Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 12 Nov 2014

1. CHINA AND US UNVEIL NEW EMISSIONS TARGETS

Barack Obama and China’s Xi Jinping have unveiled new targets on greenhouse gas emissions after holding talks together at the Apec summit of Pacific nations in Beijing. Obama set a goal of reducing US emissions by 26-28% by 2025. Xi did not specify a number but said emissions would reduce after 2030.

China and US strike 'historic' greenhouse gas emissions deal

2. BANKS FINED £2BN FOR FIXING FOREX RATES

Five banks - HSBC, RBS, UBS, JP Morgan Chase and Citibank - have been fined a total of £2bn by UK and US regulators for the foreign exchange rate fixing scandal. The UK fines - £1.1bn - are the biggest ever imposed by British regulators. Barclays withdrew from the deal and will face separate sanctions.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Barclays, RBS and HSBC agree $1bn forex fixing settlement

3. SPACE PROBE MAKES COMET LANDING

European Space Agency probe Philae has successfully landed on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It was the first time such a landing had been attempted and the probe touched down shortly after 4pm GMT, descending 20km from the Rosetta satellite. Scientists hope the achievement will provide fresh insights into the origins of our Solar System and life on Earth.

Rosetta researchers find 'building blocks of life' on comet

4. RUSSIAN TANKS AND TROOPS 'IN UKRAINE'

Nato says Russian tanks, artillery, air defence systems and troops have been seen in eastern Ukraine as tensions mount in the region once again. The UN Security Council has called an emergency session to discuss the reported sightings. Russia has denied aiding rebels in the region, where a fragile ceasefire has been in place since September.

5. THOUSANDS OF NOTTS PATIENTS VIRUS RISK

Some 22,000 patients of a Nottinghamshire dentist have been recalled for tests, in fear they may have been infected with blood-born viruses. The dentist, who has been suspended because of a breach of infection control standards, has not yet been identified - but it is known he is not HIV positive.

6. ACTOR WARREN CLARKE DIES AGED 67

Actor Warren Clarke, known for his roles in TV police drama Dalziel And Pascoe and 1971 film A Clockwork Orange, has died at the age of 67 after a short illness. The Oldham-born actor had been a regular on TV screens since the 1960s, when he appeared in Coronation Street. His final role was in a remake of Poldark, to be shown next year.

7. MALI: SECOND EBOLA DEATH CONFIRMED

Mali has confirmed a second death from Ebola after a nurse who had treated an infected man from neighbouring Guinea contracted the disease at the Pasteur Clinic in the capital, Bamako. The previous case was a two-year-old girl. The virus has infected 13,240 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

8. VOLUNTEERS START REMOVING POPPIES

The art installation Blood-Swept Lands and Seas of Red, at the Tower of London’s moat, is being dismantled from today. The first of 888,246 handmade ceramic poppies was placed there in July, the last yesterday. The number was chosen as it is the official number of British casualties in WW1.

9. UK WAGES GROWING FASTER THAN INFLATION

Earnings growth for UK workers has overtaken the rate of inflation for the first time in five years, according to the Office for National Statistics. Wages excluding bonuses increased by 1.3% in the year to September, while inflation stood at 1.2%. Meanwhile, the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell 20,400 in September, the 24th consecutive monthly cut.

10. HOT TICKET: CLIMATE CHANGE ON STAGE

A new theatre piece about climate change, 2071, is playing at the Royal Court Theatre, London. Climate scientist Chris Rapley presents a 75-minute 'performance lecture' with video, exploring the environmental impact of mankind's dependence on fossil fuels. "Engrossing,” says The Times. Until 15 November.

2071 - reviews of 'engrossing' climate change performance