Google won’t add fact-checking despite new European Union law: Report
Google is pushing back against the European Union by refusing to add fact-checking, despite the requirements of a new European Union law. Axios obtained a letter that Google Global Affairs President Ken Walker sent to Renate Nikolay, the deputy director general of content and technology at the EU.
In the letter, Walker said Google would “pull out of all fact-checking commitments in the code” before the rules become law and called it not “appropriate” or “effective” for their services.
Google has never included fact-checking as part of its content moderation practices, while the proposed code would obligate Google to display fact-check results alongside its search results and YouTube videos and incorporate fact-checking into its ranking algorithms.
According to Axios, Walker defended Google’s existing content moderation strategy in the letter, citing its effectiveness during the “unprecedented cycle of global elections.”
He also mentioned a new feature on YouTube that enables some users to add notes to videos, which is similar to X’s community notes feature and a new program Meta announced last week.
X, previously known as Twitter, also signed the code but reversed course after Elon Musk bought the platform.
It’s not clear whether all the code’s requirements will be formalized into official rules under Europe’s Digital Services Act, which regulates digital platforms and services.
But EU lawmakers have been discussing with the companies that signed about the commitments they’ll agree to follow.
US Treasury files hacked by China, Biden issues cybersecurity order
Chinese hackers breached the U.S. Treasury Department between September and November 2024, gaining access to more than 3,000 files, including documents from high-ranking Treasury officials, according to testimony provided to lawmakers on Wednesday, Jan. 15. The breach impacted unclassified files, including those belonging to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo.
Treasury and law enforcement officials told members of Congress that the hack exploited a vulnerability in a third-party product used by the Treasury’s vendor, BeyondTrust.
The company alerted the government to the breach in December 2024. Officials confirmed that 419 Treasury computers were compromised, according to the testimony.
This breach comes amid escalating concerns about cybersecurity, particularly regarding Chinese hacking activities. In response to these growing threats, President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Thursday. Jan. 16, aimed at tightening security standards for companies that do business with the U.S. government.
The new executive order requires software providers who contract with the government to demonstrate the security of their products. This includes stringent security measures for cloud providers and internet-connected devices.
Starting in 2027, the U.S. government will only purchase products that carry the new “U.S. Cyber Trust Mark.” The new label certifies a device’s security.
FBI Director Christopher Wray has warned that China’s cyber capabilities represent “the defining threat of our generation.” In a recent interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Wray described China’s cyber program as the largest in the world, surpassing every other nation combined. He emphasized the risks posed by China’s extensive data theft and its ability to infiltrate critical infrastructure.
As lawmakers and officials continue to address these cybersecurity challenges, the focus is on improving the security of government systems and the products used by contractors. The Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen cybersecurity protocols underscore the increasing urgency of defending against foreign cyber threats.
Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal reached: Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli government would vote on the ceasefire deal with Hamas that calls for a pause in fighting and the release of hostages. And the clock ticks toward TikTok possibly going dark this weekend. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Jan. 17, 2025.
Ceasefire deal reached with Hamas to release hostages: Netanyahu
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas will soon finally come to fruition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Friday morning, Jan. 17, that Israel reached an agreement with Hamas to return Israeli hostages, including Americans held in the Gaza Strip.
Talks of a deal hit a snag Thursday, Jan. 16, when Netanyahu said Hamas tried to reverse parts of the agreement.
Israel’s security cabinet is now set to meet Friday to discuss the ceasefire and hostage release deal. A wider cabinet vote to approve the deal is expected on Saturday, Jan. 18.
The deal would see a pause in fighting in Gaza and the phased release of Hamas hostages and Palestinian prisoners. If approved, it would take effect Sunday, Jan. 19.
This development comes as huge blasts from southern Israel could be seen over the Gaza skyline early Friday morning.
On Thursday, Israeli air strikes killed at least 72 people in the territory, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel’s military said it hit approximately 50 militant targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day, including weapons storage facilities and rocket launch sites.
This is not unprecedented in past conflicts. Both sides have stepped up military operations in the final hours before the ceasefire as a show of strength.
Los Angeles residents told not to return home as landslides pose new threat
A new threat looms in fire-ravaged Southern California: landslides. Authorities said leveled structures no longer hold the earth in place in some parts of the hillside and water from fire hoses and broken pipes has saturated the ground, creating a dangerous situation.
