Hundreds of starving sea lion pups are washing up on beaches in Southern California, overwhelming rescue centres and leaving scientists scrambling to figure out why.

Today’s Google Doodle marks the anniversary of the birth of science fiction writer Douglas Adams.

Hip haunts, Hollywood history and playful pop art

After the week in which an asteroid passed a mere 17,000 miles from the earth, and a meteor injured over a thousand people in Russia one scientist warns 'duck and cover' is not an option

Now... Departing on 9 February, Inghams has a week skiing the slopes of Soll in Austria for £699pp. The deal includes accommodation at the Chalet Bichler with all meals, Monarch flights from Gatwick or Stansted to Innsbruck and resort transfers. Inghams.co.uk

Police have arrested a man over the stabbings of three homeless people in the Los Angeles area, who they say goes by a name signed on “death warrants” found with the wounded victims.

Police have linked three July stabbings of homeless people in the Los Angeles area to one suspect who left typewritten “death warrant” notes at each crime scene.

A vivid memoir about a writer's association with another who revealed loneliness and friendship

The Golden State's mouth-watering cuisine covers everything from food trucks to fine dining – and the wine isn't bad either, says Andy Lynes.

Pinot noir is on my mind, I'm pleased to say. In the past few weeks, I've tasted German pinot noir against the rest of the world, fine red Burgundy at a pre-sale tasting by the American auction house, Acker Merrall & Condit, Australian pinot noir against New Zealand, and, most recently, an 'emerging classics' tasting of Chilean pinot noir. That's quite a lot of pinot noir even if you love the thrill of great red Burgundy and its vinous acolytes, which fortunately I do.

The public prosecutor throwing his all into nailing Michael Jackson for his alleged mistreatment of a 13-year-old cancer victim painted a disturbing picture yesterday of the singer introducing the boy to pornography, feeding him wine and reaching into his underpants for his sexual initiation.