LONDON, March 17 (Reuters) - "Mega-heatwaves" like the one that hit Russia and other parts of eastern Europe last year are up to 10 times more likely to occur over the next 40 years and could have serious consequences, scientists said on Thursday.

In a study published in the journal Science, researchers from Portugal, Switzerland, Germany and Spain said the 2010 heatwave was hotter and more widespread than Europe's 2003 heatwave, but another one like it was unlikely until after 2050.

March 10, 2011   

Federal lawmakers are fight over budget and programs that would hamper the U.S. solar market, so any numbers to show the solar industry's contribution to the economy will help. So here comes a report released Thursday by the Solar Energy Industries Association that showed the U.S. solar market grew 67 percent to reach $6 billion in 2010 from $3.6 billion in 2009.

Environment correspondent, BBC News

The Greenland ice sheet is losing its mass faster than its southern counterpart

Ice loss from Antarctica and Greenland has accelerated over the last 20 years, research shows, and will soon become the biggest driver of sea level rise.

Published: February 28, 2011

BEIJING — China’s environment minister on Monday issued an unusually stark warning about the effects of unbridled development on the country’s air, water and soil, saying the nation’s current path could stifle long-term economic growth and feed social instability

14 February 2011 

 BBC News

Japan's economy was worth $5.474 trillion (£3.414 trillion) at the end of 2010, figures from Tokyo have shown. China's economy was closer to $5.8 trillion in the same period.

Japan has been hit by a drop in exports and consumer demand, while China has enjoyed a manufacturing boom.