2 h. ago Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Thursday, July 17)

Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Thursday, July 17)

Politics

2 h. ago High water bills, filthy rivers – and now drought. This is England's great artificial water crisis of 2025 | George Monbiot

In its refusal to renationalise water, it’s clear the government operates in the interests of private capital and not of the countryFor a rich and fairly stable country, we are staggeringly ill-prepared for climate shocks. We respond to predictable crises as if we had had no warning. Lessons from previous disasters go unlearned, mistakes are recycled, failures lodged so deeply that they come to define the system.This is not because of a deficiency in the national character, but because of a deficiency in the ideology of government: an elite belief, shared by scarcely any citizens, that public intervention should be used only when all other measures have failed. Until that point, our problems should be addressed by the private sector. As drought rolls across the country once again, England’s privatised water system guarantees an irrational response.George Monbiot is a Guardian columnistOn Tuesday 16 September, join George Monbiot, Mikaela Loach and other special guests discussing the...

Events

2 h. ago Voices: My friends don’t make any effort with me now they have kids

The Independent’s agony aunt Victoria Richards is here to help. Email dearvix@independent.co.uk for advice on love, work, family and relationships

Politics

2 h. ago Two UK coins in circulation that could be worth more than £3,000

An expert shared two specific details that make these coins especially valuable

Economics

3 h. ago The Institute review – this is how you butcher a Stephen King novel

Flimsy characters, zero fun and the replacement of dread with upsetting scenes of child torture: this show strips out every bit of the author’s geniusMe, I’m always in the mood for hokum. You can serve it to me at any point on the largest platter you have and I will grab my hooey knife and absurdity fork and start shovelling. But, like any chef, you have to know what you’re doing. You have to make some effort, have the basic ingredients assembled in the right proportions and send it out from the kitchen hot, steaming and looking delicious. Tepid hokum, bland hokum – well, that ain’t no hokum at all.And so to the latest Stephen King adaptation, this time by Benjamin Cavell and directed by Jack Bender (Lost, From, Under the Dome – the latter another King tale) of the horror master’s 2019 novel The Institute, travelling to our screens under the same name. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Experts share possible cause of mystery marks on Donald Trump's hands amid health concerns

Donald Trump's mystery bruise debacle has resurfaced as the president seemingly covered up marks on his hands with makeup during his latest press conference

Politics

4 h. ago Gardeners told put one common item in their birdbaths during July

Birdbaths are a great way to attract wildlife to your garden but can quickly become dirty and unattractive. One gardener has shared a simple trick to keep them clean

Politics

5 h. ago Meta argues its AI needs personal information from social media posts to learn ‘Australian concepts’

Tech giant said posts from Australian Facebook and Instagram users were ‘vital learning’ about ‘concepts, realities, and figures’Meta has urged the Australian government not to make privacy law changes that would prevent the company using personal information taken from Facebook and Instagram posts to train its AI, arguing the AI needs to learn “how individuals discuss Australian concepts”.In a submission to the Productivity Commission’s review on harnessing data and digital technology, published this week, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp argued for a “global policy alignment” in the Albanese government’s pursuit of privacy reform in the AI age. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago Donald Trump Jr.'s former girlfriend shares candid details about their romance

Aubrey O'Day, who worked with Donald Trump Jr. on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2011, spoke with the outlet Wednesday about her past relationship with the eldest child of the U.S. president.

Politics

5 h. ago Travel expert shares legal right to sit with family on plane and if you need to book seats

If you're about to book seats, read this first and then decide

Politics

6 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Weapons will be Europe’s support to Ukraine – not Trump’s, Kallas suggests

‘If you promise to give the weapons, but say somebody else is going to pay, it’s not really given by you’; Russia bombs shopping centre, killing two. What we know on day 1,240Donald Trump’s move to take credit for the additional weapons headed to Ukraine at Europe’s expense has created some mild friction in EU-US relations. “If we pay for these weapons, it’s our support,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, on Wednesday. “So it’s European support, and we are doing as much as we can to help Ukraine If you promise to give the weapons but say that somebody else is going to pay for it, it’s not really given by you, is it? We welcome President Trump’s announcement to send more weapons to Ukraine, although we would like to see the US share the burden.”A meeting of Patriot owner nations and Ukraine donors – aiming to find additional Patriot air defence systems for Kyiv and chaired by Nato’s top military commander – could take place on Wednesday of next week, Reuters reported. A ...

Events

6 h. ago As crime surges in Bali, locals are wondering: ‘are the tourists coming here getting worse?’

Misbehaving Aussies long marred the Indonesian island, but influx of expats and digital nomads has given rise to a thriving criminal underbellyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe demographic of tourists visiting Bali has changed since the pandemic, residents say, with a wave of backpackers, digital nomads and expats creating the conditions for a criminal underbelly to thrive on the Indonesian island famed for its peacefulness.Bali politician Agung Bagus Pratiksa Linggih said he had seen an increase in long-term visitors with low budgets in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic, and that local facilities and infrastructure were racing to keep up.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

7 h. ago ANDREW NEIL: This breathtaking Afghan scandal risks ripping asunder the contract of trust between voters and leaders without which democracy cannot survive

The British state put thousands of lives at risk. It covered up its blunder with an unprecedented legal gag and with threats of jail for anybody even thinking about breaking it.

Politics

8 h. ago Fire stations, care homes and libraries get share of £10m for clean energy

Publicly-owned Great British Energy has awarded mayors grant funding to roll out projects such as solar panels on community buildings to cut bills.

Economics

8 h. ago British children living in 'unbearable poverty' as students make school breakfast plea

More than three-quarters of children’s doctors say poverty-related illness has increased over the last two years, as they warned of an 'unbearable level' of hardship among kids

Society

8 h. ago Trump says he scored major new deal with Coca Cola that could change the taste of Coke

The president posted on his Truth Social account that he had spoken to Coca-Cola execs about putting cane sugar back in its U.S. Coke. The product currently contains corn syrup.

Politics

8 h. ago Drake London snubbed in ESPN's WR rankings despite breakout season

Drake London snubbed in ESPN's WR rankings despite breakout season  Falcons Wire

Politics

9 h. ago Love Island fans 'sobbing' as Cach breaks down in tears in heartbreaking scenes

Love Island fans were left sobbing as they watched on as Cach broke down in tears following Toni's decision to couple up with Harrison during last night's episode

Politics

9 h. ago Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles spark outrage over LGBT character who takes over from Raphael

Jennika, a yellow-masked mutant and member of the TMNT universe, has officially made history as the first openly LGBTQ + turtle in the franchise.

Politics

9 h. ago Breakfast's Naga Munchetty 'set to quit' BBC for rival station with 'less fluffy nonsense'

BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty has sent her agents out to hold talks with rival news stations after she was reportedly hauled in by broadcasting bosses following a bullying row

Politics