- Palestinians welcome ICC arrest warrants for Israeli officials
- Senegal ruling party wins parliamentary majority: provisional results
- Fiji's Loganimasi in for banned Radradra against Ireland
- New proposal awaited in Baku on climate finance deal
- Brazil police urge Bolsonaro's indictment for 2022 'coup' plot
- NFL issues security alert to teams about home burglaries
- Common water disinfectant creates potentially toxic byproduct: study
- Chimps are upping their tool game, says study
- US actor Smollett's conviction for staged attack overturned
- Fears rise of gender setbacks in global climate battle
- 'World's best coach' Gatland 'won't leave Wales' - Howley
- Indian PM Modi highlights interest in Guyana's oil
- Israel strikes kill 22 in Lebanon as Hezbollah targets south Israel
- Argentina lead Davis Cup holders Italy
- West Bank city buries three Palestinians killed in Israeli raids
- Fairuz, musical icon of war-torn Lebanon, turns 90
- Jones says Scotland need to beat Australia 'to be taken seriously'
- Stock markets push higher but Ukraine tensions urge caution
- IMF sees 'limited' impact of floods on Spain GDP growth
- Fresh Iran censure looms large over UN nuclear meeting
- Volkswagen workers head towards strikes from December
- 'More cautious' Dupont covers up in heavy Parisian snow before Argentina Test
- UK sanctions Angola's Isabel dos Santos in graft crackdown
- Sales of existing US homes rise in October
- Crunch time: What still needs to be hammered out at COP29?
- Minister among 12 held over Serbia station collapse
- Spurs boss Postecoglou hails 'outstanding' Bentancur despite Son slur
- South Sudan rejects 'malicious' report on Kiir family businesses
- Kyiv claims 'crazy' Russia fired nuke-capable missile
- Australia defeat USA to reach Davis Cup semis
- Spain holds 1st talks with Palestinian govt since recognising state
- Stock markets waver as Nvidia, Ukraine tensions urge caution
- Returning Vonn targets St Moritz World Cup races
- Ramos nears PSG return as Sampaoli makes Rennes bow
- Farrell hands Prendergast first Ireland start for Fiji Test
- Gaza strikes kill dozens as ICC issues Netanyahu arrest warrant
- Famed Berlin theatre says cuts will sink it
- Stuttgart's Undav set to miss rest of year with hamstring injury
- Cane, Perenara to make All Blacks farewells against Italy
- Kenya scraps Adani deals as Ruto attempts to reset presidency
- French YouTuber takes on manga after conquering Everest
- Special reunion in store for France's Flament against 'hot-blooded' Argentina
- 'World of Warcraft' still going strong as it celebrates 20 years
- Fritz pulls USA level with Australia in Davis Cup quarters
- New Iran censure looms large over UN nuclear meeting
- The first 'zoomed-in' image of a star outside our galaxy
- ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif
- Minister among 11 held over Serbia station collapse
- Historic gold regalia returned to Ghana's king
- Kyiv accuses Russia of launching intercontinental ballistic missile attack
Wind-fanned wildfire burning out of control near Los Angeles
A wildfire fanned by powerful winds was burning out of control near Los Angeles on Wednesday, with scores of residents ordered to evacuate and some taken to the hospital.
Multiple large homes were destroyed as the fire tore through neighborhoods, blanketing a huge area in thick, choking smoke.
Fierce gusts up to 80 miles (130 kilometers) an hour were pushing smoke sideways and fueling flames that were scorching through farmland.
The fire was reported near Moorpark, 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, around breakfast time on Wednesday but had exploded to around 1,500 acres (600 hectares) within a few hours and had moved into a suburb of Camarillo, home to around 70,000 people.
Local broadcasters showed luxury homes in the Camarillo Heights area engulfed in flames, many utterly destroyed.
Further up the hillsides, aerial footage showed people frantically loading horses into trailers at sprawling ranch properties as swirling flames loomed nearby.
"It's bad out there, but we're getting them all out," one woman told local broadcaster KTLA as she drove horses out of the area.
"(The fire) was surrounding on both sides... It's just all over the place. It's not one clear fire line. It's everywhere."
Firefighters had no official figures for the number of properties affected by the fire, which was also burning through fruit groves and brushland.
The high winds were picking up embers, threatening to spread the blaze further afield.
"Evacuation orders are in effect, and we urge residents to follow these orders for their safety," said a message on social media from the Ventura County Fire Department.
"Several individuals have been injured and transported to local hospitals. Numerous structures are currently threatened."
The high winds were complicating firefighting efforts, making it impossible for airplanes to take to the sky, the fire department said.
"Ground crews, helicopters and mutual aid resources are actively working to protect lives and property," the agency said on social media.
Evacuee Gail Liacko said she had to evacuate very suddenly on a "normal morning."
"All of a sudden there was soot on our patio furniture, coming from the front of the house as well as the back, and the smoke was kind of surrounding our street," she said.
She and her husband quickly began to throw things together.
"It was just very surreal. You just don't know what to pack in a moment of absolute panic."
Around 21,000 customers had lost power in the area as electricity companies shut off supplies -- a common strategy in California during high winds in a bid to reduce the risk of new fires from energized power lines.
The National Weather Service warned dangerous winds were set to continue until at least the end of Thursday.
"Extreme and life-threatening fire behavior... Particularly dangerous situation," an NWS warning said.
Another blaze had also broken out in Malibu, threatening multi-million dollar homes on some of the most desirable coastline in Southern California.
G.Schulte--BTB