China: 'China is likely to announce yet another year of double-digit growth in its defense budget in the next week. The move would feed a modernization drive that is sparking concern in rival Taiwan of invasion, and U.S. worries about stability.' (CNN)

Lebanon: 'With Lebanon's pro-Damascus government facing a possible vote of no confidence, tens of thousands of demonstrators defied a ban and poured into Beirut's city center Monday to protest against Syria's military presence in Lebanon.' (CNN)

World news: Mission Network News (MNN) carries news stories from around the world of interest to Christians.

India: 'India is to boost spending on primary schools and health in a budget flagged as a boost for the ordinary citizen. India's defence budget has also been raised 7.8% to 830bn rupees ($19bn). The priority for Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram is to fight poverty and keep the government's Communist allies onside.' (BBC)

World: 'A global treaty aimed at dissuading children from smoking and helping adults kick the habit came into force on Sunday with the United Nations saying it could save millions of lives.' (CNN)

Nepal: 'Maoist rebels in Nepal have called off a nationwide transport blockade they ordered to protest at King Gyanendra's seizure of power earlier this month.' (BBC)

Tajikistan: 'Voters cast their ballots Sunday in Tajikistan's parliamentary elections that pitted a fledgling opposition against the powerful ruling party of strongman President Emomali Rakhmonov.' (CNN)

Kyrgyzstan: 'Parliamentary elections were held in the former Soviet state of Kyrgyzstan yesterday, amid allegations of political and media repression. Opposition politicians were optimistic about following in the footsteps of Ukraine and Georgia, and about effecting a "tulip revolution" that would sweep the country's Soviet-era president, Askar Akayev, peacefully from power. Once hailed as the most liberal of central Asia's potentates, in recent years he has been accused of ruthlessly eliminating political opposition and of stifling a free press.' (Independent)

Russia/Iran: 'Russia agreed a deal with Iran yesterday to provide nuclear fuel for the country's only nuclear reactor, enabling the plant to come on stream next year amid US fears that Tehran may be developing a nuclear weapon.' (Independent)

Egypt: 'Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ordered the constitution changed to allow multi-candidate presidential elections in September, making a surprise reversal Saturday that could mean he will face a challenger for the first time since taking power in 1981.' (CNN)

Afghanistan: 'Habiba Sarabi, Afghanistan's former women's minister, has outlined the challenge facing her as she prepares to take charge in Bamiyan province - that would make her the country's first female provincial governor.' (BBC)

Afghanistan: 'Afghanistan's first parliamentary election since the fall of the Taleban will not take place on time, the United Nations has said.' (BBC)

World news: HCJB carries news stories from around the world of interest to Christians.

Lebanon/Syria: 'Syria, under mounting international pressure after a former Lebanese prime minister was killed in Beirut, has said it will withdraw troops from Lebanon in line with a 1989 Arab-brokered agreement.' (CNN)

Kazakhstan: 'A controversial new extremism law, actively promoted by the KNB secret police, has now been signed by the Kazakh President. As well as being criticised by some religious believers, the law has been criticised by a wide range of local and international organisations, including the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. But Almaty city's official chief specialist on religious affairs, Vladimir Ivanov, told Forum 18 News Service that "I do not understand this concern. The law on extremism and also the amendments to other laws have no relation to religion and consequently do not represent a threat to believers." Strongly disagreeing was Ninel Fokina of the Almaty Helsinki Committee, who told Forum 18 that "the term 'religious' occurs ten times (…). The new law can be used by the state to combat religious organisations it does not like." Religious law specialist Roman Podoprigora pointed out to Forum 18 that, under amendments to other laws brought in with the extremism law, Kazakhstan can now decide "to close religious communities on the basis of information from the relevant organs of odious regimes," such as North Korea.' (Forum 18)

Afghanistan: ' Afghanistan faces catastrophic floods after snow melts from the worst winter in decades, the UN's World Food Programme has warned.' (BBC)

Turkey: 'The Turkish parliament has granted an amnesty to 677,000 men and women who have been expelled from university over the past five years. The amnesty includes those expelled from university because their refusal to remove the Islamic headscarf.' (BBC)

Bhutan: 'The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has issued a ban on smoking in all public places. Coming just two months after a ban on the sale of tobacco products, the new law means that Bhutan now has the toughest anti-smoking laws in the world.' (Independent)

