People are being urged to leave coastal and low lying areas of florida as Hurricane Milton, expected to be the biggest storm to hit the area in a century, moves closer to the states West Coast. President biden has warned evacuating is a matter of life and death. These pictures are coming into us live from the state of florida. This is the sunshine skyway bridge, the gateway to Tampa Bay, normally a very busy road even early in the day but pretty much deserted now, clearly very exposed and certainly not somewhere anyone would want to be as the hurricane approaches. Although those winds and rain not being really fully felt yet, if we look at this picture of some Palm Trees you can see they are moving a little bit in the breeze but those winds will get stronger and stronger. The national Hurricane Center saying that milton is bringing sustained winds of around 155 miles per hour, as we look at this track. It was downgraded a short while ago to a Category Fourfrom Category short while ago to a category four from category five, short while ago to a Category Fourfrom Category five, but 155 miles an hourfor Fourfrom Category five, but 155 miles an hour for the wind that milton will bring. Just a slight drop in the Wind Speed has brought it down to a category four, probably not enough to make a hugely significant difference when it makes landfall. Thats around 250 kilometres per hour. It is only two miles an hour below the category five threshold, just to be specific. The national Hurricane Center says it is still extremely dangerous. According to the latest data it is expected to make landfall around two oclock in the morning on Thursday Morning local time, around seven oclock in the morning in the uk. It is expected to land in the Tampa Bay area, then move across the State And Head out into the atlantic. Meteorologists are warning of the danger not only from high winds and rain and the Storm Surges of 10 15 feet, 3. 5, four metres, but also that milton could trigger several tornadoes as well. We can begin this hour from a tornadoes as well. We can begin this Hourfrom A report from our correspondent phil mccann. So right now on seven news. Florida is bracing for Hurricane Milton this morning. Milton continues to be a dangerous category five hurricane, expected to bring life threatening Storm Surge and dangerous winds along floridas gulf coast. Time is running out before the storm makes landfall. | florida has been warned, and people living there have been preparing and leaving in the states biggest Evacuation Effort in years, ahead of what forecasters say could be the worst storm to hit in a century. Its been pretty, pretty crazy. Even people that are from tampa and are from florida have told me that this is not normal. Really anxious. We have two young kids. Its scary. Sirens. Parts of the state are now eerily quiet, apart from the warning sirens. This time, even some of the most Hurricane Hardened Residents have heeded the orders to leave. Theres a lot of locals, people that have lived in tampa throughout their entire lives, and they usually stay during hurricane season. Theyll tough it out. But even those people look at what could happen here with Hurricane Milton, and theyre getting out of dodge. Theyre finding any way to evacuate. Milton has already brushed past mexicos yucatan peninsula, where theres been coastal Flooding And Power outages, but the damage has been described as minor. Since then, the storm has strengthened over the warm waters of the Gulf Of Mexico to a category five with sustained Wind Speeds of 160mph. Its expected to double in size before hitting florida head on, striking near the city of tampa, an Area Home to more than 3 Million people. From ten Tampa Bay, this is a Weather Impact alert. We just got the very latest in from the national Hurricane Center. They are now forecasting 10 to 15ft of surge for pinellas county. Whoa. Its the Storm Surges that are causing the most concern. And all this as debris still litters the streets from Hurricane Helenejust two weeks ago, itself the deadliest hurricane to hit the us mainland in nearly 20 years. More than 200 people were killed. We always tell folks to run from the water, hide from the wind. You can really shelter from very strong Hurricane Force winds, but you cant really shelter from water. And thats why its imperative people either evacuate vertically or inland or ideally both. And i think that might be it for this week. It isntjust homes that have been evacuated. Tourist attractions in the Sunshine State have been taking precautions, too. Airports have been closed, but time to prepare is running out. Phil mccann, Bbc News. As we look at the pictures coming to us from the West Coast of florida we are seeing more warnings. This is from the sheriff of hillsborough county, who is saying people on floridas West Coast, the time to get out is now, telling reporters that this is the 11th hour. If you are in an Evacuation Zone the time to get out is now. The sheriff saying he and his officers have already seen some flooding in the area and the situation is only going to get worse. Some of that flooding is a hangover, if you like, from Hurricane Helene a couple of weeks ago because the ground is really sodden as a result of that