Morocco says it has broken up 'Islamic State' cell (February 25, 2025, Deutsche Welle)
The north African country's counterterrorism unit said it had foiled attacks planned by a 12-member terror cell in the Sahel region. Authorities described their plans as an "imminent dangerous terrorist plot."
Turkmenistan: Shortage of conscripts hampers military modernization (February 28, 2025, Eurasia Net)
A growing shortage of conscripts is threatening to disrupt the Turkmen government’s efforts to modernize the country’s armed forces. Turkmen officials are considering raising the maximum draft age to 30 in order to fill the ranks.
Mob attacks 50 Christians gathered for church service in India (February 21, 2025, The Baptist Paper)
“In recent years, Christians have been increasingly subjected to assaults, humiliation and the loss of their livelihoods and belongings by far-right religious nationalists who make clearly baseless accusations of forceful conversion. Meanwhile, those who carry out these attacks enjoy complete impunity…”
Indian Christians Stopped an Anticonversion Law. Until Now. (February 17, 2025, Christianity Today)
Believers in Arunachal Pradesh who faced persecution in the 1970s fear a new wave of repression is coming. Christian leaders who lived through persecution are watching as the state once again turns its gaze toward them. “We have faced persecution before, and we stood firm. This time will be no different.”
What is 'Taiwan independence' and is Taiwan already independent? (February 17, 2025, Reuters)
The U.S. State Department's Taiwan page last week removed a previous reference to not supporting Taiwan's independence. Here are some questions and answers about what is meant by the term "Taiwan independence."
Another electoral reform for Kyrgyzstan (February 21, 2025, PIME Onlus - Asia News)
In view of the 2026 elections, the only Central Asian country without a ruling dynasty is discussing a new change to the voting system. Each voter would be given the opportunity to choose three candidates in their constituency to ‘vote for people and not for parties’.
Another electoral reform for Kyrgyzstan (February 21, 2025, PIME Onlus - Asia News)
In view of the 2026 elections, the only Central Asian country without a ruling dynasty is discussing a new change to the voting system. Each voter would be given the opportunity to choose three candidates in their constituency to ‘vote for people and not for parties’.
Hong Kong’s Democratic Party plans to disband amid ‘political environment’ (February 21, 2025, Radio Free Asia)
The move is widely seen as the symbolic end of any formal political opposition in Hong Kong, where critics of the authorities can face prosecution under security legislation brought in to quell dissent in the wake of the 2019 protests.
China's military drills spark concern in 3 countries (February 28, 2025, Voice of America News)
China has demarcated a military exercise zone in waters about 40 nautical miles off the Kaohsiung and Pingtung County for its "shooting drills," Taiwan's defense ministry said on Wednesday, a move that Taiwan condemns as China gave no notice and has constituted a blatant violation of international norms.
China sees an opportunity as the U.S. cuts aid to groups around the world (February 20, 2025, NPR)
Many of the groups seeing their funding being cut operate in places like Southeast Asia and on the African continent, where the U.S. is actively vying with China for economic and political influence — and there is evidence that China is moving in to fill parts of the vacuum the U.S. leaves behind.
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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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