Wednesday briefing: Why was the UK so poorly prepared for extreme flooding?

BREAKING NEWS

27/05 18:50 - Ebola-hit DR Congo faces 'catastrophic collision' of disease and conflict, WHO warns 27/05 18:42 - Hegseth vows ‘surge’ of National Guard troops in Washington DC after Trump says ‘don’t lower the number’ – live 27/05 18:28 - Middle East crisis: Rubio says ‘some progress’ on US-Iran deal after Trump says ‘maybe we’ll just have to finish the job’ – as it happened 27/05 18:24 - Global Supply Shortages Deepen as War Drags On, Risking Jobs and Growth 27/05 18:17 - News24 | UN rights chief hails Pope's 'timely' AI appeal 27/05 18:12 - Revealed: Mandelson vetting warned of ties to senior figures in China, Russia and Israel 27/05 18:08 - Lebanese Resigned to a Long War, Even if U.S. and Iran Make a Deal 27/05 17:54 - Trump accuses Iran of stalling peace deal to ‘out-wait’ him until US midterms 27/05 17:48 - Lifting of internet restrictions reveals Iranians’ anger over food inflation 27/05 17:42 - Pope used AI to warn about dangers of AI – researcher 27/05 17:09 - Nearly half a million Russians killed in Ukraine war, UK spy chief says 27/05 17:02 - Netanyahu will learn the lesson he deserves – Erdogan 27/05 16:45 - New Mandelson revelations cast doubt on claim vetting decision was borderline, Thornberry says – as it happened 27/05 16:33 - Europe: New far-right generation turns away from Putin 27/05 16:13 - ‘Put an end to this war’: Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev makes new plea to Putin 27/05 16:10 - North Korea tests new AI-guided missile systems (PHOTOS) 27/05 16:09 - World number two Rybakina sent spinning out of French Open by Starodubtseva 27/05 16:08 - UK will get no special treatment from EU, European ministers say 27/05 16:07 - The UAE is slipping closer to direct war with Iran 27/05 15:59 - Almost 500,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine war, GCHQ says 27/05 15:59 - Safety warning after nine water-related deaths during heatwave 27/05 15:58 - Canada to order military plane fleet from Sweden in shift from US suppliers 27/05 15:54 - Could Russia Hit Harder? It at Least Wants Ukraine to Think So. 27/05 15:51 - WHO chief calls for DRC ceasefire to tackle Ebola outbreak 27/05 15:10 - Zelenskyy asks Trump for help with air defences as Russia continues attacks – as it happened 27/05 14:54 - High-Level British Spy Warns of Expanding Russia Threat 27/05 14:31 - Residents Watch as Israeli War Planes Circle Over Southern Lebanon 27/05 14:27 - Ferrari’s First Electric Car Runs Into Backlash in Italy and Beyond 27/05 14:26 - Water safety experts warn of dangers of outdoor swimming as heatwave grips UK 27/05 14:25 - News24 | Iran says 'low' possibility of return to war with US 27/05 14:22 - Resident doctors in England to stage four-day strike in June 27/05 13:53 - Bangladesh seeks IMF aid: How badly has Iran war hit its economy? 27/05 13:53 - Bangladesh seeks IMF aid: How badly has Iran war hit its economy? 27/05 13:45 - Why Russia is 'relentlessly targeting' the UK 27/05 13:24 - The Baltics urgently need a de-escalation mechanism; Belarus can help 27/05 13:24 - The Baltics urgently need a de-escalation mechanism; Belarus can help 27/05 13:19 - Russian students allowed to compete in international events 27/05 13:05 - DRC facing ‘catastrophic collision’ of Ebola and war, WHO chief warns 27/05 13:05 - DRC facing ‘catastrophic collision’ of Ebola and war, WHO chief warns 27/05 13:03 - Hungarian MPs vote to remain member of ICC, overturning decision made by Orbán 27/05 12:55 - Israel launches more than 120 airstrikes against Lebanon in a day 27/05 12:53 - US refuses to condemn Russia’s plans to target Kiev 27/05 12:50 - DR Congo facing 'catastrophic collision' of Ebola and war, WHO chief warns 27/05 12:28 - Germany’s most wanted woman jailed after three decades evading police 27/05 12:27 - Relief for Iranians as internet shutdown ends: 'Like a prisoner being released' 27/05 12:02 - Israel kills new Hamas military leader in Gaza 27/05 11:32 - First Thing: Trump-backed Ken Paxton ousts John Cornyn in Texas primary 27/05 11:30 - Power to the people: how ‘balcony solar’ could help fight rising US utility costs 27/05 11:23 - Energy price cap in Great Britain to rise by 13% from July 27/05 11:00 - ‘Mind-bogglingly crazy’: climate experts alarmed by deadly spring heatwaves searing Europe 27/05 10:41 - Fired BP chair disputes oil company’s claims of poor conduct 27/05 10:02 - Ed Husic calls