Morning News Roundup (23 May)

• Global temperatures will rise further in the future than previous studies have indicated, according to new research from two scientific teams.
  
  They both used historical records to calculate the likely amplification of warming as higher temperatures induce release of CO2 from ecosystems. They both conclude that current estimates of warming are too low, by anything up to 75%. [BBC]
  
  
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted yesterday an "above-normal hurricane season" this year, with as many as 16 named storms and the prospect that four to six of them could become major hurricanes.
  
  Although hurricane activity is not expected to reach last year's record level, it is predicted to be greater than the 40-year average. On average, a hurricane season produces 11 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, two of them major ones. But in 2005, there were a record 28 storms, including 15 hurricanes. Seven of these were considered "major," and a record four hit the United States. [WaPo]
  
  
• London Times reporter Michael Smith reports at Raw Story that Tony Blair and George Bush will announce that they are to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq at a summit in Washington as early as this week. The scope of the phased withdrawal, which will see the 133,000 US force levels cut to around 100,000 by the end of the year and British numbers almost halved, has already been agreed, one senior defence source said.
  
  
• A story written by Amir Taheri, a prominent neo-con, regarding new legislation in Iran “allegedly requiring Jews and other religious minorities to wear distinctive-colored badges circulated around the world last weekend before it was exposed as extremely dubious.” Juan Cole described the article as “typical of black psychological operations campaigns,” particularly in its origin in an “out-of-the-way newspaper that is then picked up by the mainstream press.” [ThinkProgress' ThinkFast]
  
  
• From this week French cars will sport a new eco-labelling scheme, similar to the energy ones found on washing machines and fridges. In this case, the tags will indicate the CO2 emissions per kilometre for each car. France’s environment minister, Nelly Olin, said, “We must avoid a drift towards cars that are too big for our towns, too polluting, like in other countries." [Treehugger]
  
  
• Dixie Chicks played their new single, "Not Ready to Make Nice," on Letterman last night and Atrios has the YouTube video. Back in 2003, they raised the ire of the country music world with this statement at a London concert by lead singer Natalie Maines: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." They're the cover story on Time Magazine this week, and they're definitely not ready to make nice:
  

  "I apologized for disrespecting the office of the President. But I don't feel that way anymore. I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever."