London weather: drought declared in much of UK capital and large swathes of England


Laura O'Callaghan
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As a sweltering weekend begins in the UK, a drought has been declared in several parts of England and its capital London amid plummeting water levels.

While communities grapple with the driest summer for almost 50 years, the National Drought Group — composed of decision makers from the government, the Environment Agency public body, water companies and farming and environmental groups — has moved parts of England into official drought status.

These areas are Devon and Cornwall, Solent and South Downs, Kent and South London, Herts and North London, East Anglia, Thames, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, and East Midlands.

The declaration gives water companies increased powers to reduce usage, but also raises awareness of the shortage of water and encourages people to act wisely.

Water companies will also not need further permission from the government to impose some restrictions on water use.

It could lead to the introduction of more contingency measures including hosepipe bans. However, the Environment Agency has told the public that essential water supplies are safe. The drought status is likely to remain for months.

A drought is defined as a prolonged shortage of water whether in the atmosphere, on the surface or in the ground.

The UK has endured the driest first six months of the year since 1976, with no end in sight.

Chris Thomas, professor of biology at the University of York, said the situation is already showing signs of being a possible repeat of the 1976 drought.

After months of low rainfall and high temperatures, the second heatwave to blast Britain this summer has prompted health and environmental fears.

Water Minister Steve Double said action was already being taken by the government, the Environment Agency and others to manage the impact.

“All water companies have reassured us that essential supplies are still safe, and we have made it clear it is their duty to maintain those supplies”, he said.

  • A woman shelters from the sun on Tower Bridge, in London. AP
    A woman shelters from the sun on Tower Bridge, in London. AP
  • A crowd of people watch the setting sun from a hill in Ealing, west London. AP
    A crowd of people watch the setting sun from a hill in Ealing, west London. AP
  • People enjoy the water fountains in King's Cross, London. EPA
    People enjoy the water fountains in King's Cross, London. EPA
  • The low water level at Pontsticill Reservoir near Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Getty Images
    The low water level at Pontsticill Reservoir near Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Getty Images
  • Dry grass on the football pitches at Hackney Marshes in east London. PA
    Dry grass on the football pitches at Hackney Marshes in east London. PA
  • Aung-Bo, a 21-year-old Asian elephant, is cooled down by a keeper at Chester Zoo. Getty Images
    Aung-Bo, a 21-year-old Asian elephant, is cooled down by a keeper at Chester Zoo. Getty Images
  • People walk on parched grass of The Long Walk towards Windsor Castle. Reuters
    People walk on parched grass of The Long Walk towards Windsor Castle. Reuters
  • A sunbather enjoys the warm weather in London. EPA
    A sunbather enjoys the warm weather in London. EPA
  • Tourists shelter from the sun as they stand outside Buckingham Palace in London. AP
    Tourists shelter from the sun as they stand outside Buckingham Palace in London. AP
  • People enjoy the hot weather as they zorb on the canal at Paddington Basin in London. PA
    People enjoy the hot weather as they zorb on the canal at Paddington Basin in London. PA
  • Horses from Hyde Park stables are surrounded by clouds of dust as they are ridden along a dry bridleway in the London park. Getty Images
    Horses from Hyde Park stables are surrounded by clouds of dust as they are ridden along a dry bridleway in the London park. Getty Images
  • The sun rises above the London skyline on Thursday morning. Reuters
    The sun rises above the London skyline on Thursday morning. Reuters
  • London Fire Brigade dealing with the aftermath of a grass fire in Rainham, east London. PA
    London Fire Brigade dealing with the aftermath of a grass fire in Rainham, east London. PA
  • A water basin is cut off at Colliford Lake, where water levels have dropped to expose previously unseen trees at Cornwall's largest reservoir. AP
    A water basin is cut off at Colliford Lake, where water levels have dropped to expose previously unseen trees at Cornwall's largest reservoir. AP
  • Men cool off by diving into the water at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside. AP
    Men cool off by diving into the water at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside. AP
  • Scorched grass at Greenwich Park in London. AP
    Scorched grass at Greenwich Park in London. AP
  • A dog cools off in a pond at Richmond Park in London. AP
    A dog cools off in a pond at Richmond Park in London. AP
  • Large areas of grass have turned yellow due to the dry conditions in Edinburgh. AP
    Large areas of grass have turned yellow due to the dry conditions in Edinburgh. AP
  • A young man takes a dip in the Peover Eye, a small river that meanders through the Cheshire countryside. Getty Images
    A young man takes a dip in the Peover Eye, a small river that meanders through the Cheshire countryside. Getty Images
  • Dry fairways at Chelsfield Lakes club in Orpington have made for bouncy, unpredictable golfing conditions. Getty Images
    Dry fairways at Chelsfield Lakes club in Orpington have made for bouncy, unpredictable golfing conditions. Getty Images

