11 hours ago
Live now
Last Updated:August 25, 2025, 13:30 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
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.
Israel Accused Of Misleading On Gaza War Goals And Inflating Militant Death Toll
Israel’s political and military leadership has for two years allegedly misled their country and the world about the war in Gaza, which has overwhelmingly killed civilians, according to a report in The Guardian. Citing a classified military intelligence database and sources from the elite Unit 8200, the joint investigation claims that the focus on a ‘war dashboard’ showing the number of militants killed became an objective in itself. This approach reportedly came with no clear plan for how Gaza could be governed post-conflict. The investigation found that as of May, the database listed 8,900 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters as killed or probably killed, a figure that suggests official claims were inflated.
Nigerian Military Airstrikes Free 76 Hostages In Katsina State
At least 76 hostages, including children, have been freed in Nigeria’s northwest Katsina state following precision military airstrikes against militant targets, AP said in a report. According to local authorities, the operation was launched in the early hours of Saturday in the Kankara area as part of a manhunt for a notorious kidnapper. The rescue is part of the Nigerian government’s ongoing security operations against armed gangs responsible for a widespread kidnapping crisis in the region.
Memoir By Late Epstein Accuser Virginia Giuffre Set For October Release
A posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, a key accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, will be published on October 21, AP said in a report. The book, titled “Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice,” was completed by Giuffre before her death in April and is described by the publisher as “unsparing.” The release is expected to reignite public discourse on the Epstein network, potentially creating significant reputational and legal risks for high-profile individuals and financial institutions previously associated with him. This follows past legal actions against figures like Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell, and the memoir’s contents could prompt further scrutiny or civil inquiries, impacting those implicated in the global sex trafficking operation.
Jesuit Leader's Sainthood Bid In Doubt After Abuse Cover-Up Revealed
Internal correspondence from the 1970s and 1980s shows that Jesuit officials, including then-Superior General Pedro Arrupe, were aware that Donald B Dickerson had molested children but still permitted his ordination and promotion, The Guardian said in a report. These documents, which detail the order’s internal struggles in handling the case, have surfaced as part of a June 2024 Louisiana state court lawsuit alleging Dickerson raped a student in 1984. The revelations cast a shadow over the ongoing process for the potential canonization of Arrupe and are presented as another development in the worldwide Catholic Church’s clergy abuse scandal.
Mass Protests In Australia Call For Sanctions On Israel
Tens of thousands of people marched across major Australian cities demanding sanctions on Israel and an end to the arms trade between the two countries, AP said in a report. Peaceful rallies took place in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and other towns, with protesters calling for action to address the humanitarian crisis affecting Palestinians. While police estimated the crowd in Sydney at 10,000, organizers claimed 100,000 people participated in that city alone, with a total of 300,000 marching nationwide.
UN-Backed Body Confirms Famine In Gaza Amid Aid Obstruction Allegations
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed body, has officially confirmed famine conditions in Gaza, with humanitarian organizations stating that Israeli policies have systematically obstructed the flow of essential food supplies, BBC says in a report. Aid agencies cite severe logistical challenges, active hostilities, and frequent denials of access for aid convoys, particularly to northern Gaza, as primary obstacles. The situation was reportedly worsened by the severe disruption of the Rafah crossing, a key aid conduit, following Israeli military operations in May 2024. While aid groups and international bodies point to these obstructions, the Israeli government maintains it facilitates aid and attributes shortages and delays to logistical challenges and the actions of Hamas.
Turkish First Lady Urges Melania Trump to Speak Out for Gaza's Children
Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdogan has publicly appealed to US First Lady Melania Trump to speak out on behalf of children suffering in the Gaza conflict, Al Jazeera says in a report. The request was made in a letter that references Melania Trump’s previous humanitarian advocacy, specifically her communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the repatriation of Ukrainian children. Erdogan’s letter highlights the severe humanitarian crisis affecting children in Gaza and calls on her US counterpart to extend her concern to the Palestinian situation, reflecting Turkey’s strong pro-Palestinian foreign policy stance.
