BEIJING, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Some communities in Chinese cities where COVID-19 is still spreading are easing off on testing requirements and quarantine rules ahead of an expected shift in virus policies nationwide after widespread social unrest. The uneven relaxation of COVID restrictions is, however, fueling fear among some residents who suddenly feel more exposed … Read more
First device sent to prime minister’s office on Nov. 24 Five similar letter bombs received on Wednesday and Thursday Ukraine embassy official slightly injured by one device, another found at US embassy Defense ministry, arms manufacturer, air base also targeted Spain’s Defense Minister says no attacks will stop Spain from helping Ukraine MADRID, Dec 1 … Read more
BEIJING/SHANGHAI, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Chinese newspapers turned their front pages black on Thursday and flags were put at half mast in mourning for the death of former president Jiang Zemin, while well-wishers ugly piles of bouquets outside his childhood home. Jiang died in his home city of Shanghai just after noon on Wednesday of … Read more
BEIJING, Dec 1 (Reuters) – China is softening its tone on the severity of COVID-19 and easing some coronavirus restrictions even as its daily case toll hovers near record highs, after anger over the world’s toughest curbs fueled protests across the country. Several cities in the world’s second-largest economy, while still reporting new infections, are … Read more
WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Hakeem Jeffries was unanimously elected on Wednesday to become the Democratic Party’s top leader in the US House of Representatives beginning in January, making him the first Black American to hold such a high-ranking position in Congress. The vote by Jeffries’ fellow Democrats also marked the rise of a younger … Read more
SHANGHAI/BEIJING, Nov 30 (Reuters) – People in the Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou clashed with white hazmat-suited riot police on Tuesday night, videos on social media showed, as frustration with stringent COVID-19 rules boiled over, three years into the pandemic. The clashes in the southern city marked an escalation from protests in the commercial hub … Read more
BEIJING, Nov 29 (Reuters) – Chinese authorities have begun inquiries into some of the people who gathered at weekend protests against COVID-19 curbs, three people who were at the Beijing demonstrations told Reuters, as police remained out in numbers on the city’s streets . In one case, a caller identifying as a police officer in … Read more
Filing follows weeks after FTX collapse FTX listed as BlockFi’s No.2 creditor Bitcoin down over 70% from 2021 peak Nov 28 (Reuters) – Major cryptocurrency lender BlockFi has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection along with eight affiliates, it said on Monday, the latest crypto casualty to follow the spectacular collapse of the FTX exchange … Read more
Shanghai, Beijing police make presence visible on streets No sign of new protests in Beijing, Shanghai on Monday Backlash is a setback for efforts to stamp out virus News of the protests roils global markets SHANGHAI/BEIJING, Nov 28 (Reuters) – Police on Monday patrolled the scenes of weekend protests in Shanghai and Beijing after crowds … Read more
SYDNEY, Nov 28 (Reuters) – Stocks and commodities prices slid sharply on Monday as rare protests in major Chinese cities against the country’s strict zero-COVID curbs raised investors’ concerns about the growth implications for the world’s second-largest economy. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was down 1.5% having slumped 2.2% at the … Read more