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The US and China have committed to work together to combat climate change despite rising tensions between the two powers, boosting chances of global deal on emissions at a UN summit this summer.

John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua, the climate envoys for the world’s two biggest economies, have vowed to co-operate “to tackle the climate crisis”, making a commitment to “concrete actions in the 2020s” to reduce emissions in line with the aims of the 2015 Paris climate accord.

“Both countries recall their historic contribution to the development, adoption, signature, and entry into force of the Paris Agreement through their leadership and collaboration,” they said in a joint statement.

The pledge, which follows two days of high-stakes meetings in Shanghai, is a signal that climate change could be a rare area of collaboration in a strained relationship. Washington has been highly critical of Beijing’s assertive policies on Taiwan and the South China Sea and over its approach to human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

Coronavirus digest

• China’s economy continued its strong recovery from coronavirus in the first quarter of 2021 as the country unveiled a record annual growth rate, but the figures masked the lingering damage left by the pandemic last year.

• Half of all US adults have received at least one Covid-19 dose, and the country will probably resume using Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine this coming week, Anthony Fauci said on Sunday.

• Seventy-seven cases of a new variant linked to a surge in Covid-19 cases in India have been found in the UK.

• The EU hit the milestone of administering 100m vaccine doses last week. But the headline figure masks growing disparities within the continent.

• Consumers around the world have stockpiled an extra $5.4tn of savings since the pandemic began. (FT, AP)

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In the news

Japan vows to support US in opposing ‘coercion’ from China Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga said the US and Japan would oppose coercion or force in the South and East China Seas, in unusually blunt remarks about China after his summit with Joe Biden.

Navalny’s supporters say his life is ‘hanging by a thread’ Supporters of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have called on Russians to protest against his harsh treatment in prison, saying that it could end in his imminent death. Navalny is 19 days into a hunger strike in protest at the prison’s refusal to let him see a doctor of his choice.

Dispute over Trump tax change threatens infrastructure bill A dispute over Donald Trump’s 2017 tax reforms stands in the way of Joe Biden’s $2tn infrastructure proposals, with a growing number of lawmakers on Capitol Hill threatening to vote against any tax and spending plan that does not reverse a key provision of Trump’s changes.

• The one liberal critique that has the capacity to foul up the politics of Biden’s infrastructure bill is the idea that it is fiscally too progressive, Edward Luce wrote in a recent Swamp Notes newsletter. Sign up here.

US stops short of labelling Taiwan a currency manipulator The US Treasury has not formally designated Taiwan as a currency manipulator, but put it on notice and said it would begin engaging with the country to address the issue. The Biden administration also removed currency manipulation designations for Vietnam and Switzerland.

Top European football clubs sign up to breakaway Super League Many of Europe’s wealthiest football clubs have agreed to join a breakaway “Super League” competition that would mark the biggest transformation of the game in decades. Up to 12 clubs have signed up to a plan to launch a new tournament that would supersede the Champions League.

Aung San Suu Kyi supporters unveil ‘national unity government’ The parallel government was formed by MPs from the deposed leader’s National League for Democracy party and will include representatives of Myanmar’s ethnic minority groups in senior roles. It will seek foreign aid and diplomatic recognition as it resists the military coup.

Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders jailed A group of Hong Kong’s most senior pro-democracy activists including media mogul Jimmy Lai were handed jail sentences on Friday for unlawful protests as Beijing extends a crackdown on dissent in the city.

Former FedEx employee identified as Indianapolis shooter A former FedEx employee returned to his onetime workplace and killed eight people at the company’s facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, late on Thursday, authorities said, the latest in a spate of US mass shootings in recent weeks. (FT, NYT)

• Separately, since the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin began on March 29 at least 64 people — including Daunte Wright, fatally shot less than 20 miles from where Chauvin is on trial — have died at the hands of law enforcement nationwide. (NYT)

The day ahead

Japan trade data The country’s March exports are likely to show their strongest growth in more than three years, a Reuters poll showed on Friday, ahead of the country’s release of last month’s trade data on Monday. (Reuters)

New Zealand and Australia start quarantine-free travel The launch of a quarantine-free “travel bubble” between Australia and New Zealand on Monday could provide a template for elsewhere in the world and pave the way for an airline industry recovery, according to the countries’ leading carriers.

What else we’re reading

Inside Jordan’s royal crisis After Prince Hamzah was passed over for a position overseeing military intelligence services, he began courting traditional groups angry about the faltering economy and a loss of access to King Abdullah. That tactic was what brought the ambitious prince and the rest of the ruling family into open conflict two weeks ago.

The new politics of resentment in the office “Having lived through that [Moscow 1980] boycott, I hope no prospective Olympian faces another. The world gained nothing from either boycott and we athletes lost what could never be restored,” writes Anita Defrantz, member of the International Olympic Committee and bronze medal winner at the 1976 Olympics.

The US infrastructure most in need of investment is human President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan includes $400bn for home healthcare and $25bn for childcare. Nearly all Republicans, and some centrist Democrats, are worried about this expanded definition of infrastructure. But “building back better” should involve bolstering such services, writes Rana Foroohar.

Wall Street banks are pulling ahead of the Europeans again Historians may look back and conclude that one unexpected consequence of Covid-19 was that it consolidated Wall Street banks’ pre-eminence, at least over European rivals, writes Gillian Tett.

Flying cars finally prepare for take-off What has long been stuck in the realm of science fiction is fast approaching reality. Even General Motors is joining the game with its “flying Cadillac”. As is the case with other new technologies, though, one of the biggest risks may come from premature deployment and a public backlash.

We love animals — so why do we treat them so badly? If you are a non-human mammal in the 21st century, you have a greater chance than your ancestors of living on a factory farm. Pick a wild animal — a lion, a puffin, a cigarette beetle — and they probably have a greater chance than ever of being squeezed off the planet by humans’ relentless expansion. It’s time for this to change, writes Henry Mance.

Video of the day

How London’s West End will bounce back Property reporter George Hammond looks at how the tourism and entertainment hub can recover from rolling lockdowns after plummeting visitor numbers put landlords, retailers and entertainment venues under strain.