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Joshua Spencer @joshuajspencer.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Earlier this year I visited a remarkable seminary in Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country. It produces more Catholic priests than almost anywhere else in the world. www.economist.com/interactive/...

economist.com

The Muslim country churning out Catholic priests

As Europe struggles to fill its seminaries, a small island in Indonesia has become one of the world’s leading exporters of missionaries

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Reposted by Joshua Spencer

The Economist @economist.com · 03/09/2026

Dozens of counties have banned kids from social media, or are considering doing so. Register for free to learn why policies in Australia and Malaysia have proved largely ineffective so far

bit.ly

Social-media curbs for kids are not working in Asia

They are widely ignored, flouted and sidestepped

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Joshua Spencer @joshuajspencer.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

AI is performing tasks that religions have carried out for millennia: shaping people’s outlook on life and helping them find meaning. Yet most models have a secular bias. My story this week looks at how religious groups are trying to shape AI and how people use it: www.economist.com/internationa...

economist.com

AI is changing religion and religions are trying to change AI

Will chatbots supplant the advice of imams and priests or help them spread the word?

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Joshua Spencer @joshuajspencer.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Some predicted that customer-service jobs in the Philippines would be quickly crushed by AI. Yet, as I found during a recent trip to call centres and offices in Manila, this sort of offshoring work is holding up better than expected. My piece explains why: www.economist.com/asia/2026/08...

economist.com

The Philippines’ big offshoring industry is growing despite AI

How long will that last?

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Reposted by Joshua Spencer

The Economist @economist.com · 05/05/2026

In the Gulf, and around the world, sailors are increasingly caught up in conflicts in which they play no part and for which they are unprepared. We explain why econ.st/4cRRX4b Photo: Reuters

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Joshua Spencer @joshuajspencer.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

As AI companions become ubiquitous and useful in making choices for their human overlords, what will become of human agency? My piece in this week's @economist.com looks at a booming new industry www.economist.com/internationa...

economist.com

A new industry of AI companions is emerging

It may have profound implications for society and what it means to be human

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Joshua Spencer @joshuajspencer.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Fifty years ago, tens of thousands fled Vietnam as the war ended. In the years since many have returned. Now their children are coming back, too. For this week’s issue of @economist.com I wrote about how these returnees are shaping Vietnam’s development economist.com/asia/2025/05...

economist.com

Vietnam’s diaspora is shaping the country their parents fled

As well as sending remittances, many are returning to their homeland

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Reposted by Joshua Spencer

Aaron Connelly @connellyal.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Finally, one of my favorite articles in the package is this look by @joshuajspencer.bsky.social at how Vietnam's diaspora returnees are shaping the country's future.

economist.com

Vietnam’s diaspora is shaping the country their parents fled

As well as sending remittances, many are returning to their homeland

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Joshua Spencer @joshuajspencer.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

The Dutertes came out on top in the Philippines’ midterms—a proxy battle between powerful political dynasties. I reported on their bitter feud with the Marcos's for today’s episode of The Intelligence

economist.com

Trump meets Syria’s leader and lifts sanctions

Also on the daily podcast: fraught Philippine elections and meet the V-Tubers

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Reposted by Joshua Spencer

The Economist @economist.com · 18/11/2024

👋 Hello, Bluesky! go.bsky.app/VP5EvGW

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