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  • Lawyer who negotiated Stormy Daniels deal seemed shocked Trump won: ‘What have we done?’
    by Sam Levine and Victoria Bekiempis in New York on May 2, 2024 at 5:48 pm

    Keith Davidson gives colorful testimony at hush-money trial about how agreements came together in 2016Trump hush-money trial – live updatesAs Donald Trump’s presidential victory became clearer and clearer on election night in 2016, an attorney who brokered hush-money payments to bury the thencandidate’s alleged sexual liaisons seemed shocked that his efforts had worked, texting his longtime confidant: “What have we done?”So went the second day of testimony from Keith Davidson – who represented alleged Trump paramours Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal – during the ex-president’s criminal trial. The friend in question was Dylan Howard, then the editor of the National Enquirer. Prosecutors contend that the tabloid veteran kept Trump’s lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, apprised of damaging information about his boss.This article was amended on 2 May 2024 to correct the amount of money that Davidson said in testimony that Michael Cohen sent to Stormy Daniels. Continue reading...

  • US campus protests live: Columbia professors association calls for no-confidence vote against university president
    by Richard Luscombe (now); Gloria Oladipo, Fran Lawther, Amy Sedghi, Hamish Mackay, Jonathan Yerushalmy and Lois Beckett (earlier) on May 2, 2024 at 5:45 pm

    American Association of University Professors criticizes Minouche Shafik’s decision to call police on student protesters this weekPolice clear encampment at UCLA and arrest over 100 protestersUS students: share your experience of the campus protestsNYPD Deputy Commissioner, Kaz Daughtry, has confirmed that Fordham University was among a number of educational institutions which requested police assistance on campus to disperse protests.He said that individuals who refused to disperse has been arrested without incident.Your @NYPDnews officers continue to protect the right to peacefully protest, but lawlessness will not be tolerated. I commend the professionalism consistently displayed by our officers.In light of the activities that are currently happening, we further request that you retain a presence on campus through at least May 22, 2024 (when commencement and diploma ceremonies are completed) to maintain order and ensure encampments are not reestablished.” Continue reading...

  • London protesters block transfer of asylum seekers to Bibby Stockholm
    by Ben Quinn, Emily Dugan, Severin Carrell and Rajeev Syal on May 2, 2024 at 5:39 pm

    Dozens of demonstrators in Peckham surround coach, preventing it from taking people to barge in DorsetHundreds of protesters have blocked an attempt to collect asylum seekers from a London hotel and take them to the Bibby Stockholm barge.Arrests were made as police waded into the crowd blocking the road near a Best Western hotel in Peckham. It was not until 3pm, seven hours after it turned up, that the coach sent for the asylum seekers was able to leave the area – without asylum seekers onboard – and a number of police vans carrying protesters who had been detained were also able to leave. Continue reading...

  • SNP avoids another bruising leadership contest but relief will be short-lived
    by Libby Brooks and Severin Carrell on May 2, 2024 at 5:33 pm

    John Swinney faces series of immediate challenges, including rebuilding cross-party trust at HolyroodJohn Swinney and senior Scottish National party deal-makers have scored an initial success in avoiding another bruising leadership contest, which would have been potentially disastrous in a general election year.But that relief will be short-lived, as the new leader faces a series of immediate practical challenges. Chief among them are convincing voters the party is genuinely focused on their concerns, and rebuilding cross-party trust at Holyrood in minority government. Continue reading...

  • Tensions high between Trump lawyer and Stormy Daniels’ lawyer during cross examination – live
    by Victoria Bekiempis and Maya Yang (now) and Fran Lawther (earlier) on May 2, 2024 at 5:33 pm

    Keith Davidson frustrated by Trump lawyer’s cross examination, accuses her of ‘legal games’ based on phrasing of questionsLawyer who negotiated Stormy Daniels deal to resume Trump-trial testimonySign up for our free Trump on Trial newsletterWe’re still waiting for proceedings to kick off.As Donald Trump and Todd Blanche, his defense lawyer, are chatting at the table, the ex-president appears to be more animated, more engaged, than he has generally been. Continue reading...


