Latest news with #DavidPhilips
CTV News
05-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Climatologist David Phillips says to expect more heat-filled days this summer
Watch Environment Canada senior climatologist David Philips discusses heat warnings issued for parts of Ontario and Quebec, the threat of wildfires in the West.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
‘It was intense': Heatwave relief in sight this week for Canadians
A heat dome over southern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes has public health officials urging residents to take precautions. John Vennavally-Rao explains. Some relief is in sight for millions of Canadians after three days of intense heat that saw Toronto experience its hottest day in nine years. The high for many cities in eastern Canada is forecast to be below 30 C on Wednesday, though the humidex will still be in the low 30s. Looking back on the heat wave that began on Sunday and saw the humidex reach 46.7 C in Toronto, David Philips says what made it particularly notable was the unseasonably cool May and June that preceded it. The senior climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada says before Sunday, Toronto had just a single day above 30 C this year, which is unusual. 'And so that really is very late coming,' said Philips, emphasizing the danger posed by the sudden onset of extreme heat. 'It was intense. It was late coming. And also, (it) wasn't just a one-day wonder.' The Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services has seen an increase in heat-related calls. Jason Dippel told CTV News that heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious concerns, as they can be life-threatening. Dippel urged extra caution for vulnerable groups. 'Younger individuals, those experiencing chronic illness, you've got the elderly, all more susceptible to heat exhaustion or heat stroke,' said Dippel. The intense heat has made daily life challenging for many. A woman in Toronto described the conditions as 'definitely not great.' 'It's hard to be outside and I can't imagine what it's like for people that don't have (air conditioning) at home,' she said. Residents of a Toronto condo building experienced this difficulty firsthand when their central air conditioning broke down just as temperatures began to climb on Sunday. One resident, who wished not to be identified, purchased a fan but described the conditions in their unit as 'unliveable.' 'I couldn't sleep properly because in my bedroom since it's facing the sun in the morning, it's like over 30 degrees just inside the bedroom,' they told CTV News. The lack of air conditioning in many Ontario schools, particularly older buildings, has also become a point of contention. Some parents have opted to keep their children home, prioritizing their health and comfort over classroom attendance. Erica Phipps of the Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment spoek with CTV News, highlighting the risks extreme heat poses to children, including its impact on cognitive function. She argued the current heat wave underscores how ill-equipped educational facilities are for a changing climate. 'It used to be that maybe schools could get away without that infrastructure (air conditioning), but that is no longer the case,' said Phipps. Earlier this year, Phipps's group, along with 40 other organizations, advocated for a maximum indoor school temperature of 26 C to protect children. She also suggested immediate measures such as window coverings and fans. 'Scientists are finding that extreme heat, or even prolonged elevated temperatures, affect brain function,' she said. 'They affect memory and cognition, and can also contribute to other issues that kids may be struggling with, irritability and frustration.'
Glasgow Times
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Former Greenock footballer jailed for £600k drug smuggling plot
The 34-year-old striker, who previously played for Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton, was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on September 18, 2024, in Gourock, Inverclyde. Today, he was sentenced to four years in custody when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court. (Image: National Crime Agency) David Philips, NCA senior investigating officer, said: 'We urge anyone asked to bring something into the UK that they're unsure of to simply say no. 'Organised criminals like Thomas are invariably very persuasive with promises of payments and other enticements to couriers. 'But the risk of getting caught is very high, and it simply isn't worth the risk. Crime groups make significant profits by trafficking and selling perceived high-quality cannabis legally grown in the US, Canada and Thailand illegally in the UK.' READ NEXT: Update after death of woman in Glasgow's Burgh Hall Street Last month, Thomas, of Gourock, admitted to orchestrating the plot which saw him recruit two women to travel to Thailand, where cannabis was collected and smuggled to the UK Thomas's girlfriend Yasmin Piotrowska, 33, and her friend Rosie Rowland, 29, were stopped by Border Force officers at Stansted Airport in London after landing on a flight from Bangkok on September 2. They had two suitcases each, which were searched and a total of 60kg of cannabis – 15kg in each bag – was recovered. READ NEXT: Glasgow Central locked down as cops called to ticketless man (Image: National Crime Agency) Piotrowska, of Kensal Green in London and Rowland, of Chelmsford in Essex, were then charged with smuggling cannabis. However, the Crown and Procurator Fiscal service dropped the case against the pair, who said they believed they were transporting gold. The NCA say it is believed that Thomas – who also played for PTT Rayong in Thailand in 2019 – was the intermediary between suppliers in Thailand and drug pushers in the UK. The investigation revealed that with Thomas's encouragement, the women had made a near identical trip – all expenses paid – a few months earlier in July. They were also promised a payment of £2500. After being arrested last September, Thomas said unprompted: 'I just feel sorry for the girls.'