causing substantial damage and the Dave Berry from that still hasnt been cleared up and now milton is making its way to the state. And the debris from that. Our correspondence is in florida. ,. ,. , that. Our correspondence is in florida. ,. ,. , florida. This is normally one ofthe florida. This is normally one of the busiest florida. This is normally one of the busiest districts florida. This is normally one of the busiest districts in florida. This is normally one| of the busiest districts in the city of tampa. As you can see it is pretty much deserted, almost no one is out here at the moment. There are mandatory Evacuation Orders for part of the city, those most at risk of flooding. Where people are being ordered to get out. Not everywhere is under a mandatory evacuation order, including where i am now, but people are being told to leave. Ijust spoke to the chief of police who said they are going to some of those areas and going door to door to try to persuade the few people left that they need to take this seriously and leave. Everyone is watching the maps very carefully to try and work out where exactly milton will make landfall. Its thought the middle of the night at around 2am here local time, with the question about whether it might hit right here in tampa, whether it might be a bit further south, as you were just talking about. Storm surge is the real worry, how big it could become a 10 15 feet high. Evenif could become a 10 15 feet high. Even if it doesnt quite hit here in tampa, the Wind And Rain is expected to be really intense. ,. , rain is expected to be really intense. ,. , intense. This ust to be clear, the intense. Thisjust to be clear, the messages intense. Thisjust to be clear, the messages if intense. Thisjust to be clear, the messages if you intense. Thisjust to be clear, the messages if you havent i the messages if you havent left there is still time do so but time is tight. But time is tight. Thats ri. Ht, but time is tight. Thats right, time but time is tight. Thats right, time is but time is tight. Thats right, time is tight. But time is tight. Thats right, time is tight. A i but time is tight. Thatsl right, time is tight. A lot but time is tight. Thats right, time is tight. A lot of people did take the warning and left even a couple of days ago and there were long lines of traffic, of people trying to get out. Shortages at some gas stations, although they have been trying to resupply those as people made their move. The city is largely empty but there are a few people still here and then there are the emergency services, and the police will be Hunkering Down in their emergency operation centre, saying that really its a question of last evacuation is now and then waiting out the night and seeing what they find in the morning and seeing what the state of the city is afterwards and after milton has made landfall. Aha, afterwards and after milton has made landfall. Made landfall. A reporter who has been covering made landfall. A reporter who has been covering the made landfall. A reporter who i has been covering the hurricane for the regional Tv Station in florida, i spoke to her a little Earlier and she was in the process of evacuating in her car, leaving her home in Port Charlotte in florida. It Port Charlotte in florida. It is Port Charlotte in florida. It is rainy in some spots will stop some small gusts, but we dont expect the worst of it to hit four i would say around 15 hours. The area im in, im one of those people who debated whether to stay or go. I was under an evacuation order. My home was a two storey home, so i felt confident that i would be ok with the Storm Surge but my concern quite honestly was the potential of tornadoes. Im a journalist, the potential of tornadoes. Im ajournalist, i the potential of tornadoes. Im a journalist, i want to cover this area but i thought it was best to be Safe. I this area but i thought it was best to be Safe. Best to be Safe. I believe oure best to be Safe. I believe youre heading best to be Safe. I believe youre heading to best to be Safe. I believe youre heading to your. Best to be Safe. I believe youre heading to your Company Headquarters which is storm proved, in Fort Myers. That correct. Proved, in Fort Myers. That correct. Yes proved, in Fort Myers. That correct, yes. I proved, in Fort Myers. That correct, yes. Iwill proved, in Fort Myers. That correct, yes. Iwilltell proved, in Fort Myers. That correct, yes. I will tell youl correct, yes. I will tell you the message for days has been telling folks to get out of the area, not asking them to cross the state, even though thats what a lot of folks have been doing, folks trying to find shelter in areas like miami, fort lauderdale, 0rlando. A lot of folks travelling perhaps farther than they needed to. The message from Emergency Officials was you just need to go inland, Evacuation Centres across the state, and unfortunately in previous storms weve had people perish in rising waters on islands, low lying areas. They really didnt need to go very far, perhapsjust a few didnt need to go very far, perhaps just a few miles to find a Safe place to be. In find a Safe place to be. In our find a Safe place to be. In your neighbourhood to have the sense most people have been