Citizen Cartwright

Top panel talks climate risks facing you and me

The effects of climate change already are occurring on all continents and across the oceans, and the world in many cases is unprepared, says the latest report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

"Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change,'' says IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri.

Dr Saleemul Huq, a convening lead author on one of the chapters, says, "Before this we thought we knew this was happening, but now we have overwhelming evidence that it is happening and it is real."

The report is based on more than 12,000 peer-reviewed scientific studies.

It's "the most solid evidence you can get in any scientific discipline," says Michel Jarraud, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization.

There are opportunities to respond to the risks of climate change, but the risks will be hard to manage with high levels of warming, the report says.

Kerry says Russia must pull back from Ukraine border

After meeting Sunday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the U.S. secretary of state said the large Russian force on Ukraine's border is "creating a climate of fear and intimidation in Ukraine.”

For his part, Lavrov said Ukraine should devolve power to allow its regions more autonomy and ensure minority rights.

Kerry and Lavrov said the sides would hold further talks to find an outcome acceptable to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has gone to Crimea in the first visit by a top Russian official since his country annexed the Black Sea peninsula.

Regulators knew of GM problem but didn't act, panel says

For more than a decade, both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and General Motors ignored or dismissed warnings more than has been acknowledged about a faulty ignition switch, according to staff for the Republican majority of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mary Barra, GM's chief executive, and David Friedman, acting administrator of the safety agency, are to testify this week before House and Senate panels.

Richest congressional districts represented by Democrats

While the Republican Party is labeled as the party of the rich, of the 10 wealthiest House districts, only two have Republican congressman, says The Associated Press.

The very richest district is New York's 12th Congressional District, which includes Manhattan's Upper East Side. Democrat Carolyn Maloney is in her 11th term representing that district.

The next highest income district runs along the southern California coast and is represented by Democrat Henry Waxman, who is in his 20th term.

Also in the news

North, South Korea exchange artillery rounds into the sea

Pakistani court indicts former President Musharaff on treason charges

Hagel says Defense Department will show cyberwarfare restraint if other nations do the same

White House is targeting methane gas emissions

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rogers says he’ll retire to take job as radio host

Port Authority Chairman Samson resigns amid New Jersey Bridgegate scandal

Graft case a factor in race for mayor of Washington, D.C.

The sharing economy is giving roommates a new image

Drug seen lowering cholesterol beyond statins, but would it prevent heart attacks, strokes?

FDA advisory panel recommends approval of Cologuard at-home test for colon cancer

Vietnam POW and Alabama GOP Sen. Jeremiah Denton dies at 89

U.N.'s Crimea vote draws Russian ire

The non-binding resolution declaring invalid Crimea's Moscow-backed referendum on seceding from Ukraine passed with 100 votes in favor, 11 against and 58 abstentions in the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly on Thursday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Western nations used "the full force of the unspent potential of the Cold War-era propaganda machine" to get support for the resolution.

"It is well-known what kind of shameless pressure, up to the point of political blackmail and economic threats, was brought to bear on a number of (U.N.) member states so they would vote 'yes'," said the ministry.

Christie's internal report absolves him

A law firm hired by the New Jersey governor to investigate the "Bridgegate" scandal — at a cost to state taxpayers of $1 million —  exonerated the potential Republican presidential contender in a report released Thursday.

The report is being called a "whitewash" in editorials of The New York Times and New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Christie told ABC News’ Diane Sawyer in an interview Thursday that voters — including presidential primary voters — still love his brash style.

Separate state and federal investigations of Bridgegate are being conducted.

Autism now seen affecting 1 in 68 children

That's a jump of nearly 30 percent between 2008 and 2010 more than double since the turn of the century, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many experts believe the increase is largely the result of increased awareness and diagnosis rather than an actual increase in the number of children with the condition.

Some companies consider autism a job asset

The Germany-based software company SAP and mortgage lender Freddie Mac are among firms actively seeking people with autism for jobs because of their attention to detail, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Teacher: Testing is harming kindergarteners

Amid the controversy over school testing comes an article on a Massachusetts kindergarten teacher who is leaving her job because, she says, she can no longer serve her students, who face testing requirements beyond their capabilities.

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