The World Celebrates Christmas

Thousands of pilgrims overcame checkpoints and tight security to celebrate Christmas with a mass last night in the birthplace of Christ, Bethlehem.

Russia May Cut off Ukraine’s Gas

Russian
gas giant Gazprom has renewed its threat to cut off gas supplies to
Ukraine on 1 January, saying a contract dispute has reached a
“critical” stage. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Ukraine faced
Russian “sanctions and demands” if it did not pay off its gas debt “to
the last rouble”.

Ahmadinejad says ‘Christ Would have Been on Our Side’

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s unexpected Christmas message is full of seasonal goodwill, but the Iranian President clearly believes that if Jesus Christ were alive today he would be on the side of Iran not the West.

Britain, US Step Up Efforts on Zimbabwe’s Mugabe to Step Down

Britain and the United States increased pressure on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to step down, accusing him of presiding over the country’s economic collapse blamed for a cholera outbreak that has killed more than 1,000.

Evangelical Sects put Iraqi Christians in Danger, Iraqi Bishop Says

The proliferation of foreign evangelical Christian sects in Iraq is putting Iraqi Christians in greater danger, said a Chaldean bishop. The fall of Saddam Hussein opened the doors to a large influx of Christian groups and movements from abroad, said Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni of Baghdad.

Sectarian Killings in Nigeria Continue: The Muslims and Christians of Jos

The Katako market was still smouldering five days after it was razed to the ground by a mob of Christian youths. The bodies of ten people trapped in the fires that destroyed it had already been taken away and buried.

Christians in Orissa, India Fear Violent Christmas

Christians in Orissa state are anticipating Christmas with fear as Hindu extremists have called for a state-wide bandh, or forced shut-down on all sectors of society, on Dec. 25 – a move that could provide Hindu extremists the pretext for attacking anyone publicly celebrating the birth of Christ.

Somali Militants Stone Raped Girl to Death for “Adultery”

A 13-year-old girl who said she had been raped was stoned to death in Somalia on charges of “adultery” by supporters of an influential Islamic group which previously murdered Christian converts, BosNewsLife learned Sunday, November 2.

Condoleezza Rice Says ‘South Africa Must Pressure Robert Mugabe to Quit’ (Video)

The US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, said today that it was “well past time” for Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe to step down. Rice called on other southern African nations to take the lead on pressuring him to quit.

India Demanding Pakistan to Hand Over Terror Suspects

India picked up intelligence in recent months that terrorists were plotting attacks against Mumbai targets, an official said Tuesday, as the government demanded that Islamabad hand over suspected terrorists believed living in Pakistan.