A fire has broken out at South Africa's parliament in Cape Town.
Flames could be seen and a column of smoke rose into the sky early on Sunday morning, beginning at about 5.30am local time (3.30am in the UK).
The blaze started in third-floor offices and spread to the National Assembly chamber, local fire service spokesman Jermaine Carelse said, adding that no one had been injured.
Image:Smoke rises from the parliament building
The roof area also caught light and authorities feared that parts of buildings, some of them first built in the late 1800s, might collapse because of the heat.
Some 35 firefighters are on the scene tackling the blaze.
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Patricia de Lille, minister of public works, said the flames had been contained in the chamber of the National Council of Provinces - the upper house - but continued to burn in the National Assembly chamber.
"We can't tell you exactly where the fire started," she said, adding that it was a "very sad day for our democracy".
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Police have begun to investigate and President Cyril Ramaphosa has been briefed.
The president and many of South Africa's high-ranking politicians were in Cape Town for the funeral service of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, which took place on Saturday at the city's St George's Cathedral, about a block away from the parliament precinct.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and tens of thousands of residents evacuated as wildfires spread across part of the US state of Colorado.
At least one first responder and six others were injured after the flames took hold following an extremely dry autumn in the region and a winter that has so far not seen any snow.
More injuries and also deaths could be possible due to the intensity of the fires, Boulder County sheriff Joe Pelle acknowledged.
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'God help us': Driving through Colorado wildfire
Image:An aerial photograph shows homes burn from wildfires in Superior, Colorado. Pic: Maxar Technologies via AP
He said it was "the kind of fire we can't fight head on" and that in some areas, sheriffs and firefighters had to pull out "because they just got overrun".
The blaze, reported just after 11am on Thursday, local time, had "ballooned and spread rapidly east" to span 2.5 square miles, he added.
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Some fires in the area were also sparked by downed power lines.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of the cities of Louisville and Superior, which are around 20 miles north west of Denver and home to a combined 34,000 people.
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Aerial footage shows scale of Colorado wildfires
Image:The cities of Louisville and Superior, north west of Denver, were evacuated
Surrounding them are towns filled with shopping centres, parks and schools.
The fires, fuelled by winds of up to 105mph, have already burned an estimated 580 homes, a hotel and a shopping centre.
Cars jammed in queues as they tried to flee the area waited for up to 45 minutes to move about half a mile.
Meanwhile, wind gusts caused the blaze to jump and spread, resulting in small fires taking hold in places such as a patch of grass or a car park.
Skies turned black amid the blare of emergency sirens as smoke spread.
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Thick smoke and huge fires in Colorado
A large plume of smoke from the fire was visible in Denver.
Leah Angstman, who was on a bus returning home to Louisville from Denver airport that was forced to stop due to poor visibility, described how it was buffeted by heavy winds.
"The wind rocked the bus so hard that I thought the bus would tip," she said.
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Shoppers rush to leave store as fire approaches
"The sky was dark, dark brown, and the dirt was blowing in swirls across the sidewalk like snakes."
Colorado governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency, which allows the state to access disaster emergency funds.
Image:The blaze has destroyed nearly 600 homes
Mr Polis said flames were consuming football field-lengths of land in seconds, describing the fires as a "force of nature".
A historic drought and heatwaves have made wildfires harder to fight in the western United States.
Nine-tenths of Boulder County is in severe or extreme drought and has not seen substantial rainfall since mid-summer.
Keith Musselman, a snow hydrologist who lives in the region, said: "With any snow on the ground, this absolutely would not have happened in the way that it did."
He said a severe fire risk would be expected in September and October but a lack of any rain or snow this late in the season was highly unusual.
A forecast for up to a foot of snow to arrive in the next day could help relieve the situation, he said.
Extreme weather has also been taking hold in other parts of the US, with heavy snowfall disrupting road travel in the Pacific west from Washington state to California and intense thunderstorms across the south damaging homes and buildings in Alabama.
At least 12 people have been killed and 15 injured in a stampede at a popular Hindu shrine in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The crush in the early morning at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine came as a thousands gathered to mark the start of the new year.
India's prime minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on Twitter, saying he was "extremely saddened by the loss of lives".
Image:Thousands of devotees were making a pilgrimage to the site. Pic: AP
Initial reports suggested an altercation between a group of devotees had led to the crush.
One eyewitness, who gave the name Mahesh, said: "Something happened near one of the gates and I found myself under a crush of people.
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"I suffocated and fell but somehow managed to stand up.
"I saw people moving over the bodies.
