• Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in Islamabad as he appeared in court to face charges in multiple graft cases, which Khan claims are politically motivated. Khan has wielded his immense popularity to attack the Pakistani government since he was ousted just over a year ago, and his arrest represents a serious escalation in a bitter power struggle with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ahead of constitutionally mandated elections later this year. (The Associated Press)
• Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns to emphasize the need to stabilize relations and “prevent accidents between China and the United States,” in what’s the highest level engagement between the two countries since the February spy balloon incident. (The New York Times) Chinese police launched a raid against another consulting firm with U.S. ties, Capvision Partners, and state broadcaster CCTV accused Western countries of spying on China’s key economic sectors to suppress China. (The New York Times)
• Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine’s Western allies of waging “a real war” against Russia during a scaled-back Victory Day celebration in Red Square. (The Associated Press) Russian authorities in occupied southern Ukraine have ordered civilians to evacuate the region, creating widespread chaos and shortages in the face of an expected Ukrainian offensive. (The New York Times)
• Ukraine has accused Russia of effectively halting the Black Sea grain export deal by refusing to register and inspect cargo ships, creating a backup of 90 vessels in Turkish territorial waters. The deal is set to expire on May 18 and Russia has signaled it intends to extract major concessions to agree to renewal. (Reuters)

Russia-Ukraine Crisis Tracker 

Morning Consult

EU Targets Eight Chinese Companies in Russia Sanctions Push

Laurence Norman, The Wall Street Journal

Bloc looks to broaden sanctions on businesses that help Moscow fight Ukraine.

Ukraine’s envoy to Japan urges G7 to condemn any threat to use nuclear weapons

Elaine Lies, Reuters 

The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations must condemn any threat to use nuclear weapons and vow “decisive action” against such a move when they hold a summit next week in the city of Hiroshima, Ukraine’s envoy to Japan said.

Analysis: Fears mount for the Arctic as cooperation with Russia stalls

Humeyra Pamuk et al., Reuters 

An ineffective Arctic Council could have dire implications for the region’s environment and its 4 million inhabitants who face the effects of melting sea ice and the interest of non-Arctic countries in the region’s mostly untapped mineral resources.

China’s local governments look to Middle Eastern funds for investment

Mercedes Ruehl and Qianer Liu, Financial Times 

Cash-strapped authorities hope to stimulate economic development post-pandemic.

Chinese investment in Europe falls as watchdogs increase scrutiny

James Kynge, Financial Times 

Regulators stymied 10 out of 16 proposed Chinese deals in Europe’s tech and infrastructure sector, according to study.

Tokyo, Seoul seek to maintain diplomatic momentum after latest summit 

Hiroyuki Akiyama, Nikkei Asia 

Both sides eye differences over radar incident and Fukushima water dumping.

Japan, South Korea to link radar systems to track North Korea missiles – source

Yoshifumi Takemoto et al., Reuters 

Japanese and South Korean defence authorities are set to agree early next month to link their radars via a U.S. system to share real-time information on North Korea’s ballistic missiles, a person with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday.

China’s imports fall in April as clouds gather for economic outlook

Thomas Hale and Hudson Lockett, Financial Times 

Slowing export momentum after unexpected March surge points to uneven recovery.

Philippines’ Marcos muscles up ASEAN’s South China Sea posture

Cliff Venzon and Norman Goh, Nikkei Asia 

China tensions loom over bloc summit as Malaysia asserts gas rights, Vietnam hones defense.

Toll of northeast India clashes now 60 dead, 35K displaced

Wasbir Hussain, The Associated Press

Security measures are keeping the peace in a remote northeast Indian state where 60 people were killed and 35,000 civilians were displaced in rioting and ethnic clashes last week, officials said.

India extends $1bn credit line for Sri Lanka by a year

Al Jazeera 

The credit line is part of about $4bn in emergency assistance extended by India during the peak of Sri Lanka’s financial crisis last year.

Ukraine Downs Dozens of Drones Over Kyiv in Russian Air Assault

Isabel Coles, The Wall Street Journal

Heavy attack on capital comes after spate of assaults on Russian soil.

Head of Russia’s Wagner group says still no sign of promised ammunition

Lidia Kelly, Reuters 

Russia’s mercenary Wagner forces have not yet received the ammunition promised by Moscow, the head of the group said on Tuesday, rowing back from comments hours earlier that initial data showed they had begun to get it.

US to announce $1.2 billion in military aid for Ukraine – source

Mike Stone, Reuters 

The United States plans as soon as Tuesday to announce a new $1.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine that will include air defense systems, ammunition and funds for training, a U.S. official said.