Los Angeles officials urged residents forced to evacuate by the deadly wildfires over the past week not to return home yet. They’re urging the evacuees to wait at least another week to return — whether their home was destroyed or spared — so emergency responders can remove toxic waste from incinerated neighborhoods and cut off potentially dangerous electricity and gas lines.
The Environmental Protection Agency needs to remove hazardous materials from damaged and destroyed homes before debris can be hauled away and utilities are fully restored.
The deadly fires claimed the lives of at least 27 people and more than 82,000 are still under evacuation orders.
The Palisades and Eaton fires continue to burn with no end in sight. They’ve scorched a combined area of about 60 square miles and destroyed thousands of homes.
As of CalFire’s latest update, the Palisade Fire remains 22% contained while the Eaton Fire is now 55% contained — up from 45% on Thursday.
Biden admin signals it won’t enforce TikTok ban
As a reported 170 million users wait with bated breath, a Supreme Court decision on whether to uphold a U.S. ban on the popular social media app TikTok is expected anytime now. That ban is set to take effect this Sunday.
However, the Biden administration is now signaling it will not immediately enforce the ban, instead leaving it up to the Trump administration which starts Monday, Jan. 20, with President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Trump already asked the Supreme Court to delay the ban. The Washington Post also reported this week he’s considering an executive order to suspend the ban’s enforcement.
Even if neither administration takes action to enforce the ban, TikTok can still decide to voluntarily shut down when the deadline hits Sunday. However, TikTok is not required to go dark — it’s the app stores and internet hosting services that could be on the hook if they keep providing TikTok to Americans.
The Justice Department has said that TikTok is a national security risk because the app could lead to the Chinese government accessing vast amounts of personal data from Americans.
Confirmation hearing for Gov. Noem, Trump’s DHS secretary pick, to begin Friday
In just three days, President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office and become the nation’s 47th president. As Inauguration Day approaches, confirmation hearings continue in Washington for Trump’s cabinet picks.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, will appear before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday, Jan. 17. The hearing was originally scheduled for earlier in the week but was pushed back.
If confirmed by the Senate, Noem would oversee a department with at least 250,000 employees and multiple agencies, including Customs Border and Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Secret Service, the Federal Emergency Management, the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard.
SpaceX Starship explodes shortly after 7th launch
The latest test flight from Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship rocket did not go according to plan Thursday night. SpaceX said the world’s largest rocket exploded shortly after taking off from Texas for its seventh launch.
FireAid lineup includes Billie Eilish, Green Day, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga
FireAid, the Live Nation concert benefiting the victims of the California wildfires, will take place on Jan. 30 and the lineup has now been released.
Billie Eilish; Earth, Wind & Fire; Green Day; Jelly Roll; Joni Mitchell; Lady Gaga and Stevie Sicks are among the entertainers committed to performing. Also, Dave Matthews and John Mayer will perform together for the first time.
Live Nation said additional artists will be announced in the coming days. Organizers said the event will raise money for “rebuilding communities devastated by wildfires and supporting efforts to prevent future fire disasters in Southern California.”
FireAid will be held in two venues: the Intuit Dome and the Forum in Inglewood, California. Tickets for the concert go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 22.
FireAid will also be livestreamed across various platforms including Apple TV, Max, Netflix, Paramount+, SiriusXM, Spotify and YouTube. It will also air in select AMC theaters.
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist arrested in Calif. on child pornography charges
A Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist has been arrested in California for allegedly possessing child pornography. Detectives say some of the images were created using artificial intelligence.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the home of 49-year-old Darrin Bell on Wednesday, Jan. 15, after authorities received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Initially, the tip concerned someone uploading 18 files containing child sex abuse material. Investigators said they ultimately found 134 child pornography videos linked to the same account, which they believe was controlled by Bell.
Before Jan. 1, possession of computer-generated child sex abuse material was not illegal in California. However, state lawmakers passed a bill criminalizing AI-generated child pornography in September, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation into law.
California State Sen. Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, co-author of the bill, said: “Some people might say, ‘Well, there’s no victim,’ because the image is not of an actual child. But I would argue that all the thousands of children whose images were used, scraped off the internet, scraped off of school websites, scraped off of public social media profiles… all of those children are abused when their images are used to create this terrible content.”
