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Putin's Russia
EU countries engage in clandestine trade in Russian oil

EU countries import large quantities of oil of Russian origin. The trade is largely hidden and goes via countries such as India and Turkey, DN reports.

India's imports of Russian oil increased by 140 percent in 2023. During the same period, the EU's imports of refined oil from India increased by 115 percent. The EU countries that buy the most are the Netherlands, France and Italy.

Ports in Turkey receive Russian oil and store it before reselling it to the EU, despite the strict restrictions.

In addition to intermediaries such as India and Turkey, a large part of the trade takes place via the so-called Russian shadow fleet. The trade in these uninsured and unregistered vessels can be a direct violation of EU sanctions and also poses a threat to the environment.

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Global public health
Betting and casino games are an increasing threat to public health

Sports and casino gambling is a growing threat to public health, according to a new Lancet report. This is due, among other things, to increased access via mobile use.

Around 450 million people have experienced negative consequences both socially and personally as a result of their gambling. Of those, 80 million suffer from gambling addiction. But the numbers are conservatively estimated, writes The Guardian.

- Anyone with a mobile phone now has access to what is a casino in their pocket, 24 hours a day. Sophisticated marketing and technology make it easier to start, and harder to stop playing, says Professor Heather Wardle, who was involved in producing the report.

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Gang violence  Crime
Criminal gangs request IDs from children being recruited

Gang criminals have elaborate digital strategies to recruit children, the police write in a press release.

The contact is often made via common social media such as Instagram, Tiktok and Snapchat, where many children follow gang criminals.

On these platforms, criminals advertise their expensive lifestyles. They also outsource missions such as transporting weapons or drugs, shooting people or blowing up gates.

Once willing children are identified, they are encouraged to download encrypted chat apps such as Signal or Telegram. There, they request criminal images on the children's ID documents to ensure that they do not withdraw from the assignments.

"If they do, there is often some form of blackmail or other retaliation against the youth and sometimes also against relatives," the police write.

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The floods in the Philippines
The death toll rises after the storm in the Philippines

Tropical Storm Trami continues to wreak havoc in the Philippines. The death toll has now risen to 65 people and several residents are still missing, the local police authority told AP.

The heavy downpours have in recent days caused floods and landslides on the main island of Luzon, which in turn has led to more than 200,000 people having to seek temporary shelter in evacuation centers, writes Reuters.

“I make this promise to our people: Help is on the way. It comes by land, air and also by sea," writes the country's president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on X.