| Disruptive climate change |
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"A lot of people think climate change is in the future", says a scientist at the Met Office. But the UK has become warmer and wetter over the 30 past years and with signs showing that’s unlikely to change. "This proves the climate is already changing here in the UK" continues Mike Kendon, the lead author of the latest UK State of the Climate report. This report found 2020 to be the third warmest, fifth wettest and eight sunniest on record. No other year was in the top 10 for all three criteria and, according to scientists, this shows the country is already undergoing disruptive climate change. "As it continues to warm we are going to see more and more extreme weather such as heatwaves and floods," says the climate information scientist.
Earlier this month, the Met Office issued an extreme heat warning during the heatwave and in recent days London was hit by flooding weeks after a month's worth of rain fell in one day in parts of the capital. Scientists warn extreme weather will get worse if global temperatures rise and politicians fail to curb carbon emissions. "We had roads melting last year, rails start to buckle, electric cabling starts to buckle. We often say we’d like a climate like the Med, but people were soon complaining they were too hot - not just in the day but especially at night," says Liz Bentley, head of the Royal Meteorological Society. She says even a small temperature rise of 0.1 or 0.2 degrees overall can make a huge difference and predicts we’re likely to see temperatures of 40C on a regular basis even if governments could limit a global temperature rise to 1.5C. | |
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| Injured Liverpool fan dies 32 years after Hillsborough disaster |
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| A Liverpool football fan who suffered life-changing injuries in the Hillsborough disaster has died. Andrew Devine was injured in the stadium disaster in which 96 people died as a result of the crush at the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in 1989. The 55-year-old, described as a "much-loved son, brother and uncle", had been supported by his family and a team of dedicated carers. He died on Tuesday and in a statement they said they welcomed the coroner’s conclusion that Mr Devine "was unlawfully killed, making him the 97th fatality of the tragic events that occurred on April 15, 1989". "We were blessed to have had Andrew with us for 32 years”. Paying tribute, Liverpool FC, which released the statement on behalf of the family, said Mr Devine continued to attend matches when possible and in doing so "defied expectations that he would not survive for six months after the tragedy". | |
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| GB misses out on rowing medals |
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| There’s 17 gold medals up for grabs at the Olympics Games today. But so far we’ve seen Britain's two-time gold medallist Helen Glover being ruled out of another Olympics rowing bid after she and Polly Swann finished fourth in the women's pair. "In Rio I said it was my last one. This time I'm saying 'no, it's definitely it'," says Glover. Emily Craig and Imogen Grant missed out on a medal by 0.01 seconds in the lightweight women's double sculls and so this means the only rowing medal was a silver won by Harry Leask, Angus Groom, Tom Barras and Jack Beaumont in a tight men's quadruple sculls race on Wednesday. - To keep across today’s events or catch up with the coverage from the Games follow BBC Sports Olympics Live page.
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| |  | | | Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson will be missing the Tokyo Olympics because she tested positive for marijuana during the US Track & Field trials. With cannabis legal in many states across America, why is it still outlawed in sports? Considered the sixth-fastest woman in history, with a best-ever time for the 100m of 10.72, the Texas sprinter was expected to be a major contender for the Gold medal in Tokyo.
But when her teammates take to the track for the women's 100m heats on Thursday, she won't be there. In early July, it was announced that Ms Richardson would not be representing the US at the games because she had tested positive for cannabis use during the qualifying race. The US Anti-Doping Agency banned her from competing for one month and although the suspension technically ended during the Tokyo games, US Athletics chose not to include her on the team. Her disqualification has reignited a long debate over marijuana prohibition in Olympic sports. | |
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| | Robin Levinson-King | BBC News | |
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| | | | As fully vaccinated travellers in the EU and UK will no longer have to isolate from Monday, the Daily Mail claims "Britain's back in business!" This position is reflected in the Daily Express which says the "ailing tourism industry" was given a £31bn boost. Meanwhile the Times reports that these “new arrivals pose a danger”, with officials worrying the relaxation of the travel rules surrounding amber list countries carry a "clear public health risk". While several papers report on this story, the Sun claims Simon Cowell is bringing the X-Factor to an end after 17 years and the Daily Mirror tells the tale of the "unlikely" face of a £4.2m jewel raid. Find out more about this story and the others leading the front pages by reading the newspaper review in full. | |
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| | | Travel International cruises from England to restart |
| | | | Furlough Scheme set to wind down further |
| | | | Exams Richer parents pressured teachers on grades |
| | | | Scotland Queen's lawyers secured amendment to green energy law |
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| If you watch one thing today |
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| If you listen to one thing today |
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| If you read one thing today |
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| Need something different? |
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| Ok, it’s probably too early to mention this and 149 days is a very long countdown. But a letter to Father Christmas written decades ago has been found stuck up a chimney. Are you the Robert Crampton, who wished for a “cowboy suit and guns and a hat and everything", the chimney sweeps are looking for?
Next, it’s been decades since harvest mice have been seen in one English meadow but they’re back. The mice from a zoo in Scotland were reintroduced for a rewilding project. Watch as staff tell them to "make good choices" as they head off into the hedgerows of their new home.
And finally, meet the boy who dreams about playing football for England. Mikey Poulli had been scouted by the FA but was left unable to play when lost his sight. However, an audible ball means he’s heading in the right direction to maybe one day play for the country's blind football team. | |
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| On this day |  |
| | | 1981 Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer marry at St Paul's Cathedral in London - watch our archive report of their wedding day. |
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