destructive waves are expected to slam the coast. the purple on this map here shows what areas can expect more than a 12 foot surge. evacuations and preparations for the storm are under way. the worst of it is expected to hit the more sparsely populated areas for the north. things can change quickly. state police will shut down bridges once the wins intensify. florida governor warned residents to evacuate now while they still can. you really got to go now, now is the time. you don't, if you stay and hunker down tonight, it's going to be too nasty tomorrow morning to be able to do it. joining as is someone hunkering down and basing for that storm and tampa, florida. what are things like where you are at the moment?— things like where you are at the moment? ~ , , the moment? well, pretty calm at the moment. _ the moment? well, pretty calm at the moment. we _ the moment? well, pretty calm at the moment. we have - the moment? well, pretty calm at the moment. we have had i the moment? well, pretty calml at the moment. we have had the bands of rain and wind moving through tampa. but don't forget, that storm is still some distance out into the gulf of mexico. but it is inching ever closer. wind speeds at the moment said to be around 105 mph. that makes it a category to hurricane. but it is still predicted to strengthen further. feeding on the unusually warm waters out in the gulf to pick up strength and, at the moment, headed on a track that will take it into what is known as the big bands. area of the state of florida. by area of the state of florida. by the panhandle bends south into the peninsula. expected to landfall the something like 8-10 landfall the something like 8—10 hours from now. and, as you heard from the governor, the authorities really making these last—ditch appeal is for people to heed the warnings to evacuate and report some storm holdouts up in that area, people refusing to even the authorities really trying to drum home that message. if you haven't gone yet and you are still able to get out, please do so. , , ., . still able to get out, please doso. , ., ., ., do so. just on that point, how are peeple — do so. just on that point, how are people and _ do so. just on that point, how are people and what - are people and what specifically are local authorities doing for them? well, the advice to people right up the gulf coast of florida, don't forget, katrina, there are something like 20 counties at the moment under evacuation orders. and for residents who find themselves in those evacuation zones, the advisers, first and foremost, if you can, go and stay with friends and family. if you have people you know living in safe areas, going to take refuge with them but for those who can't, of course, there are the emergency shelters. we visited one of those today. we have seen the people arriving there. they are pretty spartan places. just a space on the floor of a school hold to sleep but meals are provided and the authorities are saying, look, whatever else happens, you know, at least you know you are going to be safe. these are structures that are known to be able to stand the strength of a category three hurricane. people can wait out the storm there and then return in the next day or so to see, you know, whether they still have him to go back to. whatever property lost, people are being told, it is your life that matters. told, it is your life that mattere— told, it is your life that matters. . ., ., matters. ok, thanks for that and do take _ matters. ok, thanks for that and do take care _ matters. ok, thanks for that and do take care of - matters. ok, thanks for that i and do take care of yourself, of course. now, forecasters predict the us state of georgia, north carolina and south carolina will also see heavy rainfall. this is the expected path of the hurricane idalia hitting florida first and then travelling all the way up and then travelling all the way up to the carolinas before heading back out to sea. so far, florida, georgia and south carolina have all issued state emergency declarations. the national hurricane center says residents there should be prepared for long duration power outages, damaging winds and areas of flash flooding. satellite images show the storm approaching. you can also see another storm lurking of the south east of the us there. that is a hurricane, which is a powerful category four but is expected to stay out at sea. this is hurricane idalia, seen from space, as its edges come ever closer to landfall. earlier, is that the national hurricane center's deputy director he explained what we can expect from the storm. thanks indeed forjoining us. first off, where is hurricane idalia now? it has changed its trajectory a little and strengthened my belief? it currently located about 200 miles south—west of tampa bay, florida. maximum winds have been increasing steadily during the day. it is now category to hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and all indications are it continues to intensify. as we speak. and more than likely will be a major hurricane this evening. already people in around 50 counties are under evacuation orders, schools and colleges are closed airports are closed, trains are cancelled, hospitals are suspending services. is this going to be as scary as it sounds?