Dawn Chorus: 40% of China GDP locked down

TLDR: China reported record-high Covid cases overnight as its complete lockdown of Shanghai dragged into a third week amid growing signs of civil unrest, looting and food shortages. The lockdowns affect about 40% of China’s GDP and threaten to throttle consumer spending, factory production and shipping in a key part of the global logistics chain.

There are widespread reports of angry residents in Shanghai screaming and crying from their high rises because of food shortages after nearly two weeks locked up in their apartments. Photo: Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images

In other news breaking this morning:

• exit polls show Emmanuel Macron and anti-migration right-winger Marine Le Pen will face off in the second round of France’s Presidential elections on April 24, with opinion polls showing they are running neck and neck; (Reuters)

• PM Jacinda Ardern has announced her first overseas trade and diplomatic mission in more than two years, including visits to Singapore and Japan over six days starting next Monday (RNZ); and

• South Island hospitality firms are calling for an exemption from new work visa rules that force them to pay new migrants $28/hour. (1News)

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