First Thing: Bishop asks Trump to ‘have mercy’ on migrants and LGBTQ+ people

Right Rev Mariann Budde’s appeal followed executive orders preparing US for mass deportations and targeting of transgender people

Good morning.

The Episcopal bishop of Washington implored Donald Trump to “have mercy upon” immigrants and LGBTQ+ people across the country after he unleashed a slate of executive orders targeting communities.

Using her inaugural prayer service sermon at the Washington National Cathedral to appeal to Trump directly, the Right Rev Mariann Budde said: “There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives.”

Facing an unemotional Trump, who sat with Melania Trump and JD Vance, Budde continued: “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now.” She added that “the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals” but instead “pay taxes and are good neighbors”.

What executive orders does it follow? Trump has already signed directives undoing Biden-era protections for transgender Americans and paving the way for mass deportations.

Influence of super-rich on Trump threatens democracy, say millionaires

The sway of the world’s super-rich over Trump’s presidency threatens global stability and democracy, a poll of more than 2,000 millionaires has concluded.

The survey, published during the annual Davos summit by the Patriotic Millionaires, a group campaigning for a wealth tax, found that about 70% agree that the influence of the super-wealthy is driving a fall in trust of the media, the judiciary and democracy. Half say the concentration of extreme wealth puts democracy in danger.

The survey followed Trump’s inauguration on Monday, which was attended by many of the world’s richest people, including Elon Musk, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.

Who supports the Patriotic Millionaires’ campaign? The group has sent a letter calling on world leaders to implement a wealth tax, which is signed by more than 370 millionaires and billionaires from 22 countries. This includes the film producer and philanthropist Abigail Disney, the musician Brian Eno and the director Richard Curtis.

Strong winds and new fires erupt in southern California

Strong winds are forecasted for Southern California on Wednesday, with authorities warning residents to review their evacuation plans as new wildfires broke out in the region still grappling with the catastrophic Palisades and Eaton blazes.

Conditions remain tinder-dry, leading to fears that fire could regain control as high winds returned following a break in dangerous conditions over the weekend. The Palisades fire was 65% contained as of Tuesday afternoon, the LA Times reported, while the Eaton fire was at 89%.

Red flag warnings for critical fire risk were extended until 8pm on Thursday across LA and Ventura counties, with the meteorologist Andrew Rorke warning that once again, “the conditions are ripe for explosive fire growth”.

Several small wildfires have erupted in San Diego county: the Lilac fire has so far burned about 50 acres and officials said it was growing “with a moderate rate of spread”. A few more fires were also sparked but have been put out.

Will the dry conditions change? Some rain is forecasted for the Los Angeles area this weekend. But the meteorologist Ryan Kittell warned that a large quantity of rain could trigger a “worst-case scenario” if it causes landslides on burnt slopes.

In other news …

Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law has alleged that he was aggressive to his second wife, causing her to fear for her safety, with NBC News reporting that she has submitted an affidavit to senators making the claim.

Donald Trump has granted a “full and unconditional” pardon to the founder of the illegal online drug marketplace the Silk Road, the president announced Tuesday.

Harvard University has agreed to adopt a controversial definition of antisemitism that critics say is designed to shield Israel from criticism as part of two settlements reached in court following complaints by Jewish students.

A “once in a lifetime” snowstorm has hit the southern US, with residents of several coastal counties near the Texas-Louisiana border facing their first blizzard warning.

Men have grown ‘twice as much as women’ over past century

A study shows that men have grown and gained weight twice as fast as women over the past century. The researchers analyzed data from dozens of countries, finding, for example, that during the first half of the century, average female height in the UK jumped 1.9% from 5ft 2in to 5ft 3in, while average male height increased 4% from 5ft 6in to 5ft 8in.

Don’t miss this: Why do so many people start their vacation in the airport bar?

Following yet another instance of rowdy inflight behavior, the European budget airline Ryanair boss called for airports to impose a two-drink limit on passengers. “Everyone is in a different time zone anyway, so nobody is looking at anyone else thinking, ‘They’re starting a bit early,’” says vacationer Alison at Gatwick airport of its drinking culture.

Climate check: Wildfire and hurricane risks hit US homeowners with soaring insurance costs

From hurricanes to wildfires, the deepening effects of the climate emergency are leaving many US homeowners with soaring insurance costs, new federal data shows, while some are unable to get coverage at all. In states most vulnerable to climate disasters, such as Florida and California, several insurance providers have paused or ended operations.

Last Thing: Love honey – the ‘erectile nectar’ that’s all the rage in France

It’s known as “love honey” and being presented as a type of “nectar” – but behind the marketing for the so-called natural supplement that young French men are flocking to buy, the ingredient is just … pure Viagra. Be warned though: this version of the aphrodisiac is unregulated, and has been linked to some pretty grisly health issues.

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