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California declares state of emergency as wildfires devastate Los Angeles, retired firefighters called in

Published

2 years ago

January 9, 2025

Wildfire burning in Los Angeles, California, with smoke and flames spreading across the Pacific Palisades area.

California is grappling with a massive wildfire emergency, as fires continue to rage across Los Angeles and surrounding areas, claiming at least five lives and leaving tens of thousands displaced. A state of emergency has been declared, with the federal government stepping in to assist local authorities in managing the crisis. Retired firefighters with extensive firefighting experience have been called back to duty as part of the emergency response.

Over 70,000 people in Los Angeles and nearby regions have been forced to evacuate as multiple wildfires, fueled by high winds and extreme conditions, remain largely uncontrollable. The fires, which broke out in various parts of the city, have already destroyed more than 1,000 buildings, leaving a heavy blanket of smoke over the area. Among the hardest-hit neighborhoods is the upscale Pacific Palisades, home to many Hollywood celebrities, where flames consumed luxury homes at an alarming rate.

Struggle to contain the fires amidst strong winds

Firefighters are facing immense challenges as hurricane-force winds spread the flames across vast stretches of land. The fireball-like embers, driven by gusty winds, have ignited spot fires far faster than firefighters can contain them. The fire in Pacific Palisades alone has scorched approximately 16,000 acres, taking with it hundreds of homes. Another major fire burning in Altadena, north of the city, has ravaged suburban streets, consuming over 10,000 acres.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone admitted that local firefighting resources are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the disaster. “We’re doing the very best we can. But no, we don’t have enough fire personnel in LA County between all the departments to handle this,” Marrone said.

The death toll has risen to five, with authorities fearing the discovery of more victims as the situation remains fluid and the fires continue to spread uncontrollably. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed the grim update and expressed concerns that the number of casualties could increase as more areas are searched.

Water shortage threatens firefighting efforts

As the fires ravage vast sections of Los Angeles, a significant shortage of water is complicating firefighting efforts. Hydrants in affected areas have been drying up, particularly in Pacific Palisades, exacerbating the challenge for firefighters. Janisse Quinones, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, urged residents to conserve water as the city’s water supply is stretched thin. “We’re fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging,” Quinones explained.

Hollywood forced to pause as fires spread

The entertainment capital of the world has come to a standstill as wildfires threaten the very heart of Hollywood. Several high-profile events, including a major awards ceremony and a film premiere for Pamela Anderson, were cancelled as celebrities, actors, and musicians joined the thousands of residents fleeing the flames. In the Pacific Palisades area, multimillion-dollar homes, often owned by Hollywood elite, have been destroyed, leaving residents in shock.

Among those affected was singer and actress Mandy Moore, who shared on Instagram that she had to flee with her children and pets as the blaze devastated her neighborhood in Altadena. Moore expressed her devastation, writing, “I am devastated and gutted for those of us who’ve lost so much. I’m absolutely numb.”

Actor James Woods also took to social media, posting a video of flames threatening his Pacific Palisades home and recounting his frantic evacuation. “I couldn’t believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one,” Woods wrote.

Star Wars actor Mark Hamill and Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis were also forced to evacuate their homes, with Hamill sharing on Instagram how he narrowly escaped the flames near his Malibu residence. Curtis, meanwhile, expressed relief that her home was safe, but lamented the destruction of the neighborhood.

Community faces challenges amid wildfire devastation

As the wildfires continue to rage, local authorities and emergency responders are working tirelessly to control the situation, with President Joe Biden visiting Los Angeles to assess the damage and offer federal assistance. Governor Gavin Newsom and Biden both expressed their commitment to providing all available resources to combat the wildfires.

In the entertainment industry, the upcoming Oscar nominations were delayed until January 19 to accommodate those impacted by the fires, ensuring affected members of the Academy have time to submit their ballots.

With no sign of containment in the immediate future, the residents of Los Angeles and surrounding areas remain on edge, as emergency crews continue their fight against the devastating fires.

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Trump rejects Iran’s 7-day peace plan, says deal can come after US polls

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s seven-day proposal to end hostilities and indicated that a deal could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Published

9 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing conflict, while indicating that a possible agreement could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Iran had proposed a seven-day framework under which hostilities could be brought to an end, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and negotiations over its nuclear programme could resume.

Iran’s seven-day proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had put forward the proposal through intermediaries. Under the plan, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened by the end of the seventh day if specified conditions were met, while broader nuclear discussions would restart.

