Tony Blair has launched his long awaited Faith Foundation in New York, saying that he wants religion to be seen as a force for good in the world. It will focus on inter-faith understanding and action to fight poverty and disease.

The annual Channel 4 Political Awards offer an entertaining entree to the world of parliamentary politics, says Simon Barrow. But an award to a controversial lobby group raises questions about how politics is conducted - not least by Christians.

Among secular groups there is puzzlement and annoyance that government continues to 'pander' to weakened churches. This is because, says Jonathan Bartley, they have not grasped the mutual interests involved. These are as much a threat to the churches as an advantage.

Former PM Tony Blair is meeting religious leaders confidentially to establish plans for an international inter-faith foundation to promote greater cooperation between the faiths and to work against extremism practiced in the name of religion.

UK PM Gordon Brown's administration has received a warning in the strongest possible terms about following the current US-led geopolitical strategy, as a leading British research organisation says that the 'war on terror' has been failing and will continue to fail unless it is redirected.

Transformational diplomacy is not about entrenching Western interests in Palestine-Israel, says Michael Marten. It is about encouraging advice from regional experts, engaging with ‘the enemy’, treating Occupier and Occupied as such and working towards a just resolution.

The UK government's efforts to build a coalition to back sustainable development in Africa is being undermined by attempts at the G8 summit to fudge a deal on climate change, says Britsih-based agency Christian Aid.

The USA is preparing to scupper a global deal on slashing greenhouse gas emissions at the G8 summit in Germany, infuriating thousands of protestors who have taken to the streets to put pressure on the world’s rich nations.

Ahead of a report on 4 June 2007 with Practical Action, Oxfam and Tearfund - illustrating why a 2°C limit to global warming is essential for poorest - Christian Aid is urging industrialised nations to take proper responsibility.

As the World Bank reels from the Wolfowitz scandal and Tony Blair steps into the shadow of Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown, rumours abound that he is on the list to head up the international loans institution.