Spain Confirms Most Intense Heatwave On Record
Spain’s state meteorological agency, AEMET, has confirmed that the 16-day heatwave from August 3-18 was the country’s most intense on record, according to a report in The Guardian. Provisional data showed average temperatures were 4.6C higher than in previous comparable phenomena, surpassing the last record set in July 2022 and marking the hottest period since at least 1950. The extreme heat has fueled deadly wildfires that continue to rage, placing significant strain on the nation’s public health systems and economy. The event, part of a broader trend of extreme heat across Southern Europe, has severe implications for Spain’s agriculture and tourism sectors, exacerbates drought conditions, and increases pressure on the government to accelerate climate adaptation policies.
Israel Reportedly Conducts Airstrikes In Yemen's Capital
Houthi-run television has claimed that Israeli airstrikes have targeted Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, days after the rebels allegedly fired cluster munitions toward Israel, AP says in a report. This claim, which has not been independently verified, marks a potential major escalation in the regional conflict, which has seen the Houthis launch numerous missiles and drones at Israel since October 2023. A direct Israeli strike on Yemeni soil, if confirmed, would represent a significant geographical expansion of the conflict and could provoke further Houthi retaliation against Israeli interests and international shipping in the crucial Red Sea trade route, impacting global supply chains and regional stability.
Russia Claims Drone Attack Caused Fire At Ukraine Nuclear Plant
Russia has claimed that a Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), as per a report in Deutsche Welle. The alleged incident, which has not been independently verified, coincides with Ukraine’s celebration of its Independence Day on August 24. The ZNPP, the largest nuclear facility in Europe, has been under Russian occupation since early in the conflict, raising persistent global concerns. The Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which maintains a presence at the site, has repeatedly warned about the severe risks of military activity in the vicinity, highlighting the potential for a major nuclear accident.
Tens Of Thousands Rally For Palestine Across Australia
Tens of thousands of people have demonstrated in cities across Australia, showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict, according to a report in Al Jazeera. The rallies, part of a broader global wave of similar protests, are a response to the escalating conflict and the severe humanitarian crisis in the region. These large-scale demonstrations are increasing pressure on the Australian government to address its foreign policy stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict and are impacting domestic political discourse.
Israeli Protesters Confront Far-Right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir
Protesters confronted Israel’s Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, accusing him of actively pursuing war, Al Jazeera says in a report. The incident is part of a wider trend of anti-government demonstrations in Israel, which have grown to include criticism of the government’s management of the ongoing conflict and the hostage crisis. Ben-Gvir, a key figure in the far-right coalition, has publicly advocated for a more aggressive military strategy and has opposed making concessions in hostage negotiations, contributing to political divisions within Israel’s government and society.
China Tensions At Forefront Of South Korea-US Presidential Meeting
A meeting between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Donald Trump is highlighting the growing friction within their long-standing alliance, according to a report in The New York Times. This tension stems from the US’s intensified strategic competition with China, which places South Korea in a difficult position. Seoul must balance its critical security partnership with Washington against its deep economic reliance on Beijing, its largest trading partner. The pressure is particularly acute in the technology sector, where US export controls on semiconductors aimed at China directly impact major South Korean companies and the global supply chain.
Israel Strikes Houthi Targets In Yemen Following Escalation
Israeli airstrikes hit multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, on Sunday in a significant regional escalation of conflict, according to a report in AP. The strikes, which the Houthi-run health ministry said killed at least two people and wounded 35, were reportedly in retaliation for a recent Houthi cluster bomb attack on Israel—the first of its kind since 2023. Houthi media reported that an oil company was among the sites hit. This direct Israeli military action in Yemen, expanding beyond its typical engagements in Lebanon and Syria, heightens concerns over broader regional instability and the security of critical Red Sea shipping lanes, which have already been disrupted by Houthi attacks on commercial vessels.
