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The UK government's decision to delay new regulations on low-carbon housing in England has sparked concerns that homebuyers will be locked into high gas prices for years to come. The updated regulations, known as the 'Future Homes Standard' (FHS), will require most newly built homes to be equipped with solar panels and heat pumps from March 2028.However, a loophole allowing wood-burning stoves in new homes could undermine efforts to achieve fully carbon-free homes. The FHS aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% compared to existing 2013 standards, but experts warn that wood-burning stoves, which are highly polluting, may account for some of the remaining 25% of emissions.The delay is expected to result in hundreds of thousands of new homes being built with gas heating, despite rising energy costs. Experts argue that this is unacceptable given the availability of low-carbon alternatives like heat pumps. Jan Rosenow, a professor of energy at the University of Oxford, stated, 'It is outrageous that people will be buying homes that are expensively heated with gas when we have perfectly good technology – heat pumps – that can be installed instead.'The government claims that households will save around £1,000 per year on energy bills thanks to the new standards. However, critics argue that the delay and loopholes will hinder progress toward a carbon-free future and leave homeowners vulnerable to energy market fluctuations.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that the government will not provide universal support to deal with potential future rises in energy bills. Instead, any government assistance will be targeted towards those who need it most.Reeves criticized the support package offered by the previous government under Liz Truss as unaffordable and irresponsible, stating that it benefited the wealthiest households and led to high levels of national debt.The chancellor emphasized that any future support will be provided within the government's fiscal rules to keep inflation and interest rates low. The government is currently focusing on longer-term measures to reduce energy bills for all households.Reeves also mentioned that she will review the planned fuel duty rise in September, but did not commit to delaying or postponing it. She will hold meetings with supermarkets and banks to discuss how they can support their customers and ensure that the Competition and Markets Authority has the necessary powers to detect and prevent price gouging.The chancellor's announcement comes amid speculation about the government's response to the energy crisis and its impact on households.

Cape Town's iconic Bo-Kaap neighborhood, known for its brightly colored houses and rich cultural heritage, is under threat from rising property prices and foreign investment. The area, situated at the foot of Table Mountain, has long been a hub for the city's Muslim community, with its historic mosque, Auwal Masjid, dating back to 1794.However, the neighborhood's growing popularity with tourists and investors has led to a surge in property prices, making it increasingly difficult for long-time residents to afford to stay. Foreign buyers have accounted for around $168m in property sales across Cape Town's prime property market in the past year, according to data from the Seeff Property Group.Residents say the consequences are unfolding inside the neighborhood itself, with homes that once housed generations of the same families being sold to foreign investors or converted into short-term rentals like Airbnb. Younger residents are finding it hard to remain in the neighborhood, with many being priced out of the market.The Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association has expressed concerns about the impact of gentrification on the community, with chairperson Sheikh Dawood Terblanche stating that residents are being displaced due to rising property prices and municipal rates.The City of Cape Town has acknowledged the challenges facing neighborhoods like Bo-Kaap, citing rapid population growth and economic conditions as contributing factors. However, residents say more needs to be done to protect the community's cultural heritage and ensure that long-time residents are not priced out of their ancestral homes.

The conflict between Iran and Israel has taken a significant turn, with oil prices skyrocketing to unprecedented levels. Analysts are now warning that prices could reach $150 or even $200 per barrel, a scenario that was previously considered far-fetched.The global benchmark, Brent crude, has hit nearly $120 per barrel and has remained above $100 since March 13. The recent Israeli strike on Iran's South Pars gasfield and subsequent Iranian attacks on oil and gas facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have further pushed crude prices up to over $108 per barrel.The Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for about one-fifth of global oil supplies, has been effectively closed since Iran declared it shut early in the conflict. Only a handful of ships, mostly Indian, Pakistani, Turkish, and Chinese-flagged vessels, have been allowed to pass through in recent days.Market watchers agree that prices have room to move much higher if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Vandana Hari, founder of Vanda Insights, notes that benchmark Middle Eastern crudes have already crossed the $150 threshold, making $200 a possibility.The International Monetary Fund estimates that every 10% rise in oil prices would correspond with a 0.4% increase in global inflation and a 0.15% reduction in economic growth. Oil prices at $150 or higher would weigh heavily on the global economy.Adi Imsirovic, an energy expert at the University of Oxford, warns that oil at $200 per barrel would be a major handbrake to the world economy, impacting inflation, growth, employment, and potentially causing shortages of fuel and materials.

In the bustling streets of Delhi, a heart-wrenching story has emerged of a homeless mother struggling to protect her children. The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, has resorted to counting her children's breaths to ensure their safety. This desperate measure underscores the dire circumstances faced by homeless families in Delhi. With limited access to basic necessities like food, shelter, and healthcare, the mother is forced to take drastic actions to safeguard her children. The situation highlights the alarming rise in homelessness in Delhi and the need for urgent intervention to address the root causes of poverty and lack of affordable housing.

