UK News
View All 9Amnesty International offers grovelling apology for condemning JK Rowling's women's abuse charity as 'anti-rights'
Amnesty International has offered a grovelling apology for condemning JK Rowling's women's abuse charity as "anti-rights". The NGO previously listed the author's Beira’s Place support service on a "blacklist", accusing it of harming the rights of gay people and women in Britain. The blacklist including the names of 117 organisations, including For Women Scotland - whose action led to the historic Supreme Court ruling that the definition of a woman under the Equality Act is based on biological sex.Another group mentioned in the list was Sex Matters - which campaigns for the protection of single-sex spaces. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Amnesty's 22-page document - which has since been withdrawn - described Beira's Place as part of an “organised anti-rights movement targeting the rights of women and LGBT+ people” in Britain. It accused organisations such as Ms Rowling's of “drawing on concerns about children’s safety and wellbeing, family life or social change to build support for their campaigns”.After pulling the blacklist, Amnesty has since claimed it was published without the usual due diligence, and has said it has launched an internal review. A spokesman for the organisation said: "We regret that this briefing was uploaded to our website without going through the established internal review processes that are in place to ensure consistency, accuracy and alignment with Amnesty International UK’s positions."Its use of language does not reflect the position of Amnesty International UK, which is why it was promptly removed."We remain committed to defending human rights, including both the rights of women and the rights of trans people.”The renowned author took to social media to suggest she would be open to funding legal action for any groups including in the human rights group's blacklist. She wrote: “Should any of the women’s organisations targeted by Amnesty UK’s recent ‘anti-rights’ blacklist wish to take legal action, applications can be made to the JK Rowling Women’s Fund.”JK ROWLING - READ THE LATEST:Queen Camilla's meeting with JK Rowling sparks divide over 'bad timing' and cancel culturePalace faces online storm from trans activists after Queen's meeting with JK RowlingQueen Camilla endorses JK Rowling at royal palace amid calls to cancel authorThe JK Rowling Women's Fund offers “legal funding support to individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s and girls’ sex-based rights in all aspects of life, including the workplace, sports and clubs, and protected single-sex spaces”, according to its website.Beira's Place chief executive, Lesley Johnston, said it was "inexplicable" that the charity was mentioned on the list. “Beira’s Place was established in 2022 to address an unmet need for a single-sex, support service for female survivors of male violence," she said. “We are proud of our work and we know how much our service means to the women who have used it.“It is inexplicable that Beira’s Place has been listed as an anti-rights organisation in a report published last week by Amnesty International.“This is deeply offensive to Beira’s Place staff who work day in day out to support survivors, and to the women who need and use our service.”For Women Scotland blasted their inclusion on the blacklist as a “malicious characterisation” that “defamed" them. The campaign group penned a letter to senior Amnesty figures on Sunday, threatening to take "further measures" and demanding an apology. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Farmer will not face charges after shooting 'burglar' dead on his own land
A farmer won't face charges after shooting an alleged burglar on his Derbyshire property.Marcus Smith, 19, of Chapel-en-le-Frith, was pronounced dead at an address in Whaley in the early hours of May 1, 2024.Rob Lomas, who is in his 50s, confronted the alleged teenage intruder at his remote farm.Mr Lomas then discharged a legally held firearm at the teenager and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Another 19-year-old was injured by gunshot wound in the incident.Derbyshire Constabulary investigated the shooting and passed a file of evidence to specialist lawyers at the CPS.After being held on bail for more than two years, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has only now declared it will not pursue criminal charges.Janine McKinney, the chief crown prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said: "After careful analysis of all the evidence gathered during the police investigation, our prosecutors have decided that there will be no criminal charges in relation to the death of Marcus Smith or the serious injury of another male."This decision has been made in accordance with our statutory legal tests as prosecutors and the law surrounding the householder's rights to defend [himself]. Our thoughts are with Mr Smith's family and loved ones."An individual can legally use reasonable force to defend themselves, others and property if they are threatened with violence.Prosecutors have also said three men will now face burglary charges related to the incident and a burglary at Lomas's property on April 30, 2024.Mr Lomas's son Joshua set up a fundraiser to support the family "through this very difficult time" two days after the incident.MORE FROM THE EAST MIDLANDS:Woman, 22, falls to her death in skydiving incidentMan 'killed in most brutal way' at stone circle on summer solstice, police say as arrest madeTwo people rushed to hospital after aircraft crashes into field near leafy Northamptonshire villageHe wrote on GoFundMe: "Rob has the most steadfast loyalty you could ever wish for in a father and friend and has always been there for me, and all of his many friends."As every farmer does, he works relentlessly in all weathers, but always makes time for a brew and a friendly humorous chat."He added that on May 1, 2024, his father encountered intruders "inside his property" and "had a burglary the night prior".Supporters raised more than £60,000 to support the family.His case echoes Tony Martin's infamous 1999 shooting of Fred Barras, 16, during a break-in at his isolated Norfolk farmhouse.His actions sparked a nationwide debate around proportionality.He was convicted of murder in 2000, but that was later downgraded to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility after a diagnosis of paranoid personality disorder.Martin died last February, aged 80, a few months after suffering a stroke. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
What happened to Ann Widdecombe? Police release update on murder probe
News | Politics What happened to Ann Widdecombe? Police issue major update on murder probe Miss Widdecombe was found dead at Dartmoor home on Thursday morning after sustaining ‘serious’ injuries Allow Exco Player content This content is provided . Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to load the content. Allow and Continue Tom Place, News Reporter|Megan Howe, News Reporter|Rachael Burford, Chief Political Correspondent @RachaelBurford|Michael Howie, Senior News Editor49 seconds ago COMMENTS Counter-terror police are leading the investigation into the suspected murder of Ann Widdecombe. The former Tory minister and Reform UK spokeswoman was found dead at her home on Dartmoor, Devon, on Thursday morning having suffered serious head injuries - but police believe that she was attacked nearly 24 hours before she was discovered. A 28-year-old white British man has been arrested 270 miles away in Rotherham. Footage shows the moment he was swooped on . Ann Widdecombe suspect arrest Sky News In a statement on Monday, Counter Terrorism Policing South East said. "A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday 11 July. "New information and evidence have come to light during what has been a dynamic and complex investigation and as a result, Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) is now leading the investigation. "The man in custody has since been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism." Here is everything we know about Ann Widdecombe’s death so far. Ann Widdecombe was born in Bath, Somerset, in 1947. She had a long political career serving as Conservative MP for Maidstone, later Maidstone and The Weald, in Kent for 23 years. Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe highlights the asylum crisis on a visit to Calais, France in 2001 (Sean Dempsey/PA) PA Archive She was also Minister of State for Employment from 1994 to 1995 and Minister of State for Prisons from between 1995 and 1997 under John Major. Following her time in government, she found fame outside politics after appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018. Miss Widdecombe, a supporter of the UK's departure from the EU, later became a Brexit Party MEP, representing South West England in the European Parliament between 2019 and 2020. She subsequently became a Reform UK spokeswoman, joining the party in 2023, and making a number of appearances as the party's immigration and justice spokesperson. Police investigating the murder of Ann Widdecombe have made an arrest (Ben Birchall/PA) PA Archive What happened to her and when?
Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Wednesday, July 15)
Ellie Gosley Senior Reporter Hello, and welcome to WalesOnline's live blog for Wednesday, July 15. We'll be bringing you all of the from across Wales - whether you're on the move, at home or at work - as well as the latest traffic and travel. We'll also be keeping you informed of major news stories from the UK and overseas. Contribute to the live blog , or tweet us @WalesOnline to share the news that's breaking in your area. Read the biggest stories in Wales first . New Updates Today06:42 BST Welsh Government loses budget vote as parties refuse to back Plaid spending plansThe Plaid Cymru minority government in Cardiff Bay lost its first major Senedd vote in a humiliating night at the Senedd on Tuesday. The party failed to get anyone but the two Green MSs to back its spending plans - and after forming a minority administration needed six people from other parties to vote with it, as it will throughout the term. The government was given more than one warning from opponents their position and tactics "did not bode well" for the remainder of the Senedd term. In a heated debate about the supplementary budget, Plaid Cymru's finance minister Elin Jones accused Labour of "abandoning" the "progressive, co-operative" values it used to represent. about how it happened here. Ellie Gosley Today06:14 BST Today's weather forecastDry, sunny and settled conditions continuing. Here is the full Met Office forecast for Wales today: A widely dry and sunny day with any early morning low cloud and mist soon clearing. Feeling very warm, especially in the strong sunshine. Maximum temperature 29 °C Ellie Gosley Today06:06 BST Good morningBore da and welcome to WalesOnline's daily news blog. The team is here to bring you all the and updates today. Ellie Gosley Follow Wales Online:
World News
View All 10What Did the Nine-Dash Line Ruling Accomplish?
Southeast Asia Brief A weekly dispatch on the politics, economics, and culture of a pivotal region, caught between China and the United States but still going its own way. Written by Bangkok-based journalist Joseph Rachman. Ten years on, the Philippines is stepping up its defense plans in the South China Sea. Joseph Rachman: A pencil drawing of a man wearing glasses in a t-shirt Joseph Rachman , the writer of Foreign Policy’s weekly Southeast Asia Brief. A Chinese coast guard ship is seen from aboard a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources plane in Scarborough Shoal, South China Sea, on June 15. A Chinese coast guard ship is seen from aboard a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources plane in Scarborough Shoal, South China Sea, on June 15. Ezra Acayan/ July 15, 2026, AM Welcome to Foreign Policy’s Southeast Asia Brief. The highlights this week: In the lead-up to the 10th anniversary of the nine-dash line ruling, China rattles sabers and nerves in the South China Sea; Indonesia rolls out the red carpet for Modi’s visit; Myanmar achieves an ASEAN breakthrough; and the family abuse scandal rocking Thailand. Welcome to Foreign Policy’s Southeast Asia Brief. The highlights this week: In the lead-up to the 10th anniversary of the nine-dash line ruling, China rattles sabers and nerves in the South China Sea; Indonesia rolls out the red carpet for Modi’s visit; Myanmar achieves an ASEAN breakthrough; and the family abuse scandal rocking Thailand. China Rattles Saber on South China Sea Anniversary Sunday saw the 10-year anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling against China’s nine-dash line. China, predictably, reacted with saber-rattling. To recap the case: In 2012, prompted by a standoff at Scarborough Shoal, the Philippines sought international arbitration. China refused to participate in or recognize the process. It went ahead anyway, and the court ruling eviscerated China’s position, ruling its infamous nine-dash line invalid and faulting China on other points. China still refuses to recognize it and has tightened its grip over the area via salami-slicing gray-zone tactics. A question mark also hangs over whether the ruling did any good. Filipino fishermen who used to visit Scarborough Shoal say they have been steadily driven away . To mark the 10-year anniversary, the Philippines and 13 other countries—including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Australia—issued a joint statement reaffirming an “unwavering commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.” China also banged its usual drum.
NATO Is Splitting in Two
Analysis Mark Carney and Mark Rutte offer competing visions for the future of the trans-Atlantic alliance. Ashford-Emma-foreign-policy-columnist Emma Ashford , a columnist at Foreign Policy and senior fellow with the Stimson Center’s Reimagining U. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (R) welcomes NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Alberta, Canada, on June 17, 2025. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (R) welcomes NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Alberta, Canada, on June 17, 2025. Suzanne Plunkett/AFP via July 15, 2026, AM The recent NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, has been hailed as a resounding success. For one thing, European leaders managed to avoid a blow-up from U. President Donald Trump : namely, evidence of their increased military spending. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, meanwhile, came closer to the lifting of U. S. sanctions that might allow Turkey to finally buy F-35s. Then, there was the joint communique, a document that has often been a problem during Trump’s time in office. The Ankara communique was undoubtedly milquetoast, but it did contain all the correct platitudes and buzzwords, from the allies’ “ironclad commitment to [their] collective defense under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty” to their dedication to a “360-degree approach to deterrence and defense.” The recent NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, has been hailed as a resounding success. For one thing, European leaders managed to avoid a blow-up from U. President Donald Trump : namely, evidence of their increased military spending. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, meanwhile, came closer to the lifting of U. S. sanctions that might allow Turkey to finally buy F-35s. Then, there was the joint communique, a document that has often been a problem during Trump’s time in office. The Ankara communique was undoubtedly milquetoast, but it did contain all the correct platitudes and buzzwords, from the allies’ “ironclad commitment to [their] collective defense under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty” to their dedication to a “360-degree approach to deterrence and defense.” Leaders even went home with a lovely parting gift. Erdogan presented each one with a loaded revolver engraved with their name—either a thoughtful gesture or a bureaucratic nightmare, depending on which country the leader in question was from. Even the sudden resumption of air strikes against Iran during the summit did not derail proceedings. However, it’s notable that at the end of the communique, NATO leaders committed to future meetings but did not set a date for a meeting next summer.
Tuchel buscará que Inglaterra imponga su juego ante Argentina en semifinales
July 15, 202616:02 SIGUIENTE Scaloni: ”Dejaremos hasta la última gota de sudor para llegar a la final" España celebra su pase a la final y Francia admite sus errores | Voces del Mundial Radar Mundial: España elimina a Francia y jugará la final del Mundial 2026 Deschamps: ¿El árbtiro de hoy tenía el nivel de arbitrar una semifinal del Mundial? El Análisis Experto es para la extraordinaria actuación de España Pedro Porro define como crack para el 0-2 de España sobre Francia Pedro Porro y Luis de la Fuente celebran por España, mientras Deschamps no puede ocultar su tristeza La cátedra que le propinó la Selección de España a su similar de Francia es lo mejor del día Pau Cubarsí: “Hemos callado muchas bocas” Dallas se llena de vida con las aficiones de Francia y España, jugando por un boleto a la final Oyarzabal habla de la importancia del mediocampo para crear presión a la portería francesa Pepe del Bosque: “Argentina necesita la mejor versión de Messi” | Conexión Mundial Rayan Cherki: "Nos vimos superados, la decepción es enorme" ¡A la Final del Mundial! Yamal y España festejaron a ritmo de Rosalía y Aitana tras vencer a Francia España ya está en la final y revive el sueño de 2010 | Todo el Mundial España acaba con el sueño de Mbappé y Francia: está en la final del Mundial 2026. Deschamps lamenta irse del banquillo francés sin llegar a la final: "Fuimos inferiores" De la Fuente: “Enfrente tenían al mejor equipo del mundo” Pedro Porro, rumbo a la final: “Es un sueño hecho realidad” Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026 Quizá, el camino de Inglaterra a las semifinales de la Copa del Mundo ha sido uno de los más complicados, algo que Tuchel sabe a la perfección, pero eso no será excusa para no conseguir la victoria ante una Argentina que llega como favorita. Jul.
