Asia
Iran: legal system an obstacle to MeToo justice
While an increasing number of rape and sexual assault victims are speaking out in Iran, the legal code often prevents justice and puts some victims at risk of punishment. The #MeToo movement has…
Lebanon: mental health of survivors
Lebanon faces a humanitarian emergency following the 4 August blast in Beirut port, and the psychological effects will not end once the dust settles, said Dr Ahmed Hankir, a psychiatrist. Some of the…
North Korea: Briefing
Things in North Korea seem a bit murkier than usual, not that it is ever very clear what is going on up there. The latest big questions have to do with Kim Jong-un's health.…
Korea: Prayers
As we focus our prayers on the Korean peninsula, we share these prayers that have been collated by our friends at NGI: Dear God, our Father in Heaven! 1. We Pray for North…
Afghanistan: Government Releases 100 'Dangerous' Taliban Prisoners
Afghan officials say they have released about another 100 Taliban prisoners as part of a prisoner swap meant to clear the way for the start of peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban.…
Uzbekistan: restrictions remain in new law
The draft religion law now in parliament would, in defiance of human rights, continue to ban all exercise of freedom of religion without state permission, banning teaching about religion without state permission, continuation…
China: ‘brave new world’
The Chinese government is obtaining blood samples from up to 70 million – 10% of all men and boys – as the high-tech surveillance state builds a ‘DNA Skynet’ of the country’s 700…
Iraq: assassinations in Basra
Dozens of activists have been killed in Iraq in recent years. In under a week, two have been assassinated and three narrowly survived murder attempts, as tensions between pro-Iran groups and a Western-leaning…
Faith rises from the rubble
The nations have been devastated to see the destruction in Beirut, but also inspired by the response of the help and support from church, communities, charities and media broadcasts from SAT-7. Presenter Marianne…
Lebanon: Christians defy land grabbers
Christians in Beirut have responded with defiance amid reports that groups seeking to profit from the devastating explosion are trying to persuade them to sell up and leave. 300,000 families were displaced by…