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"It was a horrifying sight, but I managed to help in rescuing some injured people."
Another devotee called Priyansh, who had arrived with ten friends from New Delhi on Friday night, said two of them died in the crush.
Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to JK LG Shri @manojsinha_ Ji, Ministers Shri @DrJitendraSingh Ji, @nityanandraibjp Ji and took stock of the situation.
Police chief Dilbag Singh was quoted by Press Trust of India news agency as saying that authorities were quick to respond and that order within the crowd was immediately restored.
The pilgrimage resumed after nearly four hours, officials said, and an investigation was underway.
The hilltop temple is one of the most visited shrines in northern India.
The incident comes after a stampede in 2013 in central Madhya Pradesh state when pilgrims visiting a temple for a Hindu festival trampled over each other amid fears that a bridge would collapse, and at least 115 people were crushed to death or died in the river below.
In 2011, more than 100 Hindu devotees died in a crush at a religious festival in the southern state of Kerala.
Despite COVID curbs hindering celebrations, street parties and gatherings are still taking place across the globe as each country rings in the New Year.
New Year's Eve plans have largely been muted or cancelled for the second straight year due to a surge in coronavirus infections - this time driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant.
However, many nations are making the best of it and going ahead with extravagant fireworks displays and celebrations.
Here's a snapshot from around the world.
London
Image:Fireworks and a light display have taken place over St Paul's cathedral
Image:A light display to mark the New Year is seen over St Paul’s Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge
The UK's "spectacular" began with a countdown to midnight on the Shard, before a monologue took place following a scattering of fireworks on the Millennium Bridge.
The speech walked through the UK's achievements this year, including the successes of the Tokyo Olympics and Emma Raducanu's win at the US Open.
Cameras then cut to displays in Greenwich Park, where an impressive drone show took place amid a dazzling display of colourful fireworks.
Fireworks and a light display took place over St Paul's Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge to welcome in the New Year.
Australia
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Australia counts down to 2022
Sydney erupted at the stroke of midnight as Australia celebrated the start of 2022 with six tonnes of fireworks - making for a breath-taking extravaganza over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
The event had fewer spectators than usual and most viewing areas were capped by the council and required tickets.
Last year, before mass vaccination, spectators were banned, but this time people were urged to wear masks where they could not properly distance.
New Zealand
Image:New Zealand welcomes in the New Year with a lightshow
In New Zealand, where there hasn't been any community spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, authorities called off several fireworks displays as a precautionary measure, including a popular one from atop Auckland's Sky Tower.
Auckland instead rang in the New Year with a light display projected onto the tower and other city landmarks.
North Korea
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NYE in Pyongyang and Hong Kong
Hundreds of people have gathered in the North Korean capital Pyongyang to watch a fireworks display to welcome in the New Year.
Footage shows people wearing masks to watch the display near the Taedong River, which cuts through central Pyongyang.
Hong Kong
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An orchestra played in the vibrant light show and fireworks display at the New Year festivities in Hong Kong
Hong Kong earlier welcomed 2022 with a fireworks bonanza, which was given a dramatic backdrop by a live orchestra.
Around 3,000 revellers attended the New Year's Eve concert starring local celebrities including boy band Mirror.
The concert was the first New Year's Eve event held since 2018, after events were cancelled in 2019 due to political conflict and last year because of the pandemic.
China
Image:Large groups of people gathered to ring in the New Year in Shanghai
In mainland China, the Shanghai government called off events including an annual light show along the Huangpu River in the city centre that usually draws hundreds of thousands of spectators.
But thousands of people gathered in Shanghai to celebrate the New Year, with photographs from near the Bund - a waterfront promenade in the city - show revellers standing together, close to a skyscraper lit up with "2022".
Thailand
Image:Fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya River during the New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand
The Southeast Asian country held an impressive fireworks display this evening as it ushered in 2022, with authorities allowing New Year's Eve parties and fireworks displays to continue, albeit with strict safety measures.
But New Year's Eve prayers, which are usually held in Buddhist temples around the country, have been held online instead.
In Bangkok, fireworks exploded over the Chao Phraya River, while further festivities took place in Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Phangan.
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1:11
Taiwan and Thailand ring in 2022
Japan
Image:People in Tokyo, Japan, celebrate the New Year
Revellers in Tokyo were photographed ringing in the New Year this evening, as several countries around the world celebrated 2022 with impressive fireworks displays.
Thousands of people gathered at the Shibuya crossing at midnight, despite the annual countdown celebration having been cancelled due to COVID.
