Norway is laughing at Miliband's net zero folly
Here's a pub quiz question: which European country has no net zero target? I don't mean which country is not bothering too much about conforming with its net zero target, because that is most of them, but which one doesn't even have such a target in the first place? The surprising answer is Norway, which has a target of reducing its carbon emissions by 90 to 95 per cent on 1990 levels by 2050 but has made no commitment so far to go all the way.
It is surprising because, in many respects, the Scandinavian country is the global equivalent of a class creep – it almost always seems to behave in a way which officials at the United Nations and other international global NGOs find exemplary. Indeed, it is one of the few countries whose policies are very nearly consistent with its carbon reduction target, in the judgement of the website Climate Action Tracker.
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STV News
39 minutes ago
- STV News
Trump says he 'may or may not' strike Iran as US evacuates diplomats from Israel
Donald Trump warned he had run out of patience with the leadership in Tehran, as ITV News Senior International Correspondent John Irvine reports The United States has begun evacuating the families of diplomats from Israel, as President Donald Trump considered whether to join Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. When asked about the possibility of direct US involvement, Trump told reporters: 'I may do it, I may not do it.' The president has insisted he doesn't want the US to get involved in a war with Iran, but he conceded on Wednesday it may not be avoidable if he wants to stop Tehran's nuclear programme. He told reporters: 'I'm not looking to fight. But if it's a choice between fighting and them having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do.' At another point, Trump said: 'You may have to fight.' Soon after Trump spoke from the White House, US officials told the Associated Press a government plane had evacuated a number of diplomats and family members who had asked to leave the country on Wednesday. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also announced on X that the embassy was making plans for evacuation flights and ships for private American citizens. Trump's comments come as the rhetoric between the US and Iran heated up in recent days, with Tehran saying American involvement would be 'a recipe for an all-out war in the region'. Earlier on Wednesday, Israel launched another attack against Iran, with local Iranian media reporting numerous casualties at the national police headquarters. Iran also claimed to have launched another drone strike against Israel on Wednesday, but did not give any details of what it was targeting. Social media users in Iran also reported that regular broadcasts on state TV were briefly interrupted and replaced with an anti-government video urging people to take to the streets, with Tehran later saying it had been the victim of an Israeli cyberattack. Speaking on Wednesday, Trump also repeated his demands for 'unconditional surrender' before adding he had 'had it' with the Iranian leadership. The comment came as Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered his second public comments since Israel launched its attack against Iran last week and said US intervention would 'undoubtedly result in irreparable damage.' Trump also said on Wednesday that the Iranian officials continue to reach out to the White House as they're 'getting the hell beaten out of them' by Israel. But he added there's a 'big difference between now and a week ago' in Tehran's negotiating position. 'They've suggested that they come to the White House – that's, you know, courageous,' Trump said. Iran's air defence system intercepts Israeli missiles over Tehran Iran's mission to the United Nations refuted Trump's claim in a statement on social media. 'No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House. The only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to 'take out' Iran's Supreme Leader.' In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video on social media thanking Donald Trump for 'standing by our side.' 'I wish to thank President Trump for the backing,' the Israeli leader said, as he stressed that Israel is 'severely hitting the Ayatollahs regime' as it damages Iran's nuclear facilities, missiles and 'symbols of power.' The conflict between Iran and Israel is now in its sixth day, with Israel stepping up its air campaign in efforts to remove Iran's nuclear capabilities. Strikes have been reported throughout Wednesday, with reports of a major explosion in Tehran at 5am. It was also reported that the internet had gone down across the country. Addressing the developing situation in the Middle East, Sir Keir Starmer chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday after returning from the G7. It is understood that one topic discussed was whether the UK would approve the US using the military base in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean or the British base in Cyprus to launch air strikes on Iran. The meeting came as the Foreign Office confirmed families of British diplomatic staff in Israel have been 'temporarily withdrawn' as Tel Aviv and Tehran continued to exchange fire. If you are a UK citizen currently in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories, let the Foreign Office know here. Britons have already been advised against all travel to Israel, and those already in the country have been urged to register their presence with the embassy. Earlier in the week, Downing Street said the UK had no plans to evacuate British nationals stranded in Israel but had increased support in Jordan and Egypt for people making their own way out of the country overland. Israel has maintained that these strikes were necessary to degrade Iran's nuclear programmes, despite appearing to put a premature end to talks of a nuclear deal with the US. Iran has insisted its nuclear programme was peaceful, though it was the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. ITV News filmed Israel's air defence system intercepting Iranian missiles over Tel Aviv early Wednesday morning Israel does not publish regular death tolls, but one human rights group said the strikes in Iran had killed at least 585 people and wounded 1,326 others. The Washington-based group Human Rights Activists said it had identified 239 of those killed in Israeli strikes as civilians and 126 as security personnel. The group, which also provided detailed casualty figures during the 2022 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, cross-checks local reports in the Islamic Republic against a network of sources it has developed in the country. Iran has retaliated against Israel, launching over 400 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Trump will not say whether he will move forward with US strikes on Iran
