Tropical forests are hot, steamy places. But when large numbers of trees are cut down, they get even hotter. Our recent research shows that clearing large areas of the rainforest exposes hundreds of millions of people to higher temperatures, increasing heat stress (when the body’s way of controlling temperature fails) and, in some cases, contributing to death.

Research suggests that this could be contributing to 28,000 heat-related deaths each year across the tropics every year.

Apart from the shade that the rainforest canopy provides, trees also cool their surroundings by pumping water from the soil into the atmosphere – a process known as evapotranspiration. Like sweat evaporating from our skin, this uses energy and cools the air.

A single large tropical tree provides as much cooling as several air conditioners running continuously. Across the billions of trees in the Amazon or Congo, this “sweating” cools entire regions.

People living in or near tropical forests recognise these cooling benefits. When villagers in rainforest regions in Kalimantan, Indonesia, were interviewed about the benefits tropical forests provide, the most common answer was their ability to keep local temperatures cool.

Despite these benefits, tropical forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate. In 2024, more than 6 million hectares of primary tropical forests (nearly the size of Panama) were destroyed, the fastest rate since records began.

Tropical deforestation reduces the cooling effect forests provide, leading to local warming – a pattern well documented by previous studies. But how is this warming affecting the lives of people living near tropical forests?

Deforestation is amplifying heat

To answer this, we used satellite data to track how deforestation has affected temperatures over the past 20 years. Over this period, large areas of forest in the Amazon, Congo and south-east Asia were cleared. We compared temperature changes in deforested regions with nearby areas that retained their forests. Tropical regions that retained their forest cover warmed by an average of 0.2°C. In nearby areas where forests were cleared, temperatures rose by 0.7°C – more than three times as fast. This shows that deforestation results in a dramatic regional amplification of climate warming.

To understand the impact on local people, we mapped this warming onto information on where people live across the tropics. We found that more than 300 million people were exposed to higher temperatures caused by deforestation. Exposure occurred right across the tropics: 67 million people in Central and South America, 148 million people in Africa and 122 million people in south-east Asia were exposed to warming.

Some countries with rapid rates of deforestation were particularly affected: 49 million people in Indonesia, 42 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo and 22 million people in Brazil were exposed to hotter temperatures caused by deforestation.

A hidden public health crisis

Exposure to high temperatures has a range of negative effects on health. For instance, it can reduce the productivity of farmers and reduce the time it is safe to work outdoors. Exposure to high temperatures also causes heat stress that can be lethal. Heat waves in the Amazon are associated with a higher risk of mortality from cardiovascular diseases.

We combined information on the number of people exposed to deforestation-induced warming with region-specific heat vulnerability information and non-accidental death rates. We used this to estimate that the heating from deforestation is linked to around 28,000 heat-related deaths each year across the tropics. This means that over the past 20 years more than half a million people have died from heat-related causes as a result of deforestation.

It is well known that tropical deforestation releases carbon dioxide and this contributes to global climate change. Indeed, arguments for reducing deforestation are often focused on carbon. But despite numerous international pledges, tropical deforestation continues to accelerate.

Recognising the public health impact of deforestation could help broaden support for forest protection. Although the local warming effects of deforestation are well recognised by local people, communities and decision-makers often lack precise data on how much deforestation is increasing temperatures in their area. To address this, we developed an online tool that provides information at province level on the warming linked to deforestation. We hope this locally relevant data will help communities and decision-makers make more informed decisions about managing their forests.

There are some promising new initiatives that recognise the value of tropical forests. Brazil is setting up a new fund that will pay tropical nations to keep their forests intact. It recognises the public services provided by tropical forests – including their ability to regulate local climate – and it rewards countries for protecting them. Some European countries supported the development of this facility but other than Norway, few have yet committed substantial funding. Perhaps given the current global crisis they think it is too far away to affect them, or are prioritising other areas. In doing so they are ignoring potential effects on migration flows, global air quality, loss of biodiversity and food supply chains.

