President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine is engaged in diplomatic efforts ahead of a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive. He attended the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia to lobby for support from Gulf states, despite their close relations with Russia. Zelenskyy also plans to attend the G-7 meeting in Japan, where new sanctions on Russia will be discussed, and he will advocate for receiving F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine. The success of Ukraine's counteroffensive and the West's threshold for success are topics of interest.
In Greece, the center-right New Democracy Party led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is leading in the polls. However, the hard left-wingers of Syriza, who previously lost power, are close behind. The social democrats of PASOK are polling third. The youth vote, representing a "lost generation" affected by economic hardship, could be an important factor in the election outcome. Coalition talks may be necessary without a clear winner, with PASOK potentially playing a role.
Governor Greg Gianforte of Montana signed a bill to ban TikTok in the state, citing concerns over data privacy and Chinese government influence. The ban, set to take effect in 2024, has faced legal challenges from TikTok and free speech advocates. Enforcing the ban will be challenging, as users can still access the app if they already have it on their phones. Montana's law could be a model for other states or federal lawmakers considering similar actions.
Syrian dictator Bashar Assad was welcomed in Saudi Arabia for an Arab League summit, marking the first time he has been in the Gulf since the start of the Syrian war. The invitation is seen as a snub to Western countries that continue to isolate Assad and a victory for his key backers, Iran and Russia. Arab states have different reasons for seeking détente with Assad, including repairing ties with Iran, economic interests, and reconstruction contracts.
President Joe Biden's planned visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG) was cut short due to the need to negotiate a debt ceiling deal with Republicans in Congress. This disappointed PNG's Prime Minister James Marape, who saw Biden's visit reaffirming US engagement in the Pacific. PNG holds geopolitical significance as the US and China vie for regional influence. Biden sought to counter China's growing clout by signing a defense cooperation and maritime surveillance pact with PNG. The cancellation raises questions about US commitment in the region and opens opportunities for China.
Other news includes ongoing negotiations for a US budget deal with Republican lawmakers, the sentencing of a terrorist for a deadly attack in New York, semiconductor producers expanding production and investment in Japan, Italy's plan to invest in upskilling workers for tech advancements, and the relocation of a walrus named Smooshi from Canada to Abu Dhabi.
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