The fastest-growing countries for software development, according to GitHub (February 5, 2024, Rest of World)
Year over year, the data shows Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Pakistan had the fastest-growing developer population.
With Starlink and Satellite Launches, Mongolia’s Digital Transformation Reaches a Milestone (March 6, 2024, The Diplomat)
Mongolia’s digital transformation is inevitable. Currently, only 23.8 percent of Mongolian territory – less then a quarter – is covered by telecommunications services, including access to high-speed internet. Another 40 percent of the territory is sparsely populated by nomadic people with no access to the internet.
North Korean women are now the breadwinners – and shifting this deeply patriarchal society towards a matriarchy (Mach 7, 2024, The Conversation)
With this shift, it became a whole new lexicon that was derogatory around men, because the economic power had shifted. Women are the breadwinners in a very tight economic times, and men were another mouth to feed.
Update: how is the war in Ukraine affecting global food prices? (February 3, 2024, Economics Observatory)
It is projected that almost 600 million people will be chronically undernourished in 2030 if the war is sustained, with Africa – home to some of the world’s poorest and most hungry populations – hit the hardest. This is around 23 million more people than if the war in Ukraine had not happened.
Reaching the unreached: outreach vaccination for children in Viet Nam’s remote areas (January 18, 2024, World Health Organization)
Dak Nong, a mountainous province located in the Central Highlands region, is home to more than 40 different ethnic minority groups. Living in separate villages and hamlets, many far from district and commune health stations, bringing children in for routine immunizations is not always possible for parents and caregivers.
At least 33 killed in Afghanistan as heavy rains set off flash floods (April 14, 2024, Al Jazeera)
Twenty of the nation’s 34 provinces were lashed by the heavy rains, which followed an unusually dry winter season that has parched terrain and forced farmers to delay planting.
9 incredible things to do in Macau that are absolutely free (April 20, 2024, Lifestyle Asia)
Budget travellers often skip Macau, thinking it’s nothing more than a city filled with luxurious casino hotels. While it’s certainly a paradise for big spenders, don’t let that fool you. This city is bustling with historical and cultural gems that don’t cost a fortune. In fact, your wallet will remain intact if you just know where to look.
Beyond the Blackboard: A teacher’s pledge to protect and inspire the next generation (January 31, 2024, UNICEF)
The key to addressing child marriage and adolescent pregnancy lay in creating awareness and providing access to information and services in schools and communities, especially in high risk and hard-to-reach areas.
United Arab Emirates struggles to recover after heaviest recorded rainfall ever hits desert nation (April 19, 2024, The Associated Press)
The UAE, a hereditarily ruled, autocratic nation on the Arabian Peninsula, typically sees little rainfall in its arid desert climate. However, a massive storm forecasters had been warning about for days blew through the country’s seven sheikhdoms.
Plight of Central Asian diaspora drives IMB alumnus to press on (March 21, 2024, International Mission Board)
Before former International Mission Board worker Allison moved back to the United States, she’d already developed a deep love for and passion to reach the Central Asian diaspora. Working with Central Asian refugees and asylum seekers in Europe opened her eyes to the felt needs of the people, as well as their spiritual condition. Her friend Aziza’s story often comes to mind.
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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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