we will look at what's in store for us—china relations. plus, trump wants greenland but does greenland want him? we hearfrom a danish lawmaker and some greenlanders in a special report. welcome to newsday, i'm steve lai. we begin in los angeles, where fires continue to rage with attention turning to forecast warnings of an increase in high winds overnight. authorities say they are prepared for the change in weather, which will put the whole of la county under fire threat. so far, 2a people have been killed and several others are missing. tens of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes and officials say they will not be able to return for at least four days. these wildfires are on track to be among the costliest in us history.

accuweather has increased its preliminary estimate of financial losses from the blazes to between $250—275 billion. reiterating those sentiments, california governor gavin newsom said that 1a,000 people are actively working against the fires in what he says could be the worst natural disaster to hit the country. here's emma vardy with the latest from los angeles. the race to stay ahead of the deadly fires enters a sixth day. helicopters fly just above the smoke, below, the flames rage. just as progress is made, other areas ignite. in the fire's wake, residents continue to journey back to where their houses once stood. for one, the reality is overwhelming. pants. oh, my god! cries.

there have been repeated warnings for people to stick to night—time curfews, police urging the need for order. i saw a gentleman who looked like a firefighter and i asked him if he was ok because he was sitting down — i did not realise we had him in handcuffs. we were turning him over to the lapd because he was dressed like a fireman and he was not — he just got caught burglarising homes. that was my house. this is the main house. with tens of thousands of people staying in emergency hotels and shelters, they're safe for now but have no idea where they will go next. serenity�*s family of 11 fled minutes before their home burned. people like me with no insurance, we don't know what we're going to do. we are at shelters like this. we are going all around town. some of us have lost our car, some have lost our sense of being. the city faces a massive task to provide housing

for the areas that are lost. # we will rise... # we'll rise... at a church in pasadena, the sunday congregation summoning the strength to face the day. the community is pulling together to weather this disaster, but there were fears over how some are being affected. you know, people can take the land and buy the land. we want to make sure they remain the land owners and they continue to retain their property. my concern is mainly for the underserved and those at—risk, which are the elderly and then also the children. the scale of the destruction in neighbourhoods is vast. whole schools are gone. as you know, our beloved south campus has been severely damaged by the recent fires and many of our families and staff experienced great personal loss. crews have slowed the spread of the eaton fire but strong

winds drive it back into life. well, you can see here that it's burning on both sides of us, up the hill and down into the valley, too. there's helicopters flying just above us, just dropping water now, trying to keep those flames at bay. and there's a renewed sense of urgency because down here is a large nasa facility that the flames have been moving towards. emma hardy, bbc news, los angeles. —— emma vardy, bbc news, los angeles. our teams on the ground in los angeles say the devastation is clear to see wherever you look. our correspondent helena humphrey sent this update from pacific palisades. fire came through and if you take a look in every direction, it is 360 degrees worth of destruction here. and this is a scene being played out right across la county — tens of thousands

of acres that have been destroyed like this with all of these houses razed to the ground. now, as we've been here in the area, we've been feeling those now notorious santa ana winds picking up once again. these are the enemy of those fire crews that are working so hard to try to control those fires but essentially, they could whip up the flames once again — that is the concern — and those fire crews are stretched to the limit right now. we know today that president zelensky of ukraine has offered to send fire teams from ukraine to help in the effort. here in this area today, we've had aerial drops of water which have been effective — over 500 million gallons worth of water dropped from the sky to try and control these blazes — but it is a race against time now with the wind. we've heard from the la mayor today, karen bass, saying she is confident

the president—elect donald trump will come in the capacity as president to see the devastation on the ground. he has criticised the response from california politicians, saying it is incompetent. we've also heard from the governor of california gavin newsom, and he has called on people to stay in la, to stay here and rebuild. but when you survey the scenes here again and you take a look at the challenge ahead in doing so, that road to recovery and how long it will be, you'll see the challenge of people to stay here and rebuild — particularly when we know that climate change is exacerbating these weather—related events — and, ultimately, they could just find themselves in the path of harm once again. more on the climate change statement by helena in the moment. erik scott is a fire captain and paramedic with the la city fire department. he told me the latest on efforts to fight the fires. the largest fire is the palisades fire, 23,000 acres and only 11% contained and we had a decent flare—up yesterday on the northeast portion, so we

