Religious Freedom Under Pressure: A new Aid to the Church in Need report says 14 World Cup countries restrict freedom of religion or belief, with Iran, Saudi Arabia and the DRC flagged for persecution and many others for significant discrimination. Conversion Coercion Allegations: In Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao, a nine-year interfaith marriage has triggered an investigation after a Hindu man was allegedly abducted, taken to a mosque, pressured to convert to Islam, forced to consume beef and undergo circumcision, and assaulted. Local Conversion Dispute in West Bengal: A Sikh youth in Shibpur accuses his mother and a lawyer of pressuring him to convert to Islam and assaulting him after a family relationship with the lawyer. Anti-Conversion Law Debate: Chhattisgarh’s proposed anti-conversion framework is framed as protecting voluntary faith while blocking coercion, deception and exploitation. Church in the Storm: Virginia’s EastLake Community Church says a tent collapse during its 20th anniversary killed one and injured about two dozen amid heavy weather. Muslim Unity Ahead of Muharram: Kashmir’s MMU Shia-Sunni coordination meeting reaffirmed Muslim unity and warned against sectarian online provocation. Church Access Standoff in Thika: Kenyan politicians linked to the Linda Mwananchi team were briefly blocked from entering an AIPCA service, sparking a public dispute with church leaders. Christian Response to Insecurity: Nigeria’s CAN marked a nationwide Black Sunday, urging urgent action as violence, terrorism and kidnapping keep spreading fear. Catholic Leadership Loss: Cuba mourns Monsignor Silvano Pedroso, the first Black bishop of the Cuban Catholic Church, who died at 73.