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Forecasters warn of ‘particularly dangerous weather situation’ in CaliforniaThe celebrated hip-hop producer Madlib has confirmed the loss of his extensive record collection and much of his recording equipment along with his home in the wildfires that have swept across California and killed at least 25 people.The influential musician, who has worked with some of the most prominent names in rap including Kanye West, Kendrick...

Deal reported to involve release of 33 Israeli hostages alongside a partial Israeli troop withdrawalHere are some of the latest images sent over the news wires from Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip.Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who has previously spoken of his desire for Israel to permanently annex the occupied West Bank, has said the country is at a “crucial and fateful...

Chief secretary to the treasury Darren Jones says there will be a spring statement on 26 MarchGood morning. Keir Starmer faces PMQs today. As he prepares, two issues seem very likely to come up.First, the economy. There is some modest good news this morning, and Rachel Reeves easily fought off a Tory attempted hit job on her in the Commons yesterday, but the underlying...

After week of turbulence in markets, ONS data shows prices rose at slower rate last month than in NovemberBusiness live – latest updatesUK inflation unexpectedly fell in December, handing some breathing space to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, after a week of turbulence in financial markets.With the government under pressure on the economy, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the consumer prices index...

More than 1,000 train services expected to be cancelled by end of Wednesday with warnings industrial action could cause further chaos on ThursdayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSydneysiders have been warned that more than 1,000 train services are expected to be cancelled by the end of Wednesday while those that do...

One expert says women’s bodies and attire have long been a source for public debate in a way that doesn’t happen with menA council in Greater Sydney has announced it is banning G-string bikinis at its public pools without providing further details about how the rule will be policed, sparking debate about gender standards.Earlier this month, Blue Mountains Leisure Centres (BMLC) posted on Facebook...

In today’s newsletter: With reports of a breakthrough in ceasefire negotiations, a look at what the detail includes – and what its obstacles areGood morning. After months of false starts, Israel and Hamas are close to agreeing a ceasefire that would involve the release of hostages and a major influx of aid into Gaza. Last night, both sides appeared to have accepted the outlines...

Margaret Thatcher’s 1980s policy turbocharged the sale of council homes, contributing to ‘worst housing crisis in living memory’Margaret Thatcher’s right-to-buy scheme has left Britain with the legacy of a social housing shortfall that would cost the government £50bn to return the number of affordable homes back to 2010 levels.In a report issued as Labour pushes to reform the Conservative policy introduced in the 1980s,...

Many local authorities facing bankruptcy as government criticised for lack of urgencyThe crisis in special educational needs and disabilities (Send) in England risks creating a “lost generation” of children, while putting “almost half” of all councils with an education remit in danger of bankruptcy within 15 months, parliament’s spending watchdog has warned.MPs on the public accounts committee (PAC) expressed frustration with the government’s lack...

Penny Sharpe says ‘mystery’ debris sent for testing and beaches not closed as there were so few ballsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore ball-shaped debris has washed ashore at Sydney’s Bondi, Coogee, Maroubra and Cronulla beaches, the New South Wales government has confirmed.The office of the acting premier, Penny Sharpe, told...

Decision comes after alleged assault on 63-year-old Claudia Campomayor Watt on MondayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastColes will stop selling kitchen knives after the stabbing of one its employees in a south-east Queensland supermarket – an alleged assault that prompted the state’s premier to promise further crackdowns on youth crime.Claudia Campomayor...

This blog is now closedSydney trains delayed up to five hours as authorities warn rail commuters to leave earlyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWong ‘absolutely confident’ government can work with Trump as US presidentMoving to another topic, Penny Wong was asked about her invite to Donald Trump’s inauguration in the US, and responded:Donald Trump has been elected President of...

Impeached president being questioned over failed December martial law bid a month after a first arrest attempt ended in stalemateExplainer: After the arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol, what happens next?South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been arrested and is being questioned over his ill-fated declaration of martial law last month, anti-corruption investigators said on Wednesday, bringing to an end an early-morning standoff...

Exclusive: Sampling results show ‘extremely concerning’ concentrations of PFOS and PFOA at sites across UKWhere are the UK’s ‘forever chemical’ hotspots?RAF bases are hotspots of toxic “forever chemical” pollution in water, analysis of Ministry of Defence documents has revealed.Moreover, some of the highest concentrations of these chemicals in British drinking water sources are near RAF bases, official sampling results obtained by the Guardian and...

Law to stop armed groups profiting from trade in gold, tin, tungsten and tantalum is being breached, rights groups sayThe European Union has been urged to clamp down on illegal imports of conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after evidence was found that current regulations had been breached.The advocacy group Global Witness (GW) said there remained a “high risk” of...

Labor MP says parties must not ‘squabble over discrimination’ as Jillian Segal urges prime minister to convene meetingFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Labor MP Josh Burns says there are “clearly gaps in our legal framework” and has called on political parties “not to squabble over discrimination”, after Australia’s special envoy...

Firefighters expect difficult and treacherous day as red flag warning forecasts winds of up to 75mph. This blog is now closedPrivate firefighting crews prompt furious public debateTell us about financial consequences you are facingCalifornia homeowners and business owners who lost everything in the devastating Los Angeles-area fires now have to tackle their insurance companies to recover the value of their homeowners’ policies – if...

Influential musician confirms loss of extensive record collection amassed over 30 yearsThe celebrated hip-hop producer Madlib has confirmed the loss of his extensive record collection and much of his recording equipment along with his home in the wildfires that have swept across California and killed at least 25 people.The influential musician, who has worked with some of the most prominent names in rap including...

Region faces ‘extreme fire risk’ warnings and ‘significant risk of rapid fire spread’ as official death toll expected to riseAs forecasters warn of another “particularly dangerous weather situation” across northern Los Angeles, residents braced for new wildfire evacuation orders, even as the official death toll from last week’s fires in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades was expected to rise.Los Angeles, and parts of Ventura...

Stars from Beyoncé to Eva Longoria, Halle Berry and Meghan Markle supporting families and frontline workersCelebrities are chipping in to help the region that’s helped them grow to prominence – southern California – as wildfires continue to sweep across the state.As of Tuesday afternoon, the Los Angeles-area fires had killed at least 25 people, displaced thousands of others and destroyed more than 12,000 structures....

Financial regulator alleges Musk later acquired shares of company at ‘artificially low prices’, stiffing shareholdersA US financial regulator has sued Elon Musk for allegedly failing to disclose his ownership of Twitter stock and later acquiring shares in the company at “artificially low prices”, stiffing other shareholders.The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed suit against Musk late on Tuesday in federal court in Washington DC...

First phase of agreement likely to involve release of 33 Israeli hostages and up to 1,000 Palestinian prisonersNegotiators met in Doha on Tuesday in an effort to hammer out the final details of a ceasefire in Gaza, as the warring sides were reported to be closing in on a deal and the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said the negotiations were “right on...

Exclusive: Findings suggest ‘weakening of west’ as relations become more transactional, say report’s authorsEuropean anxiety about Donald Trump’s return to the White House is not shared in much of the world, a poll has shown, with more people in non-western powers such as China, Russia, India and Brazil welcoming his second term than not.The 24-country poll, which also included Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Indonesia...

Deal negotiated through Catholic church will involve ‘gradual’ release of 553 political prisoners, says HavanaThe Biden administration has notified Congress that it will remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism in a deal the country’s communist government said would involve the “gradual” release of 553 political prisoners.The deal, which administration officials said was negotiated through the Catholic church, was announced on...