NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) monitors global surface temperatures on an ongoing basis. Their analysis shows temperatures around the globe in 2011 compared to the average global temperature from the mid-20th century. The comparison shows how Earth continues to experience warmer temperatures than several decades ago.

Global temperatures have warmed significantly since 1880, the beginning of what scientists call the “modern record.” At this time, the coverage provided by weather stations allowed for essentially global temperature data. As greenhouse gas emissions from energy production, industry and vehicles have increased, temperatures have climbed, most notably since the late 1970s. In this animation of temperature data from 1880-2011, reds indicate temperatures higher than the average during a baseline period of 1951-1980, while blues indicate lower temperatures than the baseline average.

Click on the image to see the video:

Read full article: Global Temperature Anomaly, 1880 - 2011

Twenty years ago at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, countries adopted Agenda 21 — a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection. Marking that anniversary, this year sees Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, with aims to get bold agreements to address things like poverty, sustainable development, decent jobs, etc.

This page provides coverage of recent events via Inter Press Service’s news feed.

Read full article: Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development

It seems the world is awash with money, even though most governments are facing economic pressures. Trillions are being hidden away by a very few global super elite in offshore bank accounts, avoiding billions in taxes such that constrained governments turn to austerity and other measures, inflicting more hardship on people who are typically already victims of the global financial crisis. Furthermore, it turns out that many of the banks we have all bailed out help with these offshore practices in various ways.

Tax avoidance by the super rich results in lost revenues in the order of hundreds of billions a year, which would (in theory at least) benefit most of society. But if you can afford an army of ingenious lawyers and accountants, it seems you can play by a different set of rules.

Recent high profile cases of companies and individuals avoiding taxes in recent years has resulted in governments claiming they will address this issue thoroughly. But that is as far as it seems to go.

This update includes additional figures and examples of recent tax avoidance issues that have come to light.

Read full article: Tax Avoidance and Tax Havens; Undermining Democracy

19% of the world’s reptiles are estimated to be threatened with extinction according to a study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Zoological Society of London. Reptiles include snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles and tortoises. But some species are at more risk than others. For example, freshwater turtles alone are at a 50% risk of extinction. Reasons vary, but include the usual suspects such as climate change and loss of habitat.

A recent study also estimated that some 100 million sharks are being killed each year — an unsustainable rate, given how long some species take to mature and reproduce. Much of the demand is driven by Chinese rising affluence and demand for shark fin soup in the mistaken belief it has various health benefits.

This small update to the biodiversity loss page has further details.

Read full article: Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions

In recent years, global military expenditure has increased again and is now comparable to Cold War levels. Recent data shows global spending at over $1.7 trillion, despite the global economic conditions. It is still approximately 1% increase since 2008 when the financial crisis began, for example.

Not all nations have felt the impacts of the global financial crisis in the same way. Some have grown economically, including many Asian countries, which has allowed some of them to increase their military spending. There are geopolitical interests at stake for various powers, so economic troubles or not, military spending is seen as important to maintain, or at least to minimize possible reductions.

The highest military spender is the US accounting for 39% of the world’s spending, more than the next top 10 countries combined, and more than all its potential enemies, combined. But this represents a slight decline over previous years as other nations, especially China and Russia, increase their spending. At the same time, the US has reduced military spending for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, while Western Europe’s austerity programs affect their military spending budgets.

This update includes new and updated figures, graphs and charts exploring this further.

Read full article: World Military Spending

A recent study has found that three quarters of the world’s big carnivores are in decline, due to declining habitats and persecution by humans. This is also having a negative impact on the environment because top predators have a crucial role in any given ecosystem which is hard to replace.

At the same time, the number of rhinos being poached in South Africa (where most rhinos now remain) has soared exponentially in recent years.

This update includes more information on the above issues.

Read full article: Nature and Animal Conservation

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) recently published new preliminary figures for aid in 2013.

It showed official development assistance (ODA) aid from wealthy governments had increased to just under $135 billion in 2013 (at constant 2012 prices). This is roughly 0.3% of GNI (Gross National Income) of the donor nations.

Yet, over 40 years ago nations promised to reach 0.7% of their GNI by the mid-1970s. While each year the amount of aid falls quite short of that 0.7% target (less than half of that target), the quality and effectiveness of that aid is often questionable, sometimes benefiting the donor more than the recipient due to the types of conditions attached to this aid.

This update includes a number of new and updated charts and graphs.

Read full article: Foreign Aid for Development Assistance

Steven Gerrard is very frustrated with Rangers’ poor performance against Hearts.

