New Zealand: Bitter, unseasonable cold

This unseasonably cold outbreak will significantly affect many high country roads and passes over and near the Southern Alps, and also from this evening the higher roads on the central North Island Plateau. These weather conditions will place stress on livestock and is likely to be severe for newborn animals, particularly in Southland, and south Otago.

Australia: Climate change we can believe in

James McDonald writes: I wonder when the question will turn up on a job application or visa form somewhere: "Are you, or have you ever been, a Climate Change Denier?" I'll say this: if it weren't for these allegedly big-business fifth-columnist provocateurs in our very midst coming out at the full moon to question the case for human-induced global warming, and some of the calmer replies they elicit, I would be at best far less knowledgeable on the subject and at worst still a Climate Change Denier myself.

As it is I'm still open-minded on the issue but prepared to vote (and pay) on the safe side. I gather the label is adapted from "Holocaust Denier" with the implied hope that some illiberal jurisdiction somewhere will make Climate Change Denial an indictable offense. I say cheers to the sceptics who keep on challenging the new orthodoxy, and cheers to those of scientific background who continue patiently to respond with evidence. I read it all with interest.