Police in Bihar state this month obeyed Hindu extremist orders not to interfere as they beat a pastor and a Bible college student.

Three churches have been banned for religious activities and another one was attacked in the last month. Banners against Christian candidate Basuki Tjahaja "Ahok" were rife all over Jakarta.

Representatives from across the world sign manifesto denouncing those who “hailed the US President as a Christian and a prophet.”

An in-depth interview with Vijayesh Lal of the Evangelical Fellowship India. Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh are the states were Christians face the strongest persecution.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation defines the Bible as “fitting and proper for the molding of the spiritual, moral and social fiber of our citizenry.”

According to Open Doors, 215 million Christians suffer “high, very high or extreme persecution”. North Korea continues at the top of the World Watch List. Africa is the region in which more Christians are killed because of their faith.

Jamil, a former Muslim: “Yemenis follow Christ with all their hearts. There is no way back. We all know that. Becoming a Christian will cost you much”.

Any society that wants to survive must care for the weak and vulnerable in their midst.

Young Markus had been an ambitious Muslim. He studied in an Islamic university led by his father and his mission was to reach out to Christian youth and lead them to the “right path”.

The police and Islamic religious authorities in these countries are highly vigilant against any attempts by Christians to reach Malay Muslims with the gospel.

Outside the heavily guarded court, those opposing Ahok chanted, “Jail Ahok, jail Ahok, jail Ahok now”. Muslim clerics refer to the Christian politician as a “son of Satan”.

Hundreds were injured, roads and buildings have been heavily affected in Aceh (Sumatra island). The area was devastated by a massive tsunami in December 2004. 

One in three citizens think corruption is one of the biggest problems facing their country. Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Spain are the worst judged.

“Organ pillaging in China is a crime in which the Communist Party, the health system, hospitals, and the transplant profession are all complicit”, Human Rights activist David Kilgour tells Canadian lawmakers.

In the region, almost 40% of the Protestant churches have become secret churches. “We do not want to be associated with anything illegal and our desire is to be law-abiding citizens”.

“We commit ourselves afresh to care pastorally for those who are same-sex attracted”, says a statement issued in Cairo (Egypt).

Indonesia, the country with most Muslims in the world, sees the worrying rise of radical Islam. Christians fear demonstrations and new attacks on churches.

A report from an independent commission advised in February to slow down euthanasia to prevent abuses.

“Pray that God will protect the churches in the country”, say believers after 50,000 Muslims rallied against alleged “blasphemy” of Christian Governor of Jakarta Basuki Ahok Thahaja Purnama.

One in fifty Belgians dies euthanised. In 2015, there were more than 2,000 euthanasia cases, an average of six per day.

From 1995 to 2012, there were about 480 foreign entities working inside North Korea, of which 70 were Christian. Christian groups have operated in 85 counties in the country, meaning that some 60% have had some exposure to Christian organizations. 

About 7,500 said “yes to life” in Berlin, 1,700 gathered in Bern. Pro-abortion radicals organised counter-demonstrations and threatened Christian organisations.

A summary of the special Lausanne Movement Younger Leaders Gathering organised in Jakarta (Indonesia) in summer 2016. 1,000 delegates and 100 mentors came from 150 countries. 

The number of child refugees doubles in 10 years. 7 in 10 children seeking refuge in Europe come from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. 

I have always found striking, the discrepancy between the public support for euthanasia (among those who are healthy) and my patients’ desire for continued life.