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  • Macron vows to send troops to Ukraine if Putin breaks through the frontline as fears loom of clash between Nato & Russia
    by Georgie English on May 2, 2024 at 5:53 pm

    FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron has declared he will send his countries brave troops to Ukraine if Putin breaks through the frontline. If French troops are deployed to Ukraine it could be the biggest sign of Nato resistance so far against mad Vlad and his cronies as fears loom over a bombshell clash. The Mega AgencyFrench President Emmanuel Macron has not ruled out sending French troops to Ukraine[/caption] RexMacron said putting French boots on the ground would be a ‘legitimate’ course of action if Russia breaks through the frontline and he is called upon by Zelensky[/caption] Macron made the impressive declaration during an interview where he said sending across troops would become a “legitimate” course of action should Kyiv ask for any help. He made it clear that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ever made a request for back-up then he would feel obliged to help. Macron has made similar comments before about helping out his European allies and when asked again about his statement he doubled down on them. He said: “I’m not ruling anything out, because we are facing someone who is not ruling anything out. “If Russia decided to go further, we will in any case all have to ask ourselves this question.” Macron said he hopes his comments will act as a “strategic wake-up call for my counterparts”. He later described Russia as “a power of regional destabilisation” as they threat Europe‘s stability. The passionate show of Ukrainian support was ended with a direct message to both Zelensky and Putin. “I have a clear strategic objective: Russia cannot win in Ukraine,” Macron said. “If Russia wins in Ukraine, there will be no security in Europe. “Who can pretend that Russia will stop there? What security will there be for the other neighbouring countries, Moldova, Romania, Poland, Lithuania and the others?” If France was to send their troops into Ukraine’s backyard then it could cause major issues within Nato. The French would prove to be the first set of troops with Nato links to step up to Putin’s war machine and go head-to-head with the Russian army. Nato has consistently wanted to keep the idea of an escalation of a larger conflict minimal. The reason why it could cause a potential major issue is as Article 5 in Nato’s handbook states that all members are obliged to defend each other if there is an attack.  Russia are thought to be well aware that if they attack and kill French troops then it could draw in UK, German and even US troops into the battle. Nato's nuclear showdown with Putin NATO is headed for a nuclear showdown with the west as Nato could be considering moving nukes to Putin's doorstep. Below is a timeline of some of the thinly veiled threats the Kremlin has made against the West since invading Ukraine two years ago. Feb 24, 2022 – Vladimir Putin: “No matter who tries to stand in our way or all the more so create threats for our country and our people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history.” March 26, 2022 – Putin crony Dmitry Medvedev: “We have a special document on nuclear deterrence. This document clearly indicates the grounds on which the Russian Federation is entitled to use nuclear weapons. … [This includes] when an act of aggression is committed against Russia and its allies.” April 20, 2022 – Vladimir Putin: “[The new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads] will force all who are trying to threaten our country in the heat of frenzied, aggressive rhetoric to think twice.” Feb 29, 2024 – Vladimir Putin: “They must understand that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory… All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization. Don’t they get that?” March 12, 2024 – Vladimir Putin declared that weapons like nukes “exist in order to use them”. A chilling nuclear war simulator has also revealed how a Russian nuclear strike could trigger a global conflict – killing 35 million people in just a matter of hours. The model predicts a catastrophic war escalating from an initial Russian nuclear strike, which quickly draws in other powers. Known as “Plan A”, the four-minute animation aims to highlight the horrific potential consequences of conflict between Russia and NATO countries as all nations would fire strikes against one another. The model predicts that almost 35 million people would die within hours – many of those in the first 45 minutes. The trigger-happy tyrant has even started talking about how he could deploy nukes in space, saying that Russia can be “proud” of its work on a “nuclear power plant… for operation in space”. A bombshell warning from US intelligence in February suggested Vlad could be hoping to arm his existing anti-satellite weapon with nukes and launch it into space. Last year, Putin was said to be readying a deadly 20,000mph “meteorite” hypersonic missile for combat Macron has previously delivered speeches where he calls Russia’s attempt at dominance over their neighbours a real threat. The French leader described Europe as “mortal” before saying the continent could “die” due to the Russian aggression. A Russian propagandist has previously warned Putin will sink Britain under a nuclear tidal wave if Nato ever sends troops to Ukraine. Top Putin crony Dmitry Kiselyov warned that any bid by the West to “inflict a strategic defeat on Russia” would result in Armageddon. Europe was also said to be gearing up to forge a bubble of nuclear protection from Russia made up of 300 French ballistic missiles. Macron suggested the submarine-launched warheads are fanned across the continent to shore up collective defence. It comes after PM Rishi Sunak jetted off to Poland along with Nato chief Yens Stoltenberg for urgent security talks. Sunak seized the moment to pledge to raise the UK’s defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 as he said Britain was on a “war footing”. It marks the biggest defence boost in a generation with a cash injection of £75billion across the next six years. Sunak hailed it as the “biggest strengthening of national defence in a generation” to combat a growing axis of evil between Russia,  Iran, China and North Korea. A record £500million was earmarked for President Zelensky’s war effort, as the PM warned Putin will not stop at the Polish border should the despot win in Ukraine, The power-package will include further ammunition, air defence and drones and take the UK’s support for Kyiv to £3billion this financial year. GettyIn the past Macron has said Russia’s attempt to dominate neighbours is a real threat[/caption]

