It never rains or it pours: Australia suffers two weather extremes in May

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Parts of eastern NSW recorded wettest May on record as rainfall in Victoria and South Australia was 70% below average for the month

Australia saw a tale of two weather extremes last month, with extremely dry conditions continuing across southern parts of the country as parts of eastern New South Wales recorded the wettest May on record.

The low pressure trough that developed off the coast of NSW on 18 May and lingered for days, led to record high rainfall in numerous locations throughout the Hunter and mid-north coast.

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Ukraine and Russia to Meet for Second Round of Talks as Attacks Escalate – The New York Times

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  1. Ukraine and Russia to Meet for Second Round of Talks as Attacks Escalate  The New York Times
  2. Ukraine-Russia peace talks to resume in Istanbul after surprise drone attack  ABC News
  3. Ukrainian proposals for June 2 talks with Russia in Istanbul  Reuters
  4. 34% of Russian strategic Russian bombers at main airfields damaged in Ukrainian drone operation, SBU reports  The Kyiv Independent
  5. Ukraine and Russia meet in Turkey for peace talks with few hopes for a breakthrough  AP News
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Keir Starmer refuses to set date for UK to spend 3% of GDP on defence

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PM says he will not indulge in ‘performative fantasy politics’ before launching strategic defence review

Keir Starmer has refused to give a date for the UK to spend at least 3% of GDP on defence, saying he would not indulge in “performative fantasy politics”, as he prepared to launch the government’s strategic defence review.

Speaking at a defence facility in Scotland, the prime minister said his commitment to hit 2.5% of GDP on defence spending from 2027 showed he was serious about the issue, but that he could not go further without fiscal certainty.

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Erin Patterson details religious conversion and ‘never-ending battle’ with low self-esteem in emotional testimony to murder trial

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Triple murder accused gives evidence as first defence witness in death cap mushroom poisoning case that left three dead after beef wellington lunch

Erin Patterson has described her religious conversion and a “never-ending battle” with low self-esteem and weight issues in emotional evidence to her own triple murder trial.

Colin Mandy SC, Patterson’s defence lawyer, called her as the first defence witness on Monday afternoon.

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Spending on agency staff across NHS in England drops by almost £1bn

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Exclusive: Cost-saving for 2024-25 follows pledge by Wes Streeting to cut the amount going to agencies by 30%

Spending on agency staff across the NHS in England dropped by almost £1bn in the last financial year, ministers have said, after a pledge by Wes Streeting to cut the amount going to agencies by 30%.

According to the Department of Health and Social Care, the total spent by trusts on agency staff during 2024-25 was nearly £1bn lower than the previous year.

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The AI copyright standoff continues – with no solution in sight – BBC

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  1. The AI copyright standoff continues - with no solution in sight  BBC
  2. Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry  The Verge
  3. Reform accuses Labour of legalising theft as it wades into AI row  The Times
  4. Artistic property is not theirs to nick - 2 Jun 2025 - The Big Issue Magazine  Readly | All magazines - one magazine app subscription
  5. Will AI Kill the Video Star?  Telecom Review Asia
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London mayor reverses TfL ban on ads calling for abortion decriminalisation

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Sadiq Khan seeking ‘urgent review’ of decision to ban adverts from British Pregnancy Advisory Service

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has stepped in to reverse a ban on adverts on the London transport network calling for abortion to be decriminalised.

It is understood that the mayor is seeking an “urgent review” of a Transport for London (TfL) decision to ban the adverts from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) charity on the grounds they may bring the Metropolitan police into disrepute.

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More than 30 killed by gunfire near U.S. aid site in Gaza – The Washington Post

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  1. More than 30 killed by gunfire near U.S. aid site in Gaza  The Washington Post
  2. More Than 20 Killed Near Aid Distribution Site in Gaza, Health Officials Say  The New York Times
  3. Israel kills 32 Palestinians waiting for food at US-backed Gaza aid sites  Al Jazeera
  4. Tensions rise as Israel strongly denies firing on Palestinians at Gaza humanitarian site  Fox News
  5. Hamas: IDF Shot at Palestinian Civilians Near Gaza Aid Hubs, Killing 3, Wounding 35  Haaretz
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