By Laura Paddison, CNN

(CNN) — Temperature records are being smashed across Europe as parts of the continent swelter in a heat wave that is bringing extreme temperatures alarmingly early in the year.

The continent is grappling with a powerful heat dome, a persistent high-pressure system which acts like a lid on a pot, trapping hot air and pushing it downward. It can remain in place for days or even weeks and is a weather phenomenon made more likely and more intense by human-caused climate change.

On Monday, the UK endured its hottest May day on record, with temperatures spiking to 34.8 degrees Celsius (94.6 Fahrenheit) at Kew Gardens in London, breaking the previous record by 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit). Usually heat records are broken by only fractions of a degree.

The average high temperature for London in late May is around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).

As temperatures climbed Monday, a wildfire broke out near Arthur’s Seat, a hill in Edinburgh, Scotland, and hundreds of properties in southeast England were left without water as demand spiked.

There was little respite overnight for the UK, which experienced a “tropical night” where temperatures didn’t fall below 20 degrees (68 Fahrenheit).

These temperatures may not sound extreme but are very uncomfortable — even dangerous — in the UK, where most houses are not insulated well enough to keep out heat and only around 5% of homes have air conditioning. A report last week from the UK’s Climate Change Committee warned the UK was “built for a climate that no longer exists.”

There’s a chance the May record could fall again Tuesday, with the UK’s Met Office forecasting temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).

“While we do occasionally have warm spells in May, what we’re seeing now is unprecedented,” said Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesperson. Climate change is increasing the chances of breaking May temperature records, Dixon told CNN. “What was around a 1-in-100 year event is now around a 1-in-33 year event.”

The UK isn’t the only place suffering. Much of Western Europe is facing temperatures 10 to 15 degrees Celsius (18 to 27 Fahrenheit) above normal this week.

France is experiencing “unprecedented” heat for this time of year, according to the weather service Météo France, with Monday its hottest May day on record.

The extreme temperatures are having deadly consequences. There have been “seven deaths directly or indirectly linked to the heat, including at least five from drowning, as well as deaths related to extreme heat during sports events,” Maud Bregeon, a French government spokesperson, told Read more

By Laura Paddison, CNN

(CNN) — Temperature records are being smashed across Europe as parts of the continent swelter in a heat wave that is bringing extreme temperatures alarmingly early in the year.

The continent is grappling with a powerful heat dome, a persistent high-pressure system which acts like a lid on a pot, trapping hot air and pushing it downward. It can remain in place for days or even weeks and is a weather phenomenon made more likely and more intense by human-caused climate change.

On Monday, the UK endured its hottest May day on record, with temperatures spiking to 34.8 degrees Celsius (94.6 Fahrenheit) at Kew Gardens in London, breaking the previous record by 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit). Usually heat records are broken by only fractions of a degree.

The average high temperature for London in late May is around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).

As temperatures climbed Monday, a wildfire broke out near Arthur’s Seat, a hill in Edinburgh, Scotland, and hundreds of properties in southeast England were left without water as demand spiked.

There was little respite overnight for the UK, which experienced a “tropical night” where temperatures didn’t fall below 20 degrees (68 Fahrenheit).

These temperatures may not sound extreme but are very uncomfortable — even dangerous — in the UK, where most houses are not insulated well enough to keep out heat and only around 5% of homes have air conditioning. A report last week from the UK’s Climate Change Committee warned the UK was “built for a climate that no longer exists.”

There’s a chance the May record could fall again Tuesday, with the UK’s Met Office forecasting temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).

“While we do occasionally have warm spells in May, what we’re seeing now is unprecedented,” said Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesperson. Climate change is increasing the chances of breaking May temperature records, Dixon told CNN. “What was around a 1-in-100 year event is now around a 1-in-33 year event.”

The UK isn’t the only place suffering. Much of Western Europe is facing temperatures 10 to 15 degrees Celsius (18 to 27 Fahrenheit) above normal this week.

France is experiencing “unprecedented” heat for this time of year, according to the weather service Météo France, with Monday its hottest May day on record.

The extreme temperatures are having deadly consequences. There have been “seven deaths directly or indirectly linked to the heat, including at least five from drowning, as well as deaths related to extreme heat during sports events,” Maud Bregeon, a French government spokesperson, told Read more

The post California Shaken by Multiple Memorial Day Earthquakes, Strongest 3.5-Magnitude Quake Strikes Shasta County appeared first on edhat.

