Troubling reality of being a lone woman at night
Welcome to the ITV News digest bringing you the best of our original journalism, insight and analysis from across the nation and regions.
Hi, Cree-Summer Haughton here. I usually produce and present ITV News’ social content but in this case, my investigation into young women’s safety crossed platforms onto TV.
I walked alone in Cardiff at night to show the challenges women face. In two hours, I was approached 20 times, with only one man offering genuine help.
My cover story in Cardiff was that I was looking for my friends. The vast majority of the men responded: “I’ll be your friend.” Some men even approached me with strange requests: “Do you play tennis? I will give you free lessons.”
Niamh, 20, was one of the women I spoke to as part of the investigation. She is one of many who have been assaulted while walking home: "I think it is just that shock and just adrenaline and, you know, instincts or whatever take over because you're just fearing for your life."
This experiment highlighted that even non-threatening interactions contribute to our sense of insecurity.
Despite South Wales Police reporting a drop in violence, the relentless approaches I faced underscore how pervasive and exhausting these experiences can be for women.
You can watch my report and see some of the situations I encountered on ITVX.
Thanks for reading and enjoy more content from the ITV News team below.
Houses, railways, and rights: 40 bills in Labour’s first King’s Speech
After more than a decade out of power, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government used this week’s King’s Speech to announce a raft of new bills.
The speech included 40 pieces of proposed legislation including plans to start renationalising the railways, reforming planning laws to boost housebuilding, and changing the bus system to give local authorities more power.
You can catch up on what our political team made of the King’s Speech on Talking Politics on ITVX.
And there’s more around the detail here:
Some of the more quirky traditions of the State Opening
‘I’m not supposed to be here’: Trump’s marathon convention speech
“If I had not moved my head at that very last instant, the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark. And I would not be here tonight.”
So said Donald Trump as he accepted the Republican party’s nomination to run for US president.
Almost a week on from events in Pennsylvania, commentators and politicians from both political sides are urging the heat to be dialled down on the rhetoric.
President Joe Biden - who’s now stepped away from the campaign having been diagnosed with Covid - has admitted saying Trump should be put in the bullseye was a mistake.
Former president Barack Obama has now also reportedly cast doubt on Biden’s chances. You can keep across the latest on the race for the White House through our new podcast, Talking Politics USA, live on ITVX every Thursday at 4pm.
A special documentary by ITV News Correspondent Robert Moore examines asks whether Donald Trump is on course for an election win.
A tumultuous week in Wales
Just two weeks after the General Election, Wales politics is in turmoil as the first minister, Vaughan Gething, was forced to resign after seeing four members of his government quit.
Mr Gething has been dogged by controversy for months - almost from the moment he took the job earlier this year.
Some said his decision to stand down sent a worrying message to people of colour but others insisted he had nowhere left to turn and would have found it impossible to lead in the Senedd.
ITV Wales Political Editor Adrian Masters examines what now for Labour - and for Wales - following a seismic week.
And you can watch a special edition of ITV Wales’ political show, Sharp End, on ITVX.
Covid Inquiry: Public ‘failed’ by government that planned for wrong pandemic
The UK government and every devolved administration “failed their citizens” by being ill-prepared for Covid, resulting in more grief, untold misery and economic turmoil than necessary, writes ITV News Deputy Political Editor Anushka Asthana.
Baroness Hallett, chair of the Covid Inquiry, made clear there was a failure of leadership across the board but named two former health secretaries, Matt Hancock and Jeremy Hunt.
And she warned: “It is not a question of ‘if’ another pandemic will strike but ‘when’.”
You can keep across the latest from the first report from the inquiry on ITVX.
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The 'deepfake doctors' fuelling health scams on social media
Deepfake content of some of Britain's most recognisable television doctors is being shared on social media to sell scam products.
Trusted names including Hilary Jones, Rangan Chatterjee and the late Michael Mosley are being used to promote products claiming to fix a range of ailments, according to British Medical Journal journalist Chris Stokel-Walker.
Some of the videos offer solutions to health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and advertise supplements such as CBD gummies.
Good Morning Britain’s resident doctor Hilary Jones spoke to ITV News.
Spice Girl Mel B on her most ‘important life mission’
For Melanie Brown, receiving an honorary doctorate in front of a couple of hundred people was more nerve-wracking than performing in front of tens of thousands.
But for the woman perhaps better known as Mel B or Scary Spice, it was among the most significant moments of her life.
Melanie, as she explained to ITV News Arts Editor Nina Nannar, has made it a life’s mission to advocate for domestic abuse victims.
You can read more of what she told Nina on our website and watch the emotional moment Melanie received her doctorate on ITVX.
Could a blood test help predict Motor Neurone Disease cases?
The names of Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir and Joost Van der Westhuizen are some of the greatest associated with the game of rugby.
They are also almost equally well known for their struggles with motor neurone disease.
Now a blood test developed by researchers at Durham University could provide a chink of light in understanding how the disease occurs.
ITV News Science Correspondent Martin Stew went to meet the researchers and spoke to some former rugby players who are living with degenerative neurological conditions.
What’s coming up…
Monday July 22: Prince George, oldest son of William and Kate, turns 11
Tuesday July 23: Third reading of the Isle of Man’s Assisted Dying bill
Wednesday July 24: Keir Starmer will face his first Prime Minister’s Questions
Friday July 26: Opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics
Tuesday July 30: Parliament expected to rise for the summer recess
And finally … how a humble moth could threaten your pint of cider
A cider farmer in Somerset fears for this autumn's harvest after the "worst infestation of moths in living memory" threatens his apple crops.
The family-run Burrow Hill Cider Farm in Huish Episcopi produces hundreds of thousands of litres of cider every year, but its crop has been so severely eaten by moths that the damage is visible from the sky.
You can see the damage for yourself on ITVX.