World News Roundup: Polish farmers plan general strike, blockade of Ukraine border; U.N. expert tells Philippines to act on media killings, abolish anti-communist task force and more

After years of resisting certain European Union climate policies under the previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, Poland's October 2023 election has marked a shift in Warsaw's stance on fighting climate change. Backs to the wall, Gazans fear Israeli assault on last refuge Israeli forces shelled the outskirts of the last refuge on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip on Friday, where the displaced, penned against the border fence in their hundreds of thousands, said they feared a new assault with nowhere left to flee.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Rafah is 'pressure cooker of despair' as Gazans flee south - UN agency

The United Nations humanitarian office on Friday voiced concern about the hostilities in Khan Younis that have forced more people to flee to Rafah in the far south of Gaza, describing the border town as a "pressure cooker of despair". The comments come as Israel prepares to advance its war on Gaza farther south, close to the Egyptian border, where most Gazans have sought refuge from the Israeli offensive.

Sentence halved for Malaysia's ex-PM Najib, jailed in 1MDB scandal

Former Malaysian premier Najib Razak, who was convicted of graft over the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, could be released by 2028 after his jail sentence was halved, prompting uproar from critics who called on the government to explain the decision. The pardons board, chaired by Malaysia's king, said on Friday it made the decision this week after reviewing an application for a royal pardon by Najib, who began serving a 12-year jail term in August 2022. It did not give a reason.

Thai opposition hit by fresh legal challenge as activists seek life bans

Activists in Thailand filed a petition on Friday seeking life bans for dozens of lawmakers of the Move Forward party, the latest in a series of moves to stifle a popular opposition that tried to review a tough law against insulting the monarchy. Complaints were submitted to the anti-graft commission to ban 44 Move Forward politicians for life, alleging serious breaches of ethics in backing a once unthinkable plan to amend one of the world's strictest lese majeste laws.

U.N. expert tells Philippines to act on media killings, abolish anti-communist task force

A United Nations expert urged the Philippines on Friday to do more to curb the killings of journalists and supported abolishing an anti-communism task force whose actions suppress the freedom of expression of activists. Irene Khan, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion, spent almost two weeks in the Philippines to assess the state of free speech and media rights.

Polish farmers plan general strike, blockade of Ukraine border

Polish farmers' Solidarity trade union plans a general strike starting next Friday with a blockade of border crossings between Poland and Ukraine, it said, joining similar protests all over Europe. Farmers in France, Belgium, Portugal, Greece and Germany have been protesting over the impact on farming of the EU's drive to tackle climate change, as well of opening the door to cheap Ukrainian imports to help Kyiv's war effort.

Exclusive-Poland to withdraw court cases against EU climate policies - sources

Poland will no longer take the EU to court to attempt to cancel numerous climate change policies, and is preparing to withdraw lawsuits the previous government had filed to do this, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. After years of resisting certain European Union climate policies under the previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, Poland's October 2023 election has marked a shift in Warsaw's stance on fighting climate change.

Backs to the wall, Gazans fear Israeli assault on last refuge

Israeli forces shelled the outskirts of the last refuge on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip on Friday, where the displaced, penned against the border fence in their hundreds of thousands, said they feared a new assault with nowhere left to flee. More than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are now homeless and crammed into Rafah. Tens of thousands more have arrived in recent days, carrying belongings in their arms and pulling children on carts, since Israeli forces launched one of the biggest assaults of the war last week to capture Khan Younis, the main southern city, just to the north of Rafah.

One month on from Japan quake, volunteers provide safe space for kids

One month on from a magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck the west coast of Japan, volunteers from non-profit organisation Katariba play cards and other games with children in a Suzu city school classroom. Sometimes they just read side by side. Some of kids are still living in evacation centres, where it is difficult to play. Others have parents who are busy trying to deal with the task of rebuilding homes and livelihoods since the quake, so it's important to provide children with a safe place, says Katariba member Yoshiki Itashiki.

'Take Our Border Back' vehicle convoy to rally near US-Mexico border

A vehicle convoy carrying Americans opposed to illegal immigration plans to rally at three points near the U.S.-Mexico border on Saturday, with organizers saying the action will focus on peaceful protest and prayer. Critics of the convoy, however, worry it could fuel anti-immigrant sentiment at a time of acrimonious political sparring over the border and high numbers of migrant crossings.

Hungary under pressure to ratify Sweden's NATO bid after EU deal

Pressure is mounting on Hungary to ratify Sweden's bid to join NATO after Budapest finally joined other European Union states in agreeing on new aid to Ukraine. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday he "went to the wall" for his country before agreeing to the EU deal worth 50 billion euros ($54 billion) at a summit in Brussels on Thursday after weeks of resistance.