For many years, tropical deforestation has been viewed as an environmental issue. Our research shows that it is also an urgent public health issue. Protecting tropical forests is not just about conserving nature or storing carbon. It is about protecting the health – and lives – of hundreds of millions of people.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in central London on Saturday for a peaceful protest described as one of the largest ever demonstrations against the far right in the UK.

The march took place amid growing evidence of democratic backsliding under right-wing governments – as highlighted in a report published today by the Civil Liberties Union for Europe.

High-profile figures including actor Sir Lenny Henry, singer Paloma Faith and comedian Steve Coogan were among those taking part the march, which was organised by the Together Alliance – a coalition of more than 500 organisations campaigning for unity over division. 

Together Alliance said that more than half a million people took part in the march, although police estimates put the figure at nearer 50,000. The demonstration, it added, was in response to last September’s far-right ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march, which saw crowds of more than 100,000.

“We believe that the majority of British people stand against the hatred and division and racism that was being encouraged at that demonstration,” said Sabby Dhalu, joint secretary of the Together Alliance. “It’s time to act.” 

With anti-racism placards in hand, demonstrators marched from Park Lane to Trafalgar Square, via Whitehall. Along the way were performances by Self Esteem, Jessie Ware and UB40. Politicians also addressed crowds, among them Green Party leader Zack Polanski, Your Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott, a former Labour MP now sitting as an independent.

People want a different vision of society – one which places dignity, compassion and human rights at its heart

One attendee, a member of the campaign group Cut the Ties to Fossil Fuels, came wearing the grim reaper costume, and said that he’d come as the oil industry. “Big oil are one of the major funders of Reform UK,” he told the Guardian. “We’re here to make that link that we need to cut the ties to fossil fuels.”

The Metropolitan Police said that two protesters were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and causing a public nuisance after allegedly attempting to climb pillars near Trafalgar Square. Separately, 18 people were arrested at a demonstration outside Scotland Yard on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action. The UK government proscribed the pro-Palestine group as a terrorist organisation in 2025 – a move ruled as unlawful by the High Court in February. The government is appealing. 

The human rights group Amnesty International UK described Saturday’s march as a “historic demonstration”, adding that protesters were calling for “a different vision of society – one which places dignity, compassion and human rights at its heart”.

Main image: Shutterstock

Paapa Essiedu has faced cruel threats ahead of appearing in HBO’s new Harry Potter series

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Paapa Essiedu has been dominating headlines following his casting in HBO Max’s forthcoming Harry Potter series, which is anticipated to premiere on the platform in December this year.

The Shakespearean performer, 35, has previously featured in numerous prominent films, television programmes and theatrical productions. This evening, he appears on The One Show to discuss the poignant new BBC drama Babies with his co-star Siobhán Cullen.

He also created history in 2016 as the first Black performer to portray Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company, securing the Ian Charleson award.

Furthermore, Paapa has worked alongside BAFTA Award winner Michaela Coel and performed opposite legendary actress Saoirse Ronan.

The London-born performer will already appear familiar owing to his remarkable acting portfolio, but where might you have encountered him previously?

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Who is Paapa Essiedu playing in HBO’s new Harry Potter series?

Paapa will portray Severus Snape in the new Harry Potter series for HBO, continuing the legacy of the late Alan Rickman, who embodied the first on-screen version of the character between 2001 and 2011.

Disturbingly, the performer has encountered racist abuse and death threats following the casting revelation, telling USA Today: “If I look at Instagram, I will see somebody saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and kill you.’”

Despite enduring backlash before his character has even materialised on screen, Paapa stated the experience had only reinforced his dedication to the part, declaring: “The abuse fuels me.”

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Where have you seen Paapa Essiedu before?

Paapa secured numerous prominent theatrical roles after joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2012, notably portraying the lead in Hamlet and Edmund in King Lear.

The performer achieved his breakout television role in 2020, appearing as Kwame in Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, reports the Mirror.

He has additionally featured in well-known programmes including Gangs of London, The Lazarus Project, Black Mirror and Channel 5’s Anne Boleyn.

