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In the history of digital image processing, few advancements have been as mathematically disruptive as the transition from
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Author: chiefeditor
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Beyond Interpolation: The Algorithmic Shift from Pixel Cloning to Semantic Hallucination
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UNRWA headquarters bulldozed in East Jerusalem
Responding to the dramatic development, head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees Philippe Lazzarini described it as an “unprecedented attack” against the UN, whose premises are protected under international law.
The move represents “a new level of open and deliberate defiance of international law, including of the privileges and immunities of the United Nations, by the State of Israel”, the UNRWA Commissioner-General said on X.
The same thing could happen to any other organization or diplomatic mission “anywhere around the world”, Mr. Lazzarini warned. “This must be a wake-up call,” he stressed.
Human rights chief’s ‘outrage’
Echoing those concerns, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed his “outrage” at the incident, which marks a sharp escalation of tensions between the Israeli authorities and UNRWA.
“It compounds what we’ve been seeing for a while; attacking aid groups and UN actors who are trying to help,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the High Commissioner.
On 14 January, Israeli forces entered an UNRWA health centre in East Jerusalem and ordered it to close. At the time of the incident, the agency said its workers were “terrified”. In the coming weeks, water and power supplies to UNRWA facilities are scheduled to be cut, including to buildings used for health care and education.
“This is a direct result of legislation passed by the Israeli parliament in December, which stepped up existing anti-UNRWA laws adopted in 2024,” Mr. Lazzarini said.
Previously, UNRWA premises have been targeted by arsonists amid a “large-scale disinformation campaign” against it by Israel, the agency’s Commissioner-General maintained.
This was despite a ruling last October by the UN’s top court, the International Court of Justice, which restated that Israel was obliged “to facilitate UNRWA’s operations, not hinder or prevent them. The court also stressed that Israel has no jurisdiction over East Jerusalem,” Mr. Lazzarini noted.
“What happens today to UNRWA will happen tomorrow to any other international organisation or diplomatic mission, whether in the Occupied Palestinian Territory or anywhere around the world,” he continued. “International law has come under increasing attack for too long and is risking irrelevancy in the absence of response by Member States.”
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Denmark and the controlled extermination of the INUIT, the aboriginal population of Greenland.
When one looks at the international media and reads with some intensity the news related to the alleged interest of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in Greenland and observes how the Danish and European authorities tear their clothes criticizing the alleged imperialism of said president when considering his interest in this area of the Arctic, they forget to comment with the same warrior ardor, that the dispute between Denmark, and by extension the European Union (cowardly), is still pending. the Greenlandic aborigines when the still unsolved case of the sterilization of girls and young women by Denmark, approximately, between the years 1960 to 1970 (1975) is mentioned.
The proven facts consider that during the decade from 1960 to 1975, the Kingdom of Denmark carried out a secret birth control program in Greenland, territory that is part of Denmark. These programs involved, in many cases (not in others), the placement of intrauterine devices (IUDs) in Greenlandic girls and adolescents, generally without their informed consent or that of their families. This episode has been popularly known as the «spiral case» (spiralsagen) referring to the IUD and especially its form.
It is convenient to clearly report that during those years (1960-1975), there were nine different governments in Denmark calling: Hansen Government II, Government Kampmann I, Government Kampann II, Government Krag I, Government Krag II, Government Baunsgaard, Government Krag III, Government Jorgensen I, and Government Hartling. In all of them, saving the Justice Party, were the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party, except in the last one. Did none of those politicians know anything about said project that concerned the control of the population of an important area of their territory? Did the Health Ministers in each government not know what was happening? Who were the doctors who, in true Nazi style, created an unjustifiable protocol to decimate the Greenlandic population?
It has been estimated, throughout subsequent investigations, that between 4,000 and 4,500 Greenlandic girls and adolescents They were subjected to this sterilization procedure (birth control) between 1960 and 1975. As I mentioned before, many of them were minors, practically cases of 12-year-old girls have been discovered. Of course, it is clear that the program was carried out by Danish medical authorities whose names have not been officially provided. And of course, over the years, those affected have neither been financially compensated nor adequately informed.
In 2022, Denmark and Greenland agreed to carry out research (today, more than 50 years later -1975-, the responsibilities will have expired, the victims will have already died or will be very old and the culprits, doctors and politicians too)to clarify the facts.