China: 'China's still political waters run deep. As usual, what's apparent on the calm political surface often does not reveal what's really going on in China. It would be going too far to say a big political struggle is underway, but it's not going to far to say that factions, with old allegiances, are jockeying for influence. Soon, we will know more from the developments at major legislative - some say rubber stamp - conclaves.' (Asia Times)

Nepal: 'In Nepal’s civil war, both Maoist insurgents and the Royal Nepali Army continue to attack civilians after the royal takeover of power, violating the laws of war.' (Human Rights Watch)

Iran: 'Blogger Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison: Government Broadens Its Crackdown on Freedom of Expression. The Iranian government sentenced the prominent blogger Arash Cigarchi to 14 years in prison for expressing his opinions on the Internet and in the international press, marking a new low for freedom of expression in Iran.' (Human Rights Watch)

Sudan: 'Nine months after the Anglican Church headquarters in Khartoum was confiscated at gun point, the Arab company now claiming ownership of the property has started making renovations to the building in violation of a court injunction. The June 2004 judicial order forbids Al-Ghazal Residence Enterprises from tampering with the property until the courts resolve the ownership dispute. The attorney for the Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS) filed objections against the renovations before the Khartoum Public Court, prompting a written response from the construction company’s lawyer acknowledging the court injunction -- and flatly denying that his clients were working on the premises. During a visit to Sudan last month, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord George Carey raised the thorny issue in a face-to-face meeting with Sudanese First Vice President Ali Osman Taha. Part of the Anglican Communion, the ECS is the largest Christian church in Sudan with about five million members.' (Compass Direct)

Jordan: Civic society institutions, including the country's 14 professional associations and over 30 political parties, should abide by the Public Assembly Law or face legal prosecution, Amman Governor Abdul Karim Malahmeh stressed on Tuesday. “Nobody is allowed to violate the law,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted Malahmeh as saying.

The law states that organisers of public events such as rallies, marches or demonstrations, should acquire a written consent from the local governor three days in advance. Exceptions include tribal-related events and those that deal with professional matters.

Malahmeh said some individuals totally disregarded the Public Assembly Law by making political speeches from the podium of a mosque. “They did not obtain prior consent and were therefore referred to the attorney general,” he added.

Ties between the government and Islamists have been highly charged over the past couple of years. Tensions reached new heights following a clash last year between the party and Minister of Interior Samir Habashneh over his perceived clampdown on their activities. A recent disagreement between the 17-member IAF parliamentary bloc and the minister over measures taken to curb professional associations' “illegal political” activities further heightened the tension.' (Jordan Times)

Arab World: 'A conference on HIV/Aids among women and girls in the Middle East and north Africa has heard a call for more to be done to help this vulnerable group.' (BBC)

South Asia: 'Cold kills hundreds in South Asia: It is now known that several hundred people have been killed across India, Pakistan and Afghanistan in the region's worst winter in decades.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Nepal says it will approach other countries for military supplies if India and the United Kingdom stopped such assistance.' (BBC)

Egypt: 'The al-Ghad opposition party on Monday said they rejected foreign assistance to free their jailed leader, brushing aside recent U.S. criticism of the Egyptian government for detaining their party leader.' (CNN)

Afghanistan: 'A new report warns more must be done to help Afghanistan emerge from poverty or it risks slipping back into chaos. The report, by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) identifies jobs, health, education and dignity as crucial elements in warding off Afghanistan's potential descent into the category of a failed state.' (CNN)

Iran: 'At least 400 people were killed when an earthquake struck a remote, mountainous region of southern Iran yesterday, reducing villages to piles of rubble and leaving survivors searching for the dead in torrential rain.' (Daily Telegraph)

India: 'Activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal beat and robbed 280 Christian students on February 19 while the group was on its way to Emmanuel Mission’s graduation ceremony in Kota, India. The 2:30 a.m. attack occurred as the travelers disembarked from a train carrying them to Kota, Rajasthan state, for the February 23 to 27 event. Afterward, local police rounded up the students and kept them in custody at a local police station until the following evening. Alleging that Emmanuel Mission had lured the visiting students to Kota with promises of a bicycle and 250 rupees ($5.70) in exchange for converting to Christianity, police officials forced the students to return home. No attackers were arrested. At press time, RSS and Bajrang Dal activists are threatening to shut down the graduation ceremony, which annually attracts 5,000 Christian visitors to the city.' (Compass Direct)

