Good Monday afternoon. Dangerous winds are returning to the fire zone in Southern California, there are growing hopes for a ceasefire deal in Gaza this week, and a judge has cleared the release of the special counsel report on Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case. Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown. |
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Dangerous winds threaten more wildfire destruction in California as deaths rise to 24 |
Southern California is bracing for the return of powerful winds as firefighters race to contain the historic wildfires that have devastated the Los Angeles area and left at least 24 people dead. A “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red flag warning has been issued for 13 million people across the region though Wednesday, with gusts up to 70 mph that could cause “explosive fire growth,” the National Weather Service said. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said today 92,000 people remain under evacuation orders, and 89,000 are under evacuation warnings, meaning they may need to leave at a moment’s notice. There are at least 23 actively missing persons, and authorities are conducting a grid search for a third day in Altadena, the community devastated by the Eaton Fire, Luna said. The Eaton Fire has now grown to 14,117 acres with 33% containment. The Palisades Fire, the largest active inferno, is now 23,713 acres and 14% contained. For a map of the fires click here. |
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Gaza ceasefire deal on “on the brink” of being finalized, Biden says |
A ceasefire deal to end the fighting in Gaza and release the hostages held by Hamas is “on the brink” of being finalized, President Joe Biden said today. “In the war between Israel and Hamas, we're on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruition,” Biden said in his final foreign policy speech at the State Department. Biden’s comments came after his security adviser Jake Sullivan told Bloomberg TV there was a “distinct possibility” that a deal could be struck this week before Biden leaves office. |
Judge allows release of special counsel report on Trump 2020 election interference case |
With inauguration day just a week away, a federal judge has cleared the way for the Justice Department to release Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on President-elect Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon means the Justice Department could release that portion of Smith’s report as soon midnight, though Trump could file another legal challenge in an attempt to block it. Cannon also set a hearing for Friday to discuss whether the Justice Department can release the second volume of Smith’s report on Trump’s handling of classified documents, a case that Cannon herself dismissed in July. The ruling comes as confirmation hearings are set to kick off this week for Trump’s Cabinet picks, including Pete Hegseth, the Fox News host Trump has selected for defense secretary. |
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Ukraine “ready” to give captured soldiers back to North Korea, Zelenskyy says |
Ukraine is “ready” to exchange the North Korean soldiers it has captured for Ukrainians held in Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. “It’s only a matter of time before our troops manage to capture others,” Zelenskyy posted on social media, along with a video said to show two North Korean soldiers who were caught after being wounded in Russia’s western Kursk region. About 300 North Korean troops have been killed and 2,700 others injured while fighting for Russia against Ukrainians forces, South Korean lawmakers said today. The Kremlin declined to comment on Zelenskyy’s prisoner swap offer. |
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What else we're watching: |
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A 6.6-magnitude earthquake rattled the island of Kyushu in southwestern Japan today, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. |
New cases of dementia could double in the United States by 2060 due to the growing population of older adults, a new study finds. |
A rare celestial event will happen in the sky tonight when the first full moon of 2025, known as the Wolf Moon, will pass in front of Mars. |
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Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app. |
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