What You Need To Know

With the world aiming to hit net zero by 2050, the UK is expected to make green energy a big driver in this week’s Spring Budget. Campaigners are calling for energy companies to capture as much carbon as they release. But against a backdrop of soaring energy prices and a cost of living crisis that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, will the upcoming government support stop short of enforcing a com...

You may have heard a lot about the popular party drug nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas. Recently, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to ban it. But here in the UK, a review for the government has stopped short of recommending a laughing gas ban. So why has this drug become so popular now? And will the ban in the Netherlands actually stop young people from using it?...

The gulf between the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority has rarely been wider than it is now. The Israeli-Palestinian peace process is hanging by a thread with not a single party in the incumbent coalition backing a two-state solution. Meanwhile, the UK and other European countries have condemned the rising violence in the West Bank in a plea to restore peace. So, can Netanyahu restrain...

In another clear sign of global warming, an uncertain future lies ahead for Antarctica, as sea ice has reached a record low. But it’s not just Antarctica the world should be concerned about, as the accelerating melt of sea ice across all polar regions is widely impacting the globe. So, is this the beginning of the end? And what does it mean for us here in the UK? ITV News Correspondent Rupert Evel...

It’s now been two weeks since Scotland’s longest serving and first female First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon resigned. There is no doubt that she changed the shape and legacy of the Scottish National Party. But the question on everyone’s lips is why did she resign if Scottish independence is on the way? And what do we know about the candidates competing to replace her? ITV News Correspondent Peter Sm...

Have you heard of Cuckooing? It’s thought to be on the rise across the UK and is the forced taking-over of someone’s home in order to use it as a cover for drugs operations. Charities are now campaigning for it to become a recognised criminal offence in the forthcoming modern slavery bill. So why has there been such a rise in the phenomenon? And what’s being done to stop it? ITV News Presenter Jul...

Leaks, collapsing floors, holes in the ceiling and even raw sewage. These are the scenes you will find in the sorry state of England’s NHS hospitals. With patient safety increasingly at risk and entire wards having been forced to shut down, doctors are fearing something catastrophic could happen. So, how much longer can these buildings bear the brunt? And what can be done to stop our hospitals cru...

Vladimir Putin’s missteps may have left him a long way from victory in Ukraine, but when it comes to the information war at home, his action was swift and decisive - wiping out independent media and crushing his opponents. So what’s life like now for Russians who were either forced to flee or remain silently behind? ITV News, News Editor, Emma Burrows speaks with two Russian journalists who bring...

When Russians woke up to the news their country had invaded Ukraine on 24th February last year, there was shock, fear, even protests across the country. A year on, it’s hard to witness any public dissent against Vladimir Putin’s war. So why do so many Russians now believe the war in Ukraine is worth all of their sacrifices? In the second of three special episodes to mark the anniversary of the con...

The 24th February 2023 marks a year since Ukraine was invaded by Russia. The scale and sheer brutality has shocked the world. And after a year has passed, there is still no real end in sight. Ukraine has witnessed at least 30,000 civilian deaths and seen some 100,000 soldiers killed or wounded in action. So, how has the country changed and can it ever go back to what it once was? And what lies ahe...

Have you had your picture taken recently? Or do you have a beloved family photo? Well, imagine your face being cut out from that very picture and placed on someone else’s body. Now, imagine that image of your face on someone else’s body who’s having sex on a porn site - that’s what makes deepfake porn. So, how exactly does it work? And what is being done to stop it? ITV News Digital Video Producer...

NHS pressures aren’t just impacting patients' physical health, they’re affecting doctors’ mental health too. In a survey carried out exclusively for ITV News, 91% of junior doctors say their work is worsening their mental wellbeing. And as they're currently being balloted for better working conditions in England, the pressure is mounting. So, what can be done to improve the conditions? And how can...

