*Tato a další zprávy jsou (pouze v aktuální den) v originální anglické verzi zde.

One employee was killed and about eight others were wounded, including a nun, when the Egyptian army, accompanied by bulldozers, attacked a Christian center for mentally and physically handicapped children and orphans early Monday, Jan. 5, reported Barnabas Fund, a human rights watchdog group. The casualties were a result of a military operation involving 500 Egyptian soldiers who descended on the Pathos Christian Center, 20 miles east of Cairo. In a statement, the organization said troops "blocked the entrance to the compound with a large pile of stones and rubble" and then destroyed 22 feet of adjoining wall. Soldiers were also seen setting fire to structures on the premises. When workers at the center rushed out to stop the army from coming onto their property "soldiers threw stones and bottles at the protesters." In addition, a nun was beaten by angry troops. During the protests, a bus reportedly plowed into a crowd protecting Bishop Botros who heads the center. He was not among those injured, but staff member Kirilos Daoud was killed. Seven others, one in critical condition, were admitted to a local hospital. The hour-long military operation was the ninth attack against center in recent years as Islamic pressure on Egypt's Christian minority increases. The center, founded 15 years ago, is registered in Egypt. It receives between 500 and 1,000 visitors each day. (Assist News Service/Barnabas Fund)

DRUG USER ACCUSED OF KILLING MISSIONARIES IN PALAU PLEADS INSANITY

A man from the South Pacific nation of Palau told police that he had smoked crystal methamphetamine before killing a missionary pastor, his wife and 11-year-old son with a "large stick." He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor Ruimar DePaiva, 42, his wife, Margareth, 37, and son, Larisson, were murdered Monday, Dec. 22, in their home during the robbery. Their 10-year-old daughter, Melissa, was the only survivor. Palau President Tommy Remengesau described the murders as a "heinous crime that has never been experienced in the republic before." In a court affidavit, Justin Hirosi, 43, told police that after work he had smoked the drug, commonly known as "ice," and then forcibly entered the DePaiva home to steal a TV and VCR. But when the DePaivas turned on the lights, Hirosi said he began "swinging wildly at the man and the woman with a large stick" and did the same to their son. Hirosi found Melissa as he ransacked the home, blindfolded her and stuffed her into the trunk of his car. Later he drove to a secluded roadside, abused her, choked her and left her for dead. She is recovering in a local hospital. Hirosi was charged with 20 counts, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, rape, sodomy and child abuse. (Pacific Daily News)

CHINESE AUTHORITIES ARREST CHRISTIAN WRITER AS CRACKDOWN WIDENS

Christian Internet writer Zhang Shengqi and other Christian contacts were arrested amid a crackdown on house churches across China Tuesday, Dec. 30, reported Voice of the Martyrs (VOM). Ten Chinese Public Security Bureau officers also raided the house of the writer's seriously ill fiancée, Ye Jifei, in the province of Jilin. She was interrogated for more than 24 hours. Although she was released the next morning due to her illness, she was arrested again and interrogated about her and her husband's connection with fellow believer Liu Fenggang who is imprisoned on charges of "leaking national secrets." Shengqi was expected to be charged with the same crime. VOM expressed concern about the Chinese authorities' continuing crackdown on the growing house church movement, arresting many key leaders in recent months -- some being held for months without being formally charged or brought to trial. In addition, a dozen churches have been destroyed in Zhejiang province. Analysts have linked the crackdown to concern among communist authorities about the growing number of Christians in China. (Crosswalk/Assist News Service/Voice of the Martyrs)

REGISTRATION QUESTION DIVIDES CHINESE CHRISTIANS

Registration is still a hot issue for China's long-suffering house churches. The government insists on registration as the only means of legal existence for churches. Registration means subjection to the country's Religious Affairs Bureau and other government departments. Evangelism, finances, pastoral appointments and Sunday sermons are all ultimately managed by the bureau. A house church leader in Jilin province recently wrote a letter that vividly illustrates the dilemma Chinese Christians face. "Several of our church workers have searched the Scriptures and believe it is not right for the church to register," he said. "If we don't register, we are not allowed to meet. Now our church is scattered and faces persecution. But in a neighboring village, there is a big registered church set up 10 years ago. Their leaders believe the church should obey the higher powers and register with the government. Because the viewpoints of these two churches are so different, the leaders have no spiritual fellowship." (Compass)