The sheriff’s office says this is the first arrest it has made in which a suspect has been charged with possessing computer-generated or AI child pornography.
It remains unclear, however, whether the California law will stand. In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down portions of the federal Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996. They ruled that graphic manipulation of images — even if they depict children appearing to engage in sex — is protected under the First Amendment.
It is also unclear if all of the images allegedly in Bell’s possession were computer-generated or real.
Bell is currently in custody, being held on $1 million bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, Jan. 17.
Could AI decode animal communication and transform conservation efforts?
Imagine a world where humans can understand animals. That world is closer than you might think, thanks to research in Montreal.
Researchers at McGill University are using artificial intelligence to decode animal vocalizations. According to the Associated Press, the project aims to unlock the secrets of animal communication by studying the chirps of zebra finches and the calls of beluga whales. The goal is to bring humans and the natural world closer together, potentially transforming conservation efforts.
Postdoctoral fellow Logan James, who leads the research in partnership with the Earth Species Project, believes they are making significant progress. Researchers isolate and record unique sounds by simulating specific calls during interactions with finches. These recordings are then fed into AI models, which are being trained to understand animal “language.”
AI in wildlife conservation around the world
Montreal isn’t the only place where AI and conservation intersect. In Uganda, white-backed vultures are outfitted with AI-enabled trackers to combat poaching. According to the Wall Street Journal, these trackers analyze vulture behavior in real-time, alerting rangers to possible poaching incidents—an innovative approach that’s helping protect endangered species.
Meanwhile, in Costa Rica, biologist Jenna Lawson has deployed 350 audio monitors across the Osa Peninsula to track endangered Geoffrey’s spider monkeys. As the Associated Press reported, the AI-analyzed data has provided critical insights into the wildlife refuge’s health.
With 28% of plant and animal species at risk of extinction, experts say AI could revolutionize conservation efforts.
Ethical concerns surround AI in animal research
Despite its promise, the use of AI in animal research has sparked ethical concerns. Critics worry about the potential exploitation of animals or disruptions to their natural habitats in the name of technological progress. Experts are calling for establishing ethical guidelines to ensure the responsible use of AI in conservation efforts.
James, of McGill University, is optimistic about AI’s potential to decode animal communication. He believes this research could foster a deeper appreciation for the planet, especially as humanity faces the growing challenges of climate change.
SpaceX Starship explodes over Caribbean Sea minutes after launch
SpaceX says its Starship, the world’s largest rocket, exploded Thursday, Jan. 16, shortly after taking off from Texas for its seventh launch. The company called the rocket’s break-up a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.”
The company’s owner, Elon Musk, said their early indications suggest the unmanned rocket had a fuel leak. It caused Starship to fail and break up above the Caribbean Sea.
Musk acknowledged videos of the rocket’s explosion, reposting one on his social media site X.
Starship was a pioneering rocket, with SpaceX succeeding in catching its booster after launch twice—first in October and again following Thursday’s launch.
NASA plans to use Starship as part of its Artemis mission, which will land humans on the Moon for the first time in over half a century. The agency paid SpaceX nearly $4 billion over two different contracts to use its technology during a future Moon landing.
The Federal Aviation Administration briefly rerouted and delayed flights in South Florida, not far from where the rocket disintegrated, to avoid potential collisions with Starship’s debris.
‘Virtue signaling’: Zuckerberg responds to Facebook user exodus reports
Some media reports suggest that Meta’s new policies are prompting boycotts and a potential mass exodus from Facebook and Instagram. Other reports claim Meta’s recent decisions have caused Google searches for “delete Facebook” to soar.
NBC News: “Meta’s pivot to the right sparks boycotts and calls for a user exodus.”
Forbes: “Meta Decision Sends Searches To Delete Facebook Soaring.”
Both reports, however, have limitations in their data. The report about users searching “how to delete Facebook” relies on Google Trends data, which does not provide actual search volume numbers. As a result, it’s unclear how many people searched for ways to delete their Facebook accounts.