Paapa made his cinema acting debut as a police officer in Kenneth Branagh’s 2017 film, Murder on the Orient Express.

Since then, he has featured in highly praised films such as 2024’s The Outrun, performing alongside Saoirse Ronan, and the 2022 horror production Men.

Paapa Essiedu’s life off-screen including famous wife

Paapa was raised in Walthamstow, London, and studied at the esteemed Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he encountered and collaborated with Michaela Coel.

The performer heartbreakingly lost both parents during his youth, discussing his father’s passing when he was 14 and his mother’s death when he was 20 in a conversation with The Guardian.

When questioned about what he regarded as his greatest accomplishment, he recalled: “After losing my mum still managing to finish drama school, because that was really difficult. I lost her in the first year.”

Away from the cameras, Paapa is also wed to actress and comic Rosa Robson, 34, who was part of the Cambridge Footlights. ITV audiences may recognise Rosa from her portrayal of Ashley in the ITV2 comedy series Buffering, and she has additionally featured in programmes including Inside No. 9 and Disney Plus’ Extraordinary.

Paapa also revealed a brush with death he experienced in 2016, when his agent telephoned to inform him he’d landed the role of Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

He told the aforementioned publication: “While I was on the phone, I looked to my left and turned to the right, and a bus whizzed by and the wing mirror was so close to me that it knocked my hat off.”

Catch Paapa Essiedu on The One Show tonight at 7pm and in Babies at 9pm on BBC One.

But what are the rules if you rent?

If you’re over 18, you’ll usually pay council tax, whether you own or rent your home.

Who pays council tax?

Most of the time, it’s the tenant’s responsibility to pay council tax when renting. While some landlords might include bills in your rent, if you rent a property, the council tax bill is usually in your name.

The bill covers your whole household, so if you live with a friend or partner, you’ll get one council tax bill for both of you. If you’re both named on the lease, both of you are liable to pay council tax, but the total amount will stay the same.

If you are a renter, most of the time, you will pay the council tax.

However, this isn’t always true, and there are some uncommon situations where you won’t be responsible for covering this important bill.

When is the landlord responsible for paying council tax?

There are some instances where the landlord will shoulder the responsibility of paying council tax.

These are special circumstances and, generally speaking, the only times when liability is reversed.

So, tenants who find themselves fitting into any of the following categories may be exempt from paying council tax:

• The occupant or occupants are all under the age of 18
• The property in question is a care home, hospital, or refuge 
• The occupant or occupants are asylum seekers
• Temporary rentals to cover instances where your main residence is having emergency work carried out on it
• The property in question is a HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy) and all occupants pay rent individually. However, while the landlord is technically responsible for paying council tax, the rent will likely be adjusted to cover the cost in this instance

If you find yourself in a position where paying council tax has become difficult, you need to address the situation sooner rather than later. 

Your first call should be to your local authority to explain your situation and ask for help.

In the early 1970s, the idea of an ordinary person owning a computer sounded absurd. Computers back then were more like aircraft carriers or nuclear power plants than household appliances – vast machines housed in data centres operated by teams of specialists, serving governments, universities and large corporations.

Then came Apple.

Founded on April 1 1976 by “college dropouts” Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, the Silicon Valley startup did not invent computing. What it did was arguably more important: it helped turn computing into a personal technology.

Before Apple, computers were largely sold in kit form. Jobs saw that people wanted them pre-assembled and ready to run. The earliest Apple I units, featuring handmade koa wooden cases, now sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

As an early Apple adopter and app developer, here’s my selection of the company’s (and Jobs’s) most significant technological achievements over the last 50 years.

Apple II – beige yet distinctive

Early personal computers were more curiosities than practical tools. The Apple II, launched in June 1977, introduced something new: style. Even its colour – beige! – was distinctive, contrasting with the black metal boxes common at that time.

The use of colour graphics was both new and exciting, and the keyboard felt satisfying to use. A simple speaker, with only a single-bit output, was ingeniously coaxed into producing tones and even speech-like sounds. The design revolution stretched as far as the packaging: Jerry Manock, Apple’s first in-house designer, placed the machine in a moulded plastic case which looked sleek and professional.

