INDIA: With many worrying about the threat of tough measures in the new government’s first budget next week, a Facebook post suggesting the finance minister might be pondering less earthly matters quickly roused anger.

Receding water revealed widespread damage today in Iowa’s second-largest city, Cedar Rapids, caused by a record flood peak, while other Iowa cities faced rivers that were still rising, following a series of storms that left at least 15 people dead.

The Cedar River, which burst its banks after torrential rain, has forced at least 20,000 people from their homes in the US state of Iowa, officials said today.