ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A month after Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf sworn in 24 members of a new cabinet, many of whom are political opponents, minority Christians remain "pessimistic" about the political future, a major rights investigator said.

HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- Degar-Montagnard Christians have been detained and injured in Vietnam's tense Central Highlands during rallies for the release of hundreds of predominantly Christian prisoners, more religious freedom and a return of seized lands and properties, BosNewsLife established Tuesday, April 29. At least one Christian remained unaccounted for, amid fears he may have been killed by security forces, representatives told BosNewsLife.

NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Two young women at a Bible college in India's state of Orissa attempted to continue studying Monday, April 28, after suspected Hindu militants reportedly threatened to burn them alive as they did with an Australian missionary and his two children.

SEOUL/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Christians around the world prayed Sunday, April 27, for North Korea, described by rights groups as the "worst human rights violating countries in the world today."

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (BosNewsLife)-- Christian rights activists and other groups in the United States and around the world launched North Korea Freedom Week Saturday, April 26, aimed at raising awareness of "massive human rights abuses" in the Communist nation and neighboring China’s practice of deporting North Korean refugees.

KARACHI, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Nearly a month after far-right Dutch parliamentarian Geert Widers released his anti-Islamic film ‘Fitna’ on the Internet Pakistani Christians remain concerned about its implications.

ALGIERS, ALGERIA (BosNewsLife)-- Following church closures and convictions of Christians in Algeria this year, a United Nations body has questioned Algerian delegates on an “alarming deterioration� of religious freedom here, BosNewsLife monitored Thursday, April 24.

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in several parts of Indonesia faced another difficult day Wednesday, April 23, amid reports that Islamic militant groups and local governments in Indonesia have closed at least 110 churches from 2004 to 2007.

MINSK/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Catholics in Belarus were hopeful Tuesday, April 22, that authorities would at least scale down plans to turn a baroque Catholic monastery into a luxury hotel and Entertainment complex, a move seen as resembling the Communist era.

NEW DELH/TIRUNELVELI (BosNewsLife)-- There was uncertainty Monday, April 21, about the status of hundreds of Dalit Christians who church leaders said were likely forced to re-convert to Hinduism, in what organizers called the “first ever mass conversion� in India ’s state of Tamil Nadu.