MIDDLE EAST – Saudi and Omani representatives are set to visit Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, next week to discuss a lasting ceasefire agreement with Iran-allied Houthi leaders. This move comes after Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore their relations last month, ending years of hostility and support for opposing factions in Middle Eastern conflicts, including in Yemen.

EUROPE – On Thursday, European Union officials spoke with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about global food security and sanctions imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. They also approved a plan to provide more artillery ammunition to Kyiv.

EUROPE – Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, stated that Ukraine has chosen to fight in the ravaged city of Bakhmut because it weakens Russian elite forces in anticipation of a Ukrainian counter-offensive planned for spring. Podolyak’s comments are the latest indication of a strategy shift by Kiev this week to continue defending the small eastern town, the scene of the deadliest battle of the war, as Moscow seeks its first major victory in over six months.

CHINA – Li Qiang, 63, a close collaborator of President Xi Jinping, is tasked with the difficult mission of revitalizing the Chinese economy, which has been severely affected by three years of Covid-19 restrictions. He takes office as relations with the West become tense over several issues, including US efforts to limit China’s access to essential technologies and the diversification of supply chains by many international companies to reduce their dependence on China due to political risks and pandemic-related disruptions.