June 8, 2022

*) Russia draws closer to capture of Ukraine's Donbass region Russia is drawing closer to its goal of fully capturing Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland of coal mines and factories. The Kremlin has claimed to have taken control of 97% of one of the two provinces that make up the eastern Donbass region. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu says that Moscow’s forces hold nearly all of Luhansk province. Russia is also believed to be occupying roughly half of Donetsk province. *) World Bank slashes 2022 global growth forecast to 2.9% The World Bank has slashed its growth estimate for the global economy to 2.9 percent, 1.2 percentage points below the January forecast. The world is expected to experience its sharpest deceleration following an initial recovery from global recession in more than 80 years, the bank has said in a report. Growth recovered to 5.7 percent in 2021 following disruptions triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. But the Russian offensive against Ukraine has caused a severe downturn. *) Ending Israel's occupation key to halting violence: UN report UN investigators have blamed Israel's continued occupation and discrimination against Palestinians for the endless cycles of violence in the decades-long conflict. A team of investigators, appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to probe "all underlying root causes" in the conflict, has pointed the finger squarely at Israel. Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called the report "a waste of money and effort" that amounted to a witch hunt. *) US stresses allied cooperation in face of North Korea threats US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has met with her counterparts from South Korea and Japan. Sherman has emphasised the US commitment to defend its allies and trilateral security cooperation. The top-level meeting comes amid apprehensions that North Korea is pressing ahead with preparations for its first nuclear test explosion in nearly five years. And, finally… *) Ice skating governing body raises minimum age to