European researchers have created a genetically modified strain of maize that contains three vitamins, which could help people living in regions such as the sub-Sahara to eat a more balanced diet.  The yield of beta carotene and precursors of vitamin C and folic acid "vastly exceeds" any produced by conventional plant breeding, they say.

Australia, which has the highest per capita emissions in the developed world, is delaying its carbon emissions trading scheme for a year, putting it back til 2011. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd blamed the poor economic conditions for the delay.

Asia must do more to cut poverty and take the lead in fighting global warming, says Asian Development Bank president Haruhiko Kuroda, pointing out that "unless proactive steps are taken to make growth environmentally sustainable, the region will quickly become the main driver of climate change".

Siberia's Lake Baikal, the world's largest and most biologically diverse lake, faces the prospect of severe ecological disruption as a result of climate change, new joint US-Russian analysis suggests. Its high proportion of unique flora and fauna, which gained it a World Heritage Site ranking, are particularly vulnerable to changes in the length of time the lake is frozen each winter.

Odd Spot: In Venezuela, some things are topsy-turvy: as peak oil alarms the rest of the world, petrol there is cheaper than water - and because there's a two-year wait for a new car, used cars are more expensive, gaining value as soon as they leave the showroom.  

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