Beijing

A UK family was fined and expelled from Shanghai after a minor visa error rendered their stay illegal, leading to a tense encounter with Chinese authorities and a forced departure.

China's gross domestic product likely gathered pace in the first quarter, data is expected to show on Tuesday, as the end of strict COVID curbs lifted the world's second-largest economy out of a crippling pandemic slump, although some headwinds persist.

Asian shares got off to a subdued start on Monday as a U.S. holiday made for slow trading.

The craft spent several days flying over North America, ratcheting up tensions between Washington and Beijing.

Beijing's sudden pivot away from containing Covid-19 has caused jitters around the world, with the United States saying it may restrict travel from China following its decision to end mandatory quarantine for overseas arrivals.

Beijing last week admitted the scale of the outbreak has become "impossible" to track following the end of mandatory mass testing.

Millions of elderly people across China are still not fully vaccinated, raising concerns that the virus may kill the most vulnerable citizens in huge numbers.

Beijing faces a surge in severe COVID-19 cases over the next two weeks, a respiratory expert said, amid global concerns over possible mutations and knock-on effects for the world economy after the surprise ditching of China's tough virus policies.

China shut down parks, shopping malls, and museums in its capital, Beijing, after the country reported 28,000 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.

Asian share markets turned hesitant on Monday as investors fretted about the economic fallout from fresh COVID-19 restrictions in China, while bonds and the dollar braced for more updates on U.S.

China's army of metal processors and traders has flipped from buyers to sellers amid a sharp downshift in economic activity in the world's top manufacturer, heralding a potential warning sign for steel, aluminium and other key industrial commodities.

Since March, Chinese companies and research institutes have filed at least 50 COVID-related patents

Retail sales in April shrank 11.1% year-on-year, after falling 3.5% in March.

Early surveys of European and U.S. manufacturing purchasing managers for May are due out later on Tuesday and could show some slowing in what has been a resilient sector of the global economy.

Residents who do not comply will have problems scanning the codes needed to enter public places or take transport

On the second leg of his first Asia trip as president, Biden is to meet with leaders of Japan, India and Australia

Iron ore and other steelmaking inputs were also supported following reports that Shanghai will gradually reopen for business following weeks of lockdowns

Oil prices have been volatile as Beijing has shown no sign of easing lockdown measures despite the impact on its economy and global supply chains.

Authorities in Beijing are continuing to crack down on COVID-19 outbreaks

The residents of Beijing were seen flocking to markets on Monday to stock up on food and other essential supplies in case the Chinese government imposes a Shanghai-style lockdown.

China has received backlash from Australian authorities after a court in Beijing carried out a trial of journalist Cheng Lei's case behind closed doors, under heavy security on Thursday.

The company attributes its profitability to "improved product portfolios and more efficient internal operations"

Scenes of closed neighbourhoods, panic buying and police cordons cast back to the early phase of the pandemic, which first emerged in China in late 2019.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday ruled that she could carry on competing in the Chinese capital.

The WTA remain unconvinced about Peng Shuai's well being despite the Chinese tennis star insisting that sexual assault allegations were a big misunderstanding.

Due to the Winter Olympics, citizens of the capital face perhaps the highest pressure not to leave

With the Beijing Games starting on February 4, international delegates, media personnel, and some athletes have already begun arriving.

The Olympics boycott is part of a complex diplomatic balancing act.

Economic planners are nervous about slashing coal too quickly as it could cripple growth.

Several domestic property rivals have in recent weeks already defaulted on debts and have seen their ratings downgraded.