Celtic host Hearts as top takes on bottom in the Scottish Premiership, with Neil Lennon hoping to maintain his seven-point lead over title rivals Rangers. Express Sport is on hand to provide all of the Hoops' team news, as well the predicted line-up, as two stars return from injury.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has suggested he could leave Ibrox after their defeat to Hearts as the manager said he will consider his future over the next couple of days.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 6 may go ahead without Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow and fans are having none of it.

NEXT JAMES BOND odds favourite Tom Hardy has overtaken Richard Madden in the race to replace Daniel Craig after No Time To Die.

The Ryder Cup remains scheduled to take place in September despite other major golf tournaments being postponed.

The Masters was scheduled to take place this weekend until it was called off due to the coronavirus outbreak - but would Tiger Woods have defended his title?

Rory McIlroy would rather get abuse from American fans and delay the Ryder Cup by a year than play behind closed doors.

EXCLUSIVE: Justin Rose opens up on applauding the NHS from afar, supporting online fundraising efforts with fellow celebrities and why the Ryder Cup should not take place behind closed doors.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT claims have soared in recent weeks, as Britons have begun to feel the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis. How much is Universal Credit? The amount depends on whether certain circumstances apply.

CORONAVIRUS has forced people to re-evaluate their finances as income takes a hit and budgets are stretched. One of the first port of calls for change has been direct debits and new research reveals that some people may find themselves with more cash available once this all ends.

CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers admits he will need to delve back into the transfer market for another striker if Moussa Dembele leaves.

PARTICK THISTLE were left baffled after a goal was disallowed despite hitting the net during their clash with Greenock Morton.

SCOTTISH CUP DRAW - Find out the ball numbers for the semi-final draw as Celtic and co wait to hear their fate.

BITTER rivals Celtic and Rangers could face off in a mouth-watering Scottish Cup semi-final.

League Manager Association boss Richard Bevan admits the Premier League could be cancelled.

Liverpool ace Rhian Brewster has joined Swansea on loan until the end of the season.

Chelsea transfer news is coming in thick and fast and Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the very latest from Stamford Bridge.

Express Sport have rounded up five deals that could yet still happen between now and the transfer deadline at 11pm later tonight.

CELTIC have officially ended their pursuit of David Turnbull after being unable to agree personal terms with the Motherwell youngster.

GOOGLE MAPS is a useful tool that is great for navigating around the world. But sometimes, the huge Street View lens spots some very bizarre scenes which is definitely the case for one street in New Orleans.

THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY has seen major losses in profit due to the coronavirus pandemic, with many companies seeing job losses and uncertain futures. But this is how the airline industry may recover after the pandemic.

AIRCRAFT engineers are on hand to do everything from small bits of daily maintenance at the end of a flight, to fixing major issues to avoid a fatal emergency. However, they also have the task of unclogging toilets - discovering some very bizarre items along the way.

UK HOLIDAYMAKERS have been urged not to book a summer holiday abroad following the Government's leaked airport quarantine plan, according to a leading aviation expert.

Odion Ighalo scored twice as Manchester United beat Derby to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals and leave their all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney on the losing side.

Manchester United will go up against Wayne Rooney in their FA Cup clash with Derby.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw his side beat Derby 3-0 in their FA Cup showdown on Thursday night.

All the latest rumours and gossip coming out of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United's surprise pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani.

Carlton Cole has revealed he completed an England training session with an erection.

APRIL saw 20.5 million job losses in the United States, the biggest rise in the jobless rate since the Great Depression.

Novak Djokovic has reduced the gap to Roger Federer's record significantly over the past two years.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are both waiting for the signal to resume action.

There is an ongoing debate to crown a member of the 'Big Three' as the greatest of all time.

Todd Martin coached Novak Djokovic in his formative years on the ATP Tour and knows what makes him special.

Ivan Lendl has weighed in on the ongoing GOAT debate.

Stoke striker Tyrese Campbell has garnered interest from a swathe of British clubs.

Tottenham have been compared to Stoke sides of the past after their loss to Chelsea.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is planning for the future this summer as the Blues add two more highly rated youngsters to their list of transfer targets.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has been told that he'll have to pay at least £20million to complete the transfer of youngster Eberechi Eze by QPR chiefs, with Spurs the favourites to land the in-demand Championship midfielder.

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has been handed a major transfer boost in the pursuit of QPR starlet Eberechi Eze, after the west London club put a £20million price tag on the midfielder, with both Crystal Palace and Sheffield United dropping out of the race.

Liverpool are looking to make Sadio Mane an offer that would tarnish Real Madrid's hopes of signing him.

Timo Werner looks set to leave RB Leipzig at the end of the season and he already has his heart set on Liverpool.

Premier League football could return by mid-June, if all goes according to plan.