this is bbc news. the headlines... new wildfires break out across los angeles. five people are confirmed dead. more than 130,000 have been evacuated. the pound tumbles as government borrowing costs surge to their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. latest figures show more than 5,000 people are in hospital with flu in england each day — and the number's rising. new analysis reveals the major housing increase councils are facing to meet government targets. welcome. some breaking news concerning _ welcome. some breaking news concerning manchester- welcome. some breaking newsi concerning manchester airport. we told — concerning manchester airport. we told you _ concerning manchester airport. we told you it _ concerning manchester airport. we told you it had _ concerning manchester airport. we told you it had closed - we told you it had closed

because of the weather. heavy snow there. it has now reopened. but people are being urged, passengers, to contact their airline to make sure that flight is still running as there may be some delays. let's recap the wildfires burning across los angeles. firefighters say there are seven distinct areas but two of the blazes have been contained. five people are confirmed to have been killed. 137,000 people have been evacuated. and firefighting teams are reporting that they are running short of water — with people in affected areas being told to boil supplies before drinking or cooking with them. satellites have captured the spread of the fires from space. this image was taken on wednesday — it shows the area around the pacific palisades. the brighter areas show where the fires are burning, giving an idea of the challenge facing the fire—fighting teams. this image shows the fair oaks area near altadena before the fires swept through the area.

and this is the same area yesterday. the red marks show where fires are burning, and the area seems to be covered in thick smoke. if we look closely, we can just make out where some buildings have been burned down. devastating wildfires have hit los angeles before. but weather experts say these fires are being fanned by the most destructive windstorm in decades, with winds of between 80 and 100 miles an hour. so, how much of a role has climate change played in this extreme weather? here's our climate editor, justin rowlatt. still images show the fury and the horror of the fires engulfing parts of california. wildfires are a year—round threat in the state, but this year, it experienced its hottest summer on record. we know climate change is making the kind of hot, dry weather california has experienced in recent months more likely. and scientists say that is increasing the number of what are known as fire weather days.

now, this graph shows the increase in the area burnt by fires in the us since 1983. as you can see, it appears to have been growing steadily over the years. and there's another factor. this year, the winter rains that normally reduce the fire risk in california didn't come. in fact, downtown los angeles has only received 0.16 inches of rain since october. that is more than four inches below average. the california governor, gavin newsom, believes the pattern of wildfires is changing. we were here not too long ago. the franklin fire. a few weeks prior to that, the mountain fire. november, december, now january. there's no fire season. it's fire year.

it's year round. and look how the wind has been blowing the fires. these santa ana, or devil winds, as they're sometimes called, are a normal part of california weather caused by cool, dry air blowing from the interior of the state to the coast. climate change doesn't appear to have altered the pattern of the santa ana winds, but as our world warms, the dangerous combination of strong winds with very dry vegetation is becoming more likely. and just look at the scenes on the other side of the country. the east coast and parts of central us are experiencing icy, cold weather and snow storms that have killed five people and left 60 million under extreme weather warnings. the contrast could hardly be more stark. justin rowlatt, bbc news. live to the house of commons, we are expecting an urgent question to be asked by the shadow chancellor, mel stride, who has asked permission for the question to be asked, urgent question, about the growing pressure of borrowing

costs on public finances. the chancellor rachel reeves is facing herfirst major chancellor rachel reeves is facing her first major test after borrowing costs jumped sharply this week. not sure who will be answering that question. alarm bells are going off in financial markets as concerns mount about the uk economic outlook. the pound has fallen to the lowest level for 14 fallen to the lowest level for 1h months as uk government 1a months as uk government borrowing costs continue to rise, surging to the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. economists warned the chancellor could be forced to cut spending or hike taxes as the government tries to meet its self—imposed borrowing target. more at the chief economics correspondent dharshini david. explain the context of the urgent question. it is about something we do not tend to talk about day—to—day, yields, interest rate the government pays to borrow on financial markets, they borrow on something called band's, it has been rising in recent weeks. why? because some

investors in the financial markets are concerned about inflation, prospect of inflation, prospect of inflation, also prospects for the amount government is borrowing. i say government, i don't mean the governmentjust here, also around the world. some concerns after the budget and remember we saw extra borrowing coming through and plans that could add to inflation, but also concerns more widely about what is going on in the us, president trump's plans, what they could mean for inflation there, these are global investors. a lot of what you see going on here is jetters about the global picture, not domestic, but there could be a domestic price to pay if it impacts on the choices the chancellor can make —— jitters. choices the chancellor can make ——jitters. how choices the chancellor can make —— jitters. how much wiggle room within the financial... do not panic, the government does not panic, the government does not have to make any decisions yet, official forecasters do not start looking at the numbers for at least another

month. a lot can change. if it does get to the stage and they say, chancellor, you have less room to play with, less money, what is she most likely to do? most likely we think can mean a curb on spending, not a cut to spending, but perhaps a little less extra spending than we currently expect. but we are a way. in the meantime, the pound falling like that, it is a sign perhaps of concerns about the uk, and no chancellor wants that. ~ ., ., ., ., that. what do we read into the -ound that. what do we read into the pound falling? _ that. what do we read into the pound falling? currencies - that. what do we read into the | pound falling? currencies move all the time. _ pound falling? currencies move all the time. what _ pound falling? currencies move all the time. what you - pound falling? currencies move all the time. what you are - pound falling? currencies move all the time. what you are seen as a multi—day losing streak. that tends mean there are growing doubts about the outlook for the uk economy. do not forget, what we saw happening in the second half of last year was not exactly what was anyone had in mind, quite slow down, things seem to stagnate, inflation is taking up, but don't panic, when you look at the course of this year and what economists still expect, pretty decent growth. this could be a case of

