Live Now

World News Today Live Updates: Meta reaches $17 billion settlement over teen social media addiction

The agreement is worth $353 million in Virginia alone and is one of the biggest in state consumer protection history, Attorney General Jay Jones said in a statement.

metaThe $17 billion settlement is a fraction of Meta's 2025 revenue of $201 billion. (File photo)

Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday. California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among 29 states that sued the tech giant in 2023, but the deal cuts short the trial, which was expected to see CEO Mark Zuckerberg take the stand before a jury in federal court in California.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said ​he doesn’t ​think ⁠Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is dead; rather, he is wounded. During an interview with Glenn ​Beck, Trump said, “I don’t think ⁠he’s ⁠dead. ⁠He ‌was very ​seriously ‌wounded.”

Story continues below this ad

Meanwhile, escalating its threats over the Strait of Hormuz six months into the war, Iran recently said it blacklisted 45 tankers that violated the rules for crossing the crucial waterway. Iran added that action could be taken against any vessel transferring loads with them. The listed vessels could be fined, detained and have their cargoes confiscated, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority posted on X.

Top developments

– US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced ‘Operation Economic Outcast’, involving new sanctions that block all potential sources of revenue for Iran.

– Under the above programme, the US has sanctioned four India-based companies for importing petroleum and petrochemical products from Iran.

– The “economic onslaught” that Bessent has declared on Iran’s financial connections across the globe may have one major caveat, says China.

– The Trump administration in the US has ​issued a pause on visa appointments for applicants around the world amid an ongoing immigration crackdown by the country.

Follow the latest world news and major international developments here. This live blog is a rolling curation of the day’s key global stories, with updates added as events unfold and the news agenda changes. The headline, introduction and Top Developments section will be refreshed throughout the day to reflect the stories that matter most at that moment.

Live Updates
Aug 26, 2026 09:58 PM IST
Pakistan faces criticism over relief response in flood-hit PoGB

Residents of Sher Qilla village in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) have voiced frustration over an inadequate relief and rescue response following devastating flash floods that damaged homes, farmland and critical infrastructure in the area.

The floods left large parts of the village covered in mud and debris, forcing residents to sift through the wreckage and salvage belongings. Locals said several houses were completely destroyed, while many others suffered significant damage, leaving families struggling to find shelter.

Latif Shah, a resident of the village, said the cloudburst had severely affected five villages in the region. "At least five to six houses have been completely damaged, while another seven to eight houses have also suffered damage. The destruction is so severe that people can no longer live in their homes. Residents are removing their belongings and relocating on their own," he said. ANI

Aug 26, 2026 08:56 PM IST
Oil slips as investors focus on Hormuz talks

Oil prices fell on Wednesday, as investors monitored talks between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz and a smaller-than-expected rise in U.S. crude stocks curbed losses. Brent crude futures were down 71 cents, or ⁠0.8%, to $87.87 ​a barrel at 10:48 a.m. EDT (1450 GMT). West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 48 cents, or 0.58%, at $81.88. Both benchmarks fell to their lowest levels since August 10 earlier in the session on hopes of an increase in traffic through the strategic strait. They pared some ​losses ​after official oil stock data showed U.S. crude inventories ⁠rose by less than expected last week. Crude inventories increased by 95,000 barrels to 428.9 million barrels in the week ended August 21, the ‌Energy Information Administration said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 597,000-barrel rise. Reuters

Aug 26, 2026 07:33 PM IST
Sweden signs €4.3 billion deal for four French-made frigates

Sweden will pay €4.3 billion for four frigates built by France’s Naval Group, the office of French President Emmanuel Macron said. Reuters

Aug 26, 2026 07:15 PM IST
Trump says something may come out of CIA director visit to Russia

U.S. President ⁠Donald ​Trump on Wednesday ​said ​in ⁠an interview on ‌the "Glenn Beck ⁠Program" that ⁠something ⁠may ‌come ​out ‌of CIA ‌Director ​John ​Ratcliffe's visit ​to ​Russia. Reuters

Aug 26, 2026 07:15 PM IST
Trump says Iran's leader is wounded, not dead

U.S. President Donald ⁠Trump said ​on Wednesday ​he doesn't ​think ⁠Iran's Supreme Leader ‌is dead. "I don't think ⁠he's ⁠dead. ⁠He ‌was very ​seriously ‌wounded," Trump said ‌on ​the ​Glenn ​Beck ​program. Reuters

Aug 26, 2026 07:15 PM IST
Meta reaches $17 billion settlement with states in landmark trial over teen social media addiction

Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday.California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among 29 states that sued the tech giant in 2023, but the deal cuts short the trial, which was expected to see CEO Mark Zuckerberg take the stand before a jury in federal court in California.The agreement is worth $353 million in Virginia alone and is one of the biggest in state consumer protection history, Attorney General Jay Jones said in a statement. AP

Aug 26, 2026 07:01 PM IST
Trump says Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded, not dead

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said ​he doesn't ​think ⁠Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is dead; rather, he is wounded. During an interview with Glenn ​Beck, Trump said, "I don't think ⁠he's ⁠dead. ⁠He ‌was very ​seriously ‌wounded."

Aug 26, 2026 05:00 PM IST
How many people are missing in Nepal after massive flash flood hit the region?