are reallocating resources from the ground and air to that area. ithink the ground and air to that area. i think what is driving those steep hillsides however and look at those homes that were right next to the ridge that was burning and there was a fire engine from almost in front of every single house and so, we finally have the resources that we've been needing. every home i looked at was undamaged and most of those fire engines said inaudible on the sides we are getting help from all over the united states. �* , ., ., climate change is said to be fuelling the devastating fires in la and it's not the only area that has seen massive wildfires of this scale — australia is also no stranger to bushfires with the most recent and the worst in the country's history in 2020. for more, we can speak to former fire and rescue nsw commissioner greg mullin. greg, great to speak to you about this. when we talk about los angeles and what we have been seeing over there, what do

you make of the efforts to rein in the fires?— in the fires? look, really, it's the — in the fires? look, really, it's the best _ in the fires? look, really, it's the best resource - in the fires? look, really, it's the best resource to l in the fires? look, really, - it's the best resource to place on the planet in terms of firefighting resources, and i'm not seeing anything that i could think of that they are not actually doing. and we have to be aware that this is a weather driven event and cliff climate change is exacerbating extreme weather worldwide and we are experiencing it here in australia but look, look at los angeles, i worked there in the mid 19905 with the city and the county fire department. i experienced five during santa ana wind5 experienced five during santa ana winds and i've been back there quite a few times and just devastated to see what the ju5t devastated to see what the community is going through. find community is going through. and ou community is going through. and you mentioned they are one of the most well resourced when it comes to be able to fight fires but we have also seen the incredible amount of devastation that these fires have wrought. it really drives home the point that there will never really be enough human made or man—made re5ource5 never really be enough human

made or man—made resources to combat what mother nature can throw at us. combat what mother nature can throw at us- combat what mother nature can throw at ve— combat what mother nature can throw at oo— throw at us. look, this is what to . ether throw at us. look, this is what together with _ throw at us. look, this is what together with expired - throw at us. look, this is what together with expired chiefs i together with expired chiefs from every fire service in australia, in 2019—20 we formed an organisation called emergency leaders for climate action and we tried to warn the federal government at the moment that a fire catastrophe was coming and we were ignored. not by others but by the government of the day. the fires that we are experiencing with exacerbation of his weather so we saw incredible floods like in spain after a massive fires in australia we ma55ive fires in australia we saw flood for three years in 5aw flood for three years in australia. places where there has never really been fire problems, london in 2022, in july a0 degrees day and a1 homes destroyed on the outskirts of london. it would have thought that would happen? places like australia, california, 5outhern places like australia, california, southern europe,

mediterranean countries that are accustomed to fire5, they are accustomed to fire5, they are just becoming wor5e are accustomed to fire5, they are just becoming worse and worse and worse and we do — the human race, i think, worse and worse and we do — the human race, ithink, i5 worse and worse and we do — the human race, i think, is a bit delusional. we think there is some silver bullet that we can make these fires go out when you have 160 kilometres per hour wind5 you have 160 kilometres per hour winds and you cannot even stand up in wind5 like that and when they are driving flames that you, you are lucky to survive. that you, you are lucky to survive-— that you, you are lucky to survive. ~ ., ., i. survive. what, to your mind, needs to _ survive. what, to your mind, needs to be _ survive. what, to your mind, needs to be done, _ survive. what, to your mind, needs to be done, political i needs to be done, political will is surely the only way? look, i think the best analogy i could draw is if your bath is overflowing, sending people to get buckets when you know that you need to turn the tap off because that's the causal factor so really, worldwide we need 5trong factor so really, worldwide we need strong leadership to reduce climate pollution from the burning of coal, oil and gas because when you know the connection, whatever some social media po5t5 say, if you