India: 'On February 11, the body of 25-year-old Christian evangelist Pastor Narayan was found in the small town of Channapatana in Karnataka state, India. Doctors who performed an autopsy said Narayan had been brutally murdered -- the corpse had broken ribs and teeth and injuries to the abdomen. However, “the official report of the autopsy suggested it was a case of suicide,” Sajan K. George of the Global Council of Indian Christians told Compass. George suspects Hindu extremists were responsible for Narayan’s death and that their sympathizers are engaged in a cover-up. A fact-finding mission to the district revealed that attacks on minority Christians have been going on for years and several churches have been destroyed. George has demanded that the government conduct an official inquiry through the Central Bureau of Investigation.' (Compass Direct)

World: an article by Martin Lee of Global Connections, 'The tsunami, partnerships and the future'. (Redcliffe College online magazine)

Afghanistan: 'There is concern in Afghanistan about the condition of thousands of people living in remote villages cut off by weeks of heavy snow.' (BBC)

Jordan: 'The Muslim guardian trying to take custody of a Christian widow’s two minor children appeared before an Islamic court in Jordan yesterday, asking the judge to postpone the scheduled hearing until March 15. A final verdict was expected yesterday from Amman’s Al-Abdali Sharia Court, where Siham Qandah’s lawyer was arguing an appeals case to remove Abdullah al-Muhtadi as guardian of his client’s children. Al-Muhtadi has been accused of financial improprieties for withdrawing nearly $17,000 from the children’s trust funds. The current appeals case is the Christian mother’s last lawsuit in a three-year battle since the Supreme Islamic Court of Jordan revoked her legal custody in February 2002 of her daughter Rawan and son Fadi, now 16 and 15. Reportedly, Judge Mahmud Zghl assured Qandah that March 15 would be the final hearing. “I hope that the judge is now convinced that this guardian is corrupt,” stated a close friend of Qandah.' (Compass Direct)

India: 'More than 100 people have been killed and scores more are missing in Indian-administered Kashmir following the worst snowfalls in two decades.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Police arrested 57 opposition protesters, while the royal government plunged Nepal into a communications blackout, cutting phone service to thwart efforts to organize nationwide rallies against the king's seizure of power.' (CNN)

Bangladesh: 'At least 116 people are now confirmed dead after a ferry capsized in a storm in Bangladesh late on Saturday.' (BBC)

Lebanon: 'Thousands of people took to the streets Friday in various parts of Lebanon as opposition leaders called for people around the world to support a peaceful "uprising" against Syrian armed forces in Lebanon and the pro-Syrian government.' (CNN)

World: 'One in 12 of the world's children is involved in the worst forms of forced labour, sexual exploitation or enforced military conscription, according to a report published today.' (Independent)

Afghanistan: 'The number of Afghans, particularly children, killed in severe winter weather could be much higher than official estimates, an aid agency says.' (BBC)

India: 'New information has emerged regarding last year’s kidnapping of Manulaben Dinana, the wife of an Indian pastor. Dinana, married to Pastor Dharmesh Ninama, was kidnapped in May 2004 by a group of Hindu fundamentalists. Her husband and several relatives searched for her and finally found her tied up in a room, but they were beaten and chased away by the kidnappers. Dinana returned home five months later but was rejected by Pastor Ninama and both sets of parents as she was carrying the child of one of her kidnappers, with whom she allegedly had had an affair before being kidnapped. Christian leaders in Gujarat say Hindu extremists wanted to exploit Dinana’s affair with one of their members in order to embarrass and discredit her husband.' (Compass Direct)

China: 'Behind China's Closed Doors: Newly confident house churches open themselves up to the world. In late 2003, three remarkable events took place that signal a fundamental shift in how China's house church sees itself.' (Christianity Today)

China: 'Much persecution of Christians in China today, quite apart from Communism, has its roots in a disastrous 19th Century history that left the Chinese very suspicious and fearful of any foreign influence and Christianity. Chinese Christians are still paying the price. Any Christianity that is not controlled by China's Communist government is banned as being seditious. Pastor Gong Shengliang (50), senior pastor of the 50,000-strong South China Church (house-church network), is serving a life sentence and has already come close to death. Also imprisoned and severely at risk is well-known house-church patriarch Pastor Zhang Rongliang, leader of the 10 million-strong China for Christ house-church network. The call of the famous British missionary Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) to pray for China is as relevant today as ever.' (Religious Liberty Commission)

