After Shanghai lockdown, many struggle to pick up the pieces - CNA

SHANGHAI: As many Shanghai residents rushed onto the streets this week to reunite with friends and pop champagne to celebrate the end of a two month-long lockdown, Li Menghua was busy packing up his hair salon, a casualty of the draconian quest to stamp out COVID-19.

Li, 24, set up his salon three years ago after leaving home in Henan province to seek his fortune in China's largest and most prosperous city.

"Our business was really good, always busy with customers. But because of the pandemic, a lot of shopfronts have to close," he said.

"Not many people can survive more than two months without a salary," he said.

While China has declared victory over the virus in Shanghai, residents are grappling with the trauma of their experience - from lost incomes, the loss of freedom, the death of friends and relatives, and even hunger.

Many struggled to buy food or medicine. Hundreds of thousands were sent to crowded quarantine centres, sometimes dragged away by police against their will. Many people died after being unable to access essential medical care.

Mothers were separated from their children in the early days until a public outcry moved authorities to revise the policy. Others woke to find their front doors barricaded in by fences.

A pet dog was beaten to death after its owner tested positive.

Many emerging from lockdown described a sense of apprehension and worry for the future, disillusionment, and anger towards authorities.

"I feel that people’s trust in the government has plummeted, with many unbelievable things happening," said Reddick Chen.

"Too much has been lost and now we worry it will come again."

LINES CROSSED

Many residents expressed disbelief that their lives were upended so quickly.

One, who requested anonymity, described how her 89-year-old grandfather had taken his own life after three weeks of isolation and inability to attend his normal medical check-ups left him in pain and despair.

He lived just 25 minutes away from the family.

Hu Changgen, a migrant working as a security guard, said he had worried so much about food during lockdown that at one point he hoped to get COVID-19 so that he could be sent to a quarantine centre and get three meals a day.

A woman described how she had received multiple threatening calls from government agencies after posting online about her experience during lockdown.

Censors scrambled to suppress the flood of complaints and criticisms voiced online during lockdown.

"Before COVID-19 hit, we lived fine, we have high salaries ... it has been a shock," she said. "This time, every bottom line has been crossed."

She plans to leave China for good.

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2022-06-02 13:05:29Z
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Commentary: Zero-COVID lockdowns throw China's political preparations into turmoil - CNA

Li Qiang is, or perhaps was, in a strong position for promotion to the Politburo Standing Committee. He is of the right age, at 63 well below the retirement cut-off – and a strong ally to Xi Jinping, having worked closely when Xi was party secretary of Zhejiang province in the early 2000s. 

He took over as the top party official in Shanghai when his predecessor was moved up to the Standing Committee in 2017. But now there is less certainty about Li Qiang’s promotion if the lockdown makes him appear to be more of a liability than an asset to Xi.

Similarly, Shanghai’s mayor, Gong Zheng, who was expected to assume Li Qiang’s position thereafter, is also now in doubt. 

Even if Shanghai may not be enough to deter Xi from elevating Li Qiang to the highest echelon of Chinese politics, the timing could not be worse for Xi.

UNCERTAINTY AROUND CHINA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH 

But Shanghai is only one sign of China’s larger zero-COVID woes. More than 208 million people in 26 cities are estimated to be under some form of lockdown or COVID-19 restrictions as of May 23, accounting for 20.5 per cent of China’s economic output.

A strict lockdown in Shanghai alone was earlier estimated to reduce China’s real GDP by 4 per cent, according to a Chinese University of Hong Kong study.

The city recently reported that April saw the biggest monthly decline in industrial output since 2011. Not a single car was sold in Shanghai in April, according to the Shanghai Automobile Sales Association. In 2021, the same month saw 26,311 vehicles sold.

Economic data suggests harder times ahead for China. Although the economy will likely rebound as zero-COVID restrictions are eased, millions of workers, including new graduates, may struggle to find work. 

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2022-05-31 22:08:00Z
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PM Lee welcomes Canada's application to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement - CNA

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday (May 31) welcomed Canada’s application to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) during a phone call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Canada’s application to join DEPA would further strengthen digital cooperation and connectivity between the economies, said a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). 

The DEPA is the first Digital Economy Agreement concluded by Singapore. It was signed by Singapore, Chile and New Zealand in June 2020.

According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the DEPA establishes new approaches and collaborations in digital trade issues, promotes interoperability between different regimes and addresses new issues brought about by digitalisation.

