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Last Updated:September 15, 2025, 15:30 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
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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.
WTO Agreement to Reduce Harmful Fishing Subsidies Takes Effect
A World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement aimed at reducing harmful fishing subsidies took effect on Monday, a development intended to ensure the sustainability of marine life and curb the depletion of global fish stocks, as per a report in AP. The agreement, which is the WTO’s first to focus primarily on environmental protection, prohibits subsidies contributing to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and those for fishing on overfished stocks. This marks the culmination of over two decades of negotiations and required ratification by two-thirds of the WTO’s members. While it represents a significant step, member nations are continuing negotiations for a broader agreement to address all forms of subsidies that lead to overcapacity and overfishing.
Iran Threatens To Halt Nuclear Inspections If UN Sanctions Are Reinstated
Iran’s Supreme Security Council has threatened to stop all nuclear inspections by the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) if major UN sanctions are reimposed, according to a report in Al Jazeera. This statement comes amid a long-standing stalemate in talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) and concerns from the IAEA about reduced monitoring access to Iran’s nuclear facilities. The threat specifically refers to the potential “snapback” of comprehensive sanctions that were in place before the 2015 agreement, a move that could significantly escalate tensions and further complicate diplomatic efforts.
Spanish City Of Santiago De Compostela Becomes Latest Overtourism Flashpoint
Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the final destination for the renowned Camino de Santiago Catholic pilgrimage, is grappling with the pressures of overtourism, as per a report in AP. In contrast to more confrontational anti-tourism measures seen in cities like Barcelona, a local neighborhood association has opted for a friendlier approach. The group has created, translated, and distributed a guide to good manners for visitors, aiming to foster better coexistence as the city contends with a record-breaking influx of tourists and pilgrims.
Vatican City Hosts 'Grace For The World' Concert And Drone Show
Vatican City hosted the ‘Grace for the World’ event in St. Peter’s Square, drawing an audience of 80,000 people, according to a report in The Times of India. The event, aimed at promoting global peace and unity, featured a concert with performances by artists such as Andrea Bocelli and Pharrell Williams. A key highlight was a large-scale light show involving over 3,000 drones that projected religious imagery into the sky above St. Peter’s Basilica. The initiative received an endorsement from Pope Francis, blending technology with faith in what was described as a historic first for the Vatican.
Japan And South Korea Clash At UN Over Wartime Sexual Slavery Issue
Japan and South Korea have once again highlighted their deep-seated diplomatic rift over the issue of wartime sexual slavery in letters to United Nations investigators, as per a report in AP. In its response to criticism from UN human rights rapporteurs, Japan’s government defended its position, asserting that South Korean court rulings ordering compensation for victims violate international law, referencing past agreements. Conversely, South Korea’s submission urged Japan to “squarely face up to our painful history” and criticized Tokyo’s refusal to comply with the court orders, which denies reparations to the victims. The exchange underscores the ongoing political and diplomatic tensions that hinder broader cooperation between the two nations on regional economic and security matters.
Turkish Court To Rule On Opposition CHP's Leadership Election
A court in Ankara is set to rule on Monday on a legal challenge to the legitimacy of the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) 38th congress held in November 2023, as per a report in AP. That congress resulted in the ousting of long-time leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and the election of current chairman Ozgur Ozel. The case, which alleges electoral irregularities, could annul the result and restore Kilicdaroglu, a move that would risk destabilizing the party and undermining the significant momentum it gained from historic victories in the March 2024 local elections under Ozel’s leadership. Conversely, a verdict upholding the congress would solidify Ozel’s authority and allow the party to move past internal factional disputes.
Rising Seas To Threaten 1.5 Million Australians By 2050, Report Finds
Australia’s first Climate Risk Assessment has concluded that rising sea levels will threaten around 1.5 million Australians by 2050, BBC says in a report. The assessment warns of more frequent and severe climate hazards nationwide, with coastal communities facing significant risks including permanent inundation, more severe storm surges, and accelerated erosion. The findings have major economic implications, potentially leading to billions in losses from damaged infrastructure and disrupted industries such as tourism. The report also highlights the growing risk of properties becoming uninsurable, placing pressure on federal and state governments to increase investment in coastal defenses and revise land-use planning.
BBC Investigation Unmasks Head Of Sex-Trafficking Ring In Dubai
An investigation has unmasked the leader of a sex-trafficking ring that lures young women from Uganda to Dubai for exploitation in the city’s upscale districts, according to a report in BBC. The exposé is based on testimonies from victims who said they were brought to Dubai with false promises of legitimate work and then coerced into performing extreme and degrading sex acts. The report highlights a persistent trafficking route from East Africa to the Gulf, with the operation reportedly running within Dubai’s affluent districts.
