5 Key Events: January 28 Updates

Wildfires in California updates The death toll from the recent wildfires in Southern California has risen to 29. Of these, 17 deaths are connected to the Eaton fire in Altadena, and 12 to the Palisades fire. A new lawsuit accuses an electrical spark from a utility transmission tower of starting the Eaton fire. Investigations into the exact causes of both fires continue. Transgender troops and military changes President Donald Trump signed four executive orders that will extensively change the military. One noteworthy change is the ban on transgender individuals serving in the US military, citing readiness concerns. Additionally, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are being reduced, and discharged Covid-19 vaccine refusers may be reinstated. Immigration enforcement escalatesA series of immigration raids across the US has led to over 2, 000 arrests in two days. These raids are poised to continue at a rate of two to three times a week in the Southeast. Agencies involved, such as those under US Customs and Border Protection, have instructed their personnel to wear visible insignias during operations. Public health under scrutiny Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , known for his vaccine skepticism, has been nominated by President Trump to head the Health and Human Services department. However, some Republican senators are requesting clear stances from Kennedy on vaccines and abortion before they decide on their support. Public opinion on Trump’s and Kennedy’s health recommendations remains split among party lines. Chinese AI startup DeepSeek gains global attention A Chinese tech startup, DeepSeek, has introduced its new AI model, DeepSeek R1, with capabilities rivaling more famous US models but at a much lower cost. This has sparked industry attention and political reactions, including a 'wake-up call' comment from President Trump regarding AI competition with China.