israel and hamas consider a so called �*final draft�* of a possible ceasefire deal. a bbc investigation finds people in china making clothes for the fast fashion giant shein are working for more than 75 hours a week, with one day off a month. a major development in the war in sudan — the army captures the strategic eastern city of wad madani from their paramilitary rivals. kumbh mela — the world s largest gathering of humanity — begins as millions of hindus arrive to take a dip in the holy river ganges. hello, welcome to bbc news now, 3 hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. a los angeles fire chief says the battle against the wildfires raging across the region is at a pivotal point. the official said strong winds were increasing after a lull — with gusts expected to reach

100 kilometres an hour by tuesday. the number of people killed has risen to twenty—four — at least another 16 remain missing. a private forecaster estimates losses of at least $250 billion — among the costliest disasters in us history. oh, my house! for 36 years, fighting fires was rich snyder's profession. now retired, when flames tore through his community in pasadena, it was personal. armed with a hose, and with his bare hands, suddenly, he wasn't just saving strangers. he was saving his neighbours and their homes. lord help us. lord, with your hands. whether it was divine intervention, or rich's sheer determination, their lives were saved. among them, a neighbour with additional needs, confused amid the chaos.

no, no! greg, your house is on fire. your house is... greg, greg! you have to come with me. i've still got to process it. yeah, my neighbour needed, needs assistance, and we told him early on to leave, and he said, no, i'll stay. and i grabbed him and i was pulling on him, and he was fighting me, because he was going to go back in his burning house and lock the door. you know, we got him out and we looked back and his house was fully enveloped. across la county, some 60 square miles of land now scorched earth. firefighters have gained ground against the two largest blazes, the palisades and eaton fires. but the devastation left behind is staggering. this is malibu. normally, you wouldn't be able to see the pacific ocean from here. but all of those multi—million dollar mansions are gone. it is destruction as far as the eye can see, and the road to recovery will be long. and with forecasters

warning that the fierce santa ana winds could return, the battle is far from over. residents in the fires�* path face a cruel waiting game, fearing that the nightmare will strike again. i am terrified because if it does change, i actually don't know where i would go, to be honest. like, i don't have family here. i have friends, but they're all affected. so i don't have a set plan in mind and it's terrifying. amid the terror, a political storm brews. president—elect donald trump has criticised what he calls incompetent california politicians for the crisis. injust over a week, it will be one he inherits. is the incoming president expected to come here? i believe so. what awaits donald trump, if he comes, may reveal an even bleaker reality than what is known so far, as the number of missing continues to grow. helena humphrey, bbc

news, los angeles. let's speak to the bbc�*s peter bowes who's in los angeles. tell us about the concern about the santa ana winds. what's happening at the moment and whether or not they are expected to strengthen? those winds are clearly _ winds are clearly strengthening, i can feel it only right now. the critical period will be the next two or three days. in terms of the strength of those wins, starting about 2k hours from now so early on tuesday morning local time to late on wednesday is when we can expect to feel those really critically dangerous winds that could hamper firefighters. dangerous winds that could hamperfirefighters. to give hamper firefighters. to give you hamperfirefighters. to give you an idea of how quickly things can change, two hours ago at four ami received a notification on my phone that there was a new vegetation fire a couple of miles down the road

here which is a suburb in the northern part of los angeles —— los angeles county. there was a rapid response to that fire and i see now that they have made very good progress in putting it out. that is how quickly things can change and that is the goal, to put these flash fires are quickly before they spread in a catastrophic way like the two fires that are still burning in different parts of la. the palisades fire that started almost a week ago, that started almost a week ago, that fire is still burning out of control. and the fire around pasadena further inland. for clarity around _ pasadena further inland. for clarity around the _ pasadena further inland. for clarity around the wind, the santa ana winds and everyone is talking about, concerned about them strengthening but will they be strong as those that fuelled the fire initially? we ho -e fuelled the fire initially? we hepe not- — fuelled the fire initially? we hope not. the _ fuelled the fire initially? - hope not. the forecast certainly isn't for them to be

almost had a keen force. the wins that we experienced last week. on the wins that fanned the flames and which are to blame for this catastrophe. the other part of the equation is the dry brush we are experiencing in the surrounding areas of los angeles. it has not rained significantly here for about eight months. the wins will not be quite as strong as last week but they are still serious and potentially dangerous and the people live here i used these santa ana winds that commit about this time of year. they start in november and can go the end ofjanuary start in november and can go the end of january and they always cause problems and cause fires but not as many as we have seen over the last few days and not the intensity we have seen. days and not the intensity we have seen-— days and not the intensity we have seen. ., ~ i. . the bbc has found that workers in chinese factories making clothes for the fast

