev has urged Russia to accept responsibility for the Christmas Day crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which killed 38 of the 67 onboard. The flight, from Baku to Grozny, was diverted from Chechnya and crashed in Kazakhstan. Vladimir Putin has apologised but stopped short of admitting fault, attributing the tragedy to Russian defences countering Ukrainian drone attacks. Aliyev criticised initial Russian explanations, including claims of a gas cylinder explosion and bird strikes, as ‘foolish and dishonest’. He acknowledged the incident was accidental but demanded that Russia admit guilt, punish those responsible, and provide compensation: he commented, ‘No one would have thought that in a friendly country, our plane would be fired at from the ground’. The crew members were honoured for landing the plane in a way that allowed 29 people to survive, even though it led to their own deaths.
Ukraine stops transporting gas to Europe
02 Jan 2025
Ukraine has decided to stop transporting Russian gas to Europe after a deal with Moscow expired, marking a historic and symbolic shift in policy. As a result, both countries will incur financial losses: Ukraine will forfeit $800 million annually in transit fees, while Russia’s Gazprom will lose nearly $5 billion in sales. Europe, which has reduced its dependence on Russian gas from over 40% in 2021 to about 8% in 2023, will now receive Russian gas solely via the Turkstream pipeline. To compensate, the EU has increased imports of liquefied natural gas from the USA and pipeline gas from Norway. While analysts say Europe is unlikely to face energy shortages, refilling reserves may prove challenging, potentially driving up gas prices. Some regions have already reduced heating supplies, highlighting the ripple effects of the expired transit deal. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine have concluded one of their largest prisoner exchanges since the war began: see
The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots Japanese organisation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors, for its tireless efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons. It was formed in 1956 to document survivor testimonies and press for nuclear disarmament at the UN and other global forums. Nihon Hidankyo's work aligns with Alfred Nobel’s will, emphasising peace and the abolition of war. The organisation will receive a $1 million award: prime minister Shigeru Ishiba called the recognition ‘extremely meaningful’. The Nobel committee noted that the ‘nuclear taboo’ is under pressure: the nine nuclear-armed countries are continuing to modernise their weapons, and currently there are 12,121 warheads in the world. Hibakusha’s testimonies serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of nuclear warfare and a call for a peaceful, disarmed future.
Global: growth of women in power almost halts
02 Jan 2025
In 2024, nearly half the world’s population voted, but global female political representation saw its slowest growth (just 0.03%) in twenty years. Women now make up 27% of parliaments globally, with declines in representation in 27 countries, including the USA, Portugal, and South Africa. Despite progress in nations like Mongolia, Mexico, and Namibia (which elected its first female president), setbacks in others, such as Tuvalu losing its sole female MP, highlight fragile gains. Countries with gender quotas elect more women, averaging 29% compared to 21% in non-quota nations. Barriers such as ambition gaps, financial inequality, disproportionate caregiving roles, and lack of maternity leave deter women from entering politics: there has also been an increase in violence against women in public life, including disinformation campaigns. Experts warn that fewer female mentors and societal challenges may discourage young women from pursuing political careers, hindering future progress in gender parity.