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Last Updated:July 29, 2025, 09:07 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
News18
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
North Korea rejects dialogue overtures from South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol
In its first official comment on South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration, North Korea has dismissed his calls for dialogue, according to a report in The New York Times. The rejection is a significant setback for any immediate prospects of improving inter-Korean relations. President Yoon had proposed a “bold plan” offering substantial economic aid to North Korea, contingent on Pyongyang taking concrete steps toward denuclearization. This response from North Korea continues a period of heightened tensions on the peninsula, marked by its frequent missile tests and strong opposition to joint military exercises between South Korea and the US.
Israeli settler kills Palestinian activist from award-winning film in West Bank
An Israeli settler has reportedly killed Palestinian activist Odeh Hadalin in the occupied West Bank community of Masafer Yatta, Al Jazeera says in a report. Hadalin was a resident featured in the documentary ‘No Other Land,’ which won an audience award at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival for its portrayal of the community’s struggle against forced displacement. The incident occurs amid a documented increase in settler violence in the West Bank and the ongoing threat of eviction faced by residents of Masafer Yatta, an area designated by Israel as a military firing zone. The killing has prompted renewed calls for the protection of Palestinian civilians and has drawn further international scrutiny to Israeli settlement activities, which are considered illegal under international law.
Global liver cancer cases projected to nearly double by 2050, study finds
Global liver cancer cases are projected to surge from 870,000 annually to 1.52 million by 2050 if current trends persist, as per a report in France 24. The study, published in The Lancet, identifies key drivers for the increase as obesity, alcohol consumption, and hepatitis. Citing data from the Global Cancer Observatory, the report notes that liver cancer is currently the sixth most common cancer worldwide, prompting calls from researchers for enhanced prevention efforts to mitigate the anticipated rise in cases and the subsequent strain on global healthcare systems.
Global demand and drought strain Morocco's argan oil industry
High global demand for argan oil from the beauty industry, coupled with severe drought conditions, is threatening Morocco’s argan forests and the economic stability of the rural women who depend on its production, according to a report in AP. The strain is causing deforestation and accelerating desertification within the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, an ecosystem designated by UNESCO in 1998. This situation poses significant supply chain and reputational risks for the global cosmetics industry, which relies on this ‘liquid gold.’ Furthermore, it highlights an economic disparity where local female producers often receive a disproportionately small share of the profits from the high-value international market, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability and ethics of the current production model.
Former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe convicted of bribery and witness tampering
A court in Bogotá has convicted former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe of witness tampering and procedural fraud, sentencing him to 7.5 years of house arrest and stripping him of his political rights for the same period, as per a report in AP. The charges stemmed from an investigation into Uribe’s alleged links to the AUC paramilitary group, with prosecutors presenting evidence that he attempted to bribe witnesses. This first-instance ruling, which his legal team will appeal, is a significant event for Colombia’s justice system. Uribe’s political party, the Democratic Center, has called the verdict politically motivated, while current Colombian President Gustavo Petro emphasized the importance of judicial independence.
