American and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia where they are expected to discuss a plan to pause strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and a 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine agreed to the proposal in earlier talks on Sunday. Russia has been reluctant, demanding recognition of the territory it controls. America also suggested a ceasefire in the Black Sea to allow both sides to resume grain and fuel exports.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Turkey to protest against the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the main rival to the president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mr Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, was detained on corruption charges, which he denies. “I will never bow,” he wrote on X. According to AFP, a news agency, rallies took place in at least 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces.
South Korea’s constitutional court reinstated Han Duck-soo, the prime minister, as acting president. Mr Han had replaced Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached in December after briefly imposing martial law. Mr Han was suspended two weeks later for his alleged role in the coup attempt and for failing to fill three vacancies in the constitutional court. The court is expected to rule on Mr Yoon’s impeachment in the coming days.
Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is to face a confidence vote in parliament. The main opposition party has claimed that Ms Shinawatra’s father wields too much influence over her government. Thaksin Shinawatra, who was a divisive populist PM in 2001-06, and who spent years in exile, has trailed policies later adopted by the ruling Pheu Thai party, including legalising gambling and stimulus cheques.
Business activity in the euro zone grew at its fastest pace in seven months in March, according to a closely watched survey compiled by Hamburg, a bank. The purchasing-managers’ index rose to 50.4, from 50.2 in February; readings above 50 signal growth. Factory output expanded for the first time in two years, offsetting a slowdown in the services sector. Optimism is rising because of Germany’s plans to boost infrastructure and defence spending.
James Hardie Industries, an Australian building-materials company, said it plans to buy Azek, an American home-decking firm, in a deal worth nearly $9bn. The announcement, which comes amid concerns about an American economic slowdown, triggered a sell-off in shares in James Hardie. The firm’s boss insisted that the sector’s long-term prospects were “very, very strong” as mortgage rates are expected to fall.
A delegation of American officials, including Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, will travel to Greenland later this week. Donald Trump has repeatedly said that America should acquire the autonomous Danish territory. The White House insisted that the group was only travelling to learn about Greenland’s “history” and attend “a dogsled race”. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s incoming prime minister, said the trip showed “a lack of respect”.
Figure of the day: 30. At least that many countries have outlawed all vaping products. Read the full story.
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