Pedro Porro define como crack para el 0-2 de España sobre Francia
July 14, 202603:13 SIGUIENTE Pedro Porro y Luis de la Fuente celebran por España, mientras Deschamps no puede ocultar su tristeza La cátedra que le propinó la Selección de España a su similar de Francia es lo mejor del día Pau Cubarsí: “Hemos callado muchas bocas” Dallas se llena de vida con las aficiones de Francia y España, jugando por un boleto a la final Oyarzabal habla de la importancia del mediocampo para crear presión a la portería francesa Pepe del Bosque: “Argentina necesita la mejor versión de Messi” | Conexión Mundial Rayan Cherki: "Nos vimos superados, la decepción es enorme" ¡A la Final del Mundial! Yamal y España festejaron a ritmo de Rosalía y Aitana tras vencer a Francia España ya está en la final y revive el sueño de 2010 | Todo el Mundial España acaba con el sueño de Mbappé y Francia: está en la final del Mundial 2026. Deschamps lamenta irse del banquillo francés sin llegar a la final: "Fuimos inferiores" De la Fuente: “Enfrente tenían al mejor equipo del mundo” Pedro Porro, rumbo a la final: “Es un sueño hecho realidad” Tuchel buscará que Inglaterra imponga su juego ante Argentina en semifinales Scaloni: ”Dejaremos hasta la última gota de sudor para llegar a la final" España celebra su pase a la final y Francia admite sus errores | Voces del Mundial Radar Mundial: España elimina a Francia y jugará la final del Mundial 2026 Deschamps: ¿El árbtiro de hoy tenía el nivel de arbitrar una semifinal del Mundial? El Análisis Experto es para la extraordinaria actuación de España Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026 El jugador del Tottenham sorprendió con su llegada al área y definió con una exquisitez absoluta. El rostro de Kylian Mbappé lo decía todo: devastación total. Jul.
Politics
View All 10Green-led council plans to ban cooperation with Home Office on immigration raids
Green party leader Zack Polanski said he was ‘proud of brave, compassionate Green councils in London working to create a corridor of sanctuary’. Photograph: Rich McCarthy/PA View image in fullscreen Green party leader Zack Polanski said he was ‘proud of brave, compassionate Green councils in London working to create a corridor of sanctuary’. Photograph: Rich McCarthy/PA Green-led council plans to ban cooperation with Home Office on immigration raids Exclusive: Lewisham council’s move marks first step in Greens’ plan to create a corridor of sanctuary boroughs across London A Green-led London council is planning to ban its officials from working with the Home Office on immigration raids, after uncovering evidence suggesting government officials wanted to use environmental health data to target restaurant workers. Councillors on the Lewisham borough council are due to vote next week on a motion that would review its systems with a view to ending any cooperation with the government’s attempts to deport people without the right to remain in the UK. The vote comes after council officials uncovered an email from the Home Office’s immigration enforcement team asking for help with conducting “joint operational visits”. Ministers have boasted about conducting more immigration raids than the previous Conservative government, but Green-led councils are now promising to defy the Home Office with a “green crescent” of sanctuary boroughs across the capital. The Home Office said in January there had been a 77% increase in the number of raids on businesses such as nail bars, car washes, barbers and takeaways since the 2024 election, with an 83% rise in arrests. This is despite mixed evidence for their success. Peter Walsh, a senior researcher at the Migration Observatory, said: “There is evidence that workplace enforcement makes employers think twice about hiring people without the right to work. “But with an unauthorised population likely in the high hundreds of thousands, raids can only ever touch a small share of the businesses involved, and reporting has tended to suggest that they remain expensive, resource-intensive and reliant on tipoffs of variable quality.” The Greens won sweeping victories in the local elections in May, in part ’s migration policies. The party now runs councils in Southwark, Haringey, Hackney, Lewisham and Waltham Forest. Lewisham became a “sanctuary borough” in May 2021 under a Labour administration, announcing it welcomed all migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. The Green party in Lewisham now wants to review all of its spending and data-collection systems to stop any cooperation with the Home Office on raids, as a first step to creating a corridor of sanctuary boroughs across London.
US hits ‘dozens’ of military targets in additional round of strikes
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) announced on Tuesday night that it completed an additional round of strikes on “dozens” of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s coastal region at 10 p.m. EDT. The strikes came after the U.S. resumed a naval blockade at 4 p.m. EDT, with over 20 U.S. Navy warships and…
Trump to Iran: ‘We’re going to hit them very hard’
President Trump on Tuesday warned Iran that the U.S. is “going to hit them very hard” after the fourth day of U.S. strikes on the Islamic regime. Trump spoke with Fox News’s Trey Yingst about the conflict, saying that the U.S. will gradually expand its strikes across Iran’s infrastructure. “We’re going to hit them very…
Andy Burnham’s T-shirt-wearing brand is about to be tested
Britain’s next prime minister is betting that his “Manchester clothes” and selfie videos will be a winning look for Labour, but experts warn there are risks.
Business
View All 10China’s economy grows at one of lowest rates in decades
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ASML hikes sales forecast for second time this year on strong AI chip demand
Livestream Menu ASML said it now expects full-year sales to come in between 43 billion euros ($49 billion) and 45 billion euros, and a gross margin of between 54 and 56%. CEO Christophe Fouquet said order intake remained "extremely strong" in the first half of the year. ASML is the only company in the world that makes extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines used to produce the most advanced semiconductors. ASML TSM ASML on Wednesday raised its guidance for the second time this year as its customers continue to ramp up production of AI chips. The Dutch semiconductor-equipment maker said it now expects full-year sales to come in between 43 billion euros ($49 billion) and 45 billion euros, and a gross margin of between 54 and 56%. It previously predicted annual net sales of between 36 billion and 40 billion euros, and a gross margin between 51% and 53%. Here's how ASML did versus LSEG consensus estimates for the second quarter: ASML — Europe's most valuable company — is the only company in the world that makes extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines used to produce the most advanced semiconductors. CEO Christophe Fouquet said order intake remained "extremely strong" in the first half of the year. That momentum means the company will target adding 30% to its 2026 low NA EUV capacity and 30% to its 2026 Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) immersion capacity, he said. ASML had already raised its guidance last quarter on continued demand for its highest-end EUV machines. This is expected to remain high as chipmakers expand production capacity to meet the needs of the AI boom. The company's customers continue to "accelerate their capacity expansion plans," CEO Fouquet said in a Wednesday statement. "This is translating into customer commitments across our product portfolio, providing ASML with increased visibility into longer-term demand." Earlier this week, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), one of ASML's largest customers, reported a 68% jump in June sales on the back of strong demand for its chips. TSMC is planning to add two advanced chip packaging plants in the Chiayi Science Park in southern Taiwan, Reuters reported, citing remarks made by Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen on Sunday. UBS analysts said in a July 10 note that the buildout in semiconductor fabrication facilities, as well as AI-driven demand for leading-edge chip production, is expected to help ASML see a stronger second half of the year. Despite robust demand, semiconductor stocks have come under pressure as investors question whether the huge AI-driven capital spending can be sustained.
