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Ministers and negotiators at COP26 must “pull together and drive for the line” in the second week of the conference, Boris Johnson says.

The prime minister was talking as the first week of the climate summit in Glasgow comes to an end, with Saturday marked by the biggest protests to date, and representatives prepare for a second and final week of talks.

COP26: Saturday’s events as they happened

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Climate protests in Glasgow

Mr Johnson said: “There is one week left for COP26 to deliver for the world, and we must all pull together and drive for the line.

“We have seen nations bring ambition and action to help limit rising temperatures, with new pledges to cut carbon and methane emissions, end deforestation, phase out coal and provide more finance to countries most vulnerable to climate change.

“But we cannot underestimate the task at hand to keep 1.5C alive.

“Countries must come back to the table this week ready to make the bold compromises and ambitious commitments needed.”

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Despite the pledges to end deforestation, fossil fuel funding abroad, use of coal, and the greenhouse gas methane, there have been protests from those who say more is needed.

On Friday and Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters marched in Glasgow calling for action rather than just more of what activist Greta Thunberg has described as “blah blah blah”.

Organisers of the protests, the COP26 Coalition, claimed more than 100,000 people turned up to Saturday’s protest, despite the weather, adding that an estimated 300 similar events were taking place around the world.

Coalition spokesman Asad Rehman said: “We won’t tolerate warm words and long-term targets any more, we want action now.”

The second week is expected to discuss parts of the 2015 Paris Agreement which still need finalising, markets for trading carbon emissions, transparency over what countries are doing and timeframes for action.

Talks will also continue on how poorer countries can be helped to adapt to the changing climate and what that will mean for people, land, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

Countries will also try to set out a plan for how they will close the gap between what they have pledged under the Paris Agreement and what is needed to avoid temperature rises of more than 1.5C.

Some countries are pushing for commitments to be revisited and boosted every year, but there is also some opposition to this.

Ed Miliband, Labour’s shadow business secretary, said: “The truth after the first week of the COP is that we remain a long way off where we need to be to realistically say we have taken the major steps required to keep 1.5 alive.

“But all the prime minister now offers is empty exhortation and commentary.

“We have a right to expect him to engage directly in these final days, personally driving these negotiations forward, pushing all the major emitters to do more, delivering the finance required for developing and vulnerable countries and ensuring we have a path out of Glasgow to keep 1.5 alive.

“He needs to step up with focus, clarity and urgency in the face of the massive task the world faces in the coming days.”

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DOJ challenges motion to dismiss Tornado Cash co-founder’s charges

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DOJ challenges motion to dismiss Tornado Cash co-founder’s charges

According to the filing, the DOJ criticized Tornado Cash’s co-founders for inadequate changes to exclude sanctioned addresses.

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Google Cloud’s Web3 portal launch sparks debate in crypto industry

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<div>Google Cloud's Web3 portal launch sparks debate in crypto industry</div>

Google Cloud recently launched a Web3 portal with testnet tools, blockchain datasets, and learning resources for developers, receiving mixed reactions from the crypto industry.

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Rishi Sunak does not rule out July general election – but insists ‘there’ll be a clear choice’ when it comes

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Rishi Sunak does not rule out July general election - but insists 'there'll be a clear choice' when it comes

Rishi Sunak has failed to rule out holding a general election in July, as speculation remains rife over the timing of the national vote.

The prime minister has repeatedly said his “working assumption” is the election would take place in the second half of this year – with the law stating January 2025 is the latest he could call it.

But while many commentators have predicted an autumn vote, Sky News’ Trevor Phillips put to Mr Sunak that it could mean as early as July.

Analysis: Sunak needs to learn voters aren’t always governed by the logic of the computer

“Well, look, when it comes to a general election, I’ve been very clear about that multiple times,” the prime minister said.

“And again, I’m not going to say anything more than I’ve already said, I’ve been very clear about that.”

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In his interview – which will air in full on Sunday at 8.30am – Trevor Phillips pushed Mr Sunak five times over whether he would rule out a July general election, but the Conservative leader refused to confirm or deny if it could take place then.

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“You’re going to try and draw whatever conclusion you want from what I say,” he said. “I’m going to always try and say the same thing. You should just listen to what I said, [the] same thing I’ve said all year.

“But the point is… there’s a choice when it comes to the general election. And look, over the past week or so… the country can have a very clear sense of what that difference is going to look like.”

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Outlining his recent commitments to overhauling the welfare system, cutting taxes and increasing defence spending, as well as finally getting his Rwanda bill through parliament in an effort to tackle small boat crossings, Mr Sunak said: “That is the substance of what this government is about and what it’s going to do in the future.

“And when the election comes, there’ll be a clear choice, because the Labour Party has tried to frustrate our Rwanda bill, because they don’t believe in stopping the boats, their economic plan will put people’s taxes up.

“They haven’t said that they will invest more in our defence and they certainly don’t agree with reforming our welfare system to support people into work.”

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Labour has said it wants to match the hike in defence spending when the financial circumstances allow, and has promised to scrap the Rwanda bill if it gets into power.

This week, its pre-election focus has been on railways, promising to renationalise train operators and “sweep away” the current “broken” model if the party wins the next election.

Watch Rishi Sunak’s full interview on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips at 8.30am

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