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8. April 2017, 21:58

UN warns of climate change impact

A new report by the United Nations says the impact of global warming is likely to be "severe, pervasive and irreversible". Meeting in Japan, scientists and officials urged swift action, saying there's a growing risk of floods, food shortages and threats to human health. Rajendra Pachauri is the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: "we have reasons to believe that if the world doesn't do anything about mitigating the emissions of greenhouse gases and the extent of climate change continues to increase, then the very social stability of human systems could be at stake."

Turkey's PM claims victory in polls

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has claimed victory for his AK party in local elections over the week-end. The polls were seen as a key test of his popularity following the protests last summer and a series of corruption allegations against his government.

Election losses for French Socialists

In France, President Francois Hollande's governing Socialists have suffered major losses in municipal elections with the opposition centre-right UMP claiming victory and the far right making further gains. The Socialists have been hit by growing discontent over the economy.

Russian Prime Minister visits Crimea

Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is visiting Crimea in the highest level visit to the Black Sea peninsula since its annexation by Moscow. Meanwhile, the Ukranian government has hit back at Russian calls for it to federalise its state structure, saying the proposals were aimed at breaking up Ukraine. Over the week-end, the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and his American counterpart John Kerry held talks on the crisis in Paris. Kerry said both wanted a diplomatic solution: "the U.S. and Russia have differences of opinion about the events that led to this crisis. But both of us recognise the importance of finding a diplomatic solution."

Musharraf charged with treason

A court in Pakistan has charged the former military ruler Pervez Musharraf with treason. Musharraf has been accused of illegally suspending the constitution and bringing in emergency rule in 2007. He's pleaded not guilty and says the charges against him are politically motivated.

Court rules against Japanese whaling

The International Court of Justice in The Hague has ruled that Japan's whaling programme in the Antarctic is not for scientific purposes and has ordered a temporary halt to its activities. Japan catches around 1,000 whales each year for what it says is scientific research. But Australia, which filed the case, had argued that it was commercial whaling in disguise.

The weather

Occasional sunshine but there's also some cloud about. Highs between 15 and 23 degrees.

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