Gaza, Israel launches Operation Gideon's Chariots: 115 dead in 24 hours

Today's news: Indian authorities abandoned 40 Rohingya at sea after being detained in New Dheli. In South Korea, former President Yoon leaves the PPP in an attempt to help candidate Kim Moon-soo back in the polls. The Indonesian navy seized a ship with 5 million worth of methamphetamine and cocaine. No truce and agreement on hostages from Ukraine and Russia's meeting in Istanbul

GAZA – ISRAEL

The Israeli army has announced that it launched large-scale strikes in the past 24 hours, marking the “initial phases” of the “Gideon’s Chariots” operation, which involves troops “taking control of strategic areas in the Gaza Strip.” Thousands of Palestinians were forced to evacuate areas in northern Gaza following orders by Israeli forces, while indiscriminate airstrikes have killed at least 115 people since dawn yesterday. Meanwhile, Trump has left the region without reaching any agreement.

INDIA – MYANMAR

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Indian authorities allegedly forced at least 40 Rohingya refugees off a military vessel in open waters near Myanmar, after providing them with life jackets. The refugees had previously been detained in New Delhi. Among them were children, women, and elderly individuals, who managed to swim to shore, though their current whereabouts in Myanmar remain unknown, the humanitarian agency added.

SOUTH KOREA

Ousted former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol announced on Facebook that he is leaving the conservative People Power Party (PPP). His statement comes as the PPP’s presidential candidate, Kim Moon-soo, is significantly trailing liberal Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung in the polls ahead of the early election scheduled for 3 June. In his post, Yoon called on supporters to back Kim Moon-soo.

INDONESIA

Indonesia’s navy off the coast of Sumatra has seized a vessel carrying nearly two tonnes of methamphetamine and cocaine, valued at 5 million. A Thai national and four citizens of Myanmar were arrested. Authorities intercepted the ship after it turned off its lights and attempted to speed away from Indonesian waters. Indonesia has some of the strictest anti-drug laws in the world, with trafficking punishable by death.

UKRAINE – RUSSIA – TURKEY

In Istanbul, Ukrainian and Russian delegations met for the first time since March 2022, a month after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Pressure from Turkey and the United States helped bring both sides to the negotiating table in Istanbul—without Trump or Putin present. The talks lasted under two hours and revealed deep divisions. There was no breakthrough on a ceasefire, but both sides agreed to a hostage exchange: each will return 1,000 prisoners of war.

SINGAPORE

Singapore has been ranked the world’s third “happiest” city for 2025, following Copenhagen and Zurich. Two other Asian cities also entered the top ten: Seoul in 6th place and Taipei in 8th. The ranking comes from the latest Happy City Indexby the Institute for the Quality of Life, which evaluated 82 indicators across six key themes that “directly impact” people’s happiness. According to the index, Singapore stands out as “a global beacon of economic prosperity, governance, and urban innovation.”

KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstan is approaching its record oil output, according to Orda.kz, with daily production expected to reach 1.7 million barrels in June—following a consistent level above 1.6 million barrels since February. This comes despite OPEC+ agreements to reduce global output levels, which Kazakhstan has said it will not implement “to its own detriment.”