Panama canal fees soar due to Iran war and El Niño as ship ‘pays $4m to jump queue’ 12. August 2026 (14:26) Falling water levels linked to weather system are expected to limit number of slots to transit shipping laneBusiness live – latest updatesCommercial ships travelling through the Panama canal are facing a rise in costs amid disruption triggered by the Iran war and falling water levels linked to this year’s intense El Niño weather system.Highlighting the fragility of global trade, a container ship reportedly paid about $4m (£3m) to jump a queue of vessels waiting to pass through the vital maritime choke point. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
At least 44 dead after overcrowded ferry capsizes on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe 12. August 2026 (14:21) Operation under way to rescue dozens missing after boat overturned by waves at world’s largest human-made lakeAt least 44 people have died after an overcrowded ferry capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, police said.The boat had a capacity of 90 people, but was carrying 114 adult passengers, five crew members and an unknown number of children, Zimbabwe’s civil protection unit (CPU) said earlier on Wednesday, citing ticket sales. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Heat, algae and AI: proposed datacenter could damage Everglades, experts warn 12. August 2026 (13:30) Plans for hyperscale datacenter in Palm Beach county prompt concerns over water and electricity demandsAbout 16 miles (26km) south-west of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Largo estate, near the northern edge of the Florida Everglades, developers have proposed a hyperscale datacenter on a 202-acre (82-hectare) parcel of land surrounded by water. Local environmentalists warn that the proposed 600MW datacenter in western Palm Beach county could damage the wetlands, which the federal government and the state of Florida have spent a combined $6bn to restore after decades of drainage and development.One concern is that the datacenter could exacerbate an existing issue of toxic bacterial blooms in a water system which has already been stressed by drought, fertilizer runoff and warm water temperatures. In recent summers, the bright blooms of blue-green algae have covered nearly half of Lake Okeechobee, which feeds into the Everglades. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Unrig the economy for working people’: the California candidate who wrote updated labor laws 12. August 2026 (13:00) Marni von Wilpert helped draft Protecting the Right to Organize act, and now wants work toward implementing itLegislation that would modernize federal labor law began with a handful of lawyers meeting, of all places, in an ice-cream shop.“We wrote for hours what we would do to amend the National Labor Relations Act,” said Marni von Wilpert, a member of the San Diego city council who was then an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Bringing together “our collective experience as labor lawyers over the years, really trying to unrig the rules so that working people could have a fair shot”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Halting the march of the armyworm: fungus discovery offers hope to African farmers 12. August 2026 (13:00) South African scientist’s breakthrough research shows soil fungus could be used in fight against devastating crop pestHearing about fields full of dead caterpillars enveloped in a mysterious white substance intrigued the South African scientist Letodi Luki Mathulwe. Something was killing off the African armyworm – one of the most devastating pests for farmers in east and southern Africa.The white substance was a naturally occurring fungus and it was wiping out the caterpillar, which gained its name from its march-like advance through fields of crops. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Germany approves lifting curbs on spy agencies in security ‘revolution’ 12. August 2026 (12:43) Reforms comply with wishlist of intelligence services which say Germany lags behind allies and enemiesThe German government has approved a draft law aimed at lifting many of the restraints on its spy agencies imposed during the postwar period as the country reels from two attacks in a month that have exposed serious security gaps.The controversial changes, which must still pass parliament, largely comply with a wishlist pulled together by the foreign and domestic intelligence services, which have long complained Germany lags behind its allies and enemies. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Drone footage shows rare bird’s-eye view of stingrays off New York coast 12. August 2026 (12:00) With wing spans up to 3ft, the shy cownose ray species typically arrive in Long Island waters in the warmer monthsDrone footage of dozens of stingrays in the ocean off New York has captivated beachgoers and marine enthusiasts, offering a rare bird’s-eye view of a species that scientists say has visited the area for decades.The footage was captured last Friday off the coast of Southampton on the Long Island peninsula by Joanna Steidle, a Hamptons-based professional drone pilot known for her aerial ocean shots. It shows cownose rays gliding through the water en masse near the surface. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran war and high living costs fueling last-minute holiday bookings, Tui says 12. August 2026 (11:54) Geopolitics and cost of living crisis have cost Europe’s largest travel company €60m so farHolidaymakers are waiting until the last minute to book their trips because of the continuing uncertainty caused by the war in Iran and the cost of living crisis, according to Tui, Europe’s largest travel company, which said the war had cost it €60m (£51m) so far.In the weeks after the outbreak of war at the end of February, Tui recorded a temporary drop-off in customers wanting to travel to Cyprus or Turkey, in what the company called a “volatile market”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK heatwave live: Met Office issues extreme heat warning as government convenes emergency Cobra meeting 12. August 2026 (11:53) Parts of country face fifth heatwave of the summer with highs of 38C forecast this week Firefighters have worked through the night and are continuing to tackle the heathland fire in the New Forest in Hampshire, the local authority said.The A31 that runs through the New Forest is closed in both directions, with road closures expected to remain in place for at least the next 48 hours while emergency services continue to respond to the fire.My thanks and gratitude to everyone working tirelessly to respond to this ongoing incident and keep our communities safe, as well as minimising the impact on our unique environment and wildlife.The emergency services are continuing to work hard on the ground, supported by council teams, Forestry England, the National Park Authority, National Highways, and many others. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Immigration minister says poorer areas have taken ‘fair share’ of asylum seekers – UK politics live 12. August 2026 (11:49) Anna Turley backs up Andy Burnham’s suggestion that affluent areas should house more asylum seekers in futureThe order of service for the funeral of Ann Widdecombe has been published, the BBC’s Michael Keohan reports. He says:She will enter Buckfast Abbey to ‘amazing grace’ just after 2pm.There will also be tributes from Sir Christian Sweeting and Ann’s nephew the Rev Roger Widdecombe.Donations have been requested to be split between Leprosy mission and Aboud India in memory of Ann.Ahead of the funeral at 2, there will be a solem mass at 11.The reality is, this is a military base that is outside the village. It’s self-contained. People there will be managed and processed properly with the services that they need there on site. So we are looking to reduce the impact on local communities. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
