India: supreme court rejects accusations of forced conversion
On 17 October India’s supreme court of India rejected a religious conversion case against officials of a noted agricultural university in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, after a protracted legal battle which started in April 2022. The officials, and also staff of a mission hospital, had been accused by a Hindu nationalist of coercing a woman into converting to Christianity and then forcing her to bring nearly sixty other women for a conversion meeting. The court found no credible evidence to substantiate the allegations, and stated that the complainant did not have the legal right to file the complaint. It also recognised serious procedural deficiencies and violations of due process. Delighted Christian community leaders have claimed the ruling as a historic victory which strengthens faith in the justice system and affirms the constitutional promise of religious freedom. It provides a crucial precedent for cases under similar state-level anti-conversion laws, and stands as a reminder that even in cases involving sensitive socio-religious issues, the principles of due process and statutory integrity remain paramount.
Erika Kirk’s powerful response when asked if she felt safe
In her first interview since the tragic assassination of her husband, Christian commentator Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk said that her faith in Christ has overcome all fear. When asked if she felt safe, she replied, 'What are they going to threaten me with - going to heaven sooner to be with my husband?' She explained that her confidence is not recklessness but a trust in God’s sovereignty: 'It’s a fearlessness rooted in the understanding that I will have my day and my time whenever that is - when the Lord knows I’ve completed my mission.' She added that neither she nor her husband ever lived in fear, saying, 'If we did, we would never get anything done’. Her response has moved many believers worldwide, standing as a bold witness to courage in grief and unwavering hope in eternal life. Her peace in suffering testifies to the power of faith over fear.
Bake Off pushed me to rely on Jesus, says winner Jasmine
Great British Bake Off champion Jasmine Mitchell, 23, has shared how her Christian faith sustained her throughout the high-pressure competition. The youngest-ever contestant to win ‘Star Baker’ five times, Jasmine said that she leaned heavily on prayer: 'Walking to the tent, I would just pray the Lord’s Prayer in my head. It didn’t take away the stress, but I felt God walking beside me.' Balancing filming with her medical studies, she described the experience as a 'complete miracle' of God’s sustaining grace. She also spoke openly about her journey with alopecia, saying she once prayed for her hair to return, but realised God’s healing meant becoming whole and confident in who He made her to be. Her church community has been a constant encouragement, quietly sharing her bakes and supporting her faith-filled journey. 'God has healed me to make me more whole’, she said, 'and I’m learning to see myself the way He sees me.'
Train knife attacks: ‘hero’ LNER worker saved many lives
Train company LNER has praised employee Samir 'Sam' Zitouni, 48, for his extraordinary bravery during a mass stabbing on a 6.25pm service from Doncaster to King’s Cross. Samir, a customer host with over 20 years’ service, was critically injured while intervening to protect passengers. CCTV footage confirmed his heroic actions saved many lives. British Transport police described his response as 'nothing short of heroic’. LNER managing director David Horne said, 'In a moment of crisis, Sam did not hesitate to protect those around him. We are so proud of him and continue to support his family.' Samir’s relatives expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of love, calling him 'a hero - he’s always been a hero to us’. The suspect, Anthony Williams, 32, has been charged with eleven counts of attempted murder in connection with this and related knife attacks across Cambridgeshire and London. Prayers continue for Samir’s full recovery and for those traumatised by the violence.