The mouse – a whole new way of interacting

By 1979, the 24-year-old Jobs – sensing that tech giant IBM was catching up with Apple – went looking for the next big thing. The photocopier company Xerox, wanting pre-IPO shares in Apple, offered a visit to its nearby research labs as an inducement. Jobs realised that researchers such as Alan Kay at Xerox’s Palo Alto research centre were creating the next generation of computing interfaces.

Central to this was a device invented by Kay’s mentor, Douglas Engelbart, at Stanford University in the mid-1960s and nicknamed “the mouse”. Engelbart’s vision of computers as machines to augment the human mind inspired Kay and colleagues to create graphical displays in which users interacted with scrollbars, buttons, menus and windows.

Macintosh – dawn of the modern product launch

Jobs thought anyone should be able to use a computer. In January 1984, the first Apple Mac pushed this idea to new extremes. The traditional need for obscure computer commands (and manuals) vanished. Early adopters such as myself felt we just knew how to do everything.

But the Mac’s launch was not just another technological leap for Apple. It also inspired the now-familiar cultural moment of the modern product launch. Following a teasing Super Bowl advert directed by Ridley Scott, Jobs used a 1,500-seat theatre on January 24 to create a stage performance centred on a single charismatic presenter. Jobs let a small, square and still-beige computer (then known as Macintosh) out of its bag – and it began speaking for itself, to rapturous applause.

Pixar – Jobs’s side hustle

In its first decade, Apple grew at an exceptional rate – but it also came close to financial collapse on several occasions. This led to one of the most dramatic moments in Apple’s history when, in May 1985, the company forced Jobs out.

A year later and now in charge of the startup NeXT Inc, Jobs bought a division of George Lucas’s film company which was soon rebranded as Pixar. Its RenderMan software generated images by distributing processing across multiple machines simultaneously.

Pixar, jokingly referred to as Jobs’s “side hustle”, would become one of the world’s most influential (and valuable) animation production companies, having released the first fully computer-animated feature film in Toy Story (1995).

iMac – a meeting of minds

After a failed attempt to develop a new operating system with IBM, Apple eventually bought Jobs’s company NeXT. In September 1997, he returned to Apple as interim CEO with the company “two months from bankruptcy”. The move, though welcomed by many Apple users, terrified some of its employees. Jobs quickly began firing staff and shutting down failed products.

During this restructuring, he visited Apple’s design studio and immediately hit it off with young British designer Jony Ive. Their meeting of minds led to the 1998 candy-coloured translucent iMac. Essentially smaller, cheaper NeXT machines, iMac (the i stood for internet) also kicked off another Apple habit: abandoning ageing technology. The floppy disk drive was ditched in favour of a CD drive – a move heavily criticised at the time, but later widely copied.

iPod – 1,000 songs in your pocket

For Apple, computing was always about more than, well, computing. In 2001, the company began focusing on processing sound and video, not just text and pictures. By November that year, it had released the iPod – a personal music player capable of storing “1,000 songs in your pocket”, compared with a maximum of 20-30 on each cassette tape in a Sony Walkman.

The iPod used an elegant “click wheel” to operate the screen. Music was synced through a new application called iTunes. By 2005, people were using iTunes to manage audio downloaded automatically from the internet using a process called RSS. This in turn put the pod in podcasting.

iPhone – a computer in everyone’s hands

By 2007, many mobile phone companies had approached Apple about merging the iPod with their phones. Instead, on January 9, Jobs unveiled Apple’s most ambitious product yet: a combined phone, music player and Mac computer – all at the size of a handset with no physical keyboard and huge screen.

Most media “experts”, from TechCrunch to the Guardian, predicted the iPhone would bomb. Steve Ballmer, then CEO of Microsoft, mocked the US$500 price tag, saying nobody would buy it. In fact, 1.4 million iPhones were sold by the end of the year – and over 3 billion more since then. This truly put a computer into everyone’s hands – and opened the door to social media as we know it today.