Wall Street banks are AI stocks now
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China posts slowest quarterly growth since 2022 as investment slumps, fanning stimulus calls
Livestream Menu China's economy expanded by 4.3% in the second quarter, its weakest pace in more than three years. Urban fixed-asset investment recorded a bigger-than-expected decline of 5.7% in the first six months. Retail sales and industrial output gathered pace in June. YANTAI, CHINA - JULY 14, 2026 - Containers parked at Yantai Port International Container Terminal in Yantai City, Shandong Province, China on July 14, 2026. Cfoto | Future Publishing | China's economy in the second quarter expanded at its weakest pace since the fourth quarter of 2022, reinforcing calls for policy stimulus as an accelerating slide in investments deepened the strain on growth, while consumption stayed subdued. Gross domestic product growth came in at 4.3% in the April to June period, data from the National Statistics Bureau showed Wednesday, missing economists' forecast for 4.5% growth in a Reuters poll, and slowing from 5% in the first quarter. That second-quarter growth came below Beijing's full-year growth target range of 4.5% to 5%, the least ambitious goal in decades, amid tensions with trade partners, including the U. S. and the European Union, and sluggish domestic demand. Given the disappointing growth, Tianchen Xu, senior economist at Economist Intelligence Unit, expects stimulus measures to be ramped up in the third quarter, including a policy rate cut to stimulate investment demand. Urban fixed-asset investment, including real estate development and infrastructure projects, declined 5.7% in the first six months from a year earlier, worse than expectations for a 4.9% drop in a Reuters poll. Xu attributed the steepening investment slump to local governments channeling resources into debt restructuring and a shortage of eligible projects in the pipeline. "Boosting infrastructure investment will be a key focus for stabilizing growth." Beijing's campaign to rein in excess capacity and end bruising price wars will also weigh on private investment in the near term, said Sarah Tan, economist at Moody's Analytics. The investment in real estate, infrastructure and manufacturing plunged 18%, 2.4% and 1.2%, respectively, according to the official data. In June, China's retail sales grew 1%, rebounding from a 0.6% drop in the prior month and exceeding economists' forecast for a 0.1% fall. Retail sales in May posted their first monthly decline since late 2022, dragged down ' steep discounting. Industrial output expanded 5.3% in June from a year ago, stronger than the forecast 4.7% growth, and gaining pace from 4.5% expansion in May. Chinese economy has grappled with a deepening supply-demand imbalance. Robust industrial production and exports tied to the global AI investment boom continue to power headline growth, even as consumption and private investment weakens amid a prolonged property downturn and volatile energy prices.
Technology
View All 10Noom Promo Codes: 50% Off Best Deals & Free Trials for July 2026
Save StorySave this story Save StorySave this story Noom Coupon: Get $20 Off Microdose GLP-1 Program Use a Noom coupon to the Noom Microdose GLP-1 program and you’ll receive a lower starting dose, which can help minimize side effects. Medications are prescribed to qualifying patients and are delivered straight to your door. Pair them with the Noom app for one-on-one coaching, tracking tools, and additional support. Right now, you can get the initial three-week subscription and four weeks of medication starting at $79 (plus tax), or at $199 per month (plus tax) for a 12-week subscription. A Noom promo code can make this program more affordable. Noom Promo: Free Noom Trial If you’re interested in sustainable weight loss, a Noom free trial might be helpful. The process of losing weight can feel endlessly daunting. I’ve personally lost more than 50 pounds in the last year, and none of it has been easy, least of which is figuring out what exactly I need to do to reach my goals in a healthy and sustainable way. Noom provides support at every stage, from coaching to meal tracking and more. The free week-long Noom trial can give you an idea of what to expect, and you can cancel it at any time during the trial period. Afterward, it’s $17.42 per month when you choose the 12-month plan. Noom GLP-1Rx Plus Limited Time Offers and Deals Noom can provide GLP-1 prescriptions to qualifying patients, and while costs vary depending on your treatment plan and prescribed medication, access to GLP-1 meds starts at $99 regardless of insurance when prescribed. You can also gain access to GLP-1 medications like Zepbound and Ozempic starting at $69. A Noom promo code for GLP-1 medication might seem outlandish, but if you’ve been wanting to talk to a healthcare provider about it, Noom’s services might be what you’re looking for. Plans include coaching, habit tracking, and medical supervision, and you can add on extras like biomarker tracking. There’s even a dedicated GLP-1 AI companion with personalized protein and hydration guidance, workouts to help preserve muscle, and more. Louryn Strampe is a product writer and reviewer at WIRED covering deals, beauty, home goods, and gifts. She’s written about Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Prime Day, and other shopping holidays since 2013, offering tips and tricks and sleuthing out fact-checked discounts for fun and for a living. Writer and Reviewer Whoop Promo Codes: 20% Off This July 2026 Whether you're looking for a Whoop free trial, student discount, or military savings, our guide to Whoop promo codes will help you maximize your membership benefits.
Hydrow Discount Code: Save Up to $150 | July 2026
Save StorySave this story Save StorySave this story Score $100 Off a Hydrow Rower With Sign-up Rowing is one of the most effective ways to stay in shape. It engages multiple muscle groups and provides a low-impact, high-intensity cardio experience that improves cardiovascular health, builds strength, and enhances endurance. And with tailored workouts to suit all abilities Hydrow gives you every chance to build fitness and stay motivated. And as an added incentive, Hydrow is offering $100 off any rowing machine when you via email or text. Hydrow Referral Coupon: Get $150 Already sold on the benefits of rowing for fitness? Maybe you've been enthusiastically recommending the virtues of low-impact, full-body workouts to your friends and family? Well now you can turn your enthusiasm into rewards with Hydrow's referral coupon. Refer a friend and not only will they receive $150 off the cost of a Hydrow rowing machine, but as thanks you'll receive a $150 Visa gift card when a purchase is made. Get Free Shipping on Your Orders at Hydrow Get free shipping with Hydrow, with no code needed. Free standard shipping is auto-applied and will be delivered in 3-5 days. Enjoy a 30-Day Hydrow Free Trial When experienced rowers talk about using Hydrow's rowers, they're amazed . It's what makes Hydrow unique. The brand is so sure you'll be impressed -body, low-impact workout and extensive on-demand content available, they're offering a no-risk 30 day free trial. To qualify, just order your chosen Hydrow through Hydrow. com and don't forget to use the Hydrow promo code on this page. Hydrow Rower and Lyquid Memberships Available Now Hydrow has workout plans that you can do in the comfort of your own home to keep yourself moving and hit those fitness goals. With a Hydrow membership, you’ll get real-time performance feedback, personalized workout recommendations, and goal-based programs tailored to your needs. With a Hydrow Rower Membership, you’ll get training tips, motivation, and progress tracking. Plus, you’ll have access to over 6,000 workouts, live and on-demand rowing workouts, other workouts like mat yoga, Pilates, strength, and Circuit Training. With the Lyquid Membership, you’ll get all the tools needed to have effective, guided strength training at home. With the membership, you’ll get access to strength training technology previously accessible only to elite athletes, on-demand workouts, and isokinetic resistance that mirrors your force in real-time. All of this and more is included in the custom workout programs in a personal training-type simulation.
