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More than a year’s worth of rain, bringing with it “rare and dangerous flooding”, could fall on parts of parched Southern California and the southwest US this weekend, as Hurricane Hilary makes landfall.

Up to six inches (15 cm) of rain is expected in parts of the region, as the category four hurricane arrives, driven by winds of up to 145mph (230 kph).

Hilary was heading towards Baja California in Mexico, on Friday, threatening to cause “significant flooding” to parts, along with the southwestern United States, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

This Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, 1:10 p.m. EDT satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Hilary, right, off Mexico’s Pacific coast. It grew rapidly to Category 4 strength and could reach Southern California as the first tropical storm there in 84 years, causing “significant and rare impacts” including extensive flooding. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said a tropical storm watch has been issued for Southern California, the first time it has ev
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Mexico’s Pacific coast, where heavy rains and high winds could lead to storm surges

Southern California and neighbouring Nevada and Arizona are expected to bear the brunt of the rainfall, with “rare and dangerous flooding possible”, the agency warned on Friday.

Parts of Southern California have been placed under level four, the highest level for excessive rain for the first time since the alert system was created.

More than an average year’s-worth could fall over the weekend, NBC said, quoting the NHC.

The hurricane, which was upgraded to a category four overnight into Friday, was heading west and north-westwards at around 10mph (17kph) in the afternoon, local time, but contained maximum sustained winds of nearly 145mph, the centre said.

It will still be a hurricane when it approaches Baja over the weekend, but is likely to weaken to a tropical storm before reaching Southern California on Sunday afternoon, the agency said.

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Deadly US heatwave will expand to cover much of America as warnings issued

If so, it will be California’s first such storm since 1939.

The US National Weather Service warned people in the southwest of the country, particularly parts of Southern California and southern Nevada, to expect “significant and rare impacts” this weekend and into early next week.

The NHC issued a tropical storm watch for parts of Southern California, a first for that part of the United States.

The centre warned of large waves and coastal flooding from a storm surge along the western Baja California peninsula of Mexico.

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Earlier this month: Possible tornadoes seen over New York state

Rainfall of three to six inches (7.6cm to 15cm) is expected across areas of Southern California and southern Nevada.

The heavy rains make a stark contrast to the scorching temperatures seen across the region recently.

A satellite view of Hurricane Hilary, off Mexico and the US South Pacific coast. Pic: (NOAA via AP)
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Hurricane Hilary, off Mexico and the US South Pacific coast. Pic: NOAA via AP

Phoenix saw a record heat wave last month, caused by a “heat dome” of stagnant air that parked over the western United States for weeks, the National Weather Service reported.

Tens of millions of Americans were under heat watches and warnings.

California’s Death Valley desert saw 53C (128F) in mid-July, among the highest temperatures recorded on Earth in the past 90 years.

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Trump’s optimism meets Macron’s caution in carefully choreographed dance side-stepping divisions

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Trump's optimism meets Macron's caution in carefully choreographed dance side-stepping divisions

The French call it “langage corporel” – body language.

A notably prolonged handshake, reflecting the complex dynamic between the President of the United States and his French counterpart.

Donald Trump may have hoped to see a full turn by Emmanuel Macron – but got a pirouette.

Follow latest: ‘Good reason” to re-engage with Putin, Macron says

U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron react during their meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
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Pic: Reuters

A half-turn, in a carefully choreographed dance, the US leader asserting optimism, the French one, much more cautious in response.

President Trump repeated his view that the war in Ukraine would soon end.

He signalled a dramatic shift by Russia, suggesting President Putin might accept the deployment of European peacekeepers on the ground in Ukraine.

But Emmanuel Macron cautioned that any peace agreement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Trump claimed Ukraine’s president would be in Washington soon, to sign a deal granting the US access to rare earth minerals to offset US war aid.

Again, the French president gently stressed the need for security guarantees.

Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

Neither side wanted a diplomatic spat, side-stepping the divisions laid bare by events in Kyiv and New York on the third anniversary of the war.

The United States was notably absent when Western leaders convened in Ukraine.

And the United States voted against an amendment to a UN resolution replacing the word “conflict” with the words “full-scale invasion”.

There is a world of difference between Trump’s approach and Macron’s.

Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

In his trademark pragmatic style, the US president seeks a swift end to the war, with economic benefits, even if it risks longstanding alliances.

President Macron’s focus on Ukraine’s sovereignty, prioritising stability and mutual co-operation, represents a more traditional diplomatic stance.

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No one said the wrong thing, but the French president briefly dropped his guard at one point.

Emmanuel Macron appeared to wink towards a journalist who had asked President Trump if he would describe President Putin as a dictator.

Now that is langage corporel.

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Europeans win in UN clash with US over rival resolutions on Ukraine war

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US joins Russia, North Korea and Belarus to vote against UN resolution on Ukraine war

The US has abstained from a UN General Assembly vote on a resolution it drafted on the war in Ukraine after the body approved amendments proposed by European countries.

The vote took place on the same day the 193-member assembly approved a competing European-backed resolution from Ukraine which demanded Russia immediately withdraw from the country.

The duelling proposals reflect the tensions that have emerged between the US and Ukraine after Donald Trump suddenly opened negotiations with Russia in a bid to quickly resolve the conflict.

It also underscores the strain in the US’ relationship with Europe over the Trump administration’s decision to engage with Moscow.

Follow latest: Ukraine war live updates

The US-drafted resolution, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, had called for an end to the conflict but did not mention Moscow’s aggression.

