Turkey has strongly objected after Greece announced plans to close eight schools serving the Turkish minority within the country. According to the Greek government gazette on the 20th (local time), the Greek Ministry of Education announced on the 13th that it plans to close 47 kindergartens and elementary schools in the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace starting from the 2026–2027 academic year, which begins in the second half of this year. (Article excerpt omitted) Howe

In Algeria, Africa, wildfires caused by a prolonged heatwave have swept through the northern regions, resulting in six deaths. The Algerian Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Transportation, and local authorities announced on the 21st (local time) that wildfires and bushfires occurring across several provinces have continued to spread due to the extreme heat, leading to fatalities. According to Algeria's Civil Protection Directorate, a total of 1,460 wildfires have been record

Following the 2003 U.S.-led coalition invasion of Iraq and the violence that followed from militant groups, many Christians left the country. Recently, the Iraqi government has encouraged Christians living abroad to return. However, local Christian leaders remain deeply skeptical because the fundamental issues of insecurity and social discrimination have not been resolved. (Article excerpt omitted) Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, Iraq has become a major tar

In Madhya Pradesh, India, seven Christians, including six pastors and one lay believer, have been sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly violating the anti-conversion law. The seven individuals were convicted on June 12 (local time) under the Indian Penal Code for charges including "promoting hostility, hatred, and discord between religious groups" and "deliberate and malicious acts intended to insult religious sentiments," as well as violations of Madhya Pradesh's l

The Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are engaged in conflict with Saudi Arabia, announced on the 25th (local time) that they carried out attacks on facilities belonging to Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Aramco in Jizan and Yanbu. According to the Houthi-operated media outlet "Ansar Allah," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated in a video statement that "in response to clear criminal aggression, the Yemeni forces carried out two special military operations." Spoke

On the evening of Saturday the 25th (local time), simultaneous protests broke out across several areas of Tripoli, the capital of Libya, as citizens demonstrated against the prolonged electricity outages. (Article excerpt omitted) According to Libya's National Meteorological Center, the country's power crisis has become even more severe as temperatures have soared above 50°C (122°F) over the past several days due to an intense heatwave. A senior executive from the General Ele

The Christian city of Thantlang in Chin State, western Myanmar, was once a representative Christian residential area where 22 churches had been built. However, following the 2021 military coup, virtually only one church remains today. The remaining 21 churches were destroyed by shelling and arson. Most residents have fled, and Pastor Kung Biak Hum, who stepped out to extinguish the flames, lost his life to gunfire by soldiers. It is known that even his wedding ring was forcib

The US-based Christian Daily International (CDI) reported on June 26 (local time) that an incident occurred in Chhattisgarh, India, where tribespeople practicing a local traditional religion attacked a Christian worship service with weapons, leaving 13 people seriously injured. The perpetrators are accused of looting livestock and property from the victims' empty homes while they were away from the village for medical treatment immediately after the assault. Furthermore, the

Although Israel and Lebanon signed a preliminary peace agreement through U.S. mediation, opposition has emerged on both sides, creating an atmosphere in which the agreement is effectively being undermined. While Israel maintains that its conflict with Lebanon is separate from the ceasefire with Iran, despite U.S. demands to halt the fighting in Lebanon, opposition is also growing within Lebanon, particularly among the pro-Iranian armed group Hezbollah. As a result, concerns a

Eight people were killed in Pakistan after an attack carried out by an armed group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), including five militants and three members of the government's paramilitary forces. According to police authorities in Karachi, Sindh Province, on the 28th (local time), armed militants drove a vehicle loaded with explosives into the headquarters of the paramilitary Rangers in Karachi on the previous night before opening fire, resulting in an intense

Voice of the Martyrs Korea (VOM Korea) highlighted the life and faith of Brother Phat, a Vietnamese evangelist who was martyred during his gospel ministry last March, in observance of the '2026 International Martyrs Day.' (Omitted) Hyunsook Foley, representative of VOM Korea, stated, "According to church tradition, June 29 is known as the martyrdom date of the Apostle Paul. During this time, Christians around the world honor the faith heritage of martyrs who gave their lives

Chinese authorities recently raided Early Rain Covenant Church, one of the most prominent Protestant house churches in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and reportedly detained numerous believers. According to Taiwan's Central News Agency and other sources on the 15th, Chinese religious authorities raided the church's Sunday worship service around noon the previous day and took believers into custody. At least two elders and several church members have reportedly been detained by th

Iran is currently reviewing a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States before making a final decision, according to Iran's Fars News Agency on June 14 (local time). A source close to the peace negotiation team told Fars News, "Iran has not yet announced its final decision regarding the proposed MOU," adding that "political, legal, and technical reviews of the memorandum's wording are still ongoing." According to sources familiar with the matter, exper

Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have arrested at least 30 women on charges of violating regulations concerning women's dress, including the hijab. United Nations agencies report that at least two people were killed during the suppression of protests against the arrests. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), on June 9 in the western Afghan city of Herat, Taliban police opened fire on and beat demonstrators protesting the mass arrests of w

A shocking incident has occurred in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, where followers of a tribal religion reportedly exhumed the remains of a Christian who had been buried about 20 years ago and burned them. According to Christian Daily International (CDI), human rights lawyer Degree Prasad Chouhan of Chhattisgarh recently testified about the incident at the People's Tribunal on Violence Against Christians in India held in New Delhi. He stated, “Members of tribal rel

As the civil war between Sudan's military government and paramilitary forces enters its fourth year, it is developing into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Large-scale civilian casualties, famine, and attacks on religious communities are occurring simultaneously, increasing concern throughout the international community. According to CBN News, the number of forcibly displaced people is estimated to be between 12 and 14 million, while more than 20 million people a

There are growing claims that the future of the Iran war, and whether an agreement can be reached to bring the war to an end, depends on what happens in Lebanon. Although Lebanon has formed a second front in this war, it is increasingly emerging as a central stage in the conflict. On June 8, as Israel and Iran exchanged attacks over a period of 12 hours, Lebanon once again came into focus, CNN reported on June 9 (local time). Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) an

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a temporary suspension of airstrikes against Iran, while emphasizing that Israel’s military response against Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is not over. He warned that if Iran attacks Israel again, Israel will respond with overwhelming force. According to the Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel, Netanyahu made these remarks in a video message to the nation released on June 8 (local time). It was his first p

A Turkish cabinet minister sparked strong backlash from Israel after making remarks suggesting that Jerusalem, which Israel considers its capital, should be liberated and brought under Turkish control. According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi on June 8 (local time), he recalled praying during a speech at a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) event on June 6, saying, "Lord, grant me the position of governor of Jerusalem, ev

Open Doors, an international Christian persecution watchdog organization, has warned that the ongoing large-scale deportation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan could seriously endanger the lives of Christian converts. According to the UK-based Christian Today (CT), Pakistan deported approximately one million Afghans last year. Most of them were reportedly undocumented migrants, refugees, and their children. The Pakistani government cites immigration law enforcement and nation