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COP29: The almighty row over climate cash that’s about to boil over | Science, Climate & Tech News
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COP29: The almighty row over climate cash that’s about to boil over | Science, Climate & Tech News

China says it's a developing country, so it doesn't have to pay into a major new fund to help poor countries cope with climate change. The United States disagrees.This is at the heart of an almighty row about to boil over at the UN COP29 climate talks next week in Azerbaijan. Or is it all just an elaborate "distraction"?Driving this brewing storm is something called "climate finance".It's been whipped up further by the re-election of Donald Trump, a climate denier expected to withdraw the world's largest historic greenhouse gas emitter from global efforts to tackle climate change. Why do countries pay for overseas climate aid?Back in 2009, 23 developed countries - including the UK, US and Japan, and the EU - agreed to pay $100bn (£75.5bn) a year by 2020 to developing nations, to help them ...
Californians desperately flee their homes amid raging wildfires
World News

Californians desperately flee their homes amid raging wildfires

A firefighter tries to control the fire burning down a house in Camarillo, California, on 6 November 2024. Photo: AFP / Etienne Laurent Terrie Morin, 60, and her husband, Dave, were at the barber shop when they heard about a raging wildfire making headway toward their Camarillo home in California on Wednesday (local time) morning. The couple were hosting two guests at the time, but because their guests worked late, Morin suspected they slept through the residence's fire alarms. "I run in the house, and I'm banging on the door, and they did not hear me. They were knocked out," Morin told CNN. "Get the dog. Get out of here. You don't have time, just get out!" she recalled telling them. Ten minutes later, Dave noticed sparks in their backyard. The temperature was also picking up. "It was h...
‘Why do you think she lost big?’: Residents on US-Mexico border explain why they back Trump on immigration | US News
Business

‘Why do you think she lost big?’: Residents on US-Mexico border explain why they back Trump on immigration | US News

In a town that sits between two nations, Arnoldo Montiel knows exactly where he stands on immigration. The 80-year-old has lived in Nogales, on the border between Mexico and the US, virtually all of his life. He says the issue is one of the main reasons he voted for Donald Trump.Trump latest: President-elect makes first major appointment"These are people who are illegal. They don't belong in the United States," he says. "If they need to come in, we welcome them. But they have to be legal." Driving towards the border wall that straddles the Arizona town, he says he believes the issue is why Kamala Harris lost the election."Why do you think she lost big?" he asks, before answering his own question: "The border and foreign affairs." In...
Israel: More families stream out of north Gaza, as tanks push deeper
World News

Israel: More families stream out of north Gaza, as tanks push deeper

By Nidal al-Mughrabi for Reuters Children stare at the destruction following an Israeli strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on 7 November. Photo: EYAD BABA/AFP Israeli forces have stepped up bombardment across the Gaza Strip and ordered more evacuations, creating a fresh wave of displacement from northern Gaza, to which Palestinians fear they will not be able to return. Palestinian health officials said at least 10 people had been killed and several others wounded in an Israeli air strike on a school housing displaced families in Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a Hamas command centre embedded inside the compound that previously served as a UN-run school. It accused Hamas of exploiting civilian facilities for mil...
Israel says it will deploy rescue mission after ‘violent incident’ targeting Israeli citizens in Amsterdam | World News
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Israel says it will deploy rescue mission after ‘violent incident’ targeting Israeli citizens in Amsterdam | World News

The Israeli military has said it is preparing to deploy an immediate rescue mission with the coordination of the Dutch government."The mission will be deployed using cargo aircraft and include medical and rescue teams," the Israeli Defence Forces said.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been informed of the details of "a very violent incident" targeting Israeli citizens in Amsterdam, his office said.Israel's national security ministry has also urged its citizens in the Dutch city to stay in their hotel, the prime minister's office added.The incident has been linked to a football match at the Johan Cruyff stadium in which Ajax Amsterdam defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 5-0, according to reports.Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a post on X: "Fans who went to see a footbal...
Kiwi wine growers nervous about ‘hypothetical’ Trump tariffs
World News

