Top World News

Apr 3, 2026 - World

Ripple effects of oil and fertiliser shortage felt by farmers in India and Sri Lanka despite governments saying there is enough stock to go roundGurvinder Singh never thought the war in Iran would touch his quiet corner of Punjab.Yet looking out over his smallholding, where he alternates between wheat and rice crops in the state known as India’s breadbasket, the 52-year-old farmer can barely think of anything else. His anxiety over a conflict playing out thousands of miles away is crippling as he fears what will come of this season’s rice crop. Continue reading...

Apr 3, 2026 - World

US president issues executive order as longest partial government shutdown in US history enters 49th dayDonald Trump issued an executive order Friday that declares all Department of Homeland Security employees will receive pay and benefits during the agency’s partial shutdown.The “Liberating the Department of Homeland Security From the Democrat-Caused Shutdown” memo is similar to Trump’s executive order from last week which called for issuing pay to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents during the shutdown.In the order, Trump directed the homeland security secretary, Markwayne Mullin, to “use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to the functions of DHS” to pay “each and every employee of DHS”. Continue reading...

Apr 3, 2026 - World

President Donald Trump's impersonations of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have led to a damaged relationship "beyond repair" between the two countries amid the ongoing Iran war, according to reports on Friday. Trump had mocked Starmer and ridiculed him during an Easter lunch speech at the White House, saying the UK was "not our best" ally after Starmer had reportedly consulted his team about military actions, according to The Guardian. He was apparently angry over the prime minister's decision to deny the U.S. military use of British military bases during the launch of its air strikes on Iran. "Following the latest attack on Starmer, diplomatic and political figures said he was right to brush off the criticism but added that the relationship was very damaged and he would need to redouble efforts to built international relations elsewhere," The Guardian reported.Trump had also claimed that he had asked the UK for help, but said he was denied that assistance. "However, Downing Street sources said Trump had never asked the UK for the vessels and Britain had not offered them," according to The Guardian. "In previous criticism of Starmer two weeks ago, Trump said Starmer had asked to consult his team about sending minesweepers – not aircraft carriers."Now, Starmer has started to look at improving other diplomatic ties. "One senior diplomat said Starmer was right to 'essentially ignore' Trump and must now attempt to build ties with Canada, Australia and mainland Europe instead as it was hard to see how the relationship could recover," The Guardian reported. Starmer called Trump's comments "quite rude" and shared his thoughts. "I’m utterly focused on what is in the best interests of our country and I am unapologetic about that," Starmer said. "Notwithstanding the pressure that comes from elsewhere, I will remain laser focused on what is in the British national interest.“And a lot of what is said or done is undoubtedly said and done to put pressure on me, I have no doubt about that. I understand what is going on. But I am not going to be wavering on this.”

Apr 3, 2026 - World

President Donald Trump joked about confiscating Iran's oil as search crews were desperately trying to find a fighter pilot who was downed in the war-torn country."KEEP THE OIL, ANYONE?" Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday while the search was underway.Hours earlier, an F-15E crashed in southern Iran. One pilot was rescued, and a search for the second pilot was reportedly in progress.Iran was reportedly offering its citizens a reward valued at about $76,000 U.S. dollars to find the missing pilot alive, CNN reported.A second combat aircraft, an A-10 Warthog, crashed in the Persian Gulf at about the same time, officials told The New York Times.

Apr 3, 2026 - World

An American's whereabouts were unknown on Friday after Iran shot down a U.S. fighter jet, as questions mounted online over what happened to the missing service member and if the Trump administration would comment on it. President Donald Trump had not yet responded to the attack, which was the first time an American jet had been shot down since the military strikes launched five weeks ago. It was unknown what had happened to the missing pilot. The president has apparently been briefed on the situation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN. Iran was reportedly offering its citizens a reward valued at about $76,000 U.S. dollars to find the pilot alive, CNN reported. People reacted online and called out the Trump administration for the dangerous situation. "Donald Trump had time to take Tiger Woods' call after he crashed his car again, but I don't see him addressing the American people after a U.S. fighter jet was shot down in Iran and there's a desperate search to find the pilots. I guess daddy's not home today," entrepreneur and Democratic strategist Mike Nellis wrote on X."Are they briefing Trump on the fighter jet being shot down, or just soothing him with boom boom TikToks?" Journalist Aaron Rupar wrote on X."Early reports from Iranian media suggesting US pilot in custody. Would take this with a large grain of salt, and hope it’s not the case. As it would be a significant escalation," Adam Cochran, professor, policy consultant and journalist, wrote on X."The escalation is why Trump will do if they have an American in custody. You don’t have to think the US actions there, were good or justified, in order to recognize that an American POW complicates the situation, and makes off-ramps less likely," Cochran added."These two things, I can’t help but read them together. Trump, threatening war crimes, and now, a possible POW. This stupid, bad-faith behavior puts our people at greater risk of mistreatment. Praying for the safety of our soldiers at all levels," John Jackson, U.S. veteran of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, wrote on X."Really really hope this doesn’t become a hostage situation," political scientist and author Ian Bremmer wrote on X."Iran ministry of foreign relations has put out at least one statement indicating us soldiers will be regarded as prisoners of war under geneva convention…but only if the united states reciprocated. secretary of defense pete hegseth has said 'no quarter, no mercy' for us enemies," Bremmer added later in a separate X post."You’re absolutely right — the correct term is POW. Let’s just hope Iran sees it that way — considering Trump has said repeatedly that it’s NOT a war," Democratic strategist Jon Cooper wrote in response to a comment on an X post.