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Last Updated:August 28, 2025, 10:45 IST
From geopolitics to climate, tech to social change, News18 World live blog delivers real-time updates on what is the latest from around the globe
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Stay informed with our World News Live Blog — your real-time window into global events. From major geopolitical developments and scientific breakthroughs to royal family updates and cultural milestones, we bring you fast, factual, and curated updates as they happen. Whether it’s unfolding conflicts, diplomatic shifts, climate alerts, or key moments in international politics, our live blog keeps you ahead of the news curve. Designed for readers who want both speed and substance, this is your go-to source for staying connected with the world — minute by minute, headline by headline.
Denmark Issues Formal Apology For Forced Contraception In Greenland
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has formally apologised to the victims of a historical forced contraception program in Greenland that affected thousands of Inuit women and girls, BBC says in a report. The apology addresses a Danish policy from the 1960s and 1970s where an estimated 4,500 women and girls, some as young as 12, were fitted with intrauterine devices (IUDs), often without their full knowledge or consent. This official acknowledgement follows a March 2024 inquiry that confirmed the unethical nature of the program and a lawsuit filed by 143 victims against the Danish state in October 2023. The apology is a significant event in Denmark-Greenland relations, addressing a painful legacy from the period when Greenland was administered as a Danish county.
Zelenskyy's Aides To Meet With US President Trump's Team In New York
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that his aides will meet with representatives of US President Donald Trump’s team in New York on Friday, Al Jazeera said in a report. The meeting is part of an intensified diplomatic effort by Ukraine to secure international support and advance its peace formula amid the ongoing Russian invasion. These efforts also include visits to the Middle East and other parts of Europe.
Italy's Meloni Says Israeli Attacks on Gaza Are Disproportionate
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza as disproportionate, citing “too many innocent victims,” AP says in a report. Speaking at a political conference on Wednesday, Meloni stated that while Italy supports Israel’s right to self-defense following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, the subsequent military reaction has now gone “beyond the principle of proportionality.” Her statement adds to growing diplomatic pressure on Israel from some Western allies regarding the scale of civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis in the ongoing conflict.
Report Documents Rising Violence And Displacement In West Bank
A report documents an escalation of violence by Israeli settlers and military forces in the occupied West Bank, which has contributed to the displacement of Palestinians and the seizure of land, according to a report in Al Jazeera. The report highlights a significant surge in attacks by settlers and intensified military raids since October 2023, resulting in increased Palestinian casualties and arrests. Concurrently, the expansion of Israeli settlements and the demolition of Palestinian structures have continued, further fragmenting Palestinian territory. These developments are compounded by growing restrictions on movement for Palestinians, impacting their access to essential services and livelihoods.
Lawyers For Moroccan Feminist In Blasphemy Case Urge Release Citing Health
Lawyers for a Moroccan feminist on trial for blasphemy urged a court in Rabat on Wednesday to grant her provisional release due to declining health, as per a report in AP. The woman, identified in reports as Fatima Karim, is being prosecuted for allegedly offending Islam after posting a photo of herself online in a shirt with the text “Allah is Lesbian.” The case, which draws international attention to Morocco’s laws on freedom of expression, sees prosecutors arguing the post violates the country’s criminal code against offending Islam or the monarchy. Her attorney, Naima Elguellaf, made the plea for freedom while the court deliberates on the charges.
Argentina Probes Nazi-Looted Artwork Found In Real Estate Ad
Argentine police have raided a seaside villa in a search for a 17th-century Italian portrait allegedly looted from a Jewish art dealer in Amsterdam 80 years ago, as per a report in AP. The investigation was triggered after Dutch reporters spotted the masterpiece, titled ‘Portrait of a Lady’, in an online real estate advertisement for the villa. Historical sources link the artwork to a fugitive Nazi officer who is believed to have settled in Argentina after World War II.
UN Security Council To Vote On Ending Lebanon Peacekeeping Mission By 2026
The UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution to end its long-standing peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) by December 31, 2026, as per a report in AP. The vote on the French-drafted resolution follows an agreement where the United States, which had initially demanded a one-year termination, did not object to the 16-month timeline. According to diplomats cited in the report, this signals the resolution is likely to be approved.
