Beijing and Shanghai witnessed public outrage against the state yesterday and today, with the public shouting slogans such as "Xi
Beijing and Shanghai witnessed public outrage against the state yesterday and today, with the public shouting slogans such as "Xi Jinping, step down! CCP, step down!" in a rare display of public opposition to the Chinese Communist Party's top leadership. A deadly fire in Urumqi on Thursday sparked new public outrage, with many blaming lengthy Covid lockdowns for impeding rescue efforts, despite authorities' denial. Amid widespread anger and protests among people in China against the Zero-Covid policy to contain the pandemic, authorities on Monday eased anti-virus rules in scattered areas. However, officials continue to stand by the Zero-Covid policy as they refused to make any comment on the mounting protests and the criticism of President Xi Jinping, a report by news agency Associated Press said.
Protesters demonstrate over the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) restrictions, in Beijing, on November 27. Most protesters focused their anger on restrictions that can confine families to their homes for months. Some complained the system is failing to respond to their needs.(Thomas Peter / REUTERS)
2/8
Demonstrators raise slogans on a street in Shanghai on November 27. There were cries heard for the resignation of Xi and the end of the Communist Party that has ruled China for 73 years, which could be deemed as sedition, and is punishable by prison.(Hector Retamal / AFP)
3/8
Police personnel stand guard during a protest over the Covid-19 restrictions, in Beijing, on November 27. In response to the protesters, police in Shanghai used pepper spray to drive away demonstrators. China’s vast internal security apparatus is also famed for identifying people it considers troublemakers and picking them up later when few are watching, AP reported.(Thomas Peter / REUTERS)
Onlookers stand by the road during the protest in Beijing, on November 28. The normally supportive head of the World Health Organization has called “Zero COVID” unsustainable. Beijing dismissed his remarks as irresponsible, but public acceptance of the restrictions has worn thin, AP reported.(Bloomberg)
5/8
A woman gets tested at a nucleic acid testing site, in Shanghai, on November 28. China's stringent measures were originally accepted for minimizing deaths while other countries suffered devastating waves of infections, but that consensus has begun to fray in recent weeks.(Aly Song / REUTERS)
7
Five times freediving World Champion France's Arthur Guerin-Boeri swims next to an Orca (Killer Whale) in the Arctic Ocean in the Spildra Island northern Arctic Circle, on January 27, 2023. Guerin-Boeri has been defying glacial temperatures and darkness to rub shoulders with one of the most fearsome sea predators.
8
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday presented the Union Budget 2023-24 in Parliament. In her speech, she announced that the government proposes to increase capital expenditure outlay by 33 per cent to ₹10 lakh crore in 2023-24, which would be 3.3 per cent of the GDP.
11
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday presented the Union Budget for the fiscal year beginning April 1. Her speech outlined which items would become cheaper and which would be more expensive.
10
“My prayers & condolences go to the victims families. It is imperative we improve our intelligence gathering & properly equip our police forces to combat the growing threat of terrorism," Imran Khan tweeted.