Asia
Oman: Afghan women gain temporary reprieve
More than eighty Afghan women studying in Oman on US-funded scholarships have received a temporary extension of support until 30 June, after an abrupt funding cut by the Trump administration. The scholarships, provided…
Syria: misleading reports about ‘slaughter of Christians’
Open Doors has warned that false online reports about a Christian massacre in Syria could put Syrian believers at greater risk. While recent violence in Latakia and Tartus has killed over 1,500 people,…
Syria: entire families killed in sectarian violence
The UN human rights office reports that at least 111 civilians, including entire families, were killed in recent violence in Syria’s coastal region, though the true toll is probably much higher. Predominantly Alawite…
Bangladesh: priorities for interim leader
Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, admits he was ‘dazzled’ when unexpectedly asked to take charge after Sheikh Hasina was ousted last year. Yunus, who returned to lead the country following a…
Pakistan: suicide bombers target military base
At least twelve people were killed and thirty wounded in a deadly militant attack on a military base in Bannu, northwestern Pakistan. Two suicide bombers detonated explosive-laden vehicles near the base’s wall, allowing…
Japan: worst wildfire in fifty years
Japan is battling its worst wildfire in fifty years, with over four thousand residents evacuated and one confirmed dead. The blaze, which started near the northern town of Ofunato, has consumed around 2,600…
Indonesia: severe flooding in and around Jakarta
Severe flooding in Jakarta and surrounding areas has displaced thousands and caused significant property damage. Torrential rains since 3 March have raised water levels by up to three metres, submerging over a thousand…
India: call for mob violence against ‘cow slayers’
Christians in India are requesting urgent prayers after the spread of viral videos inciting mob violence against them on 1 March. During a massive Hindu pilgrimage, Aadesh Soni accused Christians in Chhattisgarh state…
Encounter with Jesus after accident transformed man's life
Samuel Brownback, co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Summit, shared the testimony of a man in Nepal who encountered Jesus after a tragic accident. The man, a Hindu at the time, survived a…
Gaza: hostages’ bodies handed over
On 26 February, the bodies of four Israeli hostages were handed over by Hamas, without ceremony, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This marks the final exchange under the first phase of the Gaza…
