New research from United States suggested that the melting of Arctic sea ice is speeding up. And during the coming month the ice cap may shrink to levels never seen before. More details from Richard Black.

The colder then average winter in the northern hemisphere had led to suggestions that Arctic sea ice might recover after its record melts last summer. But the latest data indicates the opposite is happening. Over the last months it has been melting even faster and the area of remaining is now almost exactly the same as at this time last year. Scientists from the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre say that much of the ice remaining is so thin that even a normal summer may see last year's record broken.

The authorities in Unites States have warned the residents of 6 Midwestern states of the possibilities of further flood defense is being breaching along the Mississippi river. More than 20 people have been killed and thousands driven from their homes since the flooding began over a week ago.