This investigation (late and anachronistic) attempts to establish who the culprits were, who ordered the measures (politicians) and who hid them over the intervening years. Of course, now we intend to analyze what the psychological, physical or social consequences could be for those affected; something impossible to value given that the time that has passed dilutes the pain of those who suffered it. And although many organizations have called for responsibilities and compensation, the final report that should have been ready in 2025 is still waiting in some prime minister’s drawer to see the light of day.
Over the last few years, voices have emerged, stating that these were not surgical sterilizations, but rather a massive use of contraceptive devices without full knowledge. As if that somehow justified the application carried out by the doctors of the Danish health system. In other words, the state’s violence was brutal, especially because it was directed against the indigenous population. Greenland Inuit.
It is of no use that 47 years after the events ended, in 2022, the Danish government officially apologized, not forgiven, for such a violation of the human rights of said population. Four years later (2026), we are still waiting for a report that clearly could have been done in four days. The culprits: the governments of the time and their subsequent predecessors to the present day, the health services, and so on to a long list of people who, without a doubt, should be punished, at least publicly.
Now, all the Danish media and other European countries are preparing to defend Greenland, but without valuing the indigenous population that was decimated by a degrading colonial practice.
Without a doubt, I do not know, in the conflict created by Donald Trump, with whom the Greenlanders will be better off, but without a doubt, I am clear that the Aborigines Inuit that remain, with Denmark surely not. The acts committed by Denmark between 1960-1975 are susceptible to being studied in the International Criminal Court as crimes against humanity of a supposedly democratic state. Decimating a population or considering its replacement is a despicable act, and if a state consents to it, even more so.
Originally published at LaDamadeElche.com
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Yemen: Children are dying and it’s going to get worse, warns aid veteran
“The simple narrative is, children are dying and it’s going to get worse,” said Julien Harneis, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen. “My fear is that we won’t hear about it until the mortality and the morbidity significantly increases in this next year.”
The alert follows an attempt by forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) to expand their presence in the resource-rich and strategically important eastern governorates of Hadramout and Al Mahra, a move reportedly reversed earlier this month by Government-aligned forces backed by Saudi Arabia.
The latest crisis comes after well over a decade of fighting between Houthi-led forces – who control the capital, Sana’a – and the internationally recognized government in Aden, backed by a Saudi-led military coalition.
Complex operating environment
“It’s an extraordinarily complicated situation,” Mr. Harneis told journalists in Geneva. “Just in the last month in Aden, we went through a situation where you have the Government of Yemen in charge, then over 48 hours, the Southern Transitional [Council] situation took over the whole of the Government of Yemen areas, including areas they’ve never been in.”
Just four weeks later, however, a delegation from the STC released a statement while in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, announcing that they had in fact “dissolved” their movement, allowing the Government in Yemen to retake the recently captured areas. “But at the same time, we’ve got demonstrations in Aden saying that, ‘No, we’re not [disbanded], we’re still there,’” Mr. Harneis explained.
Last week, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg told the Security Council that this latest political and security upheaval underscored how quickly stability could unravel without a credible, inclusive political process to bring a negotiated end to the debilitating war.
Securing a peaceful future for the people of Yemen and providing lifesaving help has also been complicated by the ongoing detention of UN staff and diplomatic workers, among others, by Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran and control Sana’a.
Mr. Harneis described the torment for the families of the 69 staff members still being held: “It’s terrible for them; some families haven’t seen their loved ones in five years. They don’t know the conditions of their detention, they don’t know where they are, they don’t know if they’re going to be sentenced to death in the coming days.”
Millions going hungry
Latest UN data shows that more than 20 million Yemenis – about half the population – will face acute food insecurity next month, while tens of thousands could face famine-like conditions.
“We are expecting things to be much worse in 2026,” Mr. Harneis said.
A young boy is carried by his mother thorough a neighbourhood in Al Hawtah, Lahj Governate in Yemen.
The country’s health system is also collapsing. More than 450 facilities have already closed and thousands more are at risk of losing funding. Vaccination programmes are also under threat and only two-thirds of Yemen’s children are fully immunised, largely owing to a lack of access in the north.
“The way that economic and political decisions are playing out…food insecurity is only getting worse across all parts of the country”, the UN aid official maintained.
“We’re going to see a major change where the health system is not going to be supported in the way it has been in the past.”
Despite access restrictions, UN partners reached 3.4 million people with food assistance last year, along with emergency support during floods and disease outbreaks.
