“Climate change is happening now,” warns Met Office
The 10 warmest years on record in the UK have all occurred since 2002, according to a new analysis by the Met Office. On average, the temperature across Britain between 2009 and 2018 was 0.9C warmer than the average for 1961–1990. “Climate change is not some abstract thing in the future that we are predicting is going to happen,” said Mike Kendon, a climate information scientist and the co-author of the report. “The point is that climate change is happening and it is happening now.”
North Korea fires two ballistic missiles
North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast less than a week after a similar test launch, according to South Korea’s military. The missiles flew 250km (155 miles) and reached a height of 30km before landing in the Sea of Japan. Since the meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, North Korea has accused the US of breaking a promise by planning to hold joint military exercises with South Korea in August.
Johnson visits Northern Ireland in bid to restore power-sharing
Boris Johnson has arrived in Northern Ireland for his first visit as Prime Minister as he seeks to restore power-sharing government. Johnson, who held a private meeting with DUP leader Arlene Foster last night, will meet the five main parties for talks at Stormont today. Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government for two-and-a-half years following a split between the power-sharing parties, Sinn Fein and the DUP.
Sanders and Warren attacked over “socialism” in Democratic debate
The Democratic presidential frontrunners Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have come under attack from centrist candidates over their progressive policy proposals. In the first of two nights of debate between the party’s contenders, former Maryland congressman John Delaney warned that support for universal healthcare was “political suicide” and part of “the creep towards socialism”. The second hustings, featuring former vice-president Joe Biden and California senator Kamala Harris, will be held tonight.
UK becomes the world’s second-largest arms exporter
The UK has returned to its position as the world’s second-largest arms exporter – behind only the US – after record sales of £14bn in 2018. Of the total, 80 per cent was accounted for by sales to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and other countries in the Middle East. The Campaign Against Arms Trade said the government “claims to stand for human rights and democracy, but it is arming and supporting repressive regimes and dictatorships around the world”.
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