US

• Egyptian court hands down suspended sentences to 15 Muslim attackers after Coptic church violence

  An Egyptian court yesterday sentenced 15 Muslim defendants to a year in jail, charged with attacking an unlicensed Coptic Church in a village south of Cairo.

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  Stop competing! Christian charities told to end rivalries and unite

  Christian charities are being urged to set aside internal competition and rivalries in pursuit of fighting global poverty.

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  Three cheers for the Church of England Evangelical Council's statement on marriage and sex

  The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has issued what it calls a 'reflection' on Anglicanism, marriage and sex. Here are some reasons why evangelicals of whatever hue or shade should rejoice.

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  Evangelical Anglicans warn they might walk away if CofE departs from 'apostolic truth'

  An umbrella body for evangelicals in the Church of England has issued a stark warning of consequences for Church unity if it departs from 'apostolic truth' on sexual ethics.

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  Don Bosco: 7 quotes from the saint who taught by kindness

  St John Bosco or 'Don Bosco' (1815-1888), whose feast day is today, was an Italian Catholic priest who worked in Turin.

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  Salvation Army launches group singing initiative for dementia sufferers

  The Salvation Army has launched an innovative, spiritually-minded new programme to help those suffering from dementia, using singing to connect dementia victims and their carers, and to prompt memory recollection.

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  When Spurgeon died: How a life of faith prepared him for its end

  Charles Haddon Spurgeon had suffered from ill-health for many years, tormented by gout, rheumatism and Bright's disease.

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  Kazakhstan targets home groups, private prayer in new religious freedom crackdown

  Christians, Muslims and Jehovah's Witnesses have been subject to increasingly punitive restrictions on religious freedom in Kazakhstan. New amendments to law would expand limitations - including an effective ban on private home groups.

• Trump's first State of the Union address singles out Christian North Korean defector, reaches out to Dreamers

  Donald Trump alarmed seasoned observers last night with provocative rhetoric about North Korea and Christians in his first State of the Union address, highlighting the plight of a tortured Christian defector who was in the audience.

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  Pope investigates Chilean Bishop Barros after new information emerges

  Pope Francis is sending the Vatican's top expert on sex abuse to investigate the case of a Chilean bishop accused of covering up a paedophile priest's crimes.

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  Space X news: Elon Musk sets date for Falcon Heavy's first test launch

  SpaceX have been riddled with delays for its Falcon Heavy's first critical test. The aerospace company is now eyeing a launch date on the first week of February according to founder and business magnate Elon Musk.

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  Cast of 'Celebrity Big Brother Winter Edition' revealed

  During the Grammy Awards last Sunday, CBS has finally revealed the complete cast for the winter edition of Celebrity Big Brother

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  Chrissy Teigen revealed her second child would be a baby boy

  Following the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Chrissy Teigen revealed that her second child with husband John legend is going to be a baby boy.

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  8 things you shouldn't say to someone with cancer

  In her mid-thirties, with a husband and very young son, Kate Bowler – a professor at Duke University's school of divinity – was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

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  Does everything happen for a reason? Cancer and the prosperity gospel

  When trouble strikes someone, the urge to share it is irresistible. Friends, family – we need to talk about it, and many of us have been deeply blessed by having those who'll listen to us when we do.