— going to be as scary as it sounds? ., _, , sounds? for some communities, es. sounds? for some communities, yes- some _ sounds? for some communities, yes. some communities - sounds? for some communities, yes. some communities it - sounds? for some communities, yes. some communities it is - yes. some communities it is probably going to be worse than they are envisioning because so few people understand the power of a major hurricane. i mean, just look at this rad area here which is the hurricane warning area or area where people can expect hurricane conditions. you can see just how many large cities, tampa and tallahassee into southern georgia can be impacted by these powerful winds. , ., winds. the wins, the one thing. you are a _ winds. the wins, the one thing. you are a storm _ winds. the wins, the one thing. you are a storm surge - you are a storm surge specialist as well. what is the impact of the storm surge going to be? ~ �* ., , impact of the storm surge going to be? ~ �* . , impact of the storm surge going to be? ~ �* ., , ., to be? we're really looking at storm surge _ to be? we're really looking at storm surge being _ to be? we're really looking at storm surge being maximised here in what we call the nature coast of the florida big bend area. this purple area here could see storm surge of up to 10-15 could see storm surge of up to 10—15 feet. could see storm surge of up to 10-15 feet. i could see storm surge of up to 10—15 feet. i said it again, 10-15 10—15 feet. i said it again, 10—15 feet. i said it again, 10—15 feet possible in this big bend area. less surge to the south and west but still very impactful, potentially life—threatening storm surges all the way down into the tampa bay area and all the way around here. . , . ., bay area and all the way around here. . , ., ., ., here. that is a huge volume of water. practical— here. that is a huge volume of water. practical sense, - here. that is a huge volume of water. practical sense, what. here. that is a huge volume of water. practical sense, what is that going to mean the people? what would they see?— that going to mean the people? what would they see? 10-15 feet is hard for _ what would they see? 10-15 feet is hard for a _ what would they see? 10-15 feet is hard for a lot _ what would they see? 10-15 feet is hard for a lot of— what would they see? 10-15 feet is hard for a lot of people - what would they see? 10-15 feet is hard for a lot of people to - is hard for a lot of people to fathom and envision but i stand six feet tall so you can imagine that would be over two of me so if you put two. my person on my shoulders again you can see how how that would be. �* , ., , be. are you satisfied with the level of preparations - be. are you satisfied with the level of preparations that - be. are you satisfied with the level of preparations that are | level of preparations that are in place? it level of preparations that are in lace? , ., ., ~ ., in place? it is hard to know. you know. _ in place? it is hard to know. you know, we _ in place? it is hard to know. you know, we are _ in place? it is hard to know. you know, we are focused l in place? it is hard to know. - you know, we are focused even the weather forecasting so i don't always get the latest information on the preparation. but what little bit i have heard, people are really taking this seriously.— this seriously. now, it is hurricane _ this seriously. now, it is hurricane tracks - this seriously. now, it is hurricane tracks as - this seriously. now, it is hurricane tracks as it. this seriously. now, it is hurricane tracks as it is| this seriously. now, it is| hurricane tracks as it is it will go to the big—band region of florida are there, a region that has not seen a hurricane like for a very long time. what is causing this hurricane to track so differently from the ones that the people of florida will be well used to seeing? you make the steering for this one is very similar to other, you know, hurricanes. it one is very similar to other, you know, hurricanes.- you know, hurricanes. it is 'ust, you know, hurricanes. it is just. for— you know, hurricanes. it is just, for anyone _ you know, hurricanes. it is just, for anyone area, - you know, hurricanes. it is just, for anyone area, a i you know, hurricanes. it 3 just, for anyone area, a major hurricane is a relatively rare event so a lot of places receive the edges of a hurricane in this area has received the edges of many hurricane canes but if the strike materialises the core of a powerful category three could move through later tomorrow. and at this stage, do people have to leave the state to be saved or are there local options for them?- saved or are there local options for them? they would follow where _ options for them? they would follow where the _ options for them? they would follow where the actuation - follow where the actuation orders issued by local authorities and evacuate tens of miles, not hundreds of miles. ., ., of miles, not hundreds of miles. . ., , _ miles. 0k, well, i are a busy man. thanks _ miles. 0k, well, i are a busy man. thanks indeed - miles. ok, well, i are a busy man. thanks indeed for- miles. 