HONG KONG – CHINA
Bishop James Curry, lead bishop for freedom of religion and belief, has written to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to follow his predecessors’ example in doing everything possible to secure Jimmy Lai’s release. The Catholic publishing magnate, also a British citizen, was sentenced to 20 years in prison under the Hong Kong government's national security laws, imposed by Beijing. Regarding rights and freedoms, yesterday marked nine years since Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng went missing, leaving his wife, Geng He, without news and unsure whether he is alive, where he is being held, or when their family might see him again. For her, the anniversary of his disappearance yesterday brought renewed grief, but also gratitude that supporters around the world continue to remember her husband, one of the most renowned Christian activists defending religious freedom and various religious groups, including Falun Gong followers, persecuted by China’s communist government.
IRAN
Iranian authorities have stationed guards outside St Peter's Evangelical Church in Tehran, the oldest Protestant church in the country, a month after the place of worship was seized to prevent members from returning. Church leaders had been told they had until 12 August to vacate the premises; however, exactly one month earlier, on 12 July, a group of intelligence ministry officials stormed the building and forcibly evicted the last remaining residents, about 20 Assyrian and Armenian families. The premises used as offices and belonging to the church were also seized by agents.
VIETNAM
Foreign banks are trying to expand their presence in Vietnam, extending hard-currency loans to local lenders squeezed between rising financing costs and government pressure to expand credit and meet growth targets. The growing reliance on offshore financing highlights a central challenge to Communist Party leader Tô Lâm’s agenda. The financial establishments are expected to fund most infrastructure projects worth some US$ 200 billion and sustain annual growth of at least 10 per cent through 2030, despite growing financing strains. Chinese, Taiwanese, and Middle Eastern banks are among those showing the greatest interest as Vietnamese lenders seek offshore funding.
BANGLADESH – GULF
Bangladesh is stepping up energy conservation measures to grapple with gas shortages, power outages, and the broader fallout from the Gulf War, which has halted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. According to a government directive effective yesterday, shops, markets, and shopping malls must close by 8:00 pm local time, one hour earlier than usual. Commercial establishments are now only allowed to operate between 11:00 am and 8:00 pm, while hospitals, pharmacies, and food-related businesses are exempt. Natural gas shortages continue to limit power generation. Limited supplies have reduced electricity generation, leaving the national grid with a deficit of several hundred megawatts.
YEMEN – UNITED NATIONS
Yemen is at its highest risk of full-scale war since the 2022 UN-brokered truce, UN envoy Hans Grundberg said yesterday. The global body warns that more than half the population is at acute food insecurity. This follows rising hostilities between pro-Iranian Houthi rebels and the country’s Saudi-backed and internationally recognised government.
INDIA
Air India wants to immediately test all its pilots for banned substances. This decision follows last week's incident in which a flight from Phuket to Delhi suddenly lost altitude. The senior pilot was reportedly subjected to a second test for banned substances, with preliminary reports showing a positive test for marijuana. Pilots for the airline's budget arm, Air India Express, will also be subject to testing. Existing rules require at least 10 per cent of pilots to be randomly tested. Some 17 passengers and crew were injured when the Airbus dropped approximately 90 metres (300 feet) shortly after departure on 4 August.
JAPAN
Record rainfall left thousands of travellers stranded this morning at Tokyo's Narita Airport, while flooding in the surrounding area disrupted transportation and power in homes, claiming at least four lives. Torrential downpours triggered landslides and power outages, with forecasters issuing the highest-level heavy rain warning for the Chiba region for the first time. More than 360 millimetres (14 inches) fell in 24 hours in parts of Chiba Prefecture, which borders the capital Tokyo, flooding roads and railways. The Tokyo Electric Power Company said that as of 5:30 am Friday, approximately 27,000 households in the prefectures of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Tochigi were without power.
RUSSIA – KAZAKHSTAN
Ukrainian attacks on infrastructures deep inside Russian territory, from oil refineries to market warehouses, have prompted Moscow to consider relocating some of its operations to Kazakhstan. The latter is trying to reconcile cooperation with Moscow with its desire to remain neutral in Europe's bloodiest and longest war in decades. Amid the oil crisis and gasoline shortages, Moscow has launched negotiations with Astana on refining Russian oil at Kazakh refineries.
