World
Fears for Christians as Pakistan moves to tighten blasphemy laws
A Bill passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan earlier this month has led to increased fears for the country's persecuted Christian minority.
Nigeria: pastor shot and 25 churchgoers kidnapped
Terrorists attacked a church service in northwestern Nigeria on Sunday 15 January, shot and wounded the pastor and kidnapped 25 congregation members, sources said.
Christian worship service prohibited in Indonesia
A church in Indonesia was on January 8 prohibited from holding a Sunday service in front of a city hall building, where it had gone after losing its prior worship venue in a mall, sources said.
Byzantine church discovered near Jericho
A large Byzantine church with mosaic floors dating back to the sixth century has been uncovered in the area of Jericho in the West Bank, the biblical city conquered by Joshua and the Israelites, according to the Old Testament account.
A Chinese New Year of 'weaponised surveillance'
China is celebrating its New Year on Sunday but for the country's Christians, there are fears of yet more oppression and control through technology.
Decline in church attendance drove deaths of despair among middle-aged white population: study
"We show that the initial rise in deaths of despair in the US was preceded by a large decline in organized religious participation."
Christian to stand trial after sharing ex-gay testimony
A Christian man in Malta is being prosecuted after he shared his testimony about leaving behind homosexual relationships in an interview with a local media outlet.
North Korea is again the worst country for persecution
North Korea has again come out on top of Open Door's annual World Watch List where Christians suffer the most severe persecution.
Catholic priest burned to death in Nigeria
"It's a black Sunday for the Catholic Diocese of Minna."
17 killed in attack on church in Democratic Republic of Congo
"The attack was the last thing we ever thought would happen in our church today."
Most children have viewed porn before age of 13 - survey
Nearly three out of every four teenagers have viewed pornography at some point in their lives, with more than half first seeing sexually explicit material by age 13, according to a new study.
Four Christians arrested in Iran
A Christian church leader and his wife are among four Christians arrested in Iran in the last few weeks.
Turkey plans to open its first-ever newly-built church in Istanbul
The construction of the Mor Efrem Syriac Ancient Orthodox Church, the first-ever church built in the modern Republic of Turkey, is nearly complete and is expected to open within two months, the Istanbul Syriac Ancient Foundation has announced.
Calls for peer review of archaeological discoveries in Israel
Leading Israeli archaeologists and researchers have decried what they perceive as a lack of oversight amid a series of archaeological discoveries, including recent announcements from a professor claiming to have deciphered historic Bible-era inscriptions.
Justin Welby, Israel's Foreign Ministry condemn desecration of Jerusalem Christian cemetery
A Christian grave site in Jerusalem took a hard hit on Sunday after over 30 graves were vandalized with crosses torn off and headstones broken down, drawing condemnation from the Church of England and Isreal's foreign ministry.
Killing of Christians in Nigeria darkens Christmas season
One Christian was killed and 53 were kidnapped on Dec. 25 in southern Kaduna state, Nigeria after more than 40 Christians were slain in the week leading up to Christmas, sources said.