fashion giant shein are labouring for more than 75 hours a week in contravention of the country s labour laws. these working hours are not unusual in the southern city of gwang—joe, but the findings will add to a growing list of questions about working conditions in its factories. our china correspondent laura bicker has more. few stop to eat during the breakfast rush. for those who work in this warrant of more than 5000 clothes firm the factory clock dictates the day. at a nearbyjob market workers check the stitching they are expected to do. they get paid per piece so their skill and speed to determine how much they make. it speed to determine how much they make-— they make. it depends how difficult the _ they make. it depends how difficult the item _ they make. it depends how difficult the item is. - difficult the item is. something simple like a t—shirt is one to two and i can make around a dozen in an hour. we are in so little, the cost of living is now so high. workers

travel thousands _ living is now so high. workers travel thousands of _ living is now so high. workers travel thousands of miles - living is now so high. workers travel thousands of miles to l travel thousands of miles to and many descend back to their families. shein is now one of the major employers. i families. shein is now one of the major employers.- the ma'or employers. i think shein the major employers. ! think shein will— the major employers. i think shein will become _ the major employers. i think shein will become better - the major employers. i think| shein will become better and batten — shein will become better and better. it always pays suppliers on time and is efficient and reliable. many --eole efficient and reliable. many peeple work _ efficient and reliable. many people work for _ efficient and reliable. many people work for shein - efficient and reliable. many people work for shein in i efficient and reliable. manyl people work for shein in this region? i people work for shein in this reuion? ., _ ., people work for shein in this reuion? ., ., j~::f ., region? i would say over 8096 of the peeple _ region? i would say over 8096 of the people here _ region? i would say over 8096 of the people here work _ region? i would say over 8096 of the people here work for - region? i would say over 8096 of the people here work for shein. | the people here work for shein. this is_ the people here work for shein. this is the — the people here work for shein. this is the beating heart of an empire. the machines seldom stop. more than a dozen workers told us they labour 75 hours a week in contravention of chinese labour laws. most have only one day off a month. and by the door, the end product, ready to be shipped to europe, the uk or the us. there is an

almost constant supply of fabric from nearby vendor is. shein's success has been possible because this city in china has everything it needs. spending the day here, it's clear that shein's meteoric rise has had a positive effect on the local economy bits also come with increased scrutiny. they have been allegations of forced labour. they themselves have found incidents of child labour for and have found incidents of child labourfor and their labour for and their accusations their staff are overworked. we found that 75 hour week is not unusual for many companies in this industrial heartland. it’s many companies in this industrial heartland. it's not unusual you _ industrial heartland. it's not unusual you say, _ industrial heartland. it's not unusual you say, but - industrial heartland. it's not unusual you say, but it's - industrial heartland. it's not l unusual you say, but it's clear that _ unusual you say, but it's clear that it's — unusual you say, but it's clear that it's illegal— unusual you say, but it's clear that it's illegal and _ unusual you say, but it's clear that it's illegal and it - that it's illegal and it violates— that it's illegal and it violates basic- that it's illegal and it violates basic human that it's illegal and it - violates basic human rights. that it's illegal and it _ violates basic human rights. so it's a _ violates basic human rights. so it's a human _ violates basic human rights. so it's a human rights _ violates basic human rights. so it's a human rights issue. - violates basic human rights. so it's a human rights issue. it's . it's a human rights issue. it's an extreme _ it's a human rights issue. it's an extreme form _ it's a human rights issue. it's an extreme form of- an extreme form of exploitation. - an extreme form of exploitation. and . an extreme form of. exploitation. and this an extreme form of- exploitation. and this needs an extreme form of— exploitation. and this needs to be visible _

exploitation. and this needs to be visible. people _ exploitation. and this needs to be visible. people need - exploitation. and this needs to be visible. people need to - exploitation. and this needs tol be visible. people need to know under— be visible. people need to know under what _ be visible. people need to know under what conditions _ be visible. people need to know under what conditions clothes . under what conditions clothes are being _ under what conditions clothes are being produced, - under what conditions clothesl are being produced, especially in such— are being produced, especially in such an _ are being produced, especially in such an alpaca _ are being produced, especially in such an alpaca company- are being produced, especially| in such an alpaca company that does _ in such an alpaca company that does not — in such an alpaca company that does not really— in such an alpaca company that does not really report - in such an alpaca company that does not really report what - does not really report what they— does not really report what they are _ does not really report what they are doing. _ does not really report what they are doing.— does not really report what they are doing. hard work is a wa of they are doing. hard work is a way of life _ they are doing. hard work is a way of life here. _ they are doing. hard work is a way of life here. i— they are doing. hard work is a way of life here. i am - they are doing. hard work is a way of life here. i am proud . way of life here. i am proud that our— way of life here. i am proud that our textile _ way of life here. i am proud that our textile industries i that our textile industries providing the world with cheap and good quality goods. as a chinese person, this is the contribution i should make. the thrum of machines continues well into the night. in a statement, shein told us it is committed to ensuring the fair and dignified treatment of all workers within the supply chain and its investing tens of millions of dollars in strengthening governance and compliance. they added that they strive to set the highest standards for pay and that all partners adhere to the code of conduct. but the work here will

