Christian Today staff writer

• Ireland's abortion referendum: Young liberals look to bury Church's influence

  Momentum is with the 'pro-choice' side in the forthcoming, highly divisive referendum on abortion in Ireland on Friday, May 25.

• 'Pope Rihanna' as celebs get religious for Catholic-themed Met Gala

  From saints to sinners, stars around the world dressed in religious garb for the Catholic themed Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute ball last night.

• Christian campaigns against gay marriage and abortion are putting Americans off religion, study finds

  Researchers in the US claim to have identified a correlation between the success of 'Christian right' political activist groups and the rise in the number of people who describe themselves as atheists or religiously unaffiliated.

• Nigerian Catholics to hold 'massive protest' over ongoing violence against Christians

  The Catholic Church in Nigeria will hold a major protest this weekend against ongoing killings by Fulani herdsmen against Christians and others.

• North Korea: World church leaders hail 'almost miraculous' turnaround

  An international delegation of church leaders has returned from a visit to North Korea in the wake of a historic summit meeting between the presidents of the North and South, describing an 'almost miraculous new spring' for the region.

• Are Trump and Israel leading the Middle East into war?

  Just as Jerusalem remains the key to unlocking the region's intractable conflict, Israel itself remains critical to the wider region's troubles and potential conflicts.

• Australian Christian rugby star Israel Folau shares anti-gay sermon by US evangelist David Wilkinson

  Israel Folau, the outspoken Christian rugby star, has shared an anti-gay sermon from late American evangelist David Wilkerson in an apparent refusal to back down from controversy.

• Thousands 'March for Life' in London anti-abortion demonstration

  The UK 'March for Life' movement held its first London-based March in Britain's capital yesterday, with thousands marching to oppose the liberalisation of abortion laws. Pro-choice activists held a peaceful counter-demonstration.

• Anti-conversion law in another Indian state could be used against churches, campaigners say

  A seventh Indian state has enacted a law aimed at restricting people's freedom to convert from one religion to another.

• Beth Moore: Male evangelical leaders 'smack of misogyny, objectification and astonishing disesteem of women'

  Beth Moore, the prominent US evangelical teacher, has criticised the 'colossal disregard and disrespect of women' shown by male Christian leaders.

• Otto Warmbier's mother Cindy speaks out on North Korea: 'You can't negotiate, you just have to shame them'

  The parents of Otto Warmbier, the student who died following his imprisonment in North Korea, have spoken out against negotiations with the regime of Kim Jong Un.

• UN guilty of 'overall failure to protect religious freedom', claims report

  The United Nations is failing to protect religious freedom and guard against the rise in anti-conversion laws, a damning report launched next week claims.