Result in key Indian state is set to have significant implications for the country’s political landscape

Narendra Modi’s party has won a resounding election victory in West Bengal, a state which had been a rare opposition stronghold, expanding his unrivalled consolidation of power across the country.

It is the first time that the Indian prime minister’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) has won assembly elections in West Bengal, a large and politically significant state in eastern India.

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The announcement of the withdrawal of thousands of US troops from Germany underlines the urgency of a pan-European defence strategy

As Donald Trump’s second term has become overshadowed by plunging poll ratings and an illegal, ill-advised war in the Middle East, European governments have regularly been singled out to bear the brunt of the US president’s growing frustration. Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to militarily back the attack on Iran led to unfavourable comparisons to both Winston Churchill and King Charles. “Unfriendly” Spain has been threatened with a trade embargo for similar reasons. Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, previously seen as a key political ally, has also been on the receiving end. “I’m shocked by her,” Mr Trump said last month. “I thought she had courage. I was wrong.”

Currently it is Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who finds himself in Washington’s crosshairs. In the wake of Mr Merz’s accurate observation that the US has no convincing strategy on Iran, the Pentagon has announced the future withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from bases in Germany. Vital long-range weapons are also to be withheld as American military stockpiles are depleted by events in the Middle East. For good measure, Mr Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on European car manufacturers to 25% – a measure that would hit Germany hardest.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

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Party divisions over energy have deepened, but the need to move beyond fossil fuels has never been clearer

Energy has not been a prominent subject for discussion in the run-up to Thursday’s UK elections. In England this is logical enough, since the big policy decisions are taken by ministers in Westminster, not at council meetings. But the stances adopted by the new governments in Scotland and Wales matter a great deal. They will have an influence beyond their borders, helping to shape the national climate debate in the coming years.

In both nations, as in England, divisions have deepened as Conservatives have moved away from support for net zero and Reform UK has ramped up its opposition to renewables. Among Scottish parties, only the Greens are categorically against new fossil‑fuel developments in the North Sea. Under John Swinney, the Scottish National party’s earlier opposition to the Rosebank oilfield has softened in advance of the upcoming decision over whether it should go ahead. Scottish Labour, by contrast, has thrown its weight behind new nuclear power.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

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Many Canadians look at the Trump administration and see echoes of fascist policies — echoes that have bounced around Canada, too. Our housing and affordability crisis has created an increasingly precarious situation. And while the divide between the rich and the poor in Canada has never been larger — including during the Great Depression — Canadians should look to our past to better understand what made fascism so popular. The formula was simple: a promise of better economic days with the blame for financial troubles laid on a scapegoat. It's a formula that remains relevant today.

Jongere generaties voelen zich minder verbonden met de Tweede Wereldoorlog en de Nationale Herdenking dan de oudere generatie. Hoe kijken mensen uit deze generaties zelf naar deze verschillen? En valt het te verklaren?

Weer voor Rotterdam ☁️ - 04-05-2026 19:15 CEST

In één oogopslag:
• 15.4°C · Bewolkt ☁️ | Min 11.8°C / Max 18.9°C | Kans op neerslag 25%

Verwachting voor vandaag:
• Min 11.8°C, Max 18.9°C (Mist) 🌫️, Kans op neerslag 25%, 🧭 1012.8 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/24h, Windsnelheid: 15.5 km/u (4.3 m/s), richting: ↘ 328°

Uurlijkse voorspelling voor de komende 12 uur:

