there will be active recovery over the coming days and we of the bones of those who have been lost. so it will take time. to give perspective, it is going to take many years to rebuild lahaina. when you see the full extent of the destruction of lahaina it will shock you. it does appear like a bomb and fire went off, if i may. and all of those buildings, virtually, are going to have to be rebuilt. it will be a new lahaina. let's recap the latest details from hawaii. at least 53 people are now known to have died in the fires, though we've heard the governor say that number will rise. billions of dollars of property are also expected to be destroyed. governor green says as many as 1,700 buildings have been destroyed and 11,000 people are still without power or water in west maui. the fires began on tuesday and officials say none of these fires are 100% contained. the blazes spread quickly, fuelled by strong winds generated by a hurricane over the pacific ocean. thousands are still in emergency shelters. visitors are being evacuated from the island. these are some of the pictures we have of the islands, with smouldering ruins, and total devastation. the worst destruction has been on the island of maui, where some beach—front areas have been completely levelled. us presidentjoe biden has now declared the wildfires a "major disaster." this triggers the release of federal funds to help recovery efforts. he spoke earlier. we have just approved a major disaster declaration for hawaii, which will get aid into the hands of the people desperately needing the help now. they've lost — anyone who's lost a loved one, whose home has been damaged or destroyed, is going to get help immediately. and i've directed that we surge support to these brave firefighters and first responders and emergency personnel working around the clock there, risking their lives. at the press conference earlier, us senator brian schatz said democratic senate leader chuck schumer promised to work to send congressional aid to the state. let's take a look at what else is being done to help the situation in hawaii. the federal emergency management agency administrator deanne criswell will travel to the state to meet with officials. earlier, fema announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to supplement local recovery efforts. california is sending search and rescue teams to help recovery efforts. that's according to the state's governor, gavin newsom. california officials have a lot of experience in dealing with such blazes, including the 2018 camp fire that killed 85 people. and the main airport in maui has turned into an unofficial emergency shelter. more than 111,000 tourists have already been evacuated. this is all happening as the extent of the devastation becomes clearer, as our north america correspondent nomia iqbal reports. much of the hawaiian island of maui is now scorched earth. a pilot can hardly believe what he's seeing. oh, my gosh! look at the harbour! this looks like baghdad or something. the historic town of lahaina barely exists any more. since the fire began on tuesday, it has ripped through, fuelled by hurricane—force winds, leaving burnt—out cars on once busy streets and instead of historic buildings, there are smoking piles of rubble. everybody still out here, it's time to go! for anyone still in the town, the message is clear — get out. if anybody�*s still here, the fire is on front street and it is time to go! this satellite image from last month and yesterday lays bare the destruction. it's something you'd see in a war zone. i was the last one off the dock when the firestorm came through the banyan trees and took everything with it. and ijust ran out to the beach and i ran south and ijust helped everybody i could along the way. still got dead bodies in the water, floating, and on the sea wall. they've been sitting there since last night. we've been pulling people out since last night, trying to save people's lives, and i feel like we're not getting the help we need. the us military has now mobilised as it tries desperately to suppress the fires over the island. a state nicknamed �*the paradise of the pacific�* is now paradise lost. the us coast guard has been working to rescue people off the coast of the town of lahaina after manyjumped into the water to escape the burning flames. they say a total of 17 people have been saved from the water. another a0 survivors have been found on shore and brought to safety by boat crews. the coast guard says search efforts have covered 689 square nautical miles which is just over 2000 square kilometres. thousands have been displaced on maui, waiting to safely return to their homes. these are images taken by our bbc digital reporter max matza of the maui war memorial stadium which has been housing scores of evacuees. long lines and people settling in on air mattresses and temporary bedding in a crowded gymnasium that's overflowing. earlier, i spoke to our bbc digital reporter max matza, from the scene. max, i understand that you arrived fairly