international news for today, August 17, 2025:

Major Headlines

1. Rising Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

                The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The death toll has climbed to nearly 61,900, with ongoing Israeli strikes and severe shortages of food and water. Médecins Sans Frontières and the Norwegian Refugee Council are calling for immediate access to aid. Meanwhile, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that the conditions are not currently appropriate to recognize a Palestinian state, emphasizing the need for a democratic and mutually agreed path forward. Protests in Tel Aviv are demanding the release of hostages, while near the West Bank, settler attacks and scrutiny over Israeli military surveillance have intensified.

2. India's Foreign Secretary Begins Visit to Nepal

                 India’s Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, has launched a two-day diplomatic visit to Nepal (August 17–18), following an invitation from his Nepalese counterpart, Amrit Bahadur Rai. The trip highlights the deepening bilateral cooperation between the two neighboring countrie

3. Canadian Diplomats in Cuba: Law Firm Raises Concern

                   A lawyer representing Canadian

diplomats and their families in Cuba has conveyed strong confidence that the mysterious ailments they experienced were the result of a foreign adversary, contradicting findings in a Canadian federal government report.

4. Indian Films to Shine at Toronto International Film Festival

Several Indian films—including Anaurag Kashyap’s “Bandar (Monkey in a Cage),” Neeraj Ghaywan’s “Homebound,” Jitank Singh Gurjar’s “Vimukt (In Search of the Sky),” and Ramesh Sippy’s classic “Sholay”—are among the South Asian titles selected for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This marks an uncommon breadth of representation for the region at the prestigious event.

5. Amnesty International Urges Libya to Overturn Christian Convictions

Amnesty International has called on Libyan authorities to annul the convictions of 11 Christian individuals whose trials were deemed “deeply flawed and unjust.” The organization cites growing concern for fairness and justice in these proceedings.

6. Humanitarian Tragedy: Palestinian Evacuee Dies in Italy

A 20-year-old Palestinian woman, Marah Abu Zuhri, tragically passed away in Pisa, Italy, after being evacuated from Gaza due to severe malnutrition and medical complications. Despite receiving treatment at the University Hospital of Pisa, she suffered respiratory and cardiac arrest. Her death underscores the dire humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where around one-third of the population faces food insecurity and over half a million are on the brink of starvation. To date, at least 227 people—including 103 children—have died due to malnutrition, and humanitarian agencies warn more urgent medical evacuations are desperately needed, particularly as conflict intensifies in northern Gaza.
The Guardian

7. Pro-Democracy Activist Jimmy Lai’s Continuing Ordeal

Jimmy Lai, a prominent British citizen and pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong, has now endured nearly 1,700 days in solitary confinement. He faces the real possibility of life imprisonment under sedition and collusion charges stemming from Hong Kong’s national security law. Supporters are urging the UK government to use diplomatic channels—amid improving London-Beijing relations—to secure his release. However, his situation remains politically delicate due to his prominence and the nature of the charges.
The Times

8. Rise of the Kinahan Cartel in Ireland

The Kinahan cartel has recently reasserted dominance 2. Pro-Democracy Activist Jimmy Lai’s Continuing Ordealover the Irish drug trade, functioning through a franchise-style model. This model allows local gangs to handle distribution while the cartel controls supply. As a result, gangland violence has waned and cocaine prices have stabilized. Authorities link the cartel to major crimes, including €160 million worth of cocaine seized on the MV Matthew. Despite legal pressure, cartel leaders, including Christy, Daniel, and Christopher Kinahan Jr., remain at large.
The Times