whole neighbourhoods burned to the ground — devastation in los angeles with wildfires still raging completely uncontained. at least five people have died and nearly 200,000 people are fleeing their homes. the president—elect donald trump said to be set tomorrow. and former us presidentjimmy carter will be buried in his hometown of plains, georgia, after a state funeral in washington. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. we have some breaking news. the us supreme court rejected donald trump's request to hold his centres in his hush money quest in new york and it means the sentencing will now go ahead as planned on friday

morning in new york. the president—elect had urged the court to consider whether he was entitled to an automatic stay of the sentencing. the justices rejected this 5—4. john roberts and amy coney barrettjoined the three rebels in the majority and the judge overseeing the case it did indicate in a recent ruling that he would not consider a jail term for donald trump but he was found guilty of falsifying records to disguise reimbursement for a hush money payment to the adult film star stormy daniels made back in 2016. we have seen a reaction for the president—elect tonight. he has been meeting with gop governors and said the following, "he thought it was a disgrace that the judge overseeing the case should not have been under the case but he did indicate he would comply with this ruling. he said, "i will do my little thing

tomorrow. they can have fun with their political opponents." those was a reaction to the refusal to hold the sentencing tomorrow. we go to the federal prosecutor and great to see you, sarah. what do you think of this ruling from the supreme court? i do you think of this ruling from the supreme court? i am not particularly _ from the supreme court? i am not particularly surprised - from the supreme court? i:n not particularly surprised this is where they handed out. the ruling shows again how divided the court is, 5—4. i imagine it was a very contentious day. not surprised god basically said you can appeal this case in the normal course of business. —— the court. not going to stop this from going forward, if you have a pellet issues to raise you can raise like everybody else does after that.-

else does after that. they believe his _ else does after that. they believe his consent - else does after that. they believe his consent can i else does after that. they | believe his consent can be addressed after an appeal? that's right he has every right to appealjust like any other defendant does who does not live without some sort of plea or resolution and he will be doing that for years to come but the court said you're going to do this the way every other criminal defendant in the land does, you're going to be sentence and then raise your appeals. sentence and then raise your a- eals. ~ . u, sentence and then raise your a--eals.~ . , sentence and then raise your aueals. ., , , appeals. what could be expect? the justice _ appeals. what could be expect? the justice indicated _ appeals. what could be expect? the justice indicated there - the justice indicated there would not be present time? in many ways, i really think president trump is the luckiest defendant in the world because he has a judge that has essentially told him what is going to happen. most defendants go into sentencing scanners it can be because it is one of the most contentious

and pressure filled moments but we know what it is going to happen in this case. the statements were qualified a little bit, obviously we need to consider this and that and follow all the rules but essentially mr future president you're not getting present time or a fine or you're not getting present time ora fine orany you're not getting present time or a fine or any supervision by this court going forward, we are ensuring this conviction stays in place.— are ensuring this conviction stays in place. what was the donald trump _ stays in place. what was the donald trump legal - stays in place. what was the | donald trump legal defence? they were reporting very much the fact that the supreme court made a ruling that presidents brought immunity for activate carryout while in office? the? carryout while in office? they made a number _ carryout while in office? they made a number of _ carryout while in office? tie: made a number of arguments carryout while in office? tt3:1 made a number of arguments and some not so legal. 0n the legal side they are arguing the immunity ruling applies to the acts that underline the criminal case in new york. the

judge said this is not so. that these were things done by somebody in connection with a campaign, nota somebody in connection with a campaign, not a sitting president. but ultimately i am sure the issue will be addressed later on by appellate court but the judges looked at this and said the ruling does not apply that was issued the case before this. —— judgejuan merchan. case before this. -- judge juan merchan. ., case before this. -- judge juan merchan— case before this. -- judge juan merchan. ., ., ., ., merchan. how would that line to any person _ merchan. how would that line to any person facing _ merchan. how would that line to any person facing the _ merchan. how would that line to any person facing the same - any person facing the same conviction and sentencing? for a few reasons. _ conviction and sentencing? f3" a few reasons, donald trump has got a lot of breaks here. first of all he has the resources to challenge this case at every turn and so most criminal defendants do not have those resources. so he has been able