recently. what are you seeing there? that's riuht. i are you seeing there? that's right- i came _ are you seeing there? that's right. i came into _ are you seeing there? that's right. i came into the - are you seeing there? that's right. i came into the airportj right. i came into the airport this morning, which is quite full of people trying to get out. thousands have already made it out there are still hundreds of people trying to find any way to the other islands or to the mainland. they spoke to one mother of three who, with herfamily, jumped into the harbour of lahaina to escape the flames. she was battered against the rocks, cuts all over her legs, and eventually they had to flee after a firefighter found them running through the flames and now they are heading home to kansas. i have met other people who have had other close calls, turning around, leaving everything behind, medication, laptops, clothing. 0ne everything behind, medication, laptops, clothing. one man i'm mad he arrived at the shelter said he had spent the last two nights in his car with his cuts with only the clothes on his back. �* , ,., , with only the clothes on his back. i, back. absolutely shocking testimony _ back. absolutely shocking testimony there. - back. absolutely shocking testimony there. and - back. absolutely shocking | testimony there. and what back. absolutely shocking - testimony there. and what about what people actually need when they are coming to that shelter and how is that shelter being run, because as they understand it in the shelters a lot of volunteers are taking part, really a sense of all hands on deck here. really a sense of all hands on deck here-— deck here. that's right. the ymca have _ deck here. that's right. the ymca have been _ deck here. that's right. the ymca have been helping i deck here. that's right. the | ymca have been helping and deck here. that's right. the - ymca have been helping and lots of others, government agencies, tons of volunteers who are coming, chopping of —— dropping off fruit, as a man with a bunch of bananas over his shoulder, othertraditional away and translate shaved eyes, they are offering acupuncture and massage. but people do have to bring their own bedding and many people don't have that, so there is also charitable clothing and pillows, sheets, and everything people need. they're slipping on air mattresses, you can see behind me, kotze. but really the volunteer effort is just very grassroots it seems so far, it's not very organised. earlier here today the governor arrived. i was also told that 0prah arrived. i was also told that oprah winfrey, one of the most famous maui residence, was also here as well meeting people. so far it doesn't seem very co—ordinated, but they do have quite a lot of supplies. 0ur colleague max matza there. and for more on the disaster, please visit our website. this page has a breakdown of the latest facts from officials, as well as detailed timeline of events leading up to the wildfires. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other news now. northern ireland's police chief has said he is "deeply sorry" about two data breaches revealing the identities of thousands of his officers and staff. police unions say their members are scared of the potential risk to their safety. members of militant groups in northern ireland say they've acquired private details of some officers. but those claims have not been verified. the us supreme court has blocked a settlement that would protect the owners of drug—maker purdue pharma, from being sued for deaths caused by opioids. under the deal, the sackler family would have been shielded from legal liability. 0verdoses of such painkillers are blamed for tens of thousands of deaths across the us each year. the 75th emmy awards have officially been postponed to 15january, as hollywood writers and actors strike over labour disputes with major studios. the ceremony was originally scheduled for september. nominations for the highest honours in television were announced in july, just days before the dual strikes were declared. it's the first time that both writers and actors are striking since 1960. you're live with bbc news. the us and iran are reported to have reached an agreement to free five americans in exchange for five jailed iranians. and there are reports this deal will lead to $6 billion in iranian assets being unfrozen. on thursday, iran moved five americans out of the notorious evin prison to house arrest, the first step in the alleged deal. sources tell the bbc that the five americans will be released once iran's assets — now in a restricted account in south korea — are deposited in qatar's central bank. the american prisoners involved in the agreement include siamak namazi, who has been held in iran for nearly eight years, emad shargi, a washington, dc resident, and morad tahbaz, a us and uk national. two others wish to remain anonymous. earlier my colleague caitriona perry spoke to former us national security advisor john bolton on the developments in iran shortly after this news broke. thanks forjoining us, ambassador. if they can start by getting your reaction to a story that has just been breaking today, the news that five american prisoners in iran have been moved from prison to house arrest. the way houses negotiations for their eventual full release are ongoing and delicate at this time are not all of their identities have been released. but those that we do know, at least some of them would have been still in detention while you are in the white house the national security advisor. can you talk was a little bit about what might have been going on behind the scenes here.