Iftar ban for public servants in Indonesia sparks backlash (March 24, 2023, Jakarta Post, via Asia News Network)
A presidential ban on iftar gatherings for civil servants during the holy month of Ramadan, on the pretext of preventing the spread of COVID-19 nearly three months after all pandemic curbs were lifted, has sparked backlash from several Islamist political parties.
Earthquake Destroyed Around 665 Houses in Several Provinces of Afghanistan: OCHA (March 23, 2023, Khaama Press)
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that the earthquake damaged and destroyed around 665 houses across Badakhshan, Bamyan, Panjshir, Parwan, Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, Samangan, and Takhar Provinces.
Japan to Give 30,000-Yen Aid to Low-Income Households (March 22, 2023, The Japan News)
The government decided on Wednesday to provide low-income households with ¥30,000 in aid as part of additional measures to combat surging prices. At a meeting of its task force to fight the persistent inflation and secure wage growth, the government also decided to distribute ¥50,000 per child to low-income child-rearing households.
Scarred for life: the Himalayan towns sinking into oblivion (March 20, 2023, The Guardian)
The construction of vast dams and a network of roads and railways have taken a heavy toll on the state of Uttarakhand, with buildings in Joshimath and other settlements collapsing and residents blaming government indifference.
Bangladeshi Fishers and Farmers at the Frontline of Climate Change (March 16, 2023, The Diplomat)
In the face of climate change and fossil fuel projects, Bangladeshi fishers and farmers worry that their livelihoods are at great risk.
Vietnam arrests Facebook user for attempt to 'overthrow the state' (March 17, 2023, Channel News Asia)
Phan Thi Thanh Nha, 39, was accused of posting and sharing 25 articles and videos since 2018 seeking to "distort and defame leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the state", the police-run Ministry of Public Security said in a statement.
Bringing Borneo's unique 'boat lutes' in tune with 21st century (March 17, 2023, Nikkei)
Carved from a single piece of wood, "boat lutes" are plucked string instruments with hollowed bodies that look something like the dugout canoes used on Borneo's waterways by indigenous inhabitants.
China’s ChatGPT Rival Needs to Watch Its Words (March 21, 2023, Wired)
“Baidu is going to face a tension between making a useful chatbot and making one that conforms to Chinese speech controls,” says Matt Sheehan, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who studies China’s AI industry. “I'm skeptical they'll be able to create a general-purpose chatbot that users can’t trick into spitting out speech that's unacceptable in China.”
Hangzhou Plans Easing ‘Hukou’ Restrictions to Attract Talent (March 15, 2023, Sixth Tone)
Those working in the city of 12 million people will be eligible to apply for the household registration permit, known as the hukou, in the downtown area if they hold a college degree and are under the age of 35, according to a draft regulation released by the local public security bureau Monday.
‘It Is Especially Scary to See Students’ (March 13, 2023, China File)
As in many other aspects of public life in China under Xi Jinping, the space for independent inquiry and discussion within the academy has shrunk significantly in recent years. The Xi administration has released a slew of guidelines and communiques cementing the Party’s control over the classroom
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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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