World

Iceland's circumcision bill threatens 'regular persecution' of Jews and Muslims, Catholic Church says
The Catholic Church in Iceland has criticised developing legislation that would prohibit the religiously-motivated circumcision of children in the country, saying it would mean the 'regular persecution' of Icelandic Jews and Muslims.

Brutal rape of 8-year-old in India: It is time for the Church to speak, says bishop
Asifa Bano was, for several weeks after her death in early January, just another tragic victim of India's systemic rape problem, where more than 100 women are raped each day.

Hundreds attend funerals of 2 Christians shot dead in Quetta, Pakistan after church on Sunday
Hundreds of Christians in Quetta, Pakistan have attended the funeral of two of their number who were killed near a church on Sunday by four gunmen on motorcycles.

US religious freedom body slams 'false allegations' against Pastor Andrew Brunson
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (ISCIRF) has said it is 'disappointed' by the decision of a Turkish court on Monday to continue proceedings in the case of Pastor Andrew Brunson.
Syria evangelical churches condemn Western air strikes as 'unjust aggression'
Presbyterian churches in Syria have added their voices to the chorus of criticism from Christians in the country at the air strikes on the regime's chemical weapons facilities.

CIA's Mike Pompeo held secret meeting with Kim Jong Un
Mike Pompeo, currently the director of the CIA and President Donald Trump's pick for the office of secretary of state, held a secret meeting in Pyongyang with North Korea's leader Kim John Un two weeks ago.

Catholic priest arrested over killing of albino man in Malawi
A Catholic priest in Malawi has been arrested in connection with the abduction and murder of a man with albinism.
Syrian church leaders questions legality of U.S. air strikes
Leaders of the Catholic and Orthodox churches in Syria have condemned the air strikes carried out by the U.S. against military compounds in the country and they are also raising questions about the legality of the operation.

Egypt's state of emergency to continue for another three months
The state of emergency in Egypt has been extended for another three months, a year after it was first declared following the twin suicide attacks on two Coptic Christian churches on Palm Sunday.

US family pleads for lighter sentence for jailed pastor in China
The sons of a pastor who was jailed in China for illegally crossing the border are hoping that the government would consider reducing the sentence of their father in light of his charitable works in the country.

ISIS news today: Islamic terrorists threaten New York subway attack in new propaganda poster
The terrorist group has issued similar threats on the World Cup, the Vatican and Queen Elizabeth in recent months.
May accused of 'neo-colonialism' by bishop for backing gay rights in Commonwealth speech
A bishop from Trinidad has accused UK prime minister Theresa May of 'neo-colonialism' for saying she 'deeply regrets' Britain's historical legacy of anti-gay laws across the Commonwealth as its 53 leaders gathered in London for their annual summit.

'God has a dad's heart': Pope Francis in emotional encounter with boy who's non-believing father died
Pope Francis had a moving encounter on the outskirts of Rome yesterday with a young boy whose father had died and who wanted to know if his dad would go to heaven as he was a 'good man' despite being a non-believer.

Detained US pastor Andrew Brunson says 'I want truth to come out' as trial begins in Turkey
The American pastor Andrew Brunson yesterday denied allegations of links to a group accused of orchestrating a failed military coup in Turkey, at the beginning of a trial that will now be delayed for three weeks.
What life is really like for Christians in a North Korean prison
'The crematorium was so small and there were so many dead bodies that we had to cut the dead bodies into small pieces with an axe.'

Sudanese Christians head to court over attempt to defend confiscation of church property
Four Sudanese Christians were tried in court last Wednesday for their attempts to stop the confiscation of church property in Khartoum.