— the scenes here. we're obviously _ the scenes here. we're obviously happy - the scenes here. we're obviously happy to - the scenes here. we're obviously happy to get| obviously happy to get americans released. they never should have been detained by iranian authorities in the first place. really civilised nations don't do that. we don't know really much about what the terms of the release are and that, i think, terms of the release are and that, ithink, is potentially troubling, because at least some reports indicate that in exchange for therapy —— release of five americans, the ultimate result, that the us will unfreeze $6 billion of iranian funds, which would put the price per american at $1.2 billion. and that is part of the problem with exchanging unfairly kept hostages for asset, for criminals we have arrested for terrorist, for money. nobody is unhappy that people are being released to never should have been held, but when you put a price on their heads to get them out, you're also putting a price on the heads of other americans and that, i think, is a legitimate concern. the new york times. _ legitimate concern. the new york times, though, - legitimate concern. the new york times, though, is - york times, though, is reporting that the international crisis group, who was familiar with the deal, says that the money will only be used for humanitarian purposes. is it fair to make that kind of deal?— that kind of deal? that is a preposterous _ that kind of deal? that is a preposterous statement. l that kind of deal? that is a i preposterous statement. first of all, money is fungible. it freezes the iranian government responsibility do that, to spend $5 billion on the nuclear programme. 50 spend $5 billion on the nuclear programme-— spend $5 billion on the nuclear rouramme. ., ., , ., ~ , programme. so how does one keep control of this _ programme. so how does one keep control of this type _ programme. so how does one keep control of this type of _ control of this type of situation, though, as he began by saying you want to see these american prisoners free from detention? i american prisoners free from detention?— american prisoners free from detention? i think you have to kee in detention? i think you have to keep in mind _ detention? i think you have to keep in mind the _ detention? i think you have to keep in mind the large - detention? i think you have to i keep in mind the large american interest, there over 320 million americans. they travel overseas. they could be detained illegally, unlawfully, by a rogue state or a terrorist group. are we going to have to pay one billion to get everyone of them out? is not a happy situation. is not for the families of the hostages. they understand that. i've met with hostage families myself, know what they go through. we have to think about them but also americans who could be captured in the future by people even less scrupulous than the government of iran. 50 less scrupulous than the government of iran. so what should be — government of iran. so what should be done _ government of iran. so what should be done to _ government of iran. so what should be done to guarantee government of iran. so what - should be done to guarantee the full release as soon as possible? i full release as soon as possible?— full release as soon as ossible? russia is already doing that to itself and iranian assistance to the russians in this conflict is another reason to keep the pressure on both governments to stop their unacceptable behaviour. brute governments to stop their unacceptable behaviour. we have seen a tax _ unacceptable behaviour. we have seen a tax on _ unacceptable behaviour. we have seen a tax on -- _ unacceptable behaviour. we have seen a tax on -- tax _ unacceptable behaviour. we have seen a tax on -- tax on _ unacceptable behaviour. we have seen a tax on -- tax on both - seen a tax on —— tax on both sides, you about the pace of the counteroffensive? i think we would _ the counteroffensive? i think we would all _ the counteroffensive? i think we would all like _ the counteroffensive? i think we would all like to - the counteroffensive? i think we would all like to see - the counteroffensive? i think we would all like to see the i we would all like to see the pace of the counteroffensive? i think we would all like to see the piece improved, but what worries me more is even if gridlock on the battlefield continues, what