The UN has been working in Yemen since the 1960s, helping to make development gains and protect the country’s most vulnerable people. “And then suddenly in the last couple of years this breakdown…inexplicably,” Mr. Harneis said. “That has a terrifying effect on the humanitarian workers.”
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World News in Brief: Food insecurity in Lebanon, Libya migrants freed, UNHCR tackles multiple emergencies – despite cuts
According to the latest UN-backed IPC Food Security Phase Classification report, around 874,000 people are facing crisis or emergency levels of acute food insecurity between November 2025 and March 2026.
Certain districts and areas have been more severely affected, particularly parts of Baalbek and El Hermel, Akkar, Baabda, Zahle, Saida, Bint Jbeil, Marjayoun, El Nabatieh, Tyre, and refugee communities.
This is the first assessment to include people who arrived from Syria after December 2024, recognising shifting displacement patterns and new vulnerabilities.
Assistance is essential
Looking ahead, the situation is expected to worsen rapidly due to a combination of factors, including reduced food assistance, economic pressures, and rising living costs.
Between April and July 2026, food insecurity will rise to 961,000 people, nearly 18 per cent of the population, according to the IPC report.
“People’s needs remain high, and predictable assistance will be essential to help people meet basic food needs and prevent further deterioration.” said Anne Valand, WFP representative and country director in Lebanon.
Migrants freed from abusive detention sites in eastern Libya
The UN migration agency (IOM) has deployed emergency teams to eastern Libya to assist hundreds of migrants released from illegal detention sites where they were held in appalling conditions.
Libyan authorities last week closed an unlawful detention facility in Ajdabiya, leading to the release of 195 migrants and the recovery of 21 bodies from a nearby burial site.
Initial investigations indicate the victims had been held captive and subjected to torture to extort ransom payments from their families.
Buried underground
In a separate operation in Kufra, security forces uncovered an underground detention site three metres below ground.
A total of 221 migrants and refugees were freed, including women and children, among them a one-month-old baby. At least ten people were transferred to hospital for urgent treatment after being held for prolonged periods in grossly inhumane conditions.
“These shocking cases highlight the severe risks faced by migrants who fall prey to criminal networks operating along migration routes,” said Nicoletta Giordano, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Libya.
IOM teams are providing medical screenings, referring urgent cases to hospitals and distributing warm clothing to survivors.
The agency welcomed efforts by Libyan authorities to rescue victims and launch investigations, while stressing the need to strengthen protection systems, dismantle trafficking networks and ensure accountability for perpetrators.
UNHCR responds to mounting crises despite funding shortfalls
Despite severe funding shortfalls, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, responded to a surge of complex emergencies and deepening long-running crises last year, according to its newly released 2025 Impact Report: Response to New Emergencies and Protracted Crises.
Throughout 2025, agency teams provided protection and assistance in some of the world’s most volatile settings.
They supported people fleeing renewed violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo into Burundi and Uganda, assisted those escaping fresh fighting in and beyond South Sudan, and helped millions of Afghans returning or being forced back from Iran and Pakistan.
Protracted crises also worsened. Ongoing conflict in Sudan, intensified attacks on Ukraine and escalating violence in Colombia triggered repeated displacement, further eroding already fragile living conditions.
Positive response
“In 2025, displacement occurred amid protracted conflict, recurrent disasters, and new outbreaks of violence,” said Ayaki Ito, UNHCR’s Director of Emergency and Programme Support.
“In this environment, UNHCR teams continued to respond to the needs of people forced to flee, even as severe resource constraints limited our capacity.”
Emergency support included clean water for half a million people in Sudan, cash assistance for Afghan and Syrian returnees, and more than a million services for displaced people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring host countries.
UNHCR warned that humanitarian needs are set to rise further in 2026 as conflicts continue to drive displacement affecting nearly 52 million people.
You can find additional background on UNHCR’s emergency response work, here.
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Mycelium-based blocks could be the future of construction
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When mushrooms make the news, it’s often for grim reasons – a mysterious poisoning, toxic species in the
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The Mystery of Why Dogs Bury Their Bones
The image of a dog burying its knuckles is iconic and captures with remarkable accuracy the essence of this puzzling and at the same time slightly comical behavior of our pets. But this act, witnessed by owners all over the world, is far from just a bizarre habit; it is steeped in evolutionary history and directly linked to the survival instincts of our furry companions. It is a fascinating mix of natural behavior, strategy and adaptation that reveals much about the complex nature of our canine companions. By investigating the reason for this habit, we can gain insight into the evolutionary process that has shaped our pets over the millennia, offering a glimpse into the survival mechanisms that have survived in quadrupeds today.
