Top World News

Apr 20, 2026 - World

As fossil fuel prices soar ‘the era of clean energy security must come of age’, energy secretary will sayEd Miliband will double down on Labour’s commitment to net zero in the face of the Middle East conflict this week, insisting that as fossil fuel prices soar “the era of clean energy security must come of age”.The energy secretary is set to announce a package of new policies in a speech on Tuesday in response to an expected energy crisis prompted by Donald Trump’s war with Iran. Continue reading...

Apr 20, 2026 - World

Report says lack of provision is harmful to health and damaging for high streetsThe number of public toilets in England has fallen by 14% in a decade, harming public health and creating vast swathes of lavatory “deserts” and unpleasant environments, a report says.The analysis by the Royal Society for Public Health found a “significant shortfall” in provision, with 15,481 people for each public toilet in England. That contrasts sharply with Scotland, where there are 8,500 people for each toilet, and Wales, with 6,748. Continue reading...

Apr 20, 2026 - World

Vulnerable children placed in caravans, Airbnbs and holiday camps, with children’s commissioner saying practice must stopMinisters must get to grips with the “national scandal” of England’s shadow child social care system, the children’s commissioner has warned, as a shocking new report reveals the number of children in unregulated settings has increased by more than 370% in five years.Some of the most vulnerable children in England are being temporarily placed in unregulated caravans, Airbnbs and holiday camps, which risk the “accumulation of increasing levels of harm for children who have already faced enough distress for several lifetimes”, according to a new report. Continue reading...

Apr 20, 2026 - World

Jubilation is turning to disenchantment as young activists arrested after protest calling for election date to be setThe arrest of several protesters in Madagascar has increased fears among young people that the military regime that took power last year after huge Gen Z demonstrations will be no better than the government it overthrew.Four Gen Z activists, Herizo Andriamanantena, Miora Rakotomalala, Dina Randrianarisoa and Nomena Ratsihorimanana, were arrested on 12 April, one of their lawyers said, two days after taking part in a protest calling for an election date to be set. Continue reading...

Apr 20, 2026 - World

Meanwhile treasurer warns of ‘big risks’ to inflation and growth as global oil price jumps again. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTreasurer says capital gains changes and other tax reform still under considerationSticking with the budget, Chalmers said the government hasn’t made any decisions on capital gains tax reform.We haven’t taken any decisions on those policies, whether the specific ones you mentioned [or others].There’s more work to do on our options for tax reform in this budget.The savings package won’t be exactly the same as what we would have been contemplating over the summer, but it will be a substantial savings package.When we came to office the NDIS was out of control and it had strayed a long way from its original intended purpose.It was growing around 22% when we got to office. Continue reading...