NBC News’ report, citing users calling for a boycott, is based on a review of what NBC News described as “hundreds of posts and comments.” This sample size is small compared to Meta’s more than 3 billion active users.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg responded to the idea that people might leave over the company’s new policies in a message on Instagram’s Threads app.
“I’m counting on these changes actually making our platforms better,” Zuckerberg said. “I think Community Notes will be more effective than fact-checkers, reducing the number of people whose accounts get mistakenly banned is good, people want to be able to discuss civic topics and make arguments that are in the mainstream of political discourse, etc. Some people may leave our platforms for virtue signaling, but I think the vast majority and many new users will find that these changes make the products better.”
Zuckerberg’s recent policy changes at Meta have also raised questions from other countries about whether the changes, already implemented in the U.S., will soon be applied elsewhere.
The changes include ending fact-checking in favor of allowing users to add Community Notes to posts and loosening restrictions on certain topics, such as gender and sexual identity, which were previously not allowed for discussion on Facebook or Instagram.
Conservatives have praised these changes as a way to reduce regulations on free speech. However, some on the political left have criticized the changes, warning that they could lead to the spread of disinformation.
In Brazil, where the government is currently led by President Lula da Silva, officials have asked Meta if its newly announced policies will apply to the country. Meta responded that fact-checking will only be phased out in the U.S. for now, as the company tests its Community Notes system.
Meta also confirmed that looser restrictions on controversial topics, like debates on sexual identities, will apply in Brazil to allow for “broader conversation on topics that are part of current discussions in society.”
Brazil’s attorney general and other officials, upset over Meta’s decisions, have scheduled a hearing to discuss their next steps and whether the new policy violates the country’s human rights laws. Brazilian Communications Minister Sidonio Palmeira has said Meta’s new measures “violate fundamental rights and national sovereignty, promoting a digital Wild West.”
Zuckerberg has defended his decisions, arguing that the company’s fact-checkers were politically biased and led to excessive censorship. He also stated that Meta will continue to remove threats and content that incites violence.
The date of Brazil’s hearing has not yet been announced.
Renewables aided 2024 Texas summer power surge, winter challenges remain
Solar power and utility-scale batteries played a pivotal role in helping Texas maintain grid stability amid the extreme heat and record high energy consumption during the summer of 2024. However, a new study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas warns that these resources may not be able to handle future energy demands and potential winter challenges.
Last summer, solar energy provided nearly 25% of Texas’ mid-day power needs between June and August. Battery storage systems supplemented this by discharging energy during evening hours. This compensated for declining solar output when the sun went down.
In late August, both solar and battery storage set new records during a peak load event. This performance marked a significant improvement from 2023, as in the summer of 2024, Texas avoided issuing energy conservation appeals to consumers like it had been forced to do multiple times the prior year, demonstrating greater resilience during warmer months.
Winter poses unique challenges
Despite this progress, experts caution that winter poses unique challenges. Peak demand often occurs in the early morning, when solar generation is unavailable and current battery storage capacities may be insufficient for extended demands during extreme cold.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas also projects substantial growth in energy demand due to the expansion of data centers, industrial operations and electrification trends.
By 2030, peak summer load could rise to 148,000 megawatts, significantly higher than the 85,000-megawatt peak recorded in 2024.
Price reductions may deter investment
While solar and battery storage has lowered wholesale electricity prices — benefiting consumers — these price reductions may deter further investment in additional battery storage and dispatchable power generation.
Texas’ energy-only market design, which compensates generators solely for electricity produced, may require adjustments to incentivize new capacity and ensure future reliability.
Additionally, the state’s standalone grid has been criticized for past resilience issues. The federal government has allocated $360 million to create a new connection between Texas and the national grid, although experts estimate this project could take a decade to complete.
The company attributed the fundraising success to significant progress on all three de-extinction projects: the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger (thylacine) and the dodo bird. The goal is to bring the three animals back from extinction by 2028.
CEO and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, Ben Lamm, told Bloomberg about the breakthroughs.
“Well, our three flagship projects, the mammoth, the thylacine and the dodo, are all on track, and the thylacine is actually ahead of schedule,” Lamm said. “So, we’re doubling down right now on the existing species.”
He continued, “We’re doubling down on some of the newer technologies like our multiplex editing genome engineering tools, as well as our artificial womb work. And then, we’re going to also look at ways to accelerate some of those technologies in the conservation.”
