belief. these tornadoes devoured everything in their path. a stunning rescue in hong kong — more than a hundred people trapped on the roof ofa burning building. consider lewis hamilton for services to motorsport. consider lewis hamilton for services to motorsport. and — arise sir lewis. he may have lost his world title — but britain's formula one hero is knighted at windsor castle. it's eight in the morning in singapore, and midnight in london where the uk recorded its highest ever number of confirmed covid infections — more than 78,500 people tested positive with the speed of the spread of the omicron strain causing considerable concern. it it's notjust here that omicron is spreading rapidly. south africa — where the variant was first identified last month — has also reported a record number of daily infections. italy and france have also seen record numbers. the us has confirmed cases in 36 states while the philippines and cambodia have detected their first omicron cases. our health editor reports now on how how britain is trying to respond with the rapid spread of the new variant, the booster programme has been given new urgency. here, a gp in oxford visit elderly patients in their homes to give them the top job. to give them the top up jab. it will give you a very good protection and boost your immunity. with evidence of that good protection against omicron infection, the booster roll—out will continue, but according to recent research, there is much less of a shield a few months after a second dose, and there's high level concern about how much case could rise. about how much case numbers could rise. probably the most significant threat we have had since the start of the pandemic, and i'm sure for example that the numbers we are seeing on data over the next few days will be quite staggering compared to the rate of growth we have seen in cases for previous variants. even if most of the extra cases are mild, that could result in more staff absences, from key sectors of the economy and public services. and while omicron may cause less serious illness than delta, a surge in cases would mean at least some extra hospital admissions. one group of modellers has come up with a range of scenarios, depending on what happens with the virus and the ta ke—up of boosters. they say in the worst—case scenario england, there could be more than 6000 hospital admissions a day, compared with just under 4000 at the peak last winter. in the best case, they say it would be around 2000 admissions a day in england, and all of that assumes that a previously announced restrictions haven't been changed. the picture seems bleaker, but vaccine coverage is much more widespread than in the january wave, deaths for now are a lot lower, and there are more therapies for covid patients. so that's the situation in britain but i spoke to drjeremy faust for a more global perspective. he's an emergency physician in health policy and public health at brigham and women's hospital in boston. i asked just how prepared the us is for another wave of covid infections. i think ithink our i think our preparation is quite variable across this nation. there are some areas with a lot of vaccine coverage in the highest bricks groups and their areas with a virus is going to find out for itself and we will find out that we don't have enough protection. i think that we've done a good job in getting nursing homes vaccinated in the early phase. but now we see that flagging and we seen it a lot of cases staff workers that nursing homes actually aren't highly vaccinated. these are areas where our mistakes are going to come back to haunt us right now. so i would say i think that we are in a very unusual situation which is there a some parts of the country that might be experiencing something like a flu season and there is some parts that are still experiencing something along the lines of the pre—vaccine era, and that's just remarkable to see that difference across differentjurisdictions. if to see that difference across differentjurisdictions.- different “urisdictions. if we focus on — differentjurisdictions. if we focus on vaccinated - different jurisdictions. if we | focus on vaccinated people, different jurisdictions. if we - focus on vaccinated people, we are hearing from many medical professionals up boosters about moderna and pfizer could help provide protection, what is the outlook for vaccinated people then who do get a booster? that certainly depends _ then who do get a booster? that certainly depends on _ then who do get a booster? twat certainly depends on what we learned in the coming days and weeks. and also who the person is. i think it's very clear that this variant, the 0micron variant will cause more infections among people who have been affected in the past and among people who have been vaccinated and even boosted. the question is, are there groups for whom that implication of infection is really worse than it was in the previous era as the delta era and before? certainlyi previous era as the delta era and before? certainly i think we find that out soon. i don't want people to be at home thinking that the two or even three dose series that they haveis three dose series that they have is no longer effective in terms of keeping them safe. i think many people will have that safety. but there will be some who will need added protection. and i think that's really where we headed over the next few weeks to figure out who those people are and how to best protect them. but i think that infections will become more common what we need to then find out is, what is the implication of those infections? in some cases we are a lot better off than in some areas we still have to catch up. some areas we still have to catch urn-— some areas we still have to catch up. briefly, what's the wa out catch up. briefly, what's the way out of _ catch up. briefly, what's the way out of this _ catch up. briefly, what's the way out of this then? - catch up. briefly, what's the way out of this then? are i catch up. briefly, what's the way out of this then? are in | catch up. briefly, what's the. way out of this then? are in a potential holding pattern of more more boosters?