Asia/Pacific

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife CAIRO/LAHORE (BosNewsLife)-- An aid and advocacy group has warned that a recent decision by Swiss voters to ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland is having ramifications for already persecuted Christians in several Muslim-majority countries.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Minority Christians in Pakistan faced a bloody New Year as local tribesmen prepared for funerals Saturday, January 2, shortly after the deadliest suicide attack in Pakistan's history killed at least 95 people.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos SEOUL/NEW YORK (BosNewsLife)-- Supporters of American Christian missionary Robert Park, who is believed to have been detained in North Korea, launched hundreds of balloons on New Year's day with texts calling for freedom in the isolated nation.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in several parts of India on Thursday, December 31, were hoping for a more happy 2010 after a year which reportedly saw at least 152 anti-Christian attacks.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service KATHMANDU, NEPAL (BosNewsLife)-- The jailed chief of a Hindu-militant group has asked forgiveness for his alleged involvement in the May 23 church bombing in Nepal that killed three people.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (BosNewsLife)-- A young American missionary, who has reportedly been detained for illegally entering North Korea on Christmas Day, was inspired to go there by a biography about the "first Christian martyr" of present day North Korea, suggested an e-mail obtained by BosNewsLife Sunday, December 27.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (BosNewsLife)-- A 28-year-old American Christian missionary has entered North Korea to urge leader Kim Jong Il to repent and release political prisoners and others persecuted for their faith, fellow activists said Saturday December 26.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)-- Thousands of Christians have celebrated Christmas in a volatile area of Indonesia's West Java province, despite concerns of more attacks against them, Christians said Saturday, December 26.

By Santosh Digal, BosNewsLife Asia Correspondent NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in India's troubled state of Orissa cautiously celebrated Christmas Friday, December 25, amid fears of more anti-Christian violence that since 2007 killed over 100 people here.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- Thousands of Christians are to attend an evangelical Christmas eve celebration in Vietnam despite difficulties with authorities, the latest in a series of "historic" Christian gatherings in the Communist-run nation, organizers said Wednesday, December 23.