i'm really worried about is a russian diplomatic offensive in the fall, where they say, you know, this war has gone on for a year and a half, calla this war has gone on for a year and a half, call a ceasefire and a half, call a ceasefire and have negotiations, because the russian success in this war has been extremely limited and it may be that putin will try and storage the haemorrhaging that he has experience. and i'm very afraid both in europe and the united states that there are people who will say, great, let's have a ceasefire and negotiate, because that will freeze a new russian border. unlike the situation in 2014 it won't control 20 was —— 10% of ukraine, it will control 20%. walked to the international community to do? injeddah that russia was invited to. i community to do? in jeddah that russia was invited to.— russia was invited to. i don't think there _ russia was invited to. i don't think there is _ russia was invited to. i don't think there is willingness - russia was invited to. i don't think there is willingness on | think there is willingness on either side to negotiate at the side and it's understandable. the talks injeddah will help also the government of ukraine to get its position out to countries around the world for their own good reasons, not as familiar with the nature of the russian attack, the conduct of the war, and really what's at stake here. so i think that was a good thing to do, but i think ukraine wants to be in a stronger position before it accepts negotiations and i agree with that. i think we set our objective as the full restoration of ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. i think we have to show we mean what we say. looking at the blockade in the black sea and as we saw, the green new deal is not in place anymore. a lot of food exports there, millions of people depending on those food exports, the food relief there. what do you think should be done to try and stop that blockade and get the exports flowing again? i blockade and get the exports flowing again?— flowing again? i think last ear, if flowing again? i think last year. if not _ flowing again? i think last year, if not before, - flowing again? i think last year, if not before, natol year, if not before, nato should have considered escorting the ships, the grand ships from 0desa and other ukrainian ports until they go through the bosphorus and get into the mediterranean. i think the russians would not attack nato ships. we are not threatening the russians by that kind of escort. i think this is the kind of timidity on nato's part that is encouraged pertinent to think there is weakness in the west that he can exploit. weakness in the west that he can exoloit-— weakness in the west that he can exploit. what do you think could be done _ can exploit. what do you think could be done then? - can exploit. what do you think could be done then? if- can exploit. what do you think could be done then? if there l could be done then? if there were nato — could be done then? if there were nato escort, _ could be done then? if there were nato escort, we - could be done then? if there were nato escort, we have l could be done then? if there - were nato escort, we have done this before, the united states escorted tankers out of the persian gulf back in the 1990s and i think we could do the same. the ships we're talking about are not ukrainian warships. they are cargo ships of many nationalities carrying a humanitarian cargo. ii of many nationalities carrying a humanitarian cargo.- of many nationalities carrying a humanitarian cargo. if we can move to other— a humanitarian cargo. if we can move to other news _ a humanitarian cargo. if we can move to other news that - a humanitarian cargo. if we can move to other news that was . move to other news that was developing today as well in a court in florida lawyers for the former president donald trump and had not guilty pleas to three further charges relating to the allegations that he was keeping classified documents as property at mar—a—lago. what do you make of those latest charges? i mar-a-lago. what do you make of those latest charges?— those latest charges? i think they strengthen _ those latest charges? i think they strengthen the - those latest charges? i think they strengthen the main . those latest charges? i think. they strengthen the main case on the classified documents issue. i don't think they add that much of the case. it is more evidence of trump's obstruction ofjustice, obstruction of justice, convincing evidence. obstruction ofjustice, convincing evidence. i think the main issue right now is the timing of the trial and people are speculative trump's lawyers will ask for a big delay like until after the election. the addition of one new defended and three new charges against trump do not change the fundamentals of the case. this is a marginal add—on. there is no reason to change the trial date but we don't know what the judge will do yet. i think that the next issue. we judge will do yet. i think that the next issue.