Macron Defends Call For Palestinian Statehood In Letter To Netanyahu
French President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed his country’s support for Palestinian statehood in a direct communication to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, The New York Times says in a report. In the letter, Macron also pushed back against accusations from Netanyahu that France has failed to do enough to protect its Jewish population from a rise in antisemitic attacks. The exchange highlights ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two nations and comes amid increased international calls for a two-state solution following the prolonged conflict in Gaza.
Denmark Summons US Envoy Over Greenland Influence Reports
Denmark has summoned the US head of mission over allegations of covert American influence in Greenland, a move signaling significant political friction between the two NATO allies, Deutsche Welle said in a report. The diplomatic action follows reports that the US sought to influence opinion on the island, which is strategically critical due to its location and potential resources amidst growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic from powers like Russia and China. This development escalates tensions that previously flared in 2019 when Donald Trump, during his first presidential term, proposed purchasing the territory, highlighting the high stakes involved in controlling Arctic shipping routes and access to natural resources.
Families Of Prisoners Rally In Lebanon Demanding General Amnesty
Families of prisoners are rallying in front of a prison in Lebanon to demand a general amnesty for inmates, as per a report in AP. The demonstration takes place amid long-standing concerns over severe prison overcrowding and the impact of the nation’s ongoing economic crisis on the judicial system.
European Powers To Reimpose Sanctions On Iran Amid Fading Diplomatic Hopes
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are set to trigger the dispute resolution mechanism within the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a move that would reimpose international sanctions on Tehran, the Financial Times says in a report. The decision by the E3 nations comes as diplomatic efforts to revive the accord have stalled and concerns grow over Iran’s significant expansion of its nuclear program beyond the agreement’s limits. Triggering the mechanism is a formal declaration of Iran’s non-compliance, which could lead to the ‘snapback’ of all pre-2015 UN sanctions that were lifted as part of the original agreement.
Denmark And Greenland Apologize For Forced Contraception Of Inuit Women
The governments of Denmark and Greenland have issued a formal apology for the historic mistreatment of Greenlandic Indigenous women, specifically acknowledging a forced contraception program from the 1960s and 1970s, AP said in a report. The apology from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte B. Egede comes after a lawsuit was filed in 2023 by nearly 150 Inuit women seeking compensation for the systemic, state-sanctioned “spiral campaign.” During this campaign, intrauterine devices (IUDs) were inserted into thousands of women and girls, often without their informed consent. Frederiksen stated that while the past cannot be changed, “we can take responsibility,” and Egede called the events “a dark chapter in our history.”
Parents Sue OpenAI Over Allegation AI Contributed To Teen's Suicide
The parents of a 16-year-old who took his own life have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the company’s AI chatbot, ChatGPT, ‘actively helped’ him in the act, according to a report in BBC. The lawsuit filed by the Raine family directly challenges the effectiveness of OpenAI’s stated safety policies, which are designed to prevent the generation of content that encourages self-harm. This case is significant as it could set a major legal precedent regarding the liability of AI developers for harm caused by their models’ outputs and adds urgency to global discussions on AI regulation and safety.
UNICEF Warns Of Starvation In Sudan's El-Fasher Amid Siege
UNICEF is warning that children in the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher are starving due to a blockade on humanitarian aid, Al Jazeera says in a report. The city, the last major urban center in Darfur not controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has been under an intensified siege since April 2024, with fierce fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) preventing the delivery of life-saving supplies. This blockade has led to a rapid deterioration in health and nutritional status, particularly among children, raising the risk of famine-like conditions. The potential fall of el-Fasher could consolidate RSF control over the entire Darfur region, prolonging the conflict and threatening to destabilize the broader Sahel with increased refugee flows and security threats.
Russia Faces Fuel Crisis After Ukrainian Attacks On Oil Refineries
Russia is confronting a severe domestic fuel crisis, with motorists facing long queues, empty petrol stations, and surging prices, according to a report in The Guardian. The shortages are a direct result of a sustained campaign of Ukrainian drone strikes that have damaged and disabled a significant portion of the country’s oil refining capacity. This situation presents a stark contrast to Russia’s status as a global energy superpower, creating economic hardship and public frustration in several regions.
