Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced Saturday evening that the Maui blazes have become the deadliest wildfires in modern US history, as the death toll rose to 89.  

The disaster surpassed California’s 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85, and is the worst since the 1918 Cloquet & Moose Lake Fires in Minnesota, which killed 453.

It is also now the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaiian history. Investigators have identified three victims’ remains, but are yet to name them. And they say just three percent of the damaged area has been searched, raising the specter of a much higher final death toll. 

Speaking at a daily evening press conference to update the mounting death toll, Green said fires are already ‘the largest natural disaster Hawaii has ever experienced’, which will ‘take an incredible amount of time to recover from.’ 

At the same press conference, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said officials are still working to identify the deceased, and would use rapid DNA testing and dental records to expedite the process. 

Multiple law firms have now announced plans to explore legal action against Hawaiian Electric, claiming the state’s largest power supplier may be at fault for the unprecedented wildfires. 

At least one class action lawsuit is reportedly being considered, which could see the company blamed for the disaster that has so far killed at least 89 people and razed over 2,200 buildings to the ground.

‘From what we’ve learned, we believe the Lahaina fires could have been prevented had proper safety precautions been taken,’ said Gerald Singleton, a lawyer involved with the potential legal action, to the New York Times. 

The company has come under fire for allegedly failing to cut power as the wildfires erupted on Tuesday, and a state regulatory filing in April reportedly saw the company name wildfire prevention as its lowest priority. 

As he admitted that ‘none of us’ know how high the number of dead could go, Pelletier said the process was being carried out meticulously. ‘You want it fast, or you want it right? We’re going to do it right,’ he said.

The police chief said the work to locate and identify remains has been challenging due to high heat and humidity on the island, and efforts are still being made to establish IDs. 

‘Every one of these 89 are John and Jane Does,’ he added. 

The same day that the wildfires became the deadliest for over a century, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimated it could cost upwards of $5.52 billion dollars to rebuild the wildfire-ravaged town of Lahaina. 

A total of 2,200 structures were destroyed – 1,500 of which were residential.  

Experts warned that the recovery could cost more than expected due to the high number of homes on Maui being constructed primarily of wood, making them ‘very vulnerable’ to wildfires that were previously not considered a threat on the islands. 

Reconstruction may involve material which is more durable and less flammable – such as brick – but that will likely increase costs and construction time.  

In the days since the blaze, shocking images have revealed the 12,000 person town of Lahaina – once a popular tourist hotspot – now resembling an apocalyptic wasteland.

As Lahaina residents come to terms with losing approximately 80 percent of their town, former FEMA official Roy Wright stressed that the daunting cost to rebuild it could increase further. 

‘Every estimate we hear during the first week is someone’s best approximation, and it’s wrong,’ he told the New York Times. ‘We just don’t know enough yet.’ 

Part of the reason so much of the town has been devastated is due to the high number of its buildings being made of wood, according to wildfire expert Thomas Jeffery. ‘Many of the residential properties in Lahaina appear to have wood siding, and a number of them have elevated porches with a lattice underneath,’ he said. 

But for locals who have lost their entire homes and livelihoods in the wildfires, Wright said it is expected that insurance claims will soon flood the island – and he felt people should feel confident they will receive a payout.

While Hawaii is far from averse from a natural disaster, if it does it would typically be struck by tropical crises like tornadoes and hurricanes. Wright said the record wildfires could shake up Hawaii’s insurance policies for good.

‘Hurricane is still your primary risk. Wildfire is going to be a secondary peril. It is, but clearly, it’s not a peril we can ignore,’ he said. 

Because Hawaii’s other islands are also littered with flammable, wooden properties, Wright concluded neighboring residents should consider taking steps to protect against potential fires.

‘This risk is real,’ he added. 

When the blazes began on Tuesday, drought-like conditions caused by a summer of high temperatures and little rain – combined with winds from Hurricane Dora – saw the flames spread rapidly.

With many residents and tourists caught off-guard, some resorted to flinging themselves into the ocean in a bid to escape the blistering streets.

On Friday, days after the fires blistered his town of Lahaina, local resident Kekoa Lansford said he worried the cleanup would take ‘years to fix’.

‘This is not even the worst of it,’ he told the BBC as he pointed to the leveled town. ‘(We) still get dead bodies in the water floating, and on the seawall.’

His fears about the monumental task of rebuilding the town were echoed by Hawaii Governor Josh Green – who declined to give his own estimate at a press conference Friday but warned it would cost well into the ‘billions of dollars.’ 

‘When you see the full extent of the destruction of Lahaina, it will shock you,’ he said. ‘All of those buildings virtually are going to have to be rebuilt. It will be a new Lahaina that Maui builds, in its own image, with its own values.’ 

Officials have been scrambling to find solutions to the crisis, which has seen tens of thousands evacuated while authorities shuttle resources from mainland America.

To aid the rescue and recovery efforts, the Hawaii Department of Transportation said Saturday it would close one of the runways at Maui’s main airport to make way for cargo flights ‘assisting in airlifting goods/ necessities.’ 

Officials said the closure would not affect commercial flights, and desperate families have been pictured crowding airports in hopes of catching a plane out. 

Huge evacuation efforts have also taken place in recent days, with around 15,000 people a day being rescued from the island of Maui in recent days. 

Many of those attempting to find safety ended up in shelters, with BBC journalist Max Matza reporting from one of the facilities on Friday that he spoke to residents who encountered bodies floating in the water.

‘I found two bodies floating against my sea wall,’ said one local, who said he was avoiding listening to Governor Green’s updates because he didn’t want to be reminded of the disaster.

The mounting death toll has continued to rise through the week as Governor Green announced Thursday that the rising figure led the wildfires to become one of the deadliest disasters to strike the islands of Hawaii since it became a US state in 1959.

‘In 1960 we had 61 fatalities when a large wave came through Big Island,’ Green said, referring to a tragedy that struck a year after Hawaii became the 50th US state.

‘This time, it’s very likely that our death totals will significantly exceed that,’ he added. At the time, the death toll was 53, and it rose above 61 the following day. 

The governor added the devastated town now looks ‘as though a bomb hit’ it, saying: ‘It looks like total devastation; buildings that we’ve all enjoyed and celebrated together for decades, for generations, are completely destroyed.’

Plug in and chill out: Why Volkswagen’s modern take on the iconic ‘hippy’ camper van is a great option for a no-frills summer break

By Simon Heptinstall For The Daily Mail

Updated: 09:33 EDT, 28 June 2023

What is an NFT? (34%)

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are generally digital art pieces or music that can be bought or traded online. 

These are unique computer files encrypted with an artist’s signature. As a result, they cannot be replicated, acting as a digital certificate of ownership and authenticity. 

In other words, buying an NFT is almost like the more traditional purchasing of fine art – except in a digital form. 

Artists can sell pieces that may be tricky to advertise otherwise, such as digital stickers.

Depending on the usage rights, purchasers can sometimes post these online.   

How do I use ChatGPT? (31%)

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot that can produce human-like text responses.

This can be used for various purposes such as writing cover letters, code or even planning a wedding.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Head to https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt
2.  Click Sign up in the top right corner to make an account
3.  This will prompt you to fill out your email address and new password
4. A confirmation message will then be sent to your email address
5. Verify this and fill out the other details required (birthday, name etc)
6. After that, ChatGPT can be selected, bringing you to a messaging platform
7. The ‘send a message’ bar can be used to type whatever questions come to mind 

How do they work out the price of gas and electricity? (29%)

Individual energy suppliers set their own gas and electricity prices, making it important to choose your provider carefully.

Yet, EDF claims the price you pay for power is largely set by the ‘marginal generation unit’. This refers to whatever power type being used – with gas being cheapest and coal more expensive.

But some energy providers have deals for different times of the day, with lower rates often kickstarting at night.

What exactly is a black hole? (27%)

Black holes are so dense and their gravitational pull is so strong that no form of radiation can escape them – not even light.

They act as intense sources of gravity which hoover up dust and gas around them. Their intense gravitational pull is thought to be what stars in galaxies orbit around.

