• U.S., British, French and Saudi diplomats, among others, escaped Sudan via helicopter, airplane, road convoy and boat, and at least one French national and an Egyptian embassy worker were shot while the convoys escaped. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the evacuation was necessary because the U.S. embassy no longer had steady access to food, fuel and power, but diplomats and Sudanese locals both expressed bitter feelings about evacuating foreigners at a moment of great need.  (The New York Times)
• China’s ambassador to France caused an uproar in Europe after suggesting that former Soviet Union republics aren’t sovereign countries. The Chinese government later said it respects the sovereignty of the countries. (The Associated Press)
• The White House asked South Korea to encourage its chipmakers not to sell their products to China if Beijing bans Idaho-based Micron Technology Inc. South Korea is home to Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.  and SK hynix Inc., the other major players in the market. The request comes as President Yoon Suk-yeol heads to the United States this week for a state visit.  (Financial Times)

Happening today (all times Eastern):

• 10 a.m. The Brookings Institution hosts a discussion previewing Turkey’s upcoming presidential election.
• 6:30 p.m. The Asia Society hosts a preview screening of the new documentary “America and the Taliban” produced for PBS by FRONTLINE.

U.S. spent more on military in 2022 than next 10 countries combined

Axios

India’s dependence on Russian oil soars to 30%

Toru Tsunashima, Nikkei Asia 

Shift spurred by discounted prices stemming from Western sanctions.

Rise of EVs Drives Mining Deals to Decade High

Rhiannon Hoyle and Julie Steinberg, The Wall Street Journal 

Mining companies have announced more than $65 billion worth of deals this year in race to add clean-energy metals.

China and Philippines discuss ties as Manila opens bases to U.S.

Cliff Venzon, Nikkei Asia 

Foreign ministers meet as U.S. base access deal stokes Taiwan tensions.

US war games touch nerve in Philippines as tensions flare with China

Kathrin Hille, Financial Times 

Remote islands could become front line in possible future conflict over Taiwan.

South Korea restores Japan on trade ‘white list’

Kim Tong-Hyung, The Associated Press 

South Korea formally restored Japan to its list of countries it gives preferential treatment in trade on Monday, three years after the neighbors downgraded each other’s trade status amid a diplomatic row fueled by historical grievances.

Japan’s ruling LDP wins four of five seats in Diet by-elections

Nikkei Asia 

Emboldened coalition seen as likely to press PM Kishida to call snap election.

Japan to subsidize half of costs for lithium and key mineral projects

Ko Fujioka, Nikkei Asia 

Push to reduce reliance on China for crucial materials in EV batteries and motors.

High-Ranking Election Official Is Killed in Myanmar

Richard C. Paddock, The New York Times 

A rebel group has claimed responsibility for the attack on an official for the military junta, which comes amid cascading violence on both sides.

Ex-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on surprise Myanmar trip

Grant Peck, The Associated Press

Former U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is on a surprise visit to military-run Myanmar on behalf of a group of elder statesmen that engages in peace-making and human rights initiatives around the world, a South Korean diplomat said Monday.

Australia overhauls defence strategy to respond to China’s build-up

Nic Fildes, Financial Times 

Government to strengthen northern bases and long-range strike capabilities for ‘missile age’ threats.

China Says Chatbots Must Toe the Party Line

Chang Che, The New York Times 

Five months after ChatGPT set off an investment frenzy over artificial intelligence, Beijing is moving to rein in China’s chatbots, a show of the government’s resolve to keep tight regulatory control over technology that could define an era.

Iran Ships Ammunition to Russia by Caspian Sea to Aid Invasion of Ukraine

Dion Nissenbaum and Benoit Faucon, The Wall Street Journal 

The water route poses a challenge for the U.S. to disrupt cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

Drones attack Sevastopol, crashed drone found near Moscow

David Rising, The Associated Press

Russian-appointed authorities in Crimea said the military fended off a Ukrainian strike on the port of Sevastopol on Monday, while a drone was also reportedly found in a forest near Moscow — attacks that come as Ukraine is believed to be preparing for a major counteroffensive.

