The Daily: August 3

We scour the news so you don't have to.

Triumphant Britain
Yesterday was triumphant for Team GB. Consecutive successes moved Great Britain up to fifth place in the league table, with a total of 15 medals, achieving two gold and 3 silver medals yesterday alone.  Sir Chris Hoy achieved his fifth Olympic triumph as he led the men’s sprint cycling team to gold. In addition to this success, Etienne Stott and Tim Baillie took gold in the two-man canoe slalom event, narrowly beating fellow Team GB opponents David Florence and Richard Hounslow, who took the silver. Just five minutes after the achievement of Baillie and Stott, Peter Wilson won a gold medal in shooting, setting a new world record in his field. Gemma Gibbons achieved a silver medal in Judo after being beaten by American Kayla Harrison in the final. The men’s lightweight four rowing team took a silver medal.

Disaster for Pendleton
Britain’s celebrated cyclist, Victoria Pendleton, was disqualified from the cycling sprint race yesterday, along with teammate Jess Varnish, after officials judged that she had overtaken too early yesterday. The cyclists were disqualified out of the gold medal final after Pendleton overtook Varnish before the designated changeover line. The pair were in with a good chance of achieving gold and had set a new world record in their heat. This devastating news has ended Varnish’s hopes of an Olympic medal this year, but Pendleton will still take part in the women’s sprint and the keirin. Pendleton described the whole ordeal as ‘gut-wrenching’.

Corn Bunting numbers decline
A study has shown that the number of Scotland’s farming bird, the Corn Bunting, is declining fast. Only 8000 breeding pairs are believed to remain in Scotland, compared to the hundreds that were thriving 20 years ago. It is believed that changes in crop management are to blame. Studies show that an increase in field size and decrease in weed abundance has reduced the availability of safe nesting sites and food sources, causing a detrimental effect on the species. The RSPB Scotland has said that urgent action is required to save the birds.

Artefacts worth £53,000 stolen from museum
A hoard of items, worth approximately £53,000, has been stolen from a museum in Derby. The selection of coins, watches and medals are thought to have been stolen between the months of May and June. Among the hoard is a collection of approximately twenty 18th and 19th century gold and silver watches worth up to £3,000 each, and coins dating back more than 800 years. Ironically, the items were not on display, but kept in a warehouse to keep them safe and only taken out for special viewings. The objects seen to have little worth will be discarded and “lost forever” fears Martin Repton, the Derby city council cabinet member.

Sir John Keegan dies, aged 78
Internationally recognised military historian, John Keegan, died yesterday, aged 78. Keegan’s writings displayed keen knowledge of the military and portrayed his personal acquaintance with many serving officers. Keegan demonstrated a deep awareness of the human aspects of warfare, proving it to be cruel, confusing and frightening experience. Surprisingly, Keegan was not involved in war as he had been crippled with tuberculosis since childhood. Keegan became the defence editor of The Daily Telegraph, discovering a talent for writing rapid analyses of international crises.