The Trump administration has announced it will pay French energy major TotalEnergies $1 billion to kill plans to construct wind farms off the US east coast. This decision comes as a fuel crisis triggered by the war in Iran drives up global fossil fuel prices.The deal is the latest blow to the US offshore wind industry, which has faced repeated disruptions to multi-billion-dollar projects under Donald Trump. Trump has expressed his dislike for wind turbines, citing their ugliness, cost, and inefficiency, and his administration has moved to increase domestic fossil fuel production.In the deal, TotalEnergies will give up two offshore leases it had purchased off New York and North Carolina. The US Department of the Interior will reimburse the company $928 million it paid for the leases under Joe Biden. TotalEnergies has pledged not to develop any new offshore wind projects in the country and will invest nearly $1 billion this year in the development of four trains at the Rio Grande LNG plant in Texas, and the development of upstream conventional oil in the US Gulf and shale gas production.Critics of the deal, including climate advocates and environmental groups, argue that it will deepen the country's dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and undermine efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources. They also point out that offshore wind projects can provide reliable and affordable power to the grid. The decision has been met with criticism from groups such as Oceantic Network, Evergreen Action, and Sierra Club, who argue that it will leave American consumers struggling to pay their electricity bills and undermine efforts to address climate change.

Michelle De Swarte's comedy career is a testament to her versatility, having worked as a model, actor, journalist, and now comedian. Her latest touring show, 'The Afters', is a hilarious and mouthy performance that leaves audiences in stitches. While the set may not break new ground in terms of comedy themes, De Swarte's confident and cavalier standup voice makes it a standout.From the outset, De Swarte's ability to turn crowd work into a fine set piece about cultural appropriation and Norfolk seafarers showcases her skill. She follows up with a number about a “poor-off” contest she had with a citizen of Bradford, whose salty tang of truth adds up to something far funnier than the usual comedy of class cliches. Her menopause material is distinguished by her pose of stroppy denial, making it a refreshing take on a commonly tackled topic.De Swarte's say-what-she-sees manner seems wholly unaffected, as she arches eyebrows at various aspects of modernity. Her resistance to touchy-feeliness is evident, and her background – poor, queer, and ruthlessly unsentimental – provides context for her personality and comedic style. The show's later stages feature rough-hewn comic effect as De Swarte recalls her forebears and their attitudes.The show's final section, in which De Swarte recalls her encounters with Jeffrey Epstein and P Diddy, leaves the audience wanting more. Perhaps there's a whole show or book to come from this cheerfully incautious comic voice. For now, 'The Afters' is a must-see for fans of comedy and those looking for a fresh voice in the industry.

The UK government has unveiled plans for seven new towns in England, a move hailed as the most ambitious housebuilding project in the country for over 50 years. These new towns will feature between 15,000 to 40,000 homes each and are designed to be built with coordinated infrastructure, including schools, healthcare facilities, public transport links, and walking and cycling paths. The locations of the new towns include under-developed inner-city land, a historic village, and an existing new town. Notably, up to 40,000 homes are planned around the Bedfordshire village of Tempsford, near the A1, on a former RAF base. This new town will also feature a major station interchange, linking the east coast mainline with a new east-west link between Cambridge and Oxford. Five of the projects are situated within or on the edges of major cities, including two in London. These include: Crews Hill and Chase Park in Enfield, on the northern edge of London, with up to 21,000 homes. Thamesmead in south-east London, with 15,000 homes, supported by an extension of the Docklands Light Railway. Victoria North in Manchester, with about 15,000 homes. Leeds South Bank, with a planned 20,000 homes. Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc in the north of Bristol, with 40,000 homes. The final project involves 40,000 new homes in Milton Keynes, a city created from Buckinghamshire farmland and villages as one of the second-generation post-war new towns. Housing Secretary Steve Reed emphasized that the plan marks a significant shift in how the UK builds for the future, with communities designed from the ground up to include homes, jobs, transport links, and green spaces.

Moma Foods, a British porridge and oat drink brand, has issued a recall for several of its porridge products in the UK due to a potential mouse contamination at their manufacturing site. The recall affects seven versions of its pots and two of its sachets.Customers are advised not to consume the affected products and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed the recall on its website, stating that these products may contain mouse contamination, making them unsafe to eat.The affected products include:Porridge pots: almond butter and salted caramel; apple, cinnamon and brown sugar; banana and peanut butter protein; blueberry and vanilla; cranberry and raisin; golden syrup; and plain no-added sugar.Sachets: almond butter and salted caramel; and apple, cinnamon and brown sugar.Moma Foods emphasized that the chance of contamination is low, but they have taken this precautionary step to ensure consumer safety. The company was founded in 2006 in a railway arch in Deptford, south-east London, initially selling porridge and smoothies.