Gender inequalities which fuel women's vulnerability to HIV must be addressed by the church, aid agency Tearfund has said as the 17th International AIDS conference in Mexico draws to a close today.

A carbon reduction scheme enabling people to reduce their emissions and help poor communities suffering the worst effects of climate change, has been launched by Christian charity Tearfund.

Evangelical Christians have been urged to keep up their efforts to support relief work in the areas of China and Myanmar ravaged by recent natural disasters. The comments came yesterday from the Director of the Evangelical Alliance.

Two of the Church of England’s most senior Bishops are today (Tuesday) urged people to cut their carbon rather than give up chocolate this Lent. It comes as a survey reveals that three out of five adults in the UK are willing to take an energy saving action this Lent.

Kay Warren, Executive Director of the HIV initiative at Saddleback Church, California, USA, is adding her support to a Tearfund programme raising the awareness of HIV-AIDS with UK churches. She says the church has a key role to play.

Tearfund says governments must commit at least $50 billion every year to helping the world’s most vulnerable communities prepare to save their own lives and livelihoods, according to their new report called Climate of Disaster

As Zimbabwean leader, President Mugabe, flies into Lisbon for the AU / EU Summit (7-9 December 2007), UK relief and development agency Tearfund, is urging that the talks should focus on the devastating humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

The poorest people in India, Nepal and Bangladesh are the chief victims of major monsoon-driven floods across South Asia. And the situation is being made worse by lack of effective international action, local development planners are saying.

More than 150 people have died and 20 million have been displaced from heavy floods in south Asia. Reports estimate more than 12 million people in India, 5.5 million in Bangladesh and 750,000 in Nepal are affected.