Nepal: 'Nepal's King Gyanendra has defended his coup, saying on the nation's Democracy Day that there had been growing disillusionment with the system. He again told the people the coup was necessary to tackle Maoist rebels and what he called corrupt politicians. Authorities cut off local telephone lines on Friday to thwart planned pro-democracy protests.' (BBC)

China: 'China has overtaken the US in the consumption of basic agricultural and industrial goods, a survey has found. With a booming economy and 1.3bn people, it is now the world's largest consumer of grain, meat, coal and steel, said the Earth Policy Institute.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Nepal's King Gyanendra has announced a powerful panel he says will crack down on corruption, favouritism and bribery. The royal commission can seize property amassed through abuse of authority or smuggling and will have all the powers of a court, the palace said. The human rights group, Amnesty International, has meanwhile warned Nepal is heading towards "catastrophe".' (BBC)

Saudi Arabia: 'Saudi Arabia's less-than-full cooperation has hindered U.S. efforts to choke off terrorist financing, a lawmaker said Wednesday, and a Bush administration official indicated the Saudis were being prodded.' (CNN)

Lebanon: 'Lebanon, for so long a symbol of bitter division, joined in a moving display of national unity yesterday as Rafik al-Hariri, the murdered former prime minister, was buried before hundreds of thousands of mourners in Beirut.' (Daily Telegraph)

Turkmenistan: 'Turkmenistan has increased the number of religious prisoners of conscience it has jailed, Forum 18 News Service has learnt, by imprisoning two further Jehovah's Witnesses, Atamurat Suvkhanov and Begench Shakhmuradov, for refusing on religious grounds to serve in the armed forces. There are now five known religious prisoners of conscience in Turkmenistan, four of them Jehovah's Witnesses and one Muslim, the former chief mufti. In addition, some imams are believed to be in internal exile. Religious prisoners of conscience in Turkmenistan have been harshly treated, being regularly beaten, threatened with homosexual rape, and in one case apparently treated with psychotropic (mind-altering) drugs. Suvkhanov, who is now 18, is currently being held in the women's labour camp in the eastern town of Seydi, and the whereabouts of Shakhmuradov, who is 26, are unknown. Commenting on the fact that Shakhmuradov is older than most military conscripts, Jehovah's Witness sources told Forum 18 that "we still don't know why someone that age was called up."' (Forum 18)

India: 'India’s Supreme Court has decided to study the legal implications of denying job and education quotas to Dalit Christians. Under the present quota system, approximately 26 percent of jobs and educational placements are reserved for members of lower castes. Initially, religious adherents were excluded from these provisions. Due to recent lobbying efforts, the government amended the law and included Dalit Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs under the quota system. However, Dalit Christians and Muslims are still excluded. John Dayal, president of the All India Catholic Union, has applauded the Supreme Court’s decision to pursue the issue. “It is a joyous day,” he said. “We hope that the Supreme Court will soon end the historic injustice that was done in 1950 to Dalits professing the Christian faith.”' (Compass Direct)

Iran: 'Yesterday a Tehran military court sentenced Iranian Christian pastor Hamid Pourmand to jail for three years, ordering his immediate transfer to a group prison cell in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. The former army colonel was found guilty of deceiving the armed forces by not declaring that he was a convert from Islam to Christianity. It is illegal for a non-Muslim to serve as a military officer in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Pourmand, a Christian for nearly 25 years, produced several original documents in which his military superiors had acknowledged years ago that he was a Christian. “But the court didn’t accept them, an Iranian source said. “They said these were false documents.” The verdict represented the maximum penalty for Pourmand’s alleged offense. As a consequence, the lay pastor of the Assemblies of God faces automatic discharge from the army and forfeits his entire income, pension and housing for his family.' (Compass Direct)

Nepal: Someone in Kathmandu (it appears) has set up a weblog - Radio Free Nepal - in response to the King's assumption of power and imposition of media restrictions. It mostly carries links to news items from sources outside Nepal, but does have some news and information from within Nepal as well.

