Displaying items by tag: Asia

A court in Islamabad has sentenced Shagufta Kiran, a Christian mother of four, to death for sharing allegedly blasphemous content on social media. Convicted under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, she also faces a seven-year prison sentence and a huge fine. Kiran was arrested in 2021 after forwarding a WhatsApp message which her husband claims she did not understand. Since then, the family has been threatened, forcing them to move repeatedly. Kiran's lawyer plans to appeal, while international concerns grow over the misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, particularly against religious minorities. Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS-UK, highlighted the urgent need for reform, stating that these laws are being used to persecute minorities and cause widespread injustice. He urged the international community to pressure Pakistan for legal reforms to safeguard religious freedom and protect innocent individuals from wrongful persecution.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been elected as Sri Lanka’s new president, marking a shift in leadership following the country’s worst financial crisis in decades. Dissanayake, 55, from the Marxist-leaning JVP party, won 42.3% of the vote, defeating the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. Wickremesinghe, whose austerity measures were key to economic recovery, finished third with 17%, while Premadasa secured 32.8%. Dissanayake campaigned as a candidate for change, promising anti-corruption measures, lower taxes, and pro-poor policies. He also pledged to dissolve parliament within 45 days and address the $25 billion debt in consultation with the IMF. His victory comes as Sri Lanka’s economy shows signs of recovery, with inflation dropping and growth expected for the first time in three years. However, the continued high cost of living remains a pressing issue for voters, many of whom hope Dissanayake will bring relief.

A series of explosions rocked southern Lebanon on 18 September, as hand-held radios used by Hezbollah were remotely detonated, marking the deadliest day since cross-border fighting with Israel began nearly a year ago. The explosions killed at least twenty people and injured over 450. On the previous day many Hezbollah pagers exploded, killing twelve and injuring many more. Israeli officials have not confirmed involvement, though security sources link the attacks to Mossad. Hezbollah called it the worst security breach in its history. These events are fuelling fears of a wider Middle East war which could drag in the United States and Iran: a full-scale war could devastate Lebanon. Both sides have engaged in fighting along the border since the Gaza conflict erupted in October 2023. Hezbollah has vowed further retaliation, and tensions remain high. BREAKING NEWS: Israel launched a series of air strikes on southern Lebanon on 19 September, while Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah said that this week’s incidents ‘could be called a declaration of war’. See

After a five-month standoff with China over Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, the Philippines have had to withdraw a coastguard vessel from the area because of bad weather, crew health issues and  damage due to a collision with a Chinese vessel in August. Some commentators have warned that China could seize control of the shoal, repeating an incident in 2012 at Scarborough Shoal, but not everyone agrees. Manila insists it hasn’t abandoned Sabina, which is vital for resupplying troops at Second Thomas Shoal. Analysts have urged the Philippines to maintain a consistent presence, given its limited patrol capacity. Though tensions remain high, both nations are working to de-escalate the situation. The Philippines have said they are planning to send a replacement vessel, but have not given details.

Born to a Hindu father and Christian mother near Chennai, Mohan committed his life to Christ while in the tenth grade after grappling with spiritual questions about heaven and salvation. Baptised in 1990, he received the gift of speaking in tongues a few months later. He soon felt called to plant churches and began evangelising in a nearby village. Despite having a career as an engineer, Mohan used his earnings to support pastors and plant churches, leading to the establishment of ten churches in India. In 2012, he moved to Connecticut, where he continues to support global church-planting efforts. During the Covid lockdown, Mohan spent time in deep prayer, leading to the creation of Universal Apostolic Ministries, which focuses on planting churches in Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, and communist countries. His ministry has expanded from India to include Myanmar, Bhutan, Pakistan, China, Mexico, and beyond.

There have been very few opportunities in the last three years for women to escape from the bleakness of life under Taliban rule, with teenage girls having been barred from formal education. Now a new law has been passed which restricts their freedoms even further. The law enhances the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Ministry’s control over Afghan citizens, worsening the already severe limitations on women’s rights. Many women are scared to speak or even leave their homes; activists like Nausheen, who previously protested and was once arrested and beaten, now refrain from public dissent due to the fear of violent retaliation. Some women are rebelling quietly, running secret schools and sharing their resistance through masked online videos. The international community, including the EU, has condemned the new restrictions as ‘systematic and systemic abuses, which may amount to gender persecution’. However, a government spokesman said the values laid out in the law are in line with Islamic traditions.

On 11 September the UN agency for refugees (UNRWA) reported that six of its employees had been killed in an Israeli airstrike on al-Jaouni school in central Gaza, which was sheltering thousands of displaced Palestinians. Altogether, eighteen were killed in the attack. Israel's military stated that the strike targeted terrorists planning attacks from the school, adding that measures were taken to avoid civilian casualties. The UN condemned the attack as a violation of international humanitarian law. The incident marks the fifth strike on the school in eleven months and the highest death toll among UN staff in the current conflict. Israel defended the airstrike, asserting that Hamas uses civilian buildings for military operations - a claim which Hamas denies. Meanwhile, there is evidence that Israel has been laying tarmac on a crucial border road: see

The USA has filed criminal charges against Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, and five other individuals for orchestrating the deadly attack on 7 October which killed 1,200 people, including forty Americans. The charges include conspiracy to support a terrorist organisation, conspiracy to murder US nationals, and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. The complaint alleges support from Iran and Hezbollah. Three of the defendants are believed to be dead, while Sinwar remains in hiding. These charges are part of a broader effort to dismantle Hamas’s operations, but the White House also says it is actively working with Egypt and Qatar on a new ceasefire and hostage deal. In other developments, in Israel there have been three days of huge protests against Benjamin Netanyahu, and the UK government has decided to suspend sale of certain types of arms sales to Israel because they might be used in violation of international humanitarian law.

Pope Francis, despite health challenges, has embarked on his longest trip as pope, visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. In this significant visit, which will cover over 32,000 km, he will aim to strengthen ties with Asian countries where Catholicism is often a minority faith but plays a crucial role in education and charity. The trip also highlights the shift in the Catholic Church’s focus toward Asia and away from a Eurocentric model. In Indonesia, the Pope will meet with Muslim leaders and sign an interfaith declaration, emphasising harmony between religions. Francis will again urge world leaders to take stronger action against climate change, particularly when he is in Papua New Guinea, and in the background there are ongoing efforts to rebuild diplomatic ties with China. This trip demonstrates the Pope’s continued energy - even at the age of 87 - and commitment to global outreach.

The MV Sounion, a Greek-owned oil tanker attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, remains ablaze and could be leaking oil, according to the Pentagon. The tanker, carrying over one million barrels of crude oil, is at risk of causing one of the largest oil spills in history. The Houthis, who claim to be supporting Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict, have been targeting ships in the Red Sea for the past ten months, allegedly sinking two vessels and killing two crew members. The Sounion was first attacked on 21 August, resulting in a fire that disabled its engine. Its 25 crew members were rescued by a European warship a day later. The Pentagon has expressed concern over the potential environmental disaster and reported that salvage operations have been hindered by further threats from the Houthis. Efforts are ongoing to mitigate the potential impact of the spill. Meanwhile, at least ten Palestinians have been killed in a major operation by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank: see Breaking news: Israel and Hamas have agreed on brief pauses to the conflict to allow children to be vaccinated against polio.