High UV Ray Threat Triggers Sunburn Warning

People are being advised to guard against an increased risk of sunburn due to stronger than usual ultraviolet rays normally associated with high summer.

The Met Office says the high UV levels are due to an "ozone anomaly" currently affecting the UK, where there is less of the gas in the upper atmosphere available to absorb the UV rays before they reach the ground.

The Met Office said: "This is quite normal and similar events have occurred previously around this time of the year.

"We are confident that the levels should be no higher than those of a sunny day in June.

But it added: "It is important that, if you are in an area that is particularly sunny over the next few days, you take steps to ensure that you and your family are protected from these increased UV levels.

"During the next few weeks, we will continue to keep an eye on these low ozone events (which can be seen in satellite data) in order to warn the public when they are happening."

Sky News Weather Presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "UV levels are at their greatest when the sun is at its highest in the sky, so as we head into the summer months UV levels increase.

"At this time of the year, we usually expect levels of UV to be low to moderate, but today they could be higher due to an ozone anomaly affecting the UK at the moment where levels are noticeably lower than normal.

"This isn't an unusual occurrence and similar events have happened previously around this time of the year."

As well as the amount of ozone gas in the stratosphere, other key factors affecting the strength of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface are the height of the sun in the sky, and the amount of cloud, dust and pollution in the atmosphere.

So-called "ozone anomalies" occur when low-level pockets that have formed near the North Pole over winter, due to the lack of sunlight, break away.

These can sometimes pass over the UK.

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

London Marathon: Mo Farah Beaten By Kipsang

Kenyan Wilson Kipsang has beaten Britain's Mo Farah to win the London Marathon, breaking the course record for the race.

Double Olympic gold medallist Farah finished in eighth place with a time of 2hrs 08mins 20secs, narrowly missing out on the British record he had targeted.

Kipsang crossed the finish line in 2hrs 04mins 27secs, beating the previous best time for the event by 13 seconds.

Farah admitted the race had been "tough" but defended his decision to switch from the track to the road and make his 26.2 mile debut in his home town.

He said: "London, this is my city, it would have been wrong to do any other marathon."

Edna Kiplagat won the women's race in a time of 2hrs 20mins 21secs.

The elite runners started ahead of 36,000 competitors tackling the course on a warm and sunny day in the capital.

Famous faces taking part include former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen, Game of Thrones actress Natalie Dormer, and Michelin-star chef Michel Roux Jr.

The amateur field includes Katie and Polly Ryall who are aiming to set a new world record for a pair of sisters combined by beating the current 5hrs 09mins 21secs benchmark while running for the charity Sense.

British Paralympian David Weir failed in his bid to become the best wheelchair racer in the event's history as he finished second behind Switzerland's Marcel Hug.

The races started at Blackheath and Greenwich Park ended on The Mall.

Many roads in central London have been closed and some delays are expected on public transport.

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Blackpool Man Charged With Murder Of Toddler

Police in Lancashire have charged a man with the murder of a two-year-old girl who died on Saturday after suffering serious injuries.

Police said Connor Gibson, 23, of Melrose Avenue, Blackpool, will appear in court on Monday in connection with the death of Kasey Hambleton.

Police were called to an address on Granby Avenue, Blackpool on Thursday morning where they found the little girl in an "unresponsive" state.

Kasey died after being taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Kasey was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital and later airlifted to Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital in a critical condition.

A 23-year-old woman from Blackpool was also arrested on suspicion of murder and has been released on bail until July.

Lancashire Police have appealed for anyone with information relating to her death to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Gilbert from Lancashire Constabulary's Force Major Investigation Team said: "This is a terribly tragic incident where a little girl has sadly lost her fight for life and I am determined to find out exactly what has happened to her and how she has come to acquire injuries so serious that they have proven fatal.

Neighbours have left flowers on the gates of Kasey's house

"I personally encourage anyone who may have any information about little Kasey and the days leading up to her death to come forward to help us in what has now developed into a murder investigation."