Utilizing artificial intelligence
Researchers are using an artificial intelligence gene-editing tool to bring back extinct species, he explained.
“We’ve done all the ancient DNA assembly,” Lamm said. “We’ve done all the comparative genomic to the closest living relatives, which we also had to build those genomes because they didn’t exist in some server somewhere, and now we’re using those targets in our AI to actually go make those edits.”
Lamm further explained that the company wants to create artificial wombs for future de-extinction efforts.
“We now feel like we can also devote more attention to the artificial womb side,” Lamm told Bloomberg. “All of our four species will be born through surrogacy, so that means through another animal, through a surrogate animal, but hopefully, critically endangered other species can be born ex-utero using those artificial wombs. So, we have a 17-person team working on the artificial team right now.”
Potential for fertility treatments
While the company’s main mission is to improve biodiversity, investors are reportedly interested in Colossal Biosciences technology for potential fertility treatments.
Colossal Biosciences offers conservation technology at no cost. Lamm said some countries are already asking for help with protecting endangered species.
If the company successfully reintroduces extinct or endangered species, Lamm said he expects to collect revenue through so-called “biodiversity credits,” which are reportedly similar to carbon credits.
Lamm said collaboration with Big Tech, governments and biodiversity credits may help Colossal Biosciences rake in billions annually. It could also unleash the company’s economic potential in the “short-term, mid-term” and the “long-term.”
Biden warns of ‘oligarchy’ and ‘tech-industrial complex’ in farewell speech
President Joe Biden’s farewell speech to America on Wednesday included several warnings. And a ceasefire deal to end more than a year of fighting in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas hit a snag. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
Biden warns of ‘oligarchy,’ ‘tech-industrial complex’ in farewell speech
Speaking from the Oval Office one last time, President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address Wednesday night, Jan. 15. Biden spoke on reforms he would like to see in Washington and issued a stark warning detailing his concerns about what he sees as a concentration of power among the ultra-wealthy and the risks of technology.
In what is likely his final address to the nation after a political career spanning five decades, Biden opened his speech with the ceasefire deal in Gaza announced earlier in the day. He said he kept the incoming administration fully informed during the process.
He said some of his top accomplishments in office include job growth following the pandemic, infrastructure modernization and Medicare reform, telling Americans it will take time to feel the full impact of what has been achieved.
With the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump just days away, Biden said he would ensure a peaceful transfer of power, but he did have a warning.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said. “We see the consequences all across America, and we’ve seen it before. More than a century ago, the American people stood up to the robber barons back then and busted the trusts. They didn’t punish the wealthy. They just made the wealthy play by the rules everybody else had. Workers want rights to earn their fair share.”
Referencing former President Dwight Eisenhower’s concerns about a military-industrial complex six decades ago, Biden said he’s equally concerned about the dangers of a potential rise of a tech-industrial complex.
“Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the abuse of power,” he said. “The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit. We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families and our very democracy from the abuse of power.”
Biden remarked on the rise of artificial intelligence, calling it the most consequential technology of our time. He emphasized that the U.S., not China, must lead the race.
The president also spoke of his hopes for change in the nation’s capital, calling for an end of hidden funding called “dark money” from campaign contributions, a ban on stock trading from members of Congress and for the U.S. to enact an 18-year term limit on Supreme Court justices. He also called for the U.S. Constitution to be amended.
“We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president, no president is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office,” Biden asserted. “The president’s power is not limit[less] — it is not absolute. And it shouldn’t be.”
In closing, Biden called on Americans to stay engaged in democracy. Telling the story of a veteran who worked at the Statue of Liberty, known as the Keeper of the Flame, he said America will always be defined by one word: “possibilities.”
“My eternal thanks to you, the American people,” Biden said. “After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands [for] — a nation where the strength of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure. Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith. I love America. You love it, too.”
Republicans, Democrats react to Biden’s farewell address
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote on X, “Joe Biden discussing democracy, a free press, institutions and the abuse of power in his final farewell speech is rich.”
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., also weighed in, writing, “Joe Biden’s going out of office the same way he went in: petty, partisan and frankly not telling the truth.”
“President Biden’s ‘farewell address’ should have been a formal apology for the endless lawfare, inflation-fueling policies and reckless decisions made during his administration,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida added.
