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Record-breaking heat wave grips western United States

A record early heat wave striking the western United States on Friday is a one-in-500-year event and almost certainly the result of human-caused climate change, experts say. The heat has been toppling records this week and is set to continue into the weekend across western cities while expanding eastward. Four locations in the desert area near the California-Arizona border registered 44.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, a US national record for March. The readings were recorded near Yuma and Martinez Lake in Arizona, and around Winterhaven and Ogilby in California. Read: Intense heatwave grips US, triggering record-breaking temperatures Already, 65 cities have recorded new March highs, ranging from Arizona and California to Idaho, Weather.com reported. Death Valley reached 40°C on Thursday, while typically cool and foggy San Francisco tied its historic March record at 29°C. In Colorado, skiers were seen hitting the slopes shirtless. The National Weather Service issued extreme heat warni...

Trump ramps up attack on USAID funds to India

US President Donald Trump has ramped up his attack on USAID funds given to India, claiming the grant is misused to boost voter turnout in Indian elections. Trump alleged that the US provided “18 million dollars” to India to assist with its election, adding, "Giving money to India for elections. Well, they don’t need money. They take advantage of us. They are one of the highest tariffs nations in the world. They have a 200 per cent tariff, and then we give them a lot of money for elections.” The president has repeatedly questioned the rationale behind the funding. On February 19, he remarked that the US "can hardly get in there" because of high tariffs, and later insinuated that the previous Biden administration’s grant was intended to meddle in elections. Trump further escalated the issue on Saturday when he mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time in this context, stating, "$21 million going to my friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India for voter turnout. We are giving $21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too."         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Firstpost (@firstpost) At a Republican governors' conference on Friday, he reiterated his claims, labelling the funding a "kickback scheme". "USD 21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India turnout? We got enough problems... it's a kickback scheme, you know," he said. This marks the fourth time in five days that Trump has revisited his claims regarding USAID's role in funding electoral activities in India, a charge that continues to fuel political debate in the US.

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At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

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