Kiwi wine growers nervous about ‘hypothetical’ Trump tariffs

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive officer Philip Gregan said there was "a little bit of nervousness". Photo: 123RF Kiwi winemakers are anxiously waiting to see if and when they'll be hit by high tariffs exporting into the US, following the election of Donald Trump. President-elect Trump campaigned on introducing tariffs of up to 20 percent on imported goods as part of his 'America First' economic policy. If he goes through with that promise, it could hit our exporters hard - and with the US market accounting for some 40 percent of New Zealand's wine exports, it could be devastating for the $800 million industry here. New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive officer Philip Gregan told Checkpoint on Friday there was "a little bit of nervousness" about the "hypothetical" hit to busine...
St Lucia’s first Olympic medallist considered withdrawing from Games due to pressure | World News
Business

St Lucia’s first Olympic medallist considered withdrawing from Games due to pressure | World News

St Lucia's Julien Alfred became a household name this summer after storming to gold in the 100-metre final at a rainy Stade de France during the Paris Olympic Games.Her time - 10.72 seconds - saw her become the sport's latest fastest woman in the world. Reflecting on crossing the finishing line in her historic victory, the 23-year-old told Sky News: "I remember screaming so loud and bursting into tears just knowing all my hard work and sacrifice has paid off and knowing how hard it was to get to that point in my career. All I could do was just cry." Image: Alfred in Lane 6 winning the gold at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris. Pic: AP Born in the small Caribbean island with a population of just 180,000 people, ...
Joe Biden’s plea to Americans after Donald Trump’s US election win
World News

Joe Biden’s plea to Americans after Donald Trump’s US election win

Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, after Donald Trump won the presidential election. Photo: SAUL LOEB / AFP By Jeff Mason, Reuters US President Joe Biden has urged Americans to "bring down the temperature", following Republican Donald Trump's election victory and sought to console fellow Democrats who are alarmed by the former president's stunning comeback. "Setbacks are unavoidable. Giving up is unforgivable," Biden said at the White House Rose Garden as he addressed staff who were disappointed in Vice President Kamala Harris' defeat. "A defeat does not mean we are defeated." Biden said the election had proven the integrity of the US electoral system and pledged an orderly transfer of power - an implicit rebuke of Trump, who sought...
Qantas plane makes emergency landing, grass fire breaks out at Sydney Airport
World News

Qantas plane makes emergency landing, grass fire breaks out at Sydney Airport

Sydney Airport said it is not clear if the fire is linked to the incident with the plane. Photo: ABC News A Qantas flight has made an emergency landing at Sydney Airport following a contained engine failure. Earlier this afternoon, the aircraft landed after a loud bang was heard following take-off. An airport spokesperson said Qantas flight QF520 from Sydney to Brisbane landed safely just after 1pm (local time). "After circling for a short period of time, the aircraft landed safely at Sydney Airport," a Qantas spokesperson said. "Our pilots are highly trained to handle situations like this and the aircraft landed safely after the appropriate procedures were conducted. "We understand this would have been a distressing experience for customers and we will be contacting all customers this ...
Kidney disease may raise the risk of strokes, say experts
Health

Kidney disease may raise the risk of strokes, say experts

Metabolic risk factors such as hypertension, high blood sugar, obesity, and abnormal cholesterol are the major conditions that are linked to kidney problems, and worsen the risk of strokes in patients with kidney disease, said experts on Monday. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is independently known to exacerbate the risk of stroke. A recent study published in the European Heart Journal showed that people with kidney failure are many times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. They also have a higher risk of dying as a result, the study showed. “Patients with reduced glomerular filtration rates (indicating kidneys are not filtering waste properly) face a 40 per cent higher likelihood of experiencing a stroke. In addition, proteinuria (excess protein in the urine), a common feature o...