• The Russian Federal Security Service detained Moscow-based Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and accused him of espionage, marking the first time an American journalist has been held as an alleged spy since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Kremlin endorsed Gershkovich’s arrest, while The Wall Street Journal strongly rejected Russia’s allegations and said it was concerned for Gershkovich’s safety. (The New York Times)
• Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen arrived in New York City for a trip that will take her to Guatemala and Belize — both of which recognize Taiwan — and finally Los Angeles for an expected meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), much to Beijing’s chagrin. (The Wall Street Journal) New Chinese Premier Li Qiang told leaders at the annual Boao Forum for Asia that China is an “anchor” for global peace and development and vowed to ramp up trade and investment with new market access measures. (Nikkei Asia)
• U.S. President Joe Biden used his remarks at his second democracy summit to offer an optimistic outlook of the state of democracy worldwide, saying that leaders are “turning the tide” of stemming a yearslong backsliding in democratic institutions. About 40 countries have signed on to U.S.-led efforts to develop global guidelines for state use of surveillance technology, details of which are expected to be announced today. (The Associated Press)
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc must develop “new defensive tools” to protect key tech sectors such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence from an increasingly assertive China. The commission is considering a mechanism to scrutinize overseas investment by European countries in sensitive technologies that could help rival countries gain a military edge. (Financial Times)

Happening today (all times Eastern):

• 1:30 p.m. The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion of the future of AUKUS with retired Adm. Harry Harris Jr., former head of U.S. Pacific Command. 

Majority of Mexicans Want International Help to Fight Drug Violence, but Oppose Sending In Foreign Troops

Morning Consult

Vanuatu Strikes a Blow for Climate Justice

Somini Sengupta, The New York Times 

Vanuatu, a disaster-prone Pacific country, has secured United Nations approval to take that question to the International Court of Justice.

Biden Hosts Second Democracy Summit With India and Israel Present

Emily Tamkin, Foreign Policy 

Hungary and Turkey were not invited—but India and Israel were.

Japan reluctant to accelerate G7 power sector decarbonization push

Kyodo via Japan Today 

Japan, host of the Group of Seven ministerial meeting on climate issues next month, has shown reluctance about bringing forward the framework’s agreement last year to decarbonize power sector by 2035, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.

Britain secures agreement to join Indo-Pacific trade bloc

Graham Lanktree, Politico

The U.K. will be the first new nation to join the CPTPP since it was set up in 2018.

Responding to Indigenous, Vatican rejects Discovery Doctrine

Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press 

The Vatican on Thursday responded to Indigenous demands and formally repudiated the “Doctrine of Discovery,” the theories backed by 15th-century “papal bulls” that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of Native lands and form the basis of some property law today.

Top UN court to rule in Iran-US dispute over frozen assets

Mike Corder, The Associated Press 

The United Nations’ highest court is set to rule Thursday in a case filed by Iran against the United States over frozen Iranian assets worth some $2 billion that the U.S. Supreme Court awarded to victims of a 1983 bombing in Lebanon and other attacks linked to Tehran.

Putin’s top security adviser holds talks with India’s prime minister as Moscow seeks closer ties

Sameer Yasir et al., The New York Times 

The Russian envoy was accompanied by a Russian oil executive, who signed new deals with India.

Chinese banks hit by bad property debts, lending margin squeeze

Echo Wong, Nikkei Asia 

Headwinds facing financial system highlighted as earnings season begins.

Malaysia’s Anwar faces balancing act on first China trip

Amy Chew, Al Jazeera 

The Malaysian leader is expected to navigate between deepening economic ties and tackling differences in talks with China’s Xi Jinping.

Australia passes climate law limiting fossil fuel emissions

Frances Vinall, The Washington Post 

The Australian Parliament took its most meaningful step in years toward addressing global warming Thursday, passing an emissions reduction bill that will compel the country’s biggest industrial polluters to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by about 30 percent by 2030.

Indonesia business presses US over green subsidies for EV minerals

Mercedes Ruehl et al., Financial Times 

Influential chamber of commerce says vast nickel reserves could meet demand for electric cars and batteries.

