In China, a fresh wave of protests against heavy COVID-19 curbs spread to more cities, including the financial hub Shanghai today after an apartment block fire killed 10 people on Thursday.
Many internet users surmised that residents could not escape in time because the apartment was partially locked down.
However, Chinese media denied the allegation. According to a video, circulated on social media, showed crowds in Shanghai shouting slogan against the Government urging lifting the lockdown. China is battling a surge in infections that has prompted lockdowns and other restrictions in cities across the country.
Infections have hit new highs in China in recent times in spite of the tough zero-Covid policy.
China defends President Xi Jinping’s signature zero-COVID policy as life-saving and necessary to prevent overwhelming the healthcare system. Officials have vowed to continue with it despite the growing public pushback and its mounting toll on the world’s second-biggest economy.
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