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China, Venezuela, monetary policy, Ukraine, Russia, and the DRC.

Care about the nation - scale the highest peaks, Ma Lequn, 1961, poster, Landsberger Collection, Amsterdam.

Hello,

Here are the five things you need to know today:

• CHINA. Xi’s visit to Tibet is a message to the world.

• VENEZUELA. Trump sends a flotilla to the Caribbean coast.

• UNITED STATES. A monetary summit opens with a new front.

• UKRAINE. RUSSIA. Moscow seeks to distract and delay.

• DR CONGO. An unrealistic deal faces collapse.

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CHINA. Auspicious snow

Xi’s visit to Tibet is a message to the world.

Xi Jinping visited Lhasa Wednesday to mark the 60th anniversary of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Scott Bessent said the US was "very happy" with current ties with China. Reuters said Beijing was considering a yuan-backed stablecoin.

INTELLIGENCE. After months of speculation about his position in the Communist Party, Xi is proving he has both the health to visit high altitudes and the command to visit historically restless places. Purges continue and the consumer economy remains ropey, but Xi has navigated trade tensions with Washington and looks set to present a united front when Putin and Modi visit later this month. Once sensitive border demarcation talks are set to commence with India.

FOR BUSINESS. Xi is also projecting confidence in technological competition. Moves to limit Nvidia semiconductor purchases are designed to show China doesn't need the US. Problems are reported with Huawei chips, but advances in lithography could let Beijing bridge this. Parallel ecosystems in AI and even crypto are being built. Advances in defence will be showcased at next month’s military parade. Unlike the US, green energy projects are still encouraged.

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VENEZUELA. Showboat diplomacy

Trump sends a flotilla to the Caribbean coast.

The US had ordered an amphibious squadron of 4,500 personnel to Venezuela, Reuters said late Wednesday. Three US destroyers were sent into the Caribbean earlier this week. Nicolas Maduro said he had activated 4.5 million reservists.

INTELLIGENCE. The White House this week described Venezuela’s president as the