'No one cared about us 10 years ago, now I don't feel safe as a trans person'
Welcome to the ITV News digest bringing you the best of our original journalism, insight and analysis from across the nation, regions and the world.
Hi, I’m Steve Scott, ITV News’ Sports Editor. The Supreme Court judgment on the term ‘woman’ was a deeply significant moment. It may have settled the legal argument but it did nothing to defuse the online toxicity surrounding this issue.
The court’s decision, of course, has many implications and an army of lawyers hired by big business, public bodies and sports organisations are now working out exactly what those implications are, and how they might shape their current policies.
This week, we sat down with Emily Bridges, a trans woman and former elite cyclist. Given her background, her perspective on how she believes the decision will impact not just sport, but also trans people’s lives was fascinating to listen to.
She talked openly about her fears that the judgement will paint a bigger target on the back of trans women. But in addition to how life might change for her, she also spoke about same sex spaces, and how grassroots sport will now come under pressure to ban trans women from female categories.
Whatever your beliefs and however strong they might be, it is always interesting to listen to those directly affected by a decision made by eminent judges inside a courtroom.
You can watch my interview with Emily on ITVX here.
See also:
World leaders, royalty and the faithful gather for Pope’s funeral
So many mourners have been lining up to see Pope Francis lying in state in a simple wooden coffin inside St. Peter's Basilica that the Vatican has kept the doors open all night due to higher-than-expected turnout.
The Pope will be laid to rest on Saturday - with presidents, prime ministers and royalty flying in from around the world to share the moment with thousands of Catholics in person, and billions across the globe.
ITV News has had extensive coverage of Francis’ death, his legacy, and what happens next including:
Rachel Reeves on trusting Trump and tackling tariffs
The European Union and Canada are not taking tariffs lying down.
Both have responded to the trade war that US President Trump initiated by announcing tariffs on imports from the US.
The UK strategy has been quieter, more cooperative and peaceable. And as Chancellor Rachel Reeves told ITV News Economics Editor Joel Hills in Washington, she’s sure the US wants to secure a trade deal.
Also:
Trump capitulates in trade and money wars, writes Robert Peston
Talking Politics USA Q&A - Is the White House right to share AI content?
AI 'Down Syndrome' filters used to promote sexual content on Instagram
A network of Instagram accounts are using AI 'Down Syndrome' filters to share videos of young women, making content with sexual undertones and providing links to subscription site OnlyFans.
ITV News Producer Olivia Mustafa has learned of one account that has taken content from the profile of 16-year-old girl, changing her face with AI to make it appear as if she has Down Syndrome.
The altered videos have been shared with suggestive captions, and the profile contains a link to an account on OnlyFans. And it’s by no means a single example.
See more on our TikTok channel.
‘Unmasked’: Syrian gravedigger who brought members of regime to justice
“My real name is Mohammad Afif Naifeh,” he says. Then he pauses and quietly adds, “But I’m known as The Gravedigger.”
For years, his identity was hidden. His face never seen, his voice never heard. Yet he became a pivotal figure in the pursuit of justice—an anonymous witness to some of the darkest crimes of the 21st century.
ITV News Global Security Editor Rohit Kachroo heard his remarkable story…
Local elections: why they matter and what they will tell us
Ahead of the local elections on May 1, ITV News election expert Professor Jane Green breaks down why each party will be paying close attention to how they can spin the results.
Elections will be taking place in 23 councils across England, plus there are six mayoral elections.
Prof Green gives her insight on:
No-one charged in 98% of spiking related offences reported to police forces across the Midlands
Exclusive research by ITV News Central has shown less than 2% of victims who reported a spiking-related offence to police forces across the Midlands in the past four years saw their case result in a charge
Figures also show women are considerably more likely to be targeted, with women in Staffordshire nine times more likely to report being the victim of spiking than men.
ITV News Central spoke to victims, pressure groups and police officers about the issue - watch the report on ITVX.
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On patrol with the ambulance crew created to respond to mental health crises
For emergency ambulance responders Simon Amphlett and Kelly Mumford, their goal is not to ensure patients get to hospital swiftly but to try to keep them out.
The duo are fronting the Welsh Ambulance Service’s new mental health crisis team - treating those suffering anything from suicidal thoughts to a mental crisis.
“Most of the time, that’s all someone wants, someone to talk to,” Kelly told ITV News Wales’ Katie Fenton.
Getting inside the mind of a stalker
“In the mind of the stalker, what they are doing is not wrong. What they’re doing, they find, is incredibly essential.”
Forensic psychiatrist Rajesh Nadkarni provides police forces with an insight into what is really going on the mind of a stalker.
He spoke to ITV News Tyne Tees about his work trying to unpick the motivations that drive stalking offenders - watch Dr Nadkarni’s fascinating insight on ITVX.
Also:
What’s coming up…
Saturday April 26: Funeral service for Pope Francis in Rome. He died aged 88 on Easter Monday
Sunday April 27: The London Marathon takes place
Monday April 28: Trial in Newcastle of pair accused of felling the Sycamore Gap tree. Daniel Graham, 38, from Carlisle, and Adam Carruthers, 31, from Wigton, deny causing criminal damage to the tree
Thursday May 1: Millions vote in local elections in England and a by-election in Runcorn and Helsby
And finally… What happened after Charlie bit his finger…
From a shaky video shot in front of an elephant enclosure at San Diego zoo to a global behemoth generating millions of videos a year, YouTube has come a long way in 20 years.
And one of the most iconic videos features one baby biting his sibling’s finger and then laughing about it.
ITV News caught up with ‘Charlie Bit My Finger’ brothers Charlie and Harry Davies-Carr to find out what happened next…