Most Rev Justin Welby wrote to delegates – representing most of the world’s governments – who are attending the 23rd annual United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn.

He said the global Anglican community “supports your work to ensure that at [the summit] issues of climate change and global warming are recognised as an urgent priority requiring immediate attention.

“We are praying for the renewing of our world.”

During the 13-day gathering, referred to as UN COP23, leaders are discussing how they plan to meet objectives of the Paris Agreement.

The 2015 deal, which committed to helping keep a global temperature rise this century well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, has now been ratified by 169 countries.

President Donald Trump drew widespread criticism in June this year after announcing the United States would no longer be party to the agreement.

Director of Advocacy at the international Christian charity Tearfund, Ruth Valerio, said: “The Archbishop is absolutely right when he talks about the need for immediate attention in the battle against climate change.

“I see the effects climate change is having on the poorest people in the world every day. It is dragging many back into the clutches of poverty.”

Tearfund has launched the Renew Our World campaign to highlight the dangers of climate change; more information can be found at…

In a post on Facebook, Archbishop Welby wrote: “My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Ian Squire, the British man who we learned today was killed while being held hostage in Nigeria.

“Ian, an optician, was in Nigeria providing free vital medical aid to people. We pray for his family and friends as they come to terms with his death, and for the three other hostages who will have to deal with the mental and physical scars they suffered while in captivity.

“We pray for the areas in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria where there are high levels of crime and tension – for peace, restoration and reconciliation and God’s kingdom to come in those communities and across all of Africa.”

Yesterday, the Nigerian authorities said they had arrested four people in connection with the hostage-taking and killing.

The three other hostages, Alanna Carson, David Donovan and Shirley Donovan have returned home safely to the UK.

In a statement, the family said: “Alanna, Ian, David and Shirley were kidnapped in Nigeria some three weeks ago.
 
“We are grateful for the support received by the British High Commission, and help from the Nigerian authorities in negotiating their release. We are delighted and relieved that Alanna, David and Shirley have returned home safely. Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of Ian as we come to terms with his sad death.
 
“This has been a traumatic time for our loved ones who…

The Trussell Trust, a Christian organisation and the country’s largest foodbank operator, blamed a wait for benefit payments under the switchover to Universal Credit (UC).

Managers are reporting a 30 per cent increase in demand for their emergency food parcels in areas where UC has already come into effect, a rise higher than places where it is not yet operational (15 per cent).

Tony Graham, Director of Devolved Nations at the Trussell Trust, told Premier: “There is a six-week wait before they actually get their benefits when they go onto Universal Credit and we’re asking the Government to see whether they can bring that figure down to about four weeks.

“There’s an obvious way that you can bring that wait down; that would help the situation.”

In response, the Government’s Department for Work and Pensions said it would be “misleading” to suggest foodbank use is linked solely to one issue.

A spokesman added: “We’re clear that advance payments are widely available from the start of anyone’s UC claim, and urgent cases are fast-tracked so no-one should be without funds.

“We know the majority of UC claimants are confident in managing their money. Budgeting support and direct rent payments to landlords are also available to those who need them.”

The Trussell Trust expects to hand out a record number of food parcels from its 428 centres this financial year – many of whom…

Prince Charles and Camilla visited places of worship belonging to the Christian, Muslim, Chinese and Hindu communities in George Town, the capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang.

The royal couple’s unannounced visit to the Sri Mahamariamman Hindu temple was captured by backpackers and shop keepers on their phones.

They were honoured with luxurious silk shawls and garlands of sandalwood.

Preveena Balakrishnan, a local historian and Hindu, explained why the gifts were chosen.

Balakrishnan said: “We wanted to have a fragrant garland so we chose sandalwood – flower garlands will fade and die.

“The silk shawls are given to Kings and Queens and we believe silk has the power to attract positive vibes.”

Prince Charles and Camilla kept in line with tradition and removed their shoes before entering the temple.

Their one-day visit to Penang, which was originally named “Prince of Wales Island”, began with a trip to St George’s Church, which, having been built in 1818, makes it the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia.

They were presented with an oil painting before they proceeded to visit the Kapitan Keling Mosque, where they participated in a tree planting event.

The couple also travelled on foot to the Han Jiang Ancestral Temple, where they were entertained by a traditional Chinese lion dance troupe.

They believe the shooting spree by 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley in Sutherland Springs was driven by a rift in family relations, adding that the mother of Mr Kelley’s wife attended the First Baptist Church.

Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director, Freeman Martin also said he didn’t believe the incident stemmed from a religious or racial motive.

Meanwhile, United State Vice President Mike Pence announced that he and his wife, Karen, would travel to Texas on Wednesday and meet bereaved relatives, the injured and emergency service personnel caught up in the shooting.

The attack, which left 20 other people wounded – including ten who remain in a critical condition in hospital -, is the worst mass shooting Texas has ever experienced.

Victims are now known to have included people who ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years old, and multiple members of some families.

Authorities say Mr Kelley had been confronted on at least two occasions in the last five years about domestic violence, including an assault on his ex-wife and a child that ended his Air Force career.

The US Air Force has started a review after failing to provide information to authorities that would have stopped him from legally buying firearms.

Evidence suggests Mr Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was chased from the church by armed bystanders and later crashed her car.