The House Just Passed Another Permanent Daylight Saving Time Bill
Politics The House Just Passed Another Permanent Daylight Saving Time Bill Last time this happened the Senate passed it. It never became law. 15, 2026, am ET Reading time 3 minutes © amgun via Shutterstock Read Later Read Later Comments (1) On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would lock in daylight saving time as permanent. The bill is called the Sunshine Protection Act, and it’s sponsored , Brett Guthrie and Gus Bilirakis. It seems to stem from something President Trump promised shortly after he was elected the second time. The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2024 But this bill wouldn’t eliminate daylight saving time. It would lock it in—though Trump seems to have revised is stance and become a pro-permanent daylight saving time guy more recently. Either way, passage of the bill would end this abomination: There goes daylight saving time byu/gonal123 inAppleWatch Daylight saving was perhaps originally conceived by a New Zealand entomologist named George Hudson who realized that in the longer summer days, he was wasting two precious hours of bug-collecting time because they were in the morning. He felt that the extra hours should simply be transferred to the evening so he could prance around in the meadows after dinner, instead of, y’know, waking up earlier. For non-entomologists, the time could be used “for cricket, gardening, cycling or any other outdoor pursuit desired,” he said. Daylight Saving time was later enacted in the U. S., not for prancing, but, of course, for wartime productivity. So the time change is a remnant of World War I. Finally removing the most annoying nuisance in the universe—the twice-annual clock thing that everyone hates—from American life would be, on the whole, beneficial. Unfortunately, switching to permanent daylight saving time instead of permanent standard time is inane and childish. It locks in p. m. instead of p. m. as solar noon, the point at which the sun is theoretically straight overhead. And the American Academy of Sleep Medicine says, “permanent daylight saving time would delay morning light exposure, making it harder for children and adolescents to wake, learn, and travel safely to school during dark winter mornings.” Locking it in does what daylight saving time does in the summer, but year-round: robs daylight from the morning to give it to the night.
Why I'm using wired Android Auto when all the cool kids are switching to wireless
Tech 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. Close Why I'm using wired Android Auto when all the cool kids are switching to wireless Written , Senior Contributing EditorSenior Contributing Editor July 14, 2026 at p. m. PT Kerry Wan/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Using a wired Android Auto setup greatly reduces latency issues. Other benefits include better audio streaming quality and less overheating. There are useful accessories that can resolve traditional wiring issues. I've been using Android Auto since I bought my first car a few years ago, and while I've raved about the luxury of wireless connectivity, I recently had a change of heart. While a wireless setup, whether through an adapter or your car's native receiver, makes pairing your Android phone with your vehicle less of a burden, the technology's caveats have become increasingly apparent -- especially during the summer. Also: I tried Google Maps' new 3D Immersive View for Android Auto, and it fixed my biggest navigation problems One pitfall is the consistently noticeable battery drain, with my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 often losing about 10% of its power during a one-way commute.
Science
View All 10Scots urged to 'stay vigilant' as wildfire risk very high
Firefighters tackled a wild blaze in Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire, in April this year People in Scotland have been urged to "stay vigilant" over the coming week as the risk for wildfires is very high. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Wildlife Forum has issued a warning, external for central Highlands, southern and eastern Scotland from Wednesday, lasting until next Monday. Temperatures are expected to reach 28C on Wednesday around Fort William, with very dry weather forecast for the rest of the week especially in central and western areas. Wildfires are already burning in other parts of the UK as firefighters face "extreme pressure" due to a prolonged heatwave. Gritters out to protect roads on Scotland's hottest day of the year Wildfires burn in parts of UK as fire chiefs warn of extreme pressure Heatwaves occur when temperatures of 25C and above are recorded for three consecutive days - which is likely to happen in Scotland this week. Scotland experienced its hottest day of the year at the end of June with a peak temperature of 31.2C recorded in Threave, Dumfries and Galloway Conditions became so hot that gritters had to be deployed to spread sand over the main roads to try and reflect heat and cool the surface. Gritter driver Alistair Fisher said he had "funny looks" from people while spreading sand on the road Major incidents were declared in Conwy, north Wales, and in Glossop, Derbyshire, on Sunday, with firefighters still tackling the flames on Tuesday. Wildfires over the weekend also affected Hampshire, Durham, West Sussex, East Sussex, Devon and Somerset. The Scottish fire service's wildfire tactical adviser, Kevin Dingwall, said that many people will be outdoors enjoying the weather this week and urged them to take "simple steps" to prevent fires from starting. He said: "Hot, dry conditions increase the risk of wildfire across Scotland. Even if a warning is not in place where you live, we ask everyone to stay vigilant. "Wildfires can destroy property, landscapes and wildlife. That's why it's so important that everyone takes extra care during these conditions. "Avoid lighting outdoor fires or barbecues in affected areas, and remember that a single spark can cause significant damage. There is no such thing as a harmless fire. "You can help , friends, and any visitors." If you see a large outdoor fire, immediately. Give the location and any other relevant information so fire crews can respond quickly.
Hosepipe ban in force for millions of households - is your area affected?
Hosepipe bans have been introduced in parts of south-east England as successive heatwaves have left water supplies under strain in parts of the UK. But while spring and early summer have been relatively dry for much of the country - with temperatures regularly exceeding 30C - winter was much wetter than usual. More than eight million households have been placed under hosepipe bans. This means hosepipes cannot be used for watering gardens, washing vehicles and windows and filling pools. It has raised questions about how effectively water resources are being managed, and whether the UK is prepared for drier summers expected with climate change. So how is your area doing and how close are you to a drought? There is no single definition of drought, but it is ultimately caused by a prolonged period of low rainfall, which has knock-on effects for nature, agriculture and water supplies. Environmental bodies in each UK nation decide whether to declare drought or water scarcity based on an assessment of current water levels and long-term weather forecasts. Both of these states can trigger a hosepipe ban. Drought is a lack of precipitation, whereas water scarcity is about a mismatch between water supply and demand - so it is not just about the weather. This summer, bans have been introduced to manage high water demand. In England, most areas are in "normal" status, according to the Environment Agency. So far, five water companies in England have announced hosepipe bans. In East Anglia, the Cam and Ely Ouse, North West Norfolk and North Norfolk catchments are in "prolonged dry weather" status - the category below drought. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight part of the Solent and South Downs Area are also in prolonged dry weather. All of Wales is in "normal" status, according to Natural Resources Wales, while there are no official droughts currently in Northern Ireland. Scotland does not declare droughts but monitors "water scarcity". The River Lossie in north-east Scotland is in the most extreme category of "significant scarcity". Our three main sources of water are rivers, reservoirs and from deep underground. Following the hot, dry weather, river flows were low in June for parts of the UK. "Without significant rainfall we could see increasing impacts on wildlife, agriculture and water resources as the summer progresses," said Steve Turner, a hydrologist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH). Reservoirs are a crucial part of water supplies and levels in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland are all "healthy" and above expected for this time of year.
