Two Sudanese pastors highlighting the persecution of Christians in their country for the purpose of safeguarding their fellow Christians are in custody. They face seven charges including waging war against the state and espionage, which carry the death penalty. Rev Hassan Abduraheem and Rev Kuwa Shamal are on trial with two others, Petr Jašek and Abdulmonem Abdumawla. The hearing, which was due to start in September, has repeatedly been rescheduled. Mervyn Thomas of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is concerned about the continuing delays in the trial, stating, ‘Fair trial principles stipulate that criminal proceedings should occur within a reasonable time. In this case, the constant postponements, due to the absence of the judge or prosecutor or failure to transport the men to court, are prolonging proceedings unnecessarily, which is unacceptable, given the length of time these men have already spent in custody.’ CSW is calling for the unconditional and immediate release of ‘these unjustly detained men.’ See update at:

An evangelical Christian pastor has been elected as mayor of Rio de Janeiro, a city that is known for its liberal, left-leaning culture. Marcelo Crivella won the election with 59% of the vote. Crivella has a long history of living out his faith. He was a missionary in Africa, and is currently a gospel singer and a bishop in the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Rio is so well-known for its liberal culture and policies that one political commentator expressed disbelief, saying, ‘How is it possible that in Rio de Janeiro, a city of joy and openness about sexuality, there will be a very conservative mayor who discriminates and opposes Afro-Brazilian religions?’ Despite Rio’s liberal policies, Brazil has the largest population of Roman Catholics in the world, 22% identify as evangelical Christians, and the Rio evangelical churches are growing rapidly.

North Korean Christians don't pray for their freedom, but for western Christians who are more interested in accumulating earthly wealth and possessions than storing up treasures in heaven. They pray for more of Christ and to mirror more of Christ in their life. The head of Seoul-based Voice of the Martyrs Korea reported one defector saying, ‘You pray for us? We pray for you. You have so much, you put your faith in your money and your freedom. In North Korea we have neither money nor freedom, but we have Christ and we've found He's sufficient.’ They see that in many ways we lack happiness, because money and freedom can't bring that. Despite restrictions, the Gospel continues to impact the country. Since 1995, 480 foreign organisations have worked there - seventy of them Christian, including Samaritan's Purse and World Vision.

Two-thirds of convicted terrorists released from jail in the last fifteen years refused to engage with prison de-radicalisation programmes that address extremist behaviour. They have served their sentences and are back on Britain's streets, many still holding the same extremist beliefs that got them jailed in the first place. MI5's director general said that police and intelligence services have foiled twelve terror plots since June 2013. The release of 418 terror prisoners, many from the al-Qaeda generation of offenders, is posing a huge challenge for police and the security services, already stretched to the limit with the threat from IS-related terrorism. Lord David Blunkett said that if it isn't possible to reassess them, we should monitor them outside prison. If they reconnect with organised terrorist groups, intervention must take place very quickly rather than allowing them to commit another act.