World Watch Monitor

• Algeria's churches fear impact of new law governing NGOs

  A number of churches, as well as foreign NGOs, in Algeria have called for the abolition of a new law which they say will hamper their work.

• Lebanese library torched after blasphemy accusation

  A huge library of books collected by a 72-year-old Greek Orthodox priest, but used by the whole community, was torched in Lebanon last Friday after he was accused of insulting Islam.

• Egypt: Copt killed by gunshot wound on New Year's Eve

  Christian reportedly shot by Muslim Brotherhood protesters, then refused treatment

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  West must open its eyes to reality facing Middle East Christians

  Chaldean Catholic Head says Christians are 'integral part of national Arab tissue'

• Malaysia's 'Allah' ruling widely criticised

  Malaysia's escalating dispute over who has the right to use the word 'Allah' to describe God continues unabated.

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  Churches sheltering thousands from violence in Central African Republic

  Three days of sectarian violence have left hundreds dead in the Central African Republic capital.

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  Report claims 30,000 Eritreans kidnapped in 5 years

  Total of $600 million extorted in ransom payments

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  Pakistan's churches increase security after Peshawar blasts

  Officer dies guarding another church in Peshawar

• 12 nuns abducted as rebels recapture Maaloula

  The Vatican has reported that 12 nuns were abducted as opposition rebels captured Syria's historically Christian town of Maaloula on Monday.

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  Chinese church protests against arrest of 23 members

  Lawyers prevented from seeing detainees; leaders' whereabouts unknown

• Dozens killed in fresh attacks in central Nigeria

  Four Christian-dominated villages decimated; Muslim tribe suspected of attacks

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  Pakistan: Rise in blasphemy accusations after Peshawar church bombing

  Four blasphemy cases against Christians were registered in less than a month, four times higher than the monthly average recorded over the last two years. In all these blasphemy charge cases, no direct evidence was available against those accused.