jitters. things can change quite quickly in the markets. what is quite reassuring for borrowers worried about what it could mean for their mortgage costs, adamant, not really feeding into that looking at the rates on new fixed term mortgages. figs the rates on new fixed term mortgagee— the rates on new fixed term mortmaes. a ., ., mortgages. as we wait for the urn ent mortgages. as we wait for the urgent question, _ mortgages. as we wait for the urgent question, what - mortgages. as we wait for the urgent question, what is - mortgages. as we wait for the urgent question, what is the l urgent question, what is the significance? why has he prompted to do that today? this is about the jew credibility for the chancellor. it is about the jew credibility for the chancellor.- for the chancellor. it is all about making _ for the chancellor. it is all about making sure - for the chancellor. it is all about making sure people for the chancellor. it is all- about making sure people have faith in your plans —— this is about credibility for the chancellor. they put out a statement around this yesterday, she said, i have an iron grip on finances, an initial step. iron grip on finances, an initialstep. it iron grip on finances, an initial step. it is to demonstrate the markets, do not panic, i have responsible plans. this is coming amidst a mood of general global uncertainty at the moment and you can see why the shadow chancellor has taken this opportunity to say, what is going on?—

opportunity to say, what is uaoinon? . , . going on? thank you very much, we will be _ going on? thank you very much, we will be back _ going on? thank you very much, we will be back live _ going on? thank you very much, we will be back live in _ going on? thank you very much, we will be back live in the - we will be back live in the house of commons when the urgent question is asked. some breaking news. nhs england has released new waiting time figures for routine operations and cancer treatment, as well as a&e and ambulance waiting times. there was an average of 51108 flu patients in beds in england last week. this is up 21% from 4469 the previous week when 211 were in critical care. it is also nearly five times the number on the 1st of december when the total stood at 1098. several hospitals across england have declared critical incidents to help them prioritise the growing number of patients with respiratory illnesses. 0ur health editor hugh pym spent the week at one of them — warwick hospital. the nurse has asked for help. you go and come and tell me what it is. 0k, thank you, amit. minutes into his 12—hour shift, raj, a consultant, is updated.

and he's dealing with that sick patient there in ambulance bay. the situation looks dire. the challenge — finding beds. how are you feeling at the moment? percy has an underlying condition and suspected norovirus. we're just trying to find a space for you inside. it takes several hours to get him in, but at least percy does have a bed. yeah, and it's gradually getting worse. it's getting worse. we are returning to the house of commons for the urgent question. of commons for the urgent question-— of commons for the urgent question. of commons for the urgent cuestion. ., ,, ., , _ question. thank you. happy new ear. i'm question. thank you. happy new year. i'm grateful— question. thank you. happy new year. i'm grateful to _ question. thank you. happy new year. i'm grateful to see - year. i'm grateful to see members of the opposite party well can meet the house. financial markets are always evolving as the shadow chancellor knows. it is a long—standing convention the government does not comment on specific financial market movements and i will not be breaking the convention today. financial market movements including changes in government, bonds, gilt yields, determined by a wide range of

international and domestic factors. normalfor the price to vary when there are wider movements in global financial markets including in response to economic data. in recent months, moves in financial markets have been largely driven by data and global geopolitical events which is to be expected as markets adjust to new information. uk markets continue to function in an orderly way, underlying demand for the uk that remain strong, with a generally well diverse investor base. that manager offices gilt continues to see strong demand with the latest auction yesterday receiving three times as many pets as the amount on offer. the chancellor has commissioned the office of budget was in spiti for an updated economic and fiscal forecast for the 26th of march which will incorporate latest data. 0nly which will incorporate latest data. only the focus can accurately predict the effect on public finances of any changes in financial markets or the economy and i will not pre—empt the forecast. they should be no doubt the government's commitment to sound public finances, this is why meeting the fiscal rules is

non—negotiable. can i end by saying i'm pleased to right honourable gentleman is holding this government to account on our stewardship of the economy? important he does so because he will remember when his party crashed the economy with unfunded tax cuts, unrealistic public spending, clear disregard forfamily public spending, clear disregard for family finances, stopping the price with higher mortgages and bills. if there was a clear reason why the conservatives suffered such a historic defeat at the last election, because of the performance on the economy. presumably that is what the shadow chancellor himself admitted in december the lack of trust in the conservative party management of the economy has left, i quote, deep and painful scar has left, i quote, deep and painfulscar in has left, i quote, deep and painful scar in the pockets of every person across britain. let me tell you what has changed, this labour government has in the first six months exposed the £22 billion black hole in the public finances, not only have we exposed it, we have dealt with it with the

chancellor's autumn budget protecting working people, wiping the slate clean from the mess the conservative party left the country and, investing in schools and the nhs. we have given the idea enhanced powers of oversight in law so we will never get into the situation again where that lot left the country with a £22 billion black hole. we have set tough new fiscal rules with a budget settlement for public services they must all live within and we have kick—started growth, number one mission of this government by unlocking investment and bringing forward reforms in planning and the mansion house speech. might i say to the right honourable gentleman, this is in stark contrast, stark contrast, to the negligent, shameful horror of a circus performance the conservative party unleashed on this country when they were in government a few years ago? until he can come to this house with an apology for the british people, i will not take any lectures from the conservative party about how to run the

economy. party about how to run the economy-— party about how to run the econom. ,, ., ., ., . ., ., economy. shadow chancellor to the exchequer, _ economy. shadow chancellor to the exchequer, mel— economy. shadow chancellor to the exchequer, mel stride. - the exchequer, mel stride. thank— the exchequer, mel stride. thank you. slightly anxious and breathless performance i think we have breat