The Dark Side of Gifting Gold This Christmas (November 29, 2024, Time)
Gifting gold at Christmas has been a thing since the very first. And there are few better places to buy it than Dubai’s Gold Souk, which is reputed to be the largest and cheapest gold market in the world. Bargain-hunters have flocked here since before the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was even a country.
Stopover now a mini-vacay? Istanbul, Doha offering free stay, cultural tour (November 27, 2024, Business Standard)
Imagine this: You’re on your way to a dream vacation, your flight has a long layover, and instead of waiting at an airport lounge, you’re stepping out into a world of new experiences. No longer just a place to rest between flights, layovers are becoming mini vacations in their own right.
What lies beneath steady global economic growth? (November 17, 2024, The Peninsula Qatar)
At the beginning of the year, significant headwinds outlined a bleak global growth outlook for 2024. But the global economy has once again demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of significant headwinds. Although the 3.2% growth expected for this year is below the 3.6% average during 2000-2023, it is still comfortably above the threshold of 2.5% below which the global economy is considered to be in a recession.
Delivering a Package in a Country With 17,000 Islands (October 31, 2024, The New York Times)
Indonesians spent over $53 billion online in 2023, almost as much as everyone else in Southeast Asia combined. As in many places, ordering for delivery became part of everyday life in Indonesia during the Covid-19 pandemic. The growing popularity of e-commerce on social media apps like TikTok allowed Indonesian businesses to reach customers far away.
CaliphateTok: How Islamic State (IS) Leverages Social Media in Indonesia and the Power of Counter-Narratives (November 28, 2024, Global Network on Extremism and Technology)
This Insight explores how IS targets young users through symbols, narratives, and visual propaganda tailored to popular culture and digital trends. The narratives constructed by IS, especially on TikTok, often seek to glorify jihad, promote violence, and attack the government. This Insight shows how such narratives are exploited to motivate, recruit and mobilise young sympathisers.
Sudan civil war: Nowhere else on Earth are so many children on the run (November 27, 2024, BBC)
Famine has already been declared in one area - many others subsist on the brink of starvation not knowing where their next meal will come from."It’s an invisible crisis…Twenty-five million Sudanese, more than half the country, need help now."
Türkiye ranks as world's 2nd angriest country: Gallup 2024 survey (November 27, 2024, Daily Sabah)
The annual survey, which measures the emotional well-being of populations worldwide, found that 48% of the country’s population reported feeling angry, making it the top-ranked country in Europe for anger.
The Hidden Trade-Offs of Japan’s Crime-Free Society (November 26, 2024, RStreet)
Before stepping foot on a plane to Japan, Americans are sternly warned: Don’t even think about packing that weed pen. Japan’s zero-tolerance drug laws make no exceptions, and possession of even trace amounts of cannabis can get you arrested, deported, and banned for life. This hardline stance reflects a sharp cultural and legal divergence with Western nations, where cannabis legalization is spreading rapidly.
On a Himalayan odyssey in Nepal (November 24, 2024, Deccan Herald)
The vibrant streets of Kathmandu, the spiritual depths of Janakpur, and the breathtaking beauty of Pokhara and Muktinath encapsulate the rich culture, stunning landscapes, and profound spirituality that make Nepal a truly enchanting destination.
In War-Torn Sudan, God Is Bringing Healing and Hope (November 26, 2024, Send Relief)
In the last decade, the number of displaced people around the world has nearly doubled, resulting in a global refugee crisis. Of all the countries involved in this crisis, Sudan currently tops the list as the country with the most displaced people. In April 2023, civil war erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces. The effect on the Sudanese people has been catastrophic.
China’s aging population fuels ‘silver economy’ boom, but profits can prove elusive (November 29, 2024, Associated Press)
Many older Chinese are looking beyond traditional nursing homes, afraid of abandonment by their families and quality issues. That’s driving a boom in universities, home care services, and communities catering to older adults. Though some providers struggle to turn a profit, they persist because they see promise in the growing market.
China’s Local Governments Hold Back Wages in Desperate Scrape for Cash (November 29, 2024, Wall Street Journal) (Subscription required)
In Shanwei, a city on China’s southeastern coast, dozens of medical staff took over the hall of a public hospital last month to demand wages and bonuses that hadn’t been paid. Wearing white coats and scrubs, some held up pieces of paper that read, “We need to eat.” A few weeks earlier, retired city employees of Yichun in northeastern China gathered to protest months of missing pension payouts.
HK-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge becomes 'golden channel' for trade, connectivity (October 23, 2024, Global Times)
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge marked its sixth anniversary of operation on Wednesday, with the total import and export value of goods moving through the Zhuhai port of the bridge having reached 942.7 billion yuan ($132.2 billion), according to customs data.
Hong Kong's unique spirit: A 'Never Normal' love letter to the city (November 29, 2024, Campaign Asia)
Hong Kong—a city where those in the know already accept that it's a little bit bonkers. Frenetic, edgy, chaotic, intoxicating, vertical, crowded and intensely hot—it's definitely got its quirks and character, but that's all part of its enduring appeal. Normal is boring, and if there's one thing Hong Kong definitely isn't, it's boring.
China’s hottest new tourist attraction is 5,000 feet in the air (November 25, 2024, KOAM News Now)
China has 3.7 million square miles of land to explore. But more and more young Chinese travelers are opting to see their country from the sky. The newest of these not-for-the-faint-of-heart structures is called Tianti (“Sky Ladder” in Chinese). It clocks in at 551 feet long (168 meters) and stretches between two cliffs at a height of 5,000 feet.
China’s gaming industry comes of age (November 16, 2024, East Asia Forum)
Game Science's Black Myth: Wukong represents a pivotal moment in China's gaming industry evolution, marking the country's shift from game consumer to global developer. The game's success extends beyond sales, boosting PC component demand and cultural tourism while garnering international acclaim. But it also highlights complex issues including state-endorsed soft power initiatives, cultural nationalism and persistent gender inequality in gaming. This breakthrough title signals China's growing influence in global gaming while raising questions about cultural representation and soft power.
Guangzhou: “A Time for Testimony” (November 14, 2024, China Partnership)
We are so grateful for how much we have been transformed, especially since 2018. God’s grace is often seen through trials. His grace has strengthened our faith, expanded our ministry, and given us a deeper commitment to our vision and the truth. God’s grace does not always come through smooth sailing, but through what we see as hardship. We do not view ourselves as victims of persecution – but as beneficiaries.
Guangzhou: Challenges and Struggles (November 18, 2024, China Partnership)
I don’t complain. This is what God has given. If this is what God has given China, then the Chinese church must accept it. God is here, he must be doing his work here. It’s useless to complain. We trust his sovereignty.
Why Church Planting Among Unreached People Groups in China? (November 15, 2024, ChinaSource)
Most unreached people groups are unreached because they don’t have sufficient access to the gospel. When healthy churches are planted in and among unreached people groups, they begin to display the gospel. Yes, they can also read the Scriptures, but the local church is the display of the gospel and the body of Christ in the lives of the unreached.
Engaging Chinese Students in the UK (November 18, 2024, ChinaSource)
Every September, there’s a new wave of young Chinese students crossing the ocean to study in the UK, forming a unique bridge between two cultures and opening a window to God’s work in China. Despite the pandemic and other challenges of recent years, the number of Chinese students applying to the UK has risen by 55% over the last five years (2019–2023).