According to religious freedom charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), authorities targeted Sudanese Evangelical Presbyterian Church (SEPC) in El Haj Yousif, Khartoum North.

Witnesses reported that at least three police trucks arrived at the church without notice moments after the service had ended, and security personnel started to clear and confiscate property before demolishing the church.  Agents took items such as chairs, bibles and musical instruments. 

CSW said the SEPC in El Haj Yousif was one of 25 churches earmarked for demolition in an official order signed in June 2016, and its leaders joined a legal challenge to prevent the government from confiscating and destroying their place of worship.

 The church has stated that it is the legal owner of the property and land, and has used the building as a place of worship since 1989.

In May 2017, authorities demolished the last remaining church in the Soba Aradi district of Khartoum State, which had also been listed in the June 2016 order.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said it’s a deeply concerning situation.

He said: “The timing of the demolition, coming at the end of the Sunday service amidst a heavy police presence, is clearly an act of intimidation targeting the Christian community.

“We urge the government of Sudan to uphold the constitutionally-guaranteed…

The 69-year-old prince was full of praise for Durham Cathedral’s £10m Open Treasure exhibition where the priceless St Cuthbert’s Pectoral Cross is on view.

The bejewelled artefact was thought to have been buried with Cuthbert in the 7th Century and laid untouched for 1,200 years until it was found hidden in his robes in 1827.

Charles walked through the 14th Century Monks’ Dormitory, beamed with 21 oaks, and which would once have accommodated 40 monks.

He praised the cathedral authorities, sponsors and fundraisers for their efforts in preserving their “great treasures”.

There was laughter as he spoke of their hard work “maintaining a cathedral and stopping the bits falling off it, which, as I reach an increasing age…”

The Prince of Wales (centre) walks with the Dean of Durham Cathedral, Andrew Tremlett (left), as he leaves following a visit to the Open Treasure visitor experience at the cathedral.

Earlier, he was given a card for Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle by pupils from The Chorister School, which featured a flower made from the children’s thumb-prints.

Before a concert in Durham Cathedral, the prince joined around 300 people inside in marking the tragic death of student Olivia Burt, who died in an incident outside a nightclub last week.

The flag of University College, where the…

Speaking in an interview with with Axios, Mr Pence said he had been made aware of the accusations made about him by Comedian Joy Behar.

“I’d like to laugh about it but I really can’t,” Mr Pence said in the live stream interview.

“I’m a believer like tens of millions in America today will have Ash on their foreheads to mark the beginning of Lent.

[An] overwhelming majority of Americans cherish their faith and we have… different types of faith in this country.

“But I have to tell you, to have ABC maintain a broadcast forum that compared Christianity to mental illness, is just wrong. And it’s an insult not to me but to the vast majority of the American people who like me cherish their faith.

“My Christianity is the most important thing in my life. I try and start every day by opening the good book, my wife and I try and have a prayer together before I leave every morning. I can honestly tell you that my faith sustains me in all that I do.”

Comedian Behar attacked Mr Pence’s faith on ‘The View’  after a clip was played with former White House adviser Omarosa Manigault Newman claiming on a reality programme that “Jesus tells him to say things”.

Behar said: “That’s called mental illness… if I’m not correct, he’s hearing voices.”

Mr Pence disputed the accusation and said his faith wasn’t “unusual”.

“I think I’m a very typical American – whatever your faith traditions,…