App Store’s software revolution

By mid-2008, the iPhone enabled third-party developers the chance to to create a dizzying range of new applications. At the same time, the App Store – launched on July 10 2008 – addressed one of the most complex problems: how to distribute and commercialise these “apps”. Historically, they were often copied and distributed freely. The App Store changed this, using strong encryption to ensure the copy sold could only be used by that specific user, thus eliminating software piracy.

By establishing the first (eponymous) App Store, Apple changed the way people discover and purchase software. This led to an explosion of apps and a simple but powerful idea: whatever you wanted to do, someone, somewhere, had already built it. Apple captured this shift in a slogan that became part of everyday language: “There’s an app for that”.

Time and again, this extraordinary company has anticipated the value of opening up computing to everyone. Happy birthday, Apple.

The weather rules include atmospheric electricity, types of cloud, specifically cumulus and disturbed weather like rain or strong winds.

Using a percentage chance of a violation of the rules, launch weather officers use a combination of meteorological and climatological data, local knowledge, and experience to forecast this probability.

Lightning is one of the biggest risks, but it is not only the natural lightning from a thunderstorm – or cumulonimbus cloud – that forecasters will be concerned about.

Rocket-induced lightning from an enhanced atmospheric electric field is also a major risk.

“Some types of clouds, even if they’re not producing lightning, carry an electrical charge where a rocket passing through them at high speeds with a trail of exhaust can act like a lightning rod and trigger a lightning strike,” said Burger.

This rocket-induced lightning can be triggered much more easily than natural lightning.

Other events, external such as heavy rain, strong winds, high or low temperatures or extreme weather can also jeapordise a rocket launch.

Throughout a countdown the launch weather officer must be clear and convinced that none of the weather criteria are violated in order to give the weather ‘go’ call for launch.

Ahead of the Artemis launch window, the 45th Weather Squadron will not only be looking at conditions at Cape Canaveral but also in other areas such as potential recovery sites in the North Atlantic where “the weather is not particularly favourable at this time of year” in case things go wrong.

With the peak in the solar cycle, they will also be keeping an eye on solar activity and enhanced radiation which could affect the astronauts.

Fed-up islanders warned their “lifeline transport network is currently broken” with eight of CalMac’s largest ferries currently out of action.

Chaos on Scotland’s ferry network has left islanders unable to return home for Easter for “the first time in 20 years”.

Eight of CalMac’s 15 largest ferries are currently out of action ahead of one of the busiest weekends of the year for travel – including the brand new Glen Sannox, which only entered service last year.

Fiona Hyslop, the SNP Transport Secretary, was today forced to admit the west coast ferry network faced “significant disruption”.

She said: “I want to assure all those impacted by the current shortage of ferries on the west coast island network that the Scottish Government and CalMac are urgently working closely to resolve these issues. Our shared priority is to ensure minimum disruption, and to restore services as quickly as possible.

“Work is being delivered at pace to bring the MV Glen Sannox back into service and introduce the MV Isle of Islay into service, alongside other actions to ensure we are able to provide services for passengers. This includes ensuring clear and effective communication to customers is prioritised.”

Michael Buchanan, a senior BBC journalist based in London, is among those whose travel plans have been scuppered.

He said: “For the first time in 20 years, we’re not able to get to Barra for Easter as huge CalMac disruption means it’s not possible to get there. Eight out of 15 of their largest ferries are out of action.

“This isn’t a problem that just happened – it’s been brewing for many years. Our inconvenience is annoying but minor in comparison to the economic costs for many small businesses who count on this week as the start of their season. Their lifeline transport network is currently broken.”

Anas Sarwar said transport issues hitting Scotland’s central belt in the same way as ferry disruption would be a “national scandal”.

The Scottish Labour leader took his party’s election campaign to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis on Monday, where he pledged to cut bureaucracy in the ferry network by merging operator CalMac with ferry procurement body Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) to form a new agency.

The new body would also include representatives of islands on their board.

The announcement comes during a period of “unprecedented” pressure on CalMac.

Sarwar said a government he runs would “get the basics right”.

