Latest news for 24 June 2025

UNITED STATES

House bans WhatsApp on staffer devices.

The House has warned staffers not to use Meta-owned messaging app WhatsApp on government devices, citing privacy and security concerns. The app is already approved for official use in the Senate. (Axios)

EUROPEAN UNION

Report finds Israel in breach.

An EU report has found indications Israel’s actions in Gaza are breaching its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. (AP)

Comment: While Spain and Ireland want to suspend the pact, they’d fall short of the required unanimous support. So debate might focus on (say) ending visa-free travel for Israelis, though even that would still need a qualified majority (ie, 15 of the bloc’s 27 nations, representing at least 65% of the EU’s population).

JAPAN

Voters punish ruling party.

Tokyo voters have dunked on Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), stripping the LDP from its dominant position in the local assembly in weekend elections. It’s a setback for the LDP just weeks before a national vote for Japan’s upper house. (Straits Times)

NORWAY

Buying drones from Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has announced Norway will invest $400M to help boost Ukraine’s production of drones and air defence missiles. (Kyiv Independent)Comment: One of the many unexpected results of Putin’s decision to invade his neighbour is that Ukraine now leads the world in drone warfare. Given Putin’s increasing reliance on missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, it’s unsurprising Ukraine would now jump at the chance to master Norway’s NASAMS air defence system.

CAMBODIA

Neighbourhood beef escalates.

SOUTH AFRICA

New $1.5B World Bank loan.

South Africa hopes its new $1.5B World Bank loan might help it revive the country’s ailing transport and energy infrastructure, as years of rolling blackouts and port congestion continue to hit growth. (South Africa’s treasury)