Weaker Doksuri drenches north China, Beijing evacuates thousands
Beijing, ChinaReuters Rain soaked northern China on Saturday as Doksuri, one of the strongest storms to hit the country in years, prompted thousands to evacuate in Beijing after pummelling the Philippines and Taiwan, and lashing China’s coast. A broad area encompassing the capital faces medium to high risk of rainstorm disasters over the coming three […]
Beijing sweats in extreme 40 degrees-plus heat for record third day
Beijing, ChinaReuters Beijing topped 40 degrees Celsius on Saturday for a record third day as the Chinese capital sweltered in extreme heat, while uncommonly high temperatures for June grilled an area the size of California in northern China. At 1:51pm, the temperature measured by Beijing’s benchmark weather station in its southern suburbs briefly soared above […]
Death toll from floods in China’s Henan province rises to 302
Beijing, ChinaReuters The death toll from last month’s floods in the central Chinese province of Henan rose to 302 as of Monday, officials said, triple the figure of 99 that was reported last week, with most of the fatalities reported in the provincial capital Zhengzhou. In Zhengzhou, a city of 12 million that lies along […]
From China to Germany, floods expose climate vulnerability
Reuters Deadly floods that have upended life in both China and Germany have sent a stark reminder that climate change is making weather more extreme across the globe. At least 33 people in the central China died on Tuesday, including a dozen trapped in a city subway as waters tore through the regional capital of Zhengzhou after […]
Tens of thousands evacuated as China storms spread northwards
Beijing, ChinaReuters Tens of thousands of people were being evacuated from flood-hit regions of central China on Thursday as officials raised the death toll from heavy rains that have deluged Henan province for almost a week to 33 people. More cities were inundated and crops destroyed as the severe weather spread northwards, with the official […]
Central Chinese province swamped after heaviest rain in 1,000 years
Beijing, ChinaReuters Large swathes of China’s central Henan province were under water on Wednesday, with its capital Zhengzhou hardest-hit after being drenched by what weather watchers said was the heaviest rain in 1,000 years. In Zhengzhou, a city of over 12 million on the banks of the Yellow River, 12 people died in a flooded […]
In China, six churches closed, crosses removed from three others
World Watch Monitor Authorities in China have closed at least six “underground” Protestant churches in Guizhou province in south-west China, reports UK-based CSW. The churches in Guiyang city were closed on 8th October on account of being “illegal religious venues”. Since the introduction of the revised regulations on religion in February, pressure on Chinese churches has […]
Churches in China’s Henan province told to sing national anthem at services
World Watch Monitor Local authorities in China’s central Henan province have stipulated that all churches must have a Chinese flag on display and sing the national anthem at each gathering. In the “Special Emergency Notice” circulated earlier this month, they also asked clergy to collect data on their members, especially on those from poor families, reports Catholic […]
China’s ‘underground’ churches told to seek ‘guidance’ from state-approved bodies
World Watch Monitor A newly implemented directive from the Chinese Government forces Protestant ‘house churches’ and Catholic ‘underground’ communities to seek “guidance” from recognised religious organisations. A notification from the State Administration for Religious Affairs, issued earlier this month, requires organisers of religious activities at temporary sites to also apply for a permit that is […]
Children stopped from entering church as pressure on Christians increases in China’s Henan province
World Watch Monitor Pressure on Christians is increasing in China’s central Henan province, according to Catholic news service UCAN. Suppressive measures on both Catholic and Protestant churches have been directed by the central government in Beijing and have intensified in recent weeks, according to UCAN, which reported that churches had been “demolished and raided, as well […]