ITV News - What You Need To Know

As Storm Bert battered Britain last weekend, at least five people have died, and widespread havoc continues to spread across the country.

Now, forecasters and politicians have come under fire as complaints over poor warnings and the UK’s defence systems are growing.

So, could we have been better prepared? Or is our extreme weather becoming so unpredictable that we need an overhaul?

ITV News Weather Presenter, Becky Mantin tells Sally Bidulph what you need to know…

It’s been called the ‘Wild West.’

Britain’s backstreet cometic surgery industry is booming - in salons, shops and even people’s homes.

Up and down the country, unregulated procedures are taking place, leaving patients bruised, botched and some with life threatening conditions.

So, why is there still no regulation here in the UK? And what can be done to change this?

Cree Haughton tells Lucrezia Millarini what you need to know…

It is one of the largest unsolved mass murders in British history.

The Birmingham bombings in 1974, where 21 people were killed in two pubs, has become an enduring symbol of the Troubles and a case of justice long delayed.

50 years on, as memories fade and potential witnesses have died, many unanswered questions remain.  

So, what happened? And will there be a public inquiry?

ITV News Midlands Correspondent Ben Chapman tells Tom Bradby what you need to know…

You wouldn’t think this is Great Britain.

Behind closed doors, people across the country are living in homes not fit for humans, left completely trapped.

And the dirty secret is -  they are being housed by the British state.

So why have they been so neglected? And what needs to be done to change it?  

ITV News Investigations Editor, Daniel Hewitt tells Nina Hossain what you need to know…

For more on this, head over to thetrapped.co.uk or you can find the series, The Trapped wherever you get your podcasts...

The question of whether terminally ill people should have the right to end their lives has long been discussed and debated.

And this week, as a new law was proposed, MP’s have been left more divided than ever after widespread opposition to the bill. 

So is the assisted dying bill doomed? Or is it likely to become law? And how would it work?

ITV News UK Editor, Paul Brand tells Charlene White what you need to know…

The death of One Direction star Liam Payne sent shockwaves around the world.

And has shone a significant spotlight on the pressures young artists face and the support they receive or perhaps the lack of it.

Now, as the music industry faces urgent questions over duty of care, record labels are doing some serious rethinking over the treatment of their artists.

So, will this wakeup call change things?

ITV News Arts Editor Nina Nannar tells Lucrezia Millarini what you need to know…

From Hurricane Helene to the Spanish floods, governments around the world are dealing with the impacts of climate change.

But with Donald Trump’s victory in the US election, the are fears among climate scientists and activists that global climate action could lose momentum. 

So as COP29 arrives in Azerbaijan, and goals are agreed - will Trump get in the way of them? And how worried should international leaders be?

ITV News Science Correspondent, Martin Stew tells Cari Davies what you need to know…

From J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books to Roald Dahl’s tales, kids have long been kept entertained by these classics.

But, today, these books are struggling to capture children’s imaginations in the same way.

Reading for pleasure amongst under 18s has hit a ‘crisis’ point with the number enjoying it in their free time dropping to just one in three.

So, what’s behind this? And what are the long-term impacts?

ITV News Social Affairs Correspondent, Sarah Corker tells  Lucrezia Millarini what you need to know…
 

There’s an epidemic of spiking that’s sprawling across the UK.

And yet, official reports and convictions of the crime remain low.

Often, by the time the victim comes around, it may be too late to gather crucial evidence, leaving them helpless.

So, what can be done? Why does spiking often go unpunished? And how safe are you when out on the town?

ITV News Reporter Sangita Lal tells Sally Bidulph what you need to know…

With the US election just 24 hours away, Gen Z voters are more divided than ever.

They may be the most connected generation in history, but how connected are they to US politics?

Some seem to be disillusioned, with many still undecided as America heads to the polls.

So, why is this? What do they want from their new President? And will they stick to traditions or embrace change?  

Sam Leader tells Yasmin Bodalbhai what you need to know…