- Rauf takes four as Pakistan hold Australia to 147-9 in 2nd T20
- World not listening to us, laments Kenyan climate scientist at COP29
- Philippines warns of 'potentially catastrophic' Super Typhoon Man-yi
- Wales take on Australia desperate for victory to avoid unwanted record
- Tyson beaten by Youtuber Paul in heavyweight return
- Taylor holds off bloodied Serrano to retain undisputed crown
- Japan PM expresses concern to Xi over South China Sea situation
- Tens of thousands flee as Super Typhoon Man-yi nears Philippines
- Hoilett gives Canada win in Suriname as Mexico lose to Honduras
- Davis, James spark Lakers over Spurs while Cavs stay perfect
- Mushroom houses for Gaza? Arab designers offer home-grown innovations
- Gabon votes on new constitution hailed by junta as 'turning point'
- Young Libyans gear up for their first ever election
- Vice tightens around remaining civilians in eastern Ukraine
- Dutch coalition survives political turmoil after minister's resignation
- Uruguay end winless run with dramatic late win over Colombia
- Max potential: 10 years since a teenage Verstappen wowed in Macau
- Tens of thousands flee as Typhoon Man-yi nears Philippines
- Is Argentina's Milei on brink of leaving Paris climate accord?
- Big Bang: Trump and Musk could redefine US space strategy
- Revolution over but more protests than ever in Bangladesh
- Minister resigns but Dutch coalition remains in place
- Ireland won 'ugly', says relieved Farrell
- Stirring 'haka' dance disrupts New Zealand's parliament
- England's Hull grabs lead over No.1 Korda at LPGA Annika
- Kosovo players walk off in Romania after 'Serbia' chants, game abandoned
- Kosovo players walk off in Romania game after 'Serbia' chants
- Lame-duck Biden tries to reassure allies as Trump looms
- Nervy Irish edge Argentina in Test nailbiter
- Ronaldo at double as Portugal reach Nations League quarters, Spain win
- Fitch upgrades Argentina debt rating amid economic pain
- Trump picks Doug Burgum as energy czar in new administration
- Phone documentary details struggles of Afghan women under Taliban
- Ronaldo shines as Portugal rout Poland to reach Nations League last-eight
- Spain beat Denmark to seal Nations League group win
- Former AFCON champions Ghana bow out as minnows Comoros qualify
- Poland, Britain reach BJK Cup quarter-finals
- At summit under Trump shadow, Xi and Biden signal turbulence ahead
- Lebanon said studying US truce plan for Israel-Hezbollah war
- Xi warns against 'protectionism' at APEC summit under Trump cloud
- Nigerian UN nurse escapes jihadist kidnappers after six years
- India in record six-hitting spree to rout South Africa
- George tells England to prepare for rugby 'war' against Springboks
- Pogba's Juve contract terminated despite doping ban reduction
- Ukraine slams Scholz after first call with Putin in two years
- Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track series to have LA final
- Kagiyama, Yoshida put Japan on top at Finland Grand Prix
- Alcaraz eyeing triumphant Davis Cup farewell for Nadal after ATP Finals exit
- Xi, Biden at Asia-Pacific summit under Trump trade war cloud
- India go on record six-hitting spree against South Africa
Tens of thousands evacuate California storms, with 17 dead
Tens of thousands of people were under evacuation orders in California on Tuesday as the state was ravaged by the latest in a barrage of storms that have left at least 17 people dead.
Torrential downpours caused flash flooding, closed key highways, toppled trees and swept away drivers and passengers -- including a five-year-old-boy who remains missing in central California -- with even more rain and snow set to batter America's most populous state.
Around 110,000 California homes and businesses were without power Tuesday, according to tracking site Poweroutage.us.
A fresh storm is set to pound the state with as much as seven inches (18 centimeters) of new rain in northern California by Wednesday and several more feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the National Weather Service said.
The NWS described an "endless onslaught of atmospheric river events" that is the most powerful storm system since 2005.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said at least 34,000 people had been told to flee the storm, with more danger expected.
"The fact is that we're not out of the woods; we expect these storms to continue at least through the 18th of this month," he told reporters.
"We now have 17 confirmed -- and I underscore 'confirmed' tragically -- just confirmed deaths."
The town of Montecito, home to Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, was pounded by rain -- threatening dangerous mudslides on hills already sodden by weeks of downpours -- and sparking an evacuation order.
"Because the mountains are right there, when it really rains, it comes down at a really high rate... it's pretty dangerous pretty quickly," resident Daniel DeMuyer told AFP.
"That's the price of living in such a beautiful place, when it rains like this, it causes a lot of destruction."
Montecito, whose multi-million dollar properties are surrounded by breathtaking California countryside, is particularly vulnerable to mudslides because it sits at the foot of a mountain range that was ravaged by fire five years ago.
Hundreds of square miles (kilometers) were scorched, stripping the hillsides of the vegetation that normally keeps soil in place.
But an evacuation order for the town -- home to stars including Ellen DeGeneres, Gwyneth Paltrow, Katy Perry, and Rob Lowe -- was lifted on Tuesday.
- Boy swept away -
There were tragedies across the state.
In San Luis Obispo County authorities called off a search for a five-year-old boy as rushing waters were too dangerous for divers, Fox News reported, quoting a county official.
The child, who fled with his mother from their car as it was inundated by flood waters, has not been declared dead. The mother was rescued.
Two motorists died in a crash north of Bakersfield after a tree crashed onto a road.
Destruction was widespread, with whole communities flooded in some areas.
Dominick King said his restaurant in Capitola had been wrecked.
"It's a lot worse than expected," he told AFP.
"All my windows in the back are completely blown out. All my tables are kind of strewn around my floors... and our floors had warped, so I guess the waves came up from under the building.
"It's not just me, the whole block has been decimated."
Swathes of the Golden State were under flood warnings, and forecasters said the misery would continue.
"There will be a brief break in the rainfall in the West late tonight before the next atmospheric river arrives Wednesday. Moisture will stream ahead of a large cyclone in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which will produce heavy precipitation in northern California," the NWS said.
- Downpours in drought -
While heavy rain is not unusual for California during winter, these downpours are testing the state.
Scientists say human-caused climate change, brought about by the unchecked burning of fossil fuels, has supercharged these wild swings in weather.
Scientists say several years of above-average rainfall are needed to get reservoirs back to healthy levels.
J.Gomez--AT