shanghai returns to lockdown — as covid cases surge in china's financial hub more now on the economic impact of the war in ukraine — and those growing global tensions over energy. as we've been reporting— russia is threatening to cut gas supplies to what it calls �*unfriendly�* foreign countries — unless they start paying in roubles. on thursday vladimir putin signed a decree stating buyers "must open rouble accounts in russian banks" from today. the russian president's demand is being seen as an attempt to boost the rouble, which has been hit by western sanctions.