welcome to bbc news, our top stories. as extreme weather batters the planet of the un secretary general tells the bbc the world is approaching a point of no return. if we are not able to reverse the present threat that is leading to a catastrophe in the world, we will be doomed. ina in a case that has gripped australia the trial of a man accused of raping a colleague inside parliament house is abandoned after it emerges a jury abandoned after it emerges a jury carried out background research on the case of. around's security forces opened fire on protesters a0 days after the death of a woman accused of wearing her hijab incorrectly. russian forces carry out

nuclear drills, as fears grow about an escalation of the war in ukraine. and the —— with a difference, hundreds of runners where they most stylish stilettos to take part in washington's annual high heel drag queen race. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. united nations secretary general says the world is heading for a catastrophe unless climate change is prioritised. concentrations of the three main greenhouse gases rose to concentration levels unprecedented. next month they will meet in egypt for, 27. ——

cop27. it has been a year of extreme weather. devastating floods in pakistan, drought in somalia with millions threatened by famine, and record—breaking heat in the uk and many other countries. it's why the un chief says climate is the most important issue in his in—tray. climate change is the crisis of our lifetime. it's the defining issue of today's world. so, climate change remains a central priority in everything we do. if we are not able to reverse the present trend that is leading to catastrophe in the world, we will be doomed. and a welter of new reports released by un bodies today reveals the worlds woeful progress on climate. at the glasgow conference, countries agreed to raise their carbon cutting game every year.

well, we have just got the figures in for this year and just 2a out of 193 countries strengthened their plan. if you take together all the pledges the world has made, we still see emissions increasing by 10% by 2030. now, the science is very clear on this. it says emissions need to almost halve by 2030 to avoid the worst effects of climate change, so we are moving in the wrong direction. it's the same story when you take an atmospheric perspective. another new report shows concentrations of the main greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — all hit record levels last year, with the biggest increase in methane ever recorded. it underscores the urgency of action. do you think the governments of the world recognise that? not necessarily all of them at the present moment. you have inflation, you have the consequences of the war, you have high prices of energy and food, and social

unrest linked to that. so there has been indeed a tendency to put climate change on the back burner. and that is why it is so important to strongly advocate to bring back climate change to the centre of the international debate. there have been fears some countries, including the uk, have been rolling back on some of their climate commitments. liz truss advised king charles not to go to the un climate summit in egypt, for example. should the king go to cop27? do you want to see him there? and what about the new uk prime minister, rishi sunak? do you want to see him there in egypt? i'd like to see them both. i'm sensing that you are slightly worried about the uk government's�*s commitment on climate. if they need to be held to account by the people, it suggests they are not... there were some hints but those hints do not correspond to the reality. let's be optimistic about the future.

this year we have had a taste of the kind of extreme weather climate change can bring. the message from the un today is clear. unless we raise ambition in egypt, the world will face far greater extremes. justin rowlatt, bbc news, the un hq in new york. doctor melissa is co—director of the round climate resilience centre and joins us now from pittsburgh. thank you so much for doing so. the un secretary general did not mince his words, potentially that potentially we are doomed. do you think governments face the scale of the threat? let governments face the scale of the threat?— the threat? let me start by sa in: the threat? let me start by saying that _ the threat? let me start by saying that i _ the threat? let me start by saying that i strongly - the threat? let me start by saying that i strongly agree with the un secretary general�*s recent comments on climate action is urgent, we must collaborate faster to protect our health, economies and