How they are formed is still poorly understood. Astronomers believe they may form when a large cloud of gas up to 100,000 times bigger than the sun, collapses into a black hole.

Many of these black hole seeds then merge to form much larger supermassive black holes, which are found at the centre of every known massive galaxy.

Alternatively, a supermassive black hole seed could come from a giant star, about 100 times the sun’s mass, that ultimately forms into a black hole after it runs out of fuel and collapses.

When these giant stars die, they also go ‘supernova’, a huge explosion that expels the matter from the outer layers of the star into deep space.

How are interest rates set? (26%)

Interest rates are decided by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England. 

This is made up of nine members who aim to ensure that inflation is kept low and stable.

The rate influences what is paid to commercial banks that hold money with the Bank of England. 

This affects the rates at which banks charge people to borrow money.

What are the rules of cricket? (26%)

Cricket is an English game played between two teams of 11 in a large field.

Traditionally, both teams take turn batting and fielding, with the latter being the act of catching the ball. 

Active SG writes: ‘The main objective in cricket is to score as many runs as possible against the opponent.

‘Each cricket match consists of periods known as innings, and the number of innings that each team has will be determined before the match, usually one or two. 

‘During an inning, one team bats the ball while the other attempts to field. Both teams take turns alternating between batting and fielding.’ 

What are macros and how do I work them out? (25%)

Macro-nutrients (shortened to ‘macros’ by those in the know) are nutrients required to give us energy to keep our body functioning.

The three macro-nutrients are fats, carbohydrates and proteins and by consuming the correct amount of macro-nutrients for your desired results, whether that is muscle gain, fat loss or toning up, you are more likely to achieve your bodily goals.

Macros are a fairly simple method to allow you to count your three food groups.

This is worked out via a ratio format, the basic ratio is 40 per cent carbohydrates, 30 per cent fat and 30 per cent protein.

But the exact amount needed should account for your height, weight and desire goal.

How do I do my tax return? (25%)

A tax return involves calculating how much incomes earned is to be paid to the Government as taxes.

Business owners and those with other income, such as support payments, must complete tax returns.

To complete a tax return, head to https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns, or call HMRC and request a form.

Telephone: 0300 200 3610

Outside the UK: +44 161 930 8331

What is the solar system? (20%)

A solar system refers to a group of planets which orbit a host star such as the Sun. 

Earth and Mars are among eight planets bound to the Sun as a result of gravity.

There are also dozens of moons and millions of asteroids and comets in our solar system, according to NASA. 

These come in all shapes and sizes, with the largest asteroid being around 329 miles (530 kilometers) in diameter.

How much protein should I eat? (17%)

Adults need around 0.75g of protein per kilo of body weight per day, the British Heart Foundation claims.

Generally, this could be two portions of meat, fish or tofu that fit into the palm of your hand.

Yet, most Brits eat almost twice as much as this which can lead to heart disease and diabetes in the worst cases. 

However, athletes should be fine to eat this amount providing they train more than once a day.

What is my dog thinking about? (17%)

Pet owners can read the minds of their beloved pooches by looking at their body language, research by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance claims.

Happy dogs generally wag their tails, while anxious dogs may growl and back away. 

Experts even believe it’s possible that dogs may even think about the future on a day-to-day basis.

ASPCA cited their wolf ancestors as a reason for this, who would have needed to think about the next meal or a safe spot to rest. 

What is the difference between a noun, verb and adjective? (15%)

Nouns are places, people and things. So, for example, ‘MailOnline’ is a noun (as it’s a thing), and Harry Potter (a name) is also a noun.

Adjectives are often referred to as ‘describing words’, often used in literature to bring a setting to life.

So, ‘delighted’, ‘blue’ or ‘icy’ are all adjectives used to describe different nouns.

Happy Potter (noun) is delighted (adjective).

Finally, verbs are generally referred to as ‘doing words’, used to indicate an action or state is occurring.

Running, walking and smiling are all considered to be verbs.

So – Harry Potter (noun) is delighted (adjective) to be running (verb).  

What is the difference between ‘affect’ and ‘effect’? (14%)

‘Affect’ is used as a verb, while ‘effect’ is generally used as a noun in sentences.

