Russia is boosting gas supply to Europe including via Ukraine, Putin says

AFP
Ceasefire should be 'no-brainer' for Hamas, Blinken says
Accepting a ceasefire deal with Israel should be a "no-brainer" for Hamas, but the motivations of the militants' elusive Gaza-based leadership remain unclear, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.Noting that the militants "purport to represent" the Palestinian people, Blinken said: "If it is true, then taking the ceasefire should be a no-brainer."
Reuters
India's foreign minister rejects Biden's 'xenophobia' comment
Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar rejected U.S. President Joe Biden's comment that "xenophobia" was hobbling the South Asian nation's economic growth, The Economic Times reported on Saturday. Jaishankar said at a round table hosted by the newspaper on Friday that India's economy "is not faltering" and that it has historically been a society that is very open. "That's why we have the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), which is to open up doors for people who are in trouble ... I think we should be open to people who have the need to come to India, who have a claim to come to India," Jaishankar said, referring to a recent law that allows immigrants who have fled persecution from neighbouring countries to become citizens.
AFP
Sweden's Eurovision contest to open in shadow of Gaza war
Glitter and rhinestones or pro-Palestinian demonstrations and slogans?- Pro-Palestinian rallies - Thousands are expected to attend pro-Palestinian rallies throughout the week in the city, which is decorated with multicoloured flags.
Associated Press
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
The Houston area was under threat of worsening flood conditions Saturday, a day after heavy storms slammed the region and authorities warned those in low-lying areas to evacuate ahead of an expected “catastrophic” surge of water. A flood watch remained in effect through Sunday afternoon as forecasters predicted additional rainfall Saturday night, bringing another 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimeters) of water to the soaked region and the likelihood of major flooding. Friday's storms forced numerous high-water rescues, including some from the rooftops of flooded homes.
CNN
It’s been two years since the UK’s poop-engulfed beaches became a national scandal. Now it’s even worse
Poop on the beaches and dead fish in the rivers – England has a serious sewage problem.
Associated Press
The UN warns Sudan's warring parties that Darfur risks starvation and death if aid isn't allowed in
The United Nations food agency warned Sudan’s warring parties Friday that there is a serious risk of widespread starvation and death in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan if they don’t allow humanitarian aid into the vast western region. Leni Kinzli, the World Food Program’s regional spokesperson, said at least 1.7 million people in Darfur were experiencing emergency levels of hunger in December, and the number “is expected to be much higher today.” “Our calls for humanitarian access to conflict hotspots in Sudan have never been more critical,” she told a virtual U.N. press conference from Nairobi.
AFP
Vietnam temperature records tumble as heatwave scorches
More than 100 temperature records fell across Vietnam in April, according to official data, as a deadly heatwave scorches South and Southeast Asia.In all, 102 weather stations saw record highs in April, as northern and central Vietnam bore the brunt of the heatwave, with temperatures on average 2-4 C higher than during the same period last year.
NBC News
Florida teens seen on viral video dumping trash into ocean from a boat turn themselves in
Two Florida teens seen in a viral video dumping trash into the Atlantic Ocean from a boat turned themselves into authorities on Friday and face a felony pollution charge, according to officials and court records.
TODAY
Maddy Baloy, 26-year-old who documented her terminal cancer journey on TikTok, dies
Maddy Baloy, who shared her terminal cancer journey on TikTok has died. She was 26.
AFP
Three bodies found after surfers go missing in Mexico: FBI
Three bodies were found in Mexico's Baja California state, the FBI said Friday, days after two Australians and an American went missing during a surfing trip in an area hit by cartel violence.Baja California, known for its inviting beaches, is also one of Mexico's most violent states thanks to organized crime groups.
Associated Press
Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas vows to continue his bid for an 11th term despite bribery indictment
For two decades, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar has stood out as a moderate Democrat along the Texas-Mexico border, bucking his party at times over guns and immigration while seldom facing a tough reelection. Cuellar, 68, and his wife, Imelda, 67, were taken into custody Friday in connection with a U.S. Department of Justice probe into the couple's ties to the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.
Associated Press
Marijuana backers eye proposed federal regulatory change as an aid to legalizing pot in more states
As the U.S. government moves toward reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, there may be little immediate impact in the dozen states that have not already legalized cannabis for widespread medical or recreational use by adults. “It is very common for a state legislator to tell me, ‘Well, I might be able to support this, but ... I’m not going to vote for something that’s illegal under federal law,’” said Matthew Schweich, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, which advocates for cannabis legalization. Although a proposal to reclassify marijuana would not make it legal, “it is a historic and meaningful change at the federal level that I think is going to give many state lawmakers a little less hesitation to support a bill,” Schweich added.
Associated Press
AP PHOTOS: South and Southeast Asian countries cope with a weekslong heat wave
In April, the United Nations Children’s Fund warned that the sweltering weather could put millions of children’s lives at risk and asked caregivers to take extra precautions. A UNICEF statement said that in the Asia-Pacific region, “around 243 million children are exposed to hotter and longer heatwaves, putting them at risk of a multitude of heat-related illnesses, and even death.” Meteorologists in Cambodia say the country is facing its hottest temperatures in 170 years, reaching as high as 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit).
NBC News
Republican group in Colorado cancels Kristi Noem fundraiser due to 'death threats' amid backlash over her memoir
A county Republican group in Colorado said that it was cancelling a fundraiser featuring South Dakota governor and potential Republican vice presidential contender Kristi Noem after she reportedly described killing her young dog in her forthcoming book.
Associated Press
Investing guru Warren Buffett draws thousands, but Charlie Munger's zingers will be missed
Tens of thousands of investors are expected to once again descend on an Omaha, Nebraska, arena Saturday to vacuum up tidbits of wisdom from billionaire Warren Buffett. “He was the sriracha sauce in the Berkshire Hathaway meeting," said investor Bill Smead, a regular at the event for 14 years. For decades, Munger shared the stage with Buffett every year for the marathon question and answer session that is the event's centerpiece.
Associated Press
Biden and Trump offer worlds-apart contrasts on issues in 2024's rare contest between 2 presidents
Joe Biden and Donald Trump are two presidents with unfinished business and an itch to get it done. The onward march of regulation and incentives to restrain climate change, or a slow walk if not an about-face. A commitment to stand with Ukraine or let go.
Associated Press
Bystander livestreams during Charlotte standoff show an ever-growing appetite for social media video
Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte, North Carolina, home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered rifles descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gunfire from the direction of his neighbor's house. Increasingly, they look to livestream their perspective of the attack. “It’s become sort of a social norm," said Karen North, a digital social media professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg.
CNN
Sunday’s presidential election in Panama is ‘most important’ in decades, say experts
Panama, the Central American nation at the crossroads of international trade and migration, will elect a new president on Sunday after a campaign season mired in legal uncertainty.
CNN
Georgia rocked by protests as government pushes Putin-style ‘foreign agent’ bill
After spending his days making wine in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, Tsotne Jafaridze returns home to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, and begins his new routine. He packs goggles, a gas mask and enough water and snacks to last several hours. He has another long night ahead.
Associated Press
Flood and landslide hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island, killing 14
A flood and a landslide hit Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, killing 14 people, officials said Saturday. Torrential rain pounding the area since Thursday triggered a landslide in Luwu district in South Sulawesi province, said local rescue chief Mexianus Bekabel. More than 100 residents have been moved to mosques or relatives' houses outside the affected area, National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said Saturday.

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