How Women in Central Asia Celebrate International Women’s Day (March 7, 2025, The Times of Central Asia)
March 8, International Women’s Day, holds a special place in Central Asia. Over the years, the holiday has evolved from its Soviet-era roots into a modern celebration that blends tradition with contemporary interpretations.
‘Versions of Hell’: Squid Game and S Korea’s historical homeless centres (March 1, 2025, Al Jazeera)
South Korea’s wildly popular Netflix show has brought renewed focus on the country’s history of brutality towards the poor and homeless. Hundreds and possibly thousands died amid the forced labour, violence and sexual abuse that prevailed in the group homes and detention centres that were established across South Korea during the country’s decades of heavy-handed rule from the 1960s through to the 1980s.
EXPLAINED: Thailand’s repatriation of 40 Uyghur refugees to China (February 28, 2025, Benar News)
Thailand’s decision to deport 40 Uyghurs back to China after languishing in a Bangkok detention center for over a decade raises concerns about their fate – and questions about what they were doing there in the first place.
They lost their families in a plane crash - then came the online hate (March 1, 2025, BBC)
Bereaved families in South Korea have found themselves the targets of online abuse. Speaking to the BBC, experts described a culture where economic struggles, financial envy and social issues such as toxic competitiveness are fuelling hate speech.
Vietnam drags feet over ‘urgent’ pollution problem (March 1, 2025, The Straits Times)
In the last three months the Vietnamese capital has regularly topped a list of the world’s most polluted major cities, leaving its nine million residents struggling to breathe and even to see through a thick blanket of smog.
The silent killer: over 100 daily deaths of children under five linked to air pollution in East Asia and the Pacific (February 6, 2025, UNICEF)
Air pollution, which peaks in many parts of the region during the dry season from now until April, is linked to over 100 deaths in children under five every day, robbing them of their chance to live, learn, and thrive.
'Give Us Our Wives Back!' Turkish Husbands Appeal To Turkmenistan (January 22, 2025, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty)
Gas-rich Turkmenistan appears embarrassed by the mass exodus of its citizens to Turkey, a trend that has highlighted a lack of opportunities in a badly mismanaged economy while contributing to what officials have privately admitted is a rapidly falling in-country population.
Why Hong Kong's Gen Z is ditching full-time work (March 9, 2025, Channel News Asia)
Young Hongkongers are checking out stable but “monotonous” jobs in favour of part-time and freelance work that aligns with their interests. The programme Insight examines this generational shift in work culture.
Mainland Chinese escaping stress set up home in Malaysia via MM2H scheme (February 23, 2025, The Straits Times)
Mainland Chinese MM2H applicants have been steadily increasing over the years, accounting for the largest number from any country since 2013. Introduced in 2002, MM2H, which allows foreigners to reside in Malaysia on a long-term basis, was initially aimed at attracting well-off retirees. It was temporarily suspended in August 2020 and again in 2023 to review the scheme’s residency requirements.
An ‘escape’ from the world: As Hong Kong bans ‘space oil’ drug, social workers urge care for teen mental health (February 23, 2025, Hong Kong Free Press)
Smoked through an e-cigarette, “space oil” has gained popularity among Hong Kong youth as it is cheap, convenient and delivers an instant high. HKFP talked with some people who were addicted to the illegal substance and social workers helping youth kick the habit.
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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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