Washington records world’s worst air quality for a city after 850,000 Fourth of July fireworks 07. July 2026 (17:00) Hourly concentrations of particulate matter rose to 6.7 times their pre-fireworks levels, according to an analysisWashington DC residents breathed in “unhealthy” air for hours after a 40-minute Independence Day fireworks show over the National Mall on Saturday night, with the country’s capital briefly recording the worst air quality of any major city in the world.The highly emitting display, which the president called “spectacular”, came as the Trump administration rolls back an unprecedented number of pollution controls. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Record wildfires in Europe show failure to adapt carries a mounting cost 07. July 2026 (16:57) Scientists call for better land management alongside reduction in greenhouse gases causing the crisisWhen storm after storm battered the Mediterranean at the start of the year, drowning fields and sending water spurting from plug sockets, few people were fretting about fires.But just four months later, the murky brown floods that swamped towns and fouled homes across western Europe have given way to angry red blazes and choking black smoke. Rampant wildfires burned 28,000 hectares (69,160 acres) in France and 50,000 hectares in Spain as of 1 July, more than double the average for that time of year, and more land has been charred by bigger fires in the week since. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bombs explode near Damascus hotel housing Macron on Syria visit 07. July 2026 (16:14) Blasts did not interrupt French president’s visit but are setback for Syrian leaders’ attempt to project stabilityExplosions rocked Damascus near the hotel where French president, Emmanuel Macron, was staying on Tuesday, wounding at least 18 people, Syrian authorities said.Macron was in the presidential palace for a meeting with the Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, when two improvised explosive devices detonated near the Four Seasons hotel where Macron was reported to be staying. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lake Powell, a vital reservoir, plunges toward unprecedented low levels as water crisis deepens in US west 07. July 2026 (16:00) Experts say the critical reservoir system is careening toward a breaking point as the US west’s climate warms and driesLake Powell, US’s second-largest reservoir, threatens to plunge to unprecedentedly low levels this year after a historically bleak snowpack failed to raise its water level, scientists and water experts have said, adding renewed urgency to stalled talks over how to conserve a water source depended on by tens of millions of people in the US south-west.The 185-mile Colorado River reservoir currently stands at about 23% of its capacity, or roughly 5.6m acre-feet. Lake Powell fell below that level for a few months three years ago. But those 2023 levels were recorded in the winter, when the reservoir straddling the Utah-Arizona border hits its lowest ebb. Spring runoff carried the level back up to 9.6m acre-feet by June, according to data from the US Bureau of Reclamation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
England’s World Cup win over Mexico at 2am breaks viewing records across BBC 07. July 2026 (15:03) Audience of 9.1 million watch live and on iPlayer despite kick-off time, with 48m requests for digital content on MondayEngland’s triumph over Mexico in the World Cup attracted a peak live audience of 9.1 million on BBC One and BBC iPlayer despite kicking off at 2am BST – the biggest television audience ever for a live UK broadcast at that hour.The dramatic 3-2 win drove the biggest day ever recorded for BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app and for BBC Sport’s social video views, the broadcaster said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Key Democratic figures call on Graham Platner to ‘immediately’ withdraw from Senate race – US politics live 07. July 2026 (15:03) Maine’s party leadership calls for Platner to withdraw after after sexual assault allegation emergesSign up for the Breaking News US emailDonald Trump, once again, said he was “very disappointed” in Nato member countries today while fielding questions from reporters in Ankara.While meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump repeated his frustration with the alliance, and said that if the Nato summit “weren’t held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader, a very strong person, it’s possible that I wouldn’t have attended”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Prince Harry begins visit to the UK as ruling expected in court battle with Daily Mail publisher – latest updates 07. July 2026 (15:01) Result of court case against Associated Newspapers Limited expected this afternoon The high court judgment is expected shortly. There is no court hearing but a written judgment will be published online by Justice Nicklin instead. Stay with us as we bring you the latest.Prince Harry has arrived at Chatham House for the first in a series of week-long events celebrating his Invictus Games and ahead of an imminent court ruling. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Blind woman ‘livid’ after Wetherspoons pub asks for guide dog’s ID 07. July 2026 (14:58) Chain apologises after staff at Hartlepool pub demand proof customer’s companion is genuine guide dogA blind woman felt compelled to leave a Wetherspoons pub after staff demanded proof that her guide dog, Rosie, was a genuine guide dog.Joanne Hewitson, 31, said she was “livid” and “shaking” after her experience going for breakfast at a pub in Hartlepool. The pub chain has apologised for the incident, with a spokesperson saying an error was made. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
United Airlines must face lawsuit over 'window seats' that lack windows 07. July 2026 (14:54) Passengers say they paid extra for outside views but were seated beside blank cabin walls insteadA federal judge on Monday rejected United Airlines’ bid to dismiss a lawsuit by passengers who complained they paid extra money to sit in window seats – only to discover their seats had no actual windows.US district judge James Donato in San Francisco rejected United’s defense that “window” referred to the location of a seat relative to the cabin wall and aisle, and the carrier also contended it never contractually promised that seats in the window position would have views outside. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Medicaid billing allowed to resume for Planned Parenthood after being cut off 07. July 2026 (14:51) Defunding, mandated in Trump’s 2025 policy, has been blamed for closure of clinics as well as reduction in screenings for cancer and STDsPlanned Parenthood and two smaller regional abortion providers are resuming billing Medicaid for services other than abortion after being cut off for most of a year.The defunding, which was mandated in Donald Trump’s big tax and policy in July 2025, has been blamed in the closure of multiple clinics as well as a reduction in the number of Planned Parenthood patients being screened for breast cancer or tested for sexually transmitted infections. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
