"This year, right now, it feels very bleak," said Ben Darvill, a conservation researcher at the University of Stirling and co-founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SERIOUS DECLINE IN BEES OVER RECENT YEARS, WHICH IS NOW COMING TO A HEAD, WHAT WITH LARGE AND UNPRECEDENTED LOSSES OF BEES IN EUROPE, THE US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

"It's urgent and we need to do something about it now," he continued. "But all too often people notice the importance of something when it's not there - when it's too late."

IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT BEES DON'T JUST MAKE HONEY; they pollinate more than 90 of the flowering crops we rely on for food. Among them: apples, nuts, pears, avocados, soybeans, asparagus, broccoli, celery, squash, tomatoes, sunflowers and cucumbers. Along with citrus fruit, peaches, kiwis, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries and melons.

Crops like oilseed rape (increasingly used in biofuels), alfalfa, peas, runner beans and broadbeans also rely on visits by bees and other pollinating insects to improve the quality and quantity of fruits and seeds produced.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ONE SMALL CREATURE CAN BE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR FOOD SUPPLY.

But as Brian Latham, chair of the Leeds Beekeepers Association, points out: we've become almost terminally disconnected from the natural world we live in and how it feeds us.

"WE GET OUR FOOD FROM SUPERMARKETS AND THINK LITTLE MORE ABOUT IT," HE SAYS. "VERY FEW OF US ARE AS AWARE AS OUR GRANDPARENTS WERE OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT'S ON OUR DINNER PLATES AND THE INTRICATE WORKINGS OF NATURE."

ALBERT EINSTEIN was well aware of this connection. When it came to bees, he put it in no uncertain terms: "IF THE BEE DISAPPEARED OFF THE SURFACE OF THE GLOBE, THEN MAN WOULD ONLY HAVE FOUR YEARS OF LIFE LEFT. NO MORE BEES, NO MORE POLLINATION, NO MORE PLANTS, NO MORE ANIMALS, NO MORE MAN."

In June, the British Beekeepers Association set up an emergency meeting slamming Defra over the "paltry" £180,000 currently being allocated to bee research. John Howat, secretary of the Bee Farmers' Association, was quoted as saying: "Less than one percent of the hives' value to the economy is being spent on research and development. The government seems totally oblivious to the consequences of honeybees being wiped out."

Even more worryingly, this summer's floods and torrential rains could have made the bees' plight far worse. "A year like this will have a big effect - particularly on bumblebee populations," said Darvill. "Bumblebees largely nest underground, so you can imagine the terrible effect the flooding and rains have had on their colonies. The fact is, a series of bad summers like this one could easily lead to further national extinctions."

The Dow Jones Industrial Average had been trading just a shade lower when chief financial offer Sam Molinaro compared the current crisis on Wall Street to the 1987 stock market collapse, the Asian debt crisis of the 1990s, the collapse of hedge fund Long Term Capital Management and the recent dotcom bubble.

"THESE TIMES ARE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT," HE SAID ON A CALL WITH INVESTORS. "I'VE BEEN OUT HERE FOR 22 YEARS, AND THIS IS AS BAD AS I'VE SEEN IT IN THE FIXED-INCOME MARKETS."

His comments were a response to Standard & Poor's, which downgraded the rating on Bear Stearns debt to "negative" from "stable", suggesting it may lose it's a+ rating. The investment bank is the manager of two hedge funds heavily invested in sub-prime loans that collapsed last month and S&P said its "profitability would be especially affected if there were an extended downturn in those markets." THE DOW IMMEDIATELY PLUMMETED, CLOSING 280 POINTS LOWER AT 13,182.

IT WAS THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE FRIDAY THAT THE DOW LOST MORE THAN 100 POINTS as investors were unwilling to hold their positions going into the weekend. Shares of Bear Stearns lost more than 6pc.

A further example of the crisis in the market came yesterday when American Home Mortgage, the 10th largest lender in the US, said it had been forced to close almost all its operations and lay off close to 7,000 workers immediately. The company is now expected to file for bankruptcy, perhaps as early as next week.

The volatility in the global credit markets has caused 46 leveraged financing deals around the world to be pulled since June 22, representing more than $60bn (£30bn) in funding that companies had planned for mergers and acquisitions, according to figures from Baring Asset Management.

After years of development, three "special weapons observation remote reconnaissance direct action system" (SWORDS) robots have deployed to Iraq, armed with M249 machine guns. The 'bots "haven't fired their weapons yet," Michael Zecca, the SWORDS program manager, tells DANGER ROOM. "But that'll be happening soon."

The SWORDS -- modified versions of bomb-disposal robots used throughout Iraq -- were first declared ready for duty back in 2004. But concerns about safety kept the robots from being sent over the battlefield. The machines had a tendency to spin out of control from time to time. That was an annoyance during ordnance-handling missions; no one wanted to contemplate the consequences during a firefight.

So the radio-controlled robots were retooled, for greater safety. In the past, weak signals would keep the robots from getting orders for as much as eight seconds -- a significant lag during combat. Now, the SWORDS won't act on a command, unless it's received right away. A three-part arming process -- with both physical and electronic safeties -- is required before firing. Most importantly, the machines now come with kill switches, in case there's any odd behavior. "So now we can kill the unit if it goes crazy," Zecca says.

As initially reported in National Defense magazine, only three of the robots are currently in Iraq. Zecca says he's ready to send more, "but we don't have the money. It's not a priority for the Army, yet." He believes that'll change, once the robots begin getting into firefights.

The discovery of the disease near London prompted the government on Friday to ban livestock movements to prevent a repeat of a 2001 outbreak that blighted farming and rural tourism. All cattle on the farm were being culled. Brown's predecessor, Tony Blair, was criticized for his government's handling of the last outbreak, particularly for failing to act swiftly to stop the movement of animals.

On Friday evening, Brown took part in an emergency meeting of officials by telephone from Dorset, where he was on holiday, and he returned to London to chair another meeting of the emergency committee, COBRA, on Saturday.

Leading microbiologist Hugh Pennington said Britain was better placed to deal with the latest outbreak. "We've got the administrative structures, we've got the infrastructure and we've got the scientific capability," he told the BBC. "All these things were tested and found to be wanting in 2001. Lessons have been learned and I'm confident we'll do much, much better this time."

Robert Biedron, head of the Polish Foundation Against Homophobia, said "huge numbers" of Polish gays had now fled the country following the rise to power of the right-wing conservative government. He said: "The gay community has just moved away because of the climate of fear and persecution. Most of the people I know are now in Britain because of the current political situation. Not for economic reasons, but because of the persecution of homosexuals here."

Poland's new government has members who are openly anti-gay and the health ministry has created a special committee responsible for "curing" gays, according to local media.

Engineers warned that more than 70,000 bridges across the country - about 12 per cent of the total - were in the same condition. Experts estimated repairing them all would take a generation and cost more than $188 billion (£92.7 billion). Authorities ordered 700 bridges of a similar design to the one that failed in Minneapolis to be inspected.

Five people have been confirmed dead and 79 injured when Interstate 35W bridge plummeted more than 60 feet into the Mississippi River during rush hour on Wednesday. It had been feared a further 30 people were missing, but yesterday this was lowered to eight as divers continued to search the wreckage. It is not thought likely that there will be any other survivors.

DESPITE A PREVIOUS DENIAL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS - WHICH REGARDS ITSELF AS THE LEADING U.S. MUSLIMS CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP - PARTICIPATED IN A THREE-DAY SUMMIT OF MEMBERS OF THE PALESTINIAN TERRORIST GROUP HAMAS.

The evidence surfaced at the trial of the Texas-based Islamic charity Holy Land Foundation and five of its former organizers, who are accused of supporting Hamas. Prosecutors named the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, an unindicted co-conspirator in the case.

According to Steve Emerson's Investigative Project on Terrorism, FBI Special Agent Laura Burns testified Thursday that the "Nihad" listed in documents related to the 1993 meeting of Hamas members in Philadelphia was Nihad Awad. In 2003, Awad was confronted about the Philadelphia meeting - Initially Awad said he didn't think he attended, but when pushed, he replied, "I don't remember."

CAIR is a spinoff of the defunct Islamic Association for Palestine, or IAP, launched by Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook and former university professor Sami al-Arian, who pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to provide services to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Awad served as the IAP's public relations director.

Several CAIR staffers have been convicted on terrorism-related charges, and CAIR FOUNDER OMAR AHMAD ALLEGEDLY TOLD A GROUP OF MUSLIMS THEY ARE IN AMERICA NOT TO ASSIMILATE BUT TO HELP ASSERT ISLAM'S RULE OVER THE COUNTRY.

CAIR says its aim is "to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding."

The officials were taking advantage of a month-long leniency offer that began on 30 May, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said. Over the month, 1,790 people confessed to corruption totalling 77.89m yuan ($10.2m, £5m), a spokesman said.

China has been working hard to tackle official corruption, which has become a major trigger for public discontent. "Some of the officials have corrected their mistakes and some are still under investigation, since we need to check whether they have confessed all their wrongdoings," CCDI spokesman Gan Yisheng said.

No details were given of what penalties the officials who confessed might face, Xinhua news agency said.
But Mr Gan said corrupt officials who had not confessed would face severe punishment, the agency reported.

Corruption is one of the Communist Party's biggest problems and the thing that ordinary people criticise most bitterly, says the BBC's James Reynolds in Beijing. He says they complain about officials with gold watches, driving around in black Mercedes, getting fat on bribes and free lunches and handing out all the best jobs to their friends and family.

Now, our correspondent says, Chinese President Hu Jintao wants to show that he is taking action, particularly with the party's key five-yearly congress looming.

The outbreak saw about SEVEN MILLION ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED and devastation for many farms and rural businesses. The crisis is estimated to have COST THE COUNTRY UP TO £8BN. Ministers were criticised for failing to prepare properly for an outbreak on that scale and for not halting the spread of the disease quickly enough.

The burning of animals on mass pyres became the vivid image of the 2001 outbreak. Cumbria was the worst affected area with more than 800 cases. To prevent the spread of the disease, public rights of way across the UK were closed. THE DISEASE DESTROYED THE LIVELIHOODS OF THOUSANDS OF FARMERS, while the Countryside Agency estimated the COST TO TOURISM ALONE AT BETWEEN £2BN AND £3BN.

Since the last outbreak the government has suggested vaccination - which many farmers did not want in 2001 because of fears it would affect exports - would be considered as a method of fighting any future outbreak.

And while the scale of the outbreak this time is so far contained - THE EARLY MEASURES TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT MEAN THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS, THIS TIME AROUND THERE WILL BE A HEAVY ECONOMIC IMPACT. An immediate ban on the movement of animals at one stroke halts trade both at home and abroad. Country and market shows scheduled for the weekend will inevitably be cancelled, experts say.

THIS SUDDEN DISRUPTION TO TRADE COMES AS A PARTICULAR BLOW TO CATTLE FARMERS GIVEN THAT EXPORTS OF BRITISH BEEF ONLY RESUMED IN MAY LAST YEAR - HAVING BEEN BANNED IN 1996 AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF A LINK BETWEEN BSE IN CATTLE AND VARIANT CJD IN HUMANS

UK farming contributed £5.6 billion to Britain's economy in 2006, according to Defra figures.

The head of the National Farmers Union in Northumberland, Malcolm Corbett, said that many farmers were just recovering from the impact of the last foot-and-mouth outbreak. "By its nature farming is a long-term business. With the sheep flocks we are just coming out of the after-effects of 2001. This is a real body blow to the livestock industry which is already suffering a minor crisis with the farm gate prices (received for produce)."

THE NEWS COMES AFTER SOME FARMERS' LIVELIHOODS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY JUNE AND JULY FLOODS WHICH HAVE WIPED OUT CROPS.

A three-kilometre protection zone has been put in place around the premises and a UK-wide ban imposed on movement of all cattle and pigs. In accordance with the legislation, all the cattle on the premises will be culled, said a government spokesman. The farm has been under restrictions since late on Thursday when symptoms were reported.

Debby Reynolds, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, has confirmed the outbreak after samples were taken from the farm. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has taken part by telephone in a Cobra meeting, involving top staff at the Cabinet Office. He is returning to London on Saturday from his holiday in Dorset and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn is to break off from his vacation in Italy.

As well as the three Kilometre protection zone, there is also a 10 kilometre surveillance zone where nearby animals are monitored. National Farmers' Union President Peter Kendall said: "This is a matter of grave concern. We have an industry still depressed from low prices.

"We have to ensure this is a small isolated incident. We are working with the government to ensure the right steps are taken."

The repossession rate is now at its highest for eight years, with a series of interest rate rises leaving many homeowners struggling to meet their mortgage repayments. Banks and building societies seized a total of 14,000 properties back from their owners - a 30 per cent increase on the same period a year ago.

The figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders came as separate data showed that personal insolvency levels had fallen. However, financial experts warned that the fall in personal insolvencies should not be seen as a sign that people's finances were improving.

Philip Hammond, shadow chief secretary to the treasury said: "Falling real incomes and higher taxes are causing real hardship for millions of hard working families. Gordon Brown's 10 years as Chancellor have left Britain with record personal debt, rising taxes and falling take-home pay. No wonder he couldn't wait to get out of Number 11."

But these delicate daffodils are the latest victims of Britain's crazy summer and have popped up in Scotland seven months early. And experts are already putting their unseasonal behaviour down to a warm spring and cold summer which convinced the plants it was time to bloom.

Daffodils generally flower at the start of Spring, then die off around June and July. The bulbs then remain in the soil before flowering again the following April. But earlier this year, gardeners around the country were stunned when daffodils began flowering in March, thanks to a mild winter.

Experts wrongly predicted this was a sign that we were set for the warmest summer ever. However, the poor weather seems to have thrown the daffodils into more confusion, and caused them to flower even earlier. The find comes after what can only be described as freak weather in Britain over the last few months. Flooding and even hail stones gave us the wettest July on record.

Britain is set for the hottest weekend of the year, expected to reach 30C on Sunday, but the rise in temperature could also mean "dangerous" pollution levels, Government experts have warned.

The Met Office said rising temperatures this weekend could cause the problem to get worse.

"We have seen rising levels of ozone, which causes smog, across central London," said a Met Office spokesman. He said temperatures could hit 30C before thunderstorms on Sunday evening.

"A combination of air pollution and warm weather is creating high ozone levels across London, effectively trapping the pollution in the air. As the temperatures rise, that could get worse. It will also feel very humid, and I think it could be an uncomfortable weekend for a lot of people."

Ground level ozone is formed when sunlight acts on nitrogen dioxide and other atmospheric substances close to the ground. The pollutants that cause ground level ozone come from a range of sources, including petrol and other fuels. Smog can also contain elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide and breathable dust.

But the fatal failure of the 40-year-old structure may be worse news in the long run for the nation than had it fallen victim to an attack, says Thomas Rooney, president of Insituform Technologies of St. Louis, Mo. "The U.S. Department of Transportation says 100,000 bridges in this country are structurally deficient," he says. "If 1 percent of 1 percent of these dangerous structures collapse, that is not accidental. That is predictable."

As bad as they are, bridges are in better shape than the rest of our infrastructure, says Rooney. The EPA reports 3.5 million people got sick last year from 73,000 sewer pipe breaks around the country. "Maybe some were accidents," he says. "But when something happens 73,000 times, that is no longer accidental. That is negligence."

Water pipes are even worse. In some parts of America, 50 percent of the drinking water leaks from bad pipes after it is treated but before it reaches the home, reports Rooney. "Water officials mistakenly believe that it is cheaper to shove more water through leaky pipes than fix them," he says. Rooney said last month's pipe explosion in Manhattan was also discounted as a mere accident.

"But these catastrophes were not accidents," says Rooney. "Not if the word has any meaning. Immediately following the bridge collapse, Minnesota officials said the same things as their counterparts in Manhattan just a few weeks ago. They had recently inspected the bridge and the pipe. And so it could not have been their fault."

Rooney continues: "As president of the largest sewer, oil and pipe repair company in the world, I've heard that excuse before - 73,000 times last year alone."

About 30 percent of America's nearly 500,000 bridges are categorized as "deficient" and in "urgent need of repair." In 11 Northeastern states, 50 percent of bridges not only need urgent repairs but are not designed to handle current traffic levels. Many of the bridges are 50 years or older - considerably older than the bridge in Minneapolis.

In New York, the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883. The George Washington Bridge opened in 1931. It still carries 300,000 vehicles a day. An estimated $1.6 trillion is needed over five years to bring America's infrastructure up to 'safe standards.' "The nation is failing to even maintain the substandard conditions we currently have," said the report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers, "a dangerous trend that is affecting highway safety, as well as the health of the economy."

"Ignoring bad infrastructure and hoping it will do no harm is not an option anymore," says Rooney. "Places that take care of their infrastructure are safer, healthier and more prosperous."