May 16, Thursday, 2024

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have confirmed the importance of bilateral cooperation at their summit in Beijing. Chinese media reported that Xi congratulated Putin on his fifth term when they met on Thursday afternoon. Xi said Russia will surely make new and greater progress in national development under Putin’s leadership. 2. Chinese exports to Russia of nitrocellulose – a dual-use material that can be used to produce ammunition –have surged since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Nitrocellulose is a highly flammable compound that is used in the production of paint, varnish and ink, as well as ammunition.
3. Tokyo police have sent papers to prosecutors on a man who allegedly used camera-equipped smart glasses to cheat on an entrance exam at Waseda University. The 18-year-old was a high school senior when the alleged cheating took place in February of this year.