VIDEO: Inspiring Testimony of an Iranian Christian Woman | Naghmeh Panahi (February 24, 2024, Back to Jerusalem)
Naghmeh was born and raised in the Middle East until she was nine years old when her family moved to the United States. In 2001 Naghmeh returned to Iran as a young adult and lived there for many years experiencing the oppression and violence women are subjected to everyday in the Middle East. In 2012, her husband Saeed Abedini was arrested while visiting Iran.
Türkiye incursion targets PKK, spares Iraqi Christians (July 17, 2024, Mission Network News)
Türkiye’s latest incursion in northern Iraq “neutralized” at least 11 members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party or PKK. The incursion is part of a more comprehensive operation aimed at removing PKK forces from strategic locations by November 2024.
As Georgia presses on with ‘Russia-style’ laws, its citizens describe a country on the brink (July 21, 2024, The Associated Press)
The “foreign influence” law requires media, civil society groups and nonprofit organizations to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. It also subjects them to intense state scrutiny and imposes steep fines for noncompliance.
Why Tunisia Lost Faith in Democracy (July 18, 2024, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
Today, Tunisia is on the verge of an economic meltdown. Yet many Tunisians no longer support the political framework of a democracy. They have lost faith that a democratic system is preferable, much less needed, for achieving economic prosperity.
All eyes on poll date in Sri Lanka amid concern over Bill (July 19, 2024, The Hindu)
While constitutional experts noted the gazette had no implication on the coming presidential election, government critics and lawyers question the timing of the gazette.
Border Dispute No More: Are Bishkek and Dushanbe Ready to Make Peace? (June 24, 2024, The Times of Central Asia)
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have long been restless neighbors from Tashkent and Astana’s point of view. In many respects, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan forced the current rapprochement of the Central Asian republics, as expressed on the outer perimeter in the C5+1 format, where the region strives to put forward a consolidated position. After all, investment does not come to problematic areas.
Nguyen Phu Trong, who led Vietnam’s outreach and crackdowns, dies at 80 (July 19, 2024, The Washington Post)
On the world stage, Mr. Trong was seen as an artful practitioner of Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy” — called so for bending in different directions — as the country navigated ties with its most important economic partners, China and the United States, while also building bonds with nations such as India and Russia.
Tribal leaders in Iraq call for action to “stop Turkey’s crimes against humanity (July 18, 2024, ANF News)
Turkey's systematic attacks on people and nature in the Kurdistan Region continue. Villages and cities are being evacuated, burnt down and people's safety of lives is being jeopardised. The local population is forced to leave their homes and the region is being turned into a military zone.
Scandalous Shawarma Plot: Enormous Currency Smuggling Operation to Kuwait (July 13, 2024, Arab Times Kuwait)
Authorities at Cairo International Airport intercepted a peculiar smuggling attempt involving over a million pounds concealed within shawarma meals, destined for Kuwait. The incident, which gained attention on social media platforms, unfolded as airport security detained an Egyptian passenger during routine checks before a flight to Kuwait.
Personal income tax in Oman: Will other Gulf countries follow suit? (July 7, 2024, The National News)
The proposed tax targets high-income earners, with citizens taxed on net global income above $1 million and foreign nationals on Oman-sourced income above $100,000.
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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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