International Prayer Connections
The prospect of peace in Ukraine remains distant, as the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, emphasized this week. Speaking ahead of her first EU foreign ministers’ summit, Kallas noted that peacekeeping missions cannot be discussed while Russia continues its aggression. She highlighted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent statements…
The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government has ushered in a new era of uncertainty for the war-torn nation. Assad fled to Russia as a coalition of militant factions, led by Abu Mohammed al-Golani, seized control. Golani, once affiliated with al-Qaeda and a proponent of sharia law, has sought…
Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, has been ravaged by Cyclone Chido, the strongest storm to hit the region in 90 years. With winds exceeding 225 km/h (140 mph), the cyclone caused widespread devastation, leaving much of the island without basic resources. The cyclone particularly devastated impoverished communities,…
Since the war between Hamas and Israel erupted in October 2023, the Christian population of Gaza has faced immense challenges. Of the approximately 1,070 Christians who lived in Gaza before the conflict, only about 600 remain. Many have sought refuge in churches like St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, where 260…
The Arakan Army, an ethnic minority armed group in Myanmar, has seized the last military outpost in the strategic border town of Maungdaw, Rakhine state, solidifying its control over the 271-kilometer border with Bangladesh. This marks a significant step in the group’s struggle for autonomy in northern Rakhine and highlights…
The assassination of Khalil-Ur-Rahman Haqqani, Taliban Minister of Refugees, by a suicide bombing in Kabul has intensified concerns over the growing influence of Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-K) in Afghanistan. Haqqani’s death, along with several staff members, underscores the escalating rivalry between IS-K and the Taliban. Since the Taliban’s return…
Bolivia faces significant challenges as organized crime undermines its democratic foundations. A hub for cocaine production and trafficking, the country struggles with pervasive corruption that compromises its judiciary, law enforcement, and political systems. There are systemic vulnerabilities, including politically influenced judicial appointments, enabling narcotraffickers to exploit weak institutions. This corruption…