Chancellor Philip Hammond announced on Wednesday that single-use plastics such as packaging and polystyrene takeaway boxes could be taxed to tackle waste.

While a tax isn’t set in stone, the measure shall be considered.

It’s hoped a tax on single-use plastic will help prevent pollution in the world’s oceans and protect the environment.

Responding to the Chancellor’s announcement, Tearfund’s Senior Associate Joanne Green said: “As we’ve seen on our TVs recently plastics are increasingly being found in the stomachs of whales, dolphins and fish, and microplastics have been found in both fish and sea salt for human consumption.

“This has potentially serious but as yet unknown consequences for human health.”

Green also drew attention to how better waste management services can help developing countries.

She added: “Two billion people in developing countries do not have any waste management services whatsoever.

“Increasing waste management services would help tackle the half of marine litter which comes from developing countries, as well as directly improve public health in developing countries: reducing diarrhoeal diseases and eliminating the estimated 270,000 premature deaths a year attributed to open burning of waste.

“I want the UK Government to use some of our aid budget to extend waste collection in developing nations to save lives and reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans.”

The Government has said that the…

A spokeswoman for Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite confirmed the trip to the Baltic News agency in the country’s capital Vilnius.

She said: “In principle, we have the decision, we’ve heard it. Officially it will be announced in December.

“The occasion is beautiful because the Baltic States will celebrate the centenary.”

She added that the visit is scheduled for autumn of 2018 but the Vatican is yet to announce the exact dates for the trip.

It will be the pontiff’s first visit to the Baltic nations since his election over four years ago but the second time a pope has visited.

Pope John Paul II visited all three Baltic states in 1993.

More than 75 per cent of the nation’s nearly 3 million inhabitants are Catholics.

The three Baltic nations declared their independence from Russia in 1918 but were incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940 and remained part of it until 1991.

With concerns that some would miss out on funding or face punishment, many charities have been wary about how explicit they can be about the faith element of their work.

Speaking at the Raising Funds for Christian Charities and Churches conference in London, Crouch acknowledged there had been problems in the past but she wanted that changed.

“I know that some of you here feel that successive governments and local authorities have wanted to applaud all the good things that you do as Christians, but discourage you from speaking openly about the faith that motivates you,” she said. “I assure you that that is not the intention and I encourage you to challenge anyone in government who makes you feel you need to suppress your faith.

“I very much appreciate that, for so many of you, the inspiration to do such amazing acts of service in your communities comes directly from your Christian faith.”

She also gave an assurance that no Christian organisation would face discrimination when it came to government contracts and grants.

She said: “I know that some faith organisations feel they miss out on commissioning opportunities.

“I want to make it clear today that any organisation, religious or otherwise, is eligible to apply and be considered for government funding.

“We want to make sure that funding is awarded to those who are best placed to deliver positive outcomes for our citizens. Churches have exceptional local…

Frank Pomeroy, whose daughter was killed in the mass shooting at First Baptist Church on 5th November has told NBC he will continue to play Christmas music because: “She would want the holidays to proceed – it was her favourite time of the year.”

Frank Pomeroy’s daughter, Annabelle, was 14 years old and one of 26 people who were killed.

He was away on the day and was notified by text that there had been a shooting.

He had to return to identify his congregation members’ bodies and has recently finished presiding over funerals for each of them.

Speaking of God’s sovereignty over the situation he said: “He has a plan that I’m gonna continue to carry out”.

It is hard to cope right now but I know that Annabelle would want me to proceed”.

Catholic aid charity CAFOD said it is concerned about the possibility of the forcible return of the Rohingya unless their safety can be guaranteed.

Speaking during Premier’s News Hour, Chris Bain, director of CAFOD said: “Probably the Rohingya community – before they start to go back – would probably want to have some reassurances that when they do get back … to their lands and their villages … that there would be some hope of peace and harmony with the Buddhist population in the Rahim state as well.

“I would say it’s going to take quite a lot of reassurances and quite a lot of support and certainly the involvement of the UN community before people will move back.

“It’s a good sign because it is important but there are so many other conditions that need to be laid down first.”

More than 620,000 Rohingya have fled since violence escalated in August.

Amnesty International accused Myanmar of imposing apartheid on its Rohingya Muslim population.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis will meet the head of Myanmar’s army and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, during his tour of the two countries next week.

The trip is so delicate that Reuters reports some of the pontiff’s advisors have warned him against even saying the word “Rohingya,” to avoid igniting a diplomatic incident that could turn Myanmar’s military and government against minority Christians.

A Myanmar official has…