This is bbc news. The headlines at 11 oclock the world hasjust experienced its hottest decade on record, with last yeari of the warmest ever seen. A growing backlash of the governments rescue plan for flybe. Rival airlines rival up plan for flybe. Rival airlines rival up to complain about what they call a misuse of public funds. A once in a generation Clinical Trial is announced to find new treatments for Motor Neurone Disease which devastates lives and families. The duchess of sussexs first public appearance in canada since last. And at 11 30pm we will take an in depth look at the papers with the reviewers, sidney boniface, Christopher Hope from the telegraph. So stay us for that. Our good evening. The past decade was, officially, the warmest on record. Figures released today, paint a stark picture of rising Global Temperatures, and the impact that human activity is having on the planet. The data, compiled by british and american scientists, including the met office and nasa, also reveal that 2019 was the second warmest year, based on data going back to 1850, and temperatures are set to rise further, unless action is taken. Our science correspondent Rebecca Morelle has more details. From the heatwaves across europe that saw the uk hit an all time high of 38. 7 degrees, to greenland, which broke the record for the most ice lost in a single day, and our oceans, which are now the warmest theyve been in human history, 2019 was a year of extremes. And this map shows how Global Temperatures have changed over time. Each decade from the 1980s has been warmer than the decade before. The last ten years have now been confirmed as the hottest since records began. Scientists say humans are to blame. Carbon dioxide levels are at the highest that weve ever recorded in our atmosphere, and theres a definite connection between the amount of Carbon Dioxide and the temperature. We are seeing the highest Global Temperatures in the last decade, and well see more of that. As Carbon Dioxide continues to grow, we will see Global Temperatures increasing. Measurements taken at observatories
like this one show that our planet is heating up fast. Already, the worlds temperature has risen by 1. 1 degrees above preindustrial levels. Scientists though say we need to stop temperatures from rising above 1. 5 degrees to stop the worst effects of Global Warming but, with our current climate policies, we are heading for more than three degrees, and that would bring unprecedented changes. Higher temperatures will mean more heatwaves and droughts, sea levels would rise and rain would intensify, bringing more floods like the ones that hit yorkshire last year. What we have to remember is that the Climate Crisis is going to affect our economy across so many different dimensions, so its going to impact on health and already its impacting on health, its going to impact on food supply and food security, its going to impact on infrastructure, so we talk about critical infrastructure, the impact on electricity, the impact on schools and hospitals. Climate awareness is now higher than ever before,
but Scientists Say its action thats needed, by cutting Greenhouse Gas emissions to net zero by 2050. This, though, will require huge changes, from swapping fossil fuels to renewables to drastically reducing how much we fly and rethinking the food we eat. But the extreme conditions show no signs of letting up, especially with australias fires, which continue to burn. The met office is already forecasting that 2020 could be another record breaking year. Rebecca morelle, bbc news. We will find out how this story and many others are covered in the front pages at 11 30pm this evening. The guests are the daily mirror columnist sydney boniface and Christopher Hope at the telegraph. The group that owns British Airways has filed an official complaint, with the european commission, related to the governments rescue plan, for the Regional Airline flybe. The plan could mean that the airline
defers a big tax bill, for air passenger duty, and flybes rivals are claiming thats a misuse of public funds. The government says any changes to taxes would apply to all airlines, as our Business Editor simonjack reports. Flybes rescue by the government was greeted with relief and gratitude by workers, travellers and regional airports. Today came the backlash from the rest of the industry. Although Airline Companies have long argued for the newly promised reduction in Airport Passenger duty, allowing flybe to delay payment of millions of tax arrears drew fire from competitors. We would not support any state funding or state support to any carrier, any airline at all, because we believe that that is misuse of taxpayers money. Particularly when the company are, you know, backed by well funded companies also in the first place. Youve been calling for apd, passenger duty, to be cut for some time. Theyve done you a favour, havent they . I dont see it in that way. We have always argued that, for instance, apd should be revised to more and better reflect the efficiencies of the operations that Different Airlines have. It is one of the highest passenger taxes in the world. We dont think that is designed in an appropriate way. And its not linked at all in how you decarbonise the aviation industry. Ba supremo willie walsh has lodged a complaint with the eu, saying the taxpayer was picking up the tab for the mismanagement of the airline, adding, this is a blatant misuse of public funds. The government insisted the deal was fully compliant with state aid rules and