go on as long as someone in london or new york continues hunting for the next bargain. still to come on news now... a glimmer of hope in gaza? reports that israel and hamas have been given a �*final draft�* of a ceasefire and hostage—release deal to end the war. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

here in the uk — the prime minister has been setting out how he wants britain to be a world leader in artificial intelligence — he says a! technology can boost growth and improve public services like schools and hospitals. but there was more bad economic news for the government this morning as the markets opened — the pound fell and the cost of government borrowing went up. our political correspondent helen catt reports.

the prime minister seeing artificial intelligence in action. in this lab in london, it is used to manufacture pharmaceuticals. but the government has big plans for al across the uk and says it is throwing its full weight behind the tech. this is the global race of our lives. now, some countries are going to make a! breakthroughs and export them. others will end up buying those breakthroughs and importing them. the question is, which of those will britain be — ai maker or a! taker? teachers, the government says, could use a! to plan lessons. it could also be used to spot potholes that need fixing through camera feeds. ai growth zones, starting with this one in oxfordshire, will be set up and we'll see big building projects like data centres, but they use a lot of energy and some have questioned the feasibility of the plans.

we need to see how they will fund all of the initiatives they are talking so enthusiastically about. it is a big deal to try to get this country's electricity grid fit for purpose, for instance, which it is not. it is a big deal to talk about small modular reactors — we are talking about small nuclear reactors to power people's data centres. who will pay for that? the big prize for the government from al is boosting the economy, which at the moment, is not showing any signs of picking up. the pound has fallen today and government borrowing rates have gone up. some business leaders have criticised rachel reeves' decision to raise taxes on business. that came as a surprise to business — the extent of the hit, the tax hit out of business. but the truth is that in filling in one hole, it has created another, and that hole is the hole in the confidence and trust that business has in government. back in east london, sir keir defended his

chancellor and said the a! plan would help. we've inherited a real mess in the economy by the last government, same with public services. we've got to turn it around. ai will help us with that, because that allows us to increase productivity hugely, to do things differently and to provide a better economy that works in a different way in the future. if things don't turn around soon, the government could be facing some difficult choices on spending. the prime minister will be hoping a! can in part transform that choice for him too. helen catt, bbc news, westminster. there are reports this morning that israel and hamas have been given a �*final draft�* of a ceasefire and hostage release deal to end the war in gaza — that�*s according to the reuters news agency. a breakthrough was reportedly reached in doha after midnight following talks between israel s spy chiefs, president—elect trump�*s middle east envoy and qatar s prime minister. it comes as president biden and israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu held talks over the phone for the first time in 3 months.

our middle east correspondent emir nader is injerusalem. he gave us the latest details on the ongoing ceasefire negotiations in qatar. it's it�*s quite hard to see exactly what�*s happening behind closed doors in qatar that we are receiving positive signals. it seems like from all parties. as you mentioned the phone between president biden and benjamin netanyahu last night has been seen as a positive development. there is reallyjust —— intelligence chiefs stayed in qatar over the weekend to continue the negotiations and again that was seen as a positive development. and we heard last night that prime minister benjamin netanyahu was meeting with some of his cabinet colleagues, ministers who are opposed to deal and who want war to continue want to resettle gaza, we understand he was trying to persuade them not

to resign from the government. it seems like he is doing the work politically inside israel in order to pave the way for a deal but we don�*t know exactly when it might come. obviously president biden�*s term finishes in a week and behind all of this there is this threat from incoming president trump that if some sort of a deal is not reached before he takes office then all hell will be unleashed so the momentum does seem to be heading in the right direction but it�*s hard to go through all the various briefings. in india, four hundred million pilgrims are expected to join the vast religious festival of kuum—buh may—luh, in which they bathe in the river ganges, believing their sins will be washed away. the six week event is thought to be perhaps the largest gathering of humanity on earth and it only happens every 12 yea rs. our south asia correspondent samira hussain reports from prayagraj where three rivers meet, the ganges, the yamuna and the saraswati.

worshippers dressed as gods. ardent believers relishing in the moment. all part of the maha kumbh mela, where the ganges meets the yamuna and the mythical river saraswati. hindus believe bathing in these waters now will wash away their sins. it is just the first day, in fact, the first few hours, and take a look at how many thousands of people have come to bathe. look, this isn�*t just about religion. it�*s about community too. people will come here and they�*ll stay for days or even weeks at a time. makeshift tents dot the expanse of fairgrounds. home for vinod singh and his wife sushila for the next month. they�*ve been waiting

