Despite being down in the opinion polls, his Liberal-National coalition had won 74 of the 76 seats needed to form a majority government. It went into the election as a minority government, with just 73 seats.

His rival, Bill Shorten stood down on Saturday night following the defeat.

Speaking after his victory, he told supporters: “I’ve always believed in miracles.”

“I give thanks to live in the greatest country in all the world. Thanks again to all Australians all across the country.”

Morrison worshipped at Horizon Church in Sydney before attending a local football game.

During the election campaign his conservative views on homosexuality were used against him by rivals and media.

Morrison was named Australia’s 30th Prime Minister last year. He’ll now serve a three year term.

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There are fears that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) want to change the law to make India a Hindu theocratic state.

Bishop Nazarene Soosai of Kottar Diocese, southern India says that would be a disaster and that Christians “fear the day”.

He’s been speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need as the final round of voting is beginning in the nation’s marathon election.

It has consisted of seven rounds over six weeks.

Prime minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party is seeking re-election for another five years.

Bishop Soosai said: “They say there is no other Hindu nation, so India must be the Hindu nation.

“They say we need to be a Hindu state in opposition to Pakistan which is Muslim and they think all the western countries are Christian – although they are really secular – and so they say we need a Hindu country.”

Over 700 attacks against Christians were recorded in India in 2017.

The bishop says that will only get worse if the constitution is changed.

“Broadly speaking, religious minorities are under attack,” he said. “Minority rights are under threat and much infringed.

“And when you raise your voice for human rights they say you’re not a patriot.”

The election results are expected later this week.

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Chemist Guadalupe Ortiz de Landázuri was beatified at a special service in Madrid on Saturday.

She’s both the first lay member and first woman member of Opus Dei to start the process.

Ortiz was born in 1916 and dedicated herself to teaching and research.

She died in 1975.

In order to start the journey to sainthood, a miracle needs to be attributed.

In the case of Ortiz, her intercession was linked to the disappearence of a man’s cancerous growth in the 1990s.

Another miracle will need to be attributed to her before she is canonised.

Ozohu Adoh from Opus Dei told Premier she’s been inspired by Ortiz.

She said: “You might believe that saints are extraordinary people, who are made specially to become Saints but actually, when you look at Guadalupe’s life, you would see it is very accessible to become a saint.

“People like myself and yourself, we can be saints. It’s really remarkable that an ordinary woman who was a teacher and a scientist can be a saint, I mean, what stops me really?”

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Methodist Evangelicals Together (MET) has issued a response after the Church announced plans to consider allowing same sex weddings in its buildings.

The plans will be voted at its annual conference next month and again next year.

If passed all Methodist churches would be permitted to host the ceremonies but any minister could opt out.

In statement in response to the Marriage and Relationships Task Group report, a MET spokesperson said: [We are] committed to the Wesleyan convictions that the gospel is for all, that the Bible is our supreme rule of faith and practice, and that all Christians are called to holiness.

“We therefore uphold the biblical understanding of marriage as the life-long union of one man and one woman, and call upon the Church to do the same.

“We are carefully studying the report, noting that it is intended as a discussion starter rather than reaching definitive conclusions.”

Speaking to Premier last week, Rev Ken Howcroft who chairs the Marriage and Relationships Task Group said: “Whatever we say, there will be people who profoundly disagree with that and that’s the journey we’ve been on for all these years – in particular for the last 25 years or so.

“What we’re trying to do is to find a way in which we can deeply honour each other’s convictions.”

The Methodist Conference meets in Birmingham between 27th June and 4th July.

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At the General Assembly in Edinburgh, the Rt Rev Colin Sinclair took up the role of chairing the week-long event and representing the church throughout the year.

The gathering began with hymns, prayer and a reading of Acts 3 in which the disciple Peter heals a lame beggar, before the Rt Rev Susan Brown installed her successor.

Addressing the 700-strong congregation of ministers, deacons and elders, who are meeting in the capital to make decisions on Kirk policy and governance, Ms Brown spoke of her gratitude for the 12 months spent in the role of Moderator and said: “That great privilege now falls now to another.”

“It has been a year I will never forget, principle because of the people I have met in so many different capacities, including colleagues who have not only welcomed me but so graciously shared their stories with me,” she said.

With the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon watching on alongside Scotland’s Lord Provosts, the General Assembly approved the appointment of the new Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Addressing Mr Sinclair, Ms Brown said: “You care passionately about communicating the good news of Jesus Christ to people of all ages and all parts of the world. You love to see the difference faith in Christ makes to people’s lives – the impact both spiritually and physically.

“The great privilege and honour before you in this…

St Matthew and St Luke’s had invited members of the Muslim community for an event next month to mark Ramadan.

It also offered different rooms to allow segregated worship for men and women.

Following criticism from other church the leaders, the Diocese of Durham has now intervened and told the church it must not hold Islamic prayers in the church building.

Rt Rev Dr Gavin Ashenden, a former chaplain to the Queen, is one of many to speak out.

Speaking to Premier, the Anglican Bishop of the Christian Episcopal Church in the UK said: “Clearly the motivation behind the event is very good. Anything that tries to get people together to understand each other and be good neighbors, is laudable and to be appreciated but it has to be done from a position of integrity.

Bishop Gavin has welcomed the intervention by the diocese but says he hopes lessons are learnt.

“They realise that the vicar made a silly mistake, but I’m glad it happened because it was raises in the public eye some important issues which people need to work through,” he said. “Islam and Christianity are not Abrahamic cousins in Middle Eastern religion. They’re actually antithetic to each other.”

It’s understood the event will go ahead, but prayers will be said elsewhere.

Premier has contacted St Matthew and St Luke’s and is waiting for a response.

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