North Korean Defector And Activist Kim Seongmin Dies At 63
Kim Seongmin, a former North Korean military propagandist who defected to South Korea and founded Free North Korea Radio, has died at 63, as per a report in The New York Times. After his defection, Kim dedicated his life to countering Pyongyang’s information blockade by broadcasting uncensored news, international affairs, and South Korean culture to listeners in the North. His work provided a crucial, albeit risky, source of external information for isolated North Koreans, directly challenging the regime’s control and its ‘Anti-Reactionary Thought’ law, which severely punishes consumption of foreign media. His death marks the loss of a key figure in the North Korean defector and human rights activist community.
Philippine President Supports Public Outrage Over Corruption, Urges Peaceful Protests
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday encouraged the public to express outrage over corruption linked to flood-control projects but stipulated that any street protests must be peaceful, according to a report in AP. He vowed that an investigation by an independent commission would not spare anyone, including his allies in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The president’s statement comes as televised congressional hearings are underway, where lawmakers have been accused of pocketing significant kickbacks from public works projects in the disaster-prone nation.
Europe's Extreme Summer Weather Caused €43 Billion In Economic Losses
Extreme weather including heat, drought, and flooding across Europe during the summer of 2024 resulted in short-term economic losses of at least €43 billion, according to a report in The Guardian. This immediate economic impact is equivalent to 0.26% of the European Union’s economic output in 2024. The rapid, non-peer-reviewed analysis also projects that these costs are expected to rise to €126 billion by 2029. The greatest damage was concentrated in Cyprus, Greece, Malta, and Bulgaria.
UK Crypto Groups Oppose Bank of England's Strict Stablecoin Proposals
The Bank of England’s (BoE) proposed framework for regulating stablecoins has drawn criticism from the UK’s crypto industry, which warns the rules are significantly stricter than those in the EU or the US, according to a report in Financial Times. The proposals, aimed at ensuring financial stability, could potentially limit the issuance and custody of systemic stablecoins to traditional banks, a move that could sideline crypto-native firms. Industry stakeholders are concerned that this approach may stifle innovation, drive investment to more permissive jurisdictions, and create fragmentation in the global digital asset market, while potentially giving established banks a competitive edge.
US Accuses China of Spreading False WWII Narratives to Pressure Taiwan
The de facto US embassy in Taipei has accused China of spreading false narratives by intentionally mischaracterizing World War Two-era documents to pressure and isolate Taiwan, Reuters said in a report. According to the US statement, these historical agreements made no determination of the island’s ultimate political status. The accusation comes as a bitter dispute over the war’s broader historical meaning intensifies between Taipei and Beijing around the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII.
Russia Ramps Up Drone Production, Overwhelming Ukrainian Defenses
Russia has made drone production a top priority, leading to a massive increase in attack drones swarming the skies over Ukraine and straining its defense capabilities, The New York Times says in a report. Moscow has successfully scaled up domestic manufacturing of Shahed-136 type drones, designated Geran-2, at facilities like the one in Alabuga, reducing its dependency on Iranian imports. In addition to these one-way attack drones used against infrastructure, Russia has also intensified its deployment of Lancet loitering munitions, which are highly effective against Ukrainian artillery and armored vehicles on the front lines. While Ukraine employs mobile fire groups and electronic warfare to counter the threat, the sheer volume and cost-effectiveness of the Russian drones pose a significant and persistent challenge.
US, South Korea And Japan Open Joint Air And Naval Exercise
The United States, South Korea, and Japan began a joint air and naval exercise called ‘Freedom Edge’ on Monday off a South Korean island, AP says in a report. According to South Korea’s Defense Ministry, the drill is designed to enhance the trilateral operational capabilities across sea, air, and cyberspace. The stated purpose of the exercise is to counter the increasing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, which has condemned the joint drill as a ‘reckless show of strength’.
Sudanese Family Reunited Amid Civil War After Media Report
A Sudanese family separated by the country’s ongoing civil war has been reunited, as per a report in Al Jazeera. Shamoun Idris was reunited with his wife, Fatma Ali, and their children after a news report highlighted their plight. This event provides a rare moment of hope amid a widespread humanitarian crisis in Sudan that began in April 2023. The conflict has triggered one of the world’s most severe displacement crises, with over 10 million people uprooted and countless families separated due to the ongoing violence and the collapse of communication and essential services.