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the foreign nationals who are missing include:

  • 12 British nationals
  • 105 Indians
  • 37 non-resident Indians
  • 17 Malaysians
  • 4 South Africans
  • 3 Americans
  • 1 Australian
  • 1 Dutch
  • 8 South Koreans
  • 111 nationalities yet to be confirmed
    • Aug 26, 2026 02:45 PM IST
    China-Nepal border crossing hit by mudslide, many feared dead

    Many people were feared dead or missing after a mudslide struck a major border crossing between China and Nepal in Tibet’s Gyirong county on Wednesday, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. The mudslide occurred at around 10:30 am local time on the Nepalese side, resulting in major casualties.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out” efforts to search for those missing and urged authorities to strengthen monitoring and early warning systems to prevent secondary disasters. Roads leading to the Gyirong Port on the Chinese side were cut off following the mudslide.

    Communications and power supplies were also disrupted, according to Xinhua. Search and rescue operations were underway, the state news agency said. The Gyirong border crossing was also hit by a mudslide just over a year ago.

    Aug 26, 2026 02:10 PM IST
    Video | Flash floods in Nepal's Bhote Koshi river today

    Huge flood entered Bhote Koshi river in Nepal today, and washed away villages.

    https://platform.x.com/widgets.js

    Aug 26, 2026 02:05 PM IST
    Flash floods cause extensive damages in northern Nepal

    Property were damaged and roads flooded following a flash flood in Galchhi in the Dhading district, Nepal, August 26, 2026. (Photo taken on mobile phone: REUTERS)

    Aug 26, 2026 02:02 PM IST
    8 dead in Nepal flash flood, villages washed away, roads damaged

    A massive flood swept through northern Nepal Wednesday morning, killing at least 8 and causing extensive damage to the settlement along the border with Tibet, news agency Reuters reported. The areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in the Rasuwa district, with a population of about ⁠50,000, ​were severely affected, officials said, adding that multiple downstream districts were put on high alert.

    Aug 26, 2026 01:06 PM IST
    Iran says it blacklisted 45 tankers for Hormuz ‘violations’

    Escalating its threats over the Strait of Hormuz six months into the war, Iran recently said it blacklisted 45 tankers that violated the rules for crossing the crucial waterway. Iran added that action could be taken against any vessel transferring loads with them. The listed vessels could be fined, detained and have their cargoes confiscated, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority posted on X.

    Aug 26, 2026 11:43 AM IST
    Montana man kills 8 relatives, including 4 kids, at Sunday dinner

    A man killed eight of his relatives as they gathered for Sunday dinner at a home outside Billings, Montana, weeks after his parents asked him to move out, a family member told The Associated Press. The deceased included 4 children too. The shooter has been identified as 44-year-old Alan Smith.

    Aug 26, 2026 10:58 AM IST
    Seven dead, including six Chinese nationals, nine are missing in Russia's gas plant fire

    Seven people, including six Chinese nationals, ⁠were killed while ​nine others from ​China ​are missing, after ⁠a fire broke out at a ‌gas chemical complex in Russia's far eastern ⁠Amur ⁠region on Tuesday, ⁠the ‌plant shared on its ​Telegram channel. The ‌flames ​were later doused, ​the plant's press service ⁠said.

    Aug 26, 2026 10:13 AM IST
    No new US strikes on Iran for now: Rubio signals use of sanctions

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the US is not expected to launch fresh strikes against Iran "for the time being", Axios cited a US official and a second source with knowledge of the matter as instating.

    Instead, the focus will be on other means of pressure, including the sanctions initiative, Axios reported.

    Aug 26, 2026 10:08 AM IST
    US military says it killed four in strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean

    The US military Tuesday attacked a boat suspected of being used to smuggle drugs in the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, killing four, as the Trump administration continues its months-long campaign against alleged traffickers in Latin America.

    The number killed in boat strikes by the US military has now reached 227 in 68 strikes since the Trump administration began the operation almost a year ago.

    Aug 26, 2026 09:31 AM IST
    Trump submits civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review

    US President Donald Trump has submitted an agreement with Saudi Arabia — aimed at bolstering the kingdom’s civilian nuclear programme– to Congress for review, but insisted that it would not go ahead if Saudi Arabia does not normalise relations with Israel, a Trump administration official said.

    Aug 26, 2026 09:31 AM IST
    Russia, Ukraine discuss 'big' prisoner exchange

    Russia and Ukraine are discussing a 'big' exchange of prisoners of war, Human Rights ​Commissioner Yana ⁠Lantratova has said. Thousands ‌of prisoners have been exchanged since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In May this year, the two conflicting nations agreed to swap ‌1,000 more captives ‌each ​as part of the US-brokered ⁠peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

    Aug 26, 2026 09:30 AM IST
    Welcome to World Live Blog!

    Hello! Good morning and welcome to the World Live Blog. Follow the latest world news and major international developments here. This live blog is a rolling curation of the day’s key global stories, with updates added as events unfold and the news agenda changes. The headline, introduction and Top Developments section will be refreshed throughout the day to reflect the stories that matter most at that moment.

    Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

    © IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
    Latest Comment
    Post Comment
    Read Comments