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The parents of a British lawyer who died after being poisoned with methanol in Laos have described her as a "beautiful, kind and loving daughter".Simone White, 28, was one of six people who are believed to have died as a result of drinking methanol-laced vodka from a bar in Vang Vieng, a resort popular with backpackers in the southeast Asian country. In a statement issued by Ms White's employers, law firm Squire Patton Boggs, her parents said: "We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter Simone."Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life. She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues."Simone has been taken from us too soon, she will be sorely missed by her brother, grandmother a...

An eleventh hour proposal from a UN climate summit to channel $250bn to developing nations has fallen far short of the $1.3trn they need to cope with climate change.The draft deal from the COP29 climate summit is likely to dismay vulnerable nations like Kenya, Uganda and Malawi, which are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change they did little to cause. Developing countries have hinted they are unwilling to accept anything less than $500bn.But tight public finances in wealthier countries as well as a swing to the right in some places makes that a hard sell back home.The existing funding target of $100bn expires at the end of 2025, the new one being negotiated over today would kick in from 2026. Countries are keen to agree something at this COP rather than leave it to n...

A Canadian town is facing a governance crisis after its newly elected mayor and councillors refused to take an oath of allegiance to the King.Dawson City in Yukon, northwest Canada, requires its council members to pledge allegiance to the monarch in a swearing-in ceremony. Under Yukon law, a newly elected official must take the oath within 40 days of their election - or their win "shall be considered null". The town's election was held on 17 October, 37 days ago. Image: Governance in Dawson City is at a standstill. Pic: Reinhard Pantke/imageBROKER/Shutterstock The new council cannot make official decisions until the issue is resolved.According to Canada's Global News, the town's mayor-elect Stephen Johnson told The Canadia...

A second Australian teenager has died after being poisoned with methanol in Laos, bringing the number of people killed to six.Holly Bowles, 19, has died, according to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong, who said: "All Australians will be heartbroken by the tragic passing of Holly Bowles. I offer my deepest sympathies to her family and friends." Her friend, Bianca Jones, died earlier this week after both 19-year-olds fell ill on 13 November while staying in southeast Asian country.They are two of six people who are believed to have died after drinking methanol-laced vodka in the tourist hotspot.The death of British woman Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, was announced on Thursday. She fell ill after reportedly drinking "free shots" from a local bar in Vang...