to do things that most people do not have the ability to do and also he has been treated and also he has been treated and i'm sure he will argue this is all politically motivated and he was treated unfairly but if you can trust him with other criminal defendants, i think judge merchan was very, very careful to handle this appropriately, cautiously and in not do anything and say anything out of balance here. i anything out of balance here. i was get to get your perspective. thank you for joining us tonight. and i mentioned that reaction from president trump, he was hosting gop governors this is what he said. �* , said. reporter: a few minutes auo the said. reporter: a few minutes ago the supreme _ said. reporter: a few minutes ago the supreme court - said. reporter: a few minutes ago the supreme court ruled . ago the supreme court ruled that— ago the supreme court ruled that not— ago the supreme court ruled that not going to slow down sentencing and it is on for tomorrow. sentencing and it is on for tomorrow— sentencing and it is on for tomorrow. ., ., . ., tomorrow. now what? we have called for _ tomorrow. now what? we have called for an — tomorrow. now what? we have called for an appeal _ tomorrow. now what? we have called for an appeal and - tomorrow. now what? we have called for an appeal and as - tomorrow. now what? we have called for an appeal and as you | called for an appeal and as you know they said, no penalty and

is no penalty but we're going to appeal anyway just psychologically because frankly it is a disgrace, it is a judge that should not have been under the case, he is a highly conflicted judge and if they called for an appeal so i read it and i thought it was a fair decision, actually, so they can have fun with a political opponent tomorrow, as you know i am under a gag orderfrom a judge, this is an attack of a political opponent and if you take a look at it, i'm not supposed to be talking about it, so i will not. we supposed to be talking about it, so i will not.— it, so i will not. we will continue _ it, so i will not. we will continue to _ it, so i will not. we will continue to follow - it, so i will not. we will continue to follow any i it, so i will not. we will - continue to follow any further details on that story but we will move onto top story now. officials in los angeles are warning they expect the number of people killed in a series of devastating wildfires to rise, as emergency crews struggle to contain the powerful blazes. five people are confirmed to have died as flames fanned by strong winds tear through homes and businesses. the body of one man was found outside his levelled home, a garden hose in his hand.

about 180,000 people have been ordered to flee their homes. many neighbourhoods have been left unrecognisable. residents have described the firestorm as "apocalyptic". there are still 5 fires alight around the city — 2 completely uncontained. one is the palisades fire, which was the first to erupt on tuesday. it spread rapidly to become one of the most destructive in the history of los angeles — burning 17,000 acres. before—and—after pictures show the impact on buildings, like this cafe that's been burnt to the ground. the bankjp morgan chase estimates $50 billion in damage, which would make it one of the costliest natural disasters in american history. but authorities say they are hopeful "the tide is turning", with one of the fires now contained. as concerns as concerns over as concerns over looting grow, national guard members have been deployed. a curfew to be imposed on hard—hit areas. some incredible stories of rescue

and bravery as people fled their homes and many neighbourhoods now look like this, completely deserted, from block after block. people who spoke of the speed. we block after block. people who spoke of the speed.— spoke of the speed. we have 'ust spoke of the speed. we have just been _ spoke of the speed. we have just been evacuated - spoke of the speed. we have just been evacuated from - spoke of the speed. we have| just been evacuated from this good samaritans car, you got it dad. we are having to walk. this is crazy. there is a fire right outside our car. not that mad, dad. ifather—in—law has parkinson's and he can barely move. i went outside. i saw smoke and fire near my father in law's house and realised we need to go. the problem is, we didn't have a car. uh, by circumstance, we had no car in the house. iran up and down the street where he was. glen haven finally found a neighbour who was willing to swing by and pick us up.

most people had already gone at that point, and at that point, i grabbed his medicine. that's the only thing i could think to grab. turn around. dad, we got this. and at that point, wejumped in his car. this guyjeff, a neighbour we'd never met before. but, you know, salt of the earth saved our lives. as we're driving down, there's fires on both sides of the car. we're driving. we're suddenly seeing fires. you can feel the heat. and then the fires were getting closer and closer. and at that point, just being stuck there, surrounded by fire, these — the policemen started running up the street. "get out of the car, get out of the car" and started screaming. you don't really realise how serious it is. you don't think this is a life, a life threatening situation? we can speak now to an la resident who lost her home in malibu in the pacific palisades neighbourhood. tell us what happened and how you learned about your home burning down?

