Christian Today staff writer

• Royal baby: Duchess of Cambridge admitted to hospital in 'early stages of labour'

  The Duchess of Cambridge is in hospital in the early stages of labour, Kensington Palace announced this morning.

• Willow Creek elders to renew Hybels investigation after more women come forward

  Elders at Willow Creek Community Church have said they will conduct fresh investigations into the conduct of its founder and former pastor Bill Hybels

• Natalie Portman pulls out of Israel prizegiving due to Netanyahu speech

  Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman said she chose not to attend a ceremony in Israel to accept a million-dollar prize because she did not want to be seen as supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was scheduled to speak at the event.

• Will President Trump visit UK this summer?

  US president Donald Trump will visit Britain midway through 2018, possibly in July, British newspapers reported on Saturday, citing government sources in Washington and London.

• 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'

  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 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

  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.

• 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.

• How do Christian or 'spiritual' Americans practise 'self-care'?

  Mental health and wellbeing is an increasing priority not only in popular culture but in the church. A study recently shared by Barna reveals how many Americans who consider themselves Christian or 'spiritual' practise 'self-care'.

• China's Xi Jinping has 'particular animosity' to Christians says head of persecution watchdog

  Chinese president Xi Jinping has a 'particular animosity' against Christians, according to the head of a persecution watchdog.

• Church of England welcomes 'great week' for the environment after government announcements on plastics ban

  The Church of England's lead bishop on the environment has claimed that planned government initiatives on the environment unveiled in recent days mean this could prove to be a 'great week' for environmental policy in the UK.