0k, well, i are a busy man. thanks indeed for yourj man. thanks indeed for your time. presidentjoe biden has already approved an emergency declaration for florida on monday. many of the state's counties are already under some form of the evacuation orders foot of the present study is in constant contact with the governor ron desantis. we are worried about _ governor ron desantis. we are worried about the _ governor ron desantis. we are worried about the surge, - governor ron desantis. we are worried about the surge, the i worried about the surge, the ocean surge, we don't know exactly, our two hour, we are watching this. but i told the governor that, and the mayor, regions that are likely to hit first. were there as long as it takes little were going to make sure they they need.— sure they they need. let's go live now to — sure they they need. let's go live now to elizabeth - live now to elizabeth zimmermann who is a senior executive adviser and a former fema associate administrator and director of disaster operations. thanks indeed for joining us, elizabeth. you're no stranger to this type of situation. what is your assessment of the preparations of florida ahead of hurricane idalia making windfall? can you ever be too cautious when dealing with storms like this one? you might know, you hit that on the right direction there. you can never be too cautious that.— there. you can never be too cautious that. the state has a lot of experience, _ cautious that. the state has a lot of experience, as - cautious that. the state has a lot of experience, as we - cautious that. the state has a l lot of experience, as we know, many decades of hurricane experience. and the preparations that they are taking are those that you should be. looking at the path of the hurricane and looking at what evacuation is needed to be done by the residents and those in florida, get away from the coastline, as you have noticed, as you had noted, the storm surge is going to be real. and thatis surge is going to be real. and that is something that people need to really take precautions and move away from the waters edge. up to higher ground and get out. edge. up to higher ground and net out. ., ., ., , get out. how far do people need to no to get out. how far do people need to go to do _ get out. how far do people need to go to do that? _ get out. how far do people need to go to do that? i _ get out. how far do people need to go to do that? i mean, - get out. how far do people need to go to do that? i mean, did i to go to do that? i mean, did they need to free the county, for the state entirely? 0r they need to free the county, for the state entirely? or are there local shelter options? there a local shelter operations there in florida. all of the counties are in different evacuation zones and so it is listening to the local authorities to see how far they need to go to get out and what direction they so that they are going to safer ground. figs direction they so that they are going to safer ground.- going to safer ground. as we had a moment _ going to safer ground. as we had a moment ago, - going to safer ground. as we had a moment ago, an i going to safer ground. as we i had a moment ago, an emergency declaration has already been activated for florida by president biden. what difference does that make in terms of resourcing and capabilities for fema and others trying to provide resources there? . ,., ., resources there? yeah, so, that allows the _ resources there? yeah, so, that allows the state _ resources there? yeah, so, that allows the state of _ resources there? yeah, so, that allows the state of florida i resources there? yeah, so, that allows the state of florida to i allows the state of florida to know that they will get reimbursed by the federal government for the actions that they are right now, the cost that they might incur for evacuating individuals for the shelter is that they are doing, and all the emergency protective measures that they are taking in order to help save lives and protect property at this time. as well as any debris removal that might come forward after the disaster. we know, with all of the vegetation and trees in florida, there will be a lot of debris removal that needs to be done. �* ., debris removal that needs to be done. �* . , done. and, in a practicalway, how does _ done. and, in a practicalway, how does fema _ done. and, in a practicalway, how does fema manage i done. and, in a practicalway, how does fema manage a i how does fema manage a situation like this? impending landfall in florida but, as soon as that is dealt with, it will move on and expected to hit georgia and the carolinas too. you may guess, so, fema and otherfederal agencies too. you may guess, so, fema and other federal agencies all have resources, people, commodities, supplies that are in florida. as well as georgia, south carolina, north carolina so fema is coordinating to the regional office to make sure that they have the resources that they have the resources that they have the resources that they need and the coordination that they need to be able to go in and respond as quickly as possible afterwards. as well as urban search and rescue teams that are on alert, ready to go, should they need to be to go out and find people that are missing. with the wildfires and the flooding that we have seen recently, you are an expert in this area, you know see a change in pace and the number of major natural disasters that ahead in the us? yes, right now it feels like we're getting bombarded