How the Middle East and Central Asia Can Better Address Climate Challenges (November 30, 2023, IMFBlog)
The Middle East and Central Asia face a sobering climate reality. Temperatures have risen twice as fast as the global average, and rainfall has become scarcer and less predictable. Fragile states are disproportionally affected and conflicts may worsen. The toll this is taking on people and economies is poised to worsen.
'Climate doesn't wait': At COP28, Singapore wants to get more nations back on track with reducing emissions (November 30, 2023, Channel News Asia)
Singapore is hoping to get more countries back on track on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference. Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu is leading the Singapore delegation at the two-week COP28 summit, which takes place in Dubai from Thursday (Nov 30).
Armenia, Azerbaijan hold border talks amidst stalled peace efforts (November 30, FirstPost)
Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed discussions over their shared border on Thursday, according to Armenian officials. The normalisation talks between the two nations had hit a roadblock after Baku reclaimed the Nagorno-Karabakh region from Armenian separatists.
Blankets, medical supplies, water filters: RSAF aircraft loaded with Gaza aid arrives in Egypt (November 30, 2023, Channel News Asia)
A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft carrying life-saving supplies for civilians in Gaza arrived in Egypt on Thursday (Nov 30). The humanitarian package comprised medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, blankets, sanitation items, water filters and food from the Ministry of Health, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the Singapore Red Cross, Mercy Relief and Relief Singapore.
Taiwan reports more Chinese military activity as election nears (November 30, 2023, Reuters)
Taiwan again reported Chinese warplanes and warships around the island on Thursday (Nov 30), including aircraft crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing keeps up its military activities ahead of Taiwan's January election.
As Philippines’ Drug War Rolls On, Christians Continue Their Work (November 17, 2023, Christianity Today) (subscription required)
As Philippines’ Drug War Rolls On, Christians Continue Their Work (November 17, 2023, Christianity Today) (subscription required) “Let’s educate the younger ones,” Marcos said in a Taglish interview. “And those who are already involved [or already addicted], we should treat them. … We’re trying to formulate … the best way for the rehabilitation.” It’s a starkly different approach from his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who outraged Filipinos and the international community with his brutal war on drugs, giving police blanket authority to kill anyone found using or dealing drugs.
Iran’s Warning to Christians (November 10, 2023, Missions Box)
The upsurge in violence in the Middle East has led to claims that Iran has been active behind the scenes in supporting the Hamas group that attacked Israel. A new report also accuses Iran of putting pressure on Christians to keep away from the country’s hijab protests. It warns that Christians who are arrested could face sexual assault in prison, as Andrew Boyd of Release International reports.
The Philippines: A Smoothie Business Spreads Hope, Happiness, and Jesus (November 2, 2023, Missions Catalyst)
In September 2012, Mango Magic was born with the idea to bring fresh mango smoothies to Tacloban, Philippines. In 2013, the successful business that had begun flourishing was wiped out by typhoon Yolanda. But, through hard work and dedication, the [owners] started their business from the ground up again. Today, it is a successful business with thriving franchises throughout the Philippines.
India's Modi says new challenges emerging from situation in western Asia (November 16, 2023, Reuters)
New challenges are emerging from the situation in western Asia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a speech at the Global South Summit on Friday.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia: The Next Decade (November 16, 2023, The Diplomat)
The BRI shows few signs of ebbing anytime soon in Southeast Asia, and, more generally, China’s economic presence continues to be a central variable in the region’s future growth prospects.
Why businesses are pulling billions in profits from China (November 14, 2023, BBC)
Foreign businesses have been pulling money out of China at a faster rate than they have been putting it in, official data shows. The country's slowing economy, low interest rates and a geopolitical tussle with the US have sparked doubt about its economic potential.
On China’s Streets, Young Vendors Toil for Money, Friendship, and Freedom (November 15, 2023, Sixth Tone)
In China, relaxing restrictions on night markets and street vendors is encouraging more young people to venture into street vending. While some are trying to turn the traditionally low-status job into a lucrative venture, others are doing it as a hobby or a lifestyle choice.
Chinese graduates hold off career dreams, take temporary government jobs (November 13, 2023, Reuters)
Having failed to find his dream job at a Chinese internet company upon graduation, Peter Liu settled for a role in a state library where there is so little need for his participation that he spends his time studying for a change in his career path. "It's really hard to get work at big companies," said the 24-year-old who majored in TV production at a Beijing university before moving back home in the central Henan province.
What China's Xi gained from his Biden meeting (November 17, 2023, Reuters)
When Chinese President Xi Jinping met executives for dinner on Wednesday night in San Francisco, he was greeted with not one, but three standing ovations from the U.S. business community. It was one of several public relations wins for the Chinese leader on his first trip in six years to the United States, where he and President Joe Biden reached agreements covering fentanyl, military communications and artificial intelligence on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Meet the Translators of the Chinese Bible (November 8, 2023, ChinaSource Blog)
Each had unique translation philosophies, diction preferences, and intended audiences in mind, frameworks that informed how they approached their all-consuming work.
Taking Chinese Spirituality Seriously (November 6, 2023, ChinaSource Blog)
Christians need to acknowledge a fact. We might disagree on whether Confucianism is a religion or not. But Confucianism, together with Daoism and Buddhism, are spiritual traditions that have provided “chicken soup” for Chinese souls for more than two thousand years.
God Continues to Speak Tibetan (November 3, 2023, ChinaSource Blog)
This Bible is the New Tibetan Bible (NTB), a work of God that started over 25 years ago. God has mobilized many to shoulder this amazing work to translate his Word into the modern literary Tibetan language.
Is China Drifting Toward a ‘Singles Society’? (November 8, 2023, Sixth Tone)
In much of East Asia, the belief that everyone should get married, preferably at a young age, has deep cultural roots. According to those same norms, singledom is often associated with a lonely, empty, even selfish existence. Even today, the region’s young singles are frequently stereotyped as overly individualistic and unwilling to shoulder the responsibilities of family life.
A Chinese Jew’s Journey to Israel (November 2, 2023, The World of Chinese)
From Kaifeng to Jerusalem—a Chinese Jew tells her story of leaving for the Middle East and reflecting on her dual identity.
Sacrificial Love in Action (November 1, 2023, Chinese Church Voices)
The abrupt policy change left people no time to stock up on medicine or prepare for illness. Though a few members had medicine on hand, it was only enough for one or two people. Yet overnight, more than half of the church was infected and medicine was scarce. In response, our church quickly formed an online medicine scheduling committee.