On 30 October a major fire erupted at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow, Cumbria, where the UK’s next-generation nuclear submarines are being constructed. Emergency services were called to the facility after the fire broke out around midnight. Local authorities assured residents there was no nuclear risk, but two people were hospitalised with suspected smoke inhalation. The shipyard, with a long history of submarine construction, has faced similar incidents in recent years, including a 2018 fire and a 2017 carbon monoxide leak. Thick smoke from the blaze, visible for miles, has raised concerns among locals, who were asked to avoid the area while emergency services worked to contain the fire.

A petition signed by nearly 60,000 UK citizens has urged Keir Starmer to safeguard the right to silent prayer after recent arrests of pro-life advocates outside abortion clinics. Alliance Defending Freedom UK (ADF UK) initiated the petition, highlighting that 'buffer zones' around clinics, initially meant to prevent demonstrations, have evolved into 'censorship zones' that criminalise silent prayer. Recently, pro-life advocate Adam Smith-Connor was convicted for praying silently within a designated buffer zone and fined nearly £10,000. ADF UK warns that censoring prayer creates a dangerous precedent for restricting thoughts deemed 'offensive’. The petition calls on Starmer to repeal the recent Public Orders Act, which will soon extend buffer zones to all clinics nationwide, punishing violations with prison time and unlimited fines. It argues that free expression, including silent prayer, is essential for a democratic society. See

On 25 October, 12,000 participants joined Dublin’s 'March for Jesus,' a faith-centred event hailed as historic for the city. The march drew Christians across denominations for a unified display of worship and community. Holding signs proclaiming 'Jesus is our King’, participants sought to bring light to the nation. One pastor commented that the march reflected a societal hunger for God beyond 'superficial' ideologies, calling it a sign of spiritual revival. Catholic bishop Alphonsus Cullinan also endorsed it, saying that it symbolised the light of Christ amidst divisive policies. Many saw the event as a healing moment, bridging historical divides between Northern Ireland and the Republic, as well as between Ireland and Great Britain. The march echoed a global movement that began in London in 1987, highlighting shared faith and hope for spiritual awakening.

At least 95 people have lost their lives in south-eastern Spain after relentless rains triggered flash floods. In one town an unprecedented year’s worth of rainfall (491 mm) occurred within just eight hours. Floodwaters wrought havoc across the region, toppling bridges, sweeping cars through streets, and leaving many people clinging to trees to survive. Over a thousand troops have been dispatched for rescue operations as numerous individuals remain trapped or unaccounted for. King Felipe VI expressed deep condolences, while emergency services, overwhelmed by the crisis, have struggled to respond to hundreds of distress calls. Questions have arisen over poor forecasting and delayed flood warnings, which some believed left them vulnerable on roads and low-lying homes: see https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyx75ppr79 Flights, trains, and schools have been suspended. Of many contributory factors, a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely. Temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions: see also the World article on the UN and climate change.