The proposal was based largely on an earlier understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, but Iran sought to implement the latest framework much faster. The earlier arrangement had provided a longer period for negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments, making its reopening a key element of any effort to ease the wider conflict.

Trump points to US midterm elections

Trump, speaking at the United Nations, showed no indication that he was ready to immediately resume negotiations on the terms proposed by Tehran.

He called for the economic isolation of Iran and said he believed a deal could be reached after the US midterm elections in November. Trump also said Iran was waiting to see how he performed in the midterm elections.

The remarks came as Iranian officials signalled that they remained open to diplomacy and described the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to revive negotiations.

Nuclear talks remain part of Iran proposal

Iran’s latest plan links the easing of hostilities with the resumption of negotiations over its nuclear programme.

The proposal follows the collapse of an earlier US-Iran arrangement. According to reporting on the latest proposal, the new framework is intended to compress the timeline for implementing commitments that had previously been discussed by the two sides.

For now, Trump’s remarks indicate that Washington is not accepting Tehran’s seven-day framework as presented, while Iran continues to put diplomacy and negotiations forward as part of its proposal.

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Iranian President Pezeshkian at UN says Iranians have been victims of US terrorism

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at the UN General Assembly that Iranians had been victims of US terrorism and insisted that Iran had acted in self-defence.

Published

3 days ago

September 23, 2026

APNLive Desk

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of subjecting Iranians to what he described as terrorism while addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian said Iran had defended itself against attacks and rejected the characterisation of the country as a terrorist actor. His remarks came during a rare wartime appearance at the UN as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high.

Pezeshkian accuses US and Israel of attacks

Speaking at the General Assembly, Pezeshkian said Iranian civilians had been targeted by attacks and described the actions against his country as aggression.

“We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” he said, according to the report.

Pezeshkian also accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran, while maintaining that Tehran’s response was an act of self-defence.

The Iranian president displayed photographs of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolchildren who, according to his account, were killed during the early days of the conflict.

Iran’s message at the UN

Pezeshkian’s address came against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and heightened tensions in the region.

Iranian officials had indicated ahead of the UN visit that they intended to highlight what Tehran considers attacks against its people and raise concerns over the international response to the conflict.

The Iranian delegation’s visit to New York also comes amid restrictions imposed by the United States on the delegation’s movement and other aspects of its stay, according to reporting ahead of the address.

Pezeshkian says Iran defended itself

Pezeshkian’s central message at the UN was that Iran’s military actions should be viewed as a response to attacks rather than terrorism.

His description of the conflict and the allegations against the United States and Israel represent the Iranian government’s position. They should therefore be attributed to Pezeshkian rather than presented as independently established facts.

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PM Modi’s Canada visit could help wrap trade talks, says Canada PM Mark Carney

Canadian PM Mark Carney said he is looking forward to hosting PM Narendra Modi, with both countries aiming to conclude their ongoing trade negotiations.

Published

3 days ago

September 23, 2026

APNLive Desk

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he is looking forward to hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as India and Canada continue efforts to advance their bilateral relationship and conclude ongoing trade negotiations.

The two countries have been working towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with both sides previously setting a target to conclude the negotiations in 2026.

Carney and Modi have held discussions on strengthening economic ties between India and Canada, including trade and investment. Their engagement has gained momentum following Carney’s visit to India earlier this year.

India-Canada trade talks

India and Canada formally resumed efforts towards a broader trade agreement after a period of strained bilateral ties. The two sides have committed to advancing negotiations on a CEPA covering their economic relationship.

In June, Carney and Modi reviewed progress in bilateral economic cooperation during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. They expressed satisfaction with the progress in CEPA negotiations and reaffirmed their shared objective of concluding the talks in 2026.

During Carney’s visit to India in March, the two leaders had also agreed to accelerate negotiations on the CEPA and work towards finalising the agreement during 2026.

Modi’s proposed Canada visit

Carney had invited PM Modi to visit Canada in 2026, and the two leaders agreed to remain engaged through diplomatic channels to work towards a mutually convenient date for the visit.

The proposed visit comes as New Delhi and Ottawa seek to build on renewed diplomatic and economic engagement, with trade negotiations remaining a key part of the relationship.

The focus on completing the trade talks comes as both countries look to expand commercial ties and establish a broader economic framework through the proposed CEPA.