News from January 13, 2025 at 2 AM

Firefighters in Los Angeles are making a concerted effort to prevent a deadly wildfire from spreading into one of the city's most exclusive neighborhoods. Aerial crews have been dropping water and fire retardant on the flaming hills to contain the Palisades fire, which has expanded to threaten Brentwood and scorched nearly 23,000 acres, leaving at least 11 people dead. Large areas of Brentwood, including celebrity homes and the Getty Center museum, have been issued evacuation orders. The second-largest fire, the Eaton fire, has burned over 14,000 acres. Gusty Santa Ana winds are expected to exacerbate the fires. Approximately 153,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation, with another 166,000 warned they may need to flee. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Fire Chief Kristin Crowley face criticism over their response, and Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an investigation into water supply issues.

The wildfires in Los Angeles, California, continue to rage intensely. As of the 11th, the fires have resulted in 16 deaths and at least 13 people missing. The two largest fires, named 'Eaton' and 'Palisades', are ravaging the eastern and western sides of Los Angeles County. The Eaton Fire has destroyed over 7,000 buildings and caused 11 deaths, while the Palisades Fire has destroyed more than 5,300 buildings and resulted in 5 deaths. The National Weather Service predicts that the hazardous fire weather in southern California will persist until next week, with high winds and low humidity potentially exacerbating the fires.

Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser at the Israeli prime minister's office, stated that the Israeli delegation had arrived in Qatar for talks on the release of hostages held by radicals in the Gaza Strip. On January 12, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the progress of the negotiations with US President Joe Biden during a phone call and thanked both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump for their cooperation. On October 7, militants from Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, abducting over 240 Israelis. During a week-long Egypt and Qatar-mediated humanitarian ceasefire in late November 2023, more than 100 hostages were released, but the ceasefire was violated by Hamas on December 1, 2023, prompting Israel to resume operations against Hamas. Currently, 98 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza.

On January 12, 2025, a high-level Israeli security delegation arrived in Qatar for talks on a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal. The delegation includes Mossad Head David Barnea, Shin Bet domestic security service head Ronen Bar, and military's hostage brief head Nitzan Alon. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, having previously met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Since January 4, indirect talks between Israel and Hamas have shown some progress, though details remain tightly guarded. Hamas demands an end to the war, while Israel refuses to cease hostilities as long as Hamas controls Gaza and poses a threat to Israelis. Following Hamas' cross-border attack in October 2023, which killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages according to Israeli figures, Israel launched an assault resulting in over 46,000 deaths in Gaza, widespread destruction, a severe humanitarian crisis, and mass displacement.

On December 19, 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during the European Council Meeting in Brussels that Ukraine has captured two injured North Korean soldiers from the battlefield in Russia's Kursk region and transferred them to Kyiv. These soldiers are currently communicating with the Security Service of Ukraine. This marks the first time Ukraine has publicly stated it has detained North Korean troops, following reports from the U.S. and its allies that Pyongyang deployed approximately 11,000 soldiers to support Russia. Zelenskyy stated that the captured soldiers are receiving necessary medical assistance and noted the difficulty of their capture, claiming that Russian and North Korean soldiers usually execute their wounded to erase evidence of North Korea's involvement in the war against Ukraine. Ukraine's military had previously warned in December that Russia was trying to conceal the presence of North Korean military personnel by issuing false documents. Zelenskyy also said he instructed Ukraine's security service to allow journalists access to the prisoners to reveal the truth.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on January 11 the capture of two North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk region, marking the first time North Korean soldiers have been captured alive since their entry into the war last autumn. According to Kyiv and its Western allies, North Korean regular troops joined the war on Russia's side in October, with initial estimates of their numbers exceeding 10,000. Zelensky stated that the captured soldiers were brought to Kyiv and are communicating with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), receiving necessary medical assistance. Ukraine claims that North Korean troops are fighting in the Kursk region, where Ukraine still controls several hundred square kilometers of territory. Pyongyang is also alleged to be supplying Russia with large quantities of artillery shells. The capture was carried out by Ukrainian special forces and paratroopers. SBU footage showed the wounded soldiers receiving treatment. Due to language barriers, their interrogation is being conducted in Korean with the help of South Korea's NIS. The soldiers, born in 2005 and 1999, have been serving in the North Korean armed forces since 2021 and 2016 respectively. They are being held under conditions in accordance with international law, and a criminal investigation is underway to determine if they violated Ukrainian law.