every day with a new disaster, when you look at all of the hurricane is lined up in the atlantic coming towards the coastline there as well as those in the pacific, so, the wildfire in maui is still going on so an active response effort as well as other disasters that have happened over the course of the summer, so, they are ongoing and not stopping. £31 ongoing and not stopping. of course, there is a greater depth of need for resources for that, president biden has promised florida governor ron desantis to give everything that he needs. what do you think the scale of, i mean, the hurricane hasn't hit yet but what you think the scale of that operation is likely to be? so, i mean, like you say, we have to wait and see, once it goes over, dizzy with the devastation is, to see what areas it hits. and what the population is, the infrastructure that it might damage, the power outages, so we need to be prepared for line crews to get in there through the trees, get the power back—up, the power back on because you need to have power, a lot of times, to be able to have water as well as electricity, so lots of cute things will be happening tomorrow after the storm enters onto florida and goes through to be able to get people up and running again so we will hope and pray for the best for florida and georgia and south carolina, north carolina. but they have got to be prepared for all of it so that is why the resources the federal governments, as well as other states are able to come into to help them so i know that all of thatis help them so i know that all of that is lined up and ready to come in after the storm has passed. come in after the storm has assed. . , passed. 0k. elizabeth zimmermann, - passed. 0k. elizabeth zimmermann, thanks| passed. 0k. elizabeth- zimmermann, thanks indeed passed. 0k. elizabeth— zimmermann, thanks indeed for that analysis. these kinds of weather events are becoming more commonplace thanks to climate change but are hurting is actually getting worse? the sheer number of hurricane hasn't increased but, overall, the storms are getting stronger. the number of category three, four and five harry canes, the most intense is on the rise. that is making the storms more costly and deadly, too. hurricane katrina, which hit louisiana 2005 reached the coast as a category three storm. the storm left more than 1200 people dead, displaced hundreds of thousands more and left $125 billion in damages and at the time it was considered a once in a century storm by between 2016 and 2018 alone, the us was impacted by six other major hurricanes. what powered katrina and other storms is the heat in the oceans so as oceans warm, hurricanes gain more energy. they become more severe. the result, scientists say, is that more will be at higher wind speeds and rate of rainfall which can cause catastrophic destruction and widespread flooding, like we saw hurricane harvey in 2017. 9 trillion gallons of water fell over the texas coast, hitting houston especially hard. the region was under waterfor especially hard. the region was under water for days. especially hard. the region was under waterfor days. and especially hard. the region was under water for days. and tens of thousands were displaced. recovery has taken years. so as hurricane is approaching the future, they are more likely to wreak havoc and impact notjust coastal communities but those further inland as well. well, for more information do look at our website. for more information do look at ourwebsite. forthe for more information do look at our website. for the latest on hurricane idalia you can find out which areas have been evacuated as well as get on the ground coverage, is that dom approaches the florida coast. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. well, let's look at some of the story is making news. in the uk, police officer who was hit by a trainable attempting to save a distressed man on the tracks has died. 46—year—old graham has died. 46—year—old graham has been described as hugely respected and popular colleague. it was made prime minister and home secretary are both expressed sadness at the officer's passing. the 20—year—old man in uganda has become the first to be charged under the country was the controversial anti—lgbt q controversial anti—lg bt q legislation which controversial anti—lgbt q legislation which passed in may. the man is accused of what it describes aggravated homosexuality after he was alleged to have had relations with a 41—year—old man foot of the 20—year—old's lawyer said he will remain in custody until his case is heard by the country's high court. by, formerly known as twitter, is lifting a four—year ban on political ban on the us for medical parties foot of the company said it would expand its safety and election steams ahead of the 2024 elections. the platform is faced criticism for not doing more to prevent the spread of disinformation during us campaigns. the us secretary is in china. she is the fourth biden administration official to visit the country in three months. as part of an effort to stabilise ties between beijing and washington. in recent months, they have sparred over taiwan, trade and intellectual property. this took a closer look now at the biden administration's diplomatic push and the conflict driving a wedge between the two countries. first, