The battle against wildfires in Los Angeles rages on, with evacuation orders remaining in place for vast areas threatened by flames. Officials are defending their response as fire crews work tirelessly to contain the blazes and cadaver dogs search for potential victims in the aftermath.

The Palisades Fire, the largest and most destructive of the current wildfires, has grown to over 22,000 acres, an increase of 1,000 acres overnight. Containment has risen slightly to 11%, but evacuation orders remain active for communities in Brentwood and Encino, where residents are reeling from the impact.

Josh Sautter, head of the Encino Neighborhood Council, described the panic caused by the evacuations: “People were completely freaked out as the orders swept through the community.”

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Los Angeles is now dealing with four active fires, a reduction from six earlier in the week. The contained Archer, Lidia, Sunset, Woodley, and Olivas fires no longer pose a threat.

Here are the latest updates on the remaining wildfires:

• Palisades Fire:
  The first fire to ignite last Tuesday, it has scorched more than 22,000 acres, including areas of the Pacific Palisades. Officials warn it could become one of the most destructive fires in California’s history. Containment is at 11%.
• Eaton Fire:
  Burning in the northern parts of the city, including Altadena and areas near Pasadena, this fire covers nearly 14,000 acres and is now 15% contained, a significant improvement from 3% yesterday. Evacuations have expanded to include Hastings Ranch, Sierra Madre, and Arcadia.
• Hurst Fire:
  North of San Fernando, this fire has burned approximately 800 acres since it began Tuesday night. Containment has reached 76%.
• Kenneth Fire:
  Situated on the Los Angeles-Ventura County border, this fire has scorched over 1,050 acres. Authorities report it is now 80% contained, with no structural damage reported.

In addition to the expanded evacuation zones, search-and-rescue teams are working in areas previously devastated by flames to locate any victims. The use of cadaver dogs underscores the severity of the situation.

Efforts to control the fires are ongoing, with containment lines being reinforced to prevent further spread. Officials urge residents to remain vigilant and adhere to evacuation orders for their safety.

Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has resigned following a disagreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the country’s economic strategy. The announcement came just hours before she was scheduled to deliver the government’s annual fiscal update on Monday.

In her resignation letter, Freeland revealed a growing rift with Trudeau, stating they were “at odds about the best path forward for Canada.” The resignation follows Trudeau’s decision last week to remove Freeland as his government’s top economic advisor.

At the center of their dispute was a proposed policy to provide a C$250 ($175; £139) cheque to eligible Canadians, which Freeland opposed, calling it a “costly political gimmick” that Canada could not afford. She emphasized in her letter that Canada must “keep its fiscal powder dry” in light of economic challenges, including the looming threat of tariffs from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump has vowed to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, a move economists warn could severely impact Canada’s economy. Freeland described this as “a grave challenge” and urged the government to prepare for its potential fallout.

Freeland, a long-time ally of Trudeau within the Liberal Party, has been Canada’s finance minister since 2020, steering the nation through the economic turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Her resignation marks the second time a finance minister has departed during Trudeau’s tenure due to policy disagreements; her predecessor, Bill Morneau, stepped down in 2020 amid a clash over spending policies and ethics concerns.

Freeland’s departure signals a major shift in Trudeau’s cabinet as the government faces mounting economic pressures.

On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, citing the need to eliminate “anti-state” forces and protect the nation’s constitutional order. This unprecedented move, reminiscent of South Korea’s authoritarian past, was met with swift opposition. The National Assembly convened promptly, with 190 out of 300 members present, and voted unanimously to lift the martial law declaration.

Following the parliamentary vote, President Yoon announced his intention to honor the legislature’s decision and lift martial law. He indicated that he attempted to assemble the cabinet to formalize this action but faced delays due to the early morning hours. President Yoon assured the public that he would proceed with lifting martial law as soon as the minimum required number of cabinet members could be gathered.

This series of events has intensified political tensions in South Korea, drawing criticism from both opposition parties and members of President Yoon’s conservative People Power Party.