  • NYC park couple shock onlookers by ‘having sex under blanket’ as viral video triggers TikTok storm
    by Jessica Baker on May 2, 2024 at 5:36 pm

    A VIRAL video of a couple “having sex under a blanket” in a popular New York City park has triggered widespread outrage on TikTok. The clip appeared to show two people “moving erratically” under a blanket in Battery Park – which was at the time filled with people. A viral TikTok video shows a crowded park in New York CityTikTok Between the parkgoers, including children, is ‘a couple moving’ beneath a blanketTikTok A woman looks on in horror A TikTok creator shared bizarre footage of the so-called “NYC blanket couple” to the social media platform with the caption: “Trying to enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon in NYC…” Groups of people, including children, were seen enjoying the warm weather in the park before the camera panned to a dark blanket. There appeared to be movement beneath the blanket, although it was not exactly clear what the “couple” were doing. The online video has been viewed more than 51 million times, with many expressing outrage at what they were seeing. One person wrote: “Wait what? No one called the cops with all those kids around.” Another said: “In front of EVERYONE?!” Someone else commented: “Wait so after their done do they just lift the blanket carry on living like nothing happened ignoring the fact that everyone was watching.” Another person said: “not the little girl staring back as her mom pulls her along lmao,” while another wrote: “No this is INSANE.” On X, one person wrote they felt the situation was not being taken “seriously enough”. The user said: “they are having sex in a park IN FRONT OF CHILDREN like that is not okay.” Another wrote: “That couple really went out to a busy park in NYC, put a blanket over themselves & thought no one would notice?!?! “They couldn’t get a motel or something?” Battery Park is a 25-acre public park at the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City. People from across the world visit “The Battery” for a view of the city’s past, with ferries at its shore to take visitors to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Long concerts play on its grounds during the summertime, and its beautiful gardens make it a popular place for families to wander. The couple ‘moves erratically’ under the blanket in broad daylightTikTok

  • ‘You beat her to death’ cries heartbroken mum in court as horror CCTV shows politician’s brutal 8 hour attack on wife
    by Aiya Zhussupova on May 2, 2024 at 4:27 pm

