Asia

• Iran / USA: conflicting claims about Strait of Hormuz negotiations 7 August 2026
  Iran says it is working with Oman to establish a temporary arrangement allowing commercial shipping to resume through the Strait of Hormuz, while denying it is holding direct negotiations with the USA despite Donald Trump's insistence that talks are under way. Trump said he had postponed planned US strikes because…
• Pakistan: potentially huge restrictions on international media reporting 7 August 2026
  New rules have been introduced in Pakistan requiring journalists working for international media, including Pakistani nationals, to obtain official permission before reporting anywhere outside Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. The government says that these guidelines are intended to verify journalists, coordinate reporting, and improve administrative procedures rather than restrict press freedom.…
• China: Beijing reacts angrily to US adding 43 firms to 'forced labour' blocklist 7 August 2026
  The USA has added 43 Chinese companies to its Uyghur forced labour prevention act entity list, increasing the total from 144 to 187. The law restricts imports linked to China's Xinjiang region, due to concerns about forced labour. Newly listed firms span industries including electronics, cotton, food processing and metals.…
• Japan earthquake death toll rises to 30 as evacuees battle sweltering heat 31 July 2026
  The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture has risen to 30 as rescue teams continue searching for survivors amid difficult conditions. The magnitude 6.8 earthquake caused widespread destruction, collapsing homes, damaging infrastructure, and triggering a shopping centre collapse and subsequent explosion that claimed several lives.…
• Christians in Bengal plan rallies against rising attacks by Hindu nationalists 31 July 2026
  Church leaders in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal are organising rallies and prayer gatherings following a series of attacks on Christian communities after the formation of a new state government. The Bengal Christian Council says the events will promote communal harmony, defend constitutional freedoms, and call for stronger…