“We seek to meet the needs and aspirations of islanders,” he said. “But, right now, that’s simply not good enough and islanders see it every single day. Why should they have to accept this as tolerable?

“If this was a train service between Glasgow and Edinburgh, it would be fixed by now, it’d be a national disgrace and a national scandal and people would not be tolerating it.

“Why are we asking islanders to tolerate this mess?”

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US President Donald Trump has warned that the Iran war could still escalate.

Oil prices spiked after the US president said he was considering a military operation to seize Iran’s Kharg Island, a crucial part of the country’s export infrastructure.

As a result of rising oil prices, several airlines have confirmed that the cost of travel will increase.

Your rights if your flight is cancelled or delayed

These are the latest updates from some of the major airlines that operate in the area.

Qatar Airways travel update

Qatar Airways told passengers: “Qatar Airways has published its latest revised schedule, reflecting the gradual increase in flights to and from Doha.

The latest update, valid until April 15, provides additional frequencies to more than 90 destinations across Qatar Airways’ global network.

“All flights to and from Doha continue to operate through dedicated flight corridors. These routes are established in close coordination with the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority.

 “Passengers who currently hold a confirmed booking on a flight to one of the destinations listed in the new schedule will be contacted with new flight information.

“Please be sure to check the Qatar Airways website or app and ensure your contact details are correct and updated.”

You can view the 90 destinations here.

Qantas travel update

Qantas has told passengers who will be affected by changes to flights that they will be contacted as soon as possible.

In a statement on March 26, the airline said: “We’re closely monitoring the evolving situation and any potential impact to our flights. The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority.

“Flights from Perth to London are currently operating via Singapore for a fuel stop due to adjustments required on flight paths.  The return service will continue to operate direct from London to Perth.

“We’re also making adjustments to our international schedule to operate more flights between Australia and Europe. The updated schedule will come into effect progressively for flights from mid-April and run until mid-July.

“As a result of the changes, flights to Paris will originate in Sydney and operate via Singapore instead of Perth. The return service will continue to operate direct from Paris to Perth until May.”

Emirates travel update

Following the partial reopening of regional airspace, Emirates is operating a “reduced flight schedule”.

The airline said: “We continue to monitor the situation, and we will develop our operational schedule accordingly.

“We would like to thank you for your understanding and patience.

“The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority and will not be compromised.”

Customers due to travel within the next seven days are being contacted directly by Emirates.

British Airways travel update

In their latest update from March 16, British Airways told its passengers it has extended the temporary reduction in its flying schedule due to “continuing uncertainty”.

A statement from the airline said: “Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, and to provide more clarity to our customers, we’ve extended the temporary reduction in our flying schedule in the region.

“We’re keeping the situation under constant review and are directly in touch with affected customers to offer them a range of options.

“Since the situation in the Middle East began, we’ve helped thousands of customers return home and operated eight relief flights from Muscat in Oman.

“We are also operating additional flights to and from Singapore (x4) and Bangkok (x3) and continue to review options to bring back more customers who have been disrupted.”

He said: “It’s the reality of end of the season and the end of March; the reality of having players in European matches and more than just one competition with all the cups going on.”

Tuchel picked an expanded 35-man squad for the Uruguay and Japan games at Wembley.

He split his players into two camps across the fixtures, the first made up primarily of fringe players and the second of more regular players.

“We have players in camp that have already played more minutes than last season, so there is some concern,” said Tuchel.

“The players needed and deserved the mental break from football. We could see the energy with which they came back into camp and to reconnect now in the new environment.

“We want them to perform in their clubs, but the reality is it’s our last camp before we leave to America, so we want to reconnect to our principles.

“It’s disappointing but I’m not upset with the players. I’m not angry.

“I got the feeling that everyone was desperate to come. Some of the injured players even stayed to do their treatment. That shows they want to be around the group.

“No-one left straight away. It’s a good spirit and that’s how it should be.”

The World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico runs from 11 June to 19 July.

England will play friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica in June.

They open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on 17 June and face Ghana on 23 June and Panama on 27 June.