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From tomorrow's featured article

Metrosideros bartlettii, commonly known as Bartlett's rātā, is a rare species of tree in the family Myrtaceae. It is only found in three patches of dense forest remnants near Piwhane / Spirits Bay in New Zealand's North Island. It reaches a height of up to 30 metres (100 feet) with a trunk diameter of 1 to 1.5 metres (3.3 to 4.9 feet). The species is known for its distinct whitish, paper-like bark and small white flowers. Bartlett's rātā was accidentally discovered in 1975 by John Bartlett near Cape Reinga and first described by John Dawson in 1985. Bartlett's rātā typically begins life growing on another plant, inhabits lowland forests, and grows near wet areas. A 2018 article documented 13 adult trees in the wild, down from 31 in 2000. Its decline has been attributed to land use changes and the introduction of common brushtail possums. In 2013, it was listed as a critically endangered species on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population trend. (Full article...)

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Did you know ...

Entrance to the Lavatory Madeleine

... that a public toilet in Paris (entrance pictured) is a French national heritage site?
... that a Wisconsin TV station claimed to have the only revolving stage in a TV studio east of California when it went on the air in 1953?
... that Jatin Chakraborty was sued by pop singer Usha Uthup after Chakraborty labelled her shows as "decadent"?
... that a special election in February 1963 put the first Republican in four decades into the Mississippi Legislature?
... that a Choquei Instagram post claiming that Lula had won the 2022 Brazilian election received more than 1.3 million likes before the official result was announced?
... that Gannon University's original American football program lasted only two years due to fan "apathy", despite going undefeated and holding scoreless six of eight opponents in its first year?
... that the hedonistic pursuit of pleasure may prevent pleasure?
... that the arsonist who burned down a golden Buddhist temple secretly removed one nail, then reinserted it, then removed it again?
... that carrot recorders, butternut squash trombones, and aubergine castanets are all instruments in the London Vegetable Orchestra?

In the news (For today)

Friedrich Merz

Friedrich Merz (pictured) is elected Chancellor of Germany and sworn in alongside his coalition government.
Zhao Xintong defeats Mark Williams to win the World Snooker Championship.
In the Singaporean general election, the People's Action Party retains a supermajority of seats.
In horse racing, Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, wins the Kentucky Derby.

On the next day

May 9: Europe Day in the European Union; Liberation Day in the Channel Islands (1945)

Hotel Polen fire

1877 – An earthquake struck northern Chile, leading to the deaths of 2,385 people, mostly victims of the ensuing tsunami, as far away as Hawaii and Fiji.
1944 – World War II: The Japanese Take Ichi convoy arrived at Halmahera in the Dutch East Indies after losing many ships and thousands of troops to Allied attacks while attempting to carry two divisions of troops from China to New Guinea.
1977 – The Hotel Polen in Amsterdam was destroyed by fire (pictured), leaving 33 people dead.
1980 – Part of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida collapsed after a pier was struck by the MV Summit Venture, killing 35 people.
2001 – Police at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, Ghana, fired tear gas to quell unrest at a football match, leading to a stampede that killed 126 people.

Al-Adid (b. 1151)
John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair (d. 1747)
Yukiya Amano (b. 1947)

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From tomorrow's featured list

Monday Okpebholo

There have been various leaders of Edo State, both military and civilian, since Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Upon independence, Nigeria had only three regions, and the area of the future Edo State was located in the Western Region. The Mid-Western Region was separated from the Western Region in August 1963 and had Dennis Osadebay as its first premier. The modern Edo State was established on 27 August 1991, following the division of Bendel State into Edo State and Delta State. John Odigie-Oyegun became the first civilian governor of Edo State, serving from January 1992 to November 1993, and was succeeded by military governors. In the democratic era, Lucky Igbinedion served as governor from 1999 to 2007 and was succeeded by Oserheimen Osunbor. Adams Oshiomhole served from 2008 to 2016, followed by Godwin Obaseki, who was re-elected in 2020. Monday Okpebholo (pictured) has been the incumbent governor of Edo State since 2024. (Full list...)

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Tomorrow's featured picture

The Allies of World War II, formally known as the United Nations from 1942, were an international military coalition formed to oppose the Axis powers. Its principal members were the "Big Four": the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union, and the Republic of China. The Allies became a formalized group upon the Declaration by United Nations on 1 January 1942, which was signed by 26 countries around the world; these ranged from governments in exile from Axis occupation to small states far removed from the war. This became the groundwork for the present-day United Nations, established in the aftermath of World War II. This 1943 propaganda poster, designed by Leslie Ragan and distributed by the United States Office of War Information, depicts the flags of many of the members of the Allies waving amidst smoke, with tanks, battleships and aircraft in the foreground. In white all-caps letters, the poster bears the word "United" at the top of the poster, and the caption "The United Nations Fight for Freedom" at the bottom.

Poster credit: Leslie Ragan; restored by Bammesk

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