China
Activists urge Tesla to close new Xinjiang showroom
By Associated Press — January 4, 2022
BEIJING (AP) — American activists are appealing to Tesla Inc. to close a new showroom in China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang, where officials are accused of abuses against mostly Muslim ethnic minorities. Tesla on Friday announced the opening of its showroom in Urumqi, the Xinjiang capital, and said on its Chinese social media account, “Let’s […]
Biden administration slaps sanctions on China over Uyghur Muslim persecution
By Yonat Shimron — December 16, 2021
(RNS) — The new sanctions will bar Chinese companies from trading or exchanging biotechnology or surveillance products with the United States.
What Americans can learn from other cultures about the language of gratitude
By Jeremy David Engels and Elaine Hsieh — November 18, 2021
(The Conversation) — Cultures around the world say ‘thank yous’ in many different ways. Two communication scholars explain what these expressions can reveal to us.
Five tech innovations used as weapons against people of faith
By David Curry — November 12, 2021
(RNS) — We are witnessing the rampant criminalization of faith, enabled by the smartphones in our pockets.
Dalai Lama says China’s leaders ‘don’t understand’ diversity
By Associated Press — November 10, 2021
On Wednesday, the 86-year-old Buddhist monk said he wished to remain home in India rather than get involved in the “complicated politics" between China, run by the officially atheist Communist Party, and strongly Buddhist Taiwan.
US Holocaust Museum says China boosting Uyghur repression
By Matthew Lee — November 9, 2021
The museum says it has compiled evidence of increasing government repression against Uyghur Muslims in China’s western Xinjiang region, something China has repeatedly declined.
Rashad Hussain faces Senate committee on historic nomination
By Joseph Hammond — October 26, 2021
(RNS) — The former Obama administration official’s confirmation would make him the first Muslim to hold the position.
NBA’s Enes Kanter targets China, Nike over Uyghur genocide
By Joseph Hammond — October 26, 2021
(RNS) — Kanter, one of the most visible Muslims in the NBA, donned a pair of custom shoes Monday with the slogans ‘modern day slaves’ and ‘no more excuses’ emblazoned on them.
China crackdown on Apple store hits holy book apps, Audible
By Matt O'brien — October 15, 2021
Amazon’s audiobook service Audible and phone apps for reading the holy books of Islam and Christianity have disappeared from the Apple store in mainland China, the latest examples of the impact of the country’s tightened rules for internet firms. Audible said Friday that it removed its app from the Apple store in mainland China last […]
In remote Himalayan India, Buddhist monks and Indigenous tribe fight government hydropower projects
By Priyadarshini Sen — October 14, 2021
(RNS) — The Buddhist monks have united with the nomadic Monpa to protest projects that could destroy the monasteries, hot springs and temples that dot the snow-capped Himalayan region.
Dubai’s Expo opens, bringing first world’s fair to Mideast
By Isabel Debre and Aya Batrawy — October 1, 2021
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — After eight years of planning and billions of dollars in spending, the Middle East’s first world’s fair opened Friday in Dubai, with hopes that the months-long extravaganza will draw both visitors and global attention to this desert-turned-dreamscape. The coronavirus pandemic pushed Expo 2020 back a year and may affect […]
Muslim groups boycott Hilton over bulldozed Xinjiang mosque
By Joseph Hammond — September 23, 2021
(RNS) — ‘They decided to put profit over values, they decided to put their own bottom line over human rights and values,’ said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
China is quietly using Afghanistan to strengthen its authoritarian agenda
By David Curry — September 14, 2021
(Open Doors) — We are being given a rare glimpse of the immeasurable human cost incurred when authoritarianism is allowed to spread unimpeded.
Pope Francis names new bishop in Wuhan
By Claire Giangravé — September 8, 2021
(RNS) — Francesco Cui Qingqi was ordained under a 2018 provisional agreement between the Vatican and China that allows Rome and Beijing to have a role in selecting the country’s bishops.
New book ‘God’s Diplomats’ unveils the secret history of Vatican diplomacy
By Claire Giangravé — August 30, 2021
(RNS) — A new book on the history of the Vatican's international relations shows how Pope Francis is only following in his predecessors' footsteps in standing up to the United States.
