Latest news & blogs

Scientists are now using oral history to help map Arctic warming. Native Alaskans told BBC Radio of 'crazy changes' from the 70s, thinning ice, and 'drunken' forests. In the Antarctic, the breakup of the Larsen B ice shelf has been found to be the biggest for 10,000 years (Nature - EurekAlert - NZ Herald)

After 50 years, Green Belt land is under greater threat than ever from Government housing and road plans, campaigners have warned. A poll shows 84% believe that it should remain open and undeveloped.

The Refugee Council said: "As a result of today's hearing no more asylum seekers will be returned to Zimbabwe until at least October".

Oxfam warns that over one million people in Mali are at risk of a major food crisis gripping West Africa because rich countries have not responded to the call for emergency funds.

The government is examining new powers to deport or exclude from Britain foreigners suspected as potential terrorists and is prepared to pass legislation to amend the Human Rights Act.

The Home Office minister in charge of ID cards admitted the cards' benefits in terms of tackling terrorism, immigration and benefit fraud may have been "oversold".

but Brian Haw has won the right to remain. A mass act of defiance on Sunday also had five arrests. A new Parliament Protest blog has been set up as an information resource and discussion area.

for a judical review, but they intend to appeal and may take their case to Strasbourg.

The UK is commisioning research to justify 'NAMA', a trade deal that Friends of the Earth says would undermine certification schemes and threaten the livelihood of those directly dependent on natural resources. FoE said no benefits have yet been shown, and called for a halt to Friday's talks in Geneva.

Construction work has begun on the Icelandic dam designed to power a huge aluminium plant, but protests are set to continue.