World

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  Hardline animists attack church and threaten to kill Christians in eastern India

  Tribal animists in eastern India earlier this month surrounded a church building with axes, threatened to kill Christians within and later burned down the thatched-roof structure, sources said.

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  Rebels in Burma who closed more than 100 churches allow 51 to re-open

  Ethnic Wa rebels of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) this week announced they had permitted 51 Baptist churches to reopen in northern Shan state after investigating the congregations and their activities for 14 months.

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  Middle East Christians at risk of 'second genocide'

  Aid to the Church in Need said that the region's Christian community is at risk of a "wipe-out from the lands of the Bible" because of the persistent threat from extremist groups.

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  Work starts on two new Bible translations

  Wycliffe Bible Translators havs started work on Bible translations for two languages in Chad that have no writing system.

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  Christian charity donates Christmas gifts to 19,000 children in Syria

  Despite the ongoing hardship in wartorn Syria, there will be a little more cheer this Christmas for thousands of children receiving donated gifts.

• Government urged to make good on promise to protect persecuted Christians

  Paul Robinson, chief executive of Release International, said he wanted to see religious freedom placed at the "very heart of UK foreign policy".

• 11 Christians killed by militants in Kenya

  Suspected members of Somali Islamic extremist group Al Shabaab intercepted a bus in northern Kenya on December 6, separated out those who were not local ethnic Somali Muslims and executed them, sources said.

• At least 1,000 Christians killed in Nigeria during 2019 - report

  At least 1,000 Christians have been killed by Fulani and Boko Haram militants in Nigeria this year, a new NGO report warns.

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  Pakistan's blasphemy laws 'must be repealed', says Christian charity

  Release International has called on Pakistan to repeal its controversial blasphemy laws as hundreds remain in prison on dubious charges.

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  Remains of two dozen aborted babies discovered in India

  Locals contacted the police after they made the horrific discovery as they gathered to fish last month.

• Church groups urges EU to change approach to migrants rescued at sea

  The heads of EU institutions are being called upon by European Church groups to change their approach to asylum and migration, particularly where it concerns the rescue of migrants at sea.

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  Resurgence of nationalism is a 'setback for humanity', says German theologian Jürgen Moltmann

  The 93-year-old said the new wave of nationalism taking root in many countries was a "setback for humanity".

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  After deadly church attack, evangelical leader in Burkina Faso says only love, not revenge can bring peace

  An evangelical leader in Burkina Faso has called on Christians in the country to choose love over revenge after a church attack on Sunday left 14 people dead.

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  Government must do more to tackle violence against women and girls - Christian Aid

  The UK government must use its aid budget and diplomatic influence to promote security for women and girls around the world and especially in conflict zones like Afghanistan, Christian Aid has said.

• Israel Folau reaches settlement with Rugby Australia over 'hell awaits' Instagram post

  Rugby Australia (RA), NSW Rugby and Israel Folau have reached a settlement following a dispute over a religious message he posted to social media.