Updated Nov 4, 2019

In photos: Dramatic scenes from California's wildfires

Rebecca Falconer

A firefighter controls a hotspot of the Maria Fire, in Santa Paula, Ventura County, California, on Saturday. Photo: Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images

California firefighters have spent days battling wildfires in challenging, dry conditions that have forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.

The big picture: Firefighters have even faced hurricane-strength winds in some places. California's governor has declared a state of emergency, and some 3 million people have been affected by power shut-offs, per the New York Times. This is what firefighters have been up against, in photos.

Firefighters work to control flames from a backfire during the Maria fire in Santa Paula on Nov. 1. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
A firefighter controls a hotspot of the Maria Fire, in Santa Paula, Ventura County. Photo: Apu Gomes / AFP) (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images
The Soda Rock Winery burns during the Kincade fire as flames race through Healdsburg, California. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
Firefighters at the Getty Fire in Brentwood. Photo: Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images
A Cal Fire firefighter watches over a structure threatened by the Kincade Fire. Anda Chu/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images
Firefighters set a backfire along a hillside near PG&E power lines in Healdsburg. Photo: Philip Pacheco/AFP via Getty Images
Firefighters arrive at the scene of a burning home in Healdsburg. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
A firefighting air tanker flies over power transmission towers in Geyserville. Photo: Yichuan Cao/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Firefighters at the massive Kincade fire in Healdsburg. Photo: Philip Pacheco/AFP via Getty Images
Veterinarian Emily Putt walks a horse from a burn during the Kincade fire in Windsor. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
A firefighter walks through a burned property after the Kincade fire tore through Healdsburg. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
Firefighters remove a U.S. flag from a property as flames race into the area in Healdsburg. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

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Editor's note: This article has been updated with the latest details of the fires and more photos.

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In photos: Catastrophic wildfires rage across Australia

Smoke shrouds the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia's most populous city on Thursday. Photo: Cassie Trotter/Getty Images

Smoke from Australia's deadly wildfires blanketed the state capitals of Sydney and Adelaide as air quality exceeded "hazardous" levels on Thursday, the BBC reports.

Why it matters: Thousands of people have fled the fires. Per News.com.au, much of the country is on high fire alert, as blazes rage across all six of Australia's states. Six people have died in the bushfires in the eastern states of Queensland and New South Wales.

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Drivers make their way along slick and snowy roads in Denver, Colorado. Photo: Joe Mahoney/Getty Images

Two powerful storm systems are leaving the Thanksgiving plans of millions of people in disarray across the United States.

The big picture: The systems have caused transport chaos after triggering heavy snowstorms, rainfall, a "bomb cyclone" with hurricane-force winds and tornadoes in some parts of the country. Here's what's been unfolding, in photos.

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Hong Kong pro-democracy protests rage on for 24th consecutive weekend

A protester is detained by riot police, Nov. 10. Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Pro-democracy activists blocked roads, trashed shopping malls and vandalized public transportation across Hong Kong on Sunday, while riot police fired tear gas to break up demonstrations, Reuters reports.

Why it matters: Sunday's protests mark the 24th consecutive weekend of anti-government protests, coming just two weeks before the Chinese-controlled city holds district council elections.

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