— the next issue. we have to leave it — the next issue. we have to leave it there _ the next issue. we have to leave it there for _ the next issue. we have to leave it there for the - the next issue. we have to - leave it there for the moment. ambassadorjohn bolton, thanks for joining ambassadorjohn bolton, thanks forjoining us. ambassadorjohn bolton, thanks forjoining us— forjoining us. thanks for havin: forjoining us. thanks for having me- _ the ivory coast says it'll send about 1,000 troops to join an international force that's been put on stand—by to intervene in niger. the announcement came after an emergency meeting of the west african regional bloc, ecowas, decided to put its troops on alert. niger's elected president, mohamed bazoum, was ousted in a coup last month. ecowas leaders says the use of force will be a last resort. the president of ecuador has requested help from us federal agents to investigate the killing of a presidential candidate on wednesday evening. fernando villavicencio, who spoke out against organised crime and corruption, was shot dead at the end of a rally in the capital, quito. president guillermo lasso says fbi agents are due to arrive in ecuador shortly. he says gang members are responsible for the attack, as katy watson reports. fernando villavicencio wasn't afraid to speak out against crime and corruption, but he knew it was risky in a country where organised crime is becoming ever more powerful. the presidential candidate was leaving a campaign rally in the capital, quito, on wednesday evening, flanked by his bodyguards... gunshots ..then the shooting started — this chaos, clear evidence ofjust how much power ecuador�*s criminal gangs yield. inside the building hejust left, the crowds panicked, people desperately trying to shelter from the shoot—out. nine other people were injured. mr villavicencio was taken to hospital, where he was declared dead... chanting ..and where protesters gathered outside overnight. the criminal group los lobos — or "the wolves" — released a video claiming responsibility. it's the second—biggest criminal group in ecuador, with as many as 8,000 members. it's also been involved in numerous prison riots that have left many inmates dead. mr villavicencio's killing comes less than two weeks before the presidential elections. the current leader, guillermo lasso, has declared a state of emergency but said the elections wouldn't be called off. violent crime in this small south american country is spiralling, fuelled by colombian and mexican cartels who've infiltrated local gangs. fernando villavicencio's killing wasn't the first on the election campaign — two mayors have been shot dead in recent months — but the fear is the violence is set to get even worse. katy watson, bbc news. back to our top story of the fires in hawaii. one of the most famous residents of maui island is oprah winfrey and she's been on the ground in the aftermath, meeting with residents, and lending a helping hand. 0ur reporter on the island, max matza, caught up with her. how does it feel to be here? well, it's a little overwhelming, you know... but! am really so pleased to have so many people supporting and people bring what they can. so i came earlierjust to see what people needed and then went shopping. 0ften people needed and then went shopping. often you make donations of clothes for whatever, so actually i went to walmart and costco pillows, shampoo, diapers. that's great. sheets, pillowcases... that shampoo, diapers. that's great. sheets, pillowcases...— sheets, pillowcases... that was the bbc's _ sheets, pillowcases... that was the bbc's much, _ sheets, pillowcases... that was the bbc's much, so _ sheets, pillowcases... that was the bbc's much, so speaking i sheets, pillowcases... that was the bbc's much, so speaking to| the bbc�*s much, so speaking to 0prah the bbc�*s much, so speaking to oprah winfrey who had just arrived at the shelter. and before we go, a reminder of our top story. the governor of hawaii says wildfires on the island state has probably caused the largest natural disaster in its history. he's described walking through the town of lahaina, saying it was shocking, and as if a bomb and fire went off there. at least 53 people have been killed by the blazes which started on tuesday, fuelled by a hurricane in the pacific ocean. but there are already warnings the death toll could rise even further. president biden has approved emergency support for the relief effort. now, the weather has been very dry in hawaii recently with isolated fires breaking out. however, as we mentioned earlier, a seemingly benign hurricane in the eastern pacific has escalated the situation. ben rich from bbc weather explains. there weather on its own rarely causes wildfires but it can bring conditions that make them more likely and help to fan the flames which is exactly what happened in hawaii. it's been very, very dry here of late and then pass to the south we have had this major hurricane, hurricane laura. the centre of the storm has stayed