UN chief says peace talks in Ukraine conflict not possible right now

Reuters 

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he sees no immediate possibility of reaching a comprehensive ceasefire in the war in Ukraine as both sides are convinced they can win, according to an interview published by Spanish newspaper El Pais on Tuesday.

Germany’s Scholz urges EU to reform, strike migrants deal

The Associated Press

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Tuesday for the European Union to address the political, economic and strategic challenges it faces by embracing a series of reforms, including pooling its defense procurement efforts, forging new trade deals and setting aside long-running disputes over migration from outside the bloc.

Why eastern Europe’s grain producers face a perfect storm

Anna Koper et al., Reuters 

When global grain prices started falling last year after a spike in the first months of the war in Ukraine, Poland’s then agriculture minister urged farmers to hang onto their harvests in the hope of a rebound and better returns.

Far-right Israeli minister was going to an EU event — so they canceled it

Nicolas Camut, Politico

‘We do not want to offer a platform to someone whose views contradict the values the European Union,’ bloc’s mission says.

More than 600 people killed in Haiti gang violence in April, UN says

AFP via France24 

More than 600 people were killed last month in violence in the capital of Haiti, which is in the grip of a political-economic crisis, the United Nations said on Monday.

Mexican president to hold call with Biden on immigration

The Associated Press

Mexico’s president said Monday he will talk with U.S. President Joe Biden by telephone on Tuesday about immigration and the fentanyl crisis.

Mexico’s president doubles down ahead of tense succession

Christine Murray, Financial Times 

On a recent Friday evening Mexico’s president sat in the National Palace, flanked by four candidates to succeed him, and addressed ruling coalition lawmakers who were mired in a days-long stand-off with the opposition.

Mexican high court overturns reforms rushed through Congress

The Associated Press

Mexico’s Supreme Court voted Monday to overturn a pair of electoral law reforms favored by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador because Congress rushed them through to a vote without debate, or even time to read them.

‘There’s no water’: migrants stranded in Chilean desert as Peru closes border

Dan Collyns, The Guardian 

Hundreds, mostly Venezuelans, hope to cross into Peru to flee harsh immigration protocols and growing xenophobia in Chile.

Sudan deepens crisis in Africa as UN sees 5 million more needing aid

Mahamat Ramadane et al., Reuters 

When a power struggle between Sudan’s rival military leaders shattered a tenuous peace in her village in Sudan’s western region of Darfur, Halime Yacoub Issac’s first instinct was to take her five children and run.

20 bodies found in Congo mass grave, ADF rebels suspected

The Associated Press

The remains of at least 20 people were found buried in a mass grave in an area used to cultivate cacao in Ndoma village in Congo’s North Kivu province this weekend, according to local authorities and a military spokesperson.

Nigeria court hears opposition’s presidential vote challenge

Chinedu Asadu, The Associated Press

A Nigerian court on Monday began its hearing on separate suits filed by the opposition to challenge the incumbent party’s victory in the country’s presidential election.

Israeli Airstrikes Kill at Least 13 in Gaza, Palestinians Say

Isabel Kershner, The New York Times 

At least three of the dead were leaders in Islamic Jihad, the group said, and officials said at least 10 civilians, including children, were killed in the strikes, which Israel said had hit the planners of attacks.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides to leave post this summer

Barak Ravid, Axios 

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides will leave his post this summer after nearly two years in Jerusalem, two U.S. officials told Axios.

Iraqis Fly to Nearby Countries to Get Dollars as U.S. Cracks Down on Money Laundering

David S. Cloud, The Wall Street Journal

The cash-driven economy relies heavily on the greenback for transactions.

Joe Biden to meet political leaders as debt ceiling stand-off drags on

James Politi, Financial Times 

Top congressional Republicans and Democrats will head to White House with just weeks to go before full-blown crisis.

Chicago, New York Scramble To House Migrants as Border Restrictions End

Joe Barrett and Jimmy Vielkind, The Wall Street Journal

People are sleeping in police stations, hotels and vacant schools as northern cities prepare for end of Title 42.

China Retaliates After Canada Expels Diplomat Amid Influence Concerns

Yonette Joseph and Vivek Shankar, The New York Times 

China ordered a Canadian diplomat in Shanghai to leave after Ottawa expelled a Chinese official who had been accused of gathering information on a Canadian lawmaker.

William Burns, a C.I.A. Spymaster With Unusual Powers

Robert Draper, The New York Times 

Mr. Burns, a key figure in bolstering the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine, has amassed influence beyond most previous spy chiefs.