Reports can also be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Crimestoppers-uk.org.  

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Drives Car Off 80ft Cliff - And Survives

A man who drove his car off an 80ft cliff near Brighton has walked away without any significant injuries.

The arrows show where the car veered off the cliff and landed

The driver lost control of his vehicle on the A259 in Roedean just after midnight on Sunday morning.

He survived the drop because the car "miraculously" managed to clear the promenade beneath the cliff and land on water.

Some 22 emergency workers attended only to find the driver had made his way to nearby rocks without any serious injuries.

Twenty-two emergency workers arrived at the scene

Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp tweeted after the incident: "Incredibly a man escaped without serious injury after his car went over the cliff near Roedean just after midnight and ended up in the sea."

Emergency crews used ladders and ropes to rescue the man.

The incident occurred in Roedean near Brighton, East Sussex

"A second ladder was installed to use as a slipway and the casualty was secured into Newhaven Coastguard's rescue stretcher and then using some of our cliff rescue equipment we were able to slide the stretcher up the ladders," a Newhaven Coastguard spokesman said.

"With nine members of various agencies on the three ropes and two of the Newhaven team at the top of the ladder we were able to bring the casualty up from the beach where they were handed into the care of paramedics.

The car was a wreck but its driver was relatively unharmed

"All the time the recovery operation was ongoing a member of the Brighton lifeboat crew who had swum ashore in a dry suit was inspecting the vehicle to check for any secondary casualties."

Brighton and Newhaven lifeboat crews made a brief sea search and two coastguard teams searched the beach in case anyone else was in the water.

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Doctors' Surgeries Are Told To Open All Hours

Patients will be able to visit their GPs outside of work hours under plans announced by David Cameron to boost access to family doctors.

More than 7.5 million people will have increased access to GP services as part of the £50m GP Access Fund, including late night and weekend appointments.

The plan will see extended surgery opening hours, as well as new consultation methods including video and email.

The fund will benefit patients at 1,147 GP practices across England.

The Prime Minister has also announced plans to enhance care services for the elderly.

He said some 800,000 people over the age of 75 and those with serious health complaints will receive tailored care, coordinated by one local GP.

"Back in October, I said I wanted to make it easier for people to get appointments that fit in around a busy working week and family commitments," Mr Cameron said.

"There has been a great response from doctors, with lots of innovative ideas, and we will now see over seven million patients given weekend and evening opening hours, alongside more access to their family doctor on the phone, via email or even Skype.

"This is an important step and good news for patients."

Around 500,000 people were originally thought to benefit from the cash fund, but due to high levels of interest it has been rolled out to cover more GP services, a Department of Health spokesman said.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told Sky News: "The evidence I think is that for people who working hard, who have busy lifestyles, maybe working long hours, doing shift work over the weekends, often they would like to be able to contact their GP by email, and if we can find a way that doesn't overwhelm GPs, then I think that would be something that people would really welcome.

"We do recognise that GPs and nurses in the community work extremely hard.

"But I think it's a false economy if we don't invest in out-of-hospital care - because in the end if you don't look after people well when they're at home, they end up having to go to hospital and that ends up being worse for them and costing the NHS more as well."

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Minute's Silence At Anfield For Hillsborough 96

An emotional minute's silence has been held at Liverpool Football Club's Anfield ground in memory of the 96 fans who died in the Hillsborough disaster.

Fans fell silent at 1.36pm - six minutes after the usual 1.30pm start time, to mark the time when Liverpool's match with Nottingham Forest in 1989 was called off.

It was the latest in a weekend of fixtures which were all delayed in order to remember those who died as a result of a crush 25 years ago.

Just before the ground fell silent the huge crowd who had come to watch Liverpool take on Manchester City for Sunday afternoon's Premier League tie had been in full voice.

Thousands joined players and backroom staff to sing club anthem You'll Never Walk Alone while waving red flags and scarves in the air.