listening to the instructions or do they feel they have seen lots of the hurricanes and they can ride this out . I lots of the hurricanes and they can ride this out . Can ride this out . I do think a lot of peeple can ride this out . I do think a lot of people felt can ride this out . I do think a lot of people felt differently L Lot of people felt differently about this storm. It has been literally the area i have been talking to you from, it was hit pretty hard by Hurricane Helene about two weeks ago. Unfortunately i was just on the island about a day and a half ago and there are still piles and piles of debris, piles of sand, folks still trying to recover. They had three or four feet of water in their businesses and their homes. And they are still recovering from that. And now the fear is this time they could see 10 12, or 15 feet of water. So it is honestly, it is sad, there are a few people i spoke to a little bit further inland who lived in a mobile home. Quite honestly i was trying to convince them to leave and they said they didnt want to, it was a senior, 77 years old, and she said she is on oxygen and didnt feel comfortable going to a shelter, which has me very concerned for her today. That was a local concerned for her today. That was a localjournalist concerned for her today. That was a localjournalist speaking to me Earlier as she made her way from a home to a shelter. Around the world and across the uk, this is Bbc News. The fbi have arrested an afghan man accused of plotting to carry out an attack on the day of the us president ial election. The man who lived in oklahoma was detained on Monday 0klahoma was detained on monday after he attempted to buy guns and ammunition for people working Undercoverfor And Ammunition for people working undercover for the and ammunition for people Working Undercoverfor the fbi. Working undercover for the fbi. We Working Undercoverfor the fbi. We have more from washington. The fbi has arrested a 27 year old suspect originally from Afghanistan Over what is believed to be a foiled Terror Plot that would have targeted the united states on Election Day. The suspect is accused of planning this attack either in sympathy with or in conjunction with Islamic State group. There are some bits of evidence here that are laid out by prosecutors in documents that were unsealed on tuesday. They point to a couple of different things, saying the suspect, nasir ahmad tawhedi, was in these kinds of chat rooms, telegram groups sympathetic to the group Islamic State. Also there were elements, texts, pictures and documents downloaded to his phone. He also made some apparent donations to the Islamic State group. In the end he was detained after he tried to buy some high powered rifles and ammunition from two undercover fbi agents. In terms of some of the details we are getting about the actual plot, apparently the suspect allegedly told prosecutors he and a younger accomplice were hoping to die as martyrs in a large attack on a big gathering of people. Of course, you can imagine on Election Day here in the us many people would be heading out to Ballot And Polling stations across the country. That might have been the type of place they were hoping to target. In terms of the bigger picture, National Security officials have been warning for many months that the Threat Picture has been changing across the united states and there is a higher threat level, and they say thats in part due to the conflict ongoing in the middle east. Of course there are no direct links here but they are saying there have been some potential threats and other threats that have been thwarted, that were targeting american citizens. Of course we have less than a month to go until the election. You can imagine how an effect like this might affect the actual election itself, notjust in terms of casualties and the number that could be killed in this type of attack but a threat like this, what it could do to the election itself, in terms of the temperature, the way this Election Campaign have been carried out. So officials and police will certainly be on the lookout for similar threats as we get closer to Election Day here in the us. As we get closer to Election Day here in the us. Now to the middle east, day here in the us. Now to the middle east, and day here in the us. Now to the middle east, and Rocket Day here in the us. Now to the middle east, and Rocket Fire i middle east, and Rocket Fire from lebanon has killed at least two people in israel and injured many more. The two who died were in kiryat shmona, which came under attack from more than a0 projectiles. Israel saved more than five people In Haifa were injured when a projectile exploded there. We can foster Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet In Haifa. What are the latest developments there . We are In Haifa, the third largest israeli city. About 30 kilometres from the lebanon border. We saw here in the sky is behind us on haifa bay, just beyond the port, dozens of projectiles, missiles fired by hezbollah being intercepted by the iron dome. They have quite a significant defences around here, one because of the major port which is also used for Military Reasons for stop and just beyond haifa along the coast there are