The 21st World Cup starts tomorrow with the host nation playing against Saudi Arabia. Asian teams have little chance of winning, but Asian businesses are swooping up sponsorship deals. Nike denies Iran boots as a result of Trump’s sanctions. Child labour used in making World Cup goods emerges as an issue.

Pakistan goes to the polls on 25 July. The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, an alliance of five ultraconservative regional parties, is using religion “to attract votes”. The Constitution already promotes Islamic law. Some want to see a focus on women's rights and unbiased education.

The law was approved by an 86 per cent margin. For critics it will restrict political and religious freedom. Foreign companies will be forced to provide private user data to the government. In the past, Catholic sites, including AsiaNews, have been blocked. For Catholic priest, Vietnam’s Communist regime deems Catholic social doctrine unacceptable.

Saint Mary is the oldest Cistercian monastery in Indonesia. It grows coffee, runs a dairy and makes bread and pastry, contributing to the community's self-sufficiency. In 1987, Trappist monks established the first female community in Gedono, on the slopes of Mount Merbabu. In 1996, the Abbey of Lamanabi was built on Flores, a predominantly Catholic island.

The world is divided over yesterday’s agreement. Critics condemn it for the absence of a timetable for denuclearisation and the decision to suspend joint US-South Korea exercises. North Korean media celebrate Kim's victory. In South Korea, the corporate sector is happy. Card Yeom is praying for quick implementation for everyone’s sake. State visits and meetings between separated families are in store for the future. For the Korea Church, people want “peace”.

The Statistical Yearbook of the Church shows that there are more bishops and permanent deacons. The number of priests stable but  religious and seminarians in decline. In Asia Catholics are 11% of the population, but vocations are growing