Mexico Halts Postal Shipments To US Over Tariff Uncertainty
Mexico has suspended its postal shipments to the US following confusion over the Trump administration’s decision to end a tariff exemption for low-value packages, as per a report in AP. The move by Mexico’s postal service follows similar actions by the European Union and other countries who are seeking clarity on the new US measure. This development occurs amid broader, ongoing trade negotiations between the Mexican government and the current US administration to prevent more extensive tariffs.
SpaceX Completes Fourth Starship Test Flight And Deploys Test Payload
SpaceX’s fourth integrated test flight of its Starship system, the world’s largest and most powerful rocket, successfully launched from south Texas and completed its key objectives, according to a report in AP. The mission marked a significant milestone by deploying eight mass simulator satellites to test its payload delivery mechanism. Following its coast through space, the Starship vehicle executed a controlled re-entry and soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The Super Heavy booster also performed a successful soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. This test flight is critical for NASA’s Artemis program, which has selected Starship as the human landing system to return astronauts to the Moon.
IAEA Head: Iran's Nuclear Cooperation a 'Work in Progress' as Sanctions Loom
The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog warned on Wednesday that Iran’s cooperation with international inspectors remains unsatisfactory, as per a report in AP. The statement comes as US and European leaders held discussions about potential sanctions after last-minute diplomatic meetings failed to resolve the standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program. While inspectors have been allowed back into Iran, the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed they do not have full access, a key point of contention that challenges the agency’s ability to verify the program’s peaceful nature.
Denmark And Greenland Apologize For Forced Inuit Contraception Program
Denmark and Greenland have officially apologized for their roles in a historic forced contraception program that targeted Indigenous Greenlandic women and girls, AP said in a report. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that while the past cannot be changed, the government can take responsibility, and Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte B. Egede called the program a ‘dark chapter’ in history. The apology addresses abuses dating back to the 1960s, where thousands of women and girls had intrauterine devices (IUDs) inserted, often without their consent. This official acknowledgment follows a 2022 lawsuit filed by nearly 150 Inuit women seeking compensation from the Danish state.
European Leaders Visit Moldova To Show Support Ahead Of Key Election
The leaders of France and Poland, along with Germany’s opposition leader, traveled to Moldova on Wednesday to affirm their support for the EU-candidate nation on its 34th Independence Day, as per a report in AP. French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and German opposition leader Friedrich Merz held talks with Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Chisinau. The high-profile visit is seen as a strong signal of backing for Moldova’s sovereignty and its pro-Western path, particularly as President Sandu has warned of potential Russian interference in the country’s upcoming presidential election.
Submerged Stone Age Settlement Discovered Off Danish Coast
Archaeologists have discovered a submerged Stone Age settlement from over 8,500 years ago in Denmark’s Bay of Aarhus, according to a report in AP. Divers descended about 8 meters below the surface to collect evidence from the coastal settlement, which was swallowed by rising sea levels following the last ice age. The gradual submergence created an anaerobic environment that preserved the site ‘like a time capsule,’ protecting organic materials and structures from decay.
Floods Kill 32 In Jammu, Displace 150,000 In Pakistan
Intense monsoon rains across parts of India and Pakistan have caused severe flooding, leaving at least 32 people dead in the Jammu region, AP said in a report. Many people are also reported missing following a landslide that struck a Hindu pilgrimage route in the area. In neighboring Pakistan, torrential rains in the eastern Punjab province have displaced over 150,000 people, prompting authorities to request army assistance for rescue and relief operations.
Sovereign Citizen Ideology In Focus After Australian Police Killing
A police manhunt in Australia for Dezi Freeman, a man wanted for the alleged killing of police officers, has brought the ‘sovereign citizen’ movement into sharp focus, BBC says in a report. This anti-government extremist ideology involves adherents believing they are not subject to national laws, taxes, or court orders. The incident underscores the significant risks law enforcement face when encountering individuals who reject state authority and has triggered increased scrutiny of such groups. The case is expected to pose considerable challenges to the Australian judicial system and has raised broader concerns about public safety and the potential for radical conspiracy theories to escalate into real-world violence, impacting social and political stability.