- potential holding pattern of more more boosters? yes. i think every _ more more boosters? yes. i think every time _ more more boosters? yes. i think every time a _ more more boosters? yes. i think every time a new - more more boosters? yes. i. think every time a new bearing comes along it will always find the unvaccinated in terms of our statistics. that's where we will see hospitals and long covid that we are trying to avoid. they question will be is do we have a lot of immunity in our communities? i think that each time it happened i suspect it will get better and better at looking at the data as it comes in and responding saying, what is the threat assessment here, do we have to change what were doing? we have things that were doing? we have things that we didn't have before, we have more access to testing, we have a higher percentage of the population with a degree of protection, it's frustrating because we all thought by now we'd be better off. i think this artist continues to humble us. you can get much more about i'm with the bbc on line including this attempt to exit the question on many of our lives, will tougher measures stop the spread of 0micron? to read that and much more go to bbc .com/ news and click through to the coronavirus section or download the bbc news app. still to come a bit later in the programme — a special report on how pakistan's government is now holding talks with the taliban group responsible for killing more than 130 people at a school in peshawar, seven years ago. but first... president biden was in kentucky on wednesday — to see for himself the damage caused by a series of deadly tornadoes. more than seventy people were killed and more 120 people are still missing. nomia iqbal is in kentucky, and sent this report. this is one of the poorest towns in the state. it has been left in in apocalyptic ruin, many people wondering now what's next. officials say 75% of the town has been destroyed. today president biden came to see the damage for himself. i intend to do whatever it takes, as long as it takes, as long as it takes to support your state, your local leaders as you recover and rebuild because you will recover and you will rebuild. you know, the scope and scale of this destruction is almost beyond belief. when you look around here it's almost beyond belief. these tornadoes devoured everything in their path. president biden has signed an emergency declaration for the state. it will provide funds for the emergency management agency known as fema to help with search and rescue and provide food and water and generators. but many have been relying on strangers for support. sally's manage to find her wedding ring and pictures of her children. she's trying to clear up as much as she can ahead of another storm that's being forecast. we've recovered more than i think we first thought. at first it just looked like a big pile of rubble. as you dig through you are able to find some things and we have found some things that were very important to us. which makes me happier then, when you think everything is gone, it's quite heartbreaking. some people say they want more than just their neighbours helping. i went to a shelter earlier and someone there didn't want to speak to me on camera claim that the government response by fema has been really slow. they also say they hope the president is notjust here for a photo op. the president has also visited the town of mayfield, an hour away. kentucky is a republican state how he and his democratic administration respond to the disaster will be scrutinised by conservatives, the very people he's trying to reach. nomia iqbal, kentucky. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines... the former minneapolis police officer derek chauvin has pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating george floyd's civil rights. last april, chauvin was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for killing mr floyd by kneeling on his neck. america's biggest police department, in new york, is to be led by a woman for the first time in its history. keechant sewell has been appointed by mayor—elect eric adams. ms sewell said she wanted the department to �*look like the city it serves' — and promised to clamp down on gun crime. the us government has released thousands more pages of previously secret documents, relating to the assassination of president kennedy in 1963. the documents show how soviet intelligence, communist groups with links to africa, and the italian mafia, were all investigated. but researchers have, so far, not found anything to contradict the official finding that lee harvey 0swald acted on his own when he shotjfk. high drama in hong kong on wednesday — when more than a hundred people had to be rescued from the top of a skyscraper, after a fire broke out. thirteen people were treated in hospital after a blaze took hold around lunchtime in the world trade centre in the causeway bay area. 0ur reporter martin yip sent this update from the scene. it was lunchtime when smoke started billowing into the shopping mall levels. this video shows diners in a buffet restaurant not sure what to do. a shopper told the bbc she heard no fire alarm. the fire department confirmed later that builders had informed them that they had to turn it off for renovation works. as people made their way out, some found it hard to go down the staircase because of the smoke. instead, they went up onto the podium. some office workers ended up on the roof, more than 30 levels above ground. but it didn't take long before firefighters came to their rescue. the fire brigade spent around four hours to put everything under control. this new renovation was built in the 19705. it's a a building that stands on the hong kong island harbour front overlooking the famous victoria harbour and the scottish garden. 0ur firemen discovered the fire scene was heavily smoked at the time of our arrival. so, to a fireman, we found it... it is one of the reason leading to distress of the arguments inside the building. the fire department says it will investigate further to determine the cause of the fire. martin yip, bbc news, hong kong. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... australia could face more scorching temperatures — we speak to an expert on extreme weather — to find out how the heatwave is changing lives. saddam hussein is finished because he killed our people, our women, our children. the signatures took only a few minutes but they brought a formal end to three and a half years of conflict. conflict that has claimed more than 200,000 lives. before an audience of world leaders the presidents of bosnia and serbia and croatia put their names to peace agreement. the romanian border was sealed and silent today, romania has. cut the romanian border. was sealed and silent today, romania has cut itself off - from the outside world in order to prevent the details - of the presumed massacre in timisoara from leaking out. from sex at the white house to a trial for his political life, the lewinsky affair tonight guaranting bill clinton his place in history as only the second president ever to be impeached. