Firefighters rush to extinguish Los Angeles wildfires
Officials had hoped that a drop in wind speeds yesterday would give firefighters a chance to bring the fast-moving fires that raged unchecked this week. At least five people have died, but the number is expected to rise. Approximately 180,000 people are under evacuation orders. Entire neighborhoods were destroyed along with their landmarks, rendering the landscape unrecognizable. Follow our live coverage and fire maps.
The dangerous Santa Ana wind gusts that spread the blaze were expected to intensify overnight and into the weekend, potentially continuing into next week. Helicopters and planes dumped water from an eerie orange sky as firefighters battled the blaze, replenishing hydrants after they ran dry days earlier.
Fires began overnight in the Hollywood Hills, where celebrities and entertainment industry executives live. Celebrities including Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal lost their homes.
Law enforcement officials said 20 people were arrested and charged with looting during the unrest, and the number is expected to rise.
context: It can be hard to imagine Los Angeles being roughly the size of two small states in the United States. A disaster or riot may occur at one end of a city, while a disaster or riot at the other end may be far from the scene. But these wildfires hit entire metropolises.
rescue: As one resident scrambled to evacuate, he sent out a plea to his Instagram followers. “Can someone please help me evacuate her 300 pound pig?”
Lebanon elects president after two years of stalemate
The Lebanese parliament has elected General Joseph Aoun, commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, as the next president.
Aoun won an overwhelming majority in the second vote, reflecting a shifting balance of power at a time of uncertainty for Lebanon. The country has endured a series of disasters in recent years, including an economic collapse and a war between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah.
context: The country’s international backers, including the United States, have hinted that postwar financial support is contingent on a successful presidential election.
background: Aoun is believed to be backed by the United States and is widely respected in Lebanon. Since 2017, he has led the military, the only state institution with cross-sectarian support.
How the U.S. used support for Ukraine
The Ukraine Defense Liaison Group will hold its final meeting under the Biden administration this week. The group was first formed to provide aid and ammunition to Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion. It also gave the United States a valuable opportunity to weaken its archenemy.
The Biden administration first turned to U.S. allies for help, but also leveraged its relationships with non-NATO countries. U.S. officials said the way the group was formed could serve as a blueprint for future administrations to use in the event of a major conflict, such as a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan.
What’s next: The group’s fate is uncertain. President-elect Donald Trump is highly skeptical of supporting Ukraine and has openly shown favoritism to President Vladimir Putin. If the U.S. withdraws, another country could take over, the Pentagon said.
Other top news
Human rights activists say Communist Party leaders across western China are separating hundreds of thousands of Tibetan children from their families and placing them in boarding schools. These schools teach in Mandarin, promote party values of loyalty and patriotism, and replace the cultural and Buddhist beliefs instilled in Tibetan families.
Our colleagues analyzed hundreds of videos posted on social media and publicity departments to learn how these schools operate.
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Restoring something (very) old with a modern touch
The second floor of a 12th-century palace in Genoa was in complete disrepair, with holes in the walls, rickety windows and leaks. It could no longer even be classified as a residence.
But the two architects still had a palpable sense of grandeur and paid €250,000 for the wreck. Two years and a further 350,000 euros later, the result of their efforts was a luxurious 1,000 square foot one-bedroom apartment, which they now live in. They even discovered some secrets within the walls. See more of the renovation.
