- Germany pledges security inquest after Christmas market attack
- Putin vows 'destruction' on Ukraine after Kazan drone attack
- Understated Usyk seeks recognition among boxing legends
- France awaits appointment of new government
- Cyclone Chido death toll rises to 94 in Mozambique
- Stokes out of England's Champions Trophy squad
- Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 28
- Sweet smell of success for niche perfumes
- 'Finally, we made it!': Ho Chi Minh City celebrates first metro
- Angry questions in Germany after Christmas market attack
- China's Zheng pulls out of season-opening United Cup
- Minorities fear targeted attacks in post-revolution Bangladesh
- Tatum's 43-point triple-double propels Celtics over Bulls
- Tunisia women herb harvesters struggle with drought and heat
- Trump threatens to take back control of Panama Canal
- India's architecture fans guard Mumbai's Art Deco past
- Secretive game developer codes hit 'Balatro' in Canadian prairie province
- Large earthquake hits battered Vanuatu
- Beaten Fury says Usyk got 'Christmas gift' from judges
- First Singaporean golfer at Masters hopes 'not be in awe' of heroes
- Usyk beats Fury in heavyweight championship rematch
- Stellantis backtracks on plan to lay off 1,100 at US Jeep plant
- Atletico snatch late win at Barca to top La Liga
- Australian teen Konstas ready for Indian pace challenge
- Strong quake strikes off battered Vanuatu
- Tiger Woods and son Charlie share halfway lead in family event
- Bath stay out in front in Premiership as Bristol secure record win
- Mahomes shines as NFL-best Chiefs beat Texans to reach 14-1
- Suspect in deadly Christmas market attack railed against Islam, Germany
- MLB legend Henderson, career stolen base leader, dead at 65
- Albania announces shutdown of TikTok for at least a year
- Laboured Napoli take top spot in Serie A
- Schick hits four as Leverkusen close gap to Bayern on sombre weekend
- Calls for more safety measures after Croatia school stabbings
- Jesus double lifts Christmas spirits for five-star Arsenal
- Frankfurt miss chance to close on Bayern as attack victims remembered
- NBA fines Celtics coach Mazzulla and Nets center Claxton
- Banned Russian skater Valieva stars at Moscow ice gala
- Leading try scorer Maqala takes Bayonne past Vannes in Top 14
- Struggling Southampton appoint Juric as new manager
- Villa heap pain on slumping Man City as Forest soar
- Suspect in deadly Christmas market attack railed against Islam and Germany
- At least 32 die in bus accident in southeastern Brazil
- Freed activist Paul Watson vows to 'end whaling worldwide'
- Chinese ship linked to severed Baltic Sea cables sets sail
- Sorrow and fury in German town after Christmas market attack
- Guardiola vows Man City will regain confidence 'sooner or later' after another defeat
- Ukraine drone hits Russian high-rise 1,000km from frontline
- Villa beat Man City to deepen Guardiola's pain
- 'Perfect start' for ski great Vonn on World Cup return
California girds for punishing heatwave
Californians were being warned Tuesday to prepare to swelter as a fearsome heatwave settles over the western US state.
The mercury was forecast to top out at a scorching 113 Fahrenheit (45 Celsius) in parts of Los Angeles later in the week, marking the high point of an already hot summer.
Meteorologists say a ridge of high pressure could push temperatures 20 degrees higher than usual for this time of year in some places, with dangerous conditions expected for several days.
The National Weather Service said an excessive heat warning would be in place from lunchtime on Wednesday until after sunset on Friday.
The Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, a well-to-do neighborhood northwest of downtown, was expected to be the hottest part of LA County.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ordered the opening of cooling centers throughout the city where people who may not have access to air conditioning will be able to take shelter.
Although not quite as high, the soaring temperatures will also affect coastal areas, which usually escape the worst of the heat and have enjoyed a relatively balmy August.
Climate scientist Daniel Swain said the next few days will be a taste of what inland areas of the state have already endured.
"Most of California's immediate coastline missed out on record heat this season (including some of the most densely populated portions of the SoCal megalopolis)," he wrote on his Weather West blog.
That means "that while a majority of California's land area did indeed just experience a record-hot summer, the majority of California's population likely did not."
Death Valley -- routinely one of the hottest places on Earth -- is likely to see the mercury hit 118 Fahrenheit, though that is slightly lower than the almost 122 F it saw in July.
Further inland, the heat will also affect parts of Arizona, including Phoenix, where Tuesday marked the 100th day in a row that the temperature had topped 100 Fahrenheit.
And there was no respite in sight for the state's biggest city, with blistering heat expected throughout the week.
High temperatures in the southwestern US -- much of which is desert -- are not unusual at this time of year.
But scientists say human-caused global warming is pushing norms higher, and creating more unstable weather patterns.
S.Pimentel--PC