    A HEARTBROKEN MUM of a politician’s murdered wife could not contain her emotions during the court hearing of a case that shocked Kazakhstan. Saltanat Nukenova, 31, died of brain trauma after an 8-hour brutal attack by her husband Kuandyk Bishimbayev, 44. NewsflashCCTV footage shows the politician grabbing his wife by the hair before getting out of the shot[/caption] APFormer ministry of economy is charged with beating and killing of his wife last November[/caption] APSaltanat Nukenova, 31, died in agony from a brain trauma after an alleged 8-hour attack[/caption] Kazakhstan’s former economy minister was charged with torturing and killing his wife despite attempts to maintain his innocence for a number of weeks. Bishimbayev had previously been jailed for bribery in 2018, although he spent less than two years of his ten-year sentence in prison before he was pardoned. He eventually admitted to beating his wife and “unintentionally” causing her death in court last month. He described the excruciating details of the assault but added: “I was clearly aware that no vital organ should [be hurt].” The ex-minister continued to deny guilt in premeditated murder, saying: “The only thing I want to inform you is that there was no intention, no particular cruelty in this.” During his testimony, the grief-stricken mother of Nukenova screamed out: “You were beating her to death for several hours! “I didn’t see my daughter, I didn’t bury her, I didn’t see her face. “How did you beat her without particular cruelty?” On the evening of November 8, 2023 the politician quarrelled with his wife in the Bau restaurant in Astana which belongs to his relatives. The disturbing CCTV footage showed the couple engaging in conversation before Bishimbayev, a father-of-four, grabbed his wife by the hair and dragged her out of the shot. According to Nukenova’s mother, she was tortured for eight hours in one of the VIP booths where there are no security cameras. The next day, Bishimbayev left his wife lying in the establishment while he went out on business. He called an ambulance only in the evening when he noticed that her body was cold – at which point, Nukenova had been dead for 6-8 hours. The medical expertise revealed that the victim died slowly in agony. According to German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, restaurant staff were forbidden to call emergency services. Who is Kuandyk Bishimbayev? KUANDYK Bishimbayev is currently on trial for the murder of his wife after being accused of beating her to death. But the businessman, who is also Kazakhstan’s former Minister of National Economy, is already well known to law enforcement. Bishimbayev, 44, was once seen as a fresh, Western-educated face of Kazakhstan’s government and a former “favourite” of former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev. In 2018, however, he was jailed for bribery and placed in an institution of the maximum security penal system. In February 219, he appealed for pardon and saw his sentence reduced to four years, before he was pardoned less than two years into his initial ten-year sentence. Bishimbayev was born in the city of Kyzyl-Orda (now Kyzylorda) in 1980. In 2001, he earned masters in business administration from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. as part of the Bolashak scholarship. In May 2016, he was made Kazakhstan’s Minister of National Economy after waves of unrest during the protests against land reforms to replace Erbolat Dosaev. He was eventually dismissed from his post on 28 December 2016. An instruction was also given to erase CCTV footage under the pretext of technical failure. In court, the politician stated that his wife allegedly fell face down on the toilet, hitting her head on the floor tiles in a drunken state. But the medical examination revealed that Nukenova did not have a large amount of alcohol in her body. His lawyers also made attempts to portray Bishimbayev’s wife as prone to jealousy and violence. This was despite there being no video from the restaurant’s security cameras played in court that showed her attacking Bishimbayev. In addition, the woman’s neck had traces of strangulation and her body had many scrapes and bruises. The court also found 12 videos, recorded by the former minister on his phone on the day of the horror ordeal, in which he can be heard insulting and cursing the victim. The judge also released correspondence from Bishimbayev’s phone where he messaged a fortune teller instead of an ambulance to check Nukenova’s condition since she did not regain consciousness. According to Nukenova’s brother, Aitbek Amangeldy, his sister made eight attempts to leave the relationship but was blackmailed with intimate videos to stay. PUBLIC OUTRAGE The trial is the first of its kind to ever be streamed online in Kazakhstan and made readily accessible to its 19 million people. Nukenova’s death has attracted the attention of the nation as a result, sparking calls for new legislation tackling domestic violence.  Approximately 400 women in Kazakhstan lose their lives to domestic violence each year, although many of these incidents go unreported, according to a 2018 UN Women-supported study. Tens of thousands of people have signed petitions calling for new laws to hold those guilty of abuse to account. Senators have since approved a bill which toughens spousal abuse laws – dubbed “Saltanat’s Law”. Nukenova’s brother, Aitbek Amangeldy, a key prosecution witness in the case, said he had no doubt his sister’s tragic fate shifted attitudes about domestic violence in Kazakhstan. “It changes people’s minds when they see directly what it looks like when a person is tortured,” he told the Associated Press. During a court session on April 1, Bishimbayev apologised to the Nukenova’s relatives for her death. “It was always very difficult for me at first to realise her death,” he said, as reported by UNN. “I want to apologise. I don’t expect forgiveness, but it’s my responsibility. I realise this is an irreparable loss, and I am complicit in the circumstances.” Bishimbayev would then talk about his life with his murdered wife for almost five hours, without getting to the episode of the murder. He then asked the court to postpone the hearing of this episode to the next session, referring to the fact that he was “tired of talking”. HOW YOU CAN GET HELP: Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families: Always keep your phone nearby. Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine. If you are in danger, call 999. Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”. Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare. If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone. Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space. If you are a ­victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support ­service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk. Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm. You can also call the freephone 24-hour ­National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247. NewsflashSecurity footage, most of which was deleted, showed the excruciating assault[/caption] RexThe case caused a public outrage and a new bill approval[/caption] APAitbek Amangeldy, attends a court session as a key prosecution witness[/caption]

