Top World News
Trump fires six national security staffers after meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer
Apr 3, 2025 - World
Trump ally presented him with opposition research against a number of officials that she said showed their disloyaltyFollow US politics liveDonald Trump fired six national security council staffers after an unusual meeting in the Oval Office where the far-right activist Laura Loomer presented opposition research against a number of staffers that she said showed they were disloyal to the US president, according to two people familiar with the matter.The firings included three staffers who had been brought on by national security adviser Mike Waltz – an extraordinary situation where Loomer appeared to have more sway over NSC personnel than the official in charge of running the agency. It also undercut Waltz’s position to have his allies axed from under him. Continue reading...

Global markets in turmoil as Trump tariffs wipe $2.5tn off Wall Street
Apr 3, 2025 - World
Economists say levies of between 10% and 50% have dramatically added to the risk of a worldwide downturnGlobal financial markets have been plunged into turmoil as Donald Trump’s escalating trade war knocked trillions of dollars off the value of the world’s biggest companies and heightened fears of a US recession.As world leaders reacted to the US president’s “liberation day” tariff policies demolishing the international trading order, about $2.5tn (£1.9tn) was wiped off Wall Street and share prices in other financial centres across the globe. Continue reading...
Severe storms and tornadoes rip across US south and midwest, killing at least seven
Apr 3, 2025 - World
White House approves Tennessee’s state of emergency request as further fatalities expected to be confirmedViolent storms and tornadoes have torn across the US south and midwest, killing at least seven people and downing power lines and trees, smashing homes, and upturning cars across multiple states.The outbreak of storms and tornadoes has resulted in at least seven deaths in Tennessee and Missouri, with further fatalities expected to be confirmed. One of the victims has been named: a 68-year-old man called Garry Moore who was a fire chief in Cape Girardeau county, Missouri. At least a dozen injuries have also been reported from the storms. Continue reading...

Mehmet Oz confirmed by US Senate to lead Medicare and Medicaid
Apr 3, 2025 - World
Former TV pitchman has close relationship with boss RFK Jr but regularly encourages Americans to get vaccinatedFormer heart surgeon and TV pitchman Dr Mehmet Oz was confirmed on Thursday to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).Oz became the agency’s administrator in a party-line 53-45 vote. Continue reading...
Blanket ban on teen smartphone use ‘potentially detrimental’, says academic
Apr 3, 2025 - World
Dr Amy Orben says there are no ‘one-size-fits-all answers’ given importance of access to online informationA leading academic tasked by the UK government with reviewing the effects of smartphones on teenagers has suggested blanket bans are “unrealistic and potentially detrimental”.Amy Orben, from the University of Cambridge, will lead the work on children and smartphone use that has been commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) along with a team of other academics from a number of UK universities. Continue reading...