Southern Brazil hit by the worst floods in 80 years

SAO PAULO (AP) — The civil defense agency in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul says heavy rains have killed 37 people, with another 74 still missing. The record-breaking floods have devastated cities and forced more than 17,000 people to leave their homes. Brazil’s Geological Service says water levels in some cities are at their highest since records began nearly 150 years ago. Weather forecasters say the downpour is expected to continue at least until Saturday. Weather across South America has been affected by the cyclical El Nino event, which typically brings drought in the north and rainfall in the south.

The UK’s Conservatives suffer historic losses in local elections

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s governing Conservative Party is suffering heavy losses as local election results pour in. The results coming in on Friday are cementing expectations that the Labour Party is headed for power for the first time in 14 years at a U.K. general election that will take place in coming months.. Labour won control of councils in England it hasn’t held for decades and was successful in a special by-election for Parliament. The results overall make for grim reading for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. But he was able to breathe a sigh of relief when the Conservative mayor of Tees Valley in the northeast of England was reelected albeit with a hugely depressed vote.

Kenya president postpones reopening of schools as flood-related deaths pass 200

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s president has postponed next week’s planned reopening of schools until further notice, as heavy rains and floods that have killed more than 200 people continue. The president in his state of the nation address on Friday said “meteorological reports paint a dire picture,” citing the possibility of Cyclone Hidaya hitting coastal Kenya in coming days. Kenya, along with other parts of East Africa, has been overwhelmed by floods, with more than 150,000 displaced people living in camps across the country. The government has ordered people living near 178 dams and reservoirs that are either full or nearly full to evacuate or be forcefully moved.

China sends a probe to get samples from the less-explored far side of the moon

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China has launched a lunar probe to land on the far side of the moon and return with samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side. It is the latest advance in China’s increasingly sophisticated space exploration program, which is now competing with the U.S., still the leader in space. China already landed a rover on the moon’s far side in 2019, the first country to do so. The rocket carrying the Chang’e-6 lunar probe lifted off Friday from the Wenchang launch center on the island province of Hainan. After orbiting the moon to reduce speed, the lander will separate from the returner.