preserved regional connectivity across the uk. Flybe is the biggest operator from these airports, spanning scotlands north east, to englands south west. Reducing taxes on domestic flights could make those journeys cheaper, but, at a time when many argue we should be flying less, should we . No, i think that connectivity around the country is incredibly important. Take the flights to the scilly isles, for instance. Its very hard and takes a long time to get to the scilly isles if youre not in an aeroplane. And being able to connect different parts of the country is important. At the same time, flying has already decarbonised and can decarbonise more. But flying still uses a lot of fuel and emits a lot of carbon. Climate Scientists Say ministers are sending mixed messages. The government has been deeply inconsistent because you have to remember, they are mandated by uk law to reduce the Carbon Footprint of this country to zero by 2050 or earlier, if possible. And, actually, flying is one of the most carbon intensive forms of transport we have, so they should be doing everything they can to reduce the amount of flying we do. The flybe deal poses a lot of questions. How did it get in such trouble less than a year after its last rescue . Will this fix work, and does this intervention set a new precedent . The government thinks its done what it can and what it should have, but that question, like flybe, remains in the air. Simon jack, bbc news. Motor neurone disease is a devastating illness, affecting the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, which direct muscle movement. Its always fatal and there is no known cure. But now people with the disease are being invited to sign up for one of the most comprehensive Clinical Trials in a generation. For the first time, it could give hundreds of people across britain the chance to test potential treatments. Around 5,000 people have Motor Neurone Disease in the uk , with some 1,500 people diagnosed every year. Its estimated that 50 of those diagnosed die within two years. 0ur health correspondent, Dominic Hughes has this exclusive report. For three year old anna, life with mum and dad must seem pretty normal. A loving family, safe and secure, but there is a deep sadness here, even fear. Mum Ruth Williamson has Motor Neurone Disease, an illness that, day by day, is stealing her future. Its just heartbreaking. I think all of my dreams of becoming a mum and, you know, making cakes with my daughter, and growing old with my husband. Ruth was an active runner and cyclist when she was diagnosed a little over two years ago. Now, the illness is affecting not just her speech but also her ability to walk. But, at edinburgh university, scientists are preparing to launch one of the biggest mnd drug trials ever seen in the uk. Motor neurone disease sees muscles waste away after a loss of nerve cells that control movement, speech and breathing, so this trial will test new treatments, but also look at drugs already being prescribed for other illnesses. This Research Matters because, as it stands, there is currently no effective treatment for Motor Neurone Disease, let alone a cure, but repurposing existing drugs that are used to treat conditions such as alzheimers disease or even anxiety and depression, well, that opens up new possibilities. These are medicines which have been shown to be effective in other Brain Disorders and, because they share common ways in which the brain
doesnt work properly, we can look at these drugs and see if they work in Motor Neurone Disease. And, for patients like alan, diagnosed three years ago, taking part in the trial offers the chance to contribute towards a better understanding of the disease. The hope is something thats a real positive, so i think, with having a trial now, we can see something that we can get some hope and strength from, so i think, as participants, we can help move science forward, so thats the one thing there will be learning. For this family, ruth, her husband, scott, and anna, there will be some tough days ahead, but this trial at least offers something positive in the face of a cruel and indiscriminate disease. I sometimes think i wouldnt want to live the way i am, even now, for another 30 years. It was a real privilege to meet with ruth and her family earlier this week. They dont mind admitting it was a very emotional interview for all of us. Thats the thing with Motor Neurone Disease, when someone gets that diagnosis they pretty much no this is the illness that will ta ke no this is the illness that will take their lives. Thats also the point about this Clinical Trial. Yes it is just point about this Clinical Trial. Yes it isjust a point about this Clinical Trial. Yes it is just a trial, yes it is early days, but it does offer that glimmer of hope and it is designed to run for yea rs of hope and it is designed to run for years so we intend to follow it as it progresses and bring you the results here on bbc news. That was Dominic Hughes reporting. The number of cases being looked into by an independent inquiry into Maternity Care at shrewsbury and Telford Hospital trust has risen to 900. They include deaths and serious injuries of babies and women and where families have concerns about care they received. Some date back a0 years. The duchess of sussex is facing the prospect of seeing her estranged father, Thomas Markle, testifying against her the high court. The case has been brough by meghan against the mail on sunday, for publishing a letter shed written to mr markle. Meghans half sister, samantha, told bbc news that their father would give evidence in the papers defence, if he was asked as our royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell reports. Markle versus markle. As if the events of the past week havent been enough, there is now the prospect of the relationship between Meghan Markle and her estranged father, thomas, being dissected at the high court in london. The reason meghan is suing the mail on sunday for breach
