Infertility: The unseen battle of Bangladeshi women (April 7, 2025, Asia News Network - The Daily Star)
In Bangladesh, where motherhood is deeply woven into a woman’s identity, infertility is more than just a medical condition — it is a deeply entrenched social stigma.
How villagers in Kyrgyzstan are dealing with modern impact of smartphones (May 6, 2025, John O’groat Journal and Caithness Courier)
The town has the air of a place that time has deposited somewhere between the shores of tradition and modernity. There is a scattering of new Chinese factories in the outer suburbs, a hopeful tourism complex at the edge of the lake and some older buildings that hint at a more prosperous past when the country was part of the Soviet Union.
Strongest solar flare of 2025 erupts from sun, sparking radio blackouts across Europe, Asia and the Middle East (May 14, 2025, Space)
X2.7-class eruption from sunspot AR4087 disrupts radio signals as the active region rotates toward Earth, raising the risk of more flares ahead.
Afghan female students and the silent crisis in Kyrgyzstan (April 18, 2025, University World News)
As the world watches Afghanistan slip further into a humanitarian and educational abyss – particularly with the systematic erasure of women’s rights and freedoms – a silent struggle unfolds beyond its borders. In Kyrgyzstan, a group of resilient Afghan women, displaced by conflict, political collapse and gendered oppression, are holding onto their futures through education.
Central Asian Countries Suffer Massive Brain Drain, Putting Their Futures at Risk (April 22, 2025, The Jamestown Foundation)
The five Central Asian countries have suffered a new brain drain since gaining independence in 1991, with a large share of their advanced students and best scholars moving to the West rather than to Russia, as had been the case in Soviet times.
‘Everyone is breathing this’: how just trying to stay warm is killing thousands a year in the world’s coldest capital (April 8, 2025, The Guardian)
In Ulaanbaatar, coal fires heat almost every home. But as extreme weather drives families off the Mongolian steppes into the city the air is becoming more deadly.
Chinese embassy in Bangladesh urges citizens to reject the idea of ‘buying a foreign wife’ (May 26, 2025, Global Times)
The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh issued a reminder late Sunday that Chinese citizens should strictly follow the law concerning foreign-related marriage, avoid illegal matchmaking agents, and not be misled by cross-border dating content on short video platforms. They should reject the idea of “buying a foreign wife” and think twice before marrying in Bangladesh.
Scroll Locked: Why Rural Teens in China Struggle to Disconnect (May 14, 2025, Sixth Tone)
China’s rural students are increasingly at risk of mobile phone addiction and depression, according to a recent survey by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Researchers cite the absence of parental support and limited access to mental health services as key contributing factors.
HK, Macao extend olive branch as pending ban on Harvard intl students sends academic community reeling (May 25, 2025, Global Times)
Authorities and some universities in China's Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions have extended an olive branch after students and scholars to Harvard University were sent reeling by the US administration's attempt to ban the renowned institution from enrolling international students.
Covid cases rise in Singapore, Hong Kong as new wave spreads in Asia. Should you be worried? (May 16, 2025, First Post)
Covid cases are rising again in parts of Southeast Asia, with Hong Kong and Singapore reporting a sudden spike. China and Thailand are also seeing an increase in infections. The surge is reportedly part of a fresh wave spreading across several regions in Asia.
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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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