SpaceX launches flight-proven rocket for 600th time, sending Starlink satellites to orbit
Click for next article A time-lapse photo of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on July 14, 2026. The sexacentennial launch came on the second of two Falcon 9 missions that lifted off less than eight hours apart overnight from Monday to Tuesday (July 13 to July 14). The first flight, with Starlink batch 15-14, launched at p. m. EDT (0128 GMT or p. m. PDT local time) from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The second flight, with Starlink group 10-45, followed at a. m. EDT (0910 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Latest Videos From View more Watch full video here: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Starlink satellites launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on July 13, 2026. ()Both launches successfully deployed their payloads — 27 and 29 Starlink satellites, respectively — into their intended orbits, as confirmed by SpaceX. Previous Booster B0193 missions SDA-T1TL-B | SDA-T1TL-C | Transporter-16 | 11 Starlink missions Previous Booster B1080 missions Ax-2 | Euclid | Ax-3 | CRS-30 | SES ASTRA 1P | NG-21 | 21 Starlink missions Both flights also successfully recovered their Falcon 9 first stage boosters. B1093, launched from Florida, completed its 15th flight. B1080, launched from California, achieved its 28th mission. The record for a single Falcon 9 first stage's re-flight stands at 36 launches. The addition of 56 more Starlink satellites to SpaceX's megaconstellation brought the total active number of broadband internet relay units to 10,839, according to tracker Jonathan McDowell. In addition to Tuesday's launch being the 600th launch of a flight-proven Falcon 9 stage, SpaceX now stands at 83 Falcon 9 missions this year to date. collectSPACE. com Editor, Space. com Contributor Robert Pearlman is a space historian, journalist and the founder and editor of collectSPACE. com, a daily news publication and community devoted to space history with a particular focus on how and where space exploration intersects with pop culture. Pearlman is also a contributing writer for Space. com and co-author of "Space Stations: The Art, Science, and Reality of Working in Space” published 2018. In 2009, he was inducted into the U. Space Camp Hall of Fame in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2023, the National Space Club Florida Committee recognized Pearlman with the Kolcum News and Communications Award for excellence in telling the space story along the Space Coast and throughout the world.
Scientists spot 4 superdense stellar corpses hiding behind their red dwarf companions
Click for next article An artist's impression of a red dwarf with a white dwarf binary companion peekingout from behind. The diameters of the two stars are shown to scale. ( A. This marks the first detection of white dwarfs existing in double star systems in our cosmic backyard. The white dwarfs are all located within around 65 light-years of Earth, and one of them is number nine in the top 10 closest white dwarfs to the solar system. White dwarfs are the type of stellar remnants left behind when stars around the size of the sun run out of fuel needed for nuclear fusion. This leads to their cores collapsing. The lack of fusion also means these stellar remnants cool and become dim. In fact, the only thing that gave these four hidden dead stars away? Curious "wobbles" caused in the motion of the stars they were hiding behind, like a hiding child causing a curtain to ripple. The team followed up on these telltale clues by taking a closer look at these systems with NASA's long-serving Hubble Space Telescope. This investigation was conducted in ultraviolet light and using custom calibration to prevent flaring from the red dwarf companions from mimicking white dwarf signals. This investigation not only revealed the four lurking white dwarfs, but also demonstrated that one of these systems, G 203-47, located just 25 light-years away, has some curious characteristics. Twenty-seven years elapsed between the initial radial wobble and the detection of this hidden dead star. That isn't the weird thing, though. What is strange is that the red dwarf companion of this white dwarf only rotates once every 100 Earth days or so, yet it only takes about 15 days to orbit its dead star companion. This means that gravitational forces have failed to lock the red dwarf and white dwarf together, which is what happens in similar systems. "What's fascinating is that G 203-47 shouldn't be rotating this slowly if it formed the same way as similar systems. This suggests that these binaries have had very different evolutionary histories," team member David Wilson, of the University of Colorado Boulder, said. "Some underwent violent, prolonged interactions early on that locked them tidally. Others, like G 203-47, experienced gentler, briefer encounters that left them in this unusual state." An illustration of a red dwarf star orbiting a white dwarf dead star companion. ( Lea (created with Canva))The discovery of these white dwarfs helps researchers better understand the population numbers of the dead stars throughout the Milky Way.
Environment
View All 10England risks building new ‘death traps’ as experts warn of overheating crisis
Most English councils say they intend to include green infrastructure in new developments but only a quarter use a recognised tool to ensure this happens. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock View image in fullscreen Most English councils say they intend to include green infrastructure in new developments but only a quarter use a recognised tool to ensure this happens. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock England risks building new ‘death traps’ as experts warn of overheating crisis Vulnerable people more at risk as research finds only half of local authority plans require cooling strategies England risks constructing a new generation of “death trap” buildings that can fatally overheat unless the government tightens standards and prioritises climate safeguards, planning experts have said. Fears are growing about the plight of vulnerable people in heatwaves, with research this week suggesting that 2,700 people had died in the May and June heatwaves in England and Wales. Yet only about half of local plans being drawn up a cooling or ventilation strategy to prevent overheating, according to findings from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA). The RTPI report, entitled Local Plans and the Climate Crisis, used AI to assess local plans from English councils, including those already adopted and those still under consideration. While the authors acknowledged that the use of AI was “experimental” in such a report and had the potential to result in some inaccuracies, the RTPI said it was confident that the method gave a broadly reliable picture. Earlier this year, ministers unveiled the “future homes standard”, a new set of regulations that will govern how houses are built from 2028, and which includes provisions for keeping homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer. But the standard will not apply to buildings such as schools, hospitals and care homes. A survey in London found 14% of such homes, of which there are about 120,000 already, had no windows that could be opened. The Woodland Trust charity, in a separate report published on Tuesday, also called for more trees to be grown near housing in the UK for their cooling effect. It found more than 11 million people in the UK are living in areas where less than 10% of land gets shade from trees, with people on low incomes worst affected. England has one of the lowest tree canopy levels in Europe, according to the report, with the average tree cover at 17.5%.