well away from her i but it's been squashing up against this big area of high pressure and that squeezed between the two is generated very strong winds, gusting up to 67 mph. but without storm not drifting away westwards, the windsor easing. it will stay quite briefly over the next few days but not as windy as it has been. however, apart from the odd passing schar, it is going to remain largely dry. schar, it is going to remain largely dry-— schar, it is going to remain largely dry. you are watching bbc news- — largely dry. you are watching bbc news. you _ largely dry. you are watching bbc news. you can - largely dry. you are watching bbc news. you can always i largely dry. you are watching | bbc news. you can always get plenty more on our website. there you can see the life page bring us the latest details on live web page of the wildfires in hawaii as the death toll rises to 53. i would briefly turn to max who is dominic has just spoken to 0prah turn to max who is dominic has just spoken to oprah winfrey. what was her message? she was very touched _ what was her message? she was very touched by _ what was her message? she was very touched by the _ what was her message? she was very touched by the community l very touched by the community outpouring of support. there are tons of people who are volunteering and helping. she came here earlier today on a finding mission to see what people nearly dominic really needed and after shopping at walmart and costco she bought clothes, pillowcases, soap and shampoo and sheets. because people have to bring their own bedding and that means people are sleeping on their cots and betfair mattresses. ——ba. are sleeping on their cots and betfair mattresses. --ba. thank ou brin: betfair mattresses. --ba. thank you bring us _ betfair mattresses. --ba. thank you bring us those _ betfair mattresses. --ba. thank you bring us those insights. - i'm helena humphrey, thank you for watching. you're watching bbc news. goodbye for now. good morning. we finally got there. on thursday, we had some much awaited summer sunshine and warmth. fairly widespread across the country, but temperatures peaked just over 28 degrees. however, there was quite a lot of cloud around, and in northern ireland by the end of the afternoon, some threatening—looking skies. and that's because this frontal system moving in and is bringing some rain as we speak. that is moving its way steadily north and east, some heavy bursts of rumble of thunder mixed in there as it pushes its way across scotland. the trailing tail of that frontal system, just a band of cloud, the odd spot or two of nuisance rain into the south—east. but it will be an incredibly mild, muggy night. so a very humid start to our friday morning. and there will be some sunshine. early morning cloud breaking off across south—east england, some sunny spells coming through. and with that south—westerly flow, we continue to drag in the risk of a few showers, chiefly out to the west. the northern isles will stay quite wet and disappointing in terms of the feel of the weather, with only a high expected of 15 degrees. but elsewhere, with the sunshine, and with fewer showers in eastern england, we may well see highs of 27 once again. now, as we move into the weekend, there is a risk of some showers through friday night into the early hours of saturday morning in the south—east. and then this area of low pressure is going to just tuck itself into the far north west of the country. so showers more frequent, most widespread the further north and west you are. some of those will push a little further inland, but sheltered eastern england, perhaps seeing the driest of the weather on saturday. and as a result, the warmest of the weather, 24 celsius is still 75 fahrenheit. almost a repeat performance as we go into sunday. again, that low not moving very far. so most frequent showers to the north—west. there will be some pushing their way across england and wales. and we need to keep an eye on some rain potentially moving into the south—west by the end of sunday. top temperatures generally 18—23 degrees. so that frontal system potentially running along the south. and then as we move into tuesday and wednesday, an area of high pressure is set to build. so we could see a little more in the way of showery weather to begin our new working week. but the warmth and dry weather may well return as we move to the end of the week and next weekend. this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. from record temperatures to ice melt, the data is damning — our planet is warming fast, thanks to man—made greenhouse gas emissions. for years, politicians have ramped up the rhetoric of concern and pledged to speed up emissions cuts, but now there are signs of a political backlash. uk prime minister rishi sunak is championing new oil exploration and reining in spending on climate aid. that prompted my guest, zac goldsmith, to quit suna k�*s government. but, in an age of populist politics, has going green become another ideological faultline?