US President Donald Trump’s administration will stop updating a long-running database of costly climate and weather disasters as part of its deep cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, according to a Thursday announcement.The database, which spans the years 1980-2024, has allowed researchers, the media and the public to keep a tally of events ranging from wildfires to hurricanes that caused losses exceeding $1 billion, adjusted for inflation. “In alignment with evolving priorities, statutory mandates, and staffing changes, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information will no longer be updating the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters product,” a banner on the landing page said. Past years will remain archived.From 1980 to 2024, the United States experienced 403 weather and climate disasters with damages exceeding $1 billion each, adjusted to 2024 dollars. The cumulative cost of these events surpassed $2.9 trillion.A time-series chart shows that while there is year-to-year variation, the overall number of billion-dollar disasters is rising sharply, driven by climate destabilization linked to fossil fuel emissions.”Hiding many billions in costs is Trump’s latest move to leave Americans in the dark about climate disasters,” said Maya Golden-Krasner of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute.”Trump’s climate agenda is to leave people unsafe and unprepared while oil companies pocket record profits,” Golden-Krasner added. “The pressure is on for leaders with integrity to keep counting the costs of climate disasters and hold polluters accountable for the damage.”Trump, who withdrew the United States from the Paris climate agreement on day one of his second term, has pursued aggressive rollbacks of climate-focused institutions. His administration appears to be following “Project 2025,” a blueprint authored by right-wing think tanks that labels NOAA a key source of “climate alarmism.”NOAA has since undergone mass layoffs affecting roughly 20 percent of its workforce, and the White House is seeking to slash the agency’s annual budget by $1.5 billion — nearly a quarter of its total funding.The move follows another major blow to federal climate science: the dismissal of more than 400 authors behind the National Climate Assessment, a report mandated by Congress and considered the government’s foremost climate evaluation.

The United States said Thursday that a new foundation will soon announce plans for aid to Gaza, sidelining the United Nations as Israel’s two-month blockade brings severe shortages to the war-battered territory.State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the foundation was non-governmental and would make an announcement “shortly,” without offering further details.”We welcome moves to quickly get urgent food aid into Gaza… in a way that the food aid actually gets to those to whom it’s intended,” Bruce told reporters.”It cannot fall into the hands of terrorists such as Hamas.”Israel has imposed a blockade for two months on Gaza, leading UN agencies and other humanitarian groups to warn of dwindling supplies of everything from fuel to medicine to the territory of 2.4 million Palestinians.Israel denies a humanitarian crisis is unfolding and has vowed to ramp up pressure further on Hamas. The Israeli military has already leveled most of the territory’s buildings following militants’ unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.Israel has long criticized involvement of the United Nations, seeing it as biased, and has banned work of the UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees.Asked about the lack of a role for the United Nations, whose efforts have been impeded by Israel, Bruce said: “Endless press releases and Hamas appeasement have not delivered food, medicine or shelter to those who need it.”US President Donald Trump has teased a major announcement before he heads on a tour next week of Gulf Arab monarchies.Little is known for certain about the foundation, but a listing in Switzerland showed the establishment in February of the “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.”Swiss newspaper Le Temps reported that the foundation was looking to hire “mercenaries” to work in the distribution of aid.Amnesty International’s Swiss chapter voiced alarm, saying in a statement: “A foundation contributing to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory would be in violation of international law and fail to meet its responsibility to respect human rights.”Israeli officials in recent days have spoken of a broader assault in Gaza, whose population has been almost entirely displaced by the military offensive.Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the territory will be “entirely destroyed.”European governments, UN experts and China have voiced alarm over the Israeli plans. The Trump administration has held back on criticism and blamed Hamas for the situation.Trump since taking office has stopped the vast majority of US international assistance.

Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV on Thursday after cardinals from around the globe chose him to be the first leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to hail from the United States.Tens of thousands of well-wishers cheered as Leo, successor to the late Pope Francis, appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to deliver the first address of his ministry.”To all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole Earth, peace be with you,” a smiling Leo told the crowd.”Help us, and each other, to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace.”Leo’s speech drew warm applause, especially a section where the prelate — who spent many years in Peru — broke into Spanish, and also when he paid tribute to his popular predecessor Francis, who died last month.”We still keep in our ears that weak, but always courageous, voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome,” he said, referring to the ailing Argentine’s Easter Sunday address, a day before his death.”We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, which hold dialogues, which is always open,” he said.- ‘Great honour’ -The 69-year-old Prevost had been talked about as among the “papabili” — cardinals thought qualified for the papacy — and as someone who could defend and further Francis’s legacy.But he was not a globally-recognised figure among the Catholic rank and file.World leaders raced to welcome his election as the 267th pope and promise to work with the Church on global issues at a time of great geopolitical uncertainty.Leo, who spent years as a missionary in Peru, now faces a momentous task. As well as asserting his moral voice on a conflict-torn world stage, he must try to unite a divided Church and tackle burning issues such as the continued fall-out from the sexual abuse scandal.As Cardinal Prevost, the new pope had defended the poor and underprivileged and had reposted articles online critical of US President Donald Trump’s anti-migrant policies, but the White House chief nevertheless welcomed the election.”Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named pope,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform.”It is such an honour to realise that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country.”It was not known how many ballots it took to elect Leo XIV, but the conclave followed recent history in wrapping up in less than two days.While the details of the election will forever remain secret, the new pope had to secure at least two-thirds of votes to be elected.- ‘Amazing’ -The crowds had swelled with emotion when white smoke billowed into the sky from the Sistine Chapel chimney Thursday, signalling an election on the cardinals’ second day of voting.The bells of St Peter’s Basilica and churches across Rome rang out and crowds rushed towards the square to watch the balcony of the basilica, fitted out with red curtains for the first address from the new pope, who was introduced in Latin.”It’s an amazing feeling,” said an elated Joseph Brian, a 39-year-old chef from Belfast in Northern Ireland, who came with his mother to Rome for the spectacle. “I’m not an overly religious person but, being here with all these people just blew me away,” he told AFP as people around him jumped up and down in excitement.There were euphoric scenes as one priest sat on someone’s shoulders waving a Brazilian flag and another lifted a heavy crucifix into the air in jubilation.- ‘Habemus Papam’ -“Habemus Papam, woooo!” howled Bruna Hodara, 41, from Brazil, echoing the words to be spoken on the balcony as the new pope is introduced.She, like others, recorded the historic moment on her phone, as others waved flags and cried out “Viva Il Papa!” — “Long live the pope!” in Italian.”It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to be here to see the pope. It’s really special… I’m excited!” said Florian Fried, a 15-year-old from Munich, Germany.The papal inauguration usually takes place less than a week after the election with a mass celebrated before political and religious leaders from around the world.Ahead of that, Leo will lead a mass Friday for cardinals in the Sistine Chapel and recite the Regina Caeli prayer in St Peter’s Square on Sunday.He will also hold an audience for the world’s media on Monday.Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told journalists Prevost’s choice of papal name was “a clear reference to the social doctrine of the Church”.The previous Leo — Leo XIII, who was pope at the end of the 19th century — was a determined defender of the rights of workers.Francis died aged 88 after a 12-year papacy during which he sought to forge a more compassionate Church.While he provoked anger from conservatives with his progressive approach, there had been many Catholics calling for a successor in his vein.Some 80 percent of the cardinals who voted for Prevost were appointed by Francis.With electors hailing from 70 countries around the world, it was the most international conclave ever.