For example, you could say ‘the weather affected his mood’, or ‘the weather had an effect on his mood’.

What are the rules of modern dating? (11%)
According to a study exploring the dos and don’ts of dating, you shouldn’t lock lips until the second date or connect on Facebook until at least the third.

 And don’t even dream of jumping into bed with them before the fourth rendezvous.

The research, commissioned by TLC’s new dating show Undressed, also suggests that men should be the first text after a successful date and women should respond within a quarter of an hour if keen.

When it comes to messaging, a maximum of two kisses is all that is required as an end note. 

Any more might be too ‘over the top’, while any less could apparently come across as ‘cold’. A definite no-no is waiting for the other person to text first. 

Half of the 1,500 Brits quizzed in the study said it was important for their potential love interest to make contact first – which means the other half of daters will be left disappointed.

It seems that ‘playing it cool’ isn’t in vogue anymore either. A third of respondents said they would text back within a quarter of an hour, with only five percent saying they’d wait as long as two hours.

How do I retune a TV? (11%)

Many TV may need to be retuned when a new service launches or a change has taken place.

While this can take place automatically, there may be times when you need to do it manually. 

Freeview explains how to do so on their site: 

1.  Press menu on your TV or remote control
2. Press set up before selecting installation and then update
3. If asked for a password, the default code is usually 0000 or 1234
4. An option called factory reset, full retune or first-time installation should then appear.
5. Press this before selecting ok

How to understand the clocks going back and forwards? (10%)

Clocks have moved forward an hour every spring since WW1 in a bid for longer evenings and to conserve coal, before being reverted back at the end of October.

Simply put, it’s a way of making the most of natural daylight hours at different times of the year. 

In the UK, clocks go forward by one hour at 1am on the last Sunday of March.

They go back again by one hour on the last Sunday in October every year.

How much should I tip? (9%)

It is a dilemma every holidaymaker has faced while dining out overseas: should you leave a tip?

Research shows this largely varies based on where you are in the world, with the US receiving the biggest tips of all at 20 per cent.

Yet, tips are usually 5 to 10 per cent in the UK and Germany, according to Hawaiian Islands.

But in Japan, Sweden, Australia and Norway no tips are expected at all.

Sara Benwell, Consumer Editor at Good Housekeeping, said: ‘In Japan, there is a no-tipping culture, and you may offend your waiter if you try to give him some money, while in America, tips are very much expected, and it’s rude if you don’t leave anything.

‘In France, the service charge must be included in the bill by law. However, many locals will also leave some coins as an extra sign of appreciation.’

How do I pronounce ‘Worcestershire sauce’? (8%)

According to Google, speakers should pronounce it as ‘wu – stuh – saws’.  

The ‘shire’ is not said as it might be in other English words such as ‘Hampshire’ and ‘Berkshire’. 

What goes on a scone first the cream or jam? (7%)

It depends on who you ask.

The scone war has long divided people in Devon and Cornwall, with Devonians preferring cream first, and Cornish, jam first. 

But recently, ChatGPT said it would opt for the ‘Devon method’ of putting the clotted cream on the scone first, followed by the jam on top.

Its choice has enraged many scone fans on Twitter, with comedian Dawn French replying: ‘You are a robot with no taste (literally & figuratively) & no respect for all that is holy. And right.’

The big question was posed to ChatGPT by the @VeryBritishProblems Twitter account.

It replied: ‘As an AI language model, I don’t actually have the ability to eat scones or have a personal preference, but if I had to choose between the two methods, I would probably go for the Devon method of putting the clotted cream on the scone first, followed by the jam on top.

‘I think it’s because the cream acts as a base, allowing the jam to spread more easily and making for a smoother overall taste.

‘However, again, it’s really up to personal preference, and both methods have their merits!’

Yet, late Queen Elizabeth II is said to have preferred the Cornish method, according to Darren McGrady who once cooked for her.

How do I stream the latest TV show? (6%)

Netflix, Sky Stream, Amazon Prime and Disney+ are among numerous streaming services that offer TV shows.

These can be watched on a TV, computer or even a mobile device providing that relevant apps are installed.