military factories, petrochemical plants, all things which have great strategic importance. In other developments this hour, as we have been reporting, israel continues its Ground Invasion in southern lebanon, expanding to the south west. Last night the capital, beirut, came under israeli bombardment again, less intense than the night before but still signevich for the residents of the city. 0ur Correspondent Hugo bachega gave us the latest. Correspondent Hugo Bachega gave us the latest us the latest. Free your country us the latest. Free your country from us the latest. Free your country from hezbollah | us the latest. Free your country from hezbollah was the Message Country from hezbollah was the message in english from the israeli message in english from the israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the people of lebanon. As a former british Intelligence Chief said a few days Intelligence Chief said a few days ago, many people here in lehanon days ago, many people here in Lebanon Dislike Hezbollah but they dislike israel more, so i dont they dislike israel more, so i dont think this message will resonate here. There is a long history resonate here. There is a long history of resonate here. There is a long history of israeli violence here history of israeli violence here in history of israeli violence here in lebanon so i dont think here in lebanon so i dont think a here in lebanon so i dont think a lot of people are paying think a lot of people are paying attention to what the prime paying attention to what the Prime Minster has to say. Obviously hezbollah has been weakened by these israeli Air Strikes weakened by these israeli Air Strikes. The leadership has been strikes. The leadership has been eliminated, but the Group Hasnt been eliminated, but the Group Hasnt been destroyed. And here in Lehanon Hasnt been destroyed. And here in Lebanon Hezbollah is more than in Lebanon Hezbollah is more thaniust in Lebanon Hezbollah is more Thanjust A militia, it is a political Thanjust A militia, it is a political party with representation in parliament. It representation in parliament. It is representation in parliament. It is also representation in parliament. It is also a representation in parliament. It is also a social movement with it is also a social movement with significant support. So you may with significant support. So you may be able to destroy hezbollah, to weaken it militarily, but the ideology is likely militarily, but the ideology is likely to militarily, but the ideology is likely to resist. The group is not going likely to resist. The group is not going to disappear from lebanon. But obviously a lot of people lebanon. But obviously a lot of people here remember what happened during the Civil War between 1975 and 1990, and they are now between 1975 and 1990, and they are now wondering what will happen are now wondering what will happen to this country after this happen to this country after this war happen to this country after this war is over. 30 happen to this country after this war is over. This war is over. So many ainful this war is over. So many painful memories this war is over. So many painful memories of this war is over. So many painful memories of the l this war is over. So many painful memories of the wars and wars in lebanon, including the israeli invasion of lebanon and the last major war in 2006. Painful memories for israelis too, who know all too well if you go into far it is hard to get out and you can get bogged down. Thats a question i asked when i spoke to a brigadier general, who has set up his own defence consultancy. I asked him about the risks for Israeli Forces. ~ ,. , him about the risks for Israeli Forces. ~ ,. , forces. When israel says they talk about forces. When israel says they talk about the forces. When israel says they talk about the Ground Talk about the Ground Incursion, the Israeli Forces are incursion, the Israeli Forces are operating very close to the border are operating very close to the border of are operating very close to the border of lebanon on this site. There border of lebanon on this site. There is border of lebanon on this site. There is a border of lebanon on this site. There is a huge Infra Structure Hezbollah has built in order to launch hezbollah has built in order to launch a hezbollah has built in order to launch a massacre as hamas did on the launch a massacre as hamas did on the 7th launch a massacre as hamas did on the 7th of october, a huge amount on the 7th of october, a huge amount of on the 7th of october, a huge amount of weapons, motorcycles, rpg is, amount of weapons, motorcycles, rpg is, bombs. The israeli Defense Rpg is, bombs. The israeli defense forces are dismantling all this defense forces are dismantling all this infrastructure used by terrorists all this infrastructure used by terrorists along the border. When terrorists along the border. When we talk about hezbollah overall. When we talk about hezbollah overall, its leadership, its headquarters, all this huge organisation, is rarely sitting this organisation all over lebanon, including their headquarters in the dahieh near Beirut Headquarters in the dahieh near beirut. The targets are always military beirut. The targets are always military. But