On January 12, Syria's new Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani met with foreign ministers and top diplomats from Western and Middle Eastern countries in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy were expected to join the talks. Participants included foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey, as well as envoys from the European Union and the United States. This meeting was the first of its kind since President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December 2024. Led by Saudi Arabia, discussions focused on how the international community can support the interim Syrian authorities and hold the Assad regime accountable for war crimes. The meeting followed a Syria-focused diplomatic gathering in Rome on January 9 and a landmark meeting in Jordan in December 2024. Syria's new administration urged the West to lift sanctions to facilitate international funding to Damascus. Germany, Italy, and France recently pushed for easing EU sanctions on Syria, but a final decision requires the entire bloc's consensus. The US issued a six-month sanctions exemption for transactions with Syrian governing institutions on January 6 to ease the flow of humanitarian aid.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic secured a landslide victory in the January 12 run-off election, garnering over 74% of the vote and defeating Dragan Primorac, who was backed by the centre-right HDZ party. This marks the highest vote share for a presidential candidate since Croatia's independence in 1991. Despite the largely ceremonial role of the presidency, Milanovic's overwhelming win is a significant setback for the HDZ and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, particularly following a high-profile corruption scandal in November 2024. Milanovic nearly won outright in the first round two weeks ago with 49% of the vote. The turnout on January 12 was nearly 44%, slightly lower than the first round. The election took place as Croatia, an EU nation of 3.8 million people, grapples with the highest inflation rate in the eurozone, widespread corruption, and a labor shortage.

On January 12, Croatia's incumbent President Zoran Milanovic secured a landslide victory in the runoff presidential election with 73.67% of the vote. According to the State Electoral Commission, which counted ballots from 74.61% of polling stations, Milanovic garnered 691,934 votes, while his rival, independent candidate Dragan Primorac, supported by the ruling Croatian Democratic Community (HDZ) party, received 247,244 votes (26.33%). The voter turnout was 43.76%. The first round of voting took place on December 29, 2024, where none of the eight contenders managed to win more than 50% of the votes. Milanovic obtained 49.09% and Primorac, the former minister of science, education, and sport, won 19.35%. In the second round, a candidate needed only to have more votes than his rival to win.

US President-elect Donald Trump's National Security Advisor Designate Mike Waltz said on Sunday that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin may hold a phone conversation in the coming days or weeks. Waltz noted that the exact framework has not been set but expects it to happen soon. He also mentioned that achieving a ceasefire would be a positive first step for both Russia and Ukraine, potentially leading to a negotiated settlement of the conflict. Trump recognizes the unrealistic nature of retaking territories held by Russia, a reality increasingly acknowledged globally. In June, Putin set terms for a peace settlement in Ukraine, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Russia's new regions and guarantees from Kiev to abandon NATO plans, along with an end to sanctions against Russia. After Ukrainian troops attacked the Kursk Region in August, Putin deemed negotiations with Kiev impossible, but Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated that Moscow's peace proposals remain valid, though Russia will not engage with Ukraine at this point.

US incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz stated that phone talks between Trump and Putin could be organized within days or weeks. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic offered Serbia as a potential venue for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, promising to guarantee their security. He highlighted Serbia's non-membership in any military blocs and the high public support for both Trump and Putin in the country. Trump previously mentioned that preparations for a potential meeting with Putin were underway to resolve the Ukrainian conflict. Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov noted that the Russian leader is ready to meet Trump without preconditions, but no specific details have been confirmed yet.