children's futures. i think we have seen some efforts to decarbonisation of our economies and better management of natural resources in some instances, but this transition obviously needs to be a gradual and carefully managed process to prevent significant economic pain. to prevent significant economic ain. ~ ., to prevent significant economic ain, . ., ., , to prevent significant economic ain. ~ ., . , ., pain. world leaders are meeting in e: -t pain. world leaders are meeting in egypt for _ pain. world leaders are meeting in egypt for com _ pain. world leaders are meeting in egypt for cop27 in _ pain. world leaders are meeting in egypt for cop27 in a - pain. world leaders are meeting in egypt for cop27 in a matter. in egypt for cop27 in a matter of weeks. what should top the agenda? what should they be discussing above all else? i would say global leaders really need to focus on working together to help their countries become more climate resilient, and what does that mean? that means investing in renewable sources of energy, ensuring physical infrastructure can withstand extremes and ensuring that the communities have the resources they need to be healthy and strong. they need to be healthy and stronu. ~ ., ~ they need to be healthy and stronu. ~ . ~ ., ., ., strong. we talked a lot about the conversations _ strong. we talked a lot about the conversations about - strong. we talked a lot about i the conversations about climate change and what has happened to our planet. we have seen lots of high—profile conferences, cop27, the paris climate have big, ambitious goals. are

reaching those goals? how our country is doing? ida reaching those goals? how our country is doing?— country is doing? no question, it's really _ country is doing? no question, it's really difficult _ country is doing? no question, it's really difficult to _ country is doing? no question, it's really difficult to tackle - it's really difficult to tackle multiple problems at once, climate change itself is difficult, the commitments that countries have made a difficult to achieve, but we have inflation, supply chain issues and international conflict that all attention and resources. eyeshadow secretary general�*s agency in addressing climate change and i believe governments know that the longer we wait the more expensive it will be to fix this problem.— expensive it will be to fix this roblem. ., . , this problem. how much time is left? not much, _ this problem. how much time is left? not much, as— this problem. how much time is left? not much, as your - this problem. how much time is left? not much, as your report. left? not much, as your report mentioned. — left? not much, as your report mentioned, we _ left? not much, as your report mentioned, we have _ left? not much, as your report mentioned, we have to - left? not much, as your report mentioned, we have to halve l mentioned, we have to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to have a chance of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change so urgent attention is needed right now. what about the public, because you and i, people around the world will play a role in this as well. me all consumed things i get in our cars apply places. do you think the public knows

what is expected of them? knows the scale of the issue and knows how to respond? i would sa the knows how to respond? i would say the biggest _ knows how to respond? i would say the biggest challenge - knows how to respond? i would say the biggest challenge these daysis say the biggest challenge these days is that there is too much disinformation. we really need people to have access to good information so they can understand what they can do about this problem, both at a personal and a societal and government level. people might be confused but that's because some industries are engaged in this information to protect their profits and agendas, but we know what the challenges, we know what needs to be done and we know we need to work together to protect the quality of life for everyone, and we need to get busy and tackle that challenge now. find need to get busy and tackle that challenge now.- need to get busy and tackle that challenge now. and we will follow all the _ that challenge now. and we will follow all the twists _ that challenge now. and we will follow all the twists and - that challenge now. and we will follow all the twists and turns i follow all the twists and turns closely, thank you, joining us from pittsburgh in the united states. the trial of a former political advisor in australia charged with leaving at —— raping a colleague in a colleague has been abandoned. bruce lehrmann had denied assaulting brittany higgins

three years ago. talking to our correspondent in sydney now. why has this fall apart? well after 12 days _ why has this fall apart? well after 12 days of _ why has this fall apart? well after 12 days of trial- why has this fall apart? well after 12 days of trial and - why has this fall apart? -ii after 12 days of trial and five days of deliberation, the jury has been suspended, sorry, discharged, because one of the members has taken, done their own research, they read an academic paper on sexual assault that was not part of the evidence. thejudge assault that was not part of the evidence. the judge that presided over this lucy mccullin said today that while this may not have done any harm, this was not a risk she was willing to take. she also said she had reminded thejury about 17 times if not more, and i was there in the courtroom when she was speaking to the jury, saying do not read anything in the media, do not conduct your own research, just

stick to the evidence that has been given to you during the case, and today it was revealed that once jury member has actually read an external, if you will, research paper, an academic paper on sexual assault, and it was discovered ijy assault, and it was discovered by a court official when it fell off a table in the jury room, so as it stands it has now been deemed a mistrial, and mr lehrmann is due to maybe stand trial earlier next year. brittany higgins, we heard from her who appeared quite emotional outside court, referring to the fact that her life, phone, messages have been made public for the world to see, mr lehrmann has used his right not to give evidence and so he was not required to give any of this, he was not cross—examined like ms higgins

