The Arctic has heated up so much that there is still little sea ice in some regions. Species that depend on it, such as polar bears, could be wiped out locally this year.

Some authors will boycott the Dubai book festival.

Even when there is nothing specific to boycott, you'd be wise not to go to Dubai or any part of the UAE.

Michael Segalov, a UK journalist, was ordered by thugs not to attend the 2017 Labour Party conference. They refused to give any grounds for this.

He sued, and proved that the decision by the thug department was based partly on false information. Before the trial, given no grounds, Segalov had no chance to demonstrate that the grounds were false.

Worse, the decision was based on equating "participation in a protest" with "threat of terrorism".

The UK thugs have a long history of interfering with the Labour Party, and of labeling peaceful leftist protesters as dangerous criminals.

David Haigh was tortured in prison in the UAE (Dubai), and says that public condemnation and pressure is the only way to get prisoners out. He urges people to avoid going there, and other forms of international pressure.

The UAE might be thinking of pardoning him, in response to the pressure.

Matthew Hedges, the recently imprisoned "spy", was reportedly researching "Emirate tribal structures and their views on the war in Yemen". The idea that people's views on issues are secret, and that researching them constitutes spying, makes sense only if repression is taken for granted as a premise.

Tory welfare cuts are driving many destitute people to consider suicide.