CNN

By Marshall Cohen, Annie Grayer, CNN

(CNN) — Former US Capitol riot prosecutors, fired federal officials and journalists who say they were past targets of President Donald Trump’s retribution tell CNN they may seek compensation from the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.

Some Trump critics have already sent letters to the DOJ outlining their claims, hoping to draw attention to how the president has harnessed government powers in an effort to punish his political opponents. Others are still debating whether filing a request could legitimize a fund they see as brazenly corrupt.

The six Democratic lawmakers who faced legal scrutiny after publicly urging servicemembers to disobey illegal orders have also discussed whether to apply, according to a source familiar with the matter. If they do end up filing a claim, it would create a major test case of whether the fund is truly party-blind as DOJ has suggested.

Trump loyalist-turned-nemesis Michael Cohen suggested he deserves compensation after his years of legal battles.

“If the weaponization fund truly exists to support individuals whose lives have been destroyed by politically motivated law enforcement tactics, by selective prosecution, by government leaks, abuses of power, and intentional destruction of reputation, then there is perhaps no clearer example than what happened to me,” he said on CBS News. “I guess I would be a test case.”

CNN has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

The controversial fund was announced as part of a settlement to resolve a $10 billion civil lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS, over a leak of his tax returns. (The perpetrator was caught, pleaded guilty, and went to prison.)

The fund will “right the wrongs that were previously done,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in announcing the fund last week, invoking Trump’s longstanding grievances over the Trump-Russia probe and the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. Convicted US Capitol rioters, members of the far-right Proud Boys, 2020 fake electors and other election deniers are also rushing to file claims.

But many of Trump’s loudest critics say the president and his political allies aren’t the victims of weaponization – they’re the perpetrators.

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, whom Trump fought with during his first term over the Russia probe, is “strongly considering” filing a claim, according to his lawyer Michael Bromwich.

“The idea of this slush fund is crazy, ridiculous and illegal,” Bromwich said. “But if, in fact, mon

By Marshall Cohen, Annie Grayer, CNN

(CNN) — Former US Capitol riot prosecutors, fired federal officials and journalists who say they were past targets of President Donald Trump’s retribution tell CNN they may seek compensation from the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.

Some Trump critics have already sent letters to the DOJ outlining their claims, hoping to draw attention to how the president has harnessed government powers in an effort to punish his political opponents. Others are still debating whether filing a request could legitimize a fund they see as brazenly corrupt.

The six Democratic lawmakers who faced legal scrutiny after publicly urging servicemembers to disobey illegal orders have also discussed whether to apply, according to a source familiar with the matter. If they do end up filing a claim, it would create a major test case of whether the fund is truly party-blind as DOJ has suggested.

Trump loyalist-turned-nemesis Michael Cohen suggested he deserves compensation after his years of legal battles.

“If the weaponization fund truly exists to support individuals whose lives have been destroyed by politically motivated law enforcement tactics, by selective prosecution, by government leaks, abuses of power, and intentional destruction of reputation, then there is perhaps no clearer example than what happened to me,” he said on CBS News. “I guess I would be a test case.”

CNN has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

The controversial fund was announced as part of a settlement to resolve a $10 billion civil lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS, over a leak of his tax returns. (The perpetrator was caught, pleaded guilty, and went to prison.)

The fund will “right the wrongs that were previously done,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in announcing the fund last week, invoking Trump’s longstanding grievances over the Trump-Russia probe and the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. Convicted US Capitol rioters, members of the far-right Proud Boys, 2020 fake electors and other election deniers are also rushing to file claims.

But many of Trump’s loudest critics say the president and his political allies aren’t the victims of weaponization – they’re the perpetrators.

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, whom Trump fought with during his first term over the Russia probe, is “strongly considering” filing a claim, according to his lawyer Michael Bromwich.

“The idea of this slush fund is crazy, ridiculous and illegal,” Bromwich said. “But if, in fact, money is going to be given to people who were weaponized by the Justice Department, Andy McCabe should be at the front of the line.”

During his first term, Trump regularly attacked McCabe and Read more