That’s a wrap – thank you for reading the Need to Know blog today. These were some of the main stories:

• LA wildfires declared national disaster: President Joe Biden has declared the Los Angeles wildfires a “national disaster” to allow residents to access funding.

• In Los Angeles, water runs short as wildfires burn out of control: Crews battling multiple wildfires that raged across Los Angeles on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) were up against a near-perfect storm: intense wind, low humidity and, most troubling for residents, inadequate supplies of water to contain the blazes.

• Russian missile attack in southern Ukraine kills at least 13 civilians: A daytime Russian missile attack on the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzhia killed at least 13 civilians and wounded about 30 others on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), officials said.

• ‘Damaging for our democracy’: Chalmers slams Meta fact-checking decision: Treasurer Jim Chalmers says it’s “very concerning” that Meta has decided to remove its fact-checkers ahead of the federal election.

• Calls for ‘calm’ and ‘focus’ in trade industry ahead of Trump’s presidency: Assistant Trade Minister Tim Ayres says Australia must “work hard with our bilateral partners” ahead of Donald Trump’s US presidency, which is making a usually predictable trading system less certain.