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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...

Russia batters Kyiv in overnight strikes, hits EU mission, British Council offices

Russia launched one of its heaviest barrages of missiles and drones on Ukraine’s capital overnight Thursday, killing at least 23 people, including four children, and damaging the European Union’s mission and the British Council offices in Kyiv. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed a five-storey residential block was destroyed while several other buildings were severely damaged, describing it as one of the biggest assaults in recent months. Thirty-eight people were injured in the hours-long attack, which struck 13 locations across the country. The attack was the first major combined Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv since US President Donald Trump met Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska earlier this month to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. [Reuters] Ukraine’s air force said Moscow fired nearly 600 drones and 31 missiles, including nine ballistic missiles, in the overnight barrage. Air defences intercepted 563 drones and 26 missiles, though 13 targets suffered direct hits. Energy facilities were also damaged, causing power outages in central regions including Vinnytsia, where 60,000 residents lost electricity after a strike on critical infrastructure. National grid operator Ukrenergo confirmed energy facilities were among the targets. Read: Zelensky calls for talks as peace efforts stall “Everything is destroyed,” said Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's city administration. [Reuters] Klitschko declared Friday a day of mourning in the capital. “Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table,” UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also summoned Moscow’s ambassador in London, condemning the “killing and destruction.” Putin’s strikes last night killed civilians, destroyed homes and damaged buildings, including the British Council and EU Delegation in Kyiv. We have summoned the Russian Ambassador. The killing and destruction must stop. — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 28, 2025 The EU’s foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas summoned the Russian envoy in Brussels after the bloc’s delegation building was damaged. “No diplomatic mission should ever be a target,” she said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed more pressure on Moscow, saying the bloc would soon unveil a 19th package of sanctions and was advancing work on how to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. “This is another grim reminder of what is at stake,” she said. “Europe will fully play its part.” Read More: Russia claims more Ukraine land [Reuters] Russia’s defence ministry claimed it targeted military-industrial sites and air bases, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the “special military operation” would continue, insisting Ukraine has also attacked Russian infrastructure. Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia would step up strikes on the country’s energy grid as winter approaches. Russia has stepped up its air assaults on towns and cities far behind the front line, while pressing a grinding offensive in the east. Moscow has repeatedly denied striking civilians, though thousands have been killed since the February 2022 invasion.

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