A pregnant Christian Sudanese woman who was sentenced to death last Thursday has been spending her days shackled in prison. Meriam Ibrahim, from a Muslim background, was raised a Christian and married a Christian. Meriam was arrested and charged with adultery and apostasy (The government doesn’t recognise the couple's marriage, hence the adultery charge). Her American husband is of South Sudanese origin. The court in Khartoum has delayed carrying out the ruling of death by hanging until Meriam gives birth and nurses her newborn. Her attorney is working on an appeal and a statement from several attorneys associated with the Sudanese high court called for a repeal of the death sentence. Muslims are punished by death if they convert to other religions. Muslim women are prohibited from marrying non-Muslims. ‘I was never a Muslim,’ she told the Sudanese high court: 'I was raised a Christian from the start.’ See also: http://www.meconcern.org/index.php/en/prayer-requests/755-sudan-update-on-believer-sentenced-to-death

Despite an increased security presence, police feel under-equipped to serve as any sort of meaningful deterrent against further attacks. They’re unable to enter into a combat situation with militants armed with heavy machine-guns and rocketpropelled grenades. Residents in Chibok say they are in constant fear of further attacks, with abductions and killings taking place on a regular basis. Amnesty International says Nigerian forces had advance warning of the attack by Boko Haram that led to the kidnapping of more than 276 schoolgirls, but military officials failed to take immediate action. Amnesty said it had verified the information about the abduction with credible sources. ‘The fact that Nigerian security forces knew about Boko Haram's impending raid, but failed to take the immediate action needed to stop it, will only amplify the national and international outcry at this horrific crime,’ said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International's Africa director. See: http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/5/9/nigerian-governmentbokoharamkidnappedgirls.html

Five people were killed when a suicide bomber struck in the northern city of Kano on Sunday, then on Tuesday explosions in Jos left 118 people dead in a twin bombing. Police said dozens more were injured in the explosions at a bus terminal and market. There are fears more bodies will be recovered from the wreckage of destroyed buildings. The country's president, Goodluck Jonathan, said, ‘The government remains fully committed to winning the war against terror, and this administration will not be cowed by the atrocities of enemies of human progress and civilisation.’ Jos is in an area known as the ‘Middle Belt’ where the largely Christian south and mostly Muslim north meet.

Swedish missionary Miriam Mondragon is working to see transformation in Honduras, one of the world's most dangerous countries. Supported by Tearfund, Miriam is passionate about seeing the Church mobilised to bring peace and reconciliation in a country fractured by civil war, violence and extreme political unrest. In addition to working directly with victims of horrific violence and sexual abuse, her organisation partners with local churches to advocate for justice. They work in reconciliation, supporting pastors and leaders working in difficult and violent areas, coordinating a rescue programme for children who suffering from sexual abuse and coordinating a programme in slum areas helping kids at extreme risk, and their families. They aim to reach the top ten per cent of the most vulnerable of the population, working in the worst areas where everyone is part of a gang. They’re reaching those that no one else wants to work with. The only hope for Honduras is a Church that stands up and demands justice.

The Warehouse was established in 2003 through the parish of St John's, Cape Town, and exists to serve the South African church network in its response to poverty, injustice and division. They work with local churches in all communities, helping them to implement sound, effective and practical acts and renewed attitudes, to see communities where the vulnerable are cared for because the local church is a transformed and a transformative presence. Their vision is to inspire equip and connect churches to effectively address poverty, injustice and division. Please pray for the church leaders to successfully build relationships, making the use of all opportunities, events and media resources. Please pray for those leaders who are changing their lifestyles and have been equipped with theology, theory and tools to transform. Please pray for the church in Cape Town networking across racial, economic and denominational barriers and with government and civil society initiatives in broader society.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog (IAEA) had talks with Iran on Tuesday to advance a long-stalled investigation into Tehran's atomic activities, but it was not immediately clear whether any headway was made, leaving open the possibility agreements might be made later. They were expected to discuss IAEA requests for information about detonators that can be used to set off a nuclear explosive device. How Iran responds is regarded as a litmus test of its readiness to allow investigation into the possible military dimensions of the country's nuclear program. The IAEA-Iran talks were separate from those about to resume between the US, UK, France, China, Russia plus Germany (P5+1) in Vienna to draw up a draft agreement providing comprehensive solutions to the Iranian nuclear issue. These talks will need to overcome differences on Iran's uranium enrichment capacity, the heavy-water reactor at Arak and the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear programme. See also http://www.iranwatch.org/weapon-programs/nuclear

Pope Francis will be making a pilgrimage to Israel from May 24th to 26th commemorating 50 years since a meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras. He will meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the Orthodox bishops, Jordan's King and Queen, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However death threats to Arabs and Christians written in front of a Roman Catholic Church office in Jerusalem ahead of the visit  have some officials alarmed. A Christian persecution watchdog group said it is unlikely a direct attack on the pope will be attempted. The Office of the Assembly of Bishops, Notre Dame of Jerusalem said that it found Hebrew writing on a column outside its building reading ‘Death to Arabs, Christians and all those who hate Israel.’ Heads of churches are preparing to respond.

The government of Sri Lanka has created a religious police unit to settle disputes arising from increasing intolerance against minorities by Buddhist groups. However, many Christians and Muslims in Sri Lanka think the new unit is disingenuous as it answers only to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs, which is tasked with furthering Buddhism. Members of Sri Lanka's Christian clergy said the government's decision to help solve religious disputes was misleading since many Buddhist nationalists are already under the protection of the Sri Lanka government. Last year Sri Lanka's Christian communities were targeted by vigilante groups acting on behalf of the country's Buddhist Sinhalese majority. These groups have destroyed, or closed down numerous churches, notably Evangelical congregations whose preaching is perceived as a threat to Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority. ‘The special unit will not solve the crisis we are experiencing,’ Rev. Emmanuel Sebamalai, a Tamil Catholic priest and human rights activist said.

A 60 page Wesley Mission report compiled from the results of a survey and interviews with Australian disability carers  found the role of a carer is taxing and takes its toll on even the most robust, loving people. Key findings were • life is extremely complex and stressful • almost all carers interviewed had personal health issues, relationship concerns and/or mental health complications • lifestyles of carers is completely focused on and dedicated to the wellbeing of those they care for, resulting in them putting themselves in ‘second place’ • there’s not enough time to combine caring responsibilities with non-caring responsibilities • carers expressed high levels of concerns in relation to securing a meaningful and safe future for those they care for • despite all the stress, carers are very resilient - while stress, strain and sacrifice are all part of caring for someone with disability  •carers showed a determination to provide the best care they could.

More Iranian Christians are immigrating to Germany than ever before to escape religious persecution in their home country. The Guardian reports that though East Berlin has been considered one of the most ‘godless’ locations in history the city is now attracting thousands of foreign Christians to the area. The Iranian immigrants must pay to enter the country illegally; some pay up to $30,000 to make the trip with a fake passport. They create fake names and start their lives over in new churches. One woman who remains in Iran said that she was harassed and abused for her faith. The woman was imprisoned for putting up a Christmas tree in her home and workplace, receiving more than 70 lashes from her jailers. ‘I want Iran to have respect for my perspective, about what religion I choose’ the woman, who wished to only be identified by her first name Afsaneh, said.