Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Competitive masochism is on the rise. This week the Advertising Standards Authority chastised the travel comparison website Dealchecker for inviting punters to submit pictures of their worst "like a lobster" sunburns, to win a holiday for two, as though asking people to get utterly frazzled for money. Then the Kismot restaurant in Edinburgh issued a charity chilli-eating challenge, which led to contestants being hospitalised. The well-named Curie Kim, 21, a Korean student, had to be taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary twice. Twice? She went back?
* You'd think the initials "WC" on a road sign wouldn't provoke controversy – only sighs of relief. But in Wales, the fact that the abbreviation sometimes appears on road signs without a Welsh translation has offended national pride. The language sub-committee of Gwynedd county council are now meeting to discuss whether "WC" is a symbol, or an English phrase needing translation. Unfortunately, the Welsh for WC is "toiled," which just, frankly, muddies the water.
* News of an unusually difficult neighbour emerged in Exeter Crown Court this week. He was served a restraining order that stops him shouting at his neighbours, staring at them, rifling through their rubbish, harassing them about their cars and ordering them to redecorate their landings. He thought nothing of digging up their gardens and threatening to put any complainers "six feet under". It would be understandable if he was a retired criminal. But Peter Walker, 66, was a retired police officer. He's also been ordered to do 150 hours of community work.
* Now that the increasingly inaccurately named Arab Spring has reached Saudi Arabia, will North Korea be next? A rallying figure appeared this week, when Kim Jong-il's grandson, Kim Han-Sol, appeared on Facebook (briefly – his page was soon taken down). A cool-looking cove with dyed-orange hair, he explained how much he admires democracy and loves American movies. But he sounds like a statesman-in-waiting: "CNN doesn't know the miseries of North Korea," he posted. "I'm studying in Macau. I know my people are hungry. I'd do anything to help them." Fighting talk. Not for nothing does he share a name (almost ) with the hero of Star Wars.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments