BUCHAREST/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Voters in Romania were casting ballots Sunday, November 25, in their country's first European parliamentary elections since it joined the European Union this year. Among those participating was Reformed Bishop Laszlo Tokes, whose actions helped spark the 1989 revolution that ended decades of Communist rule.

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Pakistan's exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan late Sunday, November 25, ending seven years in exile in Saudi Arabia, a move rights groups hope will help end emergency rule and improve rights for Christians and other minorities in the country.

ASHGABAT/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- A Baptist pastor in Turkmenistan who was released after spending eights months of a three-year labor camp sentence faced new problems Sunday, November 25, amid pressure from authorities to stop his worship services.

HAVANA, CUBA (BosNewsLife)-- An evangelical pastor and several other human rights workers have been detained in Cuba shortly after security forces broke up a meeting commemorating political prisoners in the capital Havana, BosNewsLife learned from activists Saturday, November 24.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (BosNewsLife)-- The World Council of Churches (WCC) has accused the Philippine government of involvement in "extra-judicial killings," and other forms of mistreatment of Christian workers, BosNewsLife established Saturday, November 24.

ANKARA, TURKEY (BosNewsLife)-- A Turkish prosecutor on Friday, November 23, demanded life in prison for five men charged with killing three Christians at a publishing house, but the trial was adjourned until January as defense attorneys asked for more time to prepare themselves.

CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife)-- An Egyptian Christian woman remained behind bars Friday, November 23, after she was sentenced to three years imprisonment for "illegally" stating she is a Christian, BosNewsLife monitored.

SARGODHA, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- In a development closely monitored by Christian rights activists, the Commonwealth, largely made up of Britain and its former colonies, has suspended Pakistan from the organization for failing to end the state of emergency.

BAKU/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- A Baptist pastor serving two years imprisonment in Azerbaijan for "illegal religious services" is forced by officials to provide "high payments" for food, other basic needs and to meet relatives, BosNewsLife learned from investigators and family Thursday, November 22.

BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- Three senior employees of an Australian owned multi-million dollar bio-engineering corporation in China’s Guangdong province remained detained Thursday, November 22, and their company closed, over allegations of involvement in "illegal" Christian activities.