Gaza: EU reassesses accords with Israel; UN: No aid distributed yet

Today’s headlines: At least four children killed in suicide bombing targeting a bus in Pakistan; Three dead due to flooding in Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley; North Korean authorities aim to block calls to Seoul via Chinese phones; In Cambodia, environmental journalist arrested over deforestation report.

GAZA – ISRAEL

Israeli forces continue to bomb Gaza, killing at least 38 people overnight. The European Union has launched a review of its 25-year-old association agreement with Israel, now under scrutiny due to the ongoing situation in Gaza. This comes amid growing international pressure, including a joint statement by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. According to UN offices, no humanitarian aid has yet been distributed in Gaza, despite lorries beginning to cross the border. Without urgent action, 14,000 children are at risk of dying.

INDIA

Parts of the southern Indian city of Bengaluru—often dubbed the Silicon Valley of India—are submerged following heavy rainfall. The city remains on alert for further downpours ahead of the monsoon season, fuelled by cyclonic activity in the Andaman Sea. Three people, including a 12-year-old child, were killed in rain-related incidents. Bengaluru is home to major global tech firms, many of which have instructed employees to work from home.

PAKISTAN

At least four children have been killed in a suicide bombing targeting a military school bus in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. Around 40 students were on board the bus, which was en route to an army-run school. Many were injured in the attack, which has been claimed by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an ultra-radical Islamist group.

NORTH KOREA

North Korean authorities are attempting to block calls to South Korea made by North Koreans using Chinese mobile phones. A source told Radio Free Asia that high-performance portable signal detectors have been issued to border security agents as part of an intensive crackdown. The government continues to maintain tight internal surveillance and operates its own national intranet, separate from the global internet.

CAMBODIA

An environmental journalist who reported on deforestation in an area rich in wildlife has been arrested on charges of incitement and defamation. The incident is seen as another sign of deteriorating press freedom in Cambodia, according to human rights groups. Ouk Mao, 49, was detained from his home in the north-eastern province of Stung Treng last Friday by plainclothes officers who reportedly did not present a warrant.

EU – SYRIA

The European Union has lifted economic sanctions on Syria in an effort to support the country’s recovery from years of war and dictatorship under Bashar al-Assad. The EU’s policy shift follows a similar move by the United States last week, which also announced a lifting of sanctions on Damascus. The EU measures, originally imposed in 2012 and 2013 during Assad’s presidency, targeted sectors including transport, energy, and banking.

RUSSIA – UKRAINE

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed General Andrey Mordvichev as the new commander of the ground forces. The 49-year-old, known for his use of so-called “human wave” tactics, led the brutal siege of Mariupol in 2022 and was promoted in 2023 with the backing of Yevgeny Prigozhin. Meanwhile, the EU has adopted its 17th package of sanctions against Moscow in response to Russia’s “war of aggression against Ukraine”.