Elder Li Yingqiang from Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) in Sichuan was taken into custody on 9th December 2018 for “stirring up trouble and “running an illegal business”.

In a message sent via social media on Sunday, Li’s wife Zhang Xinyue said: “Thank you my friends, family, brothers and sisters! Thank you for walking with my family through different means in the past eight months. May God greatly bless you. I love you all!”

Although many previously detained members of ERCC have been released on bail over the past eight months, Pastor Wang Yi, Qin Derfu, and Gou Zhongshan still remain in custody with the authorities.

Pastor Wang’s wife was among those arrested in December for inciting subversion where she remained separated from her son for six months before being released in June.

ERCC has released an emergency statement regarding Pastor Wang Yi’s defence lawyers following concerns that the detained Pastor was being denied access to a fair legal team and being penalised for his Christian beliefs.

The statement said: “We have recently learned, through various channels, that Chengdu authorities intend to disregard the attorneys appointed by Pastor Wang Yi and his family members and to appoint and authorise other attorneys (including Christian attorneys) to defend him against his will.

It went on to say: “We strongly oppose the government’s actively or passively…

The Gaia exhibition opened Monday, with a giant globe installed in the cathedral.

The work is by Luke Jerram, the artist behind Museum of the Moon, which was installed at the Cathedral last year.

The seven metre diameter globe has been created using NASA imagery.

Jerram said: “I hope visitors to Gaia get to see the Earth as if from space; an incredibly beautiful and precious place. An ecosystem we urgently need to look after – our only home.

“Halfway through the Earth’s six mass extinction, we urgently need to wake up, and change our behaviour. We need to quickly make the changes necessary, to prevent run away Climate Change.”

Dean of Peterborough, the Very Rev Chris Dalliston added: “I’d like to invite anyone who comes to see it, to spend time reflecting on the beauty of the Earth and the wonderfully rich, but fragile, planet we inhabit.”

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On Monday, Harry and Meghan posted a quote by the anti-apartheid and human rights activist on Instagram, urging their followers to overwhelm the world with “little bits” of good.

It read: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

Harry and Meghan, who have been vocal on environmental issues, were criticised after reportedly taking four private jet journeys in 11 days.

 

Sir Elton John has condemned the perceived mistreatment of the royals.

He explained he had provided Harry and Meghan and their son Archie with a private flight to “maintain a high level of much-needed protection”.

He wrote on social media that he had made sure the flight was carbon neutral by making the “appropriate contribution” to a carbon footprint fund.

“I am deeply distressed by today’s distorted and malicious account in the press surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s private stay at my home in Nice last week,” he said.

File photo dated 14/7/2019 of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex embrace David Furnish and Elton John at the European Premiere of Disney’s The Lion King at the Odeon Leicester Square, London

 

“After a hectic year continuing their hard work and dedication to charity, David and I wanted the young family to have a private holiday inside the safety…