World Briefing: January 12, 2025
An epic aerial assault was underway Saturday as a fleet of aircraft worked to prevent the Los Angeles area fire from hitting homes in Brentwood and Encino. A shift in winds late Friday sent the fire north and east through the Santa Monica Mountains, forcing evacuations of Brentwood and the hills of Encino and Tarzana — keeping Los Angeles on edge in Day 5 of an unprecedented fire siege that has already damaged or destroyed more than 10,000 structures - LA Times
Four wildfires are currently burning around Los Angeles. At least 16 people have been killed so far while 13 others are missing. Malibu has lost one-third of its eastern edge, the city's mayor says - and a resurgence of winds could complicate efforts to knock back the flames. The largest fire, Palisades, is spreading east and now threatens the wealthy neighbourhood of Brentwood - where evacuation orders have been issued. Gusty winds are forecast for the coming days, potentially further fuelling the fires - BBC
The wildfires that erupted this week across Los Angeles County are already projected to be among the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. While it’s still too early for an accurate tally of the financial toll, the losses so far likely make the wildfires the costliest ever in the U.S., according to various estimates. A preliminary estimate by AccuWeather put the damage and economic losses so far between $135 billion and $150 billion. By comparison, AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic losses caused by Hurricane Helene, which tore across six southeastern states last fall, at $225 billion to $250 billion.
Authorities detected more than 30 drones in the restricted airspace around the Palisades fire between Friday and Saturday, Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson Sheila Kelliher said Saturday. Drone detection sensors and software can identify pilots who fly illegally. Additionally, the FBI is assisting in tracking them down. An FBI investigation began after a Super Scooper firefighting aircraft collided with a drone Thursday and was grounded for repairs, depriving the firefighting effort of a major tool. The Canadian Super Scooper was left with a 3-inch-by-6-inch hole in its wing after it collided with a personally owned drone, said Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office - LA Times
On the ground in California on Saturday, Los Angeles county officials said they had made 22 arrests – 19 people in the Eaton fire and three in the Palisades fire. At least some of those charges were for burglary and looting. Hours earlier, the sheriff’s office had issued a 6pm to 6am curfew in all mandatory evacuation areas affected by the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, in part to protect the property of homeowners who had obeyed orders to evacuate from being looted - Guardian
More than 900 incarcerated people are among the more than 7,500 personnel helping fight the historic, and destructive, Southern California wildfires. "As of today, 939 Fire Camp firefighters have been working around the clock cutting fire lines and removing fuel from behind structures to slow fire spread, including 110 support staff.," California's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said. This is not a new practice. California has relied onincarcerated firefighters since 1915. And prison labor has been used to respond to emergencies and disasters nationwide for centuries, said Bianca Tylek, executive director of Worth Rises, a criminal justice advocacy organization - NPR
German authorities have said an oil tanker stuck in German waters belongs to Russia's "shadow fleet", which Berlin says is used to avoid sanctions. Germany's maritime authorities (CCME) said on Friday that the Panamanian-flagged ship, known as Eventin, had lost power and steering, meaning tugboats were deployed to secure the vessel. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock blamed Moscow, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of "circumventing" sanctions and threatening European security by "ruthlessly deploying a fleet of rusty tankers". Russia, which previously declined to respond to accusations that it uses a shadow fleet, has not yet commented on this incident - BBC
President-elect Donald Trump is preparing more than 100 executive orders starting Day One of the new White House, in what amounts to a shock-and-awe campaign on border security, deportations and a rush of other policy priorities. Trump told Republican senators about the onslaught ahead during a private meeting on Capitol Hill. Many of the actions are expected to launch on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, when he takes office. Trump top adviser Stephen Miller outlined for the GOP senators the border security and immigration enforcement measures that are likely to launch soonest. Axios first reported on Trump and his team’s presentation. “There will be a substantial number,” said Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. Allies of the president-elect have been preparing a stack of executive orders that Trump could sign quickly on a wide range of topics – from the U.S.-Mexico border clampdown to energy development to federal Schedule F workforce rules, school gender policies and vaccine mandates, among other day-one promises made during his campaign. - AP
Ukraine says that investigators were questioning two wounded North Korean soldiers after they were captured in Russia's Kursk region, saying they provided "indisputable evidence" that North Koreans were fighting for Moscow. It is not the first time that Kyiv has claimed the capture of North Korean soldiers during its Kursk incursion but it has not reported being able to question any before. In December it said it took several captive but they died from serious wounds. "Our soldiers captured North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region. These are two soldiers who, although wounded, survived and were brought to Kyiv, and are talking to SBU investigators," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media. The SBU security service gave some details of the men's interrogation, saying both described themselves as experienced soldiers and one said he had been sent to Russia for training, not to fight. But Ukraine has not provided any evidence that the men are North Korean - Moscow Times
Hong Kong’s Security Bureau is sending a task force to Thailand on Sunday to follow up on cases involving residents being lured to Southeast Asian countries and forced to do illegal work. The situation returned to the spotlight after mainland actor Wang Xing was kidnapped along the Thai-Myanmarese border, prompting a joint rescue effort involving Chinese authorities. The Security Bureau said on Sunday that law enforcement earlier received 28 requests for help from Hong Kong residents believed to have been trapped in Southeast Asian countries and unable to leave since the second quarter of 2024. Sixteen individuals had been returned to the city so far. - SCMP
The Philippines is set to open four foreign missions in North America and the Asia Pacific to widen its reach worldwide, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said. In 2024, the Philippines opened four embassies in Europe and Latin America. With more missions set to open, the country’s foreign service posts this year will reach 102 in total. “We are poised to establish more down the road. We welcomed the opening of some embassies in Manila in 2024, such as Bahrain and Slovenia, and are eager to welcome new foreign missions in the years to come, such as from Central Asia,” he said as quoted by the Philippine Inquirer. During a visit to Manila last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to open a new embassy in the Philippines in the near future.
