News

“Very draconian” – human rights concerns over Shanghai lockdown

Published

4 years ago

April 27, 2022

As Shanghai deals with a “draconian lockdown” with Beijing looking like its next in line, Human Rights Watch representative says people are suffering more from the lockdown than they are from Covid

China’s biggest city and financial hub, Shanghai enters its fifth week of strict lockdown as authorities try to cut Covid transmission and get the cases to zero across the country.

Citizens are restricted to their homes, only allowed to leave homes to get tested. This has put the city in food shortages with people relying on the city to be fed.

The country has also been evacuating cities and relocating residents to quarantine facilities.

This comes as the country has begun mass testing of Beijing with many residents already stocking up on supplies, preparing for a Shanghai style lockdown.

Human Rights Watch representative, Yaqiu Wang agrees that China’s Covid policy has gone too far and is now instilling fear in the population.

“If you look at Shanghai, given this tariff – very draconian lockdown – a lot of people have died, not from Covid but from not being able to access medical care for their non Covid related illnesses,” Wang says.

“People couldn’t go to hospital to have their kidney dialysis because they can’t leave their compound.”

Is the Chinese Government too stubborn to change its #covid strategy?

@Yaqiu Senior China researcher for @hrw explains #Lockdowns #China #Shanghai #Beijing pic.twitter.com/pCciM7tJAb
— TICKER NEWS (@tickerNEWSco) April 27, 2022

She says people are suffering “tremendously” because of the lockdown.

In recent updates, authorities have begun putting up fences outside residential buildings.

This has sparked outrage with many questioning the well being of Shanghai residents but Wang says that we’re still not seeing the full picture.

“Let’s talk about the people who don’t have a huge following on social media, who don’t use social media, who don’t even have a cell phone- we have no idea about their stories,” she says.

Shanghai has recorded 190 deaths from Covid in the current outbreak. However, most of them were elderly un-vaccinated residents.

In a country that’s made PCR and quarantining mandatory, why is vaccination for the elderly not mandatory?

Wang says that China’s Covid zero policy was so successful that President Xi Jinping made it a political move to show that his governance model was better than the democratic chaotic US where Covid was “raging”.

“When it becomes a political issue it’s very hard to walk back,” she says

While US’s suffering triggered an urgency to get vaccinated, Wang says people in China were living a normal life with zero cases.

“In China, when the vaccination campaign started there was no Covid so older people didn’t have the incentive to get vaccinated.”

Rijul Baath contributed to this report

News

OpenAI prepares first consumer device amid revenue boom

OpenAI plans to launch a screenless smart speaker by late 2026, shifting focus to hardware amid significant revenue growth.

Published

6 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Harvey Vargas

OpenAI plans to launch a screenless smart speaker by late 2026, shifting focus to hardware amid significant revenue growth.

OpenAI is gearing up to launch its first-ever consumer hardware device in late 2026. The product is expected to be a screenless smart speaker, signalling the tech giant’s move beyond software and into the world of physical devices.

The device comes after OpenAI acquired a promising hardware startup to accelerate development.

The company is also pushing a strategy to strengthen domestic manufacturing, working closely with U.S. manufacturers to secure efficient production of essential components.

Despite the progress, technical hurdles remain, especially around the device’s listening capabilities, which could delay the rollout.

This development comes on the heels of OpenAI reporting an annualised revenue of over $20 billion in 2025, representing a staggering 233% increase from the previous year. The combination of massive revenue growth and expansion into hardware marks a new era for the AI pioneer.

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#OpenAI #SmartSpeaker #AIHardware #TechNews #Innovation #Manufacturing #AIRevenue #FutureTech

News

Putin invited to Trump’s Gaza Peace Board

Putin invited to U.S.-led ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza amid ceasefire efforts and reconstruction debates.

Published

6 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Putin invited to U.S.-led ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza amid ceasefire efforts and reconstruction debates.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly received an invitation to join the U.S.-led ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, according to the Kremlin. The council, created by President Donald Trump, is designed to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas while overseeing the region’s reconstruction.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow will review the details of the invitation before responding. The board has already extended invitations to several world leaders, with some nations confirming their participation.

The proposal has sparked debate because the Trump administration reportedly requires participating nations to pay $1 billion to secure a permanent seat. Putin’s potential involvement also raises concerns, given his ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

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#GazaPeace #Putin #Trump #MiddleEast #InternationalRelations #WorldLeaders #Ceasefire #GlobalPolitics

News

Trump escalates Greenland standoff as Europe weighs retaliation

Denmark boosts Greenland troops as Trump pushes U.S. control, prompting European leaders to seek diplomatic solutions amidst rising tensions.

Published

6 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Denmark boosts Greenland troops as Trump pushes U.S. control, prompting European leaders to seek diplomatic solutions amidst rising tensions.

Denmark has deployed additional troops to Greenland after President Donald Trump renewed his push for U.S. control of the island, linking the issue to what he claims cost him a Nobel Peace Prize.

The move has raised alarm across Europe, with leaders scrambling to prevent a fresh transatlantic crisis.

Trump has warned of tariffs against countries opposing American control of Greenland, calling the territory vital to U.S. security interests. Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has privately raised concerns with Trump, while EU officials assess potential coordinated countermeasures.

Despite the rhetoric, European leaders remain cautious. With U.S. influence deeply embedded in Europe’s defence and security framework, the bloc is keen to avoid further escalation as diplomatic negotiations continue behind the scenes.

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