Global IT outage shows dangers of cashless society, campaigners say (July 20, 2024, The Guardian)
Supermarkets, banks, pubs, cafes, train stations and airports were all hit by the failure of Microsoft systems on Friday, leaving many unable to accept electronic payments. The impact was especially severe for businesses that no longer accept cash.
What other ASEAN members can learn from Vietnam’s renewable boom (July 12, 2024, East Asia Forum)
Southeast Asia's energy transition is critical for global emissions reduction, but progress is behind schedule, with the region needing significant policy changes to meet net zero targets. Vietnam's recent solar and wind expansion, which saw it produce 13 per cent of its electricity from these sources in 2023, can serve as a guide for ASEAN. Vietnam's experience highlights that attractive pricing incentives, no local content requirements, policy certainty and a sound policy narrative are key to invigorating renewable uptake.
Scandalous Shawarma Plot: Enormous Currency Smuggling Operation to Kuwait (July 13, 2024, Arab Times Kuwait)
Authorities at Cairo International Airport intercepted a peculiar smuggling attempt involving over a million pounds concealed within shawarma meals, destined for Kuwait. The incident, which gained attention on social media platforms, unfolded as airport security detained an Egyptian passenger during routine checks before a flight to Kuwait.
Personal income tax in Oman: Will other Gulf countries follow suit? (July 7, 2024, The National News)
The proposed tax targets high-income earners, with citizens taxed on net global income above $1 million and foreign nationals on Oman-sourced income above $100,000.
Brunei and Laos formally join regional payment connectivity initiative (April 5, 2024, Technode Global)
Pioneered by the central banks of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand in late 2022, later joined by Vietnam in August 2023 and now Brunei Darussalam and Lao PDR, the RPC initiative is expected to be extended to other ASEAN countries and beyond. RPC is an initiative that aims to promote, faster, cheaper, more transparent, and more inclusive cross-border payments.
Kuwait's new visa rules: Domestic workers can transfer to private sector (July 10, 2024, Business Standard)
This change aims to streamline labour mobility while adhering to the nation's legal framework. Starting July 14, domestic workers can transfer their visas under specific conditions. The move is likely to benefit Indian workers in the Gulf country.
Prefab paradise? How China-made homes could solve Australia’s housing crisis (July 21, 2024, South China Morning Post)
While tourism, resources and education usually dominate trade between Asia and Australia, a surprising new trade has been flourishing under the radar in recent years – the booming business of prefabricated “prefab” housing and building materials.
We must not mistake China’s success on green energy for a global one (July 21, 2024, Financial Times)
Looking at global renewables growth rates is hugely misleading. There is not one single energy transition but a series of regional transitions of widely varying form, pace and scope. The outsized materiality of one — China’s — means global figures veil more than they reveal. They currently look impressive because, and only because, China’s do.
How China swerved worst of global tech meltdown (July 21, 2024, BBC)
Over recent years, government organisations, businesses and infrastructure operators have increasingly been replacing foreign IT systems with domestic ones. Some analysts like to call this parallel network the "splinternet".
They used to work for China’s biggest companies. Now they’re doing manual labor (July 20, 2024, CNN)
China’s notorious “996” work culture – the practice of working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week that is common among the country’s tech companies, startups and other private businesses – has been a push factor for many employees who call it quits.
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Joann Pittman
Joann Pittman is Vice President of Partnership and China Engagement and editor of ZGBriefs. Prior to joining ChinaSource, Joann spent 28 years working in China, as an English teacher, language student, program director, and cross-cultural trainer for organizations and businesses engaged in China. She has also taught Chinese at the University …View Full Bio
Blessing Asia
In October-2022 more than 500 Christian leaders from across Asia gathered in Thailand for the Asia 2022 Congress, sponsored by the Lausanne Movement and various partnering organizations. I had the opportunity to participate in the Congress virtually and was mightily blessed. From Bible exposition to K-pop worship, and through seminars and workshops, the participants were encouraged by the stories of what God is doing in countries all over Asia. Clearly, God is on the move.
A beautiful vision was portrayed in a video of the popular worship song The Blessing, featuring singers from all over Asia. Here it is:
Many of the sessions have already been posted on their website and to their YouTube channel.
One that I found particularly helpful considering all that is going on in China was a presentation titled Church and State Relationship in Asia Today. You can see the video here.
I encourage you to spend some time on their website; there are fantastic resources for understanding God’s work in Asia today.
Original link: https://www.chinasource.org/resource-library/blog-entries/blessing-asia/
Image credit: Andrea Brucker, via Unsplash
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