as you mentioned, i live on the border of malibu and pacific palisades and my kids both go to schools in pacific palisades and i am part of vertex group jane whittle the mums. —— text group. basically everyone frantically messaging, we cannot get to our kids, the rows that gridlocked and obviously, i am like, oh, rows that gridlocked and obviously, iam like, oh, my god, what is going on? i started looking on instagram, on x and part of another chain with a bunch of mums in my neighbourhood and everybody starts sending pictures of smoke and fire so, yes, i was in the middle of working, actually, when this was all happening and obviously my attention turned away from work

and just complete shock. from when i first heard about it, in 20 or 30 minute it was like, oh, my god, i need to run to the school to get my kids. that is how quickly everything transpired. i is how quickly everything transpired.— transpired. i think we're looking _ transpired. i think we're looking at _ transpired. i think we're looking at some - transpired. i think we're looking at some video i transpired. i think we're i looking at some video that transpired. i think we're - looking at some video that you shared with us. tell us a bit about that?— shared with us. tell us a bit about that? pretty much, this was starting _ about that? pretty much, this was starting at _ about that? pretty much, this was starting at around - about that? pretty much, this was starting at around 11 - was starting at around 11 o'clock in the morning, pacific time, so the entire rest of the day i was staring at my computer, staring at the local news in florida. we're looking at security cameras we could see the sky first getting smoke in one corner and then slowly,

as the day and hours to get on, the sky getting darker and darker up until around four o'clock, we were just watching it basically live in our ringer camera and you can see into that video, just huge plumes of smoke coming from across the street. we are close to a dead end, these huge plumes and it like a hurricane but instead of rain and water falling down, like a hurricane but instead of rain and waterfalling down, it was embers and pieces of fire like a fire stop, i've never seen anything like it. the wind was blowing, it was an insane site to see. i was blowing, it was an insane site to see-— site to see. i cannot imagine it. site to see. i cannot imagine it- what _ site to see. i cannot imagine it. what was _ site to see. i cannot imagine it. what was going _ site to see. i cannot imagine it. what was going through l site to see. i cannot imagine i it. what was going through your head as you are watching this security camera footage from your home?— security camera footage from our home? ~ ., ., , ~ your home? what i was thinking about was _ your home? what i was thinking about was this _ your home? what i was thinking about was this cannot _ your home? what i was thinking about was this cannot be - about was this cannot be happening. it did not feel real. i was also a text

messaging with my next—door neighbour at the same time as this was going on and she said, oh, my gosh, my backyard is on fire. this is literally my next—door neighbour. i said, no, it cannot be and then watching our cameras at the same time and my camera just cut out and the same thing as us for them and that was the last thing we heard and she snapped a picture of her backyard engulfed in flames and at that point that mac i was still hoping that maybe my house would be one of those random but that would still be standing but my husband was pretty certain at that point that our house was going. i pretty certain at that point that our house was going. i am so sorry. _ that our house was going. i am so sorry. that _ that our house was going. i am so sorry, that must _ that our house was going. i am so sorry, that must be - that our house was going. i am so sorry, that must be so i so sorry, that must be so difficult to watch. can you tell us what this means to you and your community? you're talking with other mums, your kids go to school here.- kids go to school here. yes, it is... devastating _

kids go to school here. yes, it is... devastating is _ kids go to school here. yes, it is... devastating is the. i kids go to school here. yes, it| is... devastating is the. word. i have been crying all day to day. i was afraid to put on make—up of your remoteness current running down my face during this interview. it is notjust during this interview. it is not just the during this interview. it is notjust the belongings and stuff, the material items, this was my home. my husband and i, it is ourfirst was my home. my husband and i, it is our first house. we worked really hard and we both are immigrants. my parents came from the soviet union and my husband immigrated as well and we wakes so hard and never thought we could live in a place like that it was a dream come true. and to have it envelope into smoke and fire is just devastating and what is worse is my community is destroyed. my bank that ate banked at, the school, obviously, the grocery store, you know, everything is going, the cafe i like to go to burn

