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Nato member states have agreed to provide new forms of superior weaponry to Ukraine, alliance representatives have stated, as Kyiv prepares for a recent offensive by Russia within the nation’s east.
The pledge got here after a plea from Ukraine’s international minister for western nations to maneuver quicker with recent provides or as an alternative see “many individuals die . . . as a result of this assist got here too late”.
Six weeks since Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, ordered the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow’s troops have largely withdrawn from territory north of Kyiv after failing to grab the capital however are regrouping and rearming forward of an try to advance within the jap Donbas area, Ukrainian and western officers say.
In the meantime, the UN Common Meeting voted to droop Russia from the Geneva-based Human Rights Council. Ninety-three members of the UN gave their inexperienced gentle to Russia’s suspension — a uncommon rebuke for any member of the world physique and the primary such suspension of any everlasting member of the UN safety council.
Nonetheless, 24 UN members — together with China, Iran, Bolivia, and Kazakhstan — voted in opposition to Russia’s suspension. India, Indonesia and Egypt had been among the many 58 nations that abstained.

The newest on the battle in Ukraine:
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5 extra tales within the information
1. Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed for US Supreme Courtroom seat The US Senate has confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson for a seat on the Supreme Courtroom, making her the primary black feminine justice to hitch America’s highest court docket in an enormous win for President Joe Biden, who championed her nomination.

2. Toshiba to contemplate take-private bids The Japanese firm will arrange a particular committee to evaluate potential bids from non-public fairness and different buyers, opening the door for a landmark deal to take one of many nation’s greatest industrial names non-public.
3. Vietnam’s VinFast recordsdata for US IPO Carmaker VinFast is to drift its shares within the US as Vietnam’s largest auto group seeks to fund its shift to turn into totally electrical. The transfer makes it the most recent carmaker to show to the general public markets in an try to turn into a significant international electrical model.
4. JD.com founder steps down Richard Liu has stepped down as chief government of JD.com, the Chinese language ecommerce group he based greater than 20 years in the past, marking the most recent exit for one of many nation’s prime entrepreneurs. Beijing’s months-long marketing campaign to rein in Huge Tech has spurred a number of Chinese language entrepreneurs to flee government roles.
5. Samsung bumper revenue forecast Samsung Electronics has forecast its highest first-quarter working revenue since 2018 on sturdy smartphone and microchip gross sales, however the optimistic projections did not dispel rising doubts over its technological edge in opposition to rivals Apple and Taiwan chipmaker TSMC.
Coronavirus digest
The times forward
Japan commerce stability figures February information is ready to be launched on Friday.
Rio London annual common assembly Rio Tinto firm will lose one other board member after its Friday AGM assembly. Non-executive director Hinda Gharbi is ready to go away the corporate within the wake of the corporate’s 2020 resolution to explode an Aboriginal heritage website. (West Australian)
French presidential election The primary spherical of the nation’s presidential election might be held on Sunday. Right here’s what you must know concerning the state of the race. If no single candidate wins a majority of votes this weekend (a possible state of affairs) there might be a second spherical on April 24.
What else we’re studying
Asia-Pacific start-ups seize progress at dwelling This yr’s FT rating of Asia-Pacific’s high-growth firms is the primary of its sort to incorporate information from the pandemic interval. And it presents a singular perception into which firms have most successfully navigated Asia’s extreme lockdowns.
Twitter’s edit button is not going to rewrite your life Normally enhancing is a good suggestion. The proliferation of rambling newsletters on platforms resembling Substack has bolstered the necessity for it. Nonetheless, Twitter’s advantage is that it’s a discussion board for fast debate. Introducing edits would solely make this a ponderous affair, writes Emma Jacobs.
The weaponisation of finance, half 2 The second of a two-part collection on the brand new period of economic warfare examines how the sanctions freezing Russia’s international foreign money reserves have created an incentive for nations to bypass the US foreign money. The large query now could be: Will there be a backlash in opposition to the greenback?

The Franciscan monk serving to the Vatican tackle AI Engineer, trainer, ethicist and priest — Paolo Benanti is all of this stuff. He’s additionally serving to the Vatican to navigate the ethical and moral points surrounding cutting-edge applied sciences resembling bioaugmentation, neuroethics and synthetic intelligence.
‘The forces of self-interest and know-how can’t be undone’ As a part of the Economists Change collection that includes conversations between prime FT commentators and leaders within the area, former World Financial institution economist Branko Milanovic considers Africa’s rising function in international inequality.
Books
Aggressive co-operation or containment? Martin Wolf evaluations two books that set out opposing views on how the US ought to strategy its relationship with superpower rival China.
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