As they finished, a referee's whistle brought a hush to the ground, and many of the players and those in the crowd bowed their heads.

Among them were former manager Kenny Dalglish and striker Ian Rush, both of whom had been at the match in 1989 when the deaths occurred.

Mr Dalglish admitted after the disaster that he felt deeply affected by what had happened.

He said later: "Most of the church services finished with You'll Never Walk Alone. I couldn't sing through any of the songs or hymns. I was too choked up."

Fans in the Kop stand had been instructed to hold up coloured cards creating a mosaic that read "96 - 25 Years".

Many others in the crowd also waved banners and placard bearing slogans including "Justice For The 96".

Other events are due to take place in the coming few days, culminating in a religious service on Tuesday - the actual anniversary of the tragedy.

New inquests into the victims' deaths have recently begun after the original coroner's verdicts were quashed in 2012.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Doctors' Surgeries Are Told To Open All Hours

Patients will be able to visit their GPs outside of work hours under plans announced by David Cameron to boost access to family doctors.

More than 7.5 million people will have increased access to GP services as part of the £50m GP Access Fund, including late night and weekend appointments.

The plan will see extended surgery opening hours, as well as new consultation methods including video and email.

The fund will benefit patients at 1,147 GP practices across England.

The Prime Minister has also announced plans to enhance care services for the elderly.

He said some 800,000 people over the age of 75 and those with serious health complaints will receive tailored care, coordinated by one local GP.

"Back in October, I said I wanted to make it easier for people to get appointments that fit in around a busy working week and family commitments," Mr Cameron said.

"There has been a great response from doctors, with lots of innovative ideas, and we will now see over seven million patients given weekend and evening opening hours, alongside more access to their family doctor on the phone, via email or even Skype.

"This is an important step and good news for patients."

Around 500,000 people were originally thought to benefit from the cash fund, but due to high levels of interest it has been rolled out to cover more GP services, a Department of Health spokesman said.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told Sky News: "The evidence I think is that for people who working hard, who have busy lifestyles, maybe working long hours, doing shift work over the weekends, often they would like to be able to contact their GP by email, and if we can find a way that doesn't overwhelm GPs, then I think that would be something that people would really welcome.

"We do recognise that GPs and nurses in the community work extremely hard.

"But I think it's a false economy if we don't invest in out-of-hospital care - because in the end if you don't look after people well when they're at home, they end up having to go to hospital and that ends up being worse for them and costing the NHS more as well."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

High UV Ray Threat Triggers Sunburn Warning

People are being advised to guard against an increased risk of sunburn due to stronger than usual ultraviolet rays normally associated with high summer.

The Met Office says the high UV levels are due to an "ozone anomaly" currently affecting the UK, where there is less of the gas in the upper atmosphere available to absorb the UV rays before they reach the ground.

The Met Office said: "This is quite normal and similar events have occurred previously around this time of the year.

"We are confident that the levels should be no higher than those of a sunny day in June.

But it added: "It is important that, if you are in an area that is particularly sunny over the next few days, you take steps to ensure that you and your family are protected from these increased UV levels.

"During the next few weeks, we will continue to keep an eye on these low ozone events (which can be seen in satellite data) in order to warn the public when they are happening."

Sky News Weather Presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "UV levels are at their greatest when the sun is at its highest in the sky, so as we head into the summer months UV levels increase.

"At this time of the year, we usually expect levels of UV to be low to moderate, but today they could be higher due to an ozone anomaly affecting the UK at the moment where levels are noticeably lower than normal.

"This isn't an unusual occurrence and similar events have happened previously around this time of the year."

As well as the amount of ozone gas in the stratosphere, other key factors affecting the strength of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface are the height of the sun in the sky, and the amount of cloud, dust and pollution in the atmosphere.

So-called "ozone anomalies" occur when low-level pockets that have formed near the North Pole over winter, due to the lack of sunlight, break away.

