While welcoming the money being spent on the issue, charity Christian Aid says funds shouldn’t be taken from the aid budget.

It wants that money to be spent directly on those in need.

Boris Johnson is announcing plans for the Clean Energy Fund at the United Nations in New York, allowing experts to use up to a billion pounds of the aid budget to invent new technology.

Ahead of his announcement, the PM said: “I have always been deeply optimistic about the potential of technology to make the world a better place. If we get this right, future generations will look back on climate change as a problem that we solved by determined global action and the prowess of technology.”

Responding to today’s funding announcements Dr Alison Doig, head of global policy at Christian Aid, said: “The real test of the scientific investment in tackling the climate emergency will be whether it delivers for people in poverty who – while having contributed least to this crisis – are the first and worst affected by climate change.

“The world’s poorest should not be an afterthought, but aspects of today’s announcement suggest they are not being seen as the priority in tackling climate change. Climate change must be viewed as a triple emergency: of poverty, climate and biodiversity, and so a joined-up approach must be reflected in any UK approaches to tackling it.

“Today’s announcements in New…

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….