Faith Under Siege: New Documentary Exposes Severe Persecution of Evangelical Christians by Russia (February 5, 2025, The Christian Broadcasting Network)
A new documentary is shining a light on the growing persecution of evangelical Christians here in Ukraine, a crisis that remains largely unknown in the West. "A Faith Under Siege" takes viewers to the front lines, where pastors and missionaries are providing hope amidst the horrors of war.
Podcast: Cyprus puts the spotlight on religious freedom and protecting Christians and other Middle East minorities (December 26, 2024, Kathimerini)
Cyprus is once again making headline news as Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides becomes the first leader in the region to appoint a special representative – Ambassador Thessalia Salina Shambos – for religious freedoms and the protection of minorities in the Middle East. The Washington Bureau Chief for Breitbart News Network who interviewed President Christodoulides about this move, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why this is such a significant story.
How Islam Became the State and Only Religion of the Maldives (December 8, 2024, MSN - UAE Moments)
The Maldives' conversion to Islam was a gradual process influenced by its geographical location, cultural exchanges, and strategic trade links. Before Islam, the Maldivian people practiced Buddhism and, earlier, forms of Hinduism. These earlier faiths left cultural and archaeological marks, including Buddhist stupas and monasteries, some of which are still evident today.
Shamanism in Japan (December 6, 2024, Christianity Today) (Subscription required)
Japanese shamanism is not a religion but a way of exercising spiritual guidance in the context of an animist worldview. It likely arose from the shamanistic practices of the Ainu, an Indigenous ethnic group in northern Japan.
After years of conflict, Timor-Leste turns peacemaker (February 8, 2025, United Nations)
During the turbulent early years of Timor-Leste’s independence, the UN was a constant presence, helping to maintain peace and stability. Twenty-four years on, the country has made the successful transition from a host nation for UN peacekeeping operations, to one that contributes to supporting missions elsewhere.
Cast in Cement: How the scandalous extradition of a prominent Uzbek businessman from the UAE is connected to the war among security forces in Tashkent (January 15, 2025, Novaya Gazeta)
Uzbekistan is currently witnessing one of the largest political scandals in its recent history. Amid an investigation involving high-ranking security officials implicated in an attempted assassination of former presidential press secretary Komil Allamjonov, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced the extradition of businessman Ulugbek Shadmanov from the UAE. Shadmanov is identified as the principal financier of a powerful group of security forces and a figure with strong ties to Russia.
Saudi Arabia and U.A.E. Tread Cautiously With Syria’s New Leaders (January 3, 2025, The New York Times)
The two Mideast powerhouses have been trying to block the rise of Islamist groups in the region for two decades. The rebel takeover in Damascus will test that approach.
Don’t Repeat in Syria the Mistakes of Afghanistan (January 2, 2025, Foreign Affairs) (Subscription required)
Syria’s new leaders have few models to follow in their quest to win international recognition. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that dislodged Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in early December, and outside governments alike can learn from a cautionary precedent: the Taliban’s 2021 return to power in Afghanistan.
Divided and militarized: Cyprus' role in Mediterranean's new Cold War (November 19, 2024, Daily Sabah)
Cyprus has often found itself the reluctant belle of the Eastern Mediterranean, a magnet for regional and global powers eager for diplomatic maneuvering – or, if that fails, a struggle for influence. As the island’s strategic allure intensifies, so does the parade of military alliances and geopolitical courtships, with Cyprus caught squarely at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The Politics of ‘Ayuda’ in the Philippines (January 16, 2025, The Diplomat) (Subscription required)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the 2025 national budget with a provision for the “conditional implementation” of some items, including a controversial “ayuda” (aid) program for the poor. Government funds intended for the poor are often used by politicians as a form of political patronage.