One week on, the death toll continues to rise from the Turkey and Syrian earthquakes. Rescue efforts are underway but with over 30,000 people dead, hope is starting to dwindle. Now, those who managed to escape are returning to their devastated homes to salvage anything they can. So, what has the response been like? And just how many more deaths can we expect to come? ITV News reporter Peter Smith...

A kidnapped man awaits execution in Iran, one of dozens on the country’s death row right now. And all because his plane took an unexpected landing in Dubai nearly three years ago. Now, his daughter’s doing everything she can to save his life. So what was his crime? And what does it tell us about how far Iran will go to silence its critics? ITV News Digital Video Producer Amani Ibrahimi who has bee...

It started out as an autumn of discontent last year. But as the NHS, postal workers, rail staff, teachers and more continue gather on the picket line, there seems to be no end in sight. Terrified by the state of their industries, thousands are walking out over pay and staffing. So, how are the government responding? And just how long is this going to go on for? ITV News Deputy Political Editor Anu...

Have you heard of the latest AI robot that’s revolutionising the education system? It’s called ChatGPT and is simultaneously becoming every student's dream and every teacher's nightmare. The software has already managed to pass an MBA exam, secure job offers and create business plans. So, how much of a threat does it pose to our curiculum? And what does it mean for the future of teaching? ITV News...

After nearly a year of combat for Ukraine, the tanks promised by the West cannot come soon enough. For President Zelenskyy, keeping up the pace of allies’ support is crucial with aging equipment now battered and bruised. So, why is the West taking so long to deliver? And what kind of difference will the tanks make against Russia's spring offensive? ITV News Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen tell...

DNP, found in some diet pills, has caused at least 33 deaths in the UK so far. Now, the slimming aid, has been classified as poison and banned by the Home Office. But concerns still loom over the drug’s availability online. So, why are people so drawn to this drug? And will the new ban be enough to stop those from taking it? ITV News presenter Lucrezia Millarini talks to ITV News reporter Stacey F...

They should have been better protected. A pregnant mother, her two children and their young friend all brutally killed by Damien Bendall. Now, a review has exposed a litany of missed opportunities leading up to the murders in the Derbyshire village of Killamarsh. So how did probation officers get it so wrong? And is anything being done to stop a case like this happening again? ITV News Midlands co...

Every year, the 27th January marks Holocaust Memorial Day. A day dedicated to the remembrance of those who perished in the Holocaust. Now, with survivors dying out, it’s more important than ever to hear their testimony. In this episode, ITV News reporter Sam Holder is joined by a rather unusual and unique pair, Noemie Lopian, the daughter of two Holocaust survivors and Derek Niemann, the grandson...

A misogynist, a cult leader, the pinnacle of masculinity, or an actual God. These are the labels which have described social media star, Andrew Tate. So who actually is he? How has he gained so much public attention? And why has his influence on young men been deemed so dangerous? This is What You Need to Know…

Over the pandemic and since, the NHS has recorded a higher number of deaths than usual for this time of year. In part due to Covid, but exclusive analysis reveals that an even more sinister trigger is living without heating in our homes. In trying to keep their bills down, many are risking losing their lives. So how many Brits are dying due to the cold? And what can be done to bring the numbers do...

For the last three years, the Chinese government has been boasting about its zero-Covid policy. But now, with the government abandoning its restrictions, the country has been left in chaos as hospitals are full and queues at crematoriums mount. So why the abrupt change? What’s behind the government’s sudden switch in policy? And what has this meant for a population exceeding 1.4 billion? This is W...

In a case which has gripped the US and shocked the world, the investigation into the Idaho university murders continues. Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were all stabbed to death on November 13th last year. The suspect, Bryan Kohberger, has been identified, but still, there is no apparent motive and so many unanswered questions – with one in particular, why? This is...

In what was a historic moment for the Catholic church, the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI marked the first time a sitting Pope has presided over another in hundreds of years. Pope Francis laid to rest Pope Benedict XVI as people from around the world flocked to the Vatican to pay tribute to the ex-pontiff. But what kind of legacy will Pope Benedict leave behind? And where does this leave the Catholi...