He’ll be speaking at the General Assembly where he’s expected to make a ‘global call to protect religious freedom’.

Over 150 foreign leaders, faith leaders, victims of persecution and religious freedom activists will attend for the President’s speech.

Welcoming his address on Premier’s News Hour, Andreas Thonhauser from religious freedom charity ADF International said: “We know from reports from all over the world that many, many people live in countries where religious freedom is ignored or violated so for the US or the UN to turn their focus on religious freedom is an important development and a very positive development.

The US administration has made religious freedom a priority issue in recent months.

Earlier this year the State Department hosted over 100 foreign delegations and 1,000 civil society members during its second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. President Trump also met with more than 30 victims of persecution in the Oval Office (pictured above).

Thonhauser believes with the US leading the way huge progress can be made on tackling religious freedom.

He said: “We want to see a quick response from governments all over the world to stop religious persecution.

“We don’t want to see a lengthy process where politicians look at the pros and cons and try to understand what could be done but instead a swift reaction when issues arise.

“I think that’s…

The company’s support will allow the Cathedral to replace its existing halogen light bulbs with around 250 energy-efficient, long lasting LED’s.

It is estimated that this will reduce the Cathedral’s electricity use by 21 per cent.

The 901-year-old Cathedral has been promoting the need for urgent action to curb the effects of climate change and hosted an art exhibition this summer with a seven metre model of Earth (called Gaia) to encourage people to think about caring better for the planet.

Very Rev Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough, said: “Having the Gaia artwork displayed in the Cathedral has really focused our minds on what we can do to live more sustainably on our beautiful, God-given planet.

“As an organisation we are looking at ways in which we can improve our environmental impact, but to take the major step of replacing the lightbulbs in the Cathedral would simply be beyond our means, were it not for the generous support of Masteroast.”

Masteroast, which is based in Peterborough, said it has a strong commitment to running its business in an environmentally sustainable way.

Its Chairman, Les Mills, added: “As an international company, Masteroast often hosts visitors from overseas and we love to bring them to see the Cathedral.

“It is a magnificent and unforgettable place and we are delighted to be able to help…

He was speaking at the Labour Party’s annual conference church service on Sunday, organised by the group Christians on the Left.

Mr Corbyn described Christians standing against injustice as “the very best” of the Christian faith.

He added: “I thank Christians and other faith communities and faith organisations for the work they do in our communities supporting the vulnerable and oppressed, and my message to you is that the values of solidarity, loving our neighbours, unity in our communities and seeking justice at home and abroad are the values that we hold dear in the Labour Party and will continue to do so.”

The service was dedicated to raising awareness and praying for victims of human trafficking and modern day slavery, which is part of International Justice Mission’s annual Freedom Sunday campaign.

Mr Corbyn added: “Isaiah chapter 1 verse 17 reads ‘Seek justice. Defend the oppressed.’ This message is close to my heart as leader of the Labour Party and any Labour government that I lead will have global justice at its heart and we will seek justice for all and defend the oppressed at home and abroad – be they refugees, victims of human trafficking and modern slavery or those living in poverty.”

The Labour leader was presented with a Bible at the service which was attended by delegates, members, MPs, and local churchgoers.

The preacher was Baroness Maeve Sherlock,…

Frederick Mayet told Premier: “The message of Jesus I think it’s so important still today. They’re still relevant in our world and I think that’s why people keep coming back.

“And it’s different to if you go to the church every Sunday or reading the Gospels.

“If you bring the words on stage and if you tell the story live on stage for the people, you do it with theatrical means, you have nice stage design, you have costumes where people can think that perhaps look like this 2000 years ago, I think people want to see, it want to feel it, want to hear it.

“I think it’s a nice way to learn about the message and story.”

Rehearsals have begun for the historical play performed every ten years in the small village of Oberammergau, Bavaria.

More than two thousand actors will take part in 104 open-air performances of the five hour play between May and October next year.

The cast is only made up by people who have lived, or are living in the village of Oberammergau.

Mayet said although he’s honoured to have the role of Jesus, it’s quite daunting because he’s not a professional actor.

He works an artistic director and public relations manager in a theatre in Munich.

“I’m a little scared of the workload everyone has because we are all amateurs.” he said. 

“Everyone goes to their regular job during the day and we have rehearsals in the evening and on the…

Houston said he wasn’t aware of plans for an invite from Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the first place. 

“Hillsong Church received no inquiry from any party as to my details or availability. As far as I’m concerned this is baseless rumour and totally false news,” he said in a statement.

“It is extremely disappointing that media outlets spread these unfounded rumours, and attempts to link this untrue story to the royal commission are unconscionable.”

His statement comes after the Wall Street Journal reported that Mr Morrison asked the White House if the pastor could be a guest at the state dinner, which happened on Friday night.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House declined the prime minister’s request.

According to The Guardian, when Mr Morrison was asked by travelling reporters if he tried to get Houston a seat at the dinner he dismissed the claim as “gossip”.

“I don’t comment on gossip. It’s all gossip.”

The Wall Street Journal linked the alleged denial of the Houston at the dinner to a royal commission into child sex abuse claims.

The 2014 investigation found that Hillsong Church, then led by Houston, failed to report to police about accusations that Frank Houston, Brian’s father, had sexually abused children.

It was revealed that Frank Houston abused up to nine boys in the 1970s and 1980s in Australia and New Zealand….

According to The Times, 65-year-old Fr Vincenzo De Mario came up with the idea as a way to boost church attendance.

“Church attendance is in decline and we are looking for a way to bring people back,” he said.

He said parking is scarce in the town of Avezzano so the church’s 200 parking spots are coveted.

The Times reports it costs ten Hail Marys for an hour parking, 20 for two hours and 50 for five hours.

If a driver only needs to park for 15 minutes, they’re asked to recite one Hail Mary, the Lord’s Prayer and another short prayer.

Fr De Mario said it takes praying for parking to a new level.

“People often pray for a parking spot, and here you really do, literally, pray for parking.

“Everyone loves it and what’s important is that it makes people smile,” he told The Times.  

He added that he isn’t completely serious about the system and won’t be checking if people are praying after parking.

“If motorists say at least one prayer, or even glance at the heavens, that will make me happy,” he said.

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They’ve written an open letter asking for a ban on the sale of pointed kitchen knives. The letter was also signed by leading crime experts, as well as MPs, and community leaders.

It comes after a conference called The Point in Chatham last week raised awareness of the issue, as statistics show that there has been an 80 per cent rise in knife crime in the UK since 2014.

The signatories have urged Government to “take urgent measures to promote the sale of safe kitchen knife designs and restrict those designs which have been used in so many acts of violence.”

The letter endorses research, highlighted at the conference, which explains that points on domestic knives are historic and no-longer necessary.

“Historically we needed a point on the end of our knife to pick up food because forks weren’t invented. Now we only need the point to open packets when we can’t be bothered to find the scissors,” the letter reads.

It continues: “A five-year study in Edinburgh found that of the sharp instruments used in homicides, 94 per cent were kitchen knives. Research demonstrates kitchen knives are used in a large percentage of homicides due to their availability and lethal nature.

“Criminologists have demonstrated that reducing availability in turn reduces crime.

“The UK has worked for the public good by restricting handguns, paracetamol, smoking in public and plastic bags –…