Asia	
	    
    
		Japan: Worst heatwave since 1875
			  	Japan is sweltering under its worst heatwave for almost 150 years. The city of Isesaki, northwest of the capital, saw a record 40.2C - the highest temperature ever recorded for Japan. There are…			  
			  
			  
		  India: discrimination, floods, heatwave
			  	India is the most ethnically diverse nation on earth, with over 2,500 people groups, 22 official languages, and thousands of castes. It hosts most of the world’s Hindus and Muslims. The country traditionally…			  
			  
			  
		  Afghanistan: earthquake kills over 1,000
			  	Pictures show landslides and ruined mud-built homes where rescuers scramble to find people buried under the ground and treat the injured in the deadliest earthquake in twenty years. On 22 June, people started…			  
			  
			  
		  Pakistan: Christians encounter injustice
			  	Patras Masih was 18 when he was accused of sharing a photo posted on Facebook deemed insulting to Muhammad. This triggered protests by a violent Islamic extremist group who sent hundreds of Christian…			  
			  
			  
		  Israel: political instability
			  	Once again there is political tumult in Israel, where the fifth election cycle in three years is about to begin. Crippled by dysfunction and tribalism, Israel has joined the ranks of Italy and…			  
			  
			  
		  China: land grab
			  	A meeting between China’s defence minister Wei Fenghe and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin took place during an Asian security summit in Singapore. The hour-long meeting took double the time allotted. The USA…			  
			  
			  
		  Iran / Lebanon / iraq / Syria / Yemen: jihad against Christians
			  	Iran's proxy militias have caused the decline of Christians in many regions by adopting ‘forced immigration’. In Lebanon Hezbollah targets missionaries, impedes conversions, imposes strict dress codes and alcohol bans, and limits mixed…			  
			  
			  
		  Uzbekistan: what life is like for Christians
			  	Church leaders are common targets for violations of rights in Uzbekistan. They are fined for meeting illegally, possession of religious literature, having Christian songs on their smartphones and more. They can be detained,…			  
			  
			  
		  Afghanistan: Christian media
			  	The situation for women deteriorates rapidly as restrictions erase girls and women from public life. They are virtually prisoners in their homes. Christians remain in danger as the Taliban do house-to-house searches and…			  
			  
			  
		  Lebanon: financial, political and spiritual crisis
			  	The World Bank has extended another year of financial aid to Lebanon despite political bickering. Inflation reached 206% in April, Lebanon’s currency dropped yet again last week, and Heart for Lebanon reports shortages…			  
			  
			  
		  
 
				     
				     
				     
				     
				     
				     
				     
				     
				     
				    