Connect with us

Published

on

Scotland will announce new funding towards the loss and damage from climate change suffered by vulnerable countries that are beyond the realms of human adaptation, Sky News can reveal.

“We’ll be announcing a further financial commitment to loss and damage,” First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Sky News during the COP27 climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.

The additional money will look “in particular at non-economic loss and damage that many countries are suffering,” she said, which could include things like loss of culture and tradition.

Economic losses encapsulate things like loss of jobs from industries collapsing, loss of buildings to hurricane damage or loss of entire communities and towns as sea levels eat away at coastlines.

“That would be a further very significant part of Scotland’s determination to see real progress behind that issue that should have been dealt with many years ago,” she said.

During the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow last year, Scotland became the first developed nation to pledge finance towards the contentious issue. The promised sum of £2m was small but helped break a taboo around the issue. Since then, Denmark has promised 100 million DKK (£11.8m).

Further detail on the new funding is expected on Tuesday.

More on Climate Change

Read more:
Will developed nations pay compensation for climate damage?

Vulnerable nations that have done the least to cause climate change but are suffering the worst impacts have been demanding financial help for years. The rich, polluting world including the US and the EU has historically been wary of what they fear could be opening the floodgates to endless claims and accusations of liability.

But the devastating impacts of climate change have been so acute, they have found it difficult to ignore the need to address it. This year, the issue of funding for such losses made it onto the agenda at a United Nations climate talk for the first time.

Watch the Daily Climate Show at 3.30pm Monday to Friday, and The Climate Show with Tom Heap on Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm and 7.30pm.

All on Sky News, on the Sky News website and app, on YouTube and Twitter.

The show investigates how global warming is changing our landscape and highlights solutions to the crisis.

Continue Reading

UK

Three women charged under Terrorism Act after van driven into fence of defence factory

Published

on

By

Three women charged under Terrorism Act after van driven into fence of defence factory

Three women have been charged under the Terrorism Act after a van was driven into an external fence of a defence business in Edinburgh.

The incident happened at the Leonardo facility in Crewe Road North on Tuesday.

The three women – aged 31, 34 and 42 – who were earlier arrested under the Terrorism Act have been charged and are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday 21 July.

Police Scotland’s Counter Terrorism Unit are leading the investigation and enquiries are ongoing.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the latest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Continue Reading

UK

Man arrested on suspicion of double murder after elderly couple killed in St Helens fire

Published

on

By

Man arrested on suspicion of double murder after elderly couple killed in St Helens fire

A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an elderly couple died following a fire at their home in St Helens.

Peter Eric Greener, 77, known as Eric, and his partner Sheila Jackson, 83, were caught in the blaze at their home on South John Street in the early hours of Tuesday.

Mr Greener died on Wednesday, while Ms Jackson died on Thursday.

Eric Greener. Pic: Merseyside Police
Image:
Eric Greener. Pic: Merseyside Police

Sheila Jackson. Pic: Merseyside Police
Image:
Sheila Jackson. Pic: Merseyside Police

Merseyside Police said an accelerant was used to start the fire.

On Sunday, the force said the suspect from St Helens had been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody for questioning.

Read more from Sky News:
Man tells of dramatic escape from capsized tourist boat
Catching a ‘sadistic’ serial killer

Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: “Although an arrest has been made, I would like to take this opportunity to remind people to pass on information directly to police or anonymously via Crimestoppers, and not to comment or post in any way which jeopardises this ongoing work.”

More on Merseyside

DS Wilson said “extensive enquiries” continue.

She added: “And to that end we are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward, particularly if you live in the area of South John Street and recall seeing or hearing anything suspicious at around the time of the incident.

“Please do not assume what you know has already been reported to us, as we can quickly make that assessment.”

Continue Reading

UK

How e-bike riders are doing double the speed limit – and many of them work for fast food delivery firms

Published

on

By

How e-bike riders are doing double the speed limit - and many of them work for fast food delivery firms

It’s lunchtime on Birmingham’s New Street. 

Close to its many restaurants, food delivery riders are congregating on their bikes.

The area is packed with shoppers and workers.

PC Paige Gartlan is approaching with other officers. She’s on the lookout for illegally modified e-bikes – and she knows she’ll find them here.

“You can physically tell by looking at the bike that it’s generally going to be illegal – the battery pack is taped on to the sides and generally the size of the motor that’s on the back wheel,” she explains.

Sky News has been invited on an operation by West Midlands Police to find these bikes and get them off the streets.

PC Gartlan has been hit by one before. She’s had to tackle a rider to the floor after he drove into her.

More on Birmingham

Within minutes, she’s spotted a suspicious-looking bike. The rider makes a run for it – followed by plain-clothed officers.

PC Gartlan tests the bike – it’s showing a top speed of 52km/hr on the speedometer – just over 30mph.

PC Paige Gartlan with a seized e-bike
Image:
PC Paige Gartlan with a seized e-bike

The speed limit for e-bikes in the UK is 15.5mph when using electric power for assistance.

I look up the street and another two riders have been detained. In less than an hour, officers have confiscated four bikes – all were being ridden by fast food delivery drivers.

The commotion is attracting a lot of attention.

“They are dangerous,” Sandra, who has just finished work, tells me.

Demoz had his bike taken by police
Image:
Demoz had his bike taken by police

She’s stood watching the riders being questioned. She says she’s had near-misses herself and is worried for the safety of the elderly and children.

It’s not just West Midlands police officers here – immigration officials are carrying out checks too. They’re involved in a nationwide operation, which has seen more than 7,000 arrests in the last year – a 50% increase on last year.

Matthew Foster, the immigration enforcement lead officer for the West Midlands, tells me they’ve already found one individual who has entered the UK unlawfully.

“He’s been detained,” he says, “to affect his removal from the UK.”

Further down the street, police are loading illegally modified bikes on to a van – they’re destined to be crushed. One of them had belonged to Demoz.

Read more:
Non-folding e-bikes banned on London Tube
E-bike and e-scooter crimes soar 730% in five years

A e-bike that was seized by police in West Midlands
Image:
An e-bike seized by West Midlands Police

He’s on his way home, carrying a big box with the logo of one of the main fast food delivery firms on it.

He tells me he used to have an illegal bike, but he thought his new one was legal.

“I make a mistake, I have to say sorry, I will do better for the future,” he says.

I get in touch with the big delivery firms; Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat.

Their representatives say they constantly remind workers of their safety obligations, and that they’re all working closely with the government to increase security checks on riders.

As he leaves, Demoz, now bike-free, tells me he’s thinking of changing his job.

Continue Reading

Trending