Fifteen elephant deaths at Kenya park may be due to cyanide poisoning 30. July 2026 (14:46) Analysis of samples collected from carcasses found traces of toxic chemical compound, says Kenya Wildlife ServiceThe recent deaths of 15 elephants near a park in southern Kenya in the past month were likely caused by the animals ingesting pesticides used on nearby tomato farms, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has said.Erustus Kanga, the agency’s director general, told Citizen TV that analysis of samples collected from the carcasses had found traces of cyanide, a chemical compound used in farming as a predator control poison and a pest fumigant, also used by poachers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Only the Middle East crisis is preventing a drop in UK interest rates 30. July 2026 (14:44) Bank’s wariness about inflationary pressures from the conflict lie behind decision to hold steady at 3.75%Business live – latest updatesThere is a threat of high inflation coming to the UK, but only from the conflict in the Middle East which could keep oil prices high for much longer than was expected when Donald Trump first began attacking Iran.It is the war that makes the difference between a benign outlook for inflation and one that puts it back on a rising trajectory, top UK central bankers believe. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Airbus fined £6.4m for breaching rules on export of sensitive technology 30. July 2026 (14:41) Manufacturer self-reported the offences to HMRC in the tax authority’s largest out-of-court settlementAirbus has been fined £6.4m in the UK after the European aerospace company admitted to multiple breaches of rules designed to stop sensitive goods such as military hardware falling into the wrong hands.The company, which sits at the heart of the European defence industry, said it had paid the settlement to the UK’s tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs, after self-reporting breaches that occurred before November 2022.Failing to keep accurate records of transfers of controlled technology as per the conditions of three of their Open General Export Licences (Ogels).Multiple occasions failures to keep registers in relation to Ogels.Failing to keep accurate records contrary to the conditions of one of their Ogels.A failure of licence conditions on a standard individual export licence (SIEL). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Uncertainty shrouds Blanche’s nomination to be Trump’s next attorney general as key Republicans postpone vote – live 30. July 2026 (14:39) Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis had demanded further assurances about the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue ServiceSign up for the US Breaking News emailA new poll out this morning shows Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive candidate for in the Democratic primary for US senate in Michigan, with a sizable lead over US representative Haley Stevens, the moderate in the race.A poll from Emerson College, a nonpartisan outfit with no ties to either campaign, found 54% intended to vote for El-Sayed compared to 39% for Stevens. Of the 6% still undecided, more were leaning toward El-Sayed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Four people found dead on small boats after trying to cross Channel 30. July 2026 (14:37) Three women and a man died off coast of France after attempting to reach UKFour people have died while trying to reach the UK in small boats after one of the busiest days for Channel crossings this year.Three women were found dead on a boat off the coast of Dunkirk on Thursday morning, the French coastguard said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Record absence of world’s oldest head of state reignites health speculation 30. July 2026 (14:36) Cameroon’s president has not made statement or been seen since leaving for ‘brief private stay’ at Swiss hotel on 7 JuneA record 53-day absence of the world’s oldest head of state has renewed speculation in his native Cameroon about whether he is dead or alive, even though discussing his health is illegal in the country.On 7 June, 93-year-old Paul Biya departed for Switzerland for what officials described as a “brief private stay” alongside his wife, Chantal. Almost two months later, neither the president nor the first lady have addressed the country or been seen publicly. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Firefighters race to extinguish blazes across EU as fire weather breaks records 30. July 2026 (14:04) European Forest Fire Information Service figures show conditions in EU 43% more severe than for same period in last 20 years Fire weather in the EU has broken records for severity for this time of year, new data shows, as firefighters race to extinguish blazes across the Mediterranean.Inflamed by carbon pollution, the hot, dry and windy weather across the EU since the start of the year has been 43% more severe than the end-of-July average over the last two decades, data from the European Forest Fire Information Service (Effis) shows. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Embattled German chancellor chooses papal pageturner for his beach read 30. July 2026 (14:04) With his popularity at historic lows, Friedrich Merz seeks spiritual guidance from Pope Leo’s encyclical on AIEurope live – latest updatesSummer is normally thought of as the time for pacy potboilers and brain-soothing pageturners – airport reads that wind up sandy and sunscreen-stained. Not so for Friedrich Merz’s holiday reading list.Germany’s embattled chancellor, who has faced one rough patch after another since taking office 14 months ago, seems to be seeking spiritual guidance this year while putting his feet up. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Flock surveillance cameras can pose a crash risk for drivers, US experts say 30. July 2026 (14:00) Roadside safety advocates say some automated license plate readers may not meet highway safety standardsFlock Safety cameras have been pilloried for facilitating the AI-powered surveillance of private citizens and for targeting immigrants for years. But now safety advocates are also claiming that their physical location can pose potential roadside hazards.At the bottom of a tree-lined hill on a narrow, two lane rural road in Greene county, Ohio, stands a black metal rod with a camera and solar panel attached at the top. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US push to defund ‘DEI bike lanes’ will make roads less safe, advocates say 30. July 2026 (14:00) Trump administration boasts of cutting $1.73bn already allocated for cycling improvements to city streetsSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The Trump administration’s plans to stymie and defund bike lane plans in the US, on the unusual basis that they are DEI tools, will hurt efforts to improve roadway safety, non-motorized transportation advocates say.The transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, posted on X this month that he had redirected $1.73bn allocated for “Biden-era DEI pet projects” to “America’s actual backbone: ROADS, BRIDGES, AND SHIPPING PORTS”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