was, he was quite emotional outside court today but as it stands this jury has now been discharged and there is said be every trial early next year. you talk about the public nature of this case, and in many respects this was australia's me too moment? her allegations _ australia's me too moment? her allegations of — australia's me too moment? he: allegations of being raped australia's me too moment? h2 allegations of being raped in parliament house in the country's seat of power has really prompted a big movement. i remember in march of 2021 there were many many thousands of people taking the streets in a march forjustice movement, demanding justice for women, better networking environments, calling out sexual harassment, but it also prompted a damning report that found a third of employees in australia's fatima parliament had actually been

sexually assaulted, and sexually assaulted, and sexually harassed i should say, and so obviously the trial has been ongoing, there is said to been ongoing, there is said to be a retrial but the movement itself, the moment when brittany higgins gave away her right of anonymity came out in very high—profile tv, and then went to the police to make her claims, that itself has become a galvanising moment, she has become one of the most outspoken people about australia, making, taking a different approach to sexual assault and sexual abuse. to the day's _ assault and sexual abuse. to the day's other news. in the uk, rishi sunak has appeared before mps in parliament on his first full day as prime minister, and announced yet more unravelling of predecessor liz truss's plans. the government's economic statement, due to be delivered on monday, has now been pushed back by almost three weeks, and a ban on fracking

in england reinstated. a jury in wisconsin has found a man guilty of murdering six people by driving into a christmas parade last year. the defendant, darrell brooks, was found guilty on 76 charges of deliberately crashing his vehicle into a crowd in the city of waukesha near milwaukee. 60 other people were injured, including many children. the parent company of facebook, instagram and whatsapp has reported a fall in revenue for the second consecutive quarter, in the latest sign of the us and global economic slowdown. meta's profits for the past three months were $a.a billion — less than half of the same period last year. security forces in iran have used live ammunition on protesters in several cities.

a0 days after the death of mahsa amini in police custody. she was arrested after allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly. people took to the streets in 30 cities across the country with some businesses also closing to show their solidarity. 0ur correspondent rana rahimpour reports. chanting. day a0 of iran protest and a0 days since the death of mahsa amini, the young iranian kurdish woman who has become a symbol for iran's protest movement. this is the city of saqez, her birthplace. the authorities did everything to stop people attending her memorial day. they blocked the roads and closed all the schools and universities of kurdistan province. but they failed. and thousands of people marched to her grave. the violent crackdown of the protests have failed to stop them.

videos show demonstrations in tehran, the capital and at least another 30 cities and in the universities across the country. meanwhile, more businesses have gone on strike. these were demonstrations in front of the medical council of the islamic republic of iran in the capital. doctors were protesting when security officers attacked them. some were arrested. workers at tehran oil refinery company refused to work. and shop owners in the capitals grand bazaar as well as other cities stay closed the iranian authorities say everything is under control but the videos that are being published online tell a different story. they show a country in turmoil. and people who want regime change. rana rahimpour, bbc news.

you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: dashing through the streets of washington, to honour the lgbtq community, and in high heels no less! we bring you the latest scenes from the annual high—heel drag-queen race. indira gandhi, ruler of the world's largest democracy, died today. 0nly yesterday, she had spoken of dying in the service of her country, and said, "i would be proud of it. "every drop of my blood will contribute "to the growth of this nation." after ag years of unhappiness, these two countries have concluded a chapter of history. no more suspicion, no more fear, no more uncertainty. of what each day might bring. booster ignition and lift—off of discovery, with six astronaut heroes and

one american legend! we're enjoying the show. this is beautiful. baby cries a milestone in human history. born today, this girl in india is the seven billionth person on the planet. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines: the un secretary general issues a stark warning that we are approaching the point of no return if the world wants to tackle climate change. the trail of a man accused of raping a woman inside

