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In the news today: California’s wildfire death toll rises to 24; Trump administration officials have started questioning civil servants on the White House National Security Council about who they voted for, a source says; and how Russia uses a shadow fleet of tankers to evade sanctions. Also, India kicks off a festival touted as the world’s largest religious gathering.

Homes and vehicles destroyed at the Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates on Sunday, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

U.S. NEWS

Wildfire death toll surges to 24 as LA braces for more fierce winds

After a weekend spent blocking the explosive growth of fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the Los Angeles area, firefighters got a slight break with calmer weather, but cast a wary eye on a forecast for yet more wind. Read more.

What to know:

• Twelve people were missing within the Eaton Fire zone and four were missing from the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. The death toll rose to 24 over the weekend. Eight deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire and 16 to the Eaton Fire, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.
  
  

• The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50 mph and mountain gusts reaching 70 mph. The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, warned fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns at a community meeting Sunday night.
  
  

• About 150,000 people in Los Angeles County remained under evacuation orders, with more than 700 residents taking refuge in nine shelters. The Palisades Fire was 11% contained, and containment on the Eaton Fire reached 27%. Those two blazes alone accounted for 59 square miles of the 62 square miles consumed by all four fires.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• The LA county wildfires could be the costliest in US history, early estimates say
  
  
• Californians scrambled to evacuate dogs, cats, horses, even pigs as LA flames closed in
  
  
• WATCH: Governor Newsom welcomes firefighters from Mexico who will help fight wildfires

POLITICS

Incoming Trump team questioning civil servants at National Security Council about their loyalty

Incoming senior Trump administration officials have begun questioning career civil servants who work on the White House National Security Council about who they voted for in the 2024 election, their political contributions, and whether they have made social media posts that could be considered incriminating by President-elect Donald Trump’s team, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. Read more.

What to know

• Trump’s pick for national security adviser, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, in recent days publicly signaled his intention to get rid of all nonpolitical appointees and career intelligence officials serving on the NSC by Inauguration Day to ensure the council is staffed with those who support Trump’s agenda. Vetting of the civil servants began in the last week, the official said on condition of anonymity. 
  
  

• At least some of these nonpolitical employees have begun packing up their belongings since being asked about their loyalty to Trump — after they had earlier been given indications that they would be asked to stay on at the NSC in the new administration, the official said.
  
  

• A wholesale removal of foreign policy and national security experts from the NSC on Day 1 of the new administration could deprive Trump's team of considerable expertise and institutional knowledge at a time when the U.S. is grappling with difficult policy challenges in Ukraine, the Mideast and beyond. Such questioning could also make new policy experts brought into the NSC less likely to speak up about policy differences and concerns.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• Trump’s Cabinet picks are set for Senate hearings. Here’s the schedule
  
  
• Hegseth’s views on women in combat, infidelity and more — in his own words
  
  
• Trump tax cuts, if made permanent, stand to benefit highest income earners, Treasury analysis shows
  
  
• The Trump company isn't banning private foreign deals, a break with its first term policy
  
  
• Trump can still vote after sentencing, but can’t own a gun and will have to turn over DNA sample
  
  
• Panama Canal administrator pushes back against Trump’s assertions of Chinese meddling
  
  
• Vance says Jan. 6 participants who committed violence ‘obviously’ shouldn’t be pardoned
  
  
• Navy veteran cleared of conspiracy charges in Jan. 6 case is sentenced to time served
  
  
• Special counsel Jack Smith has resigned after submitting his Trump report
  
  
• Supreme Court to weigh reinstating Obamacare care requirements struck down by lower court
  
  
• Biden extends time in US for 800,000 Venezuelans, Salvadorans as Trump readies immigration crackdown
  
  
• A tough-on-crime approach is back in US state capitols
  
  
• States are preparing to help or thwart Trump’s second-term plans
  
  
• North Carolina’s new Democratic governor pledges to rebuild after Helene, work with GOP
  
  
• West Virginia’s conservative shift could sharpen under its incoming governor
  
  
• Arizona’s Democratic governor faces uphill battle as Republicans keep tight grip on legislature

WORLD NEWS

Shadow fleet of tankers keeps Russia’s oil money flowing despite Western sanctions

The Group of Seven democracies have sought to crimp Russia’s oil export earnings that help fund the war against Ukraine. But Western governments and sanctions experts say Moscow has resorted to using a shadow fleet of hundreds of aging tankers of uncertain ownership that are dodging sanctions and keeping the oil revenue coming. Read more.

Why this matters:

• The shadow fleet is made up of aging tankers bought used, often by nontransparent entities with addresses in non-sanctioning countries such as the United Arab Emirates or the Marshall Islands, and flagged in places like Gabon or the Cook Islands. Some of the vessels are owned by the Russian state Sovcomflot shipping company. Their role is to help Russia’s oil exporters elude the $60 per barrel price cap imposed by Ukraine’s allies.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• Russia forms an emergency task force as Kerch Strait oil spill continues to spread
  
  
• Sweden to contribute up to 3 warships to reinforced NATO presence in the Baltic
  
  
• Seoul’s spy agency says North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine haven’t shown desire to defect

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IN OTHER NEWS

READ

NATO critic: Croatian President Milanović wins another term

'Democracy is not optional': Tens of thousands protest in Romania’s capital against annulled presidential race

Ceasefire talks: Progress made in talks over Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release, officials say

UK-China relationship: China and the UK restart economic and financial talks after a 6-year hiatus

Blue Origin: Jeff Bezos’ space company calls off debut launch of rocket in final minutes

Banned fans: Yankees fans who interfered with Mookie Betts during World Series banned from all MLB games

Today in History: In 1941, a new law granted Puerto Ricans U.S. birthright citizenship

WATCH

Ice Castles: Dazzling ice attractions draw tourists to New Hampshire and other states

Tatu city: A startup city in Kenya tries to tackle Africa's problem of urbanizing while poor

Maha Kumbh festival: India kicks off a Hindu festival touted as the world’s largest religious gathering

No pants? No problem: London tube riders bare their legs for a day

A CHANGE OF PACE

Buttermilk monkey bread. (Milk Street via AP) 

Buttermilk and whole-wheat flour update pull-apart monkey bread

Monkey bread gets an upgrade that makes the pull-apart loaf even better thanks to buttermilk, a little whole-wheat flour and a lighter hand with the sugar. The result is more tender and nuanced than the versions many of us grew up with.

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