World

No more nuclear tests, says North Korea in 'sensational' announcement ahead of talks

North Korea will immediately suspend nuclear and missile tests and scrap its nuclear test site and instead pursue economic growth and peace, the North's state media said on Saturday.

Nigerian journalist fears many of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls are no longer alive
Nigerian journalist fears many of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls are no longer alive

The journalist fears that only around 30 of the 113 missing Chibok girls are still alive, something the Nigerian government has refuted.

Burma frees two pastors who were jailed after helping journalists cover military air strikes
Burma frees two pastors who were jailed after helping journalists cover military air strikes

The Burmese government has released two Baptist pastors who were jailed last year after they allegedly assisted journalists in covering the devastation caused by military air strikes in Northern Shan State.

Four Christians charged in Sudan amidst state-church conflict
Four Christians charged in Sudan amidst state-church conflict

New criminal charges have been brought against four members of one of Sudan's largest Protestant denominations, while 36 other Christians will appear next week on unspecified charges.

Syrian priest who ministers in ravaged Aleppo: 'It's God mercy that I stayed'
Syrian priest who ministers in ravaged Aleppo: 'It's God mercy that I stayed'

A priest in Aleppo has told of how he has chosen to stay in the Syria city that suffered massive destruction in the country's civil war in order to minister to the people there.

Philippines bishops slam 'unspeakable violence' of 'despotic' state after nun's arrest
Philippines bishops slam 'unspeakable violence' of 'despotic' state after nun's arrest

Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has revealed he ordered an investigation into an Australian nun for 'disorderly conduct', in a move against what he called 'undesirable' foreigners. The country's bishops have in turn hit out at Duterte's 'despotic government' and condemned 'unspeakable violence' being committed against religious institutions.

Chilean cardinal calls for Bishop Barros to resign over sex abuse crisis
Chilean cardinal calls for Bishop Barros to resign over sex abuse crisis

The head of the Chilean Catholic Church said on Thursday that Juan Barros, the bishop accused of covering up clerical sex abuse, should resign. It comes just over a week after Pope Francis, who had previously defended Barros, admitted 'grave mistakes' in his handling of Chile's abuse crisis.

 'I try to be optimistic, but it is difficult': The real story of what life is like for Christians in Iraq
'I try to be optimistic, but it is difficult': The real story of what life is like for Christians in Iraq

In order to understand the plight of Christians in modern-day Iraq, it is important to go back not just to 2014, when Islamic State forced on them a brutal choice between dying, converting or fleeing the northern city of Mosul, but further: to the 2003 US-led invasion of the country.

The 'greatest miracle': Israel at 70
The 'greatest miracle': Israel at 70

To me the resurrection of the State of Israel in 1948, 2,000 years after her forced demise at the hands of the Romans and subsequent occupations by Christians and Muslims (culminating in the British occupation from 1922-47) is the greatest miracle the world has known.

Vietnamese pastor imprisoned for faith says his suffering was a 'gift from God'
Vietnamese pastor imprisoned for faith says his suffering was a 'gift from God'

A Vietnamese pastor who was jailed for his faith has related the intense abuse he experienced in jail, but said that his imprisonment was a 'gift' from God.

Iraq hands down death sentences to 300 male and female ISIS militants
Iraq hands down death sentences to 300 male and female ISIS militants

More than 300 men and women have been sentenced to death in two separate courts in Iraq for joining the Islamic State terror group, according to judicial sources.

Tattoo artist upholds centuries-old tradition of marking pilgrims during their visit to Holy Land
Tattoo artist upholds centuries-old tradition of marking pilgrims during their visit to Holy Land

A tattoo artist in Jerusalem's Old City is using his skills to mark pilgrims with Christian symbols and images, a tradition that his family has observed for 500 years.

Myanmar pastors released in prisoner amnesty
Myanmar pastors released in prisoner amnesty

Two Baptist pastors from Myanmar who were arrested for taking journalists to a church reportedly destroyed by military air strikes in 2016, have been released from prison, according to the Baptist News.

How a Christian charity working in West Africa has helped reduced malaria deaths to zero
How a Christian charity working in West Africa has helped reduced malaria deaths to zero

Projects run by the Christian charity Compassion in Amlamé, West Africa have reported zero child deaths from Malaria since 2016.

Ukrainian churches fearful of terrorist accusations as they face clampdown from separatists
Ukrainian churches fearful of terrorist accusations as they face clampdown from separatists

Ukrainian churches are facing closure after a government clampdown restricting how churches can operate.

Vatican rejects German bishops' proposal to allow Protestant spouses to receive Communion
Vatican rejects German bishops' proposal to allow Protestant spouses to receive Communion

The Vatican body, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has written a letter reportedly with the approval of Pope Francis to German bishops rejecting their proposal to allow some Protestant spouses to receive Communion, various Catholic news outlets reported.