Today’s Headlines:

67-YEAR-OLD PREACHER IN INDIA KILLED, BODY STASHED IN FOREST

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT SHOWS INCREASE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING

CHINA DISMISSES CLAIMS OF ESCALATING RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION

MISSIONARY WORK IN GUINEA ‘UNAFFECTED’ DESPITE WEEK OF RIOTS

Today’s Top Stories:

67-YEAR-OLD PREACHER IN INDIA KILLED, BODY STASHED IN FOREST

The body of a 67-year-old preacher from the Church of South India was found Thursday, June 8, in a forest in the country’s southwestern Andhra Pradesh state. Pastor Prem Kumar’s head was smashed beyond recognition with heavy stones. A young man had approached Kumar early the same morning, requesting he hold a prayer meeting in the village of Rampur Thanda later that day. Kumar agreed, but was suspicious enough to phone his son and request frequent calls to his cell phone to check on him. His phone went dead around 11 a.m. Authorities deny any religious motive while Kumar’s son said his father had no enemies while voicing suspicions that Hindu extremists are behind the murder. Andhra Pradesh state’s head minister is a Christian who has been accused by Hindu extremists of giving undue preference to Christian missionaries. Religious tensions remain high. (Compass Direct)

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT SHOWS INCREASE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Results of the U.S. State Department’s 2006 Trafficking in Persons report are drawing displeasure from some officials. The report analyzed the work of 149 countries on issues such as prostitution, child sex tourism and forced labor. Overall, the report was positive with an increase in worldwide trafficking-related convictions and two more countries enacting legislation against the offenses. Regardless, New Jersey Representative Chris Smith sees much more anti-trafficking work ahead. Of particular concern were the rankings of both India, which has taken no positive steps to legislate their growing trafficking problems, and Germany, which recently legalized prostitution in time for World Cup soccer events with the expected influx of more than 40,000 women, mostly from Central Europe. India remained on a watch list for the third consecutive year with no progress while Germany maintained its top-tier status despite the backward steps encouraging sex traffic. Smith said in a written statement, “[The watch list] is not a place to hide our friends who fail to make real improvements.” (Baptist Press/Evangelical News)

CHINA DISMISSES CLAIMS OF ESCALATING RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION

China strongly dismissed U.S. House resolutions approved Monday, June 12, condemning escalating levels of religious persecution in China, saying they were based on “groundless accusations.” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said, “Chinese citizens enjoy full and broad freedom of religious belief in accordance with the law.” She later added that the U.S. should “pay more attention to their own problems.” U.S. President George W. Bush visited Christian services in Beijing in November and hosted Chinese Christian dissidents in May. Additional House criticism focused on China’s installation of Catholic bishops without the pope’s approval, complicating steps toward unity with the Vatican. (WorldWide Religious News)

MISSIONARY WORK IN GUINEA ‘UNAFFECTED’ DESPITE WEEK OF RIOTS

Rioting over poor economic conditions and rising prices in the West African country of Guinea has not directly impacted the ministry of New Tribes Missions so far. A nationwide strike in its seventh day and continuing unrest, including the shooting of some 10 protesting students, has kept nine New Tribes missionaries based in the capital city of Conakry in their homes. New Tribes Missionary Nita Zelenak said “We don’t believe that any of this violence is directed against the missionaries. This is not against foreigners, it’s strictly unrest regarding the political situation.” This is the second violent nationwide strike enacted this year. Zelenak solicits prayers for a peaceful and rapid resolution. (Mission Network News/BBC)