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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...
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US to impose $250 visa fee for foreign nationals

The United States will soon require most foreign nationals applying for non-immigrant visas to pay a new “visa integrity fee” of at least $250, under a provision in the Trump administration’s newly passed domestic policy bill, according to a CNN report. The non-refundable upfront fee, which could be reimbursed only after visa holders prove compliance with immigration rules, is aimed at curbing overstays, strengthening border security, and funding enforcement efforts, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The new charge will apply to nearly all international visitors requiring a non-immigrant visa, including students, workers, and business travellers — but not tourists from Visa Waiver Programme countries such as the UK, Australia, or many EU nations. The policy’s rollout date remains unclear as DHS says the fee requires inter-agency coordination. The State Department confirmed it will publish details on its visa information page once implementation procedures are finalised. Under the provision, travellers who fully comply with visa terms may request a refund, although immigration lawyers caution that the process will likely be burdensome and is currently undefined. The US Travel Association sharply criticised the move, calling it a “step backward” that could discourage international visitors. The group estimated it would increase visa-related costs by 144%, adding financial complexity that might deter tourism and business travel. The policy states the fee will be set at $250 or a higher amount as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security, with annual inflation adjustments. Unclaimed fees will be deposited into the US Treasury’s general fund.

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

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