  • Tenerife rocked by horrific murder as expat, 66, found dismembered with bag over her head & husband, 71, still missing
    by Sayan Bose on May 2, 2024 at 4:16 pm

    POPULAR holiday spot Tenerife has been rocked by the shocking murder of a Belgian woman who was found dead in horrific conditions. Laura Trappeniers’s lifeless body was discovered just days after she went missing along with her 71-year-old husband Marc Olbrechts. HandoutLaura Trappeniers’s body was found in Santa Cruz in Tenerife[/caption] HandoutThe woman’s husband Marc Olbrechts is still missing[/caption] A search notice was posted for the old couple by the Spanish National Centre for Missing People after they shockingly disappeared a few days ago. Their car, a blue Opel Mokka with a Spanish license plate, is also missing. Both disappeared from Adeje, a town in Santa Cruz de Tenerife – and were last seen on April 22. The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they were aware of the disappearance. A spokesperson said in a statement: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels and the Belgian consulate in Tenerife are following this case closely and are in contact with the other competent Spanish and Belgian authorities on this matter.” One of the friends of the couple told investigating authorities that the couple “seemed happy” and everything seemed to be “going well in their lives”. While Laura has now been confirmed dead, her husband Marc is still nowhere to be found. Her lifeless body was discovered at sea by a fisherman, local media El Dia reports. The corpse was severely mutilated – and her limbs were reportedly missing. Officials suggest Laura’s body had been in the water for several days – and an autopsy report confirms a violent death. MORE TENERIFE HORRORS In 2021 a British man was stabbed to death in Tenerife in a suspected burglary gone wrong. The 31-year-old was said to have made a desperate attempt to flee his attackers following the knifing on a residential complex in the south of the island. The incident occurred in the Island Village complex near Playa de las Americas – where the late crook, John Palmer, set up his notorious timeshare business. Local reports said the stabbing could have occurred during a violent break-in at the victim’s home. And in 2023 another Brit was left fighting for his life after being brutally assaulted on a Tenerife party strip. The man, believed to be around aged 30, was reportedly knocked unconscious by a punch to the head then suffered a skull fracture and internal bleeding when he hit the ground. HandoutMissing posters have been put up in the local area[/caption]

  • Watch moment cars are swept away & roads become raging rivers as floods swamp Saudi Arabia as storms batter Dubai
    by Georgie English on May 2, 2024 at 3:13 pm