we know hamas place military. But we know hamas place their headquarters in civilian place their headquarters in civilian areas. Israel asks all the civilian areas. Israel asks all the time civilian areas. Israel asks all the time civilians to move out of zones the time civilians to move out of zones where hezbollah has built of zones where hezbollah has built its of zones where hezbollah has built its military infrastructure. It is trying to pinpoint infrastructure. It is trying to pinpoint the best it can to attack pinpoint the best it can to attack hezbollah, while hezbollah is shooting directly at civilians on purpose will stop at civilians on purpose will stop hundreds of rockets to haifa stop hundreds of rockets to Haifa And Other Places and luckily Haifa And Other Places and luckily the Israel Air defences are managing to cope with that. And also are managing to cope with that. And also the citizens are going into shelter. This is how we minimise into shelter. This is how we minimise israeli casualties. And, minimise israeli casualties. And, general, you know well the history of israeli operations in lebanon and how Ground Operations that did involve soldiers getting bogged down. The israeli media is now discussing about the risks of the Ground Invasion continuing to expand, and with it all the risks of confronting hezbollah on its own terrain. Do you see these risks before them . L these risks before them . I dont think the Ground Incursion will expand much more from incursion will expand much more from What Incursion will expand much more from what it is already. Israel to my from what it is already. Israel to my assessment doesnt have a plan to to my assessment doesnt have a plan to go to my assessment doesnt have a plan to go really into the whole plan to go really into the whole area of South Lebanon or beyond whole area of South Lebanon or beyond. The whole Ground Operation is really concentrated on the few kilometres along the border where kilometres along the border where hezbollah built all this infrastructure that needs to be dismantled. Israelwilltry to dismantled. Israel will try to create dismantled. Israel will try to create a dismantled. Israelwilltry to create a Buffer Zone that will enable create a Buffer Zone that will enable them to reach their goal. Enable them to reach their goal. To enable them to reach their goal, to return 60,000 israeli displaced goal, to return 60,000 israeli displaced citizens that have been displaced citizens that have been displaced for 11 months while been displaced for 11 months while hezbollah was shooting at there while hezbollah was shooting at there were towns. Will it create there were towns. Will it create security for the citizens of the north . This is what citizens of the north . This is what israel is doing. A what israel is doing. Brigadier general, the ceo of the israel security forum, talking about the israeli campaign in lebanon. That campaign in lebanon. That campaign and the expected israeli retaliatory strike against lebanon will be on the Agenda Today when president Joe Biden speaks to the israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A lot of focus here now asking what israel will do, what kind of targets will it strike in iran. Israel has promised to hit hard after Iran Sentin promised to hit hard after iran sent in 180 ballistic missiles, what it said was a retaliatory strike itself for israeli assassinations. We will wait and see what comes out of that conversation and it could actually set in train what happens next in this confrontation between iran and israel. We will keep an eye on all the developments. Back to you in london. You in london. Lyse doucet, Chief International Chief International correspondent, thank you. A school of tadpoles might not be the most obvious subject when it comes to Wildlife Photography but Photojournalist Shayna Gross says that six at the what drew him to it, shining a light on this often overlooked part of the natural world has earned him the prestigious Award Wildlife Photographer of the year awarded by the natural History Museum in london. I spoke to him a little Earlier. It museum in london. I spoke to him a little Earlier. Him a little Earlier. It was a room packed him a little Earlier. It was a room packed full him a little Earlier. It was a room packed full of him a little Earlier. It was a room packed full of some l him a little Earlier. It was a | room packed full of some of him a little Earlier. It was a room packed full of some of my favourite photographers in the world. I was so not expecting to win. When they said my name it was like i was sucked down and i couldnt believe it. