After Saudi Arabia, Iran may be patching up with its oldest Arab foe (June 15, 2023, CNN)
Media reports have touted a potential détente between the two countries after Oman’s Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq visited both last month in what was seen as an attempt to broker a reconciliation. Khamenei’s recent comments come as Saudi Arabia normalizes ties with Iran after nearly eight years of a diplomatic freeze. Iran reopened its embassy and consulate in Saudi Arabia last week.
Want to move to Japan? Government mulls over introducing digital nomad visa (May 29, 2023, Straits Times)
Eyeing the increasing number of countries in Europe and elsewhere that have launched digital nomad visas, the government hopes to boost consumption among foreign visitors to Japan by creating a convenient environment in which high-skilled workers can stay in the country. Digital nomads usually engage in work that can be performed anywhere on digital devices, such as software development and website design.
Pakistan's Imran Khan calls for immediate talks amidst stand-off (May 26, 2023, Reuters)
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday appealed for immediate talks with state officials, as pressure increased on him amidst a crackdown on his top aides and supporters that has seen thousands arrested as well as many leaving his party. Khan has been embroiled in a tussle with the military since he was removed from power last year in a parliamentary vote that he says was orchestrated by the country's top generals. The military denies this.
‘Bangkok Spring’ sets up showdown over role of Thai monarchy (May 16, 2023, Straits Times)
An upstart Thai political party delivered a shocking blow to a royalist establishment that has suppressed democracy over the past two decades. Now the question is whether it can implement real change without a fight.
Commentary: Pakistan faces another lost decade as the army takes on Khan (May 13, 2023, Channel News Asia)
With the army encroaching on every facet of Pakistan’s public sphere, it is no doubt that Pakistanis - who have endured a decade of chaos - want a populist ruler, says Mihir Sharma for Bloomberg Opinion.
Imran Khan: Pakistan's Supreme Court rules arrest was illegal (May 11, 2023, BBC)
Pakistan's Supreme Court has ruled that former prime minister Imran Khan's dramatic arrest on corruption charges this week was illegal. The court ordered Mr Khan's immediate release. His lawyers had argued that his detention from court premises in Islamabad on Tuesday was unlawful. At least 10 people have been killed and 2,000 arrested as violent protests have swept the country since he was held. Tuesday's arrest escalated growing tensions between him and the military.
Vietnam seeks safer maritime security partnerships (May 5, 2023, East Asia Forum)
Given Beijing’s ongoing efforts to assert greater control in the SCS, states like Vietnam and the Philippines are seeking greater support from external partners to help resist China’s grey zone activities. In March 2023, the Philippines joined a three-way security framework with Japan and the United States to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
US aircraft carrier arrives in Vietnam (June 25, 2023, Channel News Asia)
A US aircraft carrier arrived in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on Sunday (Jun 25), AFP journalists saw, weeks after Hanoi protested against Chinese vessels sailing in its waters. The USS Ronald Reagan's port call in Danang comes as the US and Vietnam celebrate the 10th anniversary of their "comprehensive partnership".
China’s Xi unveils grand development plan with Central Asia states (May 18, 2023, Euractiv)
China stands ready to synergise development strategies with the five Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and make joint efforts to promote the modernisation of all six countries, said Xi in an address at the China-Central Asia Summit in northwest China.
China’s ‘Xivilizing’ Mission (May 4, 2023, China Media Project)
Beijing says it has created “a new form of human civilization” for other countries to emulate, built around Xi Jinping’s theories. But what exactly is China talking about when it talks about civilization, and what will it mean for the world to be Xivilized?
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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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