UAE warns Israel West Bank annexation would cross ‘red line’
The United Arab Emirates warned Israel on Wednesday that any annexation of the West Bank would be a red line for Abu Dhabi, threatening to undermine t...
A massive wildfire erupted in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, on Tuesday, forcing 30,000 residents to evacuate as flames engulfed homes and spread rapidly under fierce winds.
A massive wildfire erupted in Pacific Palisades, an affluent area of Los Angeles, United States, on Tuesday, January 7, forcing 30,000 residents to evacuate as flames engulfed homes and spread rapidly under fierce winds. The blaze, which has already scorched over 1,262 acres (510 hectares), sent plumes of smoke billowing across the city, choking the air and creating traffic gridlock as residents fled.
The fire, driven by gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, ignited near the ridge of Palisades Drive and Lachman Lane and swiftly moved toward the coast. "The wind was howling... blowing right down to the beach," said local resident Michael Cardenas, who watched as embers lit palm trees along Sunset Boulevard and the Pacific Coast Highway.
Emergency crews, including firefighters and aircraft, worked tirelessly to battle the flames, scooping water from the sea to douse the inferno. Bulldozers cleared abandoned vehicles from roads, while some residents were forced to flee on foot as traffic snarled on the limited escape routes from the canyon.
The fire comes after a prolonged dry spell and amid "red flag" warnings issued by the National Weather Service. The agency predicted Santa Ana winds—known for their dry, gusty power—would hit speeds of 50 to 80 mph across much of Los Angeles County, with some mountain areas experiencing gusts as high as 100 mph.
Residents expressed fear for the safety of people and animals. "Property damage is one thing, but losing lives, pets, and horses is what really matters," Cardenas said, as firefighters worked tirelessly to protect neighborhoods at risk.
Officials warned that the worst wind conditions were expected overnight, raising concerns that the fire could spread further and force more evacuations. As the flames advanced, scenes of devastation unfolded, with apartment buildings shrouded in smoke, homes reduced to ashes, and emergency vehicles lining the streets.
The Pacific Palisades fire is one of the many blazes to hit California in recent years, as the state grapples with intensifying fire seasons linked to prolonged drought and climate change. Firefighters remain on high alert as strong winds and dry conditions continue to threaten the region.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
The United Arab Emirates warned Israel on Wednesday that any annexation of the West Bank would be a red line for Abu Dhabi, threatening to undermine the Abraham Accords that normalised ties between the two states.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy has urged United Nations agencies and humanitarian organisations to speed up the delivery of aid to survivors of the recent earthquakes that struck several eastern provinces.
Russia launched a large-scale overnight air attack on Ukraine on September 3, injuring at least four railway workers and damaging key infrastructure, Ukrainian authorities say.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shook hands with Woo Won-shik, the speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly, before the start of a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, a rare interaction amids strained inter-Korean relations.
Afghanistan airdropped commandos on Wednesday to pull survivors from the rubble of homes in mountainous eastern areas ravaged by earthquakes this week that have killed more than 1,400, as it ramped up efforts to deliver food, shelter and medical supplies.
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