Ecumenicalnews

• Lanterns for Peace remember victims of atomic bombings on anniversary
  There has only been one war in which atomic bombs have been dropped. That was at the end of the Second World War II when on Aug. 6 and Aug 9, 1945 the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing over 200,000 people, prompting Japan's surrender.
• Nigerian bishop concerned that Christians are easy targets for banditry and kidnapping
  The Anglican Bishop of Nigeria's Egba Diocese, Dr. Emmanuel Oludaisi Adekunle, is concerned over the worsening security situation in the country, describing the west African country's Christians as vulnerable targets of banditry and kidnapping.
• Woman released from Russian jail after Orthodox Church intervenes in Easter cake hookah case
  A Moscow woman has been released from jail for making a hookah out of a traditional Orthodox Easter cake after a high-level judicial body overturned her three-year prison sentence.
• Prayer for Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula invoked by churches
  Each year, around August Christians are invited to join a prayer for the reunification of Korea, prepared by the National Council of Churches in Korea.
• After desecration damage at Medjugorje Virgin Mary shrine, Bosnian authorities investigate
  Authorities in Bosnia say they are investigating the desecration of a Virgin Mary statue and a shrine damaged by fire overnight in a southern Bosnian village, a popular destination for Roman Catholic pilgrims.
• World churches body delegation meets with president of Zimbabwe
  An ecumenical delegation led by World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Jerry Pillay has met with the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as officials from the Zimbabwe Ministry of Foreign Affairs raising concerns about some recent developments.
• Swiss evangelical leaders file suit to overturn religious symbol ban in Geneva
  Three evangelical leaders in Switzerland have filed a lawsuit challenging a recent constitutional amendment that bans lawmakers in the Canton of Geneva from wearing visible religious symbols.
• World churches body delegation makes solidarity visit to Ukraine
  A delegation from the World Council of Churches has made a solidarity visit to Ukraine, which it said is "walking in hope and praying with churches and communities for an end to the war" started by the Russian invasion four years ago.
• Holy land churches' heads say Israeli demands for property tax, upending status quo
  Leaders of major churches say that Israeli authorities are launching a "coordinated attack" on the Christian presence in the Holy Land by introducing tax measures against them.
• Tehran church compound faces closure as Iran makes life difficult for Christians
  Concerns are growing that the oldest Protestant church in Iran, and its surrounding buildings, may be demolished, after residents were ordered to evacuate by July 11.