Top Expat Nationalities in Bahrain: Who’s Calling It Home? (January 15, 2025, Bahrain Moments)
Bahrain may be small in size, but it boasts a rich cultural landscape that rivals its Gulf neighbors. In 2024, Bahrain’s population reflects a fascinating split between native Bahrainis and a vast community of expatriates who make up more than half of the total residents. With an expat population of 52.6%, the nation is a dynamic blend of cultures, languages, and experiences.
Thailand eases visa rules for professionals, wealthy foreigners (January 15, 2025, Bangkok Post)
The changes include the scrapping of a minimum annual income requirement for those seeking visas in the wealthy global citizens category and a reduction in the minimum revenue requirement of companies allowing employees to work from Thailand.
Young Southeast Asians defy challenges with economic optimism (January 15, 2025, South China Morning Post)
An unexpected wave of optimism is rippling through the university halls of Southeast Asia, as a recent survey reveals that the overwhelming majority of students feel confident about their economic futures, despite deep-rooted concerns about corruption, inequality and territorial disputes.
Turning landlocked challenges into opportunities (November 26, 2024, United Nations Development Program)
Turkmenistan is bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Azerbaijan, and the Caspian Sea. With four neighbouring countries landlocked themselves, and with Iran and Afghanistan facing volatile political dynamics and international sanctions, Turkmenistan’s position presents unique challenges.
How Artificial Intelligence Will Affect Asia’s Economies (January 5, 2025, IMF Blog)
Asia-Pacific’s economies are likely to experience labor market shifts because of artificial intelligence, with advanced economies being affected more. About half of all jobs in the region’s advanced economies are exposed to AI; however, there are also more jobs in the region’s advanced economies that can be complemented by AI. AI may widen inequality, but policymakers can counteract this with more effective social safety nets, reskilling programs, and regulations to promote ethical use of the technology
China’s economic performance: New numbers, same overstatement (January 16, 2025, Atlantic Council)
Spoiler alert: Based on all indications, authorities will report economic growth within one- or two-tenths of 5 percent, exactly as planned more than twelve months ago. That result will be political, underscoring Beijing’s assertion that it has the means to steer the economy to whatever result is desired. But is that the growth rate that objective economists would arrive at?
China-linked hacker group targets victims in East Asia with malicious VPN installers (January 23, 2025, The Record Media)
A previously unknown Chinese state-sponsored hacker group has been targeting users in East Asia in a new espionage campaign. The threat actor, tracked as PlushDaemon, compromised a virtual private network (VPN) installer developed by the South Korean firm IPany to deploy custom malware on the victims' devices.
How China Aligned Itself with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 (January 21, 2025, Carnegie Endowment)
China has aligned its cooperation model with Saudi Arabia’s own priorities, most notably since the kingdom unveiled its Vision 2030. Although China announced the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, the big push in relations happened only after the ascendance of King Salman to the throne in 2015 and Riyadh’s push for Beijing to meet Saudi needs.
TikTok, RedNote and the Crushed Promise of the Chinese Internet (January 20, 2025, The New York Times)
With access to an online population of one billion and an army of hard-working, resourceful engineers, China’s internet platforms are world-class in their design, functionality and user experience. But why aren’t more people outside China using Chinese apps?
China's frugal young adults accelerate saving, raising economic risks (January 20, 2025, Reuters)
The frugal trend that began in China during the economic disruption of the pandemic and deepened amid the crisis in the property market is intensifying as Gen Z shuns government calls to spend, spend, spend and double down on saving.
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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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