What You Need To Know

From Hurricane Helene to the Spanish floods, governments around the world are dealing with the impacts of climate change. But with Donald Trump’s victory in the US election, the are fears among climate scientists and activists that global climate action could lose momentum.  So as COP29 arrives in Azerbaijan, and goals are agreed - will Trump get in the way of them? And how worried should internat...

From J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books to Roald Dahl’s tales, kids have long been kept entertained by these classics. But, today, these books are struggling to capture children’s imaginations in the same way. Reading for pleasure amongst under 18s has hit a ‘crisis’ point with the number enjoying it in their free time dropping to just one in three. So, what’s behind this? And what are the long-ter...

There’s an epidemic of spiking that’s sprawling across the UK. And yet, official reports and convictions of the crime remain low. Often, by the time the victim comes around, it may be too late to gather crucial evidence, leaving them helpless. So, what can be done? Why does spiking often go unpunished? And how safe are you when out on the town? ITV News Reporter Sangita Lal tells Sally Bidulph wha...

With the US election just 24 hours away, Gen Z voters are more divided than ever. They may be the most connected generation in history, but how connected are they to US politics? Some seem to be disillusioned, with many still undecided as America heads to the polls. So, why is this? What do they want from their new President? And will they stick to traditions or embrace change?   Sam Leader tells...

Spain is enduring its worst flooding disaster in decades. After a year’s rain fell in just a matter of hours, families have been left with nothing. With at least 200 people dead, including one British man and with dozens more missing, the country has gone into national mourning. So, what can be done to pick up the pieces? From Valencia, ITV News Europe Editor, James Mates tells Faye Barker and wha...

A huge cash injection of £22.6billion into the NHS was announced in today’s budget. But, the Health Secretary has warned that this funding would only ‘arrest the decline’ of the struggling health service and that it can’t be fixed in a single budget. And without a firm grip on social care and employing more staff, hospitals are likely to remain overwhelmed. So, is it enough or is it a sticking pla...

The number of women killed by men in the UK averages one every three days.   Most are domestic homicides and often the men involved are already known to police.   The National Police Chief’s Council themselves have described violence against women as a national emergency.   But are police and society at large failing women who are victims of abuse? And can anything be done to end the epidemic?   I...

As Russia approaches its third year of war with Ukraine, social media has become one of its most powerful weapons. Videos linked to Russian accounts are sprawling all over TikTok, urging young Ukrainians to dodge the draft of conscription. And with an army almost half the size of Russia’s, the impact on Ukraine could be huge. So, will Ukraine have enough men to fight? And what are TikTok doing abo...

A woman whose son has paranoid schizophrenia has told ITV News she fears he will 'become another Valdo Calocane' unless he gets support. She’s shared details of her decades-long struggle to get her son appropriate mental health care.  In response, the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, told ITV News the issues raised in our report give him ‘sleepless nights’. So, how can things be changed for the be...

It’s been 50 years since the first handheld phone call and now, the digital landscape has changed beyond recognition. Smart phones have become an essential in everyday life, and many would say they can’t live without them. But what if we took a step away from our screens? Perhaps it’s finally time to? And what exactly are smart phones doing to our brain? Faye Barker tells Lucrezia Millarini what y...

Heartbroken fans from around the world are mourning the loss of former One Direction star, Liam Payne, after dying at just the age of 31. His life came to an end after he fell from a third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires. Tributes are now pouring in as Liam is remembered for his lasting legacy on the music industry.  So, who was the real Liam Payne? And what happened? ITV News Entertainme...

You may have heard about the twisted case of Dr Thomas Kwan.   He’s the GP who’s gone on trial after being accused of trying to kill his own mother’s partner by injecting him with poison.   By disguising himself as a nurse, Kwan administered a fake Covid jab, which was in fact a pesticide, leaving 71-year-old Patrick O’Hara hospitalised.   Kwan is due to be sentenced this week.   So, what’s behind...

