Federal judge blocks Arkansas law banning transgender surgery/hormones for minors; 17 Republican states join

At the request of the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of families of transgender youth, on Wednesday a federal court in Arkansas blocked a new state law that would ban transgender surgery and hormones for minors under the age of 18, the Washington Times reports. Seventeen Republican states joined with Arkansas in defending the law, which would have gone into effect on July 28.

China persecution: Officials raid Christian funeral service

As China’s communist regime continues its campaign to suppress Christianity in the country, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials recently raided a funeral home during a Christian memorial service in Guiyang City, Guizhou province, International Christian Concern reports.

Around 1.2 million Christians live in Saudi Arabia

It is estimated that there are around 1.2 million Christians living in Saudi Arabia, although citizens’ conversion from Islam to Christianity is punishable by death, Christian Headlines reports. Most believers in Saudi Arabia are Filipino expatriates who are allowed to work in the country, but are not citizens.