Why do dogs bury their bones?
• Resource Conservation
One of the main reasons dogs bury bones is rooted in an instinctive drive to conserve resources. In the wild, food can be scarce, and the ability to save up for later is a valuable survival strategy. By burying bones, dogs are mimicking the behavior of their ancestors, who hid food to provide a reserve during times of scarcity. This behavior is natural, and even today, in the comfort of their homes, where food is abundant, this ancient instinct has survived.
• Territorial Marking
Burying bones is also a way for dogs to mark their territory. The act of burying something valuable, such as a bone or knuckle, in a certain area signals to other animals the boundaries of their domain. Scent markers, left by saliva and paw pads during the burying process, reinforce the marking and send messages to other quadrupeds. This behavior is a throwback to the needs of our pets’ wild ancestors to establish and maintain their territory – an essential aspect of their social structure and survival.
• Natural Foraging Instinct
The foraging instinct is another critical factor that drives dogs to bury their bones. In the wild, animals are natural foragers, constantly exploring their environment and seeking resources for survival – both for themselves and their pack. Burying bones, with its associated instinctive behavior, provides a form of mental stimulation and engagement with their surroundings. Burying and later digging up bones simulates the process of foraging, offering a satisfying challenge that meets their innate need to find and provide for themselves. This behavior entertains and engages dogs and serves as mental exercise, stimulating their cognitive functions.
• Anxiety and Stress Relief
For some dogs, burying bones can be a way to cope with anxiety or stress. Repetitive behaviors in canines often have a calming effect, distracting them from stressful stimuli or boredom. This coping mechanism allows dogs to focus their energy on a task at hand, providing a sense of purpose and relief from anxiety. The behavior can be especially prevalent in pets who experience separation anxiety or those who are not getting enough physical and mental stimulation, which highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the underlying causes of stress in pets.
• Play and Fun
Finally, burying bones can be a game and fun for dogs. The process of digging and the challenge of finding the perfect place to hide their “treasure” can be a delightful activity, offering physical exercise and mental engagement. This playful behavior is a healthy expression of instincts and provides an outlet for your four-legged companion’s energy and creativity.
Individual differences between breeds
Not all dogs show the same tendency to bury bones, and this is largely due to breed characteristics and hereditary instincts. Some animals are more strongly oriented towards storing resources, searching, digging and hiding objects, which makes them more prone to this behavior. For them, burying is not just a habit, but part of a deep-rooted instinct that has served for survival for millennia.
This behavior is often characteristic of hunting and working dogs, which have a strong instinct to protect their “prey” from potential competitors. Breeds such as Beagles, Dachshunds, Labradors, Cocker Spaniels and Irish Setters often demonstrate this behavior, especially if they have access to a yard where they can dig.
Terriers are also particularly fond of hiding bones. Built to hunt rodents and dig holes, they have an extremely strong burrowing and burying instinct. Jack Russell Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, Border Terriers, and Fox Terriers all often turn any corner or sofa into a potentially dangerous place to hide treasures.
Of course, every dog has its own personality, but breed predisposition often plays a key role in whether you find a “stash” under your pillow or in the corner of the yard.
Why Some Dogs Never Bury Their Bones
Not all dogs have the habit of burying their bones, and this is often due to the way they were raised, as well as the environment they live in. A four-legged friend who grew up in a home where food was always abundant, did not have to compete with other animals, and never experienced hunger may not develop the instinct to store resources. Conversely, dogs that are rescued from the streets, adopted from shelters, or who live in multi-pet households are much more likely to develop the habit of burying food. For them, it is a survival strategy that helps them cope in uncertain conditions.
The environment also plays an important role. A dog that lives in an apartment may not have the opportunity to dig and therefore may not exhibit this habit, even if it is built in. Instead, it may hide its treasures under pillows or in the corners of rooms.
A sense of security is a key factor in a dog’s behavior. When a dog feels calm, protected, and confident, it does not need to stock up on food. For it, the world is predictable, and the owner is a reliable source of care and resources. Dogs that have a stable relationship with their people often exhibit less protective behavior around food.
When to be concerned
Although burying bones and other treats is a natural canine behavior, sometimes it can be a sign of deeper emotional issues. If your pet seems tense, aggressively guards his food, growls, or tries to hide everything, this may be a sign of insecurity.
