Displaying items by tag: Asia

Shigeru Ishiba, Japan’s newly-appointed prime minister, has dissolved parliament and announced snap elections for 27 October. His Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), along with its coalition partner, is expected to win, capitalising on Ishiba's early popularity and a fragmented opposition. He wants to revitalise rural regions affected by Japan's demographic crisis, and aims to create a ‘new Japan’ with increased support for families and flexible work policies. Facing a complex security landscape, including threats from China, Russia, and North Korea, Ishiba plans to expand Japan’s defence capabilities. Ishiba has proposed economic stimulus, particularly for local governments and low-income households, as part of his strategy to lead the country out of deflation. His call for an early election seeks to solidify his mandate before political momentum wanes, while distancing himself from scandals that plagued his unpopular predecessor.

An Israeli airstrike on central Beirut, targeting a building connected to Hezbollah’s health unit, has killed at least six people and wounded seven more. On 28 September another airstrike on the city resulted in the death of Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and Israel has now launched a ‘limited’ ground offensive in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah. The two forces are currently engaged in fierce combat, with casualties on both sides. Caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati has said that about 1.2 million Lebanese have been displaced by Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, on 1 October Iran launched 180 missiles against Jerusalem, with remarkably few casualties, and Yemen’s Houthis and armed groups in Iraq have launched attacks in the region in support of Hamas in its war with Israel in Gaza.

A devastating monsoon downpour in Nepal has led to severe flooding and mudslides, claiming over 200 lives, injuring 127, and leaving 56 missing. Rescue operations successfully saved over four thousand stranded people. However, despite warnings of more heavy rains, the prime minister admitted that he had not anticipated such flooding in Kathmandu. One critic has said that the government ‘miserably failed to not only protect people’s lives but also, according to its admission, to coordinate the resources and manpower to save them’. Even the mayor of Kathmandu struggled to mobilise resources effectively. Critics have called for a more robust disaster management strategy by revitalising the national disaster management authority, allocating resources, and involving experts. Disaster prevention and management must be a top priority, transcending political lines, to protect the nation from future crises.

Following extensive air strikes targeting Hezbollah, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, Israel's military chief, has indicated that a ground invasion into Hezbollah-controlled territory in Lebanon might be imminent. The air strikes, which hit Hezbollah’s intelligence directorate and weapons stores, killed over fifty people, according to Lebanon's health minister. Hezbollah escalated the conflict by firing a missile toward Tel Aviv, the first such strike by the group on the city, which Israel intercepted. Cross-border fighting has continued, with Hezbollah launching more rockets and Israel responding with over 280 airstrikes on Hezbollah targets. Since Monday, more than six hundred people have been killed in Lebanon, and 90,000 have been displaced. There is no end in sight to the fighting, which is linked to Hezbollah’s support for Hamas in Gaza. Breaking news: Benjamin Netanyahu has flown to New York to address the UN General Assembly on 27 September.  He has resolutely turned down the call by a number of countries for an immediate 21-day ceasefire. See

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.