down. it is a nightmare and we are still obviously talking to are still obviously talking to a lot of those mums in my son's class, and many parents have lost their homes as well and we are all thinking it is a nightmare and wishing it was not real. 50 nightmare and wishing it was not real. ,., , nightmare and wishing it was not real. , ., ., ., not real. so sorry again for what happened _ not real. so sorry again for what happened to - not real. so sorry again for what happened to your- not real. so sorry again for i what happened to your house and thank you so much forjoining us in telling us your story on bbc news. us in telling us your story on bbc news-— us in telling us your story on bbc news. ., ~ i. ., ., bbc news. thank you for having me. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news: the pound fell 0.9% against the us dollar on thursday, to its lowest level in more than a year, as uk borrowing costs hit their highest level for 16 years. economists warn rising costs could lead to further tax increases or spending cuts. treasury minister darrenjones has played down economic concerns, saying there is "no need for an emergency intervention". former health secretary jeremy hunt has apologised to the families of lucy letby�*s

victims at the thirlwall inquiry at liverpool town hall. the inquiry is looking into how letby was able to kill seven babies while working at countess of chester hospital. mr hunt said letby�*s crimes had been committed on his watch and apologized "for anything that didn't happen that "could potentially have prevented "such an appalling crime". temperatures in parts of the uk could fall below minus 16—degrees celsius overnight as a major cold front continues. fresh weather warnings have been issued, with snow, ice and fog forecast across southern england, wales, northern ireland and northern scotland. disruption to road and rail services is expected. you're live with bbc news. jimmy carter is to be laid to rest alongside his wife, rosalynn, at their home in the town of plains, georgia. a private family service was held at the maranatha baptist church, after president carter's casket was flown to georgia from washington dc. earlier in the day, there was a state funeral

service at the national cathedral in the us capitol. jimmy carter's casket was draped in stars and stripes, and accompanied by his family. 3,000 guests, including the last five presidents, leaders from around the world, and jimmy carter's friends and family attended the funeral. the 39th president died last month at 100 years old. jimmy carter lay in state for three days at the us capitol rotunda, where thousands of mourners lined up for hours to pay their respects. i spoke earlier to a former vice president of canada and close friend ofjimmy carter. you were a longtime friend of jimmy carter. can you share with us a memory you have of what your relationship meant and how you worked with him? definitely a lot of memories come to mind. being close to such a remarkable man. the lessons i learned from him are

innumerable. i can relate stories where you would see the man who has reached the pinnacle of power, literally the most powerful man on earth at the time, but with the same humanity and humbleness is anyone you would be. —— humility and humbleness. walking around, showing his real side of a human being, it was quite remarkable. to me it was quite remarkable. to me it was a privilege. el: was quite remarkable. to me it was a privilege.— was a privilege. ec held in a secial was a privilege. ec held in a special place _ was a privilege. ec held in a special place in _ was a privilege. ec held in a special place in the - was a privilege. ec held in a special place in the minds i was a privilege. ec held in a | special place in the minds of the people in panama, given anything everything that happened over the years? ——is he. happened over the years? --is he. , , ., ., ., he. definitely, in panama we consider president _ he. definitely, in panama we consider president carter i consider president carter a national hero. he rectified a historic wrong and not only

that but by doing that made the canal, the panama canal, much more valuable and strategic for the united states, as the world went into a globalised economy. will trade exploding, the canal became more important and strategic and valuable to the us, as a matter of fact. panama expanded it recently to be able to take on bigger ships and more world trade as the world demanded, so it has been for everyone, history has proven that the canal turned over to panama was not only the right thing to do but it made it more strategic and made panama a

very strategic ally of the united states by doing that. what are your views of that legacy given what we heard from president—elect donald trump in relation to panama? 1 president-elect donald trump in relation to panama?— relation to panama? i think we have to go _ relation to panama? i think we have to go back— relation to panama? i think we have to go back to _ relation to panama? i think we have to go back to history i relation to panama? i think we have to go back to history and | have to go back to history and go back to the facts. panama has been forever one of the strongest allies of the united states. we have worked very closely on very important issues, like counterterrorism, actually, the canal has been one of the key elements in that strategic relationship with the united states, so it has actually caught everyone by surprise because, indeed, panama has been that kind of strategic ally. yes, the canal