Dogs who have experienced hunger or competition often develop strong protective behaviors around their resources. They are afraid that their food will be taken away, so they try to hide it. The most important thing is not to punish the dog for this behavior. He is not doing anything “bad”, he is simply following his instincts.
If the burying is moderate and does not cause problems, simply accept it as part of your four-legged friend’s character. However, if it leads to destruction at home or excessive anxiety, try to provide him with more security, mental stimulation, and a clear routine.
Did you know that…
• Dogs are extremely creative when it comes to hiding their “treasures”. Some choose flower pots, others – shoes, others – washing machines, pillows or even refrigerators.
• Our pets have excellent spatial memory. Many of them remember their hiding places for days, weeks, and sometimes months.
• Sometimes dogs discover old “treasures” and react as if they found them for the first time.
In conclusion, burying bones, food and treats in dogs is far from such a mystery as it seems to many. This is not just a strange habit or whim, but a behavior deeply rooted in the nature of our four-legged companions and carries with it the memory of times when their ancestors relied on themselves to survive. Today, although our pets live in cozy homes and receive regular food, their instinct to “hide something for later” is still alive.
Burying bones is a kind of expression of security, planning and even pleasure. For some dogs, it is a game, for others, it is a strategy, and for others, it is a way to cope with anxiety or insecurity. Individual differences between breeds, the character of each dog, and the environment in which it lives shape this behavior in a unique way. This is why some dogs zealously hide their “treasures” while others never show such interest. The most important thing for the owner is to understand these signals and accept the behavior not as a problem, but as part of the natural nature of their four-legged friend.
In most cases, burying food is completely normal and even adorable. Only when accompanied by anxiety, fear, or aggression can it be a sign that your dog needs more security, attention, and stability.
These little mysteries of canine behavior remind us that behind the warm eyes and happily wagging tail lies a descendant of the wild wolf – smart, resourceful, and driven by instincts that deserve our respect. When we understand them, we not only become better owners, but also build a deeper connection with our most loyal friend.
Illustrative Photo by Doğan Alpaslan Demir: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-dogs-playing-in-the-water-on-the-beach-27301804/
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The Bible in all the world’s languages: How artificial intelligence is accelerating an ancient mission
During the Christmas season, millions of people return to church – even those who have long since drifted away from religious life. They listen to the story of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, born in a stable because there was no room for him in the inn. For Christian missionaries, this story is not only part of tradition, but also a reminder of the global task: to convey the biblical text to every people in their own language.
The Bible is already the most translated book in human history: it is available in more than 750 languages. However, there are about 7,000 living languages in the world, and for thousands of them not even fragments of the Holy Scripture exist. Today, religious organizations are betting on technologies that, according to the Economist magazine, are capable of radically accelerating this process – above all, on large-scale language models and artificial intelligence tools.
Why Bible Translation is a Linguistic and Theological Challenge
Translating biblical texts is not just a technical task. The Old Testament has about 600,000 words, and according to tradition, it took about 70 scholars to translate it in the 3rd century BC. The New Testament is written in an uneven, colloquial Greek language, far from the classical norm, which only complicates the task of translators.
Many of the formulations in the text remain ambiguous. One of the most famous examples is the word ἐπιούσιον (epiousion) in the prayer “Our Father”. The phrase “give us this day our bread epiousion” contains a term that occurs only in this context, and its exact meaning remains a subject of debate to this day. Some researchers believe that it refers to “daily” or “daily” bread, others connect the word with “tomorrow”, and still others – with spiritual or Eucharistic food. However, most translators were forced to make a choice and eventually settled on the “daily bread” option.
Such decisions have far-reaching theological consequences. A classic example is the description of Mary: in one translation she is called a young woman, in another – a virgin. This difference affects fundamental elements of Christian doctrine and shows that Bible translation is inevitably associated with interpretation.
From the pyres of the Inquisition to long-term projects
Historically, Bible translation was not only a difficult but also a dangerous occupation. In the Middle Ages, translators who worked on the text in the vernacular languages could be declared heretics and executed. After the Reformation, the risk to life disappeared, but the laboriousness remained. In 1999, the Wycliffe missionary organization estimated that with the traditional approach – sending missionaries abroad, learning the language from scratch, and translating by hand – it would take about 150 years to launch projects for all the other languages.
