Firefighters prepare for increasing gusts following brief reprieve for LA area
John Ratcliffe, tapped by Trump to lead the CIA, will face questioning in the Senate
What to know about Trump's attorney general pick Pam Bondi as she faces questioning on Capitol Hill
Nippon Steel wants to work with Trump administration on US Steel deal, Mori tells WSJ
After cable damage, Taiwan to step up surveillance of flag of convenience ships
BOJ will raise rates if economy, price conditions continue to improve, Ueda says
Manatees congregate in warm waters near power plants as US winter storms graze Florida
AAPI adults prioritize immigration, but split on mass deportations: AP-NORC/AAPI Data poll
As fires ravage Los Angeles, Tiger Woods isn't sure what will happen with Riviera tournament
Antetokounmpo gets 50th career triple-double as Bucks win 130-115 to end Kings' 7-game win streak
Zheng loses to No 97 Siegemund, Osaka rallies to advance at the Australian Open
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's new finance minister Rachel Reeves is expected to reveal a 20 billion pound ($25.7 billion) shortfall in the public finances, potentially paving the way for tax rises in the next budget, the Guardian newspaper reported on Thursday.
The figure is not final and could still change before Reeves sets out an assessment of the public finances on Monday, the paper reported, citing unnamed sources within Britain's governing Labour party.
Reeves, who became Chancellor of the Exchequer after Labour's thumping election victory this month, had pledged not to increase income tax, National Insurance social security contributions, corporation tax or sales tax known as VAT.
A spokesperson for the finance ministry did not comment on the report but said: "The Chancellor has commissioned officials to provide an assessment of the state of the government's spending inheritance which will be presented to Parliament before the summer recess."
($1 = 0.7784 pounds)
(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Alistair Bell)