12 years for this moment. so we went with them early in the morning to the river bank of the ganges. the air is frigid, no sun on the horizon, but their faith keeps them warm. the stars have finally aligned for this sacred dip. translation: we come here because it gives us a sense ofj peace and prosperity. the holy water of the ganges has the power to heal any kind of illness. salvation for believers is what this event means. a message that can sometimes get lost in the enormity of the spectacle.

let�*s get some of the day�*s other news. more than a million people have taken part in a rally in the philippine capital, manila, to show support for the vice president, sara duterte. she�*s facing calls for her impeachment after saying she�*d hired a hit man who�*d kill the president if something happened to her. celebrations broke out in parts of sudan after the army announced it captured the strategic city of wad madani from the paramilitary rapid support forces. it�*s the group�*s biggest setback since the civil war there began 21 months ago but their leader vowed to continue fighting until victory, even if it takes another 20 years. a us swimmer whose ten olympic medals were incinerated in the los angeles wildfires is to be given a replica set by the international olympics committee. gary halljr was forced to flee his home in the pacific palisades when the fire tore through the area. he won five gold, three silver and two bronze medals across three olympic games at the turn of the millennium. the olympic chief, thomas bach, said the ioc stood in full solidarity

with the citizens of la. obseity is a growing public health epidemic all over the world, with more and more people turning to weight loss drugs like ozempic and wegovy to tackle it. in the us the prescripton of a weigh loss drugs has risen by over 5000% since 2018. here in the uk a leading obesity expert has warned that weight loss drugs could bankrupt the national helath serive if they were prescribed to all the patients who are eligible for them. here�*s our medical editor fergus walsh. ray is 62 and has battled with his weight for most of his life. ray, what size is that? it might be a six... six or a seven xl. he got a shock a few years ago when about to have surgery. i was actually outside waiting to go into the theatre, and they said, "we can�*t operate on him. "he�*s too big for this table." it�*s july 2024 at

london�*s guy�*s hospital. ray is about to become one of the first patients to get the weight—loss jab wegovy on the nhs. he weighs 148 kilos — or 23 stone. in trials, patients on wegovy lost an average of 15% body weight in just over a year. right, so we're ready to go. 0k? 0k. there you go. good luck. the weeklyjab works by mimicking a gut hormone which makes you feel full. it can cause unpleasant side effects in the stomach, which some can�*t cope with. give it a bit of seasoning. patients know they have to play their part too, eating healthier, smaller portions. if ray can lose weight, it would help him and the nhs. we treat a lot of the complications associated with obesity. if we take ray, for example,

you know, he has pre—diabetes. we are hoping to go into remission. hisjoints — he might need joint surgery in the future, you know, but actually achieving weight loss can prevent a lot of the complications and ultimately save the nhs a lot of money. naveed sattar heads the uk government�*s obesity healthcare goals programme. the cost of these drugs is still at a level wherel we cannot afford to treat several million people i within the uk with these drugs. it would simply i bankrupt the nhs. he estimates it costs the nhs around £3,000 to give a patient weight loss jabs for a year. and so if everyone eligible got them now, that would be £10 billion a year. most are simply paying for them. ray is doing well. thank you. after five months on wegovy, he�*s lost 16 kilos — more than two stone. look, i'm really pleased with you. it's clearly doing what it's supposed to do, which is switching off

those food noises. very nice to see you both, yes. and ray, who�*s recently become a grandad, is delighted. well pleased. i can�*t believe it. my daughters, every time they see me, they say i�*m shrinking or i�*m wasting away. most patients put their lost weight back on if they come off the jabs, so these could be drugs for life for ray and others, bringing both costs and benefits to the nhs. fergus walsh, bbc news. and if you�*re in the uk, you can watch �*panorama — weight loss drugs and the nhs�* on bbc one tonight at eight, and you can stream it on bbc iplayer now. a tsunami warning has been issued for southern japan folllowing a 6.9 magnitude earthquake.

the japan meteorological agency asked people not to go in the sea or go near coastal areas. there were concerns about the potental for a 1 metre high tsunami but a much smaller 20 centremetre one was recorded reaching miyazaki city according to japan�*s public broadcaster. two earthquakes have also struck tibet�*s tingri county on according to the china earthquake networks center. the 4.9 and 5.0 magnitude quakes follow last weeks deadly 6.8 magnitude one which killed at least 126 people. to stay with us, the business is coming up here on bbc news. the weather is on the change but not in the way you would think. take a look at this dramatic temperature contrast from the first thing this

morning. we had 16 degrees in highland scotland, that runs the risk of some rapid snow melt and maybe some localised flooding. by contrast —1 was still sitting in the cold air in the far south—east. but the wind direction has changed and it�*s driving this milder air across the northern part of the country and it�*s also bringing some wet weather. these weather fronts sinking their way south and 1545