“We are better prepared than ever before for periods of dry weather, but we will continue to closely monitor the situation, including impacts on farmers and the environment, and take further action as needed.”

Asked by LBC London-based radio station what a drought means for the UK and what action water companies should be taking, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said: “This isn’t going to be like the 70s where there were stand pipes around the country when we had similar sort of temperatures.

“Indeed, since the private investment went into the water industry, we have seen a lot more improvements in things like leakages and similar.

“We need to continue to keep that focus, but, overall, I think it is about people being careful with water.”

The National Drought Group, made up of government and agency officials, water companies and groups such as the National Farmers’ Union, met on Friday to discuss the prolonged dry weather.

The Environment Agency and water companies are set to put more of their plans to manage the effects of low water levels into action.

The Wildlife Trust has called for an England-wide hosepipe ban to protect nature and rivers. Yorkshire Water on Friday became the fifth company to announce such a ban as the area grapples with plummeting water levels. The company, which has more than five million customers, made the announcement early on Friday, with the restrictions coming into effect from August 26.

Its director of water Neil Dewis said the extended heatwave left the company with little choice.

“Parts of Yorkshire have seen the lowest rainfall since our records began more than 130 years ago,” he said. “The hot, dry weather means that Yorkshire’s rivers are running low and our reservoirs are around 20 per cent lower than we would expect for this time of year. We’ve been doing everything we can to avoid putting in restrictions but, unfortunately, they’re now necessary as part of our drought planning.”

Prof Isabel Oliver, the UK Health Security Agency’s chief scientific adviser, said drought was a consequence of a changing climate and environment, and warned such changes left the world prone to the spread of infectious disease.

“These changes are associated with an increasing risk of new and emerging infectious diseases — so, diseases that we might not have seen before, because of our changing environment, we are at greater risk of experiencing,” she told Sky News.

“It’s really important that we continue to work to make sure that we prevent and mitigate those threats to health.”

Supermarkets on Friday began rationing bottled water, placing limits on how much customers could buy

The agency this week announced it would be imposing a heat health alert from Thursday to Sunday, as temperatures in parts of the UK are expected to rocket to 36°C. Prof Oliver said people should take measures to protect their health in sweltering conditions including staying hydrated, avoiding direct sunlight during the hottest hours and keeping curtains closed.

“If we all take measures to protect our health, we can also help the health system by avoiding attendances to hospital if we just take simple measures,” she said.

Parts of Britain will be hotter than the Caribbean this weekend, forecasters have said, as the public were warned about the danger of wildfires.

Temperatures reached 34.2°C at Wiggonholt, West Sussex, on Thursday afternoon, while many areas in southern England and Wales exceeded 30°C.

Fires broke out across various areas, including London, Essex, Gloucestershire, Surrey and Cheshire.

Andy Elliott, a member of the National Fire Chiefs Council wildfire group, advised drivers against pulling on to grass verges during the heatwave due to the fire risk.

“If you need to pull over, don’t park on areas of dry grass,” he said. “The catalytic converter can get very hot and can start a fire.”