A tram collision occurred in Strasbourg, France on the afternoon of November 11th, injuring over 30 people. Around 3:30 PM local time, a tram reversing at an underground station near Strasbourg Central Station collided with another stationary tram, causing severe damage to both ends. The platform was filled with smoke, and injured people were lying on the ground. Police set up a cordon and ambulances arrived at the scene. Officials from the Lower Rhine Provincial Government reported no severe injuries, while firefighters estimated around 50 casualties. The exact cause of the accident is unclear, and local prosecutors have launched an investigation, ruling out intentional human action.

On Saturday, at least 30 people were injured after two trams collided at Strasbourg's central station. Videos and photos on social media depicted chaotic scenes with smoke rising. Reports suggest the accident occurred when one tram switched tracks and collided with a stationary tram. Strasbourg Mayor Jeanne Barseghian, at the scene, stated the cause was unknown and urged people to await investigation results. Rene Cellier, director of the Bas-Rhin Fire and Rescue Service, reported mostly trauma injuries, including scalp wounds, clavicle fractures, and knee sprains, with around 100 people seen by doctors despite no significant injuries. Approximately 50 vehicles and 130 firefighters responded, with the situation potentially being more severe. Emmanuel Auneau, director of CTS responsible for public transport in Strasbourg, noted the tram drivers were physically unharmed but severely shocked.

On January 12, 2025, the Sudanese army announced the recapture of the key eastern city of Wad Madani, marking its biggest gain in nearly two years of fighting against rebel forces. Social media footage showed people celebrating as army soldiers entered the city. The leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, acknowledged the defeat in an audio message, attributing it to the army's air superiority and use of Iranian-made drones, but vowed to continue fighting. Wad Madani, the capital of Al Jazira state and 140km south of the capital Khartoum, is a strategic crossroads. Since the outbreak of fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese army in April 2023, the war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and forced about nine million people to flee their homes. Sudan is also facing a severe famine, with nearly half the population in urgent need of food aid. Earlier this month, the US sanctioned Hemedti for the RSF's alleged role in genocide during the 20-month conflict.

South Korea's transport ministry stated that the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the Jeju Air passenger plane that crashed last month stopped recording four minutes before the disaster. The crash resulted in 179 fatalities, marking it as the deadliest air accident in Korean history, with only two cabin crew members surviving. Investigators had hoped the recorder data would shed light on the crucial moments preceding the tragedy. Initially examined in South Korea, the recorders were sent to the US for analysis by American safety regulators after data was found missing. The flight, originating from Bangkok on December 29, crash-landed at Muan International Airport and slid into a wall off the runway, bursting into flames. Former transport ministry accident investigator Sim Jai-dong told Reuters that the loss of crucial data was surprising and suggested a complete power failure, including backup systems. Many questions remain unanswered, with investigators examining potential factors such as bird strikes and weather conditions, as well as why the Boeing 737-800's landing gear was not deployed upon impact.

Jack Smith, the special counsel who led two federal criminal cases against Donald Trump, has resigned from the Justice Department before the president-elect takes office later this month. A court filing on Saturday indicated Smith 'separated from the Department' on Friday. CBS News reported in November that Smith would resign after completing his work. His departure comes amid a dispute over the release of his report on Trump's classified documents case. Appointed in 2022, Smith oversaw cases involving alleged improper hoarding of classified documents and an alleged attempt to interfere in the 2020 election outcome, both resulting in criminal charges against Trump, who pleaded not guilty. The cases were closed last year following Trump's presidential election win, as Justice Department regulations prohibit prosecuting a sitting president. This week, US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who oversaw the classified documents case, temporarily barred Smith and Attorney General Merrick Garland from releasing the report. Trump's legal team received a draft copy last weekend, expected to be released on Friday. Judge Cannon's move followed requests from attorneys for Trump's former co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveir, both of whom pleaded not guilty. The release is on hold pending an emergency appeal to the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta. On Friday, Trump was sentenced to an 'unconditional discharge' in a hush-money case, sparing him jail and a fine, but he will still become the first US president with a felony conviction.

On November 11th, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement claiming that earlier in the day, IDF troops discovered several Hezbollah militants operating in a building used by the group in southern Lebanon. Subsequently, the IDF launched a drone strike on the building. According to Lebanese media citing the country's Ministry of Health, the attack resulted in two injuries.