News Headlines - 14 July 2013

▽Jeremy Hunt to send 'hit squads' to hospitals where thousands died needlessly - Telegraph

Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, will this week send in “hit squads” to as many as 10 hospital trusts where thousands of patients have died needlessly.

▽Germany's Merkel Calls for International Privacy Deal - WSJ.com

The time has come to negotiate an international deal on the protection of personal data, including possibly involving the United Nations, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a television interview Sunday. The comments come on the heels of revelations that the U.S. National Security Agency was snooping on the U.S.'s European allies, including Germany.

▽Hollande rules out shale gas exploration - Telegraph

French president Francois Hollande has ruled out exploration for shale gas during his term on office, ending hopes that a ban on hydraulic fracturing could be reviewed following a legal challenge by a US firm.

▽LDP support almost unchanged ahead of election: Kyodo poll | GlobalPost

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's support rating ahead of the upper house election has remained almost unchanged over the past week, maintaining its substantial lead over the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday.

▽BBC News - Greece jellyfish warning for UK tourists

The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Greece, warning that jellyfish blooms have been reported and for people to heed local advice.