of privacy after the newspaper published a letter shed sent her father. Mr markle had given the letter to the newspaper. Unsurprisingly, in preparing its detailed defence, the mail on sunday regards Thomas Markle as its principal defence witness. Meghans half sister samantha has told the bbc, if he is called to give evidence, he will come. Meghans relationship with herfather reached crisis point at the time of her wedding. Mr markle, who lives in mexico, developed heart trouble and was unable to attend. Now the mail on sundays lawyers have revealed Text Messages between the two of them. In one, mr markle says. Ive done nothing to hurt you, meghan, or anyone else. Im sorry my heart attack is any inconvenience for you. So, what should meghan do . Media lawyers say the answer is obvious. You really dont want to go down this particular road. Whoever is advising them is frankly not doing them any service whatsoever. And its, i think, important to note that the queens solicitor started off dealing with this case and hes no longer dealing with this case. The royal show goes on. William and catherine were in bradford today, taking part in a discussion about keeping communities together. Sometimes, trying to get people to understand that its ok to have these challenges and we just need to deal with them. 0n the snowbound west coast of canada, meghan was photographed yesterday at a local womens centre. In 2022, the Invictus Games. Harry, who appeared in an Invictus Games video, which was released tonight, is expected to join her in canada some time next week. They face many questions, one of them is whether they want to begin their new life with a court case which would make headlines around the world. Nicholas witchell, bbc news. The latest headlines on bbc news the world has just experienced its hottest decade on record with last year one of the warmest ever seen. Growing backlash over the governments rescue plan for flybe. Rival airlines line up to complain about what they call a misuse of public funds. A once in a generation Clinical Trial is announced to find new treatments for Motor Neurone Disease which devastates lives and families. A man has been arrested in pakistan in connection with the murder of a policewoman in bradford in 2005. Sharon besh nivsky was shot dead outside a travel agency, while responding to an armed robbery. 71 year old Piran Dhitta Khan appeared in court today in islamabad. 0ur north of england correspondent Judith Moritz reports. When Sharon Beshenivsky was shot in the line of duty,
shed only been a police officerfor nine months. The new recruit had been responding to a robbery at this travel agent in bradford. Her shift partner was also shot but survived. Her widower, paul, was left to care for their young family. Pc beshenivsky was murdered on their daughters fourth birthday. I loved her very much and, you know, i just. She was very full of herself in what she did and enjoyed herjob to the full, sort of thing, enjoyed life to the full. Today, paul learned that after all this time, a new arrest has been made. I just feel like its reliving it all over again, its just bringing it all back to light and ill be glad to see the back of it. The 15th anniversary of pc beshenivskys murder is later this year and West Yorkshire police say theyve never closed their investigation. Though six men have already been convicted in connection
with what happened here, the police say they have kept looking for the seventh, Piran Dhitta Khan. In 2016, the police said theyd pay £20,000 to anyone with information leading to his capture. Yesterday, mr khan was arrested in pakistan. He appeared in court today and efforts are now under way to return him to the uk. There is a lot of work to be done yet. Theres an extradition process and then the investigations got to be put together to be presented before the courts, for them to make a decision. The police say this is a Major Development in their long running investigation but theyre still mourning the loss of their colleague and theyre working to getjustice for her. Judith moritz, bbc news, bradford. The us and china have signed a partial trade deal, aimed at easing the 18 month trade conflict between the worlds two biggest economies. President trump and chinas vice premier liu he attended a ceremony at the white house. Mr trump said the agreement was a momentous step towards a future of fair and reciprocal trade between the us and china. Our global trade correspondent Dharshini David has this assessment. From american farmers
producing soya beans or pork, to Car Manufacturers and chinese factory workers making our electronic gadgets, these are the people and businesses bearing the brunt of the trade war. It is their goods on which extra charges or tariffs have been imposed and those costs have added over 800 to the average american familys annual bills and, according to one estimate, cost up to 300,000 us jobs. With the pain mounting for those the trade dispute was meant to help, President Trump has agreed a truce. Today we take a momentous step, one that has never bee