look at the real science, peer—reviewed science, it is very, very clear what's happening. we need to stop polluting our atmosphere and warming up the planet and causing this extreme weather so that we can stabili5e and then you give people like me on the front line a fighting chance but whenever world leaders talk about it, they really don't do much. we're going to see more of these di5a5ter5 much. we're going to see more of these disasters and it really up5et5 me and frustrates me because firefighters are doers, we are practical people. we see what is causing things, we know what has to be done but it is not happening.— it is not happening. greg, thank you _ it is not happening. greg, thank you for _ it is not happening. greg, thank you for putting - it is not happening. greg, thank you for putting thatj it is not happening. greg, - thank you for putting that into perspective for us. we appreciate your time. greg mullin, former fire and rescue nsw commissioner. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you are watching newsday on bbc

news. 0utgoing us pre5identjoe biden has less than a week before he steps down and in his last week as president, he held a phone call with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu to discuss gaza. israeli and palestinian officials have said since thursday that some progress has been made but did not elaborate. 0ur correspondent merlyn thomas has more on that call. according to the white house, president biden has spoken to the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu about the urgent need for a ceasefire deal and the immediate return of hostages being held by hama5. the white house also said that president biden actually asked for the increase of humanitarian aid going into gaza, which has been enabled by a halt to fighting. it comes a day after prime minister netanyahu sent a senior delegation of officials to qatar, where the negotiations are taking place. and this is part of a long—running variety of efforts by the biden administration to come to some

sort of deal and a deal has seemed imminent several times only to fall apart at the last minute. and president—elect donald trump has also spoken about this issue. he has said that all hell would break out in the middle east if the hostages were not released by the time that he returns to the oval office. now, the person he is intending to place as middle east envoy has actually met with the israeli prime minister days before the inauguration. it appears there is some sort of co—ordination between the trump and biden teams in this ongoing effort and whether a deal is struck remains to be seen. what is clear is that these two administrations are starkly divided over who would deserve the praise. this time next week, donald trump will be returning to the white house as president and there are many unanswered questions about how his second term will look. among the biggest is how he will handle china. trump was tough on beijing in his first term, and has promised an even tougher line this time around.

he has touted wide ranging tariffs on chinese exports. but is he a hawk or a dealmaker making an opening bid? former pentagon strategist matthew kroenig told me china could be the greatest threat the us has everfaced. china, diplomatic and rhetorical level, talks about cooperation but if you just look at their behaviour on a day—to—day basis, daily military coercion, police stations 5et military coercion, police stations setup in the united states to spy on chinese nationals within the united states, daily stealing of an electoral property, i think it is actually a confrontational policy and they are hoping to smooth it over with a nice rhetoric and i don't think the trump administration will go for that. trump administration will go forthat. i trump administration will go for that. i think they will allow chinese representatives at the inauguration, a5 allow chinese representatives at the inauguration, as you point out, but they will, i suspect, also have allie5 present and i think some of the early diplomatic engagements may actually be to deliver tough messages to complain to

china, to read out the rap sheet of our concerns and tell them there's going to be a tougher approach unle55 them there's going to be a tougher approach unless they change course. wang huiyao is founder and president of the center for china and globalization. he gave me his more optimistic outlook of what could happen to us—china relations after trump takes office. a5 as we know, there are two administrations, the first trumpet and second biden and the us has trialled many things. china 5tood the us has trialled many things. china stood there, china is resilient and last year, grew 5% so i think we have to do find a way to really work together and to fight an automatic like climate change like the big fire in california and we see these imminent threat5 and we see these imminent threats from climate change and many others, inaudible pandemic and so we have to work together and so we have to work together and furthermore china and the us have so many things intertwined for example the

inaudible as recently inaudible china company accounts about 27% of —— accounts for inaudible. 8.8% gro55 compared with last year so many things. there is already 73,000 us companies invested in china, over1.2 trillion inaudible so i think maybe trumpet comes back as a businessman, a5 a dealmaker, it busine55man, a5 a dealmaker, it probably represents a good inaudible opportunity for china and the us to continue one, phase two and three and really you know benefit and make inaudible may be us and china inaudible may be us and china inaudible again and let's work together so many things i think could prevail with inaudible