NIGERIAN AUTHORITIES STORM MUSLIM STRONGHOLD TO THWART ATTACK

In the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, Dec. 18, a combined team of army, air force and police personnel stormed a Muslim militant stronghold in the city of Jos, Nigeria, to prevent extremist attacks on Christians during the Christmas holidays. "The operation was carried out in order to avert religious crisis and maintain peace and order in the state," said Innocent Ilozuoke, Plateau state police commissioner, at a press conference following the raid. He said the Nigerian government ordered the operation after receiving reports that militants had brought reinforcements from Niger and Cameroon Republics to attack Christians on Christmas Day. Police arrested 175 militants in the raid; among them Mallam Ibrahim Mai-Mai who allegedly masterminded the planned attack. Four Muslims reportedly died in the raid. Spokesmen for the Jama'atu Nasir Islam organization characterized the raid as "an act of aggression against innocent Muslims." Plateau state has the highest population of Christians of any state in northern Nigeria, a region dominated by Islam. The state also houses the headquarters of several church denominations and mission agencies. Observers believe the incessant attacks on Christians in this part of Nigeria are meant to weaken what Muslim extremists perceive to be a strong Christian base of operation. In a radio and television broadcast on Dec. 20, Plateau Governor Joshua Dariye warned that the government's patience with the militant Muslim community was running out and threatened to deal decisively with those who threaten peace. (Compass)

* HCJB World Radio, together with partners In Touch Ministries, SIM and the Evangelical Church of West Africa, began airing weekly half-hour programs to Nigeria in the Igbo language in 2000. In 2003, weekly broadcasts were added in two additional languages: Yoruba and Hausa.

THOUSANDS OF ANTI-CHRISTIAN PAMPHLETS DISTRIBUTED IN INDIA

In western India where Christians comprise just 2 percent of the population, thousands of homes have been receiving anti-Christian pamphlets. Some of the pamphlets charge that the Christians are forcing poor "untouchables," those outside the caste system, to convert to Christianity. Another pamphlet accuses Christians of destroying 200 Hindu temples in western Goa state. Still another pamphlet was titled, "A Conspiracy to Make India a Christian Country." Similar pamphlets were distributed in 1998, days before attacks by Hindu nationalists on Christian prayer halls in southern Gujarat state. Hindu nationalists have targeted Christians and mission organizations in Gujarat and other states since coming into power in 1998. (International Christian Concern)

MISSION TO INDIA TRAINS 70,000 BIBLE CLUB TEACHERS IN 2 YEARS

Christians interested in teaching children's Bible clubs in India are coming forward in large numbers and overwhelming Mission India of Grand Rapids, Mich., reported mission spokesman John DeVries. He says the organization has never seen a greater response in 30 years of ministry. "We've trained 70,000 children's Bible club teachers in a two-year training program. That's the real good news. The bad news is we had to turn away 215,000 more," DeVries explained. "We lack the funds for bringing them to their localities for training, and we lack the funds for producing that many course materials." The 70,000 newly trained teachers taught 3.5 million young people. "We would have had an additional 6 to 8 million children had we had the funds for the training and for the Scripture supplies," said DeVries. The outreach is increasing despite growing persecution against Christians across India. "It seems like the higher the risk of persecution, the higher the demand grows. The tighter it gets and the rougher it gets, the more volunteers come out of the woodwork to want to reach the children." (Mission Network News)

* HCJB World Radio-Australia's new shortwave site Kununurra airs 6.5 hours of daily English programming across South Asia, including India. Two half-hour programs in Urdu, airing Monday through Saturday, went on the air in July, and plans are being made to launch Hindi programs. A radio training center for South Asia has been established in New Delhi. In partnership with FEBA Radio, HCJB World Radio also airs weekly Christian programs to eastern India via shortwave in three languages: Bhojpuri, Chattisgarhi and Mundari.

CAPTURE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN BOOSTS LITERATURE OUTREACH IN IRAQ

A California-based ministry that reaches out to the persecuted church worldwide is reaching out to Iraqi Christians who celebrated their first Christmas since the demise of Saddam Hussein. Open Doors International is distributing 50,000 Christian coloring books to Iraqi children, and printing children's Bible storybooks for distribution this year. Devotional materials for adults are also being selected for future distribution. The ministry is also supporting the training of Iraqi Sunday school teachers. Now that Hussein is out of power, Open Doors is making efforts to take advantage of the climate of openness and relative religious freedom in Iraq. Open Doors President Carl Moeller says the mood in Iraq is more positive than it was immediately after the war. "The Iraqis are sensing that God is doing something significant," he says. "We are planning activities to support believers in Iraq throughout the year." The ministry is also supporting Christian bookstores in Iraq with thousands of books, cassettes and videos, and plans are being made to open a Christian resource center in Baghdad. (Agape Press/Religion Today)

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