What Is ASEAN? (January 15, 2025, Council on Foreign Relations)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organization that brings together disparate neighbors to address economic and security issues, but the group’s impact remains limited.
As Georgia slides into authoritarianism, protesters vow to keep fighting Russian pivot (February 15, 2025, CNN)
Two years ago, two days of protests were enough to force Georgia’s government into an embarrassing U-turn. It had tried to introduce a “foreign agents” bill but backed down after fierce demonstrations sparked by the bill’s first reading. But the protesters’ victory was short-lived. The government revived the bill last year – and this time would not back down. The parliament approved it in May, despite huge opposition on the streets.
An Existential Oval Office Moment for Jordan—and All Arabs (February 14, 2025, Arab Center Washington DC)
More than any other recent event in the Middle East, this meeting’s content, body language, and implications exposed the deeper Arab and Middle Eastern existential realities that are largely ignored by the superficial analyses of the western and Israeli mainstream media and political elites. These existential realities relate to the behavior and condition of Jordan and other Arab states, the Palestinians, Israel, and the United States in the region.
Hundreds of foreigners freed from Myanmar's scam centres (February 13, 2025, BBC)
More than 250 people from 20 nationalities who had been working in telecom fraud centres in Myanmar's Karen State have been released by an ethnic armed group and brought to Thailand.
Jordan’s interests are above all considerations (February 15, 2025, Jordan News)
In an exceptional national scene, thousands of Jordanians gathered to welcome King Abdullah II upon his return from an official visit from Washington, in a picture that reflects the extent of cohesion between the leadership and the people. This large public reception was not just an emotional expression, but rather carried deep political and national messages at the domestic and international levels.
Tunisia’s revolution 14 years on: ‘The emperor has no clothes’ (January 15, 2025, Al Jazeera)
Fourteen years after Tunisia’s revolution, democracy is still missing in Tunisia and in the wider Arab world. But so are all the emperors’ clothes, and the Arab peoples have taken note. The revolutions’ legacies live on.
After years of conflict, Timor-Leste turns peacemaker (February 8, 2025, United Nations)
During the turbulent early years of Timor-Leste’s independence, the UN was a constant presence, helping to maintain peace and stability. Twenty-four years on, the country has made the successful transition from a host nation for UN peacekeeping operations, to one that contributes to supporting missions elsewhere.
DeepSeek: how China’s embrace of open-source AI caused a geopolitical earthquake (February 12, 2025, The Conversation)
This story is not just about technological prowess – it could mark an important shift in global power. Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has framed DeepSeek’s emergence as a “shot across America’s bow”, urging US policymakers and tech executives to take immediate action.
MSC: Can China replace the US as world leader? (February 16, 2025, Deutsche Welle)
As Donald Trump removes the United States from international forums, China is expected to move into the gap. But is China capable of replacing the US? And does it even want to?
Virus disinformation drives anti-China sentiment, lockdown fears across Asia (February 15, 2025, Hong Kong Free Press)
A deluge of disinformation about a flu-like virus called HMPV is stoking anti-China sentiment across Asia and spurring unfounded concerns of renewed lockdowns, despite experts dismissing comparisons with the Covid-19 pandemic five years ago.
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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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