1. The head of Japan’s technology and investment conglomerate SoftBank Group says artificial intelligence is set to make huge contributions to the global economy. Chairman and CEO Son Masayoshi dismissed concerns about overinvestment in the technology and said he is confident the company will recoup its massive spending on AI in a short period.
2. US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Moscow to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The visit comes soon after US-Ukraine talks in Florida over the weekend. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Witkoff and Putin are expected to meet on Tuesday. Ahead of the talks in Moscow, Zelenskyy met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday. He stressed that the “territorial issue” is the most difficult.
3. The head of the International Criminal Court has urged members to stay unified in the face of pressure from the United States and Russia, saying “coercive measures” are clearly aimed at undermining the existence and reputation of the court. ICC President Akane Tomoko stressed: “The response of the Court has been absolutely unambiguous. Our independence and impartiality are our polar stars and remain unaffected. The ICC’s mandate is to try individuals charged with genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.