Striking rail maintenance workers are already paid almost a fifth more than those doing comparative roles, the industry regulator has said. Independent consultants looked at total rewards, including pay, pension costs and other measurable benefits, of 64,000 railway workers. The analysis shed fresh light on the bitter industrial dispute which has led to rail strikes across the country. Workers demanding double-digit pay rises already receive salaries 18% higher than ‘market comparators’. Station staff salaries are 12% higher, and train drivers average £66,043 a year (the average UK salary is £31,876). Liz Truss is under growing pressure to follow through on her pledge to crack down on unions, amid fears that the rail network could shut down completely over Christmas. She had promised to bring in ‘tough and decisive action to limit trade unions’ ability to paralyse our economy’.

NHS bosses have told political parties not to impose any new targets on the beleaguered health service in their bid to win the next general election. They said the Conservatives and opposition parties should resist foisting new performance metrics on the NHS when it cannot deliver the hundreds it already operates under. The plea was made by hospitals, ambulance providers, mental health, community care and GP services in England, who said, ‘Given the NHS’s staff shortages, huge backlog of care and financial problems, the answer will not be found in politicians imposing oversimplified and unfunded targets that make convenient soundbites but have little bearing on reality and demoralise frontline workers.’

44 European leaders gathered in Prague on 6 October for the first meeting of a new political community. Most of the countries already belong to other organisations including the EU, NATO, the Council of Europe (upholding human rights), and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (arms control, freedom of the press, and free and fair elections). But the latter two are ineffective at reining in Russia. EU’s foreign policy chief spoke of building ‘a European political community without Putin’. Liz Truss will join EU and non-EU leaders plus Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky by video. She said the ‘club’ is not an alternative to the EU, but added that after Brexit the UK should be involved in discussions that affect the entire continent.

Flee, or face conscription: that is the choice that has led thousands of Russians to flee to Finland and other nations after Putin announced he is mobilising reservists. Finland will soon limit Russians’ entry on tourist visas; border crossings are up 80% from normal. Finland is largely Lutheran Christian. However, ‘Christian’ in Finland is often just a label, not a reflection of a vibrant, abiding relationship with Jesus. Pray that the opportunity for outreach in love to these new refugees in Finland will be a wakeup call, and for a new Holy Spirit flame to be lit. Pray for Finns leading comfortable lives to see their need of a Saviour.

Not all Ukrainians desire to start a new life abroad. There are tens of thousands of Eastern Ukrainians in refugee camps, schools, kindergartens or government buildings, hoping they will be able to return home once the war is over. They refuse to think that there will be no homes to return to. These refugee camps are everywhere in Transcarpathia (in the far west of Ukraine) which, at the moment, is a place of safety. The Carpathian Mountains separate them from Putin’s bombs. Pray for the safety of the brave Europeans visiting refugee locations with food, clothes and household needs.

The withdrawal of Russian troops from important Ukraine towns has prompted two powerful Putin allies publicly to ridicule the war machine's top brass. Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov said, ‘Nepotism in the army will lead to no good. The commander of Russian forces should be stripped of his medals and sent to the front line with a gun to wash away his shame with blood.’ Such public contempt for those running Russia's war indicates the growing level of frustration among Putin’s elite with his war tactics. The powerful mercenary Yevgeny Prigozhin congratulated Ramzan’s comments, saying, ‘Ramzan - you rock man! All these ******** should be sent barefoot to the front with automatic guns.’

Duangphan Patphaothanun is wandering outside a childcare centre, clutching a bag full of toys. She wants to know when she can see her grandson, so she can place his most treasured possessions with him in his coffin. Three-year-old Pattarawut is among the 23 children who died on 6 October in an attack at the centre, in the north-east of Thailand. Panya Kamrab, a former policeman, killed at least 37 people, including his wife and stepson, before killing himself after a manhunt. His stepson used to attend the centre but had not been there for a month. The motive for the attack is not yet known, but police said Kamrab was fired from his job in June for drug use. More than 90 children usually attend the centre, but because of poor weather and a bus breakdown only 24 of them were there on Thursday. Only one child has survived.

Samaritan’s Purse (SP) has disaster relief units in Florida, and volunteers are already working to help hurting homeowners after category 4 Hurricane Ian made landfall delivering 150-mph winds, torrential rain, and a massive storm surge that claimed dozens of lives. SP’s North American ministries responded and have quickly established volunteer bases with two partner churches, but they need an army of volunteers. Pray for thousands more to step forward and help the families who have damaged homes. They are urgently needed to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus to help those whose lives have been turned upside down. Teams are mudding-out flooded homes, removing downed trees and debris. Tractor trailers stocked with equipment and supplies are delivering to operation bases. The damage is incredible; people need prayers and support. Pray for all now hurting in Ian's wake, and for local churches facing their own losses while ministering to the suffering. 

For three decades Somalia has lurched between disorder and anarchy. The government controls only bits of the country. The rest is in the hands of al-Shabab jihadists adept at blowing themselves up in crowded places. For many Somalis life is poor, brutish, and short. They live in the world’s fifth poorest and eighth most violent country. Their life expectancy is the sixth lowest. Droughts and floods add to the misery. In 2011 failed rains contributed to the worst famine of the 21st century: more than 250,000 people died, half of them children. A decade later history may repeat itself. The worst drought in four decades is wilting crops and killing livestock. On 5 September government officials said an even greater catastrophe could sweep the country within days or weeks unless more help arrives. Over 18 million people can’t find enough to eat; children are dying. Pray for hospitals to have enough nutritional supplements for children. See also

Thousands of children are trapped in slavery in Ghana. Families are deceived and children are being trafficked to work in the fishing industry on Lake Volta, living under violent abuse and the threat of drowning. Courage Hope spent five years of his childhood trapped in slavery until a friend, IJM and police brought him to safety. Today, he leads a network of survivors, advocating for an end to child trafficking. Although he still finds it difficult to talk about it, he wants his story to lead to change and is working on an appeal to help stop child trafficking. His experience is a sobering reminder of the reality of child trafficking. But we have a powerful God who is able to work in and through us to bring about miraculous change.