Top World News
Reeves’s tax cut on children’s meals a political ‘soundbite’, say restaurateurs
May 23, 2026 - World 
Chancellor’s measure to help families save money during summer holidays ‘won’t make any difference’Cutting tax on children’s meals is a political “soundbite” that will make little difference to families or businesses, restaurateurs have said.This week, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, announced a temporary reduction in VAT on the children’s menu in restaurants from 20% to 5% between June and September, in order to help families with the cost of living crisis and offer a boost to the hospitality sector. Continue reading...
Board of Peace focus on Hamas risks return to war in Gaza, critics say
May 23, 2026 - World
US-backed board has put sole blame for stalled ceasefire on militant group despite Israel not fulfilling its obligations, analysts sayThe top diplomat from the Board of Peace has blamed Hamas for the stalled ceasefire, but critics have said the US-backed board’s lack of even-handedness in implementing the truce risks a return to war.The “high representative for Gaza”, Nickolay Mladenov, told the UN security council on Thursday that Hamas was the “principal obstacle” to the ceasefire’s continued implementation because “it refused to accept verified decommissioning, relinquish coercive control and allow a genuine civilian transition”. Continue reading...
The remains of 4 Italian divers killed in a Maldives cave dive have been repatriated
May 23, 2026 - World 
The remains of four Italian divers who died deep inside an underwater cave earlier this month while diving in the Maldives were repatriated early Saturday, a Maldivian government spokesperson said.
Coal mine explosion in China kills 90 people, state media say
May 23, 2026 - World
A gas explosion at a coal mine in China's northern Shanxi province killed at least 90 people, state media said on Saturday, in the country's deadliest mining accident in recent years.
California: 40,000 people ordered to evacuate over chemical leak fears
May 23, 2026 - World
Authorities in Orange county say tank holding methyl methacrylate ‘actively in crisis’ and urge residents to leaveAuthorities in Orange county, California have ordered the evacuation of 40,000 people over concerns about a chemical leak that threatened to spill or explode.The problem arose on Thursday at a facility owned by GKN Aerospace in the town of Garden Grove, where a storage tank holding methyl methacrylate began off-gassing and threatened to fail. The chemical, which is highly flammable, is used to fabricate resins and plastics. Continue reading...
May 23, 2026 - World 
May 23, 2026 - World
May 23, 2026 - World
May 23, 2026 - World
May 23, 2026 - World
May 23, 2026 - World
May 23, 2026 - World
May 23, 2026 - World
May 23, 2026 - World
May 23, 2026 - World