Asia/Pacific

By Jawad Mazhar, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent reporting from Pakistan LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- In an unprecedented move the government of Pakistan's Punjab province has ordered all government agencies to pay a Christmas bonus to impoverished Christian employees, following religious tensions in the region, officials told BosNewsLife Sunday, December 14.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with a Special BosNewsLife Correspondent reporting from the region BHUBANESWAR, INDIA BosNewsLife)-- Fearing violence, Christians in India's volatile state of Orissa will for the first time in their history not celebrate Christmas and instead mourn victims of recent anti-Christian attacks, which killed dozens, and those who died in shootings in Mumbai, a priest told BosNewsLife, Saturday, December 13.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife) Four Christians remained missing Friday, December 12, more than a month after they were detained in China's Hubei province amid a police crackdown on believers, including missionaries, in the region, a house church network said.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- A nation-wide alliance of Christian leaders, churches, mission agencies, and other Christian institutions in India has condemned widespread anti-Christian violence in the Indian state of Karnataka, which injured dozens, but “welcomed” the sentencing of those involved in church bombings.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- Chinese authorities have sentenced Christian Mao Minzi to a forced labor camp for his involvement in organizing a worship service with other believers in a house church, an advocacy group confirmed late Thursday, December 11.

By Jawad Mazhar, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent reporting from Pakistan SARGODHA, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife) A Christian politician in Pakistan's Punjab province was recovering of his injuries Thursday, December 11, after he was apparently nearly killed by Muslim activists, amid growing religious tensions in the region.

BosNewsLife Asia Service BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- There were concerns Wednesday, December 10, that Chinese authorities would launch a nationwide crackdown on the growing 'house churches, after the Ministry of Civil Affairs ordered the "abolishment" of a major umbrella group.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- Chinese authorities released two key leaders of the country's underground house church movement from a forced labor camp and prison before their detention terms expired, but elsewhere security forces launched a massive crackdown on worship services and Christian students, an American advocacy group said Thursday, December 4.

Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife with reporting from India MUMBAI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Indian security forces regained control of Mumbai Saturday, November 29, after the worst terrorist assault in the country's history killed nearly 200 people, including Christians and Jews, officials said. Some 60 hours after a group of gunmen threw India's commercial capital into bloody chaos by attacking a train station, hospitals, hotels and other high profile targets, officials said all of the suspected Islamic militants were killed or captured.

MUMBAI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Indian military commandos attempted to neutralize remaining terrorists at three locations in Mumbai Friday, Nobember 28, and free remaining hostages and hotel guests there. About 120 people have been killed and more than 300 injured in shootings, explosions and fires since the attacks began late Wednesday, November 27.