Russian colonel tried to sell Bible

THREE agents of Russia's Federal Security Service have been convicted of trying to sell a 15th-century Bible. Colonel Sergei Vedishchev was sentenced to more than three years in a penal colony for stealing the Gutenberg Bible from Moscow State University. He had tried to sell it for $1.15 million. It is estimated to be worth at least $20.4 million. Two other agents were found guilty of trying to find a buyer. 
 

Jesuit kidnapped in Afghanistan

THE Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service in Afghanistan, Fr Alexis Prem Kumar SJ, was abducted by a group of unidentified men on Monday last week. He had been visiting a school in a village near Herat. The government in Afghanistan is reported to have "concrete leads" on the abduction. 
 

CSW highlights human-rights violations in Burma

PEOPLE living in Kachin state in Burma are the victims of "myriad human-right violations" committed by the Burmese Army and the government of Burma, a statement issued by 55 organisations, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide, warned on Monday. Fighting between the Army and Kachin rebels, which began two years ago, intensified in April. To date, more than 100,000 people have been displaced. The statement refers to "credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity", including "the deliberate targeting of civilians by military forces, rape and other forms of sexual violence, extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detention, torture, and restrictions on the provision of humanitarian assistance"