Brazil asks UN to ditch proposed levy on global shipping

Those supporting the deal hope it will raise billions to help poor countries deal with climate breakdown

Brazil has asked the UN to throw out plans for a new levy on global shipping that would raise funds to fight the climate crisis, despite playing host to the next UN climate summit.

The proposed levy on carbon dioxide emissions from shipping will be discussed at a crunch meeting of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) that begins on Monday. Those supporting the deal, including the UK, the EU and Japan, are hoping the levy will raise billions of dollars a year, which could be used to help poor countries cope with the effects of climate breakdown.

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Reeves warned UK inflation will push public sector unions to seek higher pay rises

Plan for ‘reasonable’ 2.8% rises may prove insufficient, forcing chancellor to find billions in extra funding

Rachel Reeves has been warned public sector unions will demand higher pay increases to compensate for accelerating inflation, heaping pressure on the chancellor to find billions of pounds in extra funding.

The government made recommendations in December for a 2.8% pay rise for teachers, NHS staff and other public sector workers for the financial year beginning in April, saying it was a “reasonable amount” given forecasts for the economy.

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Trump policies make US ‘scary place to invest’ and risk stagflation, says Stiglitz

Uncertainty created by tariffs and contempt for rule of law will deter investment, says top economist

Donald Trump’s tariff threats have made the US “a scary place to invest” and may unleash stagflation, the Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz has said.

“It risks the worst of all possible worlds: a kind of stagflation,” Stiglitz said in an interview with the Guardian.

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Netanyahu vows to ‘finish the job’ against Iran with support from Trump – Yahoo

  1. Netanyahu vows to ‘finish the job’ against Iran with support from Trump  Yahoo
  2. Rubio, Netanyahu affirm 'common strategy' for Gaza, set sights on Iran in joint statement  Fox News
  3. News Wrap: Rubio reaffirms Trump’s Gaza takeover plan on trip to Israel  PBS NewsHour
  4. Rubio says Hamas 'must be eradicated': 'It sounded as if, almost, the war still had to begin'  FRANCE 24 English
  5. Rubio Came to Israel to Save Netanyahu. But What Does Trump Get Out of It?  Haaretz
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U.S.-Russia meeting on Ukraine war expected on Tuesday, sources say – Axios

  1. U.S.-Russia meeting on Ukraine war expected on Tuesday, sources say  Axios
  2. Rubio arrives in Saudi Arabia before Russia talks to end Ukraine war  Reuters
  3. U.S. and Russian officials to discuss how to end Ukraine war  The Washington Post
  4. Trump says he could meet Putin ‘soon’ as Ukraine, Europe reel from outreach  Al Jazeera English
  5. US-Russia Talks Set for Saudi & Europe's Leaders Urgent Ukraine Talks | Daybreak: Europe 02/17/2025  Bloomberg
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Friends of Russian anti-war singer cast doubt on official version of his death

Vadim Stroykin reported to have killed himself by jumping from a ninth-floor window during visit by security services

No one knows exactly what happened in the final moments of Vadim Stroykin’s life.

The 59-year-old Russian singer-songwriter’s vibrant career came to a sudden end on 5 February when a team from Russia’s security services arrived at his cramped ninth-floor St Petersburg flat at 9am. They were investigating him for what has become one of the gravest offences in today’s Russia — donating to the Ukrainian army.

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Badenoch and Farage to vie for attention of Trump allies at London summit

Event co-founded by Jordan Peterson will bring together global rightwing figures including senior US Republicans

Influential rightwingers from around the world are to gather in London from Monday at a major conference to network and build connections with senior US Republicans linked to the Trump administration.

The UK opposition leader, the Conservatives’ Kemi Badenoch, and Nigel Farage of the Reform UK party, her hard-right anti-immigration rival, will compete to present themselves as the torchbearer of British conservatism.

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Pritam Singh: Singapore opposition leader guilty of lying to parliament – BBC.com

  1. Pritam Singh: Singapore opposition leader guilty of lying to parliament  BBC.com
  2. Singapore Opposition Leader Convicted of Lying as Poll Looms  Bloomberg
  3. Singapore opposition party leader Pritam Singh found guilty of lying to parliament  Reuters
  4. Singapore opposition leader, found guilty of lying to parliament, could face electoral ban  The Guardian
  5. Live: Pritam Singh handed maximum fine of S$7,000 on each charge of lying to parliament  CNA
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Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy travels to United Arab Emirates as momentum grows for war peace talks – The Associated Press

  1. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy travels to United Arab Emirates as momentum grows for war peace talks  The Associated Press
  2. Zelensky lands in UAE as US and Russia prepare for Ukraine peace talks  FRANCE 24 English
  3. Zelenskyy Arrives In Middle East, But Kyiv Says Peace Talks Not On Agenda  Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
  4. Zelenskyy begins visit to UAE to secure release of more Ukrainians from Russian captivity – video  Ukrainska Pravda
  5. UAE offers to host talks aimed at ending Ukraine war, sources say  Reuters
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Police investigate potential Islamophobic assaults at Melbourne shopping centre

Two women in hijabs allegedly attacked in Epping last week while racist graffiti reported in western Sydney

Police are investigating if two alleged assaults in Melbourne were Islamophobic incidents after women in hijabs were attacked during the day.

Victoria police said two women, a 30-year-old from Lalor and a 26-year-old from Wollert, were allegedly attacked by the same assailant at Epping shopping centre on High Street between 1.10pm and 1.20pm on Thursday.

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Cook Islands PM defends signing of wide-ranging deal with China

Mark Brown says Beijing deal that covers trade, investment, oceans, infrastructure and transport complements ties with New Zealand

The Cook Islands says it has signed a deal to expand relations with China, stressing that the accord does not impinge on ties with former colonial power New Zealand.

Prime minister Mark Brown said he signed an “action plan for the comprehensive strategic partnership” with Chinese premier Li Qiang in the northern city of Harbin during a five-day state visit to China last week.

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Keir Starmer Offers to Send U.K. Troops to Ukraine as Part of Peace Deal – The New York Times

  1. Keir Starmer Offers to Send U.K. Troops to Ukraine as Part of Peace Deal  The New York Times
  2. Starmer 'ready' to put peacekeeping troops in Ukraine as Europe holds emergency talks  BBC.com
  3. Sweden does not rule out sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, public broadcaster reports  Reuters
  4. EU Seeks a Military Revival Under Pressure From Putin, Trump  Bloomberg
  5. Starmer ready to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine if peace deal reached  The Guardian
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