A report suggests that the global economy is facing significant threats due to Russian oil disruptions. According to the report, Russia's actions are causing a shortage of crude oil, leading to increased prices and economic instability worldwide. India, however, is estimated to be bearing a manageable burden of around $5 billion annually as a result of these disruptions.
The US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War claims Russia is sending small sabotage groups towards Ukrainian positions, but warns it's too early to consider the advances around Dobropillia as a significant operational-level breakthrough. Ukraine's military also reports probing by Russian forces with sabotage teams, describing battles as intense and unpredictable.
Russian hackers are suspected of sabotaging a dam in Norway in April by remotely controlling the valve to increase water flow, according to Norwegian Police Security Service director Beate Gangås. The incident is part of a campaign of disruption across Europe blamed on Russia, with over 70 incidents plotted on a map by the Associated Press. Western officials have described the campaign as "reckless" and violent, with intelligence suggesting an increase in attacks since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. A video showing the dam's control panel and identifying a pro-Russian cybercriminal group was published on Telegram after the incident.
South Africa has rejected a "deeply flawed" US human rights report, calling it an "inaccurate account that fails to reflect the reality of our constitutional democracy". The report, released by the US State Department, accused South Africa of taking steps towards land expropriation and abusing racial minorities.
Human rights investigators have uncovered evidence of a systematic commission of torture in a specific country, including sexual slavery, mutilation, and child detention. The abuse allegedly involved burning victims' bodies with cigarettes or burned objects, as well as pulling out fingernails with pliers. Children between the ages of 2 and 17 were detained, often replacing their parents, and some suffered torture, ill-treatment, or sexual and gender-based crimes.
The US State Department's 2024 Human Rights Report has been scaled back under President Trump's administration, downplaying criticism of countries like El Salvador and Israel that have faced allegations of human rights abuses. In contrast, it has increased scrutiny of Brazil and South Africa, while omitting criticism of governments on LGBTQ+ rights. The report also toned down its language regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, instead referring to it as the "Russia-Ukraine war".
US President Donald Trump declined to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy at the Alaska summit, instead opting for a bilateral meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The US proposal aimed to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine, but European leaders expressed concerns that Trump may reward Putin for his territorial gains. Ukrainian forces have recently retaken villages from Russian control, while intelligence suggests North Korea is supporting Russia's efforts with 11,000 troops. Zelenskyy rejected a proposal by Putin to withdraw from 30% of the Donetsk region, calling it unconstitutional and a potential invasion tactic. The US-led diplomatic efforts have not addressed key Ukrainian demands for security guarantees against Russian aggression.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called a meeting with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and several European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in Berlin. Zelensky will be present at the meeting and is scheduled to brief reporters later on his expected participation.
The Trump administration has shifted its approach to promoting democracy and human rights, viewing it as interference in another country's affairs. This is evident in its selective criticism of countries such as Romania, Germany, and France, where officials have denounced the suppression of right-wing leaders. The State Department's Human Rights Report, which has been a reference point for global rights advocacy, was revamped after hundreds of employees were fired from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour. This year's report criticized courts in Brazil for undermining freedom of speech, particularly against supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial for allegedly conspiring to overturn his loss to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The report also highlighted worsening human rights conditions in South Africa, where the Trump administration has accused the government of racial discrimination towards Afrikaners.