Americas

By BosNewsLife Americas Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos and reports from Cuba HAVANA, CUBA (BosNewsLife)-- As Pope Benedict XVI was leaving Cuba, "hundreds of dissidents", including devoted Christians, were released after spending the week in prison or under house arrest to stop them from attending any religious activities surrounding his visit, rights activists confirmed Friday, March 30.

By BosNewsLife Americas Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos HAVANA, CUBA (BosNewsLife)-- Several Christian dissidents in Cuba were under house arrest or  detained elsewhere Sunday, ahead of a visit by Pope Benedict XVI to the Communist-run island, Christian rights activists told BosNewsLife.

By BosNewsLife Americas Service HAVANA, CUBA (BosNewsLife)-- Cuba has detained a leading Christian dissident over the weekend along with her husband and teenage son, who were also mistreated, to prevent them from attending Sunday morning church services, rights activists said Tuesday.

By BosNewsLife Americas Service HAVANA, CUBA (BosNewsLife)-- A Pentecostal pastor in Cuba was recovering of brain damage Tuesday, March 13, after he was assaulted while trying to challenge the confiscation of a church truck by Communist authorities, Christians said.

By BosNewsLife Americas Service HAVANA, CUBA (BosNewsLife)-- Christian rights activists said Friday, March 9, they have detected an "increase in religious freedom violations" in Cuba ranging from preventing people to attend church services, to the seizure of church land, harassment, beatings and imprisonment of church leaders.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service WASHINGTON/TEHRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Influential Christian activists prepared to gather in front of the Iranian Interests Section in Washington, D.C. to pray and demand the release of Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who has been sentenced to death for refusing to renounce his Christian faith and embrace Islam.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON/TEHRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Jailed Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was believed to be still alive Saturday, February 25, after the European Union and the United States urged Iran not to carry out an execution order and demanded his immediate release.

By BosNewsLife Americas Service NEWARK, USA (BosNewsLife)-- A funeral service began Saturday, February 18, for American singer Whitney Houston at New Hope Baptist Church in the U.S. State of New Jersey, where the star first showed off her singing talents as young as 11.

By BosNewsLife America Service WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES (BosNewsLife)-- American singer and actress Whitney Houston, who began performing in a church choir at age 11 to become the best soul singer of all times, has died, her publisher Kristen Foster said Sunday, February 12. She was 48.  

By BosNewsLife Americas Service MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (BosNewsLife)-- Christian missionaries in Mexico, including foreigners, face more security challenges after a married couple who had served for nearly three decades as Baptist church missionaries were killed, BosNewsLife learned late Friday, February 3.