Asia/Pacific

By Santosh Digal, BosNewsLife Asia Correspondent reporting from the region MANILA/KATHMANDU-- A makeshift three-storey church building has collapsed on attendees of a major Christian conference in eastern Nepal, killing at least 24 people, and injuring over 60 others, police said Wednesday, September 30.

By Ajaya K. Singh reporting from Orissa, special to BosNewsLife KANDHAMAL, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- An Indian court on Thursday, September 24, acquitted a prominent legislator and another suspect in the killing of a Catholic Christian in a trial that underscored concerns over sectarian violence in the Indian state of Orissa.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung says his government will not accept demands from the Vatican to return confiscated properties to the Catholic Church in Vietnam. Mr Dung made the comments in Budapest Friday, September 18 following trade talks with his Hungarian counterpart Gordon Bajnai.

By Jawad Mazhar, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent reporting from Punjab in Pakistan SIALKOT, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Tensions remained high Thursday in Pakistan's Punjab province after police dispersed angry crowds protesting against the death of a young Christian prisoner, who was held for allegedly desecrating the Koran, viewed as a holy book by Muslims.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- A prominent member of a house church movement has been told to leave his home this week after Chinese officials and security forces raided his rented apartment in the capital Beijing, representatives told BosNewsLife Tuesday, September 15.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service KATMANDU, NEPAL (BosNewsLife)-- Authorities in Nepal say police have detained an alleged leader of a feared militant group who was seen as the mastermind of a deadly attack on a church and other institutions.

By Jawad Mazhar, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent reporting from Pakistan BHAWALPUR, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Pakistani Christian army officer was in jail Monday, September 7. after a military court sentenced him to life imprisonment for allegedly murdering his wife, despite claims from his family that he is innocent.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- Christian Li Mingshun has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for helping North Korean fleeing to South Korea, while her fellow Christian, Zhang Yonghu, received a seven-year sentence for organizing transportation for the refugees, trial observers said.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- China's government has issued a secret directive to dismantle at least six major house churches in and outside the capital Beijing ahead of the upcoming 60th anniversary of Communist rule in the country, according to Christian right investigators.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Pakistani Christian teenager was behind bars Wednesday, August 26, after being beaten on "false" charges of "blasphemy" and several Muslims have demanded a death sentence for him, his family and supporters, rights investigators said.