During the telephone call, the prime ministers reaffirmed the excellent bilateral relationship between both countries, which spans areas from the economy, infrastructure and smart cities to cybersecurity.

Both leaders discussed Canada’s growing engagement of the Asia-Pacific region as well as international and regional developments, including the situation in Ukraine. 

They also reaffirmed the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, including the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, the spokesperson added.  

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2022-05-31 03:21:00Z
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Malaysia Airlines will operate its first flight powered by used cooking oil to Singapore this Sunday - SoyaCincau.com

Malaysia Airlines has announced that it will be operating its first passenger flight service using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in conjunction with World Environment Day. Their first commercial flight with sustainable fuel will be a return flight using a Boeing 737-800 between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore scheduled for this coming Sunday, 5th June.

According to the flag carrier, these flights reaffirm the airline’s commitment to a Sustainable Tomorrow and mark significant progress toward achieving a clear, more viable fuel source for regular flights by 2025. Malaysia Airlines is inviting guests to travel on the SAF-powered flights on 5th June 2022 as listed below:

• MH603 Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore (SIN) – Departing 12:25, Arriving 13:30
• MH606 Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Departing 14:40, Arriving 15:40

Passengers can enjoy 15% off for these SAF-powered flights by entering the promo code SAF2022. Guests are encouraged to book as soon as possible which seats are still available.

At the time of writing, the cheapest fare for MH603 on 5th June is RM881 (Economy Lite), while the return flight (MH606), is priced from RM517 (Economy Lite). When we tried to book, the return flight is not available as a return flight option.

Interestingly, we are able to find a one-way ticket for MH606 from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur which is priced from SGD 263.30 (about RM841.11).

In December last year, Malaysia Airlines operated its inaugural flight with SAF on an Airbus A330-200 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. The flight was filled with 77 tonnes (77,300kg) of fuel with a 38% blend mixture of SAF, which consists of 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste. The fuel is sourced from Neste, the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel and SAF.

Schiphol airport, 16th of December 2021, Neste Malaysian Airlines Petronas, first SAF flight. Photocredit: Martijn Gijsbertsen.

Neste MY’s SAF in its neat form is said to be able to cut down greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil jet fuel use. It is also said to be free of sulphur, oxygen and aromatics. On top of that, it also has outstanding cold-weather performance with a freeze point of -47°C or lower. The SAF is said to be fully compatible with existing jet engines and infrastructure with no additional investments or modifications required.

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2022-05-30 11:44:33Z
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China's Reopening Plans Spark Rally in Consumer Stocks, Yuan - Bloomberg

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1. China's Reopening Plans Spark Rally in Consumer Stocks, Yuan  Bloomberg
2. Asia stocks rise as China eases Covid-19 curbs  The Straits Times
3. Shanghai Lifts Lockdown, Eurozone CPI, EU Summit - What's Moving Markets By Investing.com  Investing.com
4. European Stocks Climb as Easing China Curbs Boost Risk Sentiment  Bloomberg
5. View Full coverage on Google News

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2022-05-30 08:36:00Z
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FSG have the perfect transfer target to fix Liverpool's big problem in Champions League defeat - Liverpool.com

Liverpool did not bring an onslaught to Paris, but Jürgen Klopp's side did deliver heavy artillery to Thibaut Courtois' Real Madrid goal on Saturday night.

Unfortunately, for Liverpool, Madrid's defences did not budge and the Reds' barrage was futile, for the most part effortlessly stifled.

Had it been the first time this season, one could overlook it as the result of an extensive period wearing out on the club's attacking super stars. But this kind of inefficiency was not an anomaly. Rather, it has been a trend throughout the campaign.

In three finals now, Liverpool have failed to find the back of the net from open play and they have continued to struggle against low-block defences like Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid — who sit back and form a sturdy wall in front of Klopp's men.

READ MORE: Liverpool can solve Sadio Mané problem and grant Steven Gerrard transfer wish in four ways

READ MORE: Jürgen Klopp delivers on promise as conclusive Liverpool triumph over Man City cannot be erased

This is an area that FSG simply have to address in the summer. Liverpool may not only need an efficient attacker who can be clinical in front of goal but also a creative midfielder who can make an impact in the final third. Liverpool have lacked that type of midfielder since the departure of Philippe Coutinho, and it's the one position where Premier League rivals Manchester City possess absolute superiority — with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Bernado Silva and İlkay Gündoğan all capable of chipping in with goals from midfield.

