"Regular heatwaves 'will kill thousands'
By Roger Harrabin
BBC environment analyst"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44956310

Jul 26, 2018 at 8:09 AM | Unregistered CommenterMark Hodgson

How many did die in summer 1976, and how do those figures compare with the winters of 1947 and 1962/3 ? The BBC's Environment Analyst really ought to demonstrate an ability to analyse the relevance of what he broadcasts.

Jul 26, 2018 at 8:09 AM | Mark Hodgson

"Scientists differ on whether the current global rash of heatwaves is definitely caused by climate change."

The deliberate inclusion of the word 'definitely' speaks volumes. Typical Harrabin.

I agree AK, keeping them wondering every day, if it was their last was pure torture. At least the US prisoners know that there is a process and they will know in advance when it runs out. I can understand torture as an alternative for a long sentence and even the death penalty to end the life of someone who can never be released but torture and death is just vindictive, even if the torture is purely mental.

Mark. I think for me the story should have been the inhumanity of keeping someone on tentahooks for decades not knowing if or when he was going to be executed for the Sarin gas attack.

How topical are we?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-44951970

After a brief appearance on the main page of the BBC news website, now relegated to the Cambridgeshire page:

"MP Fiona Onasanya accused of lying about speeding"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-44957896

The article has been amended since it first appeared, as it now opens by identifying her as a Labour MP - originally that fact was buried well within the article. Perhaps some of the criticism online regarding the way the BBC reported this one has hit home. But in any event, compare and contrast with the BBC headline (twice - once when the trial opened, again when he was found guilty) of the former UKIP councillor charged with murdering his wife - the headline called him a UKIP councillor even though he no longer is.

Ditto the fuss made over Aaron Banks the other day, and the BBC hunting down a small alleged corruption story about him in Lesotho. Banks is a bit like Trump for me - I don't like him or his modus operandi. But the BBC reporting was almost hysterical and in almost every other breath they made the point that he was a major Brexit campaign donor, as though his possible small-scale corruption (alleged) in Lesotho somehow casts doubt on the Brexit vote, even though the two stories are completely unrelated. The BBC campaign for a second referendum is in full swing as the clock ticks down. Had the story about Banks instead been about a pro-EU Lib Dem funder, for instance, I strongly suspect that the BBC wouldn't have despatched a reporter to Lesotho to see what they could find, and certainly wouldn't have reported it if they did find it.

"Tokyo Sarin attack: Japan executes last Aum Shinrikyo members on death row"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44962581

Not one word of criticism of the death penalty, happily quoting a Japanese Minister talking about the paind and suffering these terrorists caused. Compare and contrast the BBC's hysterical reporting of Javid's decision not to object to the death penalty if the US finds the ISIL murderers guilty.

"Regular heatwaves 'will kill thousands'
By Roger Harrabin
BBC environment analyst"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44956310

The article opens with:

"The current heatwave could become the new normal for UK summers by 2040 because of climate change, MPs say.

The Environmental Audit Committee warns of 7,000 heat-related deaths every year in the UK by 2050 if the government doesn't act quickly."

That's right - this is the view of MPs, not scientists. Tucked away further into the article is this:

"Scientists differ on whether the current global rash of heatwaves is definitely caused by climate change." BY which, presumably, Harrabin actually means "Scientists differ on whether the current global rash of heatwaves is definitely caused by man-made climate change."

Never worry about accuracy, and never let the facts get in the way of a headline, eh?

"Trump says no new tariffs against EU after parties agree to trade negotiations
US will ‘reassess’ steel and aluminum tariffs, EU will boost purchases of American soybeans and imports of LNG."

https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-jean-claude-juncker-announces-trade-negotiations-with-eu/

"Juncker’s visit was aimed at cooling the waters. In exchange for commitments from Trump to “reassess” the steel and aluminum tariffs and “hold off on further tariffs,” the EU will boost its purchases of U.S. soybeans and build more terminals to import liquified natural gas from America, Juncker said.

“When I was invited by the president to the White House I had one intention,” the European leader said Wednesday. “I had the intention to make a deal today. And we made a deal today. This was a good, constructive meeting.”

Speaking later to Brussels Playbook on the phone on the way to the airport after his meeting with Trump, Juncker said the pair had negotiated for three and a half hours. “It’s good what we’ve managed to agree on,” he said. The big win for the EU, Juncker added, was that Trump agreed to not increase tariffs on cars so long as the EU and U.S. are on negotiating terms."

See what can be achieved with the usually intractable EU when the German car industry is threatened!