Later, local linguists began to be involved in the work, but even in this case, translating the entire Bible usually took about 15 years.
How artificial intelligence is changing the scale of the task
With the advent of large language models, the situation began to change. According to experts, using AI, translating the New Testament could take about two years, and the Old Testament – about six. This radically shortens the time frame and allows us to talk about global goals.
Missionary organizations are now striving to have at least part of the Bible translated into every living language by 2033. The IllumiNations coalition, which unites translation agencies, claims that the project is already more than halfway completed. Over the past decade, almost $500 million has been raised for these purposes.
The technological breakthrough was largely made possible after the company Meta opened up access to its machine translation model in 2022. It was originally created to improve digital services in about 200 languages, mainly in African and Asian countries. However, religious organizations have adapted this development to translate biblical texts, practically adapting secular technology to a sacred task.
The problem of “small languages” and the limits of machine translation
However, artificial intelligence is not a universal solution. Many languages belong to the category of so-called “low-resource”: for them there are almost no written sources, which means that language models simply have nothing to train on. In such cases, translators must first manually create parallel texts – often translating fragments of the Bible without the help of AI.
As experts note, the key question today is what is the minimum amount of data needed for the model to start giving acceptable results. Finding this balance remains one of the main technical tasks of the project.
Culture, metaphors and the doubts of believers
The use of AI also provokes theological disputes. Some Christians fear that technology is replacing spiritual inspiration and the role of the Holy Spirit. Supporters of the digital approach respond that AI performs only an auxiliary function: all translations undergo a multi-stage review by humans, from linguists to theologians.
However, cultural complexities remain. AI does not work well with metaphors and abstract concepts. If the language does not have the word “bat,” translators must use descriptive formulas such as “weapon of war” or “a long wooden pole for breaking down gates.”
In addition, different cultures perceive images differently. For example, the expression “to receive Jesus into your heart” is not universally understood: among some peoples in Papua New Guinea, the liver or stomach is considered the center of emotions. In such cases, translation requires adapting the images to preserve the meaning without distorting the message.
Between the expectation of the end times and practical benefit
For some Christians, the urgency of translating the Bible has an eschatological meaning: there is a belief that the return of Christ is possible only after the Scriptures become accessible to all peoples. For others, it is primarily a missionary duty.
This project also has completely earthly consequences. Work on rare languages helps to save them from extinction, forms new linguistic databases and contributes to the development of translation technologies in general. Thus, an ancient religious text becomes a catalyst for modern technological processes – with an effect that goes far beyond the boundaries of the religious world.
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Ecumenical Patriarchate Responds to Russian Services: We Do Not Comment on Insults
The Ecumenical Patriarchate responded to Russian services that a few days ago publicly accused Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of using “church jargon.” They called the head of the Patriarchate “the devil in the flesh” and “the antichrist” who works against the interests of Moscow and its allies.
In particular, the Foreign Intelligence Service accused Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople of “schismatic activity in the Orthodox church space.” The agency issued a press release on January 12, calling Bartholomew “the antichrist in a cassock” and “the devil in the flesh, obsessed with the idea of pushing Russian Orthodoxy out of the territory of the Baltic states.” Relying on ideological allies in the form of local nationalists and neo-Nazis, he is trying to tear the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian Orthodox Churches away from the Moscow Patriarchate, luring their priests and flocks into puppet religious structures artificially created by Constantinople. Russian services claim that he is assisted in this by British special services, which “feed Russophobic sentiments in the countries of Europe.” According to them, the “aggressive appetites” of the Patriarch of Constantinople extend to other European countries. Thus, in the press release, he is also accused of intending to grant autocephaly to the Montenegrin Orthodox Church in order to “deal a blow to the ‘particularly rebellious’ Serbian Orthodox Church” (Source: Press Bureau of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia, 12.01.2026).
The Ecumenical Patriarchate responded to the scandalous characteristics of the Russian services with a statement and indicated that it is aware that the origin of all these attacks is rooted in its interference in the Ukrainian church situation and the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
The response of the Ecumenical Patriarchate states that the mother church expresses its deep sorrow over the targeted attack of the Russian state services against the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, while at the same time choosing not to take the path of direct confrontation. Fener reminds that it is also the mother church for Russia and connects the escalation of the attacks with the historic decision of 2018 to grant autocephaly to Ukraine.
