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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...

The home secretary has refused to say if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be arrested if he landed on British soil after an international arrest warrant was issued for him.On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and former Israeli defence secretary Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the war in Gaza. But Yvette Cooper said the ICC, which the UK is a member of, is independent and while the government respects that, it "wouldn't be appropriate for me to comment" on the processes involved.She told Sky News: "We've always respected the importance of international law, but in the majority of the cases that they pursue, they don't become part of the British legal process."What I can say is t...

A man connected with one of Europe's most significant people smuggling rings has been arrested in Wolverhampton.In a statement, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said it took part in a major operation targeting a Syrian organised crime group connected with people smuggling across the continent. Led by German investigators, the sting is backed by the UK agency and involves police forces from Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.At least 20 people were arrested in a series of raids on Wednesday - including Iraqi national Hussam Al Ramli, 35, who was apprehended by NCA investigators at his home in Bilston, Wolverhampton.The NCA said in a statement: "He is alleged to have arranged for migrants to illegally cross the border from Belarus to Poland on behalf of the c...