April storms that killed 24 in US made more severe by burning fossil fuels – study

Study finds human-caused climate change made four-day rainfall across central Mississippi valley 40% more likely

The four-day historic storm that caused death and destruction across the central Mississippi valley in early April was made significantly more likely and more severe by burning fossil fuels, rapid analysis by a coalition of leading climate scientists has found.

Record quantities of rain were dumped across eight southern and midwestern states between 3 and 6 April, causing widespread catastrophic flooding that killed at least 15 people, inundated crops, wrecked homes, swept away vehicles and caused power outages for hundreds of thousands of households.

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Taiwan faces similar threat to Europe in 1930s, president says

Lai Ching-te says ‘message of history is clear’ as Taiwan for first time officially commemorates end of second world war

Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, has compared his nation to the European countries heading for conflict with Nazi Germany in the 1930s, in a punchy speech commemorating the end of the second world war in Europe.

“Eighty years after the end of the European war, the message of history is clear. Today, 80 years later, we share the same values ​​and face similar challenges as many of the democracies that participated in the European war,” Lai said to a group of foreign dignitaries gathered in Taipei.

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The EU wants to end all Russian gas imports. Moscow’s friends in the bloc say it’s a ‘serious mistake’ – CNBC

  1. The EU wants to end all Russian gas imports. Moscow's friends in the bloc say it's a 'serious mistake'  CNBC
  2. After 3 years of full-scale war in Ukraine, Europe announces plan to ban all Russian gas imports  The Kyiv Independent
  3. A Russian Gas Ban Will Boost These Companies  Barron's
  4. EU gears up for fight with Russian energy holdouts  politico.eu
  5. 'Historic mistake': Von der Leyen rules out return to Russian fuels after the war  Euronews
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Man admitted to Japan’s 2025 World Expo with 85-year-old ticket

Collector of Expo memorabilia had a ticket to the 1940 Grand International Exposition of Japan, which was postponed indefinitely due to the war

A man was admitted to the World Expo in Japan using a ticket to the 1940 Grand International Exposition of Japan, an event that was called off as war escalated, organisers said.

Tickets for the Grand International Exposition of Japan in Tokyo were released in 1938 but the event was postponed indefinitely as Japan became embroiled in the second world war.

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Trump’s aid cuts blamed as food rations stopped for a million refugees in Uganda

UN World Food Programme says $50m is urgently needed amid fears that Uganda may now begin forced repatriations

Food rations for a million people in Uganda have been cut off completely this week amid a funding crisis at the United Nations World Food Programme, raising fears that refugees will now be pushed back into countries at war.

The WFP in Uganda warned two weeks ago that $50m (£37m) was urgently needed to help refugees and asylum seekers fleeing conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Sudan.

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Scorpions ‘taking over’ Brazilian cities with reported stings rising 250%

Fast and unplanned growth of cities providing ideal conditions for the creatures to thrive, say researchers

Scorpions are “taking over” Brazilian cities, researchers have warned in a paper that said rapid urbanisation and climate breakdown were driving an increase in the number of people being stung.

More than 1.1m stings were reported between 2014 and 2023, according to data from the Brazilian notifiable diseases information system. There was a 250% increase in reports of stings from 2014 to 2023, according to research published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.

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China’s Xi Jinping likens ‘US hegemony’ to ‘fascist forces’ ahead of Vladimir Putin summit – Financial Times

  1. China’s Xi Jinping likens ‘US hegemony’ to ‘fascist forces’ ahead of Vladimir Putin summit  Financial Times
  2. China's Xi arrives in Moscow in show of support for Putin after Ukrainian drones target capital  Reuters
  3. Xi’s Visit to Russia Complicates China’s Courtship of Europe  The New York Times
  4. China's Xi Jinping in Russia for Victory Day amid exchange of fire with Ukraine  Hindustan Times
  5. Xi Jinping arrives in Moscow as Putin’s ‘guest of honor’ ahead of Victory Day military parade  CNN
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Cardinals set for second day of conclave to elect a new pope – Reuters

  1. Cardinals set for second day of conclave to elect a new pope  Reuters
  2. When does the 2025 conclave resume? Smoke times, full schedule for May 8  USA Today
  3. Norfolk Catholic schoolchildren on their hopes for the next pope  BBC
  4. Cardinals are watching ‘Conclave’ the movie for guidance on the actual conclave  politico.eu
  5. Black smoke signals end of first day of conclave  Vatican News
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See the scenes as the Germans surrendered in World War II – USA Today

  1. See the scenes as the Germans surrendered in World War II  USA Today
  2. 80 years after VE Day a veteran says, 'I hope people will see the futility of it all'  NPR
  3. This American soldier witnessed the Nazi surrender. 80 years later, he’s still happy to be home  CNN
  4. V-E Day and the Founding of a New World Order – Mike Watson  Law & Liberty
  5. This VE Day, the Celebrations Felt Hollow  Bloomberg.com
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The Indian Aircraft Pakistan Says It Shot Down – The New York Times

  1. The Indian Aircraft Pakistan Says It Shot Down  The New York Times
  2. May 7, 2025 India launches attacks on Pakistan after Kashmir massacre  CNN
  3. Pakistan Hails Role of Chinese Jets in Repelling India Strikes  Bloomberg.com
  4. Three fighter jets crashed in India's Jammu and Kashmir, local govt sources say  Reuters
  5. Pak minister schooled by CNN anchor for absurd 'social media' reply as proof of downing Indian jets  Hindustan Times
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Australia news live: Rudd criticises Trump’s proposed ‘tax on Bluey’; Faruqi refuses to concede Bandt will lose Melbourne

Australia’s ambassador to the US has taken aim at the proposal to put tariffs on screen productions. Follow today’s news live

Ben Raue’s predictions for Menzies, Bullwinkel and Bradfield

Analyst Ben Raue also predicted that Labor’s Gabriel Ng lead by 1,145 votes in Menzies, Victoria, will “grow slightly”.

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Columbia University calls in police to clear pro-Palestinian protesters

University’s president says activists refused to leave library despite warnings of disciplinary action and arrest

Columbia University asked the New York police department to help clear pro-Palestinian activists from the campus’s main library after protesters clashed with the school’s public safety officers.

Claire Shipman, the university’s acting president, said in a statement that protesters had refused to leave the building despite being warned that a failure to comply would result in disciplinary action and possibly arrest for trespassing.

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