"American backing for Bukele's legislation enabling prolonged presidential tenure indefinitely"
In international news, US President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week to discuss an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. This potential meeting comes amidst ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Elsewhere, the Bank of England has marginally raised its growth forecast for the year to 1.25%. This positive economic outlook follows a series of challenging periods for the UK economy.
In a humanitarian development, Rwanda has agreed to take as many as 250 migrants deported from the US. This decision marks a significant move in global migration policies.
Meanwhile, the long-term effects of the US abandoning its role in global human rights advocacy have been causing concern. The withdrawal could lead to a significant weakening of international human rights monitoring, diminished global moral leadership, emboldening of authoritarian regimes, erosion of democratic norms worldwide, and a shrinking of support for civil society and human rights organizations.
Recent trends have shown the US significantly reducing its human rights reporting, retreating from commitments to refugee protection, and undermining domestic and international human rights enforcement. This has contributed to a global trend toward nationalism and skepticism toward international aid, inhibiting global efforts to defend human rights.
In other news, Germany has paused exporting military equipment to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government has backed a plan to take control of Gaza City, but the head of the Israeli military has pushed back, citing exhaustion of forces.
The US has announced an additional 25% tariff on India over its purchase of Russian oil, and Trump has threatened 100% tariffs on imported semiconductors. Health, space, and climate agencies will all see major cuts, with the National Science Foundation budget being more than halved.
In the UK, GDP shrank in April and May, and unemployment rose last quarter. The Bank of England has cut interest rates by a quarter point to 4%.
In Asia, communities are grappling with extreme weather as climate change makes monsoon season more erratic. Around 81 million people in the US are under air quality alerts, and deaths in Japan outnumbered births by 900,000 last year, resulting in a population decline to 120 million.
In a positive development, a significant majority of Ukrainians now favor a negotiated settlement in the conflict, according to new Gallup research, marking a sharp reversal from the beginning of the war. The operation involves a phased effort with military operations and increased humanitarian support.
Finally, India and Brazil have moved to resist US trade pressure, committing to "defending multilateralism" and separately seeking to gird their economies against US tariffs. The US trade deficit shrank in June to its lowest level in nearly two years.
Politics and general news are intertwined as the potential meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin next week raises questions over Russia's war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, in the realm of crime and justice, the US has implemented a 25% tariff on India over its purchase of Russian oil, with threats of 100% tariffs on imported semiconductors.