“The mother church of Constantinople, which is also the mother of the Russian Church, expresses its deep sorrow over the new Russian attack on the person of His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, which this time was undertaken by the state services of the country”.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate has consciously taken a position of silence in the face of the countless insults coming from both ecclesiastical and political centers in Moscow – a line it has decided to follow in the present case: “Since 2018, when the Ecumenical Patriarchate took the decision to grant autocephalous status to the Church in Ukraine, the mother church has avoided commenting on the countless similar attacks coming from both ecclesiastical and political centers and individuals in Russia. It holds the same position today.”
The response of Constantinople focuses on challenging the credibility of the accusations attributed to propaganda mechanisms. At the same time, they send a message in all directions that such practices and insults are not able to discourage the Ecumenical Patriarchate: “Fantastic scenarios, fake news, insults and fabricated information from all kinds of propagandists do not discourage the Ecumenical Patriarchate from continuing its ministry and its ecumenical mission.”
In Bulgaria, there are also clearly defined political and church circles whose main goal is to always and unconditionally present the Ecumenical Patriarch in a negative light, striving in this way to instill sympathy and support among religious people for Moscow and its policy as the “healthy alternative to Fener”. Their activity increased especially much after the visit of the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil and metropolitans to Fener and their concelebration with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, during which the diptych was the name of the primate of the autocephalous OCU, Metropolitan of Kiev Epiphanius, who is not recognized by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, is also mentioned.
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Romanian Patriarchate: We pay taxes and do not enjoy privileges
The press service of the Romanian Patriarchate issued a statement in response to media reports accusing the Orthodox Church of a privileged position and non-payment of taxes, while at the same time benefiting from significant state aid coming from taxpayers. The Romanian Church responds that these allegations are untrue and that it pays all taxes and fees for religious organizations provided for by law. It is also reported that for 2024 the Church has allocated 73 million euros for social activities, which does not include the charitable work of parishes and monasteries at the local level. Increasing its taxes would negatively affect the Church’s ability to fulfill its social mission. More specifically, the press service statement reads:
“In relation to materials that have recently appeared in the media, which wrongly suggest that the Romanian Orthodox Church does not pay taxes or benefits from unjustified privileges, the Romanian Patriarchate makes the following clarifications in order to correctly inform public opinion:
The Romanian Orthodox Church, as well as any other religious cult recognized in Romania, pays taxes in accordance with the current legislation, including tax on buildings and land used for business activities, tax on salary income and other due fees, in accordance with the Tax Code and the rules applicable to religious cults.
Regarding the National Cathedral – from the beginning of its construction until today, all taxes and fiscal contributions related to the payment of labor to workers at the construction site of the cathedral complex have been paid, as well as the corresponding VAT rates on the construction materials used – amounts that are returned to the Romanian state through the usual fiscal mechanism.
The exemption from Taxation of buildings designated as temples and belonging to officially recognized religious cults is provided for by law and exists in most democratic countries, with the aim of facilitating the public service that the Church provides to the community.
The Romanian Orthodox Church is one of the most significant social benefactors in Romania. In 2024, the Church invested nearly 73 million euros in social and charitable activities, supporting 867 social institutions and services, which directly benefited over 363,000 people through various material and humanitarian support programs.
These philanthropic contributions do not include the many activities carried out by parishes and monasteries at the local level in support of vulnerable people – such as food, clothing, assistance to poor families, the elderly, the sick or the disabled. Although not financially accounted for at the central level, these activities constitute a permanent reality of the Church’s social ministry. Through the social and philanthropic assistance network, managed by the Association “Philanthropy” – the non-governmental organization of the Romanian Patriarchate, implements projects to assist the elderly, the homeless, families in difficulty, maternity and family centers, social kitchens, palliative care and social reintegration services, as well as special programs for people with complex social needs.
Therefore, the Romanian Orthodox Church pays taxes and fees, like any other recognized religious cult in Romania, while remaining the largest philanthropist in Romanian society through the socio-philanthropic programs implemented annually and through the funds invested directly from the own contributions of the faithful and from funds intended for social service. This socio-philanthropic activity would be really and negatively affected by the increase or introduction of additional taxes and fees, as the final beneficiaries of the social assistance programs would be the direct victims.
“Simplified statements about how much “the state could receive” if certain temples were taxed differently ignore the current legal framework and the real social role of recognized religious cults. The Romanian Orthodox Church reaffirms its commitment to contribute responsibly and transparently to the well-being of Romanian society, in accordance with the spirit of the law and the values of the Christian faith.”