An architect whose family were effectively evicted from their rented home after five years has called for improved legislation to give tenants greater long-term security.

A toddler was shot and killed when her father used her as a shield in a Los Angeles gun battle with police following an hours-long standoff.

Police officers shot and killed a man when he emerged from his Los Angeles home carrying a young girl following an hours-long stand-off and opened fire, wounding one officer, authorities said.