• 20:00: 15.6°C (Bewolkt) ☁️, Kans op neerslag 8%, 🧭 1012.4 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 13.0 km/u (3.6 m/s), richting: ↓ 346°
• 21:00: 16.2°C (Bewolkt) ☁️, 🧭 1012.7 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 15.5 km/u (4.3 m/s), richting: ↙ 28°
• 22:00: 15.2°C (Bewolkt) ☁️, 🧭 1012.9 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 13.7 km/u (3.8 m/s), richting: ↓ 22°
• 23:00: 13.9°C (Bewolkt) ☁️, 🧭 1013.1 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 14.8 km/u (4.1 m/s), richting: ↙ 26°
• 00:00: 12.4°C (Gedeeltelijk bewolkt) ☁️, Kans op neerslag 1%, 🧭 1013.0 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 14.8 km/u (4.1 m/s), richting: ↓ 7°
• 01:00: 11.8°C (Bewolkt) ☁️, Kans op neerslag 4%, 🧭 1012.7 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 15.1 km/u (4.2 m/s), richting: ↓ 4°
• 02:00: 11.8°C (Helder) 🌕, Kans op neerslag 6%, 🧭 1012.5 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 16.6 km/u (4.6 m/s), richting: ↓ 10°
• 03:00: 11.4°C (Bewolkt) ☁️, Kans op neerslag 7%, 🧭 1012.2 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 17.3 km/u (4.8 m/s), richting: ↓ 17°
• 04:00: 10.9°C (Gedeeltelijk bewolkt) ☁️, Kans op neerslag 8%, 🧭 1011.8 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 14.0 km/u (3.9 m/s), richting: ↙ 31°
• 05:00: 10.6°C (Bewolkt) ☁️, Kans op neerslag 8%, 🧭 1011.6 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 15.5 km/u (4.3 m/s), richting: ↙ 28°
• 06:00: 10.3°C (Bewolkt) ☁️, Kans op neerslag 6%, 🧭 1011.4 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 15.1 km/u (4.2 m/s), richting: ↓ 11°
• 07:00: 10.1°C (Bewolkt) ☁️, Kans op neerslag 4%, 🧭 1011.4 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/1h, Windsnelheid: 11.9 km/u (3.3 m/s), richting: ↓ 12°

Voorspelling voor de komende dagen:

• dinsdag 05 mei: Min 10.1°C, Max 15.9°C (Bewolkt) ☁️, Kans op neerslag 2%, 🧭 1010.8 hPa ↘️ -2.0 hPa/24h, Windsnelheid: 22.0 km/u (6.1 m/s), richting: ↙ 24°
• woensdag 06 mei: Min 10.3°C, Max 12.4°C (Lichte motregen) 🌦️, Neerslag 0.2 mm, Kans op neerslag 18%, 🧭 1008.9 hPa ↘️ -1.9 hPa/24h, Windsnelheid: 19.4 km/u (5.4 m/s), richting: ↙ 27°
• donderdag 07 mei: Min 6.9°C, Max 15.9°C (Lichte motregen) 🌦️, Neerslag 0.1 mm, Kans op neerslag 4%, 🧭 1013.9 hPa ↗️ +5.0 hPa/24h, Windsnelheid: 8.0 km/u (2.2 m/s), richting: ← 77°
• vrijdag 08 mei: Min 8.9°C, Max 18.6°C (Bewolkt) ☁️, Kans op neerslag 7%, 🧭 1014.3 hPa ➡️ 0.0 hPa/24h, Windsnelheid: 10.0 km/u (2.8 m/s), richting: ↖ 125°
• zaterdag 09 mei: Min 11.2°C, Max 19.7°C (Lichte regen) 🌧️, Neerslag 5.4 mm, Kans op neerslag 18%, 🧭 1013.0 hPa ↘️ -1.3 hPa/24h, Windsnelheid: 19.9 km/u (5.5 m/s), richting: ↑ 177°
• zondag 10 mei: Min 11.5°C, Max 21.8°C (Matige motregen) 🌦️, Neerslag 4.2 mm, Kans op neerslag 28%, 🧭 1012.5 hPa ↘️ -0.5 hPa/24h, Windsnelheid: 10.8 km/u (3.0 m/s), richting: ↙ 46°

Details:
• 🌡️ Huidige temperatuur (om 19:15): 15.4°C (Bewolkt)
• 🤚 Gevoelstemperatuur: 14.0°C (-1.4°C)
• 💨 Windsnelheid: 13.7 km/u (3.8 m/s), richting: ↓ 339°
• 🌬️ Windstoten: 27.7 km/h (7.7 m/s)
• 💧 Luchtvochtigheid: 75%
• 🧭 Luchtdruk: 1012.4 hPa ↗️ +0.5 hPa/3h
• 👁️ Zichtbaarheid: 50.0 km
• ☀️ UV-index: 0.8
• 🌅 Zonsopgang: 06:06 · 🌇 Zonsondergang: 21:11

Luchtkwaliteit:
• AQI: 56 🟡 (Matig)
• PM2.5: 16.2 μg/m³
• PM10: 19.2 μg/m³

Gegevens geleverd door Open-Meteo

#Rotterdam #Meteo #MeteoBot #MeteoNetherlands #OpenMeteo #FediMeteo

Dan - ZazaLake has added a photo to the pool: