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Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/17/live-no-pause-in-israeli-attacks-on-gaza-ahead-of-ceasefire-on-sunday

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

Trump again pushes debunked water claim:US President-elect Trump has again used false claims to attack California Governor Newsom. In a post on Truth Social Trump called on the state official to “release the water”.“What is wrong with you?” Trump added in his characteristic all caps. Earlier in the day, Trump called on Newsom to “release the water from up north”.Politifact has debunked several claims made by Trump throughout the fire, including the charge that Newsom’s state water management could have opened more northern water reserves to the south of the state.Experts have repeatedly said there is enough water in southern California for fighting wildfires, with shortages caused by city infrastructure not designed to respond to such a large blaze. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/13/los-angeles-wildfires-live-news-death-toll-in-california-rises-to-24

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/14/live-dozens-killed-as-israel-pounds-gaza-while-ceasefire-talks-continue

Here is the situation on Monday, January 13: Fighting Politics and Diplomacy Environment Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/13/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1054

Security forces arrested two terrorists and injured two others during operations, says ISPR Nine terrorists have been killed and two others arrested by security forces in two separate engagements in Dosalli and Esham areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, Inter-Services Public Relations said on Sunday. The intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted by the security forces on January 11 on the reported presence of terrorists in the areas. The first IBO was conducted in the tribal district’s general area Dosalli in which troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location and resultantly, six terrorists were killed and two others were apprehended. Subsequently, three terrorists were neutralised by security forces after an intense fire exchange in the Esham area. Two terrorists were also wounded in the gunbattle, the military’s media wing said. It added that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from killed terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as target killing of innocent civilians. “Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other kharji [terrorists] found in the area, as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country,” it concluded. The nation has been reeling under rising violent attacks since the Taliban rulers returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in the bordering provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The year 2024 turned out to be the deadliest for Pakistan’s civil and military security forces in a decade with at least 685 fatalities and 444 terror attacks, according to “CRSS Annual Security Report 2024” issued by the Centre for Security and Strategic Studies. Equally alarming were the cumulative losses of civilians and security personnel, ie, 1,612 fatalities, accounting for over 63% of the total recorded this year, marking 73% more losses compared to 934 outlaws eliminated, The News reported citing CRSS report. The overall fatalities recorded the previous year were a record 9-year high and over 66% more than in 2023. On average, nearly seven people lost their lives daily, with November emerging as the deadliest month across all metrics, compared to all other months of the year. The violence took the heaviest toll on KP which topped in human losses with 1,616 fatalities, followed by Balochistan with 782 fatalities. In 2024, the country suffered 2,546 violence-linked fatalities and 2,267 injuries among civilians, security personnel and outlaws. This tally of casualties stemmed from 1,166 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations, marking a grim year for the country’s security landscape. PM, President hail troops Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed officers and soldiers of the security forces for a successful operation carried out against terrorists in North Waziristan. In a laudatory message, the premier paid glowing tribute to the security forces, saying the war would continue till the complete annihilation of the demon of terrorism from the country. He said the armed forces stand as an iron wall in defence of the country against terrorists, adding that the people of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with the security forces. PM Shehbaz said the officers and jawans were serving the country steadfastly day and night. The whole nation pays rich tribute to its valiant armed forces, he concluded. President Asif Ali Zardari also praised the security forces for the successful operations against terrorists and expressed commitment to eliminate terrorism from the country. He added that the entire nation stands united against terrorism and actions would be continued to uproot the menace. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1271441-nine-terrorists-killed-in-two-separate-ibos-in-north-wazristan-ispr

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/13/live-israel-bombs-another-gaza-city-school-as-truce-talks-continue