South Korea
Image:Seoul in South Korea is lit up with NYE decorations
In South Korea's capital, Seoul, the annual New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony was cancelled for second year due to rising COVID cases.
A pre-recorded video of this year's bell-ringing ceremony was instead broadcast online and on television, officials said.
The ceremony has been known to attract tens of thousands of people in previous years - and it was cancelled last year for the first time since its first ceremony in 1953.
South Korea is also closing many beaches and other tourist attractions along the east coast, which usually draws crowds of people hoping to catch the year's first sunrise.
India
Image:A balloon seller walks in a deserted shopping area in New Delhi
Muted celebration are underway in India where several states have imposed blanket bans on New Year celebrations.
Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai have banned gatherings.
Celebrations are going ahead with limited numbers in Kolkata, West Bengal, but many clubs have opted to cancel events in the face of the Omicron variant.
United Arab Emirates
Image:A fireworks display took place at the Burj Khalifa skyscraper
People in Dubai are welcoming the New Year with an extravagant fireworks display at the Burj Khalifa skyscraper tonight, while a laser show takes place at the nearby Dubai Fountain.
In Ras al Khaimah, a 12-minute show will feature hundreds of pyrotechnic drones and span almost three miles in length, lighting up the sky over the Arabian Sea.
Russia
Image:Thousands of people have gathered at Manezhnaya Square in Moscow to watch a fireworks display
Russia's 11 time zones will welcome 2022 at different points throughout the night - with the capital Moscow having already ushered in the start of the New Year.
The Red Square in the city, where festivities typically take place, was closed to the general public due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, this did not stop thousands of people from gathering at the nearby Manezhnaya Square to watch a fireworks display.
Greece
Image:A fireworks display has taken placer above Acropolis hill in Athens
Greece introduced new coronavirus restrictions earlier this week, forcing bars, nightclubs and restaurants to close at midnight, with no standing customers and no music.
However, an exception was given for New Year's Eve, when venues were permitted to stay open until 2am.
Images show fireworks exploding in the sky above the Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill in Athens as the country welcomes in the New Year.
Spain
Image:People have been welcoming in the New Year in Puerta del Sol square
People have gathered in the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid to welcome in the new year.
The celebrations come as coronavirus cases are surging in the country.
Germany
Image:One of the world's largest open-air events has been taking place in Berlin
In Berlin, one of the world's largest open-air New Year events is taking place at the Brandenburg Gate to celebrate the start of 2022.
Musicians have been performing on stage in front of the landmark, with a light show also having taken place.
France
Image:People welcomed in the New Year on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris.
In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was lit up - as it is at the top of every hour - to mark midnight.
People have also been celebrating the New Year on the Champs Elysees avenue in the French capital.
Kenya
The start of 2022 was celebrated almost three hours ago in Nairobi, but festivities are still underway.
As the country marked midnight, fireworks lit up the sky above the UAP Old Mutual Tower.
Image:A fireworks display has lit up the sky above the UAP Old Mutual Tower.
The Duke of York can offer no witnesses to support his claim that he was in a Pizza Express in Woking on the night he is accused of having sex with Virginia Giuffre nor any documents that show his “alleged inability to sweat”, his lawyers have acknowledged.
Giuffre’s attorneys asked the duke to name people he might have met in the pizza restaurant who could back up the alibi that he offered during an interview on Newsnight in 2019.
She has alleged that she was introduced to Prince Andrew by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and accompanied him to the Tramp nightclub. “He was a hideous dancer and he was sweating profusely all over me,” she told NBC. “I just remember like ugh, I need
Afghanistan's former president has defended his decision to flee the country as the Taliban closed in earlier this year, saying he did it to prevent the destruction of Kabul.
The Taliban seized power in August after taking control of the capital.
Ashraf Ghani revealed that when he woke up on 15 August he had "no inkling" it would be his last day in Afghanistan.
It was only when his plane left Kabul that he realised he was going, Mr Ghani said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He was heavily criticised and accused of abandoning the country at the time. He is now in the United Arab Emirates.
Mr Ghani made the comments in conversation with Gen Sir Nick Carter, the UK's former Chief of the Defence Staff, who was guest-editing the Today programme on Thursday.
As the day started, Mr Ghani recalled, Taliban fighters had agreed not to enter Kabul - "but two hours later, this was not the case".
"Two different factions of the Taliban were closing in from two different directions," Mr Ghani explained. "And the possibility of a massive conflict between them that would destroy the city of five million and bring havoc to the people was enormous."
He agreed to let a number of those close to him leave Kabul - including his wife, who he said did so very reluctantly. His national security advisor also left, and Mr Ghani waited for a car to take him to the ministry of defence.
