E Jean Carroll receives $5.6m owed by Trump after court releases damages 14. July 2026 (17:12) Funds released from escrow account after Trump’s efforts to block sexual abuse and defamation award failA Manhattan federal court has released more than $5.6m that Donald Trump owes E Jean Carroll in her successful 2023 sexual abuse and defamation trial against him, records reveal.
The disbursement, made public in a 14 July entry on Carroll’s case docket, indicates that the funds were released by a court-held account on 9 July – one day after judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the release of this money.Trump, who has been fighting against the release of this money since June after the supreme court on 29 June denied his request to hear his appeal, has denied wrongdoing.
“Three years ago, a unanimous nine-person jury found President Trump liable for sexually assaulting and defaming E Jean Carroll. Today, we are pleased to report that she has received the damages payment the jury awarded her as a result of that verdict,” Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s lead lawyer, said in a statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Young Germans opting out of military service as Berlin strives to boost army 14. July 2026 (17:08) Almost 6,000 young men apply to be excluded on moral or religious grounds despite ‘conscription lite’ policyThe number of young men applying to be conscientious objectors and refuse armed military service in Germany has risen sharply this year, undermining a drive by Berlin to create Europe’s strongest conventional army and deter the Russian threat.More people had applied to exclude themselves from service on religious or moral grounds in the first half of 2026 than in the whole of last year, according to figures provided by the government on Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Johnson government wasted £10bn on PPE, Covid inquiry finds 14. July 2026 (17:01) Chair criticises use of ‘VIP lane’ to prioritise PPE contracts for companies with Tory connections in damning report‘Catastrophic failure’: UK Covid families welcome inquiry findings on PPEBoris Johnson’s government wasted £10bn of public money because of the flawed way it went about buying personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, an official inquiry has concluded.The Covid-19 inquiry chair, Heather Hallett, also criticised the then Conservative government’s controversial “VIP lane”, which gave high priority for PPE contracts to companies with political connections to the Tories. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kash Patel gave his Australian counterpart a 3D replica gun as a gift. It was destroyed within months 14. July 2026 (17:00) Documents show the FBI director’s gift was ‘displayed proudly’ by the AFP before new commissioner ordered it be destroyedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen the FBI director, Kash Patel, visited the Australian federal police last year, he came bearing a gift: a 3D-printed imitation pistol that then was “displayed proudly” in the commissioner’s office.Yet within months, shortly after Krissy Barrett became the AFP’s new commissioner last October, she ordered it to be destroyed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
David Penman wasn’t happy with his local Victorian council. So, he privately prosecuted five councillors 14. July 2026 (17:00) Legal action by the Daylesford small business owner has forced councillors to stand down – leaving only two able to serveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDavid Penman wasn’t happy.The Daylesford small business owner didn’t like the work of his local council. So, using little-known laws that force elected officials to stand down, he essentially stopped it from making any big decisions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK man admits 32 sexual offences against allegedly drugged or sleeping partner 14. July 2026 (16:58) Defendant pleads guilty to crimes over the course of 12 years, some of which also involved ‘a person unknown’A man has been told he faces a possible life sentence after pleading guilty to 32 sexual offences against his girlfriend while she was allegedly drugged or asleep, including some attacks he recorded.The defendant, aged in his 40s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Northampton crown court on Tuesday where he admitted the offences, which happened over more than a decade between January 2014 and September last year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New York becomes first state to impose one-year pause on new AI datacenters 14. July 2026 (16:34) Governor Kathy Hochul issued an executive order enacting a moratorium on the large, resource-intensive AI facilitiesNew York became the first US state to enact a moratorium on new datacenters on Tuesday.Governor Kathy Hochul issued an executive order mandating a one-year statewide pause on the large facilities used to power artificial intelligence products. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Politically engaged – but ‘very much’ worried about buying a home: study reveals young Australians’ anxieties 14. July 2026 (16:01) Growing Up in Australia report shows gen Z are more anxious about housing affordability than climate change or following a chosen career pathGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFar more young people are worried about being able to buy a home than about climate change or finding a job in their chosen field, according to a study that also reveals gen Z’s deep distrust of politicians, political parties and the media.The latest insights from a major longitudinal study show high levels of participation in the political debate, challenging stereotypes that younger Australians are disengaged from public life. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Coalition and One Nation’s plan to ditch net zero would not lower power prices, CSIRO report finds 14. July 2026 (16:01) GenCost report contradicts parties’ claims about abandoning emissions target, and finds nuclear would be most expensive way to generate powerFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastClaims by the Coalition and One Nation that abandoning a net zero climate target would bring down power prices are contradicted in a new CSIRO report on the costs of generating electricity.Generation costs will probably rise after 2030 regardless of Australia’s policy on net zero, according to the CSIRO’s annual GenCost report, but prices should then stabilise at levels below recent price spikes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Spanish PM’s brother banned from public office after misconduct trial 14. July 2026 (15:38) Conviction over hiring by socialist-led council is one of a series of corruption claims facing Pedro Sánchez’s familyThe brother of Spain’s prime minister has been banned from holding public office for nine years after being found guilty of administrative misconduct relating to his hiring by a socialist-led council in the south-western region of Extremadura nine years ago.Corruption allegations involving Pedro Sánchez’s family, his government and his Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE) have triggered repeated opposition calls for a snap general election. All the accused have denied wrongdoing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
