Asia

• Imprisoned Chinese pastor's daughter: ‘repression cannot extinguish faith' 5 February 2026
  At a recent meeting in Washington, Grace Jin Drexel shared the moving story of her father, Pastor Ezra Jin, imprisoned in China for his Christian faith. He was arrested in October alongside 27 other leaders from Zion Church, in what has been described as one of the largest crackdowns on…
• Gaza: humiliation and trauma after Rafah crossing reopens 5 February 2026
  When the Rafah border crossing was reopened on 2 February, Palestinian women returning to Gaza have described a journey marked by fear, humiliation and deep emotional trauma. Of around fifty people expecting to cross from Egypt on one day, only twelve - three women and nine children - were ultimately…
• Pakistan: more than 175 terrorists killed in Balochistan 5 February 2026
  A wave of coordinated terrorist attacks struck multiple towns and cities across Balochistan in the early hours of 31 January, targeting security forces and government installations. The assaults, which were carried out by a group which the state has named Fitna-al-Hindustan (to highlight alleged links with India), prompted large-scale security…
• USA: Trump will cut tariffs if India stops buying Russian oil 5 February 2026
  Claims of a major shift in global energy politics emerged after Donald Trump announced plans to cut tariffs on Indian exports. Trump said he had agreed a trade deal with Narendra Modi in which India would stop buying Russian oil, a move he argued could help bring an end to…
• Iran / USA: possible scenarios if Trump decides to attack 29 January 2026
  As Donald Trump warns Iran that ‘time is running out’ for a nuclear deal (see ), and with US forces reportedly preparing for strikes on Iran within days, the consequences are far from clear. Limited ‘surgical’ attacks could hit Revolutionary Guard facilities, missile sites and nuclear infrastructure, but hopes for…