Algeria’s Triumph in Ending Trade Restrictions with Spain: Economic Gains Amid Tensions (November 8, 2024, RegTech)
Algeria has recently decided to lift its trade restrictions with Spain after nearly 900 days of economic retaliation. The cause of this blockade began in 2022 when the Spanish government decided to support Morocco’s position on Western Sahara.
Palestine’s economy teeters on the brink after a year of war and unrelenting destruction (October 29, 2024, The Conversation)
The Palestinian economy has been devastated beyond recognition. Israel’s intense military operations in Gaza have led to unprecedented destruction, wiping out much of the enclave’s essential infrastructure, private property and agricultural resources.
Rising Tide, Hidden Rocks: South Asia’s outlook in five charts (October 22, 2024, World Bank)
The region has three major sources of untapped potential: Raising employment among women, increasing openness to global trade and investment, and removing obstacles to firm growth. Tapping these could attract foreign investment, accelerate the diffusion of new technologies, and spur the private investment needed for job creation.
Turkmenistan’s Unexplained Shortage of Gasoline (October 24, 2024, The Times of Central Asia)
For months now, areas in eastern Turkmenistan have been facing a severe gasoline shortage. The lack of fuel at the pumps is having a knock-on effect that is raising food prices and shutting down public transportation. Turkmen officials have not acknowledged there is any problem, so the people of the affected regions have no idea why this is happening or for how long this situation will continue.
Oman Sees an Urban Future Distinct From Dubai and Abu Dhabi (October 23, 2024, Bloomberg)
Muscat’s plan for the future looks to mid-rise developments and more green spaces rather than the reach-for-the-heavens architecture seen elsewhere in the region.
South Korea's ‘4B’ Movement Goes Viral in US After Trump Elected (November 7, 2024, 404 Media)
The South Korean “4B” movement exploded in popularity on U.S. social media after Donald Trump won the presidential election on Wednesday. Various videos about 4B have gone massively viral on TikTok, with one woman stating that going 4b was the “best decision” she had ever made.
Discovery of 5,000-year-old farming society in Morocco fills a major gap in history – north-west Africa was a central player in trade and culture (October 10, 2024, The Conversation)
It reveals that, 5,000 years ago, the Maghreb (north-west Africa) was far from a backwater. Rather, it was an integral part of life in the Mediterranean, a region nestled between north Africa, south-western Asia and southern Europe.
Bribery Is A Way Of Life For Turkmen As Officials Exploit Positions To Extort Money (August 7, 2024, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty)
Ordinary Turkmen often have to pay bribes to get a job, to secure a place at a university, and even to get a vacation at the time of their choosing or renew a passport.
Can we really achieve the SDGs without teaching ‘compassion’? (September 13, 2024, University World News)
Some academics in Asia are calling for the formal incorporation of ‘compassion’ into university curricula if the UN Sustainable Development Goals are to be fully realised in a world marked by growing authoritarianism and increasingly driven by artificial intelligence and other ‘non-feeling’ technologies.
‘Historic development’ in Thailand as it moves to end statelessness for nearly 500,000 people (November 1, 2024, United Nations)
In a landmark move towards ending statelessness, Thailand’s cabinet has approved an accelerated pathway to permanent residency and nationality for nearly half a million stateless people, marking one of the region’s most significant citizenship initiatives.
China Waives Visa Rule for 7 More Countries — A ‘Surprise’ Entrant Joins the List (November 7, 2024, Skift)
China’s visa-waiver list has a clear message: it’s rolling out the welcome mat for high-spending, long-staying European travelers. It's a smart move to capture more of Europe’s thriving outbound tourism market to give China’s tourism sector a fresh boost.
Chinese netizens wonder if their economy is in “garbage time” (November 7, 2024, The Economist) (Subscription required)
Debate on Chinese social media offers clues to the way that at least some people are pondering the future. As always, given heavy censorship of China’s internet, discussions are cautious, using nudges and winks to convey grievances that might upset the Communist Party. The economy is high on the long list of topics that net nannies monitor closely. They are keen to stamp out gloom.
Make new friends and boost hiring: How China's chip industry plans to deal with Trump (November 8, 2024, Reuters)
China chip industry sees opportunities in Trump return. Firms have been ramping up purchases of foreign chipmaking equipment. Chinese sector is better prepared this time around, says analyst.
Hong Kong is ‘living lab’ where Chinese companies can hone AI abilities: Paul Chan (October 4, 2024, South China Morning Post) (Subscription required)
As more companies evaluate business opportunities in Southeast Asia, the city has become a strategic springboard for them “with dual strengths in financial services and innovation and technology.”
The rise and fall of China’s viral maths 'prodigy' (November 8, 2024, BBC)
China's education system focuses much of its resources on those taking the "Gaokao" - the notoriously difficult exam that students need to take in order to get into university. Those in vocational schools had long faced restrictions in taking the gaokao and enrolling in regular universities, until an education reform in 2022 offered vocational school students an alternative university entrance exam.
Why are Hong Kong people eating dinner so much earlier now? (November 7, 2024, South China Morning Post) (Subscription required)
Hongkongers seem to be eating dinner a lot earlier than they used to. It is not just that people are eating out less. Hongkongers’ dining habits seem to have dramatically changed.
China planning to build its own version of SpaceX's Starship (November 9, 2024, Space)
At least one Chinese company is already working to create its own version of SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9, which has launched more than 100 orbital missions this year. And it was revealed this week that China's next-gen heavy lifter, the Long March 9, will look a lot like SpaceX's Starship megarocket, at least in one of its planned configurations.
Xi’an: “They Can’t Extinguish Us” (October 24, 2024, China Partnership)
Recently, I talked with another sister about the future. She told me that she hopes to witness a great revival of the Chinese church in her lifetime. I share the same hope. Both of us sense that this time is drawing near. We want to prepare ourselves, and wait for that moment.
Xi’an: New Perspective on the City (October 28, 2024, China Partnership)
Slowly, I have discovered beautiful aspects of our traditional culture: deep piety, reverence for the Bible, a thirst for truth, genuine care for others, and putting love into action. These are precious qualities of Xi’an!
Display and Declare Christ Together in a Broken World—Not Easy (October 25, 2024, ChinaSource)
From the first evening, Lausanne CEO, Dr. Michael Oh, set the tone for the event in his address by quoting the Lausanne Covenant. He called us to humility, repentance, and a renewed commitment to the unfinished task. His desire was to set a tone of unity, listening, and collaboration. He warned that the most dangerous words in the global church are: “I don’t need you.” His plea to work together to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth deeply moved all who were present.