Beijing Tightens COVID-19 Restrictions Amid Drop in Manufacturing Activity
To control rising COVID-19 cases in Beijing, Chinese authorities banned indoor dining (SCMP) and announced new rounds of mass testing, among other measures. Many other regional governments throughout China have imposed restrictions (WSJ) after detecting a few COVID-19 cases. Business closures across the country in April contributed to a government index of manufacturing activity dropping to its lowest level since February 2020.
Beijing’s new curbs come amid signs that Shanghai’s outbreak is starting to ease after weeks of harsh lockdowns. Shanghai authorities said yesterday that restrictions in six districts could be loosened (Bloomberg) due to reduced community spread.
Analysis
“[Chinese officials] are facing a dilemma here,” CFR’s Yanzhong Huang tells the New York Times. “Any decision you make [about a potential lockdown in Beijing] has more profound political implications compared with other cities.”
“Public-health officials have been told to regard Shanghai’s struggles as a warning against looser controls and that the leadership, at least for now, plans to continue the current approach until at least the Communist Party Congress in the fall,” the Wall Street Journal’s Sha Hua writes.
White House Plans to Step Up Ties With Pacific Island Countries
The Joe Biden administration plans to invite Pacific Island leaders (Reuters) to the White House later this year and increase funding for projects in the region, security advisor Kurt Campbell said.
South and Central Asia
Modi Starts Europe Tour in Berlin
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz today, kicking off a Europe trip (Hindustan Times) that will include visits to Denmark and France.
Afghanistan: Unidentified suspects bombed power transmission towers outside the capital, Kabul, cutting off electricity (AFP) to millions of people in eleven provinces. A full restoration of power is expected in two weeks.
Middle East and North Africa
Israel Demands Apology Over Russian Foreign Minister’s Comments
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid demanded an apology (Haaretz) after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the unsubstantiated claim that German dictatorAdolf Hitler had “Jewish blood” and likened the leader to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
UN Chief Calls for Debt Relief to African Countries
During a visit to Dakar, Senegal, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for debt relief (Reuters) and increased investment for African countries to help them recover from the economic shocks of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
Some One Hundred Civilians Evacuated From Mariupol Steel Plant
Hundreds of civilians remained trapped (RFE/RL) in bunkers beneath the plant as Russian forces resumed shelling the city after the evacuees left yesterday, Ukrainian officials said.
CFR provides comprehensive coverage of the war in Ukraine.
France: The country’s green party and the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party formed an alliance (Le Monde, AFP) ahead of June legislative elections.
Americas
Harris Meets Virtually With Leaders of Fifteen Caribbean Nations
During the meeting, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pledged to expand assistance (White House) to the region to combat arms trafficking and improve security.
Ecuador: President Guillermo Lasso declared states of emergency (AFP) in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Manabi, and Guayas due to increased violence stemming from drug trafficking.
United States
Pelosi Visits Kyiv
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Kyiv and pledged to back Ukraine (NYT) “until victory is won.”
