Firefighters made progress in containing multiple wildfires in Los Angeles on Sunday, as desert winds intensified. The blazes have resulted in at least 16 fatalities, and the number of missing persons is reportedly increasing, according to Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County.
Entire neighborhoods have been devastated, and strong winds that have fueled the fires are expected to return. Although crews have managed to halt the spread of the Palisades fire, the fire risk remains elevated in the area, with over 100,000 residents still under evacuation orders.
The Eaton fire, which has claimed at least 11 lives, is now considered one of the deadliest wildfires in California's history. Search teams equipped with cadaver dogs are combing through neighborhoods that have been reduced to ashes.
Political leaders in California are facing scrutiny regarding their preparedness for such disasters. President-elect Donald Trump criticized state officials as "incompetent" on social media, reigniting tensions with Governor Gavin Newsom, who accused Trump of politicizing the crisis.
In a related effort, over 900 incarcerated individuals are assisting in combating the wildfires. California has historically relied on inmate firefighters, but their involvement has sparked renewed debate over the ethics of this practice.
In Sudan, the military has regained control of the city of Wad Madani from the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.), a paramilitary group that had held the city for more than a year. Experts suggest that if the military maintains control, this would represent a pivotal victory in the ongoing civil war.
Residents in Khartoum celebrated the military's success, viewing it as a potential turning point in a conflict marked by violence and humanitarian crises, including famine and ethnic cleansing. Last week, the U.S. government determined that the R.S.F. had committed genocide in Sudan.
In Brazil, the legalization of digital gambling in 2018 has transformed the betting landscape, overshadowing traditional games like the animal lottery, which has been associated with organized crime. Digital platforms now account for over 22 billion euros in annual wagers, significantly outpacing the traditional lottery.
In Mozambique, Islamic State militants have terrorized a region the size of Austria for over seven years, with nearly 6,000 deaths reported and millions displaced. Although the government claims the situation has stabilized, local residents express ongoing fears and trauma from the conflict.
Mauro Morandi, known as Italy's Robinson Crusoe for living alone on a Mediterranean island for 32 years, has passed away at the age of 85.
In France, a priest's innovative fundraising effort to restore a cathedral's organ involved converting a bell tower into a ham-curing workshop. However, an inspector's intervention has sparked a dispute over the preservation of the nation's religious heritage.
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