It also made no mention of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

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However, it was amended after European nations said that it should include references to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the need for a lasting peace in line with the UN Charter.

It was also amended to include references to Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The amended US-drafted resolution won 93 votes in favour, while 73 states abstained – including the US – and eight – including Russia – voted no.

Meanwhile, there were 93 votes in favour of the Ukraine-backed resolution, while 65 abstained and 18 voted against it.

The UK, France and Germany were among the countries that voted in favour of the Ukraine-backed resolution, which called for a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”.

The US, Russia, Belarus and North Korea were among those that opposed it.

The US voted against Ukraine's resolution. Pic: AP
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The US voted against Ukraine’s resolution. Pic: AP

The outcome marks a setback for the Trump administration in the UN General Assembly, whose resolutions are not legally binding but are seen as a barometer of world opinion.

However, the result also shows some diminished support for Ukraine – as more than 140 nations had voted to condemn Russia’s aggression in previous votes.

The United States had tried to pressure the Ukrainians to withdraw their resolution in favour of its proposal, according to a US official and a European diplomat.

US deputy ambassador Dorothy Shea, meanwhile, said multiple previous UN resolutions condemning Russia and demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops “have failed to stop the war,” which “has now dragged on for far too long and at far too terrible a cost to the people in Ukraine and Russia and beyond”.

“What we need is a resolution marking the commitment from all UN member states to bring a durable end to the war,” Ms Shea said.

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Dorothy Shea said the war has 'dragged on too long'. Pic: Reuters
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Dorothy Shea said the war has ‘dragged on too long’. Pic: Reuters

The world is marking the third anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine as America’s allies try to navigate a new reality as Washington’s stance appears to favour Moscow.

European leaders were dismayed last week when they and Ukraine were left out of preliminary talks on ending the conflict.

Mr Trump has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator,” falsely accused Kyiv of starting the war and warned that he “better move fast or he is not going to have a country left”.

Mr Zelenskyy responded by saying the US president was living in a Russian-made “disinformation space”.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron is at the White House holding talks with Mr Trump to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine.

At the start of the meeting, Mr Trump told reporters Russian President Vladimir Putin will accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential deal to end the war in the country.

Mr Trump and Mr Macron have been meeting after the pair had earlier joined a call between G7 leaders.

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Trump on Ukraine’s territory: ‘We’ll see’

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who will meet with Mr Trump at the White House on Thursday, appeared virtually and said G7 nations should be ready to “take on more risk”.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in Kyiv, called Russia’s aggression a war on “our way of life”.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Europe’s “first priority” is to strengthen Ukraine’s resistance.

She said this includes speeding up the delivery of weapons and increasing investment, announcing a further €3.5bn (about £3bn) in aid for Ukraine.

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Diverted American Airlines flight escorted by Italian fighter jets after ‘bomb threat’

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Diverted American Airlines flight escorted by Italian fighter jets after 'bomb threat'

An American Airlines flight travelling from New York to New Delhi was diverted midair due to a “bomb threat”.

Flight 292 landed at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport “due to a possible security issue,” the airline said in a statement on Sunday, adding later the threat “was determined to be non-credible”.

The airline did not clarify what the security issue was, but a source familiar with the situation told Sky News’ US partner network NBC News it was a bomb threat sent via email.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the crew reported the security issue.

“Safety and security are our top priorities, and we apologise to our customers for the inconvenience,” the airline said in a statement.

An American Airlines plane is seen from the cockpit of an Italian Air Force Eurofighter aircraft, as it is escorted, in this handout photo obtained by Reuters on February 23, 2025. Italian Air Force/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY
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The view from the cockpit of the fighter jet. Pic: Italian air force/Reuters

An Italian Air Force Eurofighter aircraft escorts an American Airlines plane in this handout photo obtained by Reuters on February 23, 2025. Italian Air Force/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY
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Pic: Italian air force/Reuters

The flight requested a diversion to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport at around 2pm local time, Roberto Rao, a spokesperson for the airport.

“We immediately agreed and organised a safe landing,” Mr Rao told NBC News.

“We don’t know what the security concern was, but my opinion is that it was serious enough to divert the plane, but not urgent, because we received the alert when the plane was over the Caspian Sea, a three hours’ flight from Rome.”

Once in Italian airspace, the plane was escorted by two Italian air force fighter jets and landed in Rome at around 5.30pm local time.

American Airlines flight AA292 en route from New York to New Delhi that turned around over the Caspian Sea Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, sits on the tamarack of Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International airport. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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The flight on the ground in Rome. Pic: AP

‘What’s going on here?’

Neeraj Chopra, one of the 199 passengers on board, said the captain announced the plane had to turn around about three hours before it was supposed to land in New Delhi because of a change in “security status”.

Mr Chopra, who was traveling to India to visit family, described the mood on board as calm until the captain later announced that fighter jets would be escorting their plane to Rome.

“I felt a little panic of, okay, what’s going on here?” Mr Chopra told the Associated Press. “There’s got to be like something bigger going on here.”

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Jonathan Bacon, 22, added that once on the ground, all passengers were loaded on to buses and taken to the terminal, where each passenger and their personal items underwent additional security screenings that were time-consuming and felt “slightly heightened”.

More than two hours after landing, Mr Bacon and his friend said they were still waiting for their checked baggage. “It was definitely the longest flight to Europe I’ve ever taken,” he said.

American Airlines said the plane was inspected and cleared to depart again for New Delhi “as soon as possible” on Monday, after the crew gets some rest.

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