Overview: Shanghai plans to end lockdown; North Korea; Automakers reinstate mask mandates in southeastern Michigan plants

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus Shanghai set out plans for the end of a painful COVID-19 lockdown that has lasted more than six weeks, heavily bruising China's economy, and for the return of more normal life from June 1. Reuters Reuters

May 16 (Reuters) - Shanghai set out plans for the end of a painful COVID-19 lockdown that has lasted more than six weeks, heavily bruising China's economy, and for the return of more normal life from June 1. read more

* Russia's invasion of Ukraine posed new challenges to the European Union's recovery from the pandemic, while the resulting surge in energy and commodity prices will slash euro zone economic growth this year and next, the European Commission forecast. read more

* European businesses in China are awaiting the next wave of disruption from COVID-19 outbreaks and see little chance of improvement until the country increases vaccination rates, the European Chamber of Commerce in China said. read more

* Some U.S. inmates released to home confinement under the terms of a law passed by Congress to slow the spread of COVID-19 have challenged orders to return to prison. read more

* General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Chrysler parent Stellantis NV said on Sunday they were reinstating a requirement that employees wear masks in COVID-hit southeastern Michigan. read more

* The World Health Organization warned that COVID-19 may spread rapidly in North Korea, where it said vaccination programmes had yet to begin, while state media said leader Kim Jong Un ordered the military to stabilise distribution of medicine in the capital, Pyongyang. read more

* South Korea's unification ministry has offered to hold working-level talks with North Korea on offering support for its neighbour, which is battling its first confirmed outbreak of COVID-19.

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