First Thing: China brings in ‘emergency’ level censorship over protests

Amid zero-Covid protests, crackdown on VPNs used for banned social media. Plus, Senate rejects paid sick leave for rail workers

Good morning.

Chinese authorities have initiated the highest emergency response" level of censorship, according to leaked directives. It includes a crackdown on virtual private networks (VPNs) and other methods of bypassing online censorship after unprecedented protests demonstrated widespread public frustration with the zero-Covid policy.

Freedom in China is precious": Tiananmen Square protest veteran salutes new generation. Activists have despaired for decades as Beijing has hardened its grip. Now they see a turning tide.

Winnie the Pooh joins Chinese Covid lockdown protests. Disney stores in Japan are selling a line of merchandise featuring a frowning Pooh looking at a blank sheet of white paper - a symbol of ongoing protests in China.

Biden defends contract deal. He noted the wage increases it contains. I negotiated a contract no one else could negotiate," Joe Biden said. What was negotiated was so much better than anything they ever had."