- Schools closed in Beirut after deadly Israeli air raid
- Anger, pain in Turkey as 'newborn deaths gang' trial opens
- Kremlin says Biden 'fuelling' war as Russian strikes rock Odesa
- UN climate chief at deadlocked COP29: 'Cut the theatrics'
- G20 leaders gather to discuss wars, climate, Trump comeback
- Stocks, dollar mixed as traders scale back US rate cut bets
- Stoinis lets rip as Australia crush Pakistan for T20 series whitewash
- Bentancur banned for seven games over alleged racial slur
- Kremlin says Biden 'fuelling' tensions with Kyiv missile decision
- COP host Azerbaijan jailed activists over 'critical opinions': rights body
- Composer of Piaf's 'Non, je ne regrette rien' dies aged 95
- South African trio nominated for World Rugby player of year
- 'Not here for retiring': Nadal insists focus on Davis Cup
- Tractor-driving French farmers protest EU-Mercosur deal
- Floods hit northern Philippines after typhoon forces dam release
- Pakistan skittled for 117 in final T20 against Australia
- Schools closed in Beirut after deadly Israeli strike
- Chris Wood hits hat-trick in NZ World Cup qualifying rout
- Markets mixed after Wall St losses as traders weigh US rates outlook
- US, Philippines sign deal on sharing military information
- Bangladeshi ex-ministers face 'massacre' charges in court
- Law and disorder as Thai police station comes under monkey attack
- Disgraced Singapore oil tycoon sentenced to nearly 18 years for fraud
- Philippines cleans up as typhoon death toll rises
- Quincy Jones awarded posthumous Oscar
- 'Critically endangered' African penguins just want peace and food
- Long delayed Ukrainian survival video game sequel set for release amid war
- Star Australian broadcaster charged with sex offences
- Philippines cleans up after sixth major storm in weeks
- Woman-owned cafe in Indonesia's Sharia stronghold shakes stigma
- Indigenous Australian lawmaker who heckled King Charles censured
- End of an era as Nadal aims for winning Davis Cup farewell
- Trump taps big tech critic Carr to lead US communications agency
- Mitchell-less Cavs rip Hornets as perfect NBA start hits 15-0
- Markets swing after Wall St losses as traders weigh US rates outlook
- India's capital shuts schools because of smog
- Rio under high security for G20 summit
- G20 leaders to grapple with climate, taxes, Trump comeback
- Hopes set on G20 spurring deadlocked UN climate talks
- Gabon early results show voters back new constitution
- Child abuse police arrest star Australian broadcaster
- Disgraced Singapore oil tycoon to be sentenced for fraud
- Stray dogs in Giza become tourist draw after 'pyramid puppy' sensation
- UN Security Council to weigh call for immediate Sudan ceasefire
- Is AI's meteoric rise beginning to slow?
- Israeli strikes on Beirut kill six, including Hezbollah official
- Rain wipes out England's final T20 in West Indies
- US speaker opposes calls to release ethics report on Trump's AG pick
- McDonald's feast undercuts Trump health pledge
- Thousands march through Athens to mark student uprising
Texas battling largest wildfire in its history
Texas emergency crews were struggling Thursday to contain the largest wildfire in the US state's history, with the blaze leaving at least one person dead and scorching a million acres as it raged out of control.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said five major fires, fueled by winter heat and ferocious winds, were actively burning across the state's northern area known as the Texas panhandle.
The largest, the Smokehouse Creek Fire, started on Monday, grew to a record 1,075,000 acres (435,000 hectares) in size, and was just three percent contained, the forest service said.
With Smokehouse Creek merging with another blaze, it has now become the state's largest-ever wildfire, surpassing the East Amarillo Complex disaster that torched 907,000 acres in 2006.
The forest service said it was confident weather conditions would help firefighters' efforts on Thursday.
"The fire environment will be cooler today across the Texas Panhandle where multiple large fires are established. Fire activity today will not be as resistant to suppression efforts compared to Monday and Tuesday," it said in a statement.
In addition to the five ongoing blazes, another 18 fires across the north and east of Texas have already largely been contained, officials said.
While preventive evacuations were ordered across multiple localities, the body of an 83-year-old woman was found in the city of Stinnett, a Hutchinson County emergency services spokesperson, Deidra Thomas, told ABC News.
She also said about 20 structures in Stinnett had been razed by the fire.
Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday issued a disaster declaration for 60 Texas counties, a move that frees up resources to battle the fires.
Cities across the United States and Canada saw record temperatures in February, with some experiencing summer-like heat. An El Nino weather pattern is at play, in addition to climate change, according to experts.
N.Mitchell--AT