Poor nations may have to downgrade climate cash demands, ex-UN envoy says

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Rich country budgets are stretched amid inflation, Covid and Ukraine war, Mary Robinson tells Cop29

Poor countries may have to compromise on demands for cash to tackle global heating, a former UN climate envoy has said, as UN talks entered their final hours in deadlock.

In comments that are likely to disappoint poorer countries at the Cop29 summit, Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland and twice a UN climate envoy, said rich country budgets were stretched amid inflation, Covid and conflicts including Russia’s war in Ukraine.

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US moves to list giraffes under Endangered Species Act for first time

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Climate crisis, habitat loss and poaching have reduced its numbers – but will Trump put the kibosh on protections?

They are the tallest animal to roam the Earth and have become an icon of children’s books, toys and awed wildlife documentaries. But giraffes are in decline, which has prompted the US government to list them as endangered for the first time.

Giraffes will be listed under the US Endangered Species Act, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed in a move that will cover five subspecies of the animal. The agency hopes the listing will crack down on the poaching of giraffes, as the US is a leading destination of rugs, pillowcases, boots, furniture and even Bible covers made from giraffe body parts.

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Severed horse head found at Sicilian property, in echo of Godfather scene

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Local authorities think head discovered at businessman’s property may be part of mafia intimidation tactic

A severed horse’s head has been discovered at the property of a Sicilian businessman, in what local authorities believe may be a mafia intimidation tactic reminiscent of a scene from The Godfather.

The animal’s head was left on the seat of a digger owned by the man, a construction contractor in Altofonte, near the Sicilian capital, Palermo. The remains of a pregnant cow and its calf were also found at the site.

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ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant over Gaza war; PM slams ‘antisemitism’ – The Times of Israel

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  1. ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant over Gaza war; PM slams ‘antisemitism’  The Times of Israel
  2. ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas leader. So what happens now?  USA TODAY
  3. ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant: Israel-Hamas War Live Updates  The New York Times
  4. Fetterman says 'F--- that' amid bipartisan backlash over arrest warrants targeting Israel's Netanyahu, Gallant  Fox News
  5. Dutch Foreign Minister's Trip to Israel Postponed  U.S. News & World Report
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Deus in machina: Swiss church installs AI-powered Jesus

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Peter’s chapel in Lucerne swaps out its priest to set up a computer and cables in confessional booth

The small, unadorned church has long ranked as the oldest in the Swiss city of Lucerne. But Peter’s chapel has become synonymous with all that is new after it installed an artificial intelligence-powered Jesus capable of dialoguing in 100 different languages.

“It was really an experiment,” said Marco Schmid, a theologian with the church. “We wanted to see and understand how people react to an AI Jesus. What would they talk with him about? Would there be interest in talking to him? We’re probably pioneers in this.”

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British lawyer among six to die in suspected methanol poisoning in Laos

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As well as Simone White, two Danes, an American and two Australians have died after incident in town popular with backpackers

A British lawyer is among six people to have died in a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it was “supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities”.

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Ukraine says Russia hit it with ICBM, Zelenskyy says Putin is ‘terrified’ – ABC News

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  1. Ukraine says Russia hit it with ICBM, Zelenskyy says Putin is 'terrified'  ABC News
  2. Ukraine Says Russia Struck It With New Missile; ICBM Claim Is Disputed  The New York Times
  3. Ukraine accuses Russia of launching intercontinental ballistic missile  Al Jazeera English
  4. Ukraine-Russia updates: Putin says Russia fired medium-range missile at Ukraine, not an ICBM  Reuters UK
  5. Multiple Warheads Strike Dnipro As Russia Launches An Experimental Ballistic Missile  Forbes
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More than 80,000 at risk of deportation from Australia under Labor bill likened to UK’s failed Rwanda plan

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Bill gives authority to federal government to pay third countries to accept unlawful non-citizens on a removal pathway

More than 80,000 people are susceptible to deportation from Australia to third countries paid to take them under Labor’s new bill which has been likened to the UK’s failed Rwanda deportation plan.

At a Senate inquiry hearing on Thursday, home affairs department officials confirmed that the migration amendment bill could affect far more people than those released from immigration detention by the high court but insisted it did not expand the cohort of those eligible for removal.

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An estimated 75,400 people with no valid visa in the Australian community.

4,452 people on bridging visa E, so they can make “acceptable arrangements to depart Australia”.

986 people in immigration detention.

193 in community detention.

246 on bridging visa R, released as a result of the high court’s NZYQ ruling that indefinite detention is unlawful.

A further 96 people on BVRs that predated that decision.

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