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More than 4,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to escape a wildfire scorching land around 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

The blaze was first reported just before 12.45pm local time on Monday and within hours it had grown in size to cover an area of around two square miles, officials said.

Fire crews were photographed battling the inferno into the night.

Three buildings were destroyed and six others damaged in Aguanga, Riverside County.

A structure is engulfed in flames as a wildfire called the Highland Fire burns in Aguanga, California
Pic:AP
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A building is swallowed up by the inferno. Pic: AP

A structure is engulfed in flames as a wildfire called the Highland Fire burns in Aguanga, California
Pic:AP
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Pic: AP

There were no immediate reports of any injuries.

Officials said the fire had been being fuelled by gusts of up to 25mph from the Santa Ana winds, which sweep across parts of California several times a year.

A firefighter and resident converse on how to protect his possessions as a wildfire called the Highland Fire burns in Aguanga, California
Pic:AP
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A firefighter and resident survey the damage as the fire rages. Pic: AP

Fire spokesman Jeff LaRusso said about 1,300 homes and 4,000 residents had been placed under evacuation orders.

He added that dry grasslands in the area were “almost like kindling” for the flames, worsened by low humidity and the winds.

Firefighters douse flames while battling a wildfire called the Highland Fire in Aguanga, California
Pic:AP
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Firefighters douse embers. Pic: AP

Francis Lopez shovels dirt while battling flames as a wildfire called the Highland Fire burns through his property in Aguanga, California
Pic:AP
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Mr Lopez shovels dirt as he tries to protect his property in Aguanga. Pic:AP

A shelter for those forced to flee their homes was opened at a nearby high school, along with a separate facility for pets and other animals, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The newspaper said the evacuation zone and road closures were expanded during the night.

A structure is engulfed in flames as a wildfire called the Highland Fire burns in Aguanga, California
Pic:AP
Image:
Pic: AP

Firefighters douse flames while battling a wildfire called the Highland Fire in Aguanga, California
Pic
Image:
Pic: AP

Firefighters survey damage on a property as a wildfire called the Highland Fire burns in Aguanga, California 
Pic:AP
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Firefighters walk among the remains of a building. Pic: AP

The US National Weather Service has issued a “red flag” warning of extreme fire danger for Tuesday for parts of Los Angeles and the surrounding area.

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Ukraine war: Russia launches drone strike on Kyiv – as commander ‘sacked for lying about war progress’

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Ukraine war: Russia launches drone strike on Kyiv - as commander 'sacked for lying about war progress'

Russia launched a large drone attack on Kyiv overnight, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning the attack shows his capital needs better air defences.

Ukraine’s air defence units shot down 50 of 73 Russian drones launched, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries as a result of the attacks.

Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial bombs and around 460 attack drones in the past week.

Warning that Ukraine needs to improve its air defences, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “An air alert has been sounded almost daily across Ukraine this week”.

“Ukraine is not a testing ground for weapons. Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state.

“But Russia still continues its efforts to kill our people, spread fear and panic, and weaken us.”

Russia did not comment on the attack.

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It comes as Russian media reported that Colonel General Gennady Anashkin, the commander of the country’s southern military district, had been removed from his role over allegedly providing misleading reports about his troops’ progress.

While Russian forces have advanced at the fastest rate in Ukraine since the start of the invasion, forces have been much slower around Siversk and the eastern region of Donetsk.

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Russian war bloggers have long complained that units there are poorly supported and thrown into deadly battles for little tactical gain.

Russia’s ministry of defence has not commented on the reports.

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Russian forces capture ‘former British soldier’ fighting for Ukraine – reports

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Russian forces capture 'former British soldier' fighting for Ukraine - reports

Russian forces have reportedly captured a British man while he was fighting for Ukraine.

In a widely circulated video posted on Sunday, the man says his name is James Scott Rhys Anderson, aged 22.

He says he is a former British Army soldier who signed up to fight for Ukraine’s International Legion after his job.

He is dressed in army fatigues and speaks with an English accent as he says to camera: “I was in the British Army before, from 2019 to 2023, 22 Signal Regiment.”

He tells the camera he was “just a private”, “a signalman” in “One Signal Brigade, 22 Signal Regiment, 252 Squadron”.

“When I left… got fired from my job, I applied on the International Legion webpage. I had just lost everything. I just lost my job,” he said.

“My dad was away in prison, I see it on the TV,” he added, shaking his head. “It was a stupid idea.”

In a second video, he is shown with his hands tied and at one point, with tape over his eyes.

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He describes how he had travelled to Ukraine from Britain, saying: “I flew to Krakow, Poland, from London Luton. Bus from there to Medyka in Poland, on the Ukraine border.”

Russian state news agency Tass reported that a military source said a “UK mercenary” had been “taken prisoner in the Kursk area” of Russia.

The UK Foreign Office said it was “supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention”.

The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment at this stage.

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Body of missing rabbi Zvi Kogan found in UAE – as Israeli PM says he was murdered in ‘antisemitic terror incident’

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Body of missing rabbi Zvi Kogan found in UAE - as Israeli PM says he was murdered in 'antisemitic terror incident'

The body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been found, Israel has said.

Zvi Kogan, the Chabad representative in the UAE, went missing on Thursday.

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office on Sunday said the 28-year-old rabbi was murdered, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident”.

“The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death,” it said.

On Saturday, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad said it was investigating the disappearance as suspicions arose that he had been kidnapped.

The Emirati government gave no immediate acknowledgment that Mr Kogan had been found dead. Its interior ministry has described the rabbi as being “missing and out of contact”.

“Specialised authorities immediately began search and investigation operations upon receiving the report,” the interior ministry said.

Mr Kogan lived in the UAE with his wife Rivky, who is a US citizen. He ran a Kosher grocery store in Dubai, which has been the target of online protests by pro-Palestinian supporters.

The Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of Orthodox Judaism, said Mr Kogan was last seen in Dubai.

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Israeli authorities reissued their recommendation against all non-essential travel to the UAE and said visitors currently there should minimise movement and remain in secure areas.

The rabbi’s disappearance comes as Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October.

While the Israeli statement on Mr Kogan did not mention Iran, Iranian intelligence services have previously carried out kidnappings in the UAE.

The UAE diplomatically recognised Israel in 2020. Since then, synagogues and businesses catering to kosher diners have been set up for the burgeoning Jewish community but the unrest in the Middle East has sparked deep anger in the country.

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