Afghanistan: 'The UK government is to double its aid to Afghanistan for fighting the country's drugs trade, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has announced.' (BBC)

Uzbekistan: 'The Protestant Peace Church, just outside the capital Tashkent, and the capital's Jehovah's Witness congregation are the latest victims, which Forum 18 News Service knows of, of the state's refusal to grant registration to religious communities it does not like. Both communities are now at risk of prosecution, with the possibility of large fines and jail terms. The reasons given to the Peace Church for the decision, in a letter which contained grammatical mistakes seen by Forum 18, included the claim that the application contained "many grammatical and spelling mistakes." None of the reasons given are specified by Uzbekistan's religion law. A Jehovah's Witness spokesperson told Forum 18 that the impact of the decision on Jehovah's Witnesses will be "a never-ending cycle: the police periodically fine our believers because of the activities of unregistered religious congregations, while the justice authorities simply ignore our attempts to register those religious congregations."' (Forum 18)

Afghanistan: 'Officials from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan are holding talks in Brussels on managing the movement of refugees to and from Afghanistan.' (BBC)

World: 'The Kyoto accord, which aims to curb the air pollution blamed for global warming, has come into force seven years after it was agreed. The accord requires countries to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Some 141 countries, accounting for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions, have ratified the treaty, which pledges to cut these emissions by 5.2% by 2012. But the world's top polluter - the US - has not signed up to the treaty.' (BBC)

India and Pakistan: 'India and Pakistan have agreed to launch a landmark bus service across the ceasefire line dividing Kashmir between the nuclear rivals.' (BBC)

Syria: 'U.S. pressure is mounting on Syria in the wake of the deadly bomb blast in Lebanon that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. A war of words is developing between Washington and Damascus, with the U.S. recalling its ambassador to Syria, and Syria shrugging off criticism of its troop presence in Lebanon and U.S. claims that it supports terrorism.' (CNN)

Nepal: 'Media Blackout Heightens Risk of Abuses. The Nepalese army is preventing local journalists and rights activists from publicizing abuses by the military or criticizing any government action, Human Rights Watch said today.' (Human Rights Watch)

Uzbekistan: 'Uzbek authorities have banned the relics of two saints, recognised by the Russian Orthodox Church, from entering the country. The two saints, Grand Duchess Elizaveta Fyodorovna and a lay-sister Varvara, were both nuns martyred by Communists in 1918, by being thrown alive down a mine shaft. The Russian Orthodox diocese of Central Asia told Forum 18 News Service that "we cannot understand why the Uzbek authorities have deprived [Orthodox believers] of the opportunity of venerating the holy relics." The relics have already been brought to eight other former Soviet republics. Shoazim Minovarov, chairman of the Committee for Religious Affairs, whose committee was asked to allow the relics to enter, categorically refused to comment to Forum 18 on the ban, saying "You can think what you want! I don't wish to express my opinion on this question. After all, you don't need to receive a comment at a ministerial level every time!"' (Forum 18)

Nepal: 'The United States, the UK and other EU nations have recalled their ambassadors to Nepal to reflect their opposition to King Gyanendra's takeover of power.' (BBC)

Lebanon: 'Army on alert as Lebanon mourns: Suspect in custody as allegations fly over Beirut blast. The Lebanese army has gone on full alert at the start of three days of mourning over the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, whose assassination plunged the country into political crisis.' (CNN)

India: 'A Hindu cleric in the Catholic village of Rajura, Maharashtra state, has insisted that tribal Christians turn their church into a Hindu temple or face violent consequences. “This morning I received news that the situation is extremely serious,” Bishop Edwin Colaço of the Amaravati Diocese said today. “The Christians are living in fear of their lives.” Hindu cleric Sunil Ji Maharaj initially threatened about 40 Catholic families in the village with social ostracism and even death if they did not “reconvert” to Hinduism or leave the village, Asia News reported on February 3. “He urged Hindu villagers to kill the Christian adivasis (tribal people) with ‘swords,’” Colaço said. Mumbai sociologist S.M. Michael attributes such aggression to desperate attempts by fundamentalist Hindus to reclaim political power after the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party in last year’s elections.' (Compass Direct)

Kyrgyzstan: 'The Kyrgyz government is stepping up repression in advance of this month’s parliamentary elections to forestall a repeat of the ‘Ukraine scenario,’ Human Rights Watch said today.' (Human Rights Watch)