mentality. and rivalry inaudible you know that's not really pre5ume inaudible you know that's not really presume that.— really presume that. let's call for cooperation. _ really presume that. let's call for cooperation. crosstalk. | for cooperation. crosstalk. let's focu5 for cooperation. crosstalk. let's focus on an optimistic outlook than at the moment. let's focu5 outlook than at the moment. let's focus on the optimistic outlook you have, hasluck, elon musk has been close to donald trump since he won the recent election and i5 trump since he won the recent election and is suspected to be at the inauguration a5 election and is suspected to be at the inauguration as well —— te5la. at the inauguration as well -- tesla. , ., , tesla. he must realise it will hurt them, _ tesla. he must realise it will hurt them, for _ tesla. he must realise it will hurt them, for example - tesla. he must realise it will hurt them, for example the l tesla. he must realise it will. hurt them, for example the chip sucked with the semiconductor restrictions, us semiconductors inaudible of the business. —— chips act. 0ther inaudible of the business. —— chips act. other business acts as well. inaudible china how you can be helping us and inaudible general and, of

course, we have apple. apple a0% of its smartphones in china you know second—biggest markets in the world for apple and tim cook also had a good relationship with donald trump in addition to elon musk. inaudible college was the chairman of the trump advisory committee in the first term, also inaudible. greenland is not somewhere that often makes the news but it has been thrust into the international spotlight after donald trump ramped up his rhetoric about taking control of the territory. he first raised the idea of buying greenland during his first term in 2019. but this time, he hasn't ruled out using economic or even military pressure to seize the land, which has been under danish rule for more than 300 years. in light of his father's renewed interest, donald trump jr made a brief visit

to the nation's capital nuuk this past week. located between the united states and russia, the world's largest island holds significant strategic value and valuable natural resources. several european countries — including denmark — have warned against trump's plans, saying that the autonomous danish territory is not for sale. our special correspondent fergal keane travelled to greenland and filed this report. it is one of the world's last wild frontiers. glimpsed in the short winter sunlight, we're travelling into a place of pristine beauty that's suddenly been overtaken by a diplomatic crisis. this place is so remote that it's hard to imagine it as the front line of a major geopolitical row but up and down this fjord and isolated settlements, and across the island of greenland, they're talking about trump.

those who live here know the strain of harsh weather and the demands of survival. you need to be hardy for this every day. but again and again, i would hear this is their land. welcome to home! welcome to this wonderful place. yes. angutimmarik hansen and his family hunt and raise sheep for a living. what do you feel about trump? what a stupid human in the world, like trump. chuckles. that's what you feel? yeah. i mean, we think about the us and trump — this is different. we need to maybe work together with us and not trump. there's worry here.

an inuit culture that struggled against danish colonialism doesn't want any new power taking over. this man is a village pastor. this isn't an argument about owning greenland, he says. it's about a people's culture and history. translation: it is wild and weird. it is so strange to hear him talk about our land as being something is purchasable. we have been here for a long time. we're used to our ways of living. in the capital, nuuk, there's a feeling that the trump intervention has brought world attention to greenland's campaign for independence. and there's pragmatism. a desire for strong links and financial help from america and denmark. donald trump is a politician. he's a hard businessman and we know his rhetoric. and that rhetoric is something we have gotten used

to since 2019. but what is necessary here is that greenland, as a sovereign state, should negotiate directly with the united states and not denmark. the eskimo are very primitive and the danish government is doing its best to keep civilisation from spoiling them. to understand what greenlanders feel about the colonial past, it's important to know about racism and abuses. ..when a ship comes in. hedvig frederiksen was only 1a when danish officials fitted her with a contraceptive coil without her permission in the 19705. she's one of over 100 women suing denmark for its efforts to limit greenland's population. translation: it was i a very awful experience. i was still a child. it was just awful. i think the danish people looked down on us, especially back then. what do you need denmark to do? i want them to apologise.

however mighty, those wanting to control this land must reckon with an enduring struggle for dignity and self—determination. fergal keane, bbc news, greenland. let's take a look at some other headlines. south korean investigators are seeking cooperation 1550 00:24:21,207 --