Asia
Indonesia: another deadly volcanic eruption
On 3 November Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on Flores Island in eastern Indonesia, erupted, triggering a deadly disaster. The eruption unleashed explosive lava, volcanic ash, and fiery rocks, and at least ten have…
North Korea fires ballistic missiles just before US election
Just a few hours before the US presidential election began, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea east of the Korean peninsula. The missiles were fired from a province south…
Gaza: Israel’s decision to ban UNRWA widely criticised
The recent decision by the Israeli parliament to ban UNRWA from operating in Israel and Gaza has met with widespread condemnation. Israel has justified the decision by citing alleged links between some UNRWA…
Malaysia: hundreds of investors hit by fraudulent scam
An Indonesian woman known as Suzy has reportedly lost over RM4 million (£700,000) to a Malaysian-based foreign currency investment scheme. She began investing in 2020, and received a 20% annual return in 2021…
Seoul vows response as North Korean troops head to Ukraine
South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed that his government ‘won’t sit idle’ following reports that North Korea has sent three thousand troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. In…
China / India: border agreement, but ‘trust issues’ remain
India and China have agreed to resume patrols along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, signalling a potential reduction in tensions following their 2020 clash in Galwan Valley in…
Christian hopes in Indonesia’s new era
As Indonesia witnesses a leadership transition, its thirty million Christians are cautiously hopeful for positive change under president-elect Prabowo Subianto and vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Subianto, a former military general, secured 58%…
Sri Lanka: police arrest 230+ Chinese for cybercrime
Sri Lankan police have arrested more than 230 Chinese nationals suspected of executing online scams targeting international banks. They seized 250 computers and 500 mobile phones involved in the fraudulent activities, with investigations…
Iran: Christian man sentenced to ten years is released early
Christian convert Mehdi Akbari has been released from Evin prison after serving nearly five years of a ten-year sentence for his involvement with a house church. Arrested in January 2019 alongside three other…
Lebanon: churches respond to thousands of displaced people
Amid escalating violence between Hezbollah and Israel, thousands of families in southern Lebanon, including many Christians, have fled their homes. As they move north, local churches have opened their doors, providing shelter, food,…
