WORLD NEWS FLASH
UNITED STATES
On Jan. 12, Governor Gavin Newsom announced he has increased California National Guard personnel activated to support the response efforts to a total of about 2,500 service members – up 1,000 personnel from Jan. 11. CalGuard service members are fighting fires and ensuring the public safety of communities, joining the thousands of personnel deployed to combat the hurricane-force firestorm in Los Angeles.
Deployed CalGuard service members include Military Police Forces, the law enforcement branch of the CalGuard, stationed at traffic control points to ensure the safety of the surrounding community. Additional service members are supporting wildfire suppression operations, through the CalGuard’s Task Force Rattlesnake, additional handcrews training at Camp Roberts, and aviation resources.
Since the start of the hurricane-force wind event in Southern California, state resources were prepositioned to provide rapid-attack capabilities. In the days following the firestorm, the state has continued to work with local, state, out-of-state and international partners to augment response efforts.
That same day, Newsom today signed an executive order to suspend permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act to allow victims of the recent fires to restore their homes and businesses faster.
“When the fires are extinguished, victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and without roadblocks. The executive order I signed today will help cut permitting delays, an important first step in allowing our communities to recover faster and stronger. I’ve also ordered our state agencies to identify additional ways to streamline the rebuilding and recovery process,” Newsom said.
The executive order issued by Governor Newsom will:
- Suspend CEQA review and California Coastal Act permitting for reconstruction of properties substantially damaged or destroyed in recent Southern California wildfires.
- Direct state agencies to identify additional permitting requirements, including provisions of the Building Code, that can safely be suspended or streamlined to accelerate rebuilding and make it more affordable.
- Extend protections against price gouging on building materials, storage services, construction, and other essential goods and services to January 7, 2026, in Los Angeles County.
- Commit to working with the Legislature to identify statutory changes that can help expedite rebuilding while enhancing wildfire resilience and safety.
Governor Newsom will continue to work administratively and with the Legislature to help those affected by the recent fires rebuild what they have lost.
MASS SHOOTING UPDATE
Information recent as of 1-14-2025
2025 Mass Shooting Stats: (Source: Mass Shooting Tracker – https://www.massshootingtracker.site/data/?year=2025)
- Total Mass Shootings: 15
- Total Dead: 19
- Total Wounded: 56
- Shootings Per Day: 1.07
- Days Reached in Year 2024 as of January 14: 14
HAITI
DISPLACEMENTS ABOUND AMID VIOLENCE
Surging gang violence in Haiti has caused a threefold rise in the number of people uprooted from their homes in a year, the UN migration agency, IOM, said on Jan. 14, in a call for “sustained humanitarian assistance right now to save and protect lives.”
Latest data from the International Organization for Migration indicates that more than one million people have been displaced across Haiti so far, up from the 315,000 recorded on Dec. 20, 2023.
“The most concrete data we have is that around 1,041,000 people are currently living in displacement in Haiti. Most of these people have been displaced multiple times,” said IOM spokesperson Kennedy Okoth Omondi.
The majority of those forced to flee their homes left the capital Port-au-Prince, where heavily armed gang violence is “relentless” while essential services have collapsed – “particularly healthcare and worsening food insecurity,” Mr. Omondi continued.
Neighboring provinces have also been impacted by gang violence and an influx of Haitians fleeing spiraling insecurity. “Many are seeking refuge in Haiti’s provinces, overwhelming host communities and straining limited resources,” the IOM spokesperson said. “In the Artibonite department, displacement tripled in 2024, reaching over 84,000 people, highlighting the spread of violence beyond the Haitian capital.”
Last week the UN human rights office, OHCHR, reported that shocking gang violence left more than 5,600 people dead last year.
In recent weeks, gangs have been held responsible for killing hundreds of people in separate massacres over the course of several days.
In the first incident, OHCHR said that some victims were dismembered, after being accused of using alleged voodoo practices to cause the death of the leader of the Wharf Jérémie gang in the capital’s Cité Soleil, before their body parts were tossed into the sea.
The UN rights office also documented 315 lynchings of gang members and people allegedly associated with gangs, which on some occasions were reportedly facilitated by Haitian police officers.
On Dec. 24, armed men reportedly opened fire on journalists at a press conference being held to announce the reopening of the Caribbean island nation’s largest public hospital, killing three.
IOM noted that the deportation of some 200,000 Haitians principally from the Dominican Republic has placed an even greater strain on the country’s overwhelmed social services. “Communities are already struggling to basically survive,” Mr. Omondi said.
As the violence continues, the UN agency explained that it has become more difficult to safely reach the most vulnerable people in a growing number of displacement sites.
These are mainly concentrated in the capital and have mushroomed from 73 to 108 within a year, IOM said, highlighting severe overcrowding and a lack of adequate access to food, clean water, sanitation and education.
“Reports from these sites reveal deteriorating conditions, with families struggling to survive in makeshift shelters while facing mounting health and protection risks,” Mr. Omondi said.
UNITED KINGDOM
ENGLAND TACKLING FLOODS
At the start of January, heavy rainfall and snowmelt saw significant river and surface water across large parts of England. The highest river levels on record were reached on the Mersey in Stockport and South Manchester.
As of 1 pm on Monday, there are 25 flood alerts live across the country, with minor river flooding impacts possible, but not expected, on Monday and Tuesday in parts of the North of England. Local residents should continue to follow local advice.
However, the current forecast for the next five days shows the overall flood risk for England is very low.
Environment Agency teams will remain on the ground supporting the public as they recover from the recent flooding and are still operating flood defenses and basins to manage possible impacts.
More than 78,000 properties have been protected by the Environment Agency and their teams in the past week. Sadly, the total number of properties reported to have been flooded stands at 1,600.
We continue to monitor the forecast and impacts on river and surface water levels. Our message to the public remains to check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation.
Dane Broomfield, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said, “The work of our dedicated Environment Agency teams has helped to protect more than 78,000 properties during the recent flooding. The total number of properties sadly reported to have flooded is 1,600 and our thoughts are with all those who have been affected.
“The current forecast shows the overall flood risk for England over the next five days is now very low, with some minor river flooding impacts possible, but not expected, on Monday and Tuesday.
“Environment Agency teams will continue to be out on the ground, operating flood defenses, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding, issuing flood warnings and supporting those communities affected.
“Our advice remains the same – people should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation as well as following @EnvAgency on X for the latest flood updates.”
Lessons learned from these floods will be fed directly into the new Floods Resilience Taskforce to speed up the development of flood defenses and bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather.
The Taskforce brings together the Secretary of State and Minister Hardy with representatives from Defra, MHCLG, Home Office, Cabinet Office, the Environment Agency, the Met Office, Local Resilience Forums, Mayoral Offices, emergency responders and the National Farmers Union, among others.am.
