Los Angeles, Feb 6: The two largest wildfires that recently ravaged Los Angeles County may have caused total property and capital losses of as much as 164 billion US dollars, according to a new report.

The report published on Tuesday by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) suggests total property and capital losses caused by the Palisades and Eaton fires could range between 95 billion dollars and 164 billion dollars, with insured losses estimated at 75 billion dollars.

The report, authored by UCLA Anderson Forecast economists Zhiyun Li and William Yu, predicts a 0.48-percent loss in county-level GDP for 2025, amounting to approximately 4.6 billion dollars, and a total wage loss of 297 million dollars for local businesses and employees in the affected areas.

“Without substantial and effective wildfire mitigation efforts and investments, Californians will face increasingly higher insurance premiums and growing health risks from wildfire-related pollution,” said the report, adding that Los Angeles housing markets, “in particular for rental units, will become increasingly unaffordable.”

UCLA Anderson Forecast is one of the most widely watched and often-cited economic outlooks for California and the nation, according to UCLA Anderson School of Management’s website.

Last month, Los Angeles County, the most populated county in the United States, experienced the most catastrophic wildfires in its history. The two deadly major wildfires killed at least 28 people and destroyed over 16,000 structures. The Palisades and Eaton fires scorched over 23,700 acres (95.9 square km) and 14,000 acres (56.7 square km), respectively.

Additionally, the devastating wildfires that began sweeping through Southern California on January 7 have left the region’s education system reeling, with over a dozen schools severely damaged or destroyed.

As school officials begin the daunting task of rebuilding, they face an estimated cost of hundreds of millions of US dollars, with recovery expected to take years.

At least 12 schools in Los Angeles County have suffered significant damage, with five campuses destroyed, according to CalMatters, a nonprofit news organisation focusing on local agendas in California. Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest school system, lost two elementary schools in Pacific Palisades, while Palisades Charter High School was heavily damaged. In Pasadena and Altadena, three additional elementary schools were destroyed.

Amman, Feb 5: Jordan and Greece stressed the need to maintain the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, expressing hope that it would lead to a permanent end to hostilities in the region.

It comes as Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met here with his visiting Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis. During their talks on Tuesday, the two sides discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, investment, tourism, and cultural sectors, according to a statement by Jordan’s Foreign Ministry.

The discussions also touched on the developments in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, as well as ongoing efforts to address them, said the statement.

The two sides emphasised the importance of securing a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring immediate and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to the entire territory.

Safadi briefed Gerapetritis on the outcomes of an Arab meeting held Saturday in Cairo, which underscored the collective Arab commitment to securing a ceasefire, delivering aid, and advancing a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.

He stressed that Arab nations are prepared to collaborate with international partners, including the United States and the European Union (EU), practically and constructively, to achieve a just peace in the region.

For his part, Gerapetritis said Jordan and Greece enjoy excellent relations, calling for strengthening this relationship and enhancing cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy, trade, and tourism.

He praised Jordan’s role in safeguarding the holy sites of both Muslims and Christians in Palestine, and in maintaining stability in the whole region.

The top Greek diplomat called for prioritising the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, reopening the Rafah crossing, supporting the UN Palestinian relief agency, and ensuring the flow of aid into Gaza through Jordan’s air bridge.

Gerapetritis is visiting Jordan as part of a regional tour that also includes Qatar, Palestine, and Israel.

Jerusalem, Feb 4: Israel is preparing to send a delegation to Qatar for talks on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Israel is preparing for the working-echelon delegation to leave for Doha at the end of this week in order to discuss technical details related to the continued implementation of the agreement,” the statement said.

Next week, the Security Cabinet is expected to convene to discuss Israel’s overall position regarding the second stage of the deal, which according to the office, “will guide the continuation of the negotiations.”

The announcement followed Netanyahu’s meetings in Washington with US National Security Advisor (NSA) Mike Waltz and President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. Netanyahu is set to meet Trump later Tuesday.

Netanyahu’s office said discussions would focus on the fragile truce and efforts to end the war in Gaza. The prime minister also hinted at discussions on efforts to advance a possible normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The Gaza deal includes a 42-day initial phase of truce, during which a total of 33 hostages and hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails are to be released. Talks on implementing the second phase were due to begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire, which fell on Monday.

However, Netanyahu said on Saturday that he would send a negotiation team to Doha only after he meets with Witkoff and Waltz in Washington.

The ceasefire took effect on January 19, putting a pause on 15 months of Israeli military operations in Gaza that left the Palestinian enclave devastated and killed around 62,000 people, including more than 17,000 children, according to the health authorities in Gaza.