australia's parliament house after it was ——as suspended after it was ——as suspended after its revealed a juror obtained ground information. as russia suffers military setbacks in the south around kherson, it has been conducting annual exercises to test out its strategic nuclear weapons. ballistic missiles were launched from the ground submarines in the barents sea, and from the air. robin brant has the details. as the missiles went up, the message went out. this was only a simulation, a test, but russia wants the world to remember that it has the biggest stockpile of nuclear weapons. vladimir putin watched and he was briefed, as russia's forces as far from the north—west to the east of the country rehearsed their reaction to a nuclear attack. military chiefs told russia's leader the task of delivering a massive nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces had been rehearsed. 0n land, in the air,

and at sea, this annual exercise is known as grom, or thunder. eight months into the war in ukraine it is designed to have added potency but in kyiv, the simulation was seen as just that. my personal opinion, he will not use nuclear weapons. they did a lot of stupid things, but they continue to be pragmatic. these images are notjust part of a war effort, they are part of a propaganda effort. the latest claim at the heart of which is the accusation ukraine is about to use a dirty bomb, explosives with radiological material attached. utterly untrue, though, says ukraine's international backers. nato allies reject this transparently false allegation. russia often accuses others for what they intend to do themselves.

we have seen this pattern before from syria to ukraine. russia must not use false tactics or further escalation. the big thing for them is to try to shut down western support for ukraine and one of the ways they are doing this is by scaring us with nuclear rhetoric, with accusations about things that lead us toward the point that ukraine in their eyes is going to be the aggressor about nuclear warfare. the war in ukraine is a bitter and bloody conventional one. moscow's unsubstantiated claims of dirty bombs and implied threats of nuclear attacks are the latest weapons from a country and a leader dealing with an enemy that refuses to capitulate. robin brant, bbc news.

we can now speak to mark montgomery, joining us from washington. thank you so much for doing so. we talked quite easily about russia undertaking nuclear drills. what exactly is it doing and why is it doing so. ., ~' it doing and why is it doing so. ., ~ , ., y it doing and why is it doing so. ., ~' , ., , . it doing and why is it doing so. . ~' i., , . ., so. thank you very much for havin: so. thank you very much for having me. _ so. thank you very much for having me, gareth, - so. thank you very much for having me, gareth, and - so. thank you very much for| having me, gareth, and your corresponded described it perfectly. these are routine drills that are conducted every year. right now the us and nato are conduct thing a similar exercise, smaller with b—52 bombers and tactical fighters. this is a very large exercise thatis this is a very large exercise that is typical for the russians, it is also difficult for the russians to fire, it is a little unusual to fire all of these muscles in one event but thatis these muscles in one event but that is probably a little bit of posturing by president putin but in general this is routine things happening in really a

routine manager is not at a routine manager is not at a routine time. 50 routine manager is not at a routine time.— routine time. so if it's a bit of posturing _ routine time. so if it's a bit of posturing but _ routine time. so if it's a bit of posturing but mostly - of posturing but mostly routine, what likelihood then, we talked lots about it, is there of any escalation within there of any escalation within the war in ukraine?— the war in ukraine? first, in our the war in ukraine? first, in your clip _ the war in ukraine? first, in your clip you _ the war in ukraine? first, in your clip you had _ the war in ukraine? first, in your clip you had a - the war in ukraine? first, in your clip you had a great - your clip you had a great comment from the ukrainian leadership that was very mature and ds literary, the united states has spoken about it that way. this is the way we have two treat it, we have to act like the adults in the room and hope you can expect president putin to approach this analogical manner. because it would seem — analogical manner. because it would seem it _ analogical manner. because it would seem it is _ analogical manner. because it would seem it is not - analogical manner. because it would seem it is not in - analogical manner. because it would seem it is not in his - would seem it is not in his interest to use nuclear weapons either? b, interest to use nuclear weapons either? �* interest to use nuclear weapons either? ~ . ., either? a tactical nuclear weapon _ either? a tactical nuclear weapon used _ either? a tactical nuclear weapon used in - either? a tactical nuclear weapon used in ukraine. either? a tactical nuclear - weapon used in ukraine would have devastating impact on russian forces and then the russian forces and then the russian civilian population as you have downwind effects. we talk about _ you have downwind effects. we talk about nuclear weapons in slightly abstract terms because the last time we saw the youth was in the second world war. you perhaps no better than anybody what the reality would

