Asia

• India: pressure increasing on Christians in Chhattisgarh state 2 July 2026
  Christians in Chhattisgarh state, India, are facing increasing pressure to abandon their faith and participate in traditional tribal religious practices. In Narayanpur district, two Christian families were reportedly ordered to leave their village after refusing to take part in local rituals and worship of tribal deities. Their belongings were removed…
• Nepal: tea industry hit by India’s stricter export procedures 26 June 2026
  Nepal’s tea industry is facing a serious crisis after India introduced stricter export procedures for Nepali tea, forcing the closure of more than eighty factories and tea estates across the eastern districts of Ilam and Jhapa. The shutdown has affected an estimated 60,000 workers and staff, particularly daily wage labourers…
• Iran / USA: agreement to be signed on 19 June, but doubts remain 18 June 2026
  The USA and Iran are reportedly preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending recent hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Details released by US officials outline a broad framework that includes restoring maritime traffic, ending regional conflicts involving Iran and Lebanon, and supporting reconstruction efforts within…
• Iran conflict: local Christians face growing uncertainty 18 June 2026
  Christians living in the Arabian peninsula are facing growing uncertainty, primarily because of the Iran conflict. According to Bishop Aldo Berardi, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, many believers are migrant workers from Asia who increasingly view their stay in the Gulf as temporary rather than permanent. The conflict, including recent…
• Afghanistan: at least two dead after Taliban forces open fire on protesters 18 June 2026
  At least two people, including a woman and a child, were reportedly killed when Taliban forces opened fire on demonstrators in Herat, western Afghanistan, during a rare public protest. The gathering was organised in response to the reported detention of women and girls accused of violating the Taliban’s strict dress…