Asia/Pacific

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- An activist of an influential Christian advocacy group in Pakistan is recovering of his injuries after he was shot by suspected Islamic militants, activists told BosNewsLife learned. Aslam Masih, a Christian field coordinator of the Pakistan-based advocacy group Legal Evangelical Association Development (LEAD), said he sustained two bullets wounds to his left and right leg during the shooting in the Lahore area on October 28.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service KATHMANDU,NEPAL (BosNewsLife)-- Native Christian missionaries in Nepal say they will continue evangelism despite unrest over a newly constitution that enshrined a long-time ban on proselytizing. The new constitution signed by Nepal's president on September 20 outlaws "any act to convert another person from one religion to another or any act or behavior to undermine or jeopardize the religion of another," with violations punishable by prison and/or fines.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)—Church leaders and rights activists fear that lawmakers in Vietnam will pass a new law on religion that would “likely worsen oppression” of minority Christians and other groups in the Communist-run Asian nation. Some 27 advocacy and religious groups have urged Vietnam's government to make necessary changes to the legislation to prevent “further abuse of religious” minorities.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)—Evangelical Christians in central India are recovering after Hindu militants reportedly attacked them at a Pentecostal church, injuring a pastor and other believers while forcing several worshipers to “reconvert” to Hinduism.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- An advocacy group is urging authorities to seriously investigate the gang rape by Muslims of a Christian married deaf-mute woman, after two suspects were acquitted in a similar case.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)-- Islamic authorities in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province have begun destroying several small churches after hardline Muslims demanding their reportedly killed at least one Christian.

By Stefan J, Bos, Chief Internationalk Correspondent BosNewsLife LONDON/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife) -- An influential Catholic charity and advocacy group warns in a new report that Christianity may be "eradicated" in several nations as persecution of Christians has worsened over the last two years in countries such as China, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan and Syria.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (BosNewsLife Columns)-- Cricket is little known outside countries that were once part of the British Empire. Yet in some of those places, and particularly on the Indian sub-continent, it enjoys immense popularity. In India itself it is by far the most popular sport, and here in Australia our national team attracts a large and enthusiastic following. So it was big news in early October when Cricket Australia announced that it had abandoned plans for a short series of test matches in Bangladesh, because of security concerns.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (BosNewsLife Columns)-- Spring has arrived here in my home city of Melbourne, Australia, the fruit trees are in blossom and once again our garden is full of color. And not before time. We have just endured our coldest winter in twenty-six years. So much for global warming.

By Mark H. Junayed, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent reporting from Nepal KATHMANDU, NEPAL (BosNewsLife)— Christians in Nepal flock to prayer services after several church bombings, carried out by suspected Hindu militants, injured at least three people in recent days, church leaders told BosNewsLife.