Democrats responded differently.
“Tonight, President Biden delivered his farewell address to a nation that is stronger because of his leadership,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “In doing so, he honored the vision of founders, the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform and the aspirations of our children.”
Former President Barack Obama also responded to his former vice president.
“Four years ago, in the middle of a pandemic, we needed a leader with the character to put politics aside and do what was right. That’s what Joe Biden did… I’m grateful to Joe for his leadership, his friendship and his lifetime of service to this country we love,” Obama said.
Netanyahu says cabinet won’t meet over ceasefire deal with Hamas yet
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said his cabinet will not meet to approve the deal for a ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas ends a “last-minute crisis.” The decision comes after Netanyahu’s office said Hamas retracted on some of the terms of the agreement but did not specify which.
Even as a deal seems close or even imminent, Israeli strikes continued in the Gaza Strip, with the territory’s health ministry reporting at least 48 people killed over the past day.
Under the three-phase ceasefire agreement, fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days. Thirty-three Israeli hostages, including two Americans, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed during the first phase. It is set to go into effect Sunday, Jan. 19.
The remainder of the hostages, including Israeli male soldiers, are to be released during the second phase. Hamas said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza and many Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes — something many people took to the streets to celebrate. Israel is also set to allow a flood of humanitarian aid into the region.
The Associated Press reported Thursday morning that mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. will meet in Cairo on Thursday for talks on implementing the deal.
On Truth Social, Trump said his administration will continue to work closely with Israel to make sure Gaza never again becomes what he called a “terrorist safe haven.”
Crews work to control Los Angeles area wildfires as winds die down
The National Weather Service lifted the red flag warning for the Los Angeles area Wednesday night as winds died down. Strong winds have made it harder for fire crews to battle the flames.
However, dangerous fire and weather conditions are expected to return next week.
Good news: We are expecting a much-needed break from the fire weather concerns to close this week. Bad News: Next week is a concern. While confident that we will NOT see a repeat of last week, dangerous fire weather conditions are expected. #cawx#PalisadesFire#EatonFirepic.twitter.com/zhXmHUWtgp
This comes as firefighters still work to contain the two biggest, deadliest and most destructive fires in Southern California. The Palisades and Eaton fires continue to rage in the Los Angeles area.
Plus, a new vegetation fire broke out in the San Bernardino area Wednesday afternoon.
The Eaton and Palisades fires have not grown much over the past few days, but they are both still largely uncontained. Fire officials reported some progress in the desperate fight to extinguish the flames.
Meanwhile, the Little Mountain fire in San Bernardino spans over 30 acres at 0% containment. Police arrested a man in connection with that fire on two felony charges, including one of reckless burning.
Senate confirmation hearings continue as Inauguration Day nears
Senate confirmation hearings continue Thursday, Jan. 16, as President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for interior secretary, EPA administrator, housing and urban development secretary and treasury secretary answer questions from lawmakers.
“To my knowledge, Donald Trump has never acknowledged the legal results of the 2020 election,” Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said to Bondi. “Are you prepared to say today, under oath without reservation, that Donald Trump lost the presidential contest to Joe Biden in 2020?”
Bondi replied, “Ranking Member Durbin, President Biden is the president of the United States. He was duly sworn in, and he is the President of the United States. There was a peaceful transition of power. President Trump left office and was overwhelmingly elected in 2024.”
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, also had his hearing Wednesday. Straight Arrow News political correspondent Ray Bogan has a complete breakdown of what happened here.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket lifts off on first space flight
Thursday morning saw a big win for billionaire Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, as its New Glenn rocket blasted off into orbit.
The company’s first rocket powerful enough to launch satellites into space took off just after 2 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. All seven of its engines fired successfully.
Blue Origin marked the mission a success after demonstration technology on board, called the Blue Ring Pathfinder, was safely carried to orbit.
However, the company did not reach its bonus goal of guiding part of the New Glenn rocket back to a safe landing on a platform in the middle of the ocean after takeoff.
It took rival SpaceX four tries to get a similar maneuver right.
Still, Blue Origin stressed its most important goal was for the test satellite to reach orbit. NASA intends to use the New Glenn rocket to launch two orbiters to Mars in the future.