World

I won't vote for Putin 'darkness' says Russian Orthodox bishop
A Russian Orthodox bishop has advised the faithful not to vote for the 'darkness' of Vladimir Putin when he stands for re-election as president in March, after Putin last week said Communism was like Christianity and Lenin was like a saint.

Bolivia's ban on evangelism causing mounting concern around the world
Concern is mounting rapidly among Protestant Christians in Bolivia over a new law that threatens to ban evangelism.

Anglican worship in Porto: we are fed so we can feed others
Sitting in the pews during the Sunday Communion service at the Anglican Church of St James in Porto yesterday, you could not help but marvel at how small corners of Britain like this â the early 19th century church, its extensive British cemetery and a beautiful war memorial â are scattered all over the globe.
Pence in Jerusalem blasted as 'a dangerous man with a messianic vision' but praised by Israeli PM
The US Vice President Mike Pence will later today address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in a speech that will be boycotted by Arab lawmakers following Donald Trump's announcement in December that the US was recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

German woman faces death sentence in Iraq for aiding the Islamic State carry out their attacks
A German woman is sentenced to death by Iraq for joining the Islamic State or ISIS. The woman is convicted of aiding the terrorist group and is now waiting for her execution by hanging.
Mike Pence pressurises Egypt's Sisi over attacks on Christians
Vice President Mike Pence pressured Egypt's leader over religious freedom and attacks on Christians on Saturday as the pair met on the first leg of a three-country tour of the Middle East.
President Trump one year on: How Mike Pence's agenda marches on
In a year marked by chaos and infighting in Trump's White House, Pence has been one of the most effective administration officials in advancing his own policy goals.

Donald Trump addresses March for Life: 'Abortion is wrong. It has to change'
President Donald Trump criticized US abortion laws as among the most permissive in the world in a speech to anti-abortion activists at the annual March for Life on Friday, and pledged his administration would always defend 'the right to life'.
US government in shutdown after Democrats and Republicans fail to reach a deal
The US government shut down at midnight on Friday after Democrats and Republicans, locked in a bitter dispute over immigration and border security, failed to agree on a last-minute deal to fund its operations.

Black-clad protesters tear down divisive red 'Satan' statue in Athens
Black-clad protesters in Athens, Greece have torn down a controversial winged sculpture that has been likened to a statue of Satan.

European Court asked to rule on deportation of Afghan Christian convert facing execution
An Afghan Christian convert in Switzerland may face persecution and execution if his extradition back to Afghanistan is successful.
Pope Francis accuses sex abuse victims of slandering bishop
Pope Francis has launched a stunning attack on clerical abuse victims in Chile, accusing them of slandering a bishop they accuse of protecting a paedophile priest.

Lebanon bans Steven Spielberg's 'The Post' from local theaters
A report on the The Post getting banned from being shown in Lebanese theaters.

UK should follow Trump and give aid directly to Middle Eastern churches, says former cabinet minister
A former cabinet minister has called on the UK government to follow Donald Trump's example and divert aid for the Middle East away from the United Nations and directly to persecuted religious groups on the ground.

'Behold the life-giving cross': Reformation symbol placed in World Council of Churches chapel
A Salvadoran cross from Lund, the Swedish city where Lutherans and Catholics met at the end of 2016 to commemorate the 500th Reformation anniversary, has been placed in the World Council of Churches' (WCC) chapel in Geneva, Switzerland.

Chinese pastor who was 'hooded and tortured' ordered to hand over $1 million in church donations
A court in China's southern Guizhou province has ordered a house church pastor who had been hooded, detained and tortured to hand over more than a million US dollars worth of donations from Christians which officials have branded 'illegal income'.