Climate change has been a major talking point this week following the publication of a landmark UN report calling on global leaders to take urgent action to address the crisis.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is predicting that global temperatures will rise by 1.5C over the next 20 years - and says that human activity is “unequivocally” the cause of rapid changes to the climate including sea level rises, melting polar ice and glaciers, heatwaves, floods and droughts.
Nature lovers in the UK have also been worrying about the fate of Geronimo the alpaca, a six-year-old pet due to be put down at the orders of the Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra). Protesters including a group of trained alpacas marched on Downing Street this week in protest against the “death sentence”.
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The government is also under fire over the cost of PCR Covid tests that holidaymakers hoping to go abroad are required to use. More than 100 government-sanctioned providers were found to be charging around £200 for the tests - and others were charging more than £500.
To find out how closely you’ve been paying attention to the latest developments in the pandemic and other global events, put your knowledge to the test with our Quiz of The Week:
Need a reminder of some of the other headlines over the past seven days?
Russia is reporting a sharp spike in coronavirus deaths, despite having been the first country to officially approve a Covid vaccine, back in August last year.
Over in the US, many Republicans are backing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for a potential presidential run in 2024, as pundits tip him to become the new Donald Trump.
In other political news across the pond, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned after an inquiry found that he sexually harassed 11 women while in office. Cuomo was facing impeachment proceedings but quit on Wednesday, claiming that an investigation would be a huge distraction during a time of crisis and would cost millions of dollars.
Back in Europe, mass evacuation orders were issued by the authorities in Greece as uncontrolled wildfires swept towards the ancient city of Athens. With temperatures as high as 40C sparking a series of blazes, officials blamed climate change for the “devastating heatwave”.
