Comment on Midway Through the Ultimate Election Year: How the World Has Voted So Far

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin may end a 52-year-old ban on afternoon alcohol sales after appeals from the tourism industry, which is struggling with rising costs and weak consumer spending. “PM Srettha is pleased to consider proposals from restaurant operators to change laws that ban sales of alcoholic beverages from 2 p.m.-5 p.m.,” according to a statement on the Royal Thai Government website. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Such a move would provide relief to many thirsty tourists in Thailand, which is sweltering in temperatures of almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and help bars, hotels and eateries.

Chinese and Philippine diplomats agreed to ease South China Sea tensions but stood firm on their nations’ claims during a meeting that followed one of their most serious maritime clashes. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong and Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro had “frank and constructive” discussions at a regular bilateral meeting on the South China Sea in Manila on Tuesday, according to the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs.

This week, Hurricane Beryl became the earliest hurricane in history to reach the Category 5 level in the Atlantic Ocean, battering the Caribbean and killing at least six—and experts say that climate change is making it much more likely for extreme weather events like this to occur. The National Hurricane Center said Tuesday that Beryl is “expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands Wednesday night and Thursday.” The hurricane isn’t the only extreme weather event that has occurred around the world over the past few days—fierce storms led to flooding in Switzerland and Italy; and wildfires raged in Greece and Arizona.

Santiago, Chile — Hannah, a 13-year-old white rhinoceros, has delivered a newborn calf in a rare zoo birth for the almost endangered species. The arrival of the male calf, named Silverio, two weeks ago marked the third time that a white rhino had ever been born in South America. The Buin Zoo in Chile’s capital of Santiago unveiled Silverio to the public on Tuesday as he took his first giant-footed steps after 12 days of medical care in confinement. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The zoo hailed his birth as a “big achievement” for conservationists worldwide.

(WASHINGTON) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that the U. S. will soon announce an additional $2.3 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, to include anti-tank weapons, interceptors and munitions for Patriot and other air defense systems. Austin’s remarks came as Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with him at the Pentagon.

BUDAPEST — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was in Kyiv on Tuesday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, his first visit to the country since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Orbán’s press chief confirmed to Hungarian news agency MTI that the Prime Minister had arrived in the Ukrainian capital in the morning for the talks.