BBC News Briefing

8 January, 2025

Alex has short blond hair and blue eyes. She is smiling and is wearing a black turtleneck.

Alex Binley

Hello. European leaders are warning Donald Trump against threatening Greenland, after he refused to rule out using military force to seize Denmark's autonomous territory. In the US, thousands of LA residents have evacuated their homes as wildfires blaze out of control. And finally, find out how a hiker in Australia survived for almost two weeks lost in a national park.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

European leaders warn Trump over threat to take over Greenland

Donald Trump wears a blue suit, red tie and white shirt and stands in front of a blue background. He has a microphone next to his face and is looking to the side

Donald Trump said Greenland was "critical" for the US's national and economic security. Credit: Reuters

Donald Trump has been warned by Germany and France against threatening Greenland, after the US president-elect refused to rule out using military force to seize Denmark's autonomous territory. Germany's chancellor warned that "the principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country... no matter whether it's a very small one or a very powerful one", while France's foreign minister said there is "no question that the European Union would let other nations of the world attack its sovereign borders".

GET UP TO SPEED

Helle Thorning-Schmidt has long, blond hair and is wearing a light pink suit jacket over a light pink shirt. Her nails are painted and she has a large gem ring on. Her hands are held up in front of her as if she is gesticulating while talking

'Huge problems with axing Meta fact-checkers'

The co-chair of the body that reviews Facebook and Instagram content said she's concerned about the impact on minorities.

Read more >

A close up shot of Joe Biden's face. He's giving side eyes and is wearing a black suit and a white shirt, although only the shoulders of it can be seen.

Biden says he could have defeated Trump

However, the outgoing president added he was unsure if he'd have had the stamina to carry out another four-year term.

More from Biden >

Stormy Daniels has long, blond hair and is wearing a black strappy top. She's speaking into a microphone and standing side-on to the camera

Trump asks Supreme Court to halt sentencing

The conviction stems from an attempt to disguise a reimbursement for a hush-money payment made to an adult film star.

More on the filing >

Liam Payne has short brown hair and a beard. He is wearing black and is standing in front of a blurred background. He is smiling.

Liam Payne's cause of death confirmed

The One Direction star's cause of death was given as multiple traumatic injuries, as an inquest opened in the UK.

Read more >

AT THE SCENE

Los Angeles

'We need to get out of here!' Palisades residents describe flight from inferno

David Latt has grey, short, ruffled hair and the image looks like a screengrab from a webcam. He is wearing a black fleece with a white T-shirt underneath

David Latt said he had just 10 minutes to prepare to leave their home. Credit: BBC

Tens of thousands of Los Angeles' residents have been told to flee their homes as wildfires rage across the city. One of the fires in the affluent Palisades suburb began on Tuesday morning and has spread to almost 3,000 acres so far. One resident, David Latt, told the BBC that he and his wife had only 10 minutes to grab everything they needed before fleeing their home.

Regan Morris, BBC News reporter

David Latt was unware of the fires until a neighbour warned him.

"I didn't know what he was even talking about until I went outside and I saw, about four blocks away up a hill, a very large plume of black smoke. And then I realised; 'oh, we need to get out of here!'"

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With access to and from his area limited to just one road, Mr Latt said they were stuck in a traffic jam for two hours as they attempted to flee.

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He's unsure of what has happened to his home, and does not believe they will know much more for at least a day; extremely high winds are forecast later on Wednesday night and into Thursday, which could fan the flames to whip up more fires across Los Angeles.

Read more from residents

Get the latest: As firefighters battle to bring the blaze under control, follow our live page for updates as we get them.

In pictures: Smoke billows from a number of fires as Los Angeles residents flee and first responders rush to help.

Watch: The Palisades fire burns around the BBC's LA correspondent Emma Vardy as she shows the extent of the devastation.

A woman stands in front of a camera holding up a pink top that appears to have come out of a box placed next to her, which ocntains other clothes including a white tshirt with a colourful print.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Mindful consumption

The de-influencer movement is going mainstream.

Here's why

And finally... in Australia

A hiker who went missing in New South Wales on 26 December has been found alive. Hadi Nazari was found by other hikers on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities said he was in good health. Find out how he managed to survive for nearly two weeks.

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– Alex

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