Western Weapons Supplies Fall Short of Ukraine’s Needs, Documents Show

Lara Jakes and John Ismay, The New York Times 

Ukraine’s defense minister reported the first U.S.-made Patriot air-defense battery had arrived this week, but secret documents show Kyiv was still waiting for tanks and ammo for its coming counteroffensive.

Ukraine held off anniversary attacks on Russia at U.S. behest, leak reveals

Shane Harris and Isabelle Khurshudyan, The Washington Post 

Kyiv’s head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, planned bold strikes deep behind enemy lines that unnerved officials in Washington.

Brazil’s Lula calls for a ‘negotiated’ settlement between Russia, Ukraine while on Europe tour 

AFP via France24

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday was again at odds with Europe over Ukraine while pressing his first European tour since resuming office in January.

Russia announces ‘reciprocal’ expulsion of German diplomats

Al Jazeera 

A foreign ministry official says ‘more than 20’ German diplomats will have to leave Russia, according to state media.

Lack of snow condemns Italy’s Po to a desperately dry summer

Paolo Santalucia, The Associated Press

Italy’s largest river is already as low as it was last summer, with the winter snow fields that normally save it from drying up over the warmer months having receded by 75%, according to the Bolzano climate and environment agency.

Campaign for Greek election begins with dissolved parliament 

Demetris Nellas, The Associated Press

The campaign for Greece’s May 21 national election officially opened Saturday with the dissolution of the parliament that was elected in July 2019.

Allies keep close watch on British plans to reshape armed forces

John Paul Rathbone, Financial Times 

Russian aggression and Chinese threat pose dilemma for cash-strapped, midsized military power seeking to retain global role.

Argentina’s President Fernandez will not seek re-election

Al Jazeera 

Alberto Fernandez says he will ‘hand over the presidential sash’ and not seek a second term in office in October polls.

Brazil’s school violence mirrors US. Its reaction doesn’t 

Laís Martins and Collin Binkley, The Associated Press

About two weeks after a man killed four children in a Brazilian daycare center, authorities already have rounded up some 300 adults and minors nationwide accused of spreading hate speech or stoking school violence.

‘You shut up shop or you die’: Colombia stumbles on path to ‘total peace’

Joe Daniels, Financial Times 

Former guerrilla-turned-president Gustavo Petro struggles to deliver comprehensive settlement with armed groups.

Russia’s Wagner Group Has Offered Weapons to R.S.F., U.S. Says

Eric Schmitt and Edward Wong, The New York Times 

Wagner has offered powerful weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, to R.S.F. paramilitaries, American officials said.

Suspected jihadists carry out deadly attack on ‘Russian’ military camp in Mali

AFP via France24 

Ten civilians and three soldiers were killed and 88 jihadists “neutralised” in multiple incidents across Mali Saturday, the government said, in a wave of bloodshed it described as a resurgence of “terrorist incidents”.

Critics warn US Inflation Reduction Act could keep prices high 

Amanda Chu, Financial Times 

A scramble for workers might complicate the Federal Reserve’s efforts to cool the economy. 

Limit access to most secret US documents, Senate intel panel head says

Chris Sanders, Reuters 

Too many people have access to the U.S. government’s closest secrets and a central entity should oversee the classification process, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said on Sunday, addressing leaks of documents in an online chat group.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Begins World Tour in Japan, Plays Down 2024 Bid

Peter Landers, The Wall Street Journal 

Potential Republican challenger to Trump meets Prime Minister Kishida in Tokyo.

Wall Street starts to fear a debt limit crisis

Ben White et al., Politico

The government has until the summer to strike a deal.

E.P.A. to Propose First Controls on Greenhouse Gases From Power Plants

Coral Davenport and Lisa Friedman, The New York Times 

If the regulation is implemented, it will be the first time the federal government has limited carbon emissions from existing power plants, which generate 25 percent of U.S. greenhouse gasses.