These can sometimes pass over the UK.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ed Davey: World's Climate Is 'On A Precipice'

Energy Secretary Ed Davey has said the world is "looking down a precipice" as the UN urges more solar and wind power investment.

The minister, who is also responsible for climate change, told Sky News' Murnaghan programme, that the new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a "stark warning".

The report says massive cuts to greenhouse gas emissions are needed in the next few decades if the world is to avoid "dangerous" climate change.

Mr Davey said: "This is a stark warning that the world is looking down a precipice if we do not take action now."

"But it also says, and some good news, that the cost of renewables, things like solar and wind, are coming down, so we can go green in an affordable way."

The latest UN report is the third part of a detailed review of the way in which the world's climate is being changed by greenhouse gases and what can be done about it.

Two weeks ago the second part of the review said the impact of climate change was likely to be "irreversible" and could lead to wars.

It said that Britain would face soaring food prices, deadly floods and heatwaves, which would only be lessened if action was taken sooner rather than later. 

In the latest part of the report, the IPCC says substantial reductions in greenhouse gases will be needed, through large-scale changes to the ways we generate energy and how we use it.

It says we need to curb deforestation and start planting forests.

Emissions need to be reduced by 40% to 70% on 2010 levels by the middle of the century and to near zero by 2100 to prevent temperatures going up by more than 2C, the report said.

There will need to be a three- or four-fold increase by 2050 in the share of energy that comes from low-carbon sources such as renewables, nuclear and power plants fitted with technology to capture and store carbon underground.

By the end of the century fossil fuel power plants without carbon capture and storage will need to be virtually phased out.

A failure to take action could result in temperatures soaring 3.7C to 4.8C by 2100, the experts warned.

Mr Davey admitted that there was a split at the heart of government over plans to cut green subsidies.

But he said the government's record showed that there was agreement about what could be done.

"The coalition government actually has done more on the green economy, more on low carbon, than any predecessor.

"Britain is leading the way. Not only have we implemented action, the Energy Act 2013, to create the world's first ever low carbon electricity market; we've got the green investment bank - the first bank that's not just being judged by financial performance, but by how it is cutting carbon - and in Europe, the coalition have been leading the way to make sure Europe has the most ambitious, the toughest, greenhouse gas reduction target."

He added that the UK is the world leader in offshore wind power, with more offshore wind electricity generating capacity in the pipeline than the rest of the world put together.

Also, he said, the UK leads the world on carbon capture, which involves removing carbon dioxide from gas or coal-fired powerplant emissions and storing it underground. 

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

London Marathon: Mo Farah Beaten By Kipsang

Kenyan Wilson Kipsang has beaten Britain's Mo Farah to win the London Marathon, breaking the course record for the race.

Double Olympic gold medallist Farah finished in eighth place with a time of 2hrs 08mins 20secs, narrowly missing out on the British record he had targeted.

Kipsang crossed the finish line in 2hrs 04mins 27secs, beating the previous best time for the event by 13 seconds.

Farah admitted the race had been "tough" but defended his decision to switch from the track to the road and make his 26.2 mile debut in his home town.

He said: "London, this is my city, it would have been wrong to do any other marathon."

Edna Kiplagat won the women's race in a time of 2hrs 20mins 21secs.

The elite runners started ahead of 36,000 competitors tackling the course on a warm and sunny day in the capital.

Famous faces taking part include former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen, Game of Thrones actress Natalie Dormer, and Michelin-star chef Michel Roux Jr.

The amateur field includes Katie and Polly Ryall who are aiming to set a new world record for a pair of sisters combined by beating the current 5hrs 09mins 21secs benchmark while running for the charity Sense.

British Paralympian David Weir failed in his bid to become the best wheelchair racer in the event's history as he finished second behind Switzerland's Marcel Hug.

The races started at Blackheath and Greenwich Park ended on The Mall.

Many roads in central London have been closed and some delays are expected on public transport.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More