Australian Climate Report Warns Of Severe Economic And Health Risks
A national climate risk assessment in Australia has found no community would be immune from the “cascading, compounding and concurrent” risks of a worsening climate, according to a report in The Guardian. The report projects that heat-related deaths in Sydney could increase by nearly 450% if global temperatures rise more than 3C above pre-industrial levels. It also highlights severe risks for Australia’s populous coastal communities, including flooding, erosion, and inundation from rising sea levels. The findings have significant implications for Australia’s economy, particularly the insurance and financial sectors, which face the prospect of high-risk areas becoming uninsurable, and signal major challenges for public health, urban planning, and infrastructure investment.
Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro Leaves House Arrest For Hospital Visit
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro briefly left his home in Brasilia, where he is under house arrest, for a police-escorted medical procedure at a hospital on Sunday, AP said in a report. This marked his first public appearance since a Brazilian Supreme Court panel convicted him for attempting a coup and trying to illegally remain in power following his 2022 electoral defeat to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The conviction, which led to his house arrest, is linked to the January 8, 2023, riots when his supporters stormed government buildings.
Nonprofit Halts Auction Of Two Paintings Stolen By Nazis
A nonprofit organization has successfully prompted the withdrawal of two paintings from an auction after they were identified as art looted by the Nazis during World War II, The New York Times says in a report. The artworks were part of a collection of over 300 Old Master paintings seized from Adolphe Schloss, a German-Jewish art collector who lived in France. The Schloss collection was a high-profile target of the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR), a Nazi organization dedicated to seizing cultural property.
Brazil's Lula Pushes Back Against Proposed US Tariff, Says Sovereignty Is 'Not On The Table'
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday signaled a firm stance against a proposed 50% US tariff on Brazilian goods, calling the potential measure “political” and “illogical,” according to a report in AP. In a New York Times op-ed, Lula stated that while his government is open to negotiations for mutual economic benefit, the nation’s “democracy and sovereignty are not on the table.” The pushback is in response to a tariff threat from US President Donald Trump, who has linked such trade actions to his support for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, citing a “witch hunt” against him.
Malnutrition Crisis in Gaza Causes Irreversible Harm to Children
Gaza is facing one of its highest levels of child malnutrition since the current conflict started, inflicting permanent physical and cognitive damage on its youngest population, according to a report in The New York Times. bodies like UNICEF have reported that in areas such as northern Gaza, as many as one in three children under two were acutely malnourished earlier in the year. The crisis, exacerbated by significant and persistent obstacles to humanitarian aid delivery, has led to confirmed deaths of children from malnutrition and dehydration. Experts and aid organizations warn that even children who survive will face lifelong consequences, including stunted growth and impaired cognitive development, as the healthcare system is unable to cope with the scale of the problem.
FARC Dissident Attack In Colombia Kills Police Officer, Wounds Four
An attack by FARC dissidents on a police station in the town of Carmelo, in Colombia’s southwestern Cauca department, killed a police officer and wounded four other people on Sunday, according to a report in AP. Colombian authorities stated the attack appeared to be a response to a recent police operation targeting criminal groups in the region. The army has since entered the town to restore order. The attackers are believed to be part of a dissident faction of the now-defunct FARC rebel group that rejected the country’s 2016 peace agreement.
Ukraine Targets Key Russian Oil Refinery As Moscow Tests Hypersonic Missile
Ukraine has conducted a strike on a major Russian oil refinery, continuing its campaign against infrastructure that supports Moscow’s war effort, Al Jazeera says in a report. Kyiv has stated its objective is to disrupt the flow of fuel, troops, and ammunition to the front lines, thereby degrading Russia’s logistical capabilities. These attacks on refining capacity carry significant economic implications, aiming to reduce Russia’s export revenues and creating pressure on its domestic fuel market. Concurrently, Russia’s military conducted a new test of a hypersonic missile, showcasing its continued development of advanced weapons systems that are difficult for current air defenses to intercept. This dual development highlights the escalating technological nature of the conflict and its broader implications for global strategic stability and energy markets.
Pope Francis Says Brokering Ukraine Peace Deal Is Not Realistic For The Vatican
Pope Francis has stated that while popes can be advocates for peace, it is less “realistic” for them to serve as direct mediators in the Ukraine conflict, as per a report in The New York Times. This assessment acknowledges the immense difficulty of brokering a comprehensive deal given that both Russia and Ukraine maintain mutually exclusive conditions for entering peace talks. The Pope’s statement suggests the Vatican will continue to focus its diplomatic efforts on humanitarian issues, such as prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of children, rather than attempting to arbitrate a political settlement at this stage.