Europe's waterways hit by heatwaves and drought - in pictures

  • Dried mud and old trees at Colliford Lake in Cornwall, England, where water levels have severely dropped exposing the unseen trees and rocks in Cornwall's largest lake and reservoir. PA
    Dried mud and old trees at Colliford Lake in Cornwall, England, where water levels have severely dropped exposing the unseen trees and rocks in Cornwall's largest lake and reservoir. PA
  • A large section of exposed River Rhine riverbed, due to low water levels caused by drought, in Duesseldorf, Germany. Bloomberg
    A large section of exposed River Rhine riverbed, due to low water levels caused by drought, in Duesseldorf, Germany. Bloomberg
  • A boat on a bank of the receding Danube river, after a lengthy drought near the village of Cortanovci, Serbia. AP
    A boat on a bank of the receding Danube river, after a lengthy drought near the village of Cortanovci, Serbia. AP
  • People take a stroll on the river bed of the Waal as water levels dropped because of drought in Nijmegen, Netherlands. AP
    People take a stroll on the river bed of the Waal as water levels dropped because of drought in Nijmegen, Netherlands. AP
  • People take photos on the southern tip of Margaret Island, which can be seen due to low water level of the River Danube, in Budapest, Hungary. AP
    People take photos on the southern tip of Margaret Island, which can be seen due to low water level of the River Danube, in Budapest, Hungary. AP
  • The dried-up river Tille in Lux, France. AP
    The dried-up river Tille in Lux, France. AP
  • A bridge, which is usually submerged, over the dried bed of Llwyn-on Reservoir, during a heatwave in Wales. Reuters
    A bridge, which is usually submerged, over the dried bed of Llwyn-on Reservoir, during a heatwave in Wales. Reuters
  • The Rhine river with low water levels in Cologne, Germany. AP
    The Rhine river with low water levels in Cologne, Germany. AP
  • The Yesa reservoir and the Aragon River are practically without water in Yesa, Navarra, Spain. EPA
    The Yesa reservoir and the Aragon River are practically without water in Yesa, Navarra, Spain. EPA
  • Low water levels at Baitings Reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, England. Reuters
    Low water levels at Baitings Reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, England. Reuters
  • Low water levels at the Odra river near Czelin village, north-western Poland. EPA
    Low water levels at the Odra river near Czelin village, north-western Poland. EPA
  • Boats on the dried bed of the drought-affected Doubs river on the border with France in Les Brenets, Switzerland. Reuters
    Boats on the dried bed of the drought-affected Doubs river on the border with France in Les Brenets, Switzerland. Reuters
  • A person sits by a reservoir with low water levels and dried grass at Walthamstow Wetlands in London, England. EPA
    A person sits by a reservoir with low water levels and dried grass at Walthamstow Wetlands in London, England. EPA
  • The dried-up River Po that has been affected by the worst drought in 70 years, near Borgo Virgilio, Italy. Reuters
    The dried-up River Po that has been affected by the worst drought in 70 years, near Borgo Virgilio, Italy. Reuters

Meanwhile, firefighters from Germany, Romania and Greece have headed to south-western France to battle raging wildfires.

High temperatures and a worsening drought brought a high risk of new fires breaking out, officials in the region said on Friday, even after an overnight reprieve held a monster wildfire that had been burning for days in check.

The Gironde region — home to Bordeaux wine — is among the areas hardest hit.

The danger of new fires is “very severe” given the tinderbox conditions, the Gironde prefecture said.

“The day is likely to be complicated since temperatures continue to increase and humidity continues to drop, so obviously we remain vigilant and mobilised,” senior local official Ronan Leaustic told a news conference.

Monster Hunter: World

Capcom

PlayStation 4, Xbox One

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

Stats at a glance:

Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)

Number in service: 6

Complement 191 (space for up to 285)

Top speed: over 32 knots

Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles

Length 152.4 m

Displacement: 8,700 tonnes

Beam:   21.2 m

Draught: 7.4 m

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Director: Shawn Levy

Rating: 3/5

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2017 Dodge Viper SRT

Price, base / as tested Dh460,000

Engine 8.4L V10

Transmission Six-speed manual

Power 645hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 813Nm @ 5,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 16.8L / 100km

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Other must-tries

Tomato and walnut salad

A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.

Badrijani nigvzit

A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.

Pkhali

This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Updated: August 12, 2022, 5:03 PM