Worldwide
Canada: new blasphemy laws
17 Mar 2017
Motions against ‘Islamophobia’ are not legally binding but extremists are demanding them as laws. Shutting out any criticism against hardliner behaviour in the West actually means giving extremists a license to commit atrocities. Resolution M-103, seeking…
Afghanistan: a spiritually barren land
17 Mar 2017
The Afghan government does not recognise any of its citizens as Christians, nor is anyone permitted to convert to Christianity. However, there are no laws forbidding proselytism, although the practice is contrary to Muslim beliefs. There…
West Asia: creative uses of new technology
17 Mar 2017
New technology provides creative ways to distribute Scripture. One Wycliffe Bible Translation partner organisation plans to distribute 250,000 SD cards (ultra-small, high-capacity flash memory cards) in a language community in West Asia by the middle of…
USA: bakers refuse to make gay wedding cake
17 Mar 2017
A Christian couple in Oregon were fined $135,000 (£109,000) for refusing to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. Aaron and Melissa Klein, who own a local bakery called Sweet Cakes in Oregon, maintain that…
UN: women’s economic empowerment
10 Mar 2017
The 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women, taking place in New York from 13 to 24 March, will focus on 'Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work.’ This session gathers…
Is Iran seeking a foothold in Syria?
10 Mar 2017
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian president Vladimir Putin met in Moscow yesterday. Netanyahu opposes what he says are Iran's attempts to establish a permanent military foothold in Syria. He told his cabinet, ‘In the…