Foxconn to ease COVID-19 curbs in Chinese iPhone factory

Brian Bowman wins mayoral battle

In the end, it wasn’t even close.

A mayoral race that was supposed to be a head-to-head battle between privacy lawyer Brian Bowman and former NDP MP and MLA Judy Wasylycia-Leis turned into a rout on election night. Wasylycia-Leis, the experienced politician, had held what looked like an unassailable lead for months, but Bowman, the outsider who promised Winnipeggers a better, prosperous future, chipped doggedly away at it.

“I’m excited to tell you that positive change is coming to city hall,” Bowman told roaring supporters at the Inn At The Forks after making his way into the small ballroom accompanied by his wife and two young sons.

He said he hadn’t expecting such a landslide victory, but had believed that the campaign was building momentum.

Foxconn to ease COVID-19 curbs in Chinese iPhone factory

HONG KONG (AP) — The company that assembles Apple Inc.’s iPhones has announced it is easing COVID-19 restrictions at its largest factory in China that led thousands of workers to quit and drastically slowed production.

Foxconn Technology Group said in a statement on one of its official WeChat social media accounts that it would end the so-called “closed loop” system at the facility in Zhengzhou, central China, that required workers to say in their workplaces and dormitories to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections.

The move announced Wednesday came about a week after China began easing harsh COVID-19 curbs despite signs the number of infections is rising.

Following a spate of protests across the country last month many “zero-COVID” restrictions were lifted. That means people no longer need to take frequent COVID-19 tests to travel on public transport. If they do test positive for the virus, they can isolate at home if they have only mild or no symptoms instead of being sent to a quarantine center.

Neo-Nazi group members plotted to kill Free Press reporter

Disturbing details of a plan to kill a Free Press reporter who had infiltrated a white nationalist hate group were revealed for the first time Wednesday.

Health officials ponder next steps as COVID cases surge in Southern Health region

Public-health officials say they're trying to avoid ordering another lockdown in southern Manitoba, where COVID-19 infection rates are surging.

Deputy chief provincial public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal told a news conference Wednesday he doesn't anticipate more lockdowns and suggested he will prioritize keeping schools open when considering future restrictions.

But he couldn't say what the next step will be in an area of the province where hospitalizations among unvaccinated residents are on the rise.

Average daily case counts in the southern part of the province are higher now than they were before lockdown measures went into effect last November, and officials are still figuring out what to do.

Fawcett promises growth in second term as Brandon mayor

BRANDON — Jeff Fawcett promises “incredible opportunities” for Brandon over the next four years.

The incumbent was handily re-elected for a second term as Brandon mayor Wednesday evening, receiving 54 per cent of the vote. He defeated his only challenger, former councillor and MLA Len Isleifson, by 907 votes.

“The next four years presents incredible opportunities for our city,” Fawcett told supporters after the victory. “We’ll continue to support responsible growth, strengthening our neighbourhoods, investing in infrastructure, supporting local businesses, and ensuring Brandon remains a place where families and future generations can thrive.”

Isleifson, a Brandon councillor from 2010 to 2014 and Brandon East Tory MLA from 2016 to 2023, called the result disappointing but said he wouldn’t change anything about his campaign.