Shanghai has seen extensive lockdowns
Letter from Beijing: Refiners hoping for summer rebound
Easing of Covid restrictions looks set to lead to surge in domestic travel
China’s worst Covid flare-up since the initial outbreak in Wuhan two years ago is finally subsiding, helping build momentum in the domestic travel sector and the wider economy. There are clear signs life in financial hub Shanghai is normalising after a crippling two-month lockdown that prompted draconian curbs on travel and economic activity. Residents were permitted to dine indoors at restaurants on Wednesday for the first time since March, while Disney said its sprawling theme park would reopen on Thursday. The tentative easing of Covid restrictions in Shanghai and other key cities such as Beijing comes ahead of the summer travel season. Traffic jams have already returned, with a congestio
Also in this section
29 January 2026
Caught between LNG risks from across the Atlantic and the wounds from Russian gas dependence, Europe needs more than a simple diversification strategy
28 January 2026
The alliance looks to bolster market management credibility by bringing greater clarity and unity to output cuts and producer capacity later in 2026
23 January 2026
A strategic pivot away from Russian crude in recent weeks tees up the possibility of improved US-India trade relations
23 January 2026
The signing of a deal with a TotalEnergies-led consortium to explore for gas in a block adjoining Israel’s maritime area may breathe new life into the country’s gas ambitions