    SAUDI Arabia is the latest victim of the torrential rainfall being felt in parts of the Middle East after storms once again batter a drowned Dubai. Cars have been swept away in the Saudi deluge as roads are quickly transforming into raging rivers as the country was plunged into soaking wet misery this week. Murky floodwater was seen terrorising Saudi Arabia turning roads into raging rivers XThe heavy rainfall created waterfalls on the side of roads[/caption] Cars were swept away in the swamps battering the Kingdom Several major highways in the Kingdom have been devastated by floodwater with shocking footage showing pop-up waterfalls pouring off the side of pathways. Locals left their motors abandoned in the streets as they ran for safety from the rushing water. Qassim was one of the worst affected areas leaving residents forced to wade through water up to their knees. Some were even forced to stay inside as the water was building up at such a dramatic rate. The flash floods first came in on Monday and left many northern parts of the Kingdom swamped for days. Crazy videos highlight the nightmare as brown, murky water was seen crashing along neighbouring roads and turning usually packed streets into a deadly pit of water. Thunder and lightening could also be heard throughout Saudi Arabia with one citizen telling AFP it “was illuminating the city”. Electrical units were also reportedly being busted, including lights and air-conditioning, across the region. Saudi Arabia’s national meteorological centre put out an urgent red notice earlier this week warning people of the weather about to strike. Alerts were sent out to Qassim and also the country’s capital of Riyadh saying the floods could last for most of the week. Experts told people to expect “heavy rain with strong wind, a lack of horizontal visibility, hail, torrential rains, and thunderbolts”. Schools were shut down in the Eastern Province and the capital as many workers were moved online due to the flood risks. Authorities are thought to be assessing the damage. A REPEATING NIGHTMARE Horrid weather has also been tormenting the glitzy city of Dubai again this week. On April 14 and 15, Dubai suffered its heaviest rainfall in more than 70 years, sparking what was branded “biblical” flooding. A year’s worth of rain poured in just 24 hours, with the city woefully unprepared and stuck in its tracks for days. An airport was left submerged underwater, roads at a standstill and homes and businesses filled up with water. It was feared the destructive deluge could end up costing Dubai up to $1billion to clean up the damage. XA local said lightening ‘was illuminating the city’[/caption] ReutersThe streets of Dubai were swamped with water and cars after the flooding two weeks ago and once again last night[/caption] Dubai was given numerous weather warnings as the rain came in Wednesday evening APThe April floods that drenched Dubai left people in waist high water for days[/caption] But overnight, rain hit once again after just two weeks of sunshine. Authorities were forced into issuing an emergency public safety alert – warning residents to stay safe as storms sweep across. Cops have urged residents to “avoid beaches, refrain from sailing and stay clear of valleys” in its latest alert issued on Wednesday evening. Unstable weather conditions are forecasted for the rest of Thursday and Friday as authorities take action to stop the rain wreaking havoc all over again. Horrified residents were woken up today by strong winds and rain in the early hours, as well as lightening. Brit expat Tom Evans, from Stoke, told The Sun: “It’s not as bad as April’s carnage but Dubai and Abu Dhabi have both pretty much ground to a halt.” Motorists have been warned to avoid driving “unless absolutely necessary”. An alert from the service reads: “If necessary, drive with caution and remain vigilant and alert to ensure safety of all road users.” Specialised teams have been deployed to quickly tackle big accumulations of rainwater and keep drivers safe. Some flights have already been cancelled because of bad weather across the United Arab Emirates. At least nine arrivals and four outbound flights from Dubai International Airport were cancelled overnight, while five inbound plans were diverted. Meanwhile, several flights have been ditched by Emirates. A spokesman said: “Customers arriving or departing from Dubai airport on May 2 can expect some delays as flights are rescheduled.” What caused the heavy rain in Dubai? A DELUGE of rain flooded Dubai in April, leaving at least one person dead and causing major disruption at the world's busiest airfield. The true cause of the heavy rain is not yet known, but some have theorised it may have been the result of cloud seeding. Cloud-seeding is carried out in the UAE to increase the desert nation’s dwindling and limited groundwater supply, according to AP. The weather modification technique involves small planes flying through clouds while burning special salt flares that can increase precipitation. Meteorologists at the National Centre for Meteorology said they flew six or seven cloud-seeding flights before the rains commenced, according to reports. And flight-tracking data analysed by the AP reportedly showed that one aircraft affiliated with the UAE’s cloud-seeding efforts flew around the country on Sunday. A lack of drainage on roads and in other areas of the UAE – due to the irregularity of rain – is believed to have worsened the flooding. Lightening strikes also plagued Dubai AFPWorkers cleaning up a flooded building in Dubai on May 1 after it was damaged in the floods[/caption] AFPCars were forced to battle through the harsh weather in April as Dubai faced apocalyptic storms[/caption]


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