BREAKING NEWS: Hungary Bans Holocaust Denial; Violators Face Prison
Hungary’s President László Sólyom signed a law Wednesday, March 10, making denial, or playing down, of the Holocaust a criminal offense punishable by up to three years imprisonment.
EU
NEWS ALERT: Persecuted Hungarian Rabbi Raj Dies; Funeral Underway
A funeral service was underway Wednesday, March 10, for a former Hungarian chief rabbi who was persecuted under Communism because of his involvement in spreading the Jewish faith,the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary (MAZSIHISZ) confirmed.
NEWS ALERT: Christians Anxious As 30 Die In Iraq Election Violence
Minority Christians in Iraq anxiously awaited the outcome of a parliamentary vote testing the country’s still fragile democracy Sunday, March 7, as suspected Islamic militants killed up to 30 people in the capital Baghdad and other areas of the troubled nation.
Christian Party Re-elected in Dutch Town After Hindu Row
A small Christian party which made world headlines with protests against local government support for a Hindu religious festival has been re-elected in the municipal council of Amstelveen, a strategic town near the Dutch capital Amsterdam, local election results showed Wednesday, March 3.
Iran Detains Christian Couple
Iranian Christians on Monday, March 1, were searching a Christian couple after they were detained by Iranian security forces for apparently leading an unauthorized house church, Worthy News and its news partner BosNewsLife learned.
NEWS WATCH: Dutch Government Collapses Over Afghanistan Mission
The Dutch coalition government has collapsed amid a political row over whether to extend the country’s military mission in Afghanistan. Christian Democratic Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende was due to submit his government’s resignation to Queen Beatrix later Saturday, leaving the future of its 1,600 soldiers stationed there uncertain.
NEWS WATCH: Ukraine’s Prime Minister Challenges Election Results
Ukrainian election officials say they will not consider Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s complaints of presidential election fraud. Results show opposition leader Victor Yanukovich defeated Tymoshenko by 3.5 percentage points in the February 7 runoff election.
BREAKING NEWS: India State Removes Christian Refugees Ahead Of EU Visit
Authorities in India’s state of Orissa have forced nearly 100 survivors of anti-Christian violence to leave a local market complex where they stayed since the closure of refugee camps, Christians and officials told Worthy News, Thursday, February 4.
NEWS ALERT: Voice Of The Martyrs’ Glenn Penner Dies At 48
Glenn Penner, who became a key voice for persecuted Christians as leader of advocacy group The Voice of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC) has died after losing his battle with cancer, officials said. He was 48.
Haiti Christians Pray After Death, Destruction And “Miracle” Survival
Amid destroyed churches and the stench of human death, native Christians prayed for Haiti Sunday, January 24, and one believer said it was a miracle he had been found alive a full 11 days after the magnitude 7.0 earth quake shook his nation.
NEWS WATCH: Lithuania Shuts Down Its Only Nuclear Power Plant
Lithuania has closed down its Soviet-built nuclear power plant as part of an agreement with the European Union, ushering in a new era of energy uncertainty for the country.
Croatia to Hold Presidential Runoff Vote
Official results show Social Democrat Ivo Josipovic has won the most votes in the first round of Croatia’s presidential election, but not enough for a first round victory. Josipovic will face the controversial mayor of the capital Zagreb in a run-off election next month.
Nobel Prize Winner Wiesel Concerned About Hungarian Extremism
Nobel Peace Prize winner, author and activist Elie Wiesel has urged Hungary to consider banning Holocaust denials to improve its image abroad and has expressed concern about growing extremist parties in the country and Europe.
NEWS WATCH: Hungarian Radio Scandal Highlights Corruption Problem
Hungary’s government has admitted it has a serious corruption problem following the sudden closure of radio stations by Hungarian authorities. Ambassadors of nine wealthy nations, including Germany, have warned Hungary that foreign investors could be scared off.
Serbia Pledges Cooperation As Karadzic Trial Adjourns
The trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, who has been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity including genocide, was adjourned till Tuesday, October 27, after the defendant refused to show up.
NEWS WATCH: US VP Warns Europe of Missile Threats
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has called on America’s European allies to step-up their defense efforts, saying they the face growing security threats from outside Europe.
Armenia, Turkey Sign Landmark Accord Despite Tensions
The former Soviet republic of Armenia and Turkey have signed a historic accord on normalizing relations after a century of hostility.
Row Over Dutch Support For Hindu Goddess
Citizens in the Dutch town of Amstelveen have condemned plans by local authorities to support a controversial Hindu festival that would involve praying to a Hindu goddess from India, in the heart of the town.
India Court Acquits Politician In Killing Of Catholic
An Indian court on Thursday, September 24, acquitted a prominent legislator and another suspect in the killing of a Catholic Christian in a trial that underscored concerns over sectarian violence in the Indian state of Orissa.
Hungary Marks Anniversary of Beginning of Collapse of Iron Curtain (Feature)
Hungary is marking the 20th anniversary of it decision to allow tens of thousands East Germans to cross the Hungarian border and flee to the West. It was a risky decision that contributed to the collapse of the Iron Curtain and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Former refugees from then-communist East Germany and aid workers still recall the often traumatic experiences that preceded the mass exodus to freedom.