Russia: 'In its survey analysis of religious freedom in Russia, Forum 18 News Service notes that fluctuation remains the distinguishing feature of state policy. Symbolic appearances of solidarity between President Putin and Russian Orthodox Moscow Patriarch Aleksi II - sometimes with representatives of the other "traditional" confessions (Islam, Judaism and Buddhism) - often translate into regional state officials taking decisions in the interests of only these faiths, to the detriment of other confessions. This even takes place in areas, such as eastern Siberia, where Protestants have a longer tradition than some "traditional" confessions. It is unclear how deeply the symbiotic relationship between the state and "traditional" confessions will develop. Should a state policy against "non-traditional" confessions be pursued, Jehovah's Witnesses and Pentecostals are likely targets. Some confessions have seen significant improvements in relations with the state, notably Catholic, Buddhist and Jewish religious organizations, but recent developments in state policy appear to be having an increasingly adverse affect upon Muslims.' (Forum 18)

Nepal: 'Hurrah, Nepal’s future is in the dung heap: Being able to turn cattle manure into cooking gas was the best thing that ever happened to rural Nepal. Thirty years ago, when textile engineer John Finlay was involved in constructing a biogas plant for a private household in Bhairawa, the last thing he expected was that the technology would transform Nepal.' Article about, and interview with, John Finlay, worker with United Mission to Nepal. (Nepali Times)

Nepal: 'The British government announced Monday that it is recalling its ambassador to Nepal “for consultations,” reports said. In a statement issued in London on Monday, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said, “In this serious moment, it is appropriate for us to recall our ambassador so that we may reflect with him, and with our international partners, on the way forward."' (Nepal News)

Lebanon: 'Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has been assassinated in a car bombing in central Beirut, Tourism Minister Farid Khazen has confirmed.' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'At least 424 deaths are being blamed on heavy rains and snow which have soaked Pakistan for the past two weeks, causing dam breaks, flooding and avalanches, according to officials.' (CNN)

India: 'War and piste on the frontline of the battle for Kashmir. The Himalayan scenery and virgin snow are not the only spectacular things about Gulmarg - it's also on the front line of the battle for Kashmir. Justin Huggler reports on the ultimate in extreme skiing.' (Independent)

Iraq: 'Iraq's long-repressed Shias scored a resounding victory in the first election since the removal of Saddam Hussein, setting the country on a tumultuous and highly uncertain course to become the only Shia-dominated state in the Arab world. The result raised a host of fresh worries about the country's future: whether Iraq will become a satellite of Iran, whether the disenfranchised Sunnis will become even more violent and whether the growth of Kurdish power will cause restlessness among Kurdish minorities in neighbouring countries.' (Daily Telegraph)

Nepal: 'Maoist rebels in Nepal have hardened their stance on the future of the country in the wake of King Gyanendra's royal coup 12 days ago.' (BBC)

Afghanistan: 'Returning Afghans were promised a new life. They have misery and death.' (Independent)

Saudi Arabia: 'Clerics 'triumph' in Riyadh vote: Turnout of 65 percent in historic Saudi Arabian elections. Islamic clerics have triumphed in the Riyadh area in Saudi Arabia's first regular elections, an election observer said Friday.' (CNN)

China: 'The Chinese government has warned its wealthy citizens about the danger of being kidnapped for ransom.' (BBC)

Afghanistan: 'NATO defense ministers have agreed to expand the alliance's peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan and will send troops into the western parts of the country, the alliance's top official said.' (CNN)

India: 'At least six Indian policemen have been killed in an attack by suspected Maoist rebels in the southern state of Karnataka, officials said.' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'Scores of people have been killed by heavy rains and snow that have swept across Pakistan. At least 22 people were killed after a dam burst in heavy rains in southern Pakistan. Elsewhere, more than 20 people have been killed in mudslides and house collapses. The country has been hit by heavy rain and snow for the past two weeks causing a series of landslides, avalanches and transport disruptions.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Nepal has freed seven politicians who were kept under house arrest but has arrested several activists protesting against the king's emergency rule.' (BBC)

Saudi Arabia: 'Saudis go to polls but women still excluded: The ruling House of Saud, one of the world's strictest absolute monarchies, and the key US ally in the Middle East, has billed the municipal election as a "progressive step", but reformers are unimpressed.' (Independent)

UK: 'White and ethnic minority communities are becoming increasingly separated by growing levels of population movement and immigration, a report says today. More white families are moving from London to the regions while many immigrants arrive in the capital from overseas, the think-tank Migrationwatch says.' (Daily Telegraph)