UK heatwave delivers exceptional sunshine and persistent 30C temperatures
Some parts of the UK have had double their average July monthly sunshine in less than two weeks, as the heatwave continues. The increased sunshine has mainly been seen in parts of southern and south-west England and comes alongside 10 days of temperatures in excess of 30C (86F). The heat has swept the length and breadth of the UK from the south of England to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is forecast to intensify and develop more widely this week and even though temperatures may fall over the weekend, the sunny skies look set to continue. It has already been a very sunny month and some parts of the England have had almost twice as much sunshine as normal including Yeovilton in Somerset and Odiham in Hampshire. They have each clocked up about 152 hours of sunshine in the first 13 days of the month. This is all because of persistent high pressure over the UK where air tends to sink and inhibits cloud formation. Recent mornings have been cloudy in some areas. The cloud inland gets burned off . July has also been very dry. Parts of England have recorded 0% of the rainfall they would normally expect so far in the month. Wisley in Surrey has gone 27 consecutive days without any at all. Rainfall in Wales and Northern Ireland is also far below average. More than eight million households in England are now living under hosepipe bans while the ongoing dry weather means a continued risk of wildfires. Hotter weather is more likely away from North Sea coasts The peak of the third heatwave this year was on Thursday 9 July and Friday 10 July when temperatures reached 35C. Even though temperatures have fallen a little since then, some parts of the UK have still persistently reached 30C. On Tuesday, the UK recorded 10 consecutive days of temperatures hitting 30C or more in some areas. Teddington, Richmond upon Thames, Kew Gardens and Heathrow, in London, are among the areas that exceeded 30C. The very noticeable east to north-easterly wind has pushed the highest temperatures further west in recent days. But as the wind eases the heat will spread more widely and temperatures are forecast to rise higher this week. The heatwave threshold is likely to be met in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England again. Cooler northerly wind over this weekend Temperatures are unlikely to reach 30C this weekend with a more general slight fall in the highs across the UK expected.
After record heat, could the Atlantic make Britain's weather even more extreme?
ByJustin Rowlatt Climate Editor Somewhere in the stormy waters off Greenland, a bright yellow robotic probe, known as an Argo float, is sinking silently beneath the waves. It is roughly the size of a person, with a tough metal body and an array of sensors packed inside. The float is part of a global effort to solve one of the great mysteries of the ocean: how its hidden movements help shape the climate above. There is no crew, no one steering it. Instead, it drifts with the currents, measuring temperature, the amount of salt in the water and pressure as it moves through the waves. When it rises, it briefly breaks the surface and sends its data home by satellite. Then it does it all again. Dive, drift, measure, surface, transmit. The question those floats are helping investigate is one of the most important - and most contested - in climate science: whether one of the world's great systems of ocean currents is beginning to change. It is called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC - a vast, north-south system of currents that carries warm surface water towards the Arctic and returns colder water thousands of miles south through the deep ocean. Image source, Argo Image caption, The Argo float is part of a global network collecting data to help scientists understand how ocean currents shape Earth's climate But scientists say the AMOC is under pressure. Most agree it is likely to weaken as the planet warms. The UK government has said that, as "a key component within the Earth's climate system" the AMOC contributes to the UK's long-term climate risks. The disagreement is over how much and how fast the current could change, what that would mean for the weather and crucially, whether the seasons we know today could begin to change. A current under pressure The question matters because the AMOC is part of a vast heat-moving system that influences the climate far beyond the Atlantic. But for the UK and north-west Europe, its influence is much closer to home: it helps shape the climate we live in and the weather we get. The tropics receive far more energy from the sun than the poles. That imbalance sets both the air and the ocean in motion. Winds, storms, rainfall and currents are all, in different ways, the planet trying to even out that difference. The UK sits in the middle of that exchange.
‘Unprecedented’ changes in UK climate are normalising extremes, report says
In Greater London, the number of days over 30C and nights over 18C more than quadrupled in the last decade, compared with 1961-1990. Photograph: Anadolu/ View image in fullscreen In Greater London, the number of days over 30C and nights over 18C more than quadrupled in the last decade, compared with 1961-1990. Photograph: Anadolu/ ‘Unprecedented’ changes in UK climate are normalising extremes, report says Annual State of the UK Climate analysis finds last four years in UK are in top five hottest on record The UK’s climatic extremes are becoming increasingly normal, a report has found, with last year the hottest on record and further “unprecedented changes” likely to break the record again soon. Data stretching back to 1884 shows the UK has never experienced a year as hot as 2025, according to the annual State of the UK Climate report, with temperatures pushed to dizzying heights . UK map comparing 1961-90 and 2016-25 temperaturesThe country experienced its warmest spring and summer on record last year, while England was hit a century. The report comes as the UK faces the third deadly heatwave to have scorched Europe over the last two months. In an area stretching from Kent in the south-east to Lincolnshire in the East Midlands, the average hottest day of the year was 4.5C (8.1F) warmer in the last decade than in 1961-1990, the report found. In Greater London, the number of days over 30C and nights over 18C more than quadrupled over the same period. Colder northern parts of the country were now experiencing temperatures that London had decades ago, the scientists said Graph of days above 30C in London 1930-2025“Our climate is on the move – literally,” said Kendon. “The trend shows that in the 1980s, annual average temperatures of 11C were virtually unknown in the UK, yet by 2025 almost a fifth of the land surface reached that value.” Warm air can hold about 7% more moisture for each degree celsius of warming, allowing for heavier rainfall, which is more likely to lead to floods. The report found the number of the very wettest days has risen 20% since the 1961-1990 period, while rainfall intensity has risen by 5%. skip past promotion after promotion Graph of rising rainfall intensityWhile the UK’s climate is becoming wetter overall, punishing droughts amid hot and dry summers are expected to worsen as average temperatures increase further. In spring 2025, most of England and Wales received less than half of the average rainfall for the same period in 1991-2020, the report found.
