January 16, 2025

Wind conditions will ease on Thursday, but authorities warn another round of Santa Ana winds could develop early next week. Firefighters battling the Los Angeles wildfires made significant progress on Wednesday after dangerous wind-driven fire conditions eased, but officials warned that the threat is far from over. A Cal Fire spokesperson described the continuing fight as fraught with “extreme hazards and the potential for fire growth.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged caution, stating, “We are not out of the woods yet.” What’s the latest on the ground? Death toll and missing people Active fires: Santa Ana winds Damage and evacuations: What’s expected on Thursday? Conditions are expected to begin improving, and wind speeds are expected to continue decreasing. “The really good news is that today will be the last really windy day,” wrote the National Weather Service. “Look for a marked decrease in the winds this afternoon.” Still, gusty winds and relative humidities below 15 percent will allow any new fires that ignite to spread quickly. For Thursday, offshore winds will diminish, resulting in cooler temperatures. By Friday, the winds will move onshore, cooling Southern California down even more. According to an Associated Press report, firefighters and police continue to face new challenges. Since the fires began last week, authorities have arrested about six people accused of igniting small fires, all of which were quickly extinguished. One suspect confessed to starting a fire in a tree because he “liked the smell of burning leaves,” according to Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. Another admitted that “she enjoyed causing chaos and destruction,” the chief reported on Wednesday. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/16/los-angeles-wildfires-day-10-whats-the-latest-and-how-can-you-help

First phase of the third convoy heading to Kurram includes 35 cargo vehicles In a big blow to the peace deal that made it possible to send aid to the restive area, a rocket was fired at the third aid convoy travelling through Bagan towards Kurram on Thursday, said police. The police said the rocket strike damaged one vehicle in the convoy. Luckily, no casualties from the incident have been reported thus far, they added. In the aftermath, vehicles from the convoy have begun to return to Tal, according to Geo News. Meanwhile, cargo trucks that had been at the Chapri checkpoint are also heading back. According to the district administration, the first phase of the third convoy heading to Kurram included 35 cargo vehicles, which were carrying medicines, vegetables, fruits, and other food items. The administration had said that additional vehicles were expected to depart for Kurram in the second phase later today. To ensure the convoy’s safety, the authorities had deployed police, Frontier Corps (FC), and other security forces. Harships for patients Meanwhile, the helicopter service for patient transfers from Kurram has been suspended for the past 10 days, causing severe difficulties for patients in the region. Dr Mir Hussain Jan, Medical Superintendent (MS) of the District Headquarters Hospital, spoke to Geo News and confirmed that the helicopter service, crucial for transporting medicines and patients, has been out of operation for the last 10 days. He mentioned that the district administration has already sent a letter requesting the resumption of the service. Dr Jan further revealed that a request had been made to the district administration for the transfer of 74 patients, as it seems unlikely that patients will be able to be transferred by road under the current circumstances. However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Religious Affairs Muhammad Adnan Qadri claimed that the helicopter service for Kurram district continues to operate. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1272846-rocket-attack-on-aid-convoy-mars-kurram-peace-once-again

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/16/live-celebrations-in-gaza-as-israel-hamas-reach-ceasefire-deal