be like what would the reality of say a tactical nuclear weapon used on the battlefield in ukraine be in real life? that is a great western but first they would say the reason the united states and nato worry about this a lot is that we know the russians have never really taken tactical nuclear weapons out of the dock and whereas the west generally has and the russians have maintained a significant five to ten fold larger tactical nuclear arsenal than the us and nato. the impact as you asked would be significant, even in a small yield weapon, it would make the area in which it was uninhabitable for decades, it would create significant, depending on the wind, wind and fallout patterns that would have impact, this area of both russia and ukraine as a significant grain and breadbasket for north africa and a lot of the middle east,

so it would have really long—term devastating impact on the region and the world. mark montgomery — the region and the world. mark montgomeryjoining _ the region and the world. mark montgomeryjoining us - the region and the world. mark montgomeryjoining us from washington, we will have to leave it there but thank you so much. before we go, thousands lined the streets of washington dc to watch the high heel race which honours the lgbt community. every year, dozens of drag queens bring colour, sass and so much fun to the race which always takes place on the tuesday before halloween. wendy urquhart reports. cheering the whistle blew, the crowd went nuts, and despite their sky—high heels, the runners were off like a rocket. this is the 17th annual high heel race at dupont circle in washington, which is one of the most popular lgbtq events in america. i'm a straight male in the gay community, but i participate anyway because i support all them and i support all people. it's my first time here, but it's so much fun, and i wish they would do more events like this because it gets everyone out

having a great time. the community, the event itself, the pageantry. - it's fun to go out during - halloween and be with friends and dress up and run in heels. it's a delight. the costumes were as beautiful as they were varied and participants sashayed down the street loud and proud — some sprinting to the finish, others preferring not to ruffle their feathers and a fewjust posing for the crowds. cheering feathers, sparkles and baubles brought a touch of glamour to the night, but by the end of the race, some of the runners were clearly suffering as the painful reality of walking and running in heels took its toll. wendy urquhart, bbc news. i struggle to run, let alone in heels or address or in drag. fair play to them. you can reach me on twitter. thanks so

much for watching. hello there. 0utdoor events like halloween and bonfire nightjust around the corner. and if you're thinking about grabbing the scarf and gloves, think again. it's going to stay very mild indeed. these are temperatures that we should be seeing around the end of october, but what we are likely to get today is widespread mild weather, with above average temperatures even as far north as scotland. but we could see highest values of 22 degrees somewhere across the southeast — that's 72 fahrenheit. and why? well, because of the wind direction. coming all the way up from the south, it's dragging in this warmer air all the way from africa. and it's notjust the uk. large area of high pressure keeping things very dry, very settled and very mild across central europe.

we unfortunately won't see the drier weather because all the time, these areas of low pressure will bring outbreaks of rain and strong winds from time to time. so first thing in the morning, there'll be outbreaks of rain across southwest england and wales, a lot of low cloud around as well. a very mild start. misty and murky. 0ur rain becomes quite showery as it pushes its way steadily north, masking early morning sunshine across parts of aberdeenshire by the end of the day. but we should see an improving picture generally across england and wales. maybe the risk of a few isolated sharp showers in the southeast, but with the sunshine, that's where we're likely to see the warmth, highs potentially into the low 20s. more wet weather to come on friday, some of it heavy and windy with it, too. not for all, but the heaviest of the rain is likely to be out to the west, and that'll be accompanied by gale force gusts of wind on exposed coasts and some pretty rough seas here. now that rain and the strong winds will gradually drift its way northwards during the day on friday, again allowing for lighter winds, more sunshine. and again, those temperatures pretty good for the end of october. more of the same as we head into the weekend. not a wash—out by any means, but there will be

outbreaks of rain. and at times, once the rain passes through, we'll see those isobars squeezing together, the winds picking up. but there will also be some sunshine as well, so it's a very messy story this weekend. keep abreast of the forecast, particularly for sunday. but generally there will be outbreaks of rain. there'll also be some sunshine, but one unifying factor — mild for all.