Christian groups are among the signatories of an open letter to the new North Korean leader appealing for an end to human rights abuses in the country.

The letter says that the 24.5 million people in North Korea are “living in fear” of arbitrary detention, disappearance, torture or death.

The groups condemn the decades-long mistreatment of North Koreans at the hands of the regime, including the detention of an estimated 200,000 men, women and children for political reasons in prison or labour camps.

They ask for an end to the incarceration of relatives of political prisoners because of ‘guilt by association’.

The political elite are condemned by the groups for living “like royalty” while millions of North Koreans suffer in the face of widespread hunger, malnutrition and a lack of healthcare.

The human rights groups call upon North Korea to meet its obligations under international treaties.

They want to see access granted to human rights monitors from the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The letter has been sent by the International Coalition to Stop Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK), an umbrella group of 40 human …

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Islamic and Hindu extremists in India are reportedly posing as Christians to obtain information about them and pass it on to radical groups.

The Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) said in a report to the Fides news agency that the radicals have infiltrated churches and Christian NGOs.

They are gathering information about church property and members of the Christian communities, including conversions and baptisms.

The CSF believes the information is being passed on to extremist political parties and terrorist organisations to be used against Christians.

Although Christians in most parts of India enjoy religious freedom, there are pockets in the country, most notably Orissa, where Christians are being targeted by radicals.

The CSF is concerned that the increasing tendency among Christians to post photos of their celebrations around the internet and on social networking sites is putting them at greater risk.

It fears that the information will be used by extremists to incite anti-Christian hatred and level false charges against them.

Recently, a pastor in Kashmir was arrested by police after a video surfaced on YouTube allegedly showing him baptising some Kashmiri Muslim men.

According to the Times of India, Pastor C …

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At least 17 people have been killed in another attack on Christian communities in Nigeria.

The Christian Igbo group was meeting in a town hall in Mubi when gunmen burst in and opened fire.

It caps a week of deadly attacks on Christians in the predominantly Muslim north. The surge in violence coincides with the expiration of the Wednesday deadline for Christians to leave the region that was set by Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

Hours after the deadline expired, gunmen attacked a Christian compound in the Yobe state capital of Damaturu, killing two people and wounding several others.

The heads of Pompomari Ward in Yobe state and Shehuri Ward in Borno state were shot and killed by gunmen.

On Thursday, gunmen attacked a meeting at a Deeper Life church in the Gombe state capital, killing six people, including the pastor’s wife.

A local journalist told the AFP news agency that gunmen started shooting at a congregation in a church in Yola on Friday. Eight to 10 bodies were taken to the local hospital, a source told AFP.

Boko Haram, which wants to impose Sharia law, has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

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There has been widespread condemnation in the international community of a series of Christmas Day bomb attacks in Nigeria that killed almost 40 people.

The White House said the attacks were "senseless violence," and the British foreign secretary called them "cowardly."

Militant Islamist group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

A blast outside a church near the capital Abuja claimed 35 lives, while a police officer died in the city of Jos and four people were killed in Damaturu.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has described the attacks as "an unwarranted affront on our collective safety and freedom."

He added, "Nigerians must stand as one to condemn them."

White House spokesman Jay Carney said, "We condemn this senseless violence and tragic loss of life on Christmas Day. We offer our sincere condolences to the Nigerian people, and especially those who lost family and loved ones."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed "solidarity in (Nigeria's) fight against terrorism".

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said, "Even on Christmas Day, the world is not spared from cowardice and the fear of terrorism."

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said, "These are cowardly attacks on …

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Ended up with something you didn't want this Christmas? One charity is asking Brits to donate that unflattering jumper or umteenth bubble bath set and help the homeless.

Any unwanted Christmas gifts donated to Anchor will be sold on and 100% of the profits put towards its work with the homeless.

The gifts will be sold through eBay and the proceeds used to sponsor a room for a homeless person.

Additionally, people can sell their unwanted gifts individually and donate the amount to Anchor.

Just over 36,000 households in the UK were deemed homeless this year.

Anchor House is helping thousands of them from its base in Canning Town, in the east London borough of Newham, the third most deprived ward in England and Wales.

The centre provides accommodation for up to 180 single homeless people each year.

A wide range of accredited vocational training courses are on offer to residents and the local community in construction, electrical, plumbing and distance learning.

Each quarter the centre attracts 2,500 visitors using its services.

"If people are feeling especially generous this Christmas, they could also spread some cheer by simply donating," the …

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