Fábio Carvalho, who will join the club in the summer, could be a long-term solution. But Liverpool need ready-made quality too and they may have the perfect player in the market.

Christopher Nkunku has enjoyed a spectacular campaign this season. He has scored 35 goals and registered 20 assists in 51 games for RB Leipzig and he is exactly the type of player who could fix Liverpool's woes. Not only is he a clinical finisher in front of goal, he is capable of playing as a midfielder and has the ability to create chances as well as scoring them.

Last season, Nkunku ranked in the 99th percentile for goals and assists in the Bundesliga among his positional peers, as per FBref. He also ranked in the 90th percentile for key passes and the 92nd percentile for shot-creating actions.

He will not be cheap, with Leipzig hoping for around £85m for his services, but Liverpool's good relationship with the German outfit could reduce that price with some nifty negotiations. If Sadio Mané decides to move to pastures new, Liverpool should have more than enough in the budget to make a move. The ball is now in Julian Ward's court and it's up to him to make the most of it.

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2022-05-30 02:00:00Z
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Liverpool can solve Sadio Mané problem and grant Steven Gerrard transfer wish in four ways - Liverpool.com

Less than 24 hours after Liverpool's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, the Reds' heart shattered into smithereens for the second time.

With news breaking about Sadio Mané's purported departure from Anfield, the club's supporters have been forced to say goodbye to a player who has been a fan favourite for over half a decade on the terraces of the Kop.

Never recognised as much as Mohamed Salah, Mané was almost always just as reliable. He had endured a dip in form during the 2021 calendar year, but he bounced back strong in 2022, and was the club's best performer at times in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign.

Liverpool may have replaced him on the left wing with the arrival of Luis Díaz in January, but that does not mean that Mané's departure will not significantly weaken the squad. Mané will leave a major void, one that has to be addressed this summer if FSG are serious about maintaining Liverpool's race with their arch rivals.

READ MORE: Jürgen Klopp delivers on promise as conclusive Liverpool triumph over Man City cannot be erased

READ MORE: Three best photos from Liverpool parade sum up unique club as Diogo Jota gets what he deserves

However, since Díaz's departure solves Liverpool's left wing issue, the money recouped on Mané could be invested in another area of the squad.

In the Champions League final, Liverpool struggled to breakdown a resilient low-block Real Madrid defence. Speaking in the aftermath of the game, Steven Gerrard highlighted to BT Sport the one area he would like Liverpool to reinforce this summer.

"For Liverpool, if you think about the next five, six, seven years, they’re going to need a midfielder, an eight, who can get goals, who can get double figures. They are heavily reliant on the front three — or the front five if you include Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino.

“You always need one of those midfielders that’s going to get in the box and get you goals.”

Gerrard is right. That type of midfielder is the one area where the club's rivals, Manchester City, have hegemony over Liverpool. If there are extra funds to invest into the squad on the back of Mané's departure then FSG should do their utmost to bring in that kind of midfielder — the kind, in short, epitomised by Gerrard himself.

In the club's quest to do so, FSG's first destination should be RB Leipzig, where the perfect candidate could be Christopher Nkunku. The French international is not only capable of playing in midfield but he is also comfortable playing in any of the front three roles at Liverpool, which makes him an enticing target.

Nkunku's teammate, Dominik Szoboszlai, could be another excellent option. The Hungarian international has previously spoken highly of the club and Jürgen Klopp. He is a midfielder who could be tailor-made for a role in Liverpool's front three and has previously been likened to Kevin de Bruyne due to his ability to score and create from midfield.

Staying in the Bundesliga, another option may be Florian Wirtz. A hard-working midfielder, Wirtz is capable of creating and scoring chances and is of the same ilk as Philippe Coutinho with his diminutive stature and explosive playing style. The only downside to Wirtz is that he hasn't played football since March and is not expected to return to action until mid-September, having suffered an ACL injury. On the plus side, he may cost less for Liverpool this summer considering there will be fewer suitors for him while he is on the side line.

Lastly, Nicolò Barella could be another intriguing candidate, with the midfielder not only capable of scoring goals but also adept at creating opportunities. He hasn't enjoyed his best personal season, but he has still contributed directly to 17 goals with Inter Milan — far exceeding any Liverpool midfielder this season.

The best Mané 'replacement' might well be someone more in the Gerrard role. Liverpool certainly have options.

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2022-05-30 00:00:00Z
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