Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 30 Jul 2018

1. Right-wing think tank ‘offered to influence Brexit’

The right-wing Institute of Economic Affairs think tank (IEA) offered donors access to British government ministers, with its director saying he was in “the Brexit-influencing game”, secret recordings made by Greenpeace show. Director Mark Littlewood also said US donors could shape the “substantial content” of his research.

2. Zimbabwe heads to the polls without Mugabe

Zimbabweans are today voting in their first election since Robert Mugabe was ousted as president and leader of the ruling Zanu-PF party. His former deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa has a narrow poll lead over the opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa. Mugabe held a press conference yesterday, saying he would not vote for either.

3. Northern Rail to reinstate 75% of services

Troubled rail firm Northern is to reinstate 75% of the 168 services a day it cancelled last month in an effort to end chaos which began in May when it introduced a new timetable. Services in Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire will be partially resumed; those in the Lake District fully. Other cancelled trains resume in September.

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4. Walkers trapped after Indonesian earthquake

After at least 16 people were killed by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake on the Indonesian island of Lombok yesterday, rescue workers are trying to evacuate around 200 hill-walking tourists who are trapped on Mount Rinjani. More than 160 people are injured, thousands of homes are damaged and hundreds have been left homeless.

5. Farm animals suffer despite welfare standard

Britain’s biggest animal welfare scheme, the Red Tractor farm approval label, is failing to stop cruelty, because only one in 1,000 of its farm inspections are unannounced. Animal rights campaigners have released disturbing footage from Rosebury Farm in Bedfordshire, showing pigs being subjected to electric shocks.

6. No pallbearers at Novichok victim funeral

Safety advice means there will be no pallbearers at the funeral of Novichok victim Dawn Sturgess, says the vicar leading the service. The Rev Philip Bromiley said funeral directors took advice from Public Health England (PHE) and will have the coffin in situ when mourners arrive. PHE reiterated that the risk to the public is low.

7. Fears of vigilante backlash after flour attack

There are concerns that four teenagers who appear in a disturbing photograph with a woman they allegedly attacked with flour and water could become the subjects of vigilante justice after they were identified online. Police arrested and then released the four males in Bury St Edmunds, saying the victim was “severely distressed”.

8. Geraint Thomas: ‘I have to pinch myself’

Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, the first Welshman and third Briton to come first in cycling’s most prestigious race, said last night he had to “pinch himself” to believe he had really won. The 32-year-old added: “Maybe when I'm 70, sat in a corner of a pub telling some 18-year-old what I used to be, it will sink in.”

9. French skiier missing since 1954 identified

The remains of a French skiier who went missing in 1954 have been found in the Alps. Human remains were discovered as long ago as 2005 in Italy’s Aosta region but it was only when pictures of Henri Le Masne’s spectacles were shared on social media that he was finally identified. His younger brother, now 94, came forward.

10. Briefing: why is the UN running out of money?

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has warned that the organisation is running out of money and urged member states to pay up or face the consequences.

In a letter sent to member states and UN staff on Wednesday, Guterres said that the UN has “never faced such a difficult cash flow situation this early in the calendar year”.

Why is the UN running out of money?