Argentina: supreme court upholds prison sentence for former president
Argentina’s supreme court has upheld a six-year prison sentence for former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on corruption charges, barring her permanently from public office. The ruling sparked protests in Buenos Aires, where her supporters accused the court of serving the nation’s economic elite. Fernández de Kirchner, who led Argentina from 2007 to 2015, was convicted in 2022 of directing irregular public works contracts to an ally. She denounced the decision as politically motivated and appealed, but the court stated that it was ‘based on the abundance of evidence produced’, and said that her conviction did nothing more than protect Argentina’s democratic system. President Javier Milei, her fierce political rival, welcomed the verdict. The decision seems to mark the end of a significant chapter in Argentine politics, just days after Kirchner had launched a campaign for the Buenos Aires legislative elections in September. She has five days to turn herself in to the authorities, but her lawyer has requested house arrest due to her age (she is 72).
Togo: protests after rule changes allowing president to rule indefinitely
Faure Gnassingbé, Togo’s president, faces rising unrest after constitutional changes that could extend his rule indefinitely. Recent protests in the capital, Lomé, were met with arrests and alleged mistreatment of demonstrators. Gnassingbé, in power since 2005, was recently sworn in as president of the Council of Ministers - an influential role without term limits. Critics call this a ‘constitutional coup’. About forty of the arrested protesters have been released, but at least 25 remain detained. Government officials have defended the arrests as necessary to uphold state institutions. However, a coalition of political groups has demanded not only the release of all prisoners but also an end to Gnassingbé’s regime, which they describe as repressive after two decades in power. Protests are rare in Togo, where demonstrations were banned in 2022 after a deadly attack.
Ukraine: the Gospel is ‘unstoppable’
Evangelist David Karcha has said that even in the midst of war, Ukraine is seeing a profound spiritual awakening. He has described how churches have become sanctuaries of hope, drawing countless people to Christ. When Russia invaded in 2022, Ukrainian evangelicals chose not to flee but to remain, share in the suffering, and witness through faith. Karcha declared that while the Gospel is powerful in peace, it becomes ‘unstoppable’ in war. Across the country, churches are seeing thousands profess faith and be baptised, driven by deep spiritual hunger. Their acts of faith have created a unified movement no war can halt. Evangelicals minister on the frontlines, in hospitals, to widows, orphans, and the broken. The church serves not only physical needs but also hearts seeking hope. Thanking European churches for their love and support, Karcha says, ‘We listen. We pray. We help. Then, when we see how we can help and what can be gone, we speak Jesus.’
Singer’s wife ‘instantly healed’ after receiving prayer
Pop and hip-hop artist Bodie has shared a powerful testimony of divine healing, describing how God restored his wife Royale Kuljian’s hearing after doctors had deemed it irreparable. Her eardrum had been completely destroyed, with doctors preparing for reconstructive surgery. But after attending church and receiving prayer, she experienced immediate healing. ‘This girl at church was praying over me by my bad ear, and suddenly I could hear her’, Royale recalled. Doctors had previously found no eardrum at all, but post-healing examinations now show her hearing is ‘perfectly normal.’ Medical professionals remain baffled, but Bodie and Royale are calling it what they believe it is - a miracle. Bodie described the event as a ‘tangible’ and ‘pretty cool’ sign of God’s faithfulness, saying it has been deeply meaningful to watch Him continually give him fresh vision in both life and career.