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. We was one of the greatest moments of m life. ~. , was one of the greatest moments of m life. ~ ,. , was one of the greatest moments ofm life. ~ ,. ,. , of my life. We can show our audience of my life. We can show our audience this of my life. We can show our audience this amazing of my life. We can show our I Audience this amazing picture of Western Toad tadpoles. Why this subject, shane . L of Western Toad tadpoles. Why this subject, shane . This subject, shane . Ithink because it this subject, shane . Ithink because it is this subject, shane . Ithink because it is so this subject, shane . Ithink| because it is so overlooked. Wetlands are an overlooked habitat and these tadpoles, being so numerous and so healthy, is a hopeful image. Ending the Wildlife Photographer of the years 60th anniversary they were really going hopeful images this year. Shane gross. To bring you up to date with our main story today, Hurricane Milton is moving towards florida. We can look at the Hurricane Tracker which is coming from the national oceanic and atmospheric administration. You can see milton moving through the Gulf Of Mexico up towards florida. It is expected then to move across the state. The exact point at which it makes Landfall Hasnt been determined yet and that could change as it tracks up towards the state, the West Coast of florida, and thenit then it will cross Florida And Head out towards the atlantic ocean. Around about an hour ago 0cean. Around about an hour ago it was downgraded very slightly from category five to category four, but only because the Wind Speeds had diminished by literally a few miles per hour. So obviously big warnings out there about the dangers from milton, especially the Storm Surges it could bring. This is a bridge taking people into Tampa Bay, very little traffic on that at the moment. In this shot from Fort Myers you can see just the hint of a breeze at the moment but really the conditions are going to worsen significantly, as you would imagine. 0ne Sheriff in one of the florida counties saying now is the 11th hour. If people want to move away from the coast and get further inland they must do it now otherwise it will be too late. Stay with us on Bbc News for more on the hurricane. Hello there. We are seeing a bit more Rain Today particularly across northern England And North wales. But the weather is going to be changing in the next couple of days because whilst it is going to be turning drier, the temperatures are going to be falling as well and we will have some frost around too. These are the temperatures weve got this afternoon. 17 still possible with some sunshine and fewer showers in the South East but it is getting colder further north. Thats because we are starting to see a northerly wind picking up to see a northerly wind picking up through the day. Thats going to drag down colder air across the whole of the country eventually. Follows this band of patchy rain thats going to sink southwards across england and wales this evening and overnight. Clearer skies following as those stronger Winds Transfer southwards through the North Sea. There will be a few wintry showers over the tops Of Highland and grampian and A Touch Of Frost in other parts of scotland. Further south at those temperatures held a bit higher because we still have a bit of clout. A bit of Rain First Thing on Thursday Morning. That moves away and following that some showers coming into Northern Ireland, around some western coast, down the North Sea coast and into northern scotland. But many places will have a drier day for typical feel cold, though, particularly in the stronger winds down the North Sea coast. Temperatures of 11 degrees in glasgow again but only 12, quite a significant drop across Southern Parts Of Eglin and wales. That colder air will remain in place across much of the country as we end the week. Instead of a northerly wind, we will have westerly wind in scotland bringing clout in from the atlantic and some outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Elsewhere the wind will be much lighter, it is likely to be dry, there will be some sunshine, could be A Touch Of Frost to begin the day and we still have that cold air so temperatures typically only 11 or 12 on friday. What about the weekend . A view dangers on the way. Weve got that area of low pressure and some weather from bringing wetter weather into scotland and Northern Ireland overnight. Into saturday morning. And this band of rain will move its way south into england and wales so some showers breaking out the stop showers, sunshine and some wintry showers over parts of scotland. With that wetter weather around we have ten pages, 10 degrees again in Glasgow And 1a celsius in london. So still on the Cool Side and low temperature is main change too much on sunday. We have high Pressure Building and so it will be dry with some early mist and fog. Opening bell. Live from New York at the opening bell, this is business today. Stocks meted at the open as investors worried that the fed cut rates too quickly. And searching for a solution, the us government says it is looking at breaking up oogle because of its dominance in online search. Also, charging up online search. Also, charging up for the future, the international Energy Agency says the world is surging forward in the move to renewable power. Welcome to business today. Stocks are opening pretty much flat. The key company in the spotlight as the Internet Search Giant google. Could it be broken up . That is the prospect facing alphabet over its dominance of the online search. Any quick find in the us Department Of Justice says it is one of the remedies it could seek after google was found to have illegally crushed its competition in
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