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. 0ur headlines... record figures for new covid infections in the uk more than 78 thousand new cases were reported in the past 2a hours. president biden has been visiting kentucky to see the devastation caused by this weekend's tornadoes. he described it as being �*almost beyond belief�*. let's turn to pakistan now — where seven years ago — on the 16th december 2014 — a school in peshawar in north—western pakistan was targeted by the pakistani taliban — also known as the ttp. 134 children were killed in what is regarded as the worst militant attack in the country in recent times. but now the authorities in pakistan have started a reconciliation process with the ttp — a group accused of being responsible for the deaths of more than 75— thousand people. shumaila jaffery reports. this man was shot in the head by the pakistani taliban, or the ttp, the day the army—run public school came under attack. he survived, but lost his mother, a schoolteacher. he says he will never be able to forgive and forget what he has been through. translation: why are their hearts are so filled _ with brutality and meanness? why give concessions to them or support for them and reconciliation with the ttp? those who deserve punishment must be punished, and it's our right that we should get justice. the city has seen hundreds of terrorist attacks by the pakistani taliban. but the trauma the people experienced on the 16th of december 2014 is unforgettable. it was the day when seven gunmen affiliated with the ttp attacked the army public school. more than 130 children were among the dead. the attack is called a watershed moment in pakistan's fight against terrorism. it was followed by the numerous military operations in the tribal region. however, last month, pakistan announced it has started reconciliation talks with ttp. later, the taliban's visiting foreign minister confirmed that the process is being facilitated by them. translation: we welcome the talks and the cease-fire | between pakistan and the ttp. we will try to keep the process going and address the reasons for the conflict. the ttp is separate from the afghan taliban, but they share the same ideology and have close connections. pakistan claims that most of the ttp fighters are hiding in and operating from afghanistan. this man believes the talks have been started at the afghan taliban's behest and that they will fail. these ttp, they are all criminals. where they have been slaughtering, where they have been playing football with their heads and in negotiations and agreements and those agreements have been violated. the ttp has unilaterally ended a month—long cease—fire and has resumed its attacks. the major roadblock is the release of more than 100 ttp fighters, including this man. the government says it's negotiating from the position of strength, but the general sentiment here is against giving any concessions to the militants who people believe have the blood of thousands pakistanis on their hands. shumaila jaffery, bbc news. to australia now — which may see record temperatures this week of 50 degrees celsius in the interior and that may possibly spread into the south of the country. while the southern hemisphere summer can be hot in the outback — the record would spark talk of bushfires two years ago — that drew on a combination of climate change and a near perfect mix of dry seasonal conditions. earlier, i asked for an update on the current weather conditions from dr sarah perkins—kirkpatrick — a chief investigator with the australian research council of excellenece for climate extremes. in the northwest of australia we do have quite severe heat wave developing. some parts of the far west are expected to see temperatures of about 50 degrees or so over the next whether or not that forecast eventuates to be that extreme remains to be seen. it is really hot, don't get me wrong, will not be too pleasant to experience. also it is summer here and it is very hard doing that hot part of the country during the summer. temperatures that high aren't completely out of the picture. but certainly chipping 50 degrees else he is or even breaking may very well be a record in some places. australia has been through this many times before, hasn't it? what's the big concern or the big risk here? absolutely. i'm sure many of you remember that in 2019, 2020 summer we had a bad summer here. we had record breaking temperatures, horrible bushfires in really bad air quality because of those bushfires it really tight link between that heat, consequential drought and also bushfire weather. at that summer a lot of those heat and bushfire conditions were actually limited to the southeast of australia for the places like melbourne, sydney cambria the really populated parts of australia this on the particular heat wave is occurring in the northwest because a much more sparsely populated it is certainly forecasting increased bushfire risk over that part of the country. we recently had some bushfires in perth although that's a lot further south than this current he's wave. what are the people most concerned about right now and what can people do as the weather becomes more volatile over the next few weeks? what we call the black summer heat, that was a 2019—2020, it was terrible, i live through it, i was living in sydney at the time the quality was a horrible, nobody could go outside. it was a real wake—up call to many people just how bad summers can get and will get in part due to climate change in this part of the world. it's those conditions occurring over the most popular parts of sydney. for us to experience that for the everyday australian has really put a negative spin on our summers with love the hot weather and we'd love to go and celebrate by going to the beach or having a barbecue with art mates, that sort of thing. now there is a much more nervousness going into summer. we worried will it be hot, how bad