It is urging politicians to prioritise the needs of the poor in their election campaigns and lead the way in tackling climate change and economic injustice in a bid to re-address the balance of wealth and improve the lives of the world’s poorest, citing “inequities in power” and “oppression and exploitation” as key contributing factors.

The manifesto demands for greater measures and investment to reduce the impacts of the climate crisis on poor communities by ensuring the UK takes responsibility for reducing its carbon emissions and discouraging the use of fossil fuels.

They are also calling on the government to reform UK tax rules to prevent tax avoidance, which robs developing countries of much needed investment as well as committing to responsibly allocate 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income to foreign aid and development.

Christian aid want to see an immediate suspension to the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to protect Yemen civilians from being targeted and are asking for further investment and funding into global peace-making efforts to improve arms regulations, support refugees in conflict zones and expand resettlement schemes for those entering the UK.

Daisy-Rose Srblin, Christian Aid’s Senior UK Advocacy Adviser, said: “At a time of considerable change and turmoil, it is critical we ask those in power to play a positive global…

The Turkish invasion of Syria and growing protests in Baghdad could drive even more Christians out of the country, believes Jamal Liddawi, a partner of Release International, which provides aid to persecuted Christians.

There has been trouble in Iraq this week as at least three people were shot dead when protesters attacked the Iranian consulate in the Iraqi holy city of Karbala on Sunday night.

The protesters, who demanded that Iran stop interfering in Iraq’s internal affairs, climbed the consulate’s walls.

Only around 300,000 Christians remain in Iraq from a peak of 1.8 million in the year 2000. They’ve been driven out by conflict and insecurity. Many more are now anxious to leave, says Liddawi: “Most of the Christians have lost hope. Many of them are applying to leave the country, and if they can, they will.”

Jamal Liddawi is working with Release International to support refugees in Erbil, the principal city of Kurdistan, in northern Iraq.

The recent Turkish invasion of neighbouring Syria is threatening to drive a new wave of refugees into the region.

“The Kurdistan government are preparing for between 100,000 and 200,000 refugees,” says Jamal. “They’re preparing for a big number to come.”

The Release partner says the Kurdish people in northern Iraq were shocked by the American decision to pull their troops out of Syria, which precipitated the Turkish…

Wycliffe Associates, an international charity that partners with churches to provide God’s Word in local languages has set up hundreds of covert printing systems after seeing a dramatic rise in demand for translations, particularly in the Middle East.

The organisations Print On Demand system (PODs), has enabled thousands of Bibles to be discreetly printed by local believers in areas where Christians are under the threat of persecution, in order to reduce the risk of detection.

“We can’t ship Bibles into many areas,” said Bruce Smith, President and CEO of Wycliffe Associates.

“Mother-tongue translators must be able to print the Scriptures themselves, in the heart language of the people they’re reaching. Our Print On Demand equipment gives national Bible translators the ability to print Bibles each day-and do it quietly,” he said.

Wycliffe Associates trains workers to operate and maintain high-speed, digital printing systems, which can be concealed in safe houses and operated in secret to serve underground churches in volatile regions or communities.

Smith says the new systems have the potential to reach millions of people.

“Day after day, more and more people ask for Bibles,” said Smith. “The teams run the printing equipment nonstop, producing as many Bibles as the printers can handle.”

To date, Wycliffe Associates has deployed 114 Print On Demand systems (PODs) in 41…

The proposal to include church leaders as being in a position of trust under sexual offence laws is being discussed as part of a review of criminal legislation but a decision is yet to be made.

The news comes after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) published its findings on the Anglican Church’s response to allegations against disgraced bishop Peter Ball.

A report recommended the Government amend part section 21 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 so that clergy are included in the definition of a position of trust, which would make sexual activity between a religious leader and victims aged 16 to 18, “over whom they exercise pastoral authority”, an abuse of trust and a crime.

In May, IICSA’s scathing report found the support the Prince of Wales gave to Ball after his caution for gross indecency was “misguided”.

The Church of England was accused of “putting its own reputation above the needs of victims” by offering secrecy and protection for child abusers which allowed them to “hide in plain sight” for decades, despite damning allegations against them.

Ball, a self-styled confidant to Charles, was an example of how a senior member of the Anglican church “was able to sexually abuse vulnerable teenagers and young men for decades”, backed by support from senior colleagues which was “rarely extended to his victims”, the report said.

The report focused…

The six stamps show scenes from the Biblical story of the nativity, the annunciation, the journey of the Magi and the birth of Jesus Christ.

They were designed by paper-cut artists Hari & Deepti who used layers of intricate paper and light-boxes to create three-dimensional scenes that bring the stories to life.

The Christmas stamps are on sale from Tuesday, with recommended posting dates of December 18 for second class, December 20 for first class and December 23 for special delivery.

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