NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-12-2025 8AM EST

Episode Date: January 12, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. As devastating wildfires burn in and around Los Angeles, crews are beginning the search and recovery operation for missing loved ones as authorities investigate at least 16 deaths, others unaccounted for, as Elise Hugh reports from Los Angeles. The L.A. County Sheriff is working with the coroner's office and FEMA to conduct searches. L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna says specialized search and rescue teams will use cadaver dogs to search for missing people as well as remains. Due to safety concerns, we are unable to safely search the impacted areas during the hours of darkness. So this will only be taking place

while there's light. Firefighters have struggled to contain the biggest palisades fire in West Los Angeles. For NPR News, I'm Elise Hugh in Los Angeles. Officials say the fire danger in Southern California will remain high through at least Wednesday because of another round of Santa Ana winds and ongoing dry conditions. More than 12,000 structures have been destroyed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent the head of Israel's Foreign Intelligence Service to join negotiations for a ceasefire in the 15-month long Gaza war. NPR's Jerome Sokolowski reports that the sign of progress comes amid sustained fighting on the ground.

Mossad chief David Barnea is heading to Qatar, where Israel and Hamas are talking through intermediaries. They're discussing the fate of the 98 remaining hostages. Israel says many are already dead. Hamas wants Israel to commit to ending the war, which Israel says it's not ready to do. In Gaza, the Israeli Air Force struck what it calls a Hamas command and control center located in a school building. Gaza's civil defense says civilians were sheltering there and that eight Palestinians were killed,

including two women and two children. Here in Israel, mourners are gathering for the funerals of four soldiers. The military says they were killed when their armored vehicle came under attack in northern Gaza. Jerome Sokolowski, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Top diplomats from Western and Middle Eastern countries are meeting Syria's new foreign minister in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The BBC's Mike Thompson reports that discussions are expected to focus on supporting the interim

Syrian authorities. This international conference is the first since the fall of former President Assad to include both Syria's new rulers and top Western officials Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharah has made repeated calls for sanctions imposed on his country during the Assad regime To be lifted the EU has said the bloc could lift its sanctions if Syria's new rulers take steps to form an inclusive lift its sanctions if Syria's new rulers take steps to form an inclusive government. Germany's foreign minister, Anna-Lena Baerbock, has called for what she called a smart approach to sanctions that would give the Syrian population some relief. Nat. And you're listening to NPR News.

Houses of worship are among the many structures destroyed by the wildfires in Los Angeles. NPR's Jason DeRose reports on how the loss of these buildings is affecting congregations. Jason DeRose The campus of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Pacific Palisades lost 13 of 21 buildings. Reverend Bruce Freeman says the congregation of about 500 families also is home to an elementary and middle school. Bruce Freeman We will get through this with each other. Even if all the buildings go, we're still St. Matthews,

because we are the church, we are the community. Also lost in the Palisades fire, Calvary Church, an evangelical Christian congregation, the Corpus Christi Catholic Church, and the Chabad Jewish Congregations building. The Jewish Federation of L.A. says the Chabad was able to save its Torah scroll from the fire. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

The first launch of Blue Origin's giant new Glenn reusable rocket has been delayed again. The launch had been set for early today, but the private space company owned by Jeff Bezos says conditions remained unfavorable in the Atlantic where the company had hoped to land the booster on a drone ship. A new three-hour launch window opens overnight. Tonight, if successful, the New Glenn rocket would set up a challenge to SpaceX's dominance. The first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year got underway today. Irina Sapulinka is going for her third straight Australian Open title. She won her first round match against American Sloan Stevens. Novak Djokovic will begin his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title tomorrow.

I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.