it will be, who will be affected? and yet the consequential changes around that too. the racing driver, lewis hamilton, has been knighted at windsor castle, just days after controversially losing out on a record eighth formula one world title. sir lewis received the honour for services to motorsports from the prince of wales. meanwhile the sports governing body — the fia — has announced an inquiry into sunday's race, saying the controversy around it is tarnishing the image of the championship. all this as f1's new world champion, max verstappen, has been celebrating his title with his red bull team at their factory in milton keynes. our sports editor, dan roan, reports. it may have been at a slower speed than usual, but formula 0ne's new world champion returned to a hero's welcome today. max verstappen, able to celebrate with the entire staff at red bull's base in milton keynes, later the dutch driver telling me how it felt to have realised a lifelong ambition. it is slowly sinking in but also it has been very hectic so i'm also pretty tired at the moment. anything that will happen now is a bonus. not much will change but in the back of your mind you are a bit more relaxed because your ultimate goal you have achieved already. his victory over lewis hamilton in the season's deciding race in abu dhabi has divided the sport. mercedes failing with two protests after the dutch was given the chance to claim the title in the final lap after a restart, so has the controversy tainted the success? not for me and not for the team. we raced when there was a green light, green flag and beat them on the track. when you look over the whole season, we had the most poles, most wins. we had ourfairshare we had ourfair share of bad luck as well. mercedes have the option of appealing, they have until tomorrow evening to decide. would you like them now to just stop this fight and accept the result? it is difficult. i cannot speak for them. i think races should be won on the track. we will celebrate regardless, bit we at least won it on the track. having missed out on a record eighth title, hamilton meanwhile could at least celebrate receiving his knighthood today, max verstappen full of praise for the man who pushed him all the way. it has been a real pleasure fighting against him. we had our moments throughout the year when we clashed but we really respect each other because we have pushed each other to the limit. despite the fallout, max verstappen's victory marks a new era for a sport which is winning new fans, and aged just 24 there could be much more success to come. dan roan, bbc news. just before we go what to bring you some breaking news. we are getting reports that nine people have died following a private aircraft crashing while making emergency landing at the airport and dominican republic, santo domingo for the according to sources there were seven passages and two crew members that have died. no other details currently available but we will be sure to bring them to you as soon as we can get it. do state with bbc news for the latest headlines. do state with bbc news for the latest headlines. that's all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello there. temperatures were as high as 14 degrees on wednesday, and the rest of the week will stay mild. i suspect many of us, though, will continue to see cloudy skies like this. there was some sunshine, though, across a good part of yorkshire and lincolnshire on wednesday, but these areas with those clearer skies are starting a bit colder on thursday morning. mild elsewhere underneath that blanket of cloud. could be some mist and fog patches with those clearer skies across parts of northern england, even down into norfolk as well. we'll see those mist and fog patches lifting, and the best of the sunshine more likely to be to the east of the pennines in the north east of england. a lot of cloud around elsewhere. there's a bit of rain and drizzle across northern parts of scotland becoming more confined towards the northern isles. whether you've got the cloud or not, though, it's still a mild day for the time of year. temperatures widely in double figures once again. now, high pressure is building in across the uk. that's why it's so quiet, but that high pressure is bringing with it a good deal of cloud. now, the cloud could just be thick enough to give one or two spots of drizzle across more southern parts of the uk, whereas again a mild start on friday. a little bit chillier across some eastern parts of scotland, the north east of england, perhaps even into the north west of wales, where there could be a few breaks overnight. but as you can see, not a great deal of sunshine on offer on friday. the winds are light in most places, just picking up a touch there in the far south west of england. and again, it's mild. 8—9 degrees more typically across northern parts of england and scotland, this time temperatures are starting to ebb awayjust a little. this weekend, though, we're going to hang on the cloudy skies for most of the country. a lot of dry weather around as well, of course. limited amounts of sunshine means a limited amount of frost. it will be turning a bit colder as the weekend goes on. you can see we may have some sunshine across the north east of scotland, perhaps west wales, into the far south west of england, where there's a bit more but otherwise, it looks cloudy once again. and we may just sneak those temperatures across southern parts in particular into double figures. there's the area of high pressure. it's really taking a shine to the uk. it's not going to move very far at all during this weekend. so, again, the winds are likely to be light, but as you can see again it looks like it's going to be quite cloudy. that cloud could be quite low as well, so some mist and some fog potentially over some higher parts of the uk. and those temperatures beginning to drop away a little bit. it will feel a little bit chillier on sunday. this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour as newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. the covid pandemic has cost millions of lives and put governments around the world under intense scrutiny from their own citizens. nowhere more so than brazil, where the death toll has topped 600,000 and the president still refuses to be vaccinated. well, my guest, ernesto araujo, was president bolsonaro's foreign minister until earlier this year.