The founding lawyer of CLAAS-UK dedicated over twenty years to defending Christians and religious minorities. He offered legal assistance to victims of blasphemy laws, forced conversions and discrimination. Internationally respected, he leaves behind a fundamental legacy for the protection of rights in the country.

Akin Gurlek becomes minister in the government reshuffle ordered by the president. The interior minister also changes. The opposition CHP party is critical, having been targeted by the prosecutor over the past two years with arrests and trials. The swearing-in ceremony in Parliament was marked by protests from the opposition and clashes that led to the suspension of proceedings for a few minutes.

According to the latest census in Kazakhstan, there are almost 424,000 mothers living alone with minor children. In Astana, a businesswoman has started a volunteer organisation that helps those who give birth without anyone by their side. Her idea has now been replicated in Uzbekistan.

After initially being placed on the list of NGOs that Israel wanted to submit to reregistration, with the risk of suspension, Caritas Jerusalem is back in business, and today continues (and expands) its activities in Gaza. Secretary General Anton Asfar and young employee Fatena Mohanna describe the human cost of the war and the resilience of those who remain. For Christians in the Holy Land, “It's our little cross to bear.”

The country’s power regulator introduced new rules to contain the costs of buying back excess energy from photovoltaic systems. Faced with protests from those who installed the systems, Prime Minister Sharif promised a fair solution. Conflicting interests risk slowing the growth of renewable energy sources.

On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Leo XIV paid homage to the Virgin at the Grotto in the Vatican Gardens, accompanied by a group of sick people. At the general audience, he invited Europe to look to Saints Cyril and Methodius to overcome “tensions, divisions, and religious and political antagonisms." During the catechesis, he reflected on the relationship between the Word of God and the life of the Church, noting that Scripture opens “the mission towards everyone.”