Russia’s Wagner chief says battle for Bakhmut has damaged his forces
Reuters 

The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group acknowledged on Wednesday that fighting for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut had inflicted severe damage on his own forces as well as the Ukrainian side.

UK and EU boost co-operation over new carbon border tax

George Parker et al., Financial Times 

Joint pledge to tackle climate signals warming relations between London and Brussels.

Low government investment has made Britain poorer, says report

Valentina Romei, Financial Times 

UK suffering from state of infrastructure across health, transport and housing sectors, finds Resolution Foundation.

Finland’s Marin in battle over state spending to stay in power

Anne Kauranen, Reuters 

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who in 2019 became the world’s youngest premier at 34, is battling to stay in power in an election on Sunday as the country faces a recession and her challengers accuses her government of bloated public spending.

French woman faces trial, €12,000 fine for ‘insulting’ Macron on Facebook

AFP via France24 

A woman in northern France is to be put on trial on charges of insulting President Emmanuel Macron after describing him as ‘filth’ in a Facebook post, a prosecutor said on Wednesday. The woman risks a fine of 12,000 euros but not prison if convicted at the trial due to be held in June.

Mexico Investigates Migrant Center Fire Deaths as Homicide Case

Simon Romero et al., The New York Times 

The authorities identified eight suspects and said government workers and private security workers had done nothing to help migrants flee the blaze at a detention center in Ciudad Juárez.

Bolsonaro returns to Brazil after 3-month stint in Florida

Eléonore Hughes and Carla Bridi, The Associated Press 

Former President Jair Bolsonaro arrived back in Brazil on Thursday after a three-month stay in Florida, seeking a new role on the political scene as authorities in the capital braced for the far-right populist’s return.

Fernández, Biden hold talks amid Argentina’s economic strain

Aamer Madhani and Daniel Politi, The Associated Press 

President Alberto Fernández of Argentina used a White House meeting Wednesday to spotlight the economic strain his country faces as he looks for President Joe Biden to back Argentina’s effort to renegotiate with the International Monetary Fund on terms of $44 billion debt.

Mexico: Despite “coup,” Castillo legal president of Peru 

The Associated Press 

Mexico’s president said Wednesday that Peru’s ousted president, Pedro Castillo, remains “the legal and legitimate president” of that country and that he was jailed as part of a “coup.”

Ecuador’s president faces congress impeachment trial over corruption charge

Michael Stott, Financial Times 

Top court clears way for hostile legislature to begin proceedings against conservative leader Guillermo Lasso.

Harris enters the fray over democracy with visit to Tanzania

Chris Megerian and Evelyne Musambi, The Associated Press 

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will step onto the front lines of the battle for democracy in Africa on Thursday, spending time in Tanzania as it makes fragile progress toward restoring its reputation as a more inclusive government.

Russia Supplies Iran With Cyber Weapons as Military Cooperation Grows

Dov Lieber et al., The Wall Street Journal

Tehran is receiving advanced surveillance software after providing drones for Ukraine battlefield.

Erdoğan to slash Turkey’s energy bills ahead of tough election

Adam Samson, Financial Times 

Government seeks to win favor among voters by reducing costs for consumers and businesses.

Turkey elections: PKK extends ceasefire until polls close

Ragip Soylu, Middle East Eye 

‘We will evaluate this decision after the elections’ says Bese Hozat, co-chair of armed group’s executive council.

Burkina Faso to revive ties with North Korea, seek ‘exemplary’ weapons trade

Ifang Bremer, NK News 

West African country latest on the continent to seek trade and other cooperation with DPRK in recent years.

UAE leader designates his eldest son as crown prince

The Associated Press 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, appointed his eldest son Khaled as crown prince of Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, placing him as next in line to take over as the leader of the federation.

Rand Paul blocks Josh Hawley’s TikTok ban in GOP split

Mariana Alfaro and Kelsey Ables, The Washington Post 

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocked an effort by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) to fast-track legislation he introduced that would ban the popular Chinese-owned social media app TikTok nationwide.

Binance hid extensive links to China for several years

Scott Chipolina, Financial Times 

Company documents show crypto exchange relied on country long after it said it had left in 2017.