Everyone’s talking about Ultra Processed food.   Over the past year, google searches for the term have shot up as more and more people want to know how they’re impacting our health and how best they can be avoided.   But, are people making the right changes? Why are they so dangerous? And should we be cutting them out of our diets entirely?     The Gut Health Doctor, Megan Rossi tells Sally Bidulp...

Since the start of the Israel/Gaza war, Islamophobia has risen right across our country, with hundreds of incidents reported every month.   Although the war is thousands of miles away, anti-Muslim hate crimes are happening close to home, right on our streets, leaving many British Muslims fearful for their safety.   So, what’s it like to be a British Muslim today? And how do they feel about their f...

It’s been a year since Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on October 7th.     And this week, Prime Minister Kier Starmer called it “the darkest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust” The impact has been felt across the world - including here in the UK. Where - alongside mourning the dead - the Jewish community has faced unprecedented levels of antisemitism in the wake of Israel’s response. So how...

It’s been one year since October 7th. One year since Hamas launched a terrorist attack of unthinkable violence on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. It was the worst atrocity suffered by the Jewish people since the Holocaust.  In its wake came unspeakable suffering too, for the people of Gaza as Israel swore to wipe out Hamas. More than 40,000 are estimated to have bee...

The Grenfell tragedy exposed a building safety crisis that’s been affecting thousands of people across the UK for decades.   And yet 7 years on, many are living in unsafe flats or have been left homeless, with nowhere to turn.   The cladding crisis continues and is having a devastating effect on the physical and mental health of its victims.   So, why are so many people still at risk? And why are...

As temperatures are coming down, energy bills are shooting up.   Ofgem’s energy price cap has risen for the winter with consumers now facing an £150 yearly increase on average.   And for many already struggling to keep on top of their costs, this won’t come as welcome news.   So, what’s causing the price rises? And what can we do to save money?      ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi tells Lucrez...

Primary schools in the UK are using discredited methods to teach reading, which risks making thousands of children unable to read. ITV News' Wales reporter Rhys Williams has been investigating this teaching method, and seeing the effects first-hand. So, why is this 'outdated' method still being taught?

Dine and dash - going out for a meal with no intention of paying for it -it's becoming more and more common for British businesses.  A third of restaurants have experienced it recently, but what can they do about it and why are we seeing such a large increase?

Each year, thousands of lion cubs are bred in captivity to be hunted and killed. The South African government wants to shut this lucrative industry down. Geraint Vincent has been to a lion farm to investigate how easily this can be done. He shares his experiences with Charlie Frost.  So, how will the farmers be compensated - and what will happen to the lions that have already been bred?

Thousands of Brits travel to Turkey for cosmetic surgery each year. It's often cheaper, and quicker than private care in the UK. But, that low cost can come with little to no aftercare.  The risk of a wound not healing, and of subsequent infection, is very real. ITV News' Geraint Vincent has met people who are learning to live with life-changing injuries.  So, what will and won't the NHS do if you...

In the latest episode, ITV News’ International Editor Emma Murphy tells Cari Davies what you need to know…. This week, hundreds of pagers and walkie talkies used by Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon, killing at least 30 people and injuring thousands more. With increasing rocket fire being exchanged between Lebanon and Israel there are growing fears of further escalation. So, is there any chance fo...

For nearly a decade, suspected lawbreakers have been prosecuted under the Single Justice procedure, which was brought in to speed up verdicts on “lower-level” crimes. But, a joint investigation between ITV News and the Evening Standard has revealed that this has meant people have been wrongly prosecuted. So what’s happening to stop it happening again? And can anything be done for the people alread...

As if the build-up to the US presidential election hasn’t been dramatic enough, Donald Trump has been targeted in an alleged assassination attempt for the second time in just a matter of months.   On a golf course on Sunday afternoon, gun shots were fired from the surrounding shrubbery towards the former president.   But, after decades of no political violence towards presidential candidates, is t...