Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 301

Group-Buying’ Becomes a Lifeline for Hungry Shanghai Residents

In the hours before her building went into lockdown on April 1, Ye Qiwei did the same thing as millions of others in Shanghai: She placed a huge grocery order via a delivery app. The 33-year-old spent nearly 500 yuan ($80) on fruit, vegetables, and meat — far more than she’d need, she assumed, as the government said the lockdown would only last for four days. She was wrong. Over a week later, her

After Shanghai, Other Cities Brace for Potential Omicron Surge

As a highly transmissible Omicron sub-variant of the coronavirus rapidly spreads in Shanghai, other cities and provinces across China are potentially bracing for surges. The BA.2 sub-variant cluster has caused a record number of cases in the country’s financial hub, with Shanghai recording over 100,000 cases in the past week alone. The same variant also resulted in a spike of infections in the

Shanghai's chaotic Covid lockdown puts other Chinese cities on edge

As Shanghai's Covid-19 lockdown leaves residents struggling to access food or medical care, citizens elsewhere in China fear similar stringent measures are heading their way -- even as officials seek to assure the public they are well prepared. In the southern port city of Guangzhou, where all 18 million residents faced mandatory testing after a handful of infections were found last week,

Russia's Removal From U.N. Council Is 'Like Adding Fuel to the Fire': China

China's Foreign Ministry likened Russia's suspension from the United NationsHuman Rights Council to "adding fuel to the fire." "It is like adding fuel to the fire, which is not conducive to the de-escalation of conflicts, and even less so to advancing the peace talks," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said during a regular press conference on Friday.The comments by Zhao come just

Woman Shares 'Horrific' Day of Shanghai's COVID Lockdown in Viral Clip

A video has gone viral on TikTok as a woman continues to document her experience living through Shanghai's current COVID lockdown as the city battles the highly contagious Omicron variant. TikToker @its__rochelle, whose first name is Rochelle, lives in Shanghai, China, and at the end of March began posting about the lockdown that went into effect on March 28—the first since the start of the

Shanghai Residents Scream From Windows, Get Drone Lockdown Warning: Videos

In viral videos on social media residents in Shanghai, China, can be heard screaming from their apartments, while a drone can be seen issuing warnings about COVID-19 restrictions as the country sticks to its strict zero-COVID policy amid an increase of infections. A video circulating on Twitter shows high-rise buildings in Shanghai at night, with people heard yelling from their windows."Shanghai

U.S., India Leaders Discuss Russia's War, China Tensions, South Asia Unrest

The heads of the United States and India have held a virtual meeting to discuss global developments, including Russia's war against neighboring Ukraine, a border dispute with China and political upheaval in Pakistan. U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke via video link on Monday, with Biden accompanied by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd

US orders some consulate staff to leave Shanghai as China Covid outbreak worsens

The US state department on Monday ordered non-emergency US government workers to leave the consulate in Shanghai due to a surge in Covid cases and China’s measures to control the virus. On Friday, the state department announced that non-emergency personnel could voluntarily leave the consulate. It is not clear why the departure of those workers has become mandatory.“Our change in posture reflects

Could The World's Next Nuclear Power Be U.S. Ally South Korea?

The United States has long sought to oppose efforts to expand the exclusive club of nuclear-armed nations, a small clique most recently joined 16 years year ago by North Korea. But as current members expand hone new capabilities and unrest plagues the international community, one or even two of Washington's own allies may seek to build a bomb of their own.For decades, South Korea and Japan have

Why Shanghai has done a U-turn on its ‘relaxed’ Covid approach

Some 25 million people in Shanghai are in the second week of a strict lockdown, after a surge in Omicron cases. It's the first time Shanghai has imposed such strict restrictions - until last month, it had taken a more relaxed approach than other Chinese cities. People in the city are confined to their homes, and most have to order in food and water and wait for government drop-offs of vegetables,