UK

Serious concerns have been raised over plans to build eight new nuclear plants in the UK after the Japanese earthquake caused nuclear meltdown.

A nuclear safety review has been ordered by the UK government following the explosions in a nuclear plant in Japan.

Tim Thompson of the Green Party in Cornwall believes the chain of events in Japan, exposes the wider vulnerabilities of nuclear power and its negative effects.

Chicken empathy from Ruben Martinez on Vimeo.

The discovery that hens have feelings could affect the future of commercial chicken farming in the UK. But not all farmers agree that it would actually make a difference.

Hundreds braced the cold Belfast weather on Shrove Tuesday to see bride-to-be Kate Middleton and Prince William.

This was the couple's first visit to Northern Ireland. Smiling for the crowds, they both tried their hands at tossing a pancake outside City Hall.

There had been no pre-visit announcement amid security fears. Armed police officers patrolled the surrounding streets.

Sales of Fairtrade products in the UK have soared by 40% over the last year billion despite the tough economic climate.

Britain is the world's biggest consumer of ethical goods, according to the Fairtrade Foundation which supports farmers, workers and their families in the developing countries.

Britons consume 9.3 million cups of fairtrade tea, 6.4 million cups of coffee, 2.3 million chocolate bars, 530,000 cups of drinking chocolate and 3.1million bananas every day.

Falmouth Custom's House closes. from Calum MacDougall on Vimeo.

Fears of smuggling are rising in Falmouth, Cornwall. The closure of the Customs House makes the docks a target, claims harbourmaster Mark Sansom.

The European Commission has proposed lifting a controversial law that requires fishermen to discard excess catches. 

Another reform suggested by Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki would limit the time that fishermen can spend at sea. This would reduce the large amount of waste fish dumped in the North Sea every year.

She will pitch ideas to delegates from EU member states next week and a decision is expected later in the year.

Oxford Tuition Fees from Lucy Bickerton on Vimeo.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has told top universities they must admit more underprivileged students if they want to charge maximum fees.

Mephedrone is continuing to grow in popularity, despite being banned nearly a year ago.

The drug has become easily available through the internet, according to a report from nightclubbing magazine Mixmag.

It found that 75% of 2500 nightclubbers surveyed have used the drug since it was banned.

10% even said their usage had increased during this time.

Websites offer the drug mixed with other legal substances, creating Research Chemicals. These compounds are not currently illegal.

Deaths

Chinese New Year in London from Calum MacDougall on Vimeo.

Billions of people from around the world have welcomed in the Chinese New Year.

In London, it was celebrated with a festival and parade to Trafalgar Square.

Police have launched street-level online maps highlighting crime hotspots in England and Wales.

The maps allow users to search street-by-street through an online database which breaks down crimes into categories and specific location.

The website crashed within hours of its launch after receiving more than 75,000 hits a minute, up to five million an hour.