China: 'According to the Associated Press, Zhang Shengqi has been released after one year in prison. Zhang was arrested in late 2003, along with Liu Fenggang and Xu Yonghai. They were convicted of leaking "national secrets" after posting Internet reports on the destruction of several unregistered churches in Hangzhou.' (Voice of the Martyrs)

Nepal: 'The Nepalese authorities say that 43 people have been detained or kept under house arrest since the king declared a state of emergency last week. No names have been released but opposition parties say their top leaders are under house arrest.' (BBC)

UK: 'Barnabas Fund is calling on the House of Lords to be firm in the face of government pressure and reject laws banning incitement to religious hatred which pose a serious danger to free speech. The proposed legislation, which forms Schedule 10 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill, was passed by the House of Commons on Monday 7 February and now proceeds to the Lords.' (Barnabas Fund)

Jordan: 'In a prayer request of 11th January we reported that the next hearing concern Siham would be held on Sunday 6th February. Recall that Siham is a Christian widow at risk of losing her two children, Rawan (16) and Fadi (15), to an estranged brother who converted to Islam as a teenager. The current legal case seeks to remove the brother as the children's guardian on the grounds that he has shown no interest in them for ten years and that he has been fraudulent in his handling of their finances. The latter is held in trust by the court and withdrawals require the authorisation of a judge. Therefore to acknowledge the fraud the judge in this case must expose the complicity of fellow judges.

One claim the brother has made is that he bought Siham a refrigerator. However, Siham never received one from him.

Siham's brother attended the hearing yesterday, 6th February. The judge told him to provide proof that he had indeed bought a refrigerator for Siham. This proof must be presented at the next hearing, which the judge set for Sunday 20th February.

Christians in Jordan are, on balance, positive about this latest development. They are pleased that the brother is being required to prove his claims. Their concern is that the brother may produce either false witnesses or false receipts.

They report that Siham is fine, though was concerned about the hearing. Rawan is in an especially important period of her education. Jordanian Christians ask for our prayers that our loving God would:
a. Continue to strengthen and equip Siham
b. Enable Rawan to be able to apply herself well to her studies
c. Likewise enable Fadi
d. Bring about a full resolution of this distressing situation
e. Give courage to the judge to see through fabrications and impartially acknowledge truth'
(Middle East Concern)

Nepal: 'A little too much conversation: Nepalis like to know all the essential details in the first minutes of any acquaintanceship. On walks in the villages, the first question is always: "where have you come from?" They will often ask you, as a foreigner, where you are going, but to do the same back to them might cause offence - in Nepali culture, one should never be certain about any future outcome.' (Daily Telegraph)

Nepal: 'Phone lines have been restored in Nepal a week after being cut when the king declared a state of emergency.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Danger of “Disappearances” Escalates: International Monitoring, Pressure Vital to Protect Rights.' (Human Rights Watch)

World: The latest issue of Redcliffe College's online magazine is devoted to articles arising out of the tsunami disaster.

Nepal: 'The new royalist government in Nepal is to offer unconditional peace talks with the country's Maoists rebels, state media have reported. ' (BBC)

Afghanistan: 'Nato-led troops have reached the wreckage of an Afghan airliner that crashed in snowstorms last Thursday.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Until last week, Nepal had a lively and relatively free press often critical of the government, but when King Gyanendra seized absolute power last week he declared a state of emergency and "suspended" freedom of speech. A six-month ban has been announced on news reports, interviews and commentaries that are deemed to be against the "letter and spirit" of the King's proclamation that he was seizing power. But the evidence is that while Nepal's press may have been shorn of its freedom it has not lost its sense of humour and it can still bite.' (Independent)

World: 'Finance ministers from the Group of Seven industrial nations said Saturday they were willing to provide up to 100 percent debt relief to the world's poorest nations, but insisted that developing countries ensure the money would be spent wisely.' (CNN)

Turkey: 'U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived Saturday in Turkey's capital, where leaders fear an increase in Kurdish political power in neighboring Iraq could embolden separatist Kurds in Turkey.' (CNN)

World: 'In his state-of-the-union address, President George Bush made it clear that he is willing to gamble hugely to bring about radical change, both in the United States and the wider world—and that he is intent on spending his political capital quickly.' (Economist)

