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Plus: Kyiv in darkness, South Africa in turmoil and the week in culture.

Coffin was earlier driven through Shanghai in choreographed scene contrasting with recent protests
The body of the former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin has arrived in Beijing after being driven through the streets of Shanghai in a highly choreographed scene contrasting sharply with protests calling for the removal of the Communist party.
China Central Television in its main evening news broadcast on Thursday showed footage of a hearse carrying Jiang’s body through Shanghai, while people dressed in black – likely to have been government employees – lined the streets and bowed their heads in silence.

Several cities announced the easing of lockdown regulations and testing requirements after the country’s biggest demonstrations in decades.

China accused of illegal activities but Beijing embassy says locations are merely ‘service stations’ to renew driver’s licenses
Canada has summoned Beijing’s ambassador following reports of a network of illegal Chinese “police stations” in the country, after warnings that Ottawa is prepared to take more action if China refuses to “cease and desist” from its alleged activities.
on Tuesday evening, Weldon Epp, director general of north Asia for Canada’s foreign ministry, said he knew of “several engagements” by the federal government with China, including repeatedly summoning the ambassador, Cong Peiwu.

Wearable devices powered by kinetic energy of cows will gather data to help track cattle wellbeing
Cows on farms could soon have their health, reproductive readiness and location monitored by smart technology powered by the kinetic energy of the animal’s movements.
Devices that monitor the health of each cow or keep them within invisible fences are already used on farms but these smart tools are often powered by chemical batteries, which add to energy used by an emissions-intensive industry.

The Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Assn. presents the multidisciplinary art exhibition at Orange County Center for Contemporary Art this month.

Days later, videos of chants and confrontations are still visible on the Chinese internet. It’s a sign of how a groundswell outmatched the world’s best internet control system.

Sun Chunlan says Omicron less pathogenic as Beijing appears to respond to protests
One of China’s most senior pandemic response officials has said the country is entering a “new stage and mission”, in the latest indication of the government’s changing approach after mass protests against its zero-Covid policy.
Sun Chunlan, China’s vice-premier, made the comments to national health officials on Wednesday, according to the Xinhau state media outlet. It came as several regions, including Shanghai, began to lift lockdowns despite continuing high case numbers.

Rep. Ted Lieu (D, CA-33), who was recently elected to the No. 5 position in House Democratic Leadership, will replace Rep. Pete Aguilar (D, CA-31) as the party’s vice chairman next year. Lieu, who has ...