World News - Page 2

Will Iran war end with Hormuz still shut? Trump officials say it's likely with new deadline

US President Donald Trump signalled uncertainty over reopening the Strait of Hormuz as the US pushes to end the Iran conflict within weeks, urging allies to share responsibility, amid rising oil prices, global concerns, and competing proposals from China and Pakistan

Iran confirms ‘direct’ messages with Trump aide Steve Witkoff, but says no negotiations underway

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran has not yet responded to any of Washington's proposals to end the war and that it has not submitted any counter-proposals either

Rubio directs diplomats to use social platform X to counter anti-US propaganda

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed US diplomats to counter anti-American propaganda using X and coordinating with military psychological operations units, aiming to tackle disinformation threats while raising concerns over free speech and government-led information campaigns.

US judge orders halt to Trump's 'big, beautiful ballroom' construction

Judge Richard Leon was ruling in response to a legal challenge from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, a nonprofit organization which seeks to protect historic buildings

Trump signs order tightening mail-in voting rules nationwide, critics call it unconstitutional

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order tightening mail-in voting rules, directing voter eligibility checks using federal data and stricter ballot measures, drawing sharp criticism and legal threats from Democrats and voting rights groups who call it unconstitutional and politically motivated ahead of elections.

Israel denies responsibility for attack that killed 2 UN peacekeepers

The military added that it is targeting Hezbollah sites in Lebanon and not the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, urging the organisation to steer clear of "combat zones" for which the IDF has issued an evacuation order

Israel threatens to destroy 'all houses' in Lebanon’s border villages as conflict with Hezbollah intensifies

Israel has warned of Gaza-like destruction in southern Lebanon, vowing to create a buffer zone up to the Litani River as strikes intensify against Hezbollah, with over 1.2 million displaced and civilians barred from returning to border areas for now.

Trump says deal with Iran is 'irrelevant' for US, claims war will end in '2-3 weeks'

"Iran doesn't have to make a deal, no," Trump said, adding that the US will leave Iran when it is certain that the regime can not build a nuclear weapon "for years"

In a blow to LGBTQ+ rights, US Supreme Court strikes down Colorado's conversion therapy ban

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday gave a significant blow to LGBTQ+ community, ruling 8-1 that Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors violates the free speech rights of a conservative Christian therapist.

'Campaign is not over': Netanyahu says will continue to 'crush Iran’s terror regime'

Month-long US-Israel–Iran war intensifies as oil prices surge, troop deployments rise, and regional attacks escalate, with no breakthrough in talks despite backchannel diplomacy efforts

China and Pakistan push for early Hormuz access, unveil Middle East peace plan

China and Pakistan propose a peace plan urging a ceasefire and early reopening of the Strait of Hormuz amid rising Middle East tensions

American journalist abducted in Baghdad; Iraqi authorities launch manhunt

A female journalist holding a U.S. passport was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday by unknown parties. The Iraqi interior ministry did not disclose her nationality, but said one suspect had been arrested and that efforts were ongoing to free the journalist.

Days after ‘not our war’ remark, UK boosts military presence in Gulf

UK will send more troops and deploy advanced air defence systems in West Asia to protect British allies in the Gulf from Iranian attacks. The announcement comes days after UK PM Keir Starmer said that the 'war in Iran is not our war, and UK will not be dragged into this.'

Trump signals Iran war nearing end, says “Not Going to Be There Much Longer”

Donald Trump says the Iran war is nearing its end and expects the Strait of Hormuz to reopen once US forces withdraw

China, Pakistan unveil five-point plan for West Asia peace

China and Pakistan on Tuesday called for an immediate end to the war in West Asia and urged the launch of peace talks at the earliest, as both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on the Iran situation

Iran threatens to target firms in Gulf from April 1; lists Microsoft, Google, Apple and others on its hitlist

The IRGC warns of potential attacks on US and AI-related companies in the Gulf following targeted assassinations of Iranian officials

Sudan paramilitary uses sexual violence as 'weapon of war' against ethnic groups in Darfur: Report

Women in Darfur face widespread sexual violence, both in conflict zones and everyday life. MSF documents thousands of survivors, calling for protection, access to care, and justice for victims

China thanks coordinators after safe transit of 3 ships through Strait of Hormuz

China says thank you after three of its vessels navigated the tense Strait of Hormuz, calling for peace and smarter coordination as global shipping struggles amid a wider West Asia war

Indian death toll in Kuwait climbs to 8 as West Asia tensions escalate

The number of Indian nationals who have lost their lives in Kuwait has risen to eight, as regional tensions in West Asia continue to escalate

King Charles, Queen Camilla to make state visit to US in April

Buckingham Palace confirmed the royal couple will visit the United States from April 27-30 at President Donald Trump’s invitation

First oil in months: Russian tanker’s arrival offers brief respite to crisis‑hit Cuba

Cuba has been grappling with a deepening energy crisis for months, due to the effective US blockade of the island nation. A partial relief to tackle this crisis arrived on Tuesday when the Russian-owned tanker Anatoly Kolodkin docked at the port of Matanzas.

India’s efforts to protect Gulf workers falling short: Report

The persistent struggle of the Indian workforce in the Gulf highlights a critical gap between the economic value of remittances and the protection of human rights.

'Upcoming days will be decisive': Pete Hegseth says Iran has limited options, pushes for deal

Hegseth said President Trump alone will decide when US goals in the Iran war are met and when a deal is in the American people’s interest

Pakistan got Iran’s nod to ferry 20 ships via Hormuz — now it is figuring out what to do

Pakistan secured a major diplomatic win on Sunday when Iran allowed 20 Pakistani-flagged ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz. But there's a catch. Pakistan doesn't have that many ships in the region.

‘Go, get your own oil’: Trump targets UK over Iran stand, says ‘won’t be there to help you anymore’

Trump warned that countries would need to “start learning how to fight for” themselves, saying the United States would no longer provide assistance as it had in the past

With new India office, Japan looks to counter Chinese influence in South Asia on economic front

The development follows the India-Japan Summit last year, where both countries set a goal of achieving 10 trillion yen in India's private sector over the next decade. The new office will support expansion in areas like artificial intelligence, startups and critical minerals

From fuel to flights, 10 ways India is managing the Iran war crisis

As the conflict in West Asia, now in its fifth week, continues to disrupt global energy markets, the Indian government has rolled out a multi-pronged strategy to insulate the country from the fallout of the crisis.

Israel sets Wednesday deadline to destroy all ‘critical’ targets in Iran

The IDF said it has destroyed all top-priority targets in Iran and completed around 60–70% of its overall strike objectives, marking a major milestone in the campaign

Canada’s language politics: How an English-only message cost airline CEO his job

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau’s retirement follows backlash over an English-only condolence video after a fatal crash in New York. The controversy reignited Canada’s language politics, with Prime Minister Mark Carney saying that the next chief of the airline should be bilingual

Germany’s far-right AfD pushes return to Russian energy as rising fuel prices boost support

Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is pushing for a return to Russian energy imports, using rising fuel prices and economic concerns to strengthen its support after recent election gains.