Iran: 'Christian lay pastor Hamid Pourmand went on trial before a military court in Tehran last week, charged with deceiving the Iranian armed forces about his religion. It was the first time Iranian authorities have produced Pourmand since his arrest five months ago. An army colonel, Pourmand converted from Islam to Christianity nearly 25 years ago. Iranian laws prohibit non-Muslims from serving as military officers. However, Pourmand reportedly declared in court last week that he had documented proof that the army knew he had become a Christian before he was ever given officer rank. It is expected that regardless of the outcome of his deception charges before the military court, Pourmand will now be forcibly discharged from the Iranian army. Pourmand also faces another trial on two separate charges of apostasy and proselytizing. Under Iranian law, apostasy is a capital offense.' (Compass Direct)

China: 'Visa requirements for international visitors to Beijing have been loosened. They are now able to extend their visa for six to 12 months, for as many times as they wish. In the past, foreigners were only able to renew their visa twice, each for a period of three months.' (China Daily)

India: 'The High Court of Gujarat, India, will hear an appeal in early February regarding the murder conviction of five tribal Christians who were sentenced to life imprisonment last year for killing a Hindu fundamentalist. The case stems from a 2001 clash between Hindu and Christian villagers in the Valsad district. During the melee, a Bajrang Dal activist was struck on the head and died of his injuries three days later. Local Christians claim that repeated attacks by Hindu fundamentalists against tribal Christians triggered the clash. The Rev. Johnson Barnabas of the Friends Missionary Prayer Band told Compass that the five tribal Christians are facing an uphill battle to prove their innocence. “The family members are still living in a fear of further persecution, as tension can erupt again if the Hindu villagers come to know that Christians have appealed the conviction.”' (Compass Direct)

Nepal: ' Nepal's media has been subjected to total censorship, as part of emergency measures announced by King Gyanendra.' (BBC)

Afghanistan: 'The US has been warned by some of the world's leading aid agencies that its plan to eradicate Afghanistan's opium fields could backfire.' (BBC)

Nepal: 'Leaders from around the world have condemned the decision by Nepal's King Gyanendra to dismiss the government and declare a state of emergency. (CNN)

Nepal: 'State of Emergency Deepens Human Rights Crisis: Royal Takeover Prompts Fears for Safety of Critics.' (Human Rights Watch)

Nepal: 'Nepal’s king has seized power from his government, detained leading politicians and cut off communications with the outside world. Though the Himalayan country is a small, faraway place, its slide towards becoming a failed state threatens to spread unrest, and even terror, across South Asia.' (Economist)

Kazakhstan: 'In what may be linked moves, public prosecutor's offices in central and southern Kazakhstan have both attacked the statutes of Protestant organisations, Forum 18 News Service has been told. In central Kazakhstan, the prosecutor is trying to close down a Baptist charitable fund which ran an orphanage that the authorities previously closed, and in the southern city of Almaty, prosecutors are trying to force a Protestant community's statute to be re-written, which may result in its closure. Baptists in central Kazakhstan insist to Forum 18 that the moves are part of a recently toughened central government policy. But Protestants in Almaty have told Forum 18 that they are unsure whether the legal move against them is the result of central policy, or the result of local decisions. Also in Almaty, local officials are continuing to try to close the only Hare Krishna farming commune in the former Soviet countries.' (Forum 18)

Nepal: The Foreign Office travel advice page, updated. (UK government)

Nepal: 'Nepal's King Gyanendra has sacked the country's government and announced he is taking over direct power. He says this is because the cabinet had failed to fulfil its mandate including the restoration of peace. A state of emergency has been declared and there are armed vehicles on the street and phone lines have been cut. International flights to Kathmandu have been turned back after the airport was shut down. "The king has staged a coup and taken over the country's administration and other powers into his own hands," Sujata Koirala, of the Nepali Congress party told AFP.' (BBC)

Turkmenistan: 'Protestants in north-eastern Turkmenistan have been threatened for holding services and preaching Christianity, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. "The head of the village administration, the police, the National Security Ministry (NSM) secret police and Muslim clergy in the person of the mullah started to put pressure on them," local believers who wished not to be named told Forum 18. As well as threatening to deport the Protestants from their village if they continue to hold services, local officials threatened to cut off gas and electricity supplies to the family home and withhold pensions, a serious threat in impoverished Turkmenistan. Raids and other pressures against Jehovah's Witnesses are also continuing, including the sudden detention and interrogation "in a verbally abusive manner" of Altyn Jorayeva and her three children, aged 8 years, 6 years, and 7 months old. Forum 18 has also learnt of further demolitions of mosques the authorities do not approve of.' (Forum 18)