'I may do it, I may not do it,' Mr Trump said in an exchange with reporters at the White House. 'I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' Mr Trump added that it is not 'too late' for Iran to give up its nuclear programme as he continues to weigh direct US involvement in Israel's military operations aimed at crushing Tehran's options. 'Nothing's too late,' Mr Trump said. 'I can tell you this. Iran's got a lot of trouble.' 'Nothing is finished until it is finished,' Mr Trump added. But 'the next week is going to be very big — maybe less than a week'. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) Mr Trump also offered a terse response to Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's refusal to heed to his call for Iran to submit to an unconditional surrender. 'I say good luck,' Mr Trump said. Mr Khamenei earlier warned that any United States strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will 'result in irreparable damage for them' and that his country would not bow to Mr Trump's call for surrender. Mr Trump said on Tuesday the US knows where Iran's Mr Khamenei is hiding as the the Israel-Iran conflict escalates but does not want him killed — 'for now'. 'He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,' Mr Trump said. In a video address to Israelis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed appreciation for Mr Trump's support, calling him 'a great friend of Israel' and praising US help defending Israel's skies. 'We speak constantly, including last night,' Mr Netanyahu said on Wednesday. 'We had a very warm conversation.' Mr Trump's increasingly muscular comments toward the Iranian government come after he urged Tehran's 9.5 million residents to flee for their lives as he cut short his participation in an international summit earlier this week to return to Washington for urgent talks with his national security team. Mr Trump said that the Iranian officials continue to reach out to the White House as they are 'getting the hell beaten out of them' by Israel. But he added there is a 'big difference between now and a week ago' in Tehran's negotiating position. 'They've suggested that they come to the White House — that's, you know, courageous,' Mr Trump said. Iran's mission to the United Nations refuted Mr Trump's claim in a statement on social media. 'No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House. The only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to 'take out' Iran's Supreme Leader.' Vladimir Putin offered on Wednesday to help mediate an end to the conflict, suggesting Moscow could help negotiate a settlement that could allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful atomic programme while assuaging Israeli security concerns. The Russian president noted that 'it's a delicate issue' but added that 'in my view, a solution could be found'. He said he had shared Moscow's proposals with Iran, Israel and the US. His comments follow a mediation offer he made in a call with Mr Trump last weekend. Mr Trump said he told Mr Putin to keep focused on finding a solution to his own conflict with Ukraine. 'I said, 'Do me a favour, mediate your own',' Mr Trump said he told Mr Putin. 'I said, 'Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later'.' The Russia-Iran relationship has deepened since Mr Putin launched a war on Ukraine in February 2022, with Tehran providing Moscow with drones, ballistic missiles, and other support, according to US intelligence findings.
Powys County Times
6 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Trump will not say whether he will move forward with US strikes on Iran
President Donald Trump would not say whether he has decided to order a US strike on Iran, a move that Tehran warned anew would be greeted with stiff retaliation if it happens. 'I may do it, I may not do it,' Mr Trump said in an exchange with reporters at the White House. 'I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' Mr Trump added that it is not 'too late' for Iran to give up its nuclear programme as he continues to weigh direct US involvement in Israel's military operations aimed at crushing Tehran's options. 'Nothing's too late,' Mr Trump said. 'I can tell you this. Iran's got a lot of trouble.' 'Nothing is finished until it is finished,' Mr Trump added. But 'the next week is going to be very big — maybe less than a week'. Mr Trump also offered a terse response to Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's refusal to heed to his call for Iran to submit to an unconditional surrender. 'I say good luck,' Mr Trump said. Mr Khamenei earlier warned that any United States strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will 'result in irreparable damage for them' and that his country would not bow to Mr Trump's call for surrender. Mr Trump said on Tuesday the US knows where Iran's Mr Khamenei is hiding as the the Israel-Iran conflict escalates but does not want him killed — 'for now'. 'He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,' Mr Trump said. In a video address to Israelis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed appreciation for Mr Trump's support, calling him 'a great friend of Israel' and praising US help defending Israel's skies. 'We speak constantly, including last night,' Mr Netanyahu said on Wednesday. 'We had a very warm conversation.' Mr Trump's increasingly muscular comments toward the Iranian government come after he urged Tehran's 9.5 million residents to flee for their lives as he cut short his participation in an international summit earlier this week to return to Washington for urgent talks with his national security team. Mr Trump said that the Iranian officials continue to reach out to the White House as they are 'getting the hell beaten out of them' by Israel. But he added there is a 'big difference between now and a week ago' in Tehran's negotiating position. 'They've suggested that they come to the White House — that's, you know, courageous,' Mr Trump said. Iran's mission to the United Nations refuted Mr Trump's claim in a statement on social media. 'No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House. The only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to 'take out' Iran's Supreme Leader.' Vladimir Putin offered on Wednesday to help mediate an end to the conflict, suggesting Moscow could help negotiate a settlement that could allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful atomic programme while assuaging Israeli security concerns. The Russian president noted that 'it's a delicate issue' but added that 'in my view, a solution could be found'. He said he had shared Moscow's proposals with Iran, Israel and the US. His comments follow a mediation offer he made in a call with Mr Trump last weekend. Mr Trump said he told Mr Putin to keep focused on finding a solution to his own conflict with Ukraine. 'I said, 'Do me a favour, mediate your own',' Mr Trump said he told Mr Putin. 'I said, 'Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later'.' The Russia-Iran relationship has deepened since Mr Putin launched a war on Ukraine in February 2022, with Tehran providing Moscow with drones, ballistic missiles, and other support, according to US intelligence findings.