Weather
View All 7Today: Sunny, Minimum Temperature: 13°C (55°F) Maximum Temperature: 28°C (82°F)
Search for a location Search Manchester - Weather warnings issued 14-day forecast Weather warnings issued Forecast - Manchester Day Today , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High28° 82° Low13° 55° , Wind speed8 mph13 km/h NE8 mph13 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny and a gentle breeze Thursday 16th JulyThu 16th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High29° 83° Low14° 57° , Wind speed4 mph6 km/h NE4 mph6 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny intervals and light winds Friday 17th JulyFri 17th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High27° 80° Low13° 55° , Wind speed5 mph9 km/h NE5 mph9 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny intervals and light winds Saturday 18th JulySat 18th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High25° 77° Low12° 54° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h N6 mph10 km/hnortherly Sunny intervals and light winds Sunday 19th JulySun 19th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High25° 77° Low12° 53° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h NE6 mph10 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny intervals and light winds Monday 20th JulyMon 20th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High26° 78° Low13° 55° , Wind speed6 mph9 km/h N6 mph9 km/hnortherly Sunny intervals and light winds Tuesday 21st JulyTue 21st , Sunny and light winds Sunny Sunny , High27° 81° Low14° 56° , Wind speed6 mph9 km/h N6 mph9 km/hnortherly Sunny and light winds Wednesday 22nd JulyWed 22nd , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High28° 83° Low15° 58° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h NE6 mph10 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny intervals and light winds Thursday 23rd JulyThu 23rd , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High29° 85° Low15° 59° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h E6 mph10 km/heasterly Sunny intervals and light winds Friday 24th JulyFri 24th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High27° 81° Low15° 60° , Wind speed8 mph13 km/h SW8 mph13 km/hsouth-westerly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Saturday 25th JulySat 25th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High27° 81° Low16° 60° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h W9 mph14 km/hwesterly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Sunday 26th JulySun 26th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High26° 79° Low16° 60° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h W9 mph14 km/hwesterly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Monday 27th JulyMon 27th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High26° 80° Low16° 61° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h SW9 mph14 km/hsouth-westerly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Tuesday 28th JulyTue 28th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High26° 79° Low16° 60° , Wind speed8 mph13
Thursday: Sunny Intervals, Minimum Temperature: 14°C (57°F) Maximum Temperature: 29°C (83°F)
Search for a location Search Manchester - Weather warnings issued 14-day forecast Weather warnings issued Forecast - Manchester Day Today , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High28° 82° Low13° 55° , Wind speed8 mph13 km/h NE8 mph13 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny and a gentle breeze Thursday 16th JulyThu 16th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High29° 83° Low14° 57° , Wind speed4 mph6 km/h NE4 mph6 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny intervals and light winds Friday 17th JulyFri 17th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High27° 80° Low13° 55° , Wind speed5 mph9 km/h NE5 mph9 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny intervals and light winds Saturday 18th JulySat 18th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High25° 77° Low12° 54° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h N6 mph10 km/hnortherly Sunny intervals and light winds Sunday 19th JulySun 19th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High25° 77° Low12° 53° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h NE6 mph10 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny intervals and light winds Monday 20th JulyMon 20th , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High26° 78° Low13° 55° , Wind speed6 mph9 km/h N6 mph9 km/hnortherly Sunny intervals and light winds Tuesday 21st JulyTue 21st , Sunny and light winds Sunny Sunny , High27° 81° Low14° 56° , Wind speed6 mph9 km/h N6 mph9 km/hnortherly Sunny and light winds Wednesday 22nd JulyWed 22nd , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High28° 83° Low15° 58° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h NE6 mph10 km/hnorth-easterly Sunny intervals and light winds Thursday 23rd JulyThu 23rd , Sunny intervals and light winds Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High29° 85° Low15° 59° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h E6 mph10 km/heasterly Sunny intervals and light winds Friday 24th JulyFri 24th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High27° 81° Low15° 60° , Wind speed8 mph13 km/h SW8 mph13 km/hsouth-westerly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Saturday 25th JulySat 25th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High27° 81° Low16° 60° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h W9 mph14 km/hwesterly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Sunday 26th JulySun 26th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High26° 79° Low16° 60° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h W9 mph14 km/hwesterly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Monday 27th JulyMon 27th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High26° 80° Low16° 61° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h SW9 mph14 km/hsouth-westerly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Tuesday 28th JulyTue 28th , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High26° 79° Low16° 60° , Wind speed8 mph13
Tornado injures four and damages 75 homes in Ca Mau, Vietnam
A tornado that developed during severe thunderstorms injured four people and damaged 75 homes across Vietnam’s southern Ca Mau Province on July 13, 2026. A tornado that developed during severe thunderstorms swept across several communes in Vietnam’s southern Ca Mau Province on the morning of Sunday, July 13, injuring four people and damaging 75 homes, according to provincial authorities. The tornado struck Khanh Binh, Tran Van Thoi, Tri Phai, and Luong The Tran communes, leaving a trail of damaged homes, uprooted trees, and scattered debris as powerful winds tore metal and tile roofs from buildings within minutes. Heavy rain continued for several hours after the tornado passed. The latest official assessment recorded damage to 75 houses, including 12 that were destroyed or collapsed and 63 that sustained varying degrees of damage. Four injured residents were transported to a hospital for treatment. Today, a destructive tornado caused widespread damage and left four people injured in Cà Mau Province, Mekong Delta, southern Vietnam.(VTV) pic. twitter. com/JjxdrrHcWF — Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) July 13, 2026 Khanh Binh Commune sustained the most extensive damage. Authorities reported damage to 25 homes and one campus of Ly Tu Trong Primary School. Initial assessments found five houses destroyed and another 20 with roof or structural damage. Tri Phai Commune reported damage to 14 homes in Kinh 5 Hamlet, while Luong The Tran Commune recorded damage to 20 houses, including one that collapsed and 19 that suffered roof or structural damage. Tran Van Thoi Commune reported damage to 12 homes, including one that was destroyed. Provincial authorities said the overall number of affected homes later increased to 75 as inspection teams completed damage assessments across the impacted communities. Police, military personnel, civil defense teams, and local community organizations were immediately mobilized to clear debris, repair damaged homes, assist affected residents, and conduct detailed damage assessments for emergency assistance. Provincial leaders also visited injured residents and inspected affected communities while directing authorities to accelerate recovery operations and provide support for affected families. Families whose homes were destroyed are receiving VND5 million in emergency support from the Vietnam Fatherland Front, while households with damaged homes are receiving VND3 million. Khanh Binh Commune also approved additional local assistance, allocating VND2 million for each destroyed home and VND1 million for homes that sustained damage. The tornado occurred during a period of active southwest monsoon conditions affecting southern Vietnam. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting had warned of widespread thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, strong wind gusts, and hazardous weather over southern waters and adjacent areas during the period.
NHC designates 100% chance of cyclone formation for EP96
Satellite image of EP96 at UTC on July 14, 2026. Credit: NOAA/GOES-19, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers The National Hurricane Center (NHC) designated a 100% chance of cyclone formation for an area of disturbance designated EP96. The designation was given in an update published at PDT ( UTC) on July 14, with the NHC assigning a 90% chance of cyclone formation within the next 48 hours, and a 100% chance of cyclone formation in the next seven days. If it does develop into a tropical storm, it will be named Elida and become the fifth named storm of the season. The disturbance is located offshore of Southwestern Mexico. Showers and thunderstorms had become better organized and were producing gusty winds associated with a tropical wave located south-southwest of the coast of southwestern Mexico. Two day graphical tropical weather outlook for EP96. Credit: NOAA/NHC A low pressure circulation with an estimated minimum central pressure of 1 007 hPa had already developed in the region based on satellite imagery at PDT ( UTC). A tropical depression or a tropical storm could form on July 14, while the system will continue moving west-northwest, the NHC reported. The system is expected to stay offshore of the coast of Mexico. Right Next to EP96 is another disturbance with a 70% chance of cyclone formation in the next seven days. A tropical depression is likely to form in this area , according to the NHC. Two day graphical tropical weather outlook. Credit: NOAA/NHC Further west, two areas of disturbance located south of Hawaii have a medium chance of cyclone formation during this week. The first area of disturbance, designated CP90, has a 50% chance of cyclone formation over the next seven days and a 30% chance in the next 48 hours. The area is located southwest of the Hawaiian islands, and is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Conditions seem favorable for a tropical depression to develop later in the week. If that happens, the system is forecast to continue moving northwest and will remain far offshore southwest of the Hawaiian islands, according to the NHC. Meanwhile, disturbance CP91 has 60% chance of becoming a cyclone for both the 48-hour and seven-day periods. It is expected to move into an unfavorable environment . References: 1 Tropical Weather Outlook – NOAA/NHC – July 14, 2026 2 Tropical Weather Discussion – NOAA/NHC – July 14, 2026 Rishav Kothari I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis.
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