issue was a very contentious one 50 years ago but since the treaties were signed and ratified on a bipartisan vote here in the us senate, every us administration, both republican and democratic, have not only honoured the words of the treaty but at the same time they have benefited from as i say a better running and operated canal by panama's operations. operated canal by panama's operations-— operations. and, sir, is the president— operations. and, sir, is the president is _ operations. and, sir, is the president is honoured i operations. and, sir, is the i president is honoured today, what part of his legacy really stands out to you? i what part of his legacy really stands out to you?— what part of his legacy really stands out to you? i think that three things. _ stands out to you? i think that three things, his _ stands out to you? i think that three things, his humility, i stands out to you? i think that three things, his humility, his| three things, his humility, his integrity and his courage. the courage to do the right thing,

even at very high political cost. to me those are lessons that today shine more than ever, as the world faces so many different challenges. i think that he is way of handling tough issues with integrity and humility, negotiating and at the same time using the process, it is one of those legacies are today we can use in the convoluted world that we have today. the venezuelan opposition says its leader, maria corina machado, was briefly detained in caracas after she emerged from hiding to lead protests against president nicolas maduro's planned inauguration on friday. her security team said shots were fired at the motorcycle convoy escorting her

from the rally she addressed. poland president asked the prime minister donald tusk to help the israeli prime minister to visit a ceremony. ukraine's president told a meeting of allies that they will have to co—operate even more want donald trump return to the white house. the dogs in germany are about further military support against its war with russia. the block is ready to lead support for ukraine if the us is not leading to do so. an actor alec baldwin is suing prosecutors in new mexico who took him to trial after a gun that he was holding shot dead cinematographer. he has filed a

civil lawsuit for malicious prosecution and civil rights violation. he also alleges defamation, state prosecutors and investigators intentionally mishandle evidence as they pursued the case. cinematographer died after being wounded. baldwin the lead actor and co—producer was pointing a pistol when it discharges up he said he pulled back the hammer but not the trigger and the revolver fired. we're going to take a look again at the story coming out of los angeles. those devastating wildfires. when looking at live pictures. those helicopters trying to drop water on those fires. as we understand, only one fire to this point has been contained and authority say they are doing their very best with the remaining places but they are concerned about the wind whipping tonight and the possibility these fires spreading further. all the latest on our website. thank you for watching and stay with

us. hello there. winter continues to hold a firm grasp across the country. so it will be a freezing friday in store. yes, a frosty start with some freezing fog as well first thing in the morning, gradually lifting to sunny spells. but as we head towards the weekend, something a little less cold on the horizon but still under the influence of high pressure. still the wind direction coming from the north. the only exception into the far southwest. here we've got cloud and showery outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow for a time down to the southwest, some freezing fog lingering in the southeast, and some icy stretches. they will lift to sunny spells into the afternoon. could still see a few coastal showers across the far north and east, but on the whole, not a bad afternoon. a little more cloud pushing through. wales, the midlands and southern england are showery rain continues to the southwest here. we'll see highs of seven degrees, but after that bitterly cold start, temperatures in manyjust a couple of degrees above

freezing and that is going to lead to another cold frosty start into the weekend. once again, our weather front starts to drag more cloud in from the west though, here preventing those temperatures from falling too far but in sheltered central and eastern areas once again, a widespread hard frost on saturday morning. so saturday will gradually see more cloud pushing in on this weak weather front. not that much in the way of rain on it. a few spits and spots of showery rain from time to time. central and eastern areas starting off crisp with some sunshine but clouding over from the west. a little less cold here, where we've got that blanket of cloud, but don't expect a dramatic change quite just yet. we're looking at highs of around 7 or 8 degrees, with the best of the sunshine again between 2 and 1: celsius. now, as we move out of saturday into sunday and the week ahead, it looks likely that the wind direction will change as southwesterly flow will drive in weather fronts to the far north and west,

but mild air right across the country. so we will start to see a change by the middle part of the week for all of us. takes its time in arriving across central and southern england, but by the middle of the week we're back to double figures. but there will be a little bit of rain to go with it. take care.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. fame is a currency, and that currency, well spent, can do a great deal of good in the world. music: love is strange by mickey & sylvia sharon stone shot to international fame after her role in basic instinct, which propelled her to superstardom in the 1990s. her work has also earned her a golden globe nomination and oscar nominations. she's since added many strings to her bow, including humanitarian, author and painter. i caught up with her at a festival in italy

where we talked movies, life and politics.