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LA keeps fighting, Kyiv captures Koreans and Biden honors pope

 
Today's NATURAL DISASTER story

Death toll rises in LA fires as wind lull allows progress

What happened
Firefighters in Los Angeles County took advantage of a temporary lull in the fierce, dry Santa Ana winds over the weekend to encircle three of the wildfires ravaging the area and partially contain the Palisades and Eaton fires, the largest and most destructive conflagrations. At least 24 people have died as a result of the fires, more than 12,300 structures have been damaged or destroyed and 100,000 people were under mandatory evacuation orders this morning. 

Who said what
The fires may end up the worst natural disaster in U.S. history "in terms of just the costs associated with it, in terms of the scale and scope," Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said on NBC News yesterday. And there will probably be "a lot more" deaths when all the affected areas have been searched.

The four largest fires have consumed more than 40,000 acres, or 63 square miles, an area larger than San Francisco, Boston, Miami or Pittsburgh. More than 14,000 personnel are involved in the effort to tame the fires, including hundreds of inmates and firefighters from nine other states, Canada and Mexico.

What next?
The Los Angeles Unified School District said schools outside mandatory evacuation zones would reopen today, after being closed Thursday and Friday. But the National Weather Service issued a rare "particularly dangerous situation" red flag warning for parts of L.A. and Ventura counties from early Tuesday through Wednesday, saying the Santa Anas will return late Monday and continue until Thursday, raising the risks of flying embers igniting parched foliage as the strong winds prevent aircraft from dropping water and retardant on the flames.

The winds should drop Thursday, and "things are looking much cooler" for the weekend, said the weather service's Rich Thompson. "Higher humidity, just your typical sea breeze winds."

 
 
Today's INTERNATIONAL story

Ukraine captures first North Korean soldiers

What happened
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted video yesterday of two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting in Russia's Kursk region. They are "the first captured soldiers from North Korea," but "there will undoubtedly be more," Zelenskyy said on X. He offered to exchange the North Koreans for Ukrainian troops held in Russia.

Who said what
The North Korean soldiers were captured Thursday, wearing Russian uniforms and carrying fake identification, Zelenskyy said. The 11,000 North Koreans in Russia had been "kept from the front lines for months, digging trenches and offering logistical support," The Wall Street Journal said. But now about 30% "have been deployed into combat — and are being killed at a high rate."

South Korea's National Intelligence Service, which helped question the captured soldiers in Kyiv, said this morning that more than 300 North Koreans have been killed and at least 2,700 injured while fighting Ukrainian forces. South Korean and Ukrainian officials said the North Korean soldiers typically choose suicide over capture.

What next?
Ukrainian soldiers described the North Koreans as "disciplined and highly methodical" but using woefully "outdated" military tactics, The Associated Press said. They have "adapted quickly," however, and the North Korean military's gained battlefield experience "could have far-reaching consequences," far outside Ukraine.

 
 
Today's RELIGION Story

Biden awards Pope Francis highest US civilian honor

What happened
President Joe Biden on Saturday awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the highest U.S. civilian honor. Biden handed out Medals of Freedom to 19 people earlier this month, including Hillary Clinton, Michael J. Fox, Denzel Washington, designer Ralph Lauren, George Soros, philanthropic chef José Andrés and U2's Bono, but the pope is the only person upon whom Biden has bestowed the honor "with distinction."

Who said what
Francis is "the People's Pope — a light of faith, hope and love that shines brightly across the world," the White House said. "His mission of serving the poor has never ceased. A loving pastor, he joyfully answers children's questions about God. A challenging teacher, he commands us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths. The first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, Pope Francis is unlike any who came before."

Biden had planned to present the pope with the medal on a visit to Rome, but he canceled the trip to oversee the federal response to the Los Angeles wildfires. Instead, he bestowed the honor during a phone call. Biden was the sole recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction under President Barack Obama. 

What next?
Biden, the second Catholic president, leaves office Jan. 20. The Italy trip was to have been his final presidential trip abroad.

 
 

It's not all bad

England's Nottingham College offers coaching to help young adults with telephobia get over their fear of making or accepting phone calls. Many students "don't have the confidence" to speak on the telephone and would rather text, career adviser Liz Baxter told the BBC, so it is difficult to tackle job interviews conducted by phone. Before role-playing interviews, Baxter has students take on smaller tasks like calling restaurants for their hours. Local businesses said the program has helped with hiring.

 
 
Under the radar

Major airlines are looking for ways to use clean energy fuels — commonly called sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) — on a widespread basis in the coming decade. The transition away from traditional jet fuel isn't without challenges.

There are several sources of sustainable aviation fuel, but most are made "from non-petroleum-based renewable feedstocks" such as the "food and yard waste portion of municipal solid waste, woody biomass, fats/greases/oils and other feedstocks," said the U.S. Energy Department. 

Creating SAF "requires making hydrocarbons that mirror those used in traditional jet fuel," and the "processes required — electrolysis, gasification and the series of chemical reactions known as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis — are energy intensive," said Heatmap News. This means that finding a way to produce SAF while also "scaling to meet demand is a challenging and expensive task."

Several airlines and governments are working to increase SAF production and meet usage goals. Air Canada has "signed an agreement with Finland-based sustainable fuel producer Neste to purchase 20.5 million gallons" of SAF, said The Cool Down. Delta Air Lines is also a large player at an sustainable aviation fuel hub in Minnesota.

The Energy Department is also working to improve SAF usage through its own set of goals. This includes benchmarks to hit by certain years, including a "50% reduction in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fuel" and the production of "3 billion gallons per year of domestic SAF by 2030," said the agency.

 
 
On this day

January 13, 1888

The National Geographic Society was founded in Washington, D.C., to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge." Today, it is one of the largest nonprofits in the world, and has a variety of well-known brands, including its namesake magazine, National Geographic TV and a children's division. Its various brands reach an estimated 280 million people per month.

 
 
TODAY'S newspaperS

Los Angeles is still battling the wildfires that have turned entire neighborhoods to ash, but it is already "bracing for long fight, recovery," the Los Angeles Times says on Monday's front page. "LA rebuild to reflect a changing world," with "more dangerous times ahead," the Arizona Republic says. "Forecast for wind keeps fire threat very high," as "LA officials race to fight rumors, conspiracy theories" as well, The Wall Street Journal says. "As fires rage," California leaders "face attacks" from Donald Trump, Elon Musk and their allies, The Washington Post says. "Wildfires ravage all parts of LA society," USA Today says, with "station in life meaningless in face of blazing fury."

► See the newspaper front pages

 
 
Tall tale

Tats for tots

An Arizona tattoo artist pushed back against criticism he received for tattooing an American flag on a 9-year-old's arm by revealing she initially "requested an image of Donald Trump on her neck," Phoenix's 3TV & CBS News 5 said. The tattooist, who goes by the name Sosa, said the girl's family came to Arizona because it is legal to tattoo a minor in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. While he does not promote kids getting inked up, Sosa said, he was respecting the family's Turkish culture.

 
 

Morning Report was written and edited by Theara Coleman, Nadia Croes, Catherine Garcia, Scott Hocker, Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, Justin Klawans, Devika Rao, Rafi Schwartz and Peter Weber, with illustrations by Stephen Kelly and Julia Wytrazek.

Image credits, from top: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's Social Media / Handout / Anadolu via Getty Images; Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images; Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images