Vladimir Putin and Wang Yi, China’s prime diplomat, vowed to strengthen ties between their two nations regardless of “strain from the worldwide group” forward of the primary anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Wang’s go to to Moscow, the primary by a senior Chinese language official since Putin ordered the invasion final yr, highlights the deepening relationship between the Russian president and his Chinese language counterpart Xi Jinping because the battle drags into its second yr.

“We’re ready to keep up our strategic focus and willpower alongside Russia,” Wang stated as he met Putin on Wednesday. He added that the 2 sides would deepen “political mutual belief and strategic co-operation”.

Beijing has offered an financial lifeline to Moscow as western sanctions chew, stepping up its buy of Russian power exports. It has additionally elevated its provide of technical parts that Russia can now not import from western nations due to sanctions.

5 extra tales within the information

1. Lacking Chinese language banker deliberate Singapore household workplace Lacking Chinese language dealmaker and billionaire Bao Fan, who based funding financial institution China Renaissance, was making ready to transfer a few of his fortune from China and Hong Kong to a household workplace in Singapore within the months main as much as his disappearance, in response to sources. Many Chinese language executives view Singapore as a haven to park their cash after crackdowns at house.

2. Imran Khan supporters arrested in Pakistan protests Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s get together stated yesterday that as much as 700 of its activists and leaders had been arrested throughout protests designed to destabilise the federal government, which is urgently in search of an IMF bailout to avert a default. Khan and his allies stated final week that they wished their supporters to be detained en masse to drive early elections.

3. Toyota raises Japanese wages by most in 20 years Toyota has granted 68,000 unionised staff in Japan their highest pay rises in about 20 years, giving a lift to prime minister Fumio Kishida’s marketing campaign for wage will increase to deal with rising residing prices. The transfer by Japan’s largest carmaker, a bellwether of its manufacturing sector, is anticipated to place strain on different firms to comply with swimsuit.

4. Google claims breakthrough in quantum pc error correction
The corporate’s newest analysis marks an early however doubtlessly vital step in overcoming the largest technical barrier to a revolutionary new type of computing. The web firm’s findings, printed within the journal Nature, mark a “milestone on our journey to construct a helpful quantum pc”, stated Hartmut Neven, head of Google’s quantum efforts.

5. Most Fed officers backed quarter-point fee rise The overwhelming majority of Federal Reserve officers supported slowing the tempo of US rate of interest rises to 0.25 share factors final month, in response to an account of their most up-to-date assembly that confirmed the central financial institution remains to be decided to deliver inflation again to focus on.

The day forward

Japanese Emperor’s birthday The Japanese inventory market might be closed immediately for the general public vacation marking Emperor Naruhito’s birthday.

Turkey rate of interest resolution Turkey’s central financial institution is about to announce rates of interest immediately. Economists count on policymakers to revive a rate-cutting cycle in a bid to spice up financial exercise after this month’s devastating earthquakes.

Earnings Corporations reporting outcomes immediately embody Alibaba Group, Deutsche Telekom, Intuit, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Budweiser, Warner Bros Discovery, BAE Programs, Telefónica, Reside Nation, Qantas and Anglo American.

What else we’re studying and listening to

Iran’s supreme chief takes centre stage Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has embraced a extra energetic position in public life as he seeks to shore up the authority of the Iranian regime after probably the most intense demonstrations because the Islamic revolution. However reasonably than being an indication of change inside the theocratic regime, it exhibits an try and handle his picture.

🎧 The prices of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine One yr since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, our newest episode of the Behind the Cash podcast examines the prices of this battle: How people’ lives have been uprooted, how the nation’s economic system has been turned the other way up, and the way international markets comparable to meals and power have been reworked.

Newcomer disrupts Nigerian presidential race Just a few months in the past, most Nigerians assumed Saturday’s election would come down to 2 rich and seasoned septuagenarian politicians. However Peter Obi, a businessman and former governor with a rigorously crafted fame for shunning the accoutrements of energy, has electrified younger voters and made the result of the election rather more unpredictable.

Intolerant democracy involves Israel The programme of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s newest authorities is of evident significance for the way forward for Israel. However it’s also of wider significance, argues Martin Wolf, and raises questions on how a democracy can flip into an autocracy by way of unbridled majoritarianism.

Ladies on the centre of a brand new Bengaluru museum In India, goddesses are ubiquitous and worshipped extensively within the nation’s mythology. However reporting exhibits it’s also probably the most harmful nation for ladies throughout a variety of parameters. It’s this paradox that’s on the centre of the inaugural exhibition of Bengaluru’s new Museum of Artwork and Pictures.

Take a break from the information

High quality time — an Amy Hwang cartoon. See extra of Amy’s work right here.