Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 25 July 2023

1. ‘Catastrophic’ health forecast

Nine million people in England will be living with major illnesses such as dementia, diabetes, cancer, and kidney disease by 2040. According to projections described as “catastrophic” by health leaders, the number of people living with major illnesses in England will rise nine times faster than the healthy working age population. The Health Foundation, which performed the analysis, said the trend, influenced by a rapidly ageing population, would have a major impact on the NHS.

The NHS at 75: can it make it to 100?

2. Green policies under threat

Rishi Sunak has hinted that he could delay or even abandon green policies that impose a direct cost on consumers. With the Tory right pressuring the prime minister to create a dividing line with Labour, he said endeavours to reach the UK’s net zero targets should not “unnecessarily give people more hassle and more costs in their lives”. At the weekend, figures from business, the scientific community and across the political divide warned that any watering down of climate policies would be deeply unpopular with voters.

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Will Sunak and Starmer drop green policies to win voters?

3. Climate change blamed for chaos

The climate crisis is to blame for the deadly heatwaves that have struck Europe and the US in recent weeks, scientists have told The Guardian. A report from climate experts said that both heatwaves would have been “virtually impossible” without global heating driven by burning fossil fuels. Meanwhile, more than 5,000 Britons were stranded on the island of Rhodes yesterday after fleeing hotels that were forced to shut because of raging wildfires.

Travel firms criticised as repatriation of British holidaymakers begins from Rhodes

4. Clashes as Israel passes law

Israeli police clashed with protesters after the nation’s parliament adopted a contentious law to limit the Supreme Court’s powers. Critics say the measure, which will prevent the court from overruling government actions it considers unreasonable, is a hard-right move to threaten Israeli democracy. Three people were injured when a car ploughed into demonstrators in central Israel, while police deployed water cannon and skunk water to disperse crowds in Jerusalem as the passage of the law “ignited mass nationwide protests”, said Haaretz.

5. Feminists criticise Khan campaign

Several feminists and women’s safety groups have criticised a campaign by the mayor of London that encourages men to “say maaate to a mate” if a male friend is making sexist comments. “‘Maaate’ is a simple and effective intervention that can help stop problematic language and behaviour,” said Sadiq Khan, announcing the campaign. Joan Smith, the author of “Misogynies”, described the initiative as “patronising, totally inadequate and a waste of public money”. Karen Whybro, a women’s safety consultant, said it was “a poor representation of what men are actually like”.

6. Unsolved burglary rate revealed

An average of 584 burglaries a day went unsolved in England and Wales last year, according to Home Office data. The latest official figures showed that police recorded 277,751 burglaries in the 12 months to March and closed 213,279 burglary cases — more than three quarters of the total reported to them – after failing to identify a suspect. “Make no mistake”, said Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokesman, “these are the consequences of the Conservatives constantly sidelining frontline policing”. The Home Office said that it had backed police forces with another round of investment under its Safer Streets Fund to pay for crime prevention measures.

7. BBC sorry for World Cup question

The BBC has apologised after one its reporters asked an “inappropriate“ question about homosexuality during a press conference at the women’s World Cup. “In Morocco it is illegal to have a gay relationship”, a correspondent from BBC World Service, said to Morocco’s captain, Ghizlane Chebbak. “Do you have any gay players in your squad and what’s life like for them in Morocco?” Criticising the question, Steph Yang, a reporter with The Athletic, said reporters “should take care that our questions don’t cause further harm to those impacted by those very politics”.

The countries where homosexuality is still illegal

8. Oppenheimer Hinduism scene criticised

The Oppenheimer movie has been accused of “waging a war” on Hinduism by Indian officials outraged over a sex scene that quotes from the Bhagavad Gita. The scene shows J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, with his lover Jean Tatlock, played by Florence Pugh. Pugh stops during intercourse and picks up a copy of the sacred text and asks Murphy to read from it. “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds,” Oppenheimer’s character says, and they resume intercourse. India’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party called the film a “disturbing attack on Hinduism”.

J. Robert Oppenheimer: the real ‘father of the atomic bomb’ at centre of new blockbuster

9. Obama chef dies near estate

A former White House chef who worked for Barack and Michelle Obama has drowned close to their estate in Martha’s Vineyard. Tafari Campbell, 45, disappeared while out paddleboarding on Edgartown Great Pond in Massachusetts. The Obamas, who were not at the estate at the time, paid tribute to the father of two, who stayed on with the family when they moved to private life. In a statement, they called Campbell “a truly wonderful man” and “a beloved part of our family”.

10. Tributes to ‘loved’ Alagiah

Tributes have been paid to George Alagiah, one of the BBC’s longest-serving and most respected journalists, who has died at 67. Fellow correspondent John Simpson said that a “gentler, kinder, more insightful and braver friend and colleague it would be hard to find”, and presenter Clive Myrie said he “loved him as a mentor, colleague and friend”. Naga Munchetty broke down in tears live on air over the death of Alagiah, who was diagnosed with cancer nine years ago.