The world’s most populated country is in the midst of a key general election. “People are afraid that there will be no more elections afterwards”, says an evangelical.

Members of the Russian Evangelical Alliance traveled to Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing to meet leaders of the China Christian Council.

Open Doors publishes a new edition of the World Watch List identifying as many as 78 countries with high levels of hostility against Christianity in the world. North Korea and Nigeria stand out among those with “extreme persecution”.

The United Bible Societies statistics show that the upward trend of last year continued. Most Bibles were distributed in Spanish and English.

Xi Jinping is introducing “more intrusive Party control of the two main components of the country’s nervous system: money and the Internet”, says expert Massimo Introvigne.

There is “extreme persecution” in 10 countries in Africa and the Middle East, says Open Doors. Elsewhere, worrying trends are observed in key geopolitical actors such as India, Saudi Arabia and China.

The agreement on the appointment of bishops will be extended two years. “The price to be paid is immense because the Catholic Church renounces to its independence”.

From 17^th to 21^st October 2022, 600 Christian leaders from across Asia gathered in Bangkok (Thailand) under the theme of “Rethinking Church and Mission: God’s Agenda for Today”.

Most Christian mission projects rely on Western support. As soon as a given nation or a critical part of a given society turns against the West, financial support will dry out or even criminalised.

“Xi Jinping’s plan of compelling all Protestant Christians to join the government-controlled Three-Self Church or face arrest and ‘liquidation’ of their churches as 'illegal' religious groups is being ruthlessly implemented”.

The organisation is flexing its muscles after the Madrid summit and announces the expansion of its borders and greater militarisation. Voices from the Evangelical and Protestant spheres analyse the new scenario.

The Italian Chinese Theological Seminary has been opened in Rome by a group of 55 churches. It will train pastors for Chinese-speaking communities in Italy and the rest of Europe.

The Austrian racer is a committed Christian who has helped refugee families in his country. He is the second alpine skier to win three golds in three Winter Olympic Games.

Big Tech companies in the US and China “spread technologies and hope that any problems that might follow will be easily overcome”, says expert Jonathan Ebsworth. Giants such as Meta have not demonstrated a willingness to seek “the good of society as a whole”.

The Chinese legendary speed skater finds inner strength in the Bible, which she carries everywhere, even to the skating rink. An article by the United Bible Societies China Partnership.

The Winter Olympics begin this week amid complaints about the Chinese regime's “massive abuses” of minorities and the strict surveillance of its citizens.

Afghanistan is new at the top of the Open Doors WWL 2022. Discover the full list.

The Islamic country replaces North Korea at the top of the World Watch List after 20 years. One in seven Christians worldwide suffers persecution, says Open Doors.

The new law states that Chinese Christians need a state permit to publish religious content, which “should not incite subversion or oppose the communist party leadership”.

The announcement of bilateral relations between Afghanistan's new government and Beijing goes beyond economics. “It may threaten global religious freedom”, experts say.

The Chinese government claims that the apps violate laws prohibiting the use of religious texts or materials.

The Early Rain Covenant church was already shuttered 2 years ago. Children under 18 are not allowed at church.

The Chinese government celebrates 100 years of the Communist Party with a great nationalistic display. Hong Kong and the persecution of religious minorities continue to be important human rights issues.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom annual report denounces that “the pandemic fostered misinformation targeting religious minorities”.

The new regulation also states that religious leaders must “support the leadership of the Communist Party” and must not “endanger national security” or be “dominated by foreign forces”.