Bastille Day celebrations in France tempered by fear of more wildfires 14. July 2026 (14:50) Firework displays cancelled as Paris military parade asserts ‘France’s rearmament .. and Europe’s strategic awakening’Europe live – latest updatesEmmanuel Macron has presided over his final Bastille Day parade in Paris amid a searing heatwave and wildfires that forced authorities around the country to cancel traditional firework displays and balls celebrating France’s national day.The French president was joined for the annual military procession and flypast by his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and two dozen other national leaders. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Inflation cools to 3.5% in June in relief brought by brief US-Iran deal 14. July 2026 (14:39) Recent strikes have sent oil prices climbing again, with average gas price per gallon up by 70 cents on last yearInflation cooled to an annual rate of 3.5% in June as the brief US-Iran ceasefire, which has since ended, brought energy prices down, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.The consumer price index (CPI), which measures a basket of goods and services, has been elevated since the start of the war, largely because of higher energy prices. After mostly staying under 3% since mid-2024, CPI reached a three-year high of 4.2% in May – up from 2.4% in February. Stripping out volatile energy and food prices, core inflation decreased slightly to 2.6%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anthony Albanese promises fast-track approvals for datacentres to shore up AI investment 14. July 2026 (14:30) PM to declare Australia the first country worldwide to bring economic, social, security and environmental issues from AI under single office in major speechGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese says the federal government will introduce faster approval processes for AI projects, including datacentres, across Australia, seeking to shore up investor certainty and maintain community confidence in the rapidly advancing technology.Announcing the creation of a new office of AI to be established within his department in a major speech on Wednesday, the prime minister will declare Australia is set to become the first country in the world to bring the economic, social, national security and environmental issues stemming from AI into a single, national framework. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New US Ebola patient arrives in Germany for treatment 14. July 2026 (14:27) Aid worker flown to Berlin as Trump administration bars Americans from traveling to US on commercial flightsA US national who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has arrived in Germany for treatment, the health ministry in Berlin said on Monday, weeks after another American infected with Ebola in the DRC was treated in Berlin.Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday said it was blocking American citizens in the DRC from traveling to the US on commercial flights, Reuters reported, citing a White House official. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Woman charged with aggravated arson over moorland fire in Greater Manchester 14. July 2026 (14:13) Shania Care-Slede, 20, arrested over incident at Dovestone reservoir on Saturday in which fireworks were launchedA woman has been charged with arson in connection with a major moorland wildfire, as large parts of Greater Manchester were covered in smoke.Shania Care-Slede, 20, from Hyde, was arrested on Monday by Greater Manchester police in Oldham. She has been charged with aggravated arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and dangerous driving. Firefighters have declared a major incident near Dovestone reservoir, Greenfield, where fireworks were launched before a large moorland fire broke out on Saturday evening. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘If we die, we die together’: wife of Ryanair passenger almost sucked through window speaks 14. July 2026 (14:01) Svetlana Grković says she grabbed her husband’s legs while he was ‘outside up to his chest’ for two minutesRyanair passenger almost sucked out of window during flightRyanair has axed family seating policy – but kids’ fees add upA woman who saved her husband from being completely sucked out of a Ryanair plane mid-flight has said she thought as he held on to his legs: “If we die, we die together.”Ljubisa Karović was sucked out headfirst on the flight on Friday after an engine failure resulted in parts smashing the acrylic window. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump ballroom donor to lead state department’s $200m Armenia fund 14. July 2026 (14:00) Konstantin Sokolov, who gave undisclosed sum and has not held government job before, to chair Tripp+ trade project Konstantin Sokolov, a Russian-born private equity investor in Chicago, will serve as chairman of a new state department enterprise fund overseeing more than $200m designated for a central Asia trade corridor, including investments in transportation, energy infrastructure and critical minerals, the Guardian has learned. The state department confirmed his appointment on Friday.Sokolov was one of 36 donors, including 21 corporations and 15 individuals and family foundations, who Donald Trump said contributed over $350m to his ballroom project. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
RFK Jr’s advisory panel overhaul stalled update on helping kids quit tobacco 14. July 2026 (14:00) US preventive services taskforce’s members have not issued binding recommendations since March 2025The health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr’s overhaul of an influential federal advisory group has stalled an update that would have highlighted “encouraging” new evidence on helping children quit tobacco, according to a recently departed member of the group.The Trump administration has postponed or canceled all meetings of the US preventive services taskforce since March 2025, effectively preventing taskforce members from issuing binding recommendations for more than a year. As a result, 14 topics under consideration have been stalled – including on cervical cancer screening, perinatal depression and autism screening. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tories deny purge as Lord Barwell hits back after losing party whip 14. July 2026 (13:55) Former minister says decision suggests ‘intolerance of criticism’ but source says it was for problems with conductThe Conservatives have denied they are purging prominent centrists after Gavin Barwell lost the whip in the wake of warnings from Kemi Badenoch that supporters of policies such as targets for net zero were no longer welcome in the party.Lord Barwell, who was an MP and minister before becoming Theresa May’s chief of staff, said he was saddened at the decision and that Badenoch risked putting off large numbers of potential voters because of her stance. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran targets Bahrain and Jordan in retaliation as US strikes continue 14. July 2026 (13:38) US hits targets in port cities of Bushehr and Bandar Abbas while Iran attacks two tankers in strait of HormuzMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesThe US launched strikes on Iran for a third day and Iran retaliated with strikes on US allies and tankers, hours after Donald Trump said the US would take control of the strait of Hormuz and charge a toll to ships for safe passage.The US military said its five-hour operation early on Tuesday hit targets across Iran, including the port cities of Bushehr and Bandar Abbas. It shared videos of strikes that it said were meant to “degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