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The car never came. Instead, the national security advisor returned, along with the "terrified" chief of presidential security, and told Mr Ghani they would "all be killed" if he took a stand.
"He did not give me more than two minutes," Mr Ghani said. "My instructions had been to prepare for departure for [the city of] Khost. He told me that Khost had fallen and so had Jalalabad.
"I did not know where we will go. Only when we took off, it became clear that we were leaving [Afghanistan]. So this really was sudden."
The Taliban takeover wasn't done in a day. But many insist Ashraf Ghani's sudden secret departure on 15 August scuppered a deal, which was all-but done, to secure a more orderly transition.
Either way, the Taliban were certain to dominate. But the vacuum created by the man who'd repeatedly vowed to "fight to the death" deepened the disarray. And even more than what he did on 15 August many blame him for what he didn't do in the years before.
It's true he was dealt a weak hand by the Americans, but he played it badly.
He's now widely seen as a leader more professor than politician, who misread US politics and a situation on the ground unravelling faster than everyone, including the Taliban, expected.
His latest account will be dissected, discussed, and dismissed for a long time to come.
Allegations that Mr Ghani had taken vast amounts of money also emerged - something he emphatically denied, welcoming an international investigation that he said would clear his name.
"I want to categorically state, I did not take any money out of the country," he said, adding: "My style of life is known to everyone. What would I do with money?"
Mr Ghani acknowledged mistakes were made, including "assuming that the patience of the international community would last".
However, he pointed to the agreement made between the Taliban and the US under then-President Donald Trump, which paved the way for the events leading to 15 August.
"Instead of a peace process, we got a withdrawal process," Mr Ghani said. The way the deal was done, Mr Ghani added, "erased us".
Under the terms of the deal, the US agreed to reduce its forces and those of its allies, as well as providing for a prisoner swap - after which the militant group agreed to talks with the Afghan government.
The talks did not work: by summer 2021, with US President Joe Biden promising to withdraw the last troops by 11 September, the Taliban were sweeping across Afghanistan, taking city after city.
What happened in the end, Mr Ghani said, was "a violent coup, not a political agreement, or a political process where the people have been involved".
The same day Mr Ghani left Kabul, the Taliban took control. Since then, the country has been thrown into an humanitarian and economic crisis, made worse by the removal of international support after the group seized power.
Three months on, Mr Ghani says he is willing to take the blame for some things which led to the fall of Kabul - like trusting "in our international partnership".
However, he added: "My life work has been destroyed. My values had been trampled on. And I have been made a scapegoat."
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US President Joe Biden is set to hold talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin for the second time this month, in a bid to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine.
The two leaders will speak by phone on Thursday evening.
They will discuss forthcoming security talks between the countries and the situation in Europe, a White House official said.
Russia, which has built up forces on the border with Ukraine, denies planning to invade the country.
It says its troops are there for exercises, and that it is entitled to move its troops freely on its own soil.
Hours before the call, Mr Putin told Mr Biden in a holiday message he was "convinced" the pair could work together based on "mutual respect and consideration of each other's national interests".
His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Moscow was "in the mood for a conversation".
The US consulted European leaders ahead of the call to co-ordinate a common response to the Ukraine issue, a White House statement said.
Ukrainian security officials say more than 100,000 Russian troops have been sent close to their shared border, and the US has threatened Mr Putin with sanctions "like none he's ever seen" if Ukraine comes under attack.
Mr Biden will offer his Russian counterpart a "diplomatic path" but remains "gravely" concerned by the Russian troop build-up on the border, a US official told AFP news agency.
Mr Biden is expected to tell Mr Putin that the US is prepared to respond if Russia advances with "a further invasion of Ukraine".
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday.
The US state department said Mr Blinken had "reiterated the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's military buildup on Ukraine's borders".
Earlier this month, the two presidents held a virtual summit in which Mr Biden reiterated his support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
While Ukraine is not a Nato member, it has close ties with the bloc.
Russia has said it wants legally binding guarantees that Nato will not move eastwards and that weapons will not be sent to Ukraine or any neighbouring countries.
Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been adamant that Ukraine's membership of the alliance is a matter for Nato and Kyiv. "Any dialogue with Russia has of course to respect the core principles which European security has been based on," he previously said.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has described the current situation as probably "the most dangerous it's been in 30 years".
Russian officials are due to meet US counterparts in Geneva on 10 January. Asked earlier this week if he would meet Mr Putin on that date, Mr Biden replied "We'll see", but he is not expected to attend the talks in Geneva.
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