Bad Bunny says he left US out of world tour due to fear of Ice raids at concerts

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Puerto Rican rapper says he and his team were ‘very concerned’ that Ice agents might target his performances

Bad Bunny says he excluded the US from his forthcoming world tour due to fears that, as a prominent Latino musician, his fans would be subjected to immigration raids.

In an interview with i-D magazine on Wednesday, the three-time Grammy-winning musician was asked whether he was skipping the US “out of concern about the [mass deportations of] Latinos”.

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Brisbane teen faces court on terrorism charges after violent extremist material and chemicals allegedly seized

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Max Belter, 18, had a document linked to ‘proscribed terrorist organisations’ on his electronic devices, police allege

A teenager charged with terrorism offences has wept in court after violent extremist material and chemicals for explosives were allegedly found during a police raid.

Max Belter, 18, appeared in a green prison jumper in Brisbane magistrates court on Thursday after a joint terrorism taskforce searched his property at The Gap in Brisbane’s north.

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‘Despicable’: Republicans and Democrats condemn violence after Charlie Kirk killing

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US lawmakers, in bipartisan rebuke, say violence has no place in America as Trump orders flags lowered

The killing of the rightwing activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah college on Wednesday afternoon prompted outrage from Democrats and Republicans over the latest act of political violence in the United States, with Donald Trump lamenting the loss of a key ally.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” the US president posted on his Truth Social platform.

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Wild weather brings flash floods in Sydney and at least two tornados reported in regional NSW

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Light rail passengers rescued in Randwick on Wednesday night as severe weather warnings remain in place across NSW

Two tornadoes, record-breaking rain and large hail have hit New South Wales in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, as supercell thunderstorms and a band of rain sweep the state.

Heavy downpours triggered a surge in calls for assistance.

Collaroy (Long Reef golf glub): 108mm

Sydney Botanic Gardens: 116mm

Rose Bay (Royal Sydney golf club): 110mm

Randwick (Randwick St): 145.8mm

Marrickville golf club: 81mm

Peakhurst golf club: 113mm

Cronulla South bowling club: 147mm

Campbelltown: 99mm

Camden airport: 77.8mm

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Massive gas tanker explosion in Mexico City kills 3 people and injures 70 others – ABC News

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  1. Massive gas tanker explosion in Mexico City kills 3 people and injures 70 others  ABC News
  2. Tanker truck explodes on Mexican highway, killing 3 and injuring 70  Reuters
  3. Three killed, dozens injured in gas explosion in Mexico City  DW
  4. Mexico City Gas Explosion Kills 3 and Injures at Least 70  The New York Times
  5. Massive gas tanker explosion in Mexico City injures at least 57 people, some seriously  NBC News
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ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell resigns amid crisis of confidence in leadership

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Resignation follows tumultuous period marked by redundancies, proposed course closures and allegations of a toxic work culture

The vice-chancellor of the Australian National University has tendered her resignation after a tumultuous two years at the institution, marked by redundancies, proposed course closures, and allegations of a toxic work culture.

Chancellor Julie Bishop confirmed Prof Genevieve Bell had resigned on Thursday morning. Multiple sources said Bell advised the council of her decision on Wednesday evening, with Provost Rebekah Brown to be interim vice-chancellor until a replacement is found.

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Flash floods in Indonesia leave at least 15 people dead and 10 missing

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Torrential rains cause flooding and landslides in East Nusa Tenggara province and on the tourist island of Bali

Rescuers have recovered the bodies of 15 people who have died in flash flooding in two Indonesian provinces, while authorities said 10 others were missing.

Torrential rains beginning on Monday caused flooding and landslides in East Nusa Tenggara province and on the island of Bali.

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Victorian Liberals director resigns after messages mocking the party’s women’s council revealed

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Stuart Smith resigned on Thursday morning and apologised for WhatsApp messages contained in the Liberal party headquarters staff group chat

The director of the Victorian Liberals, Stuart Smith, has resigned after leaked messages were published in which he ridiculed the party’s women’s council and upper house MP Bev McArthur.

Smith resigned on Thursday morning and apologised for the WhatsApp messages, contained in the Liberal party headquarters staff group chat, which were published by the Australian on Wednesday night.

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More than half of UK births now involve medical intervention, audit finds

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Caesareans drive rise in assisted deliveries as experts warn of complex pregnancies linked to age, obesity and other conditions

More than half of women having a baby in Britain now do so with the help of medical intervention, an audit of NHS maternity care has revealed.

Of the 592,594 births that took place in 2023, 50.6% involved either a caesarean section or the use of instruments such as forceps or a ventouse suction cup.

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Global press freedom suffers sharpest fall in 50 years, report finds

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The International IDEA’s survey of democratic markers finds US is offering ‘encouragement’ to populist leaders

Press freedom around the world has suffered its sharpest fall in 50 years as global democracy weakens dramatically, a landmark report has found.

According to the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), democracy has declined in 94 countries over the last five years and only a third have made progress.

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Tunisia investigates Sumud Flotilla alleged drone strike – The Jerusalem Post

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  1. Tunisia investigates Sumud Flotilla alleged drone strike  The Jerusalem Post
  2. Footage shows second claimed attack on Greta Thunberg Gaza flotilla  BBC
  3. An activist flotilla on a mission to Gaza says it was attacked again in Tunisia  AP News
  4. Flotilla for Gaza reports second drone attack on boat at Tunisian port  Reuters
  5. Map: Israel has attacked, intercepted all Gaza-bound flotillas since 2010  Al Jazeera
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US drugmaker Merck scraps £1bn London research centre and cuts 125 science jobs

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New blow to UK’s key life science sector as industry body says country is losing ground on investment and research

The US drugmaker Merck has scrapped a £1bn London research centre and is laying off 125 scientists in the capital this year, in a big blow to the UK’s important life science sector.

Keir Starmer’s government has described life sciences as “one of the crown jewels of the UK economy” and the previous Conservative government had vowed to turn the country into a “global science and technology superpower” by 2030.

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