on Labor to establish ‘red line’ on Israel’s actions, including treatment of flotilla activists 27/05 09:55 - USAID was shut down 'to soothe ego' of Musk, whistleblower says 27/05 09:50 - News24 | Iran media says negotiators seek $24 billion asset release in US deal 27/05 09:47 - Sanctions fears as Krygyzstan shutters companies suspected of aiding Russia 27/05 09:47 - Sanctions fears as Krygyzstan shutters companies suspected of aiding Russia 27/05 09:32 - Labour must put policy first, politics second, Tony Blair says 27/05 09:11 - Dead men and prisoners ‘drafted’ in Ukrainian mobilization fraud 27/05 07:39 - Energy bills to rise for millions as impact of Iran war hits 27/05 07:00 - ‘It’s getting hotter and it’s not stopping’: dealing with the heat in five of Europe’s capitals 27/05 06:52 - How badly is Europe affected by fertiliser shortages due to the Iran war? 27/05 06:52 - How badly is Europe affected by fertiliser shortages due to the Iran war? 27/05 06:48 - Iran war day 89: Lebanon strikes kill 31 as ceasefire tensions rise 27/05 06:48 - Iran war day 89: Lebanon strikes kill 31 as ceasefire tensions rise 27/05 06:03 - ‘Deep suspicion’ of US lingers as Iran ponders agreement to end war 27/05 06:03 - ‘Deep suspicion’ of US lingers as Iran ponders agreement to end war 27/05 06:00 - Nearly in one in five UK girls receive unwanted images online, poll finds 27/05 05:53 - ‘No livestock but still hope’: Palestinians prepare for Eid al-Adha in Gaza 27/05 05:53 - ‘No livestock but still hope’: Palestinians prepare for Eid al-Adha in Gaza 27/05 05:46 - Wednesday briefing: ​Can the UK adapt in time to a new normal of extreme heat? 27/05 05:00 - News24 | New US strikes on Iran and Israel attacks on Lebanon complicate Middle East peace efforts 27/05 05:00 - Iceland’s foreign minister fears ‘Brexit moment’ in EU accession referendum 27/05 05:00 - Every New Cease-Fire in Lebanon Brings Hope — Until It Doesn’t 27/05 04:56 - Paul Keating urges Labor to stick with capital gains tax overhaul and avoid exemptions that would hurt economy 27/05 03:09 - Musk squeezes cash out of Pentagon during Iran war – Reuters 27/05 02:37 - GCHQ boss reveals how Russia is 'relentlessly targeting' the UK 27/05 02:28 - Storied New York food co-op votes to boycott Israeli products after contentious campaign 27/05 02:12 - Canadian PM warns oil-rich province against Brexit-style split 27/05 01:48 - Middle East war live: Trump says no country will control Hormuz Strait under future Iran deal 27/05 01:24 - ‘Makes no sense’: experts doubt pause in US arms sale to Taiwan is due to Iran war 27/05 00:43 - Champion ethical hacker warns AI tools like Mythos will make competing harder 27/05 00:16 - This 1 Style Of "Comfortable" Shoes Is Actually Terrible For Your Feet, And If They're In Your Wardrobe You Might Need To Fix That 27/05 00:01 - UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ by Moscow plan for Kyiv strikes 27/05 00:01 - UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ by Moscow plan for Kyiv strikes 27/05 00:00 - Iran war live: New US attack ‘unlikely’ but ‘graveyard’ awaits, warns IRGC 27/05 00:00 - Iran war live: New US attack ‘unlikely’ but ‘graveyard’ awaits, warns IRGC 26/05 23:15 - Can EU find a Russia whisperer to mediate an end to war in Ukraine? 26/05 23:02 - Russia is targeting UK’s infrastructure and democracy, GCHQ head to say 26/05 21:54 - At the A.I. Epicenter, Technologists Dismiss Pope Leo’s Warnings About the New Technology 26/05 21:33 - A Spring Heat Wave Is Breaking Records in the U.K., Spain and France 26/05 21:00 - Tony Blair tells Starmer and rivals: abandon net zero and move closer to Trump 26/05 20:41 - Middle East crisis: Iran’s foreign ministry says US broke ceasefire with overnight strikes – as it happened 26/05 20:33 - US picks potential partners for using Cold War-era plutonium as fuel 26/05 20:33 - US picks potential partners for using Cold War-era plutonium as fuel 26/05 20:29 - The Wars in Ukraine and Iran Are More Alike Than You May Think 26/05 19:38 - Post Office investigation could be delayed by five years, police warn 26/05 19:10 - U.S. Aims to Give Cold War Plutonium to Start-Ups for Nuclear Fuel 26/05 18:54 - Russia slams US for not granting visa to diplomat for UN meeting 26/05 18:54 - Russia slams US for not granting visa to diplomat for UN meeting 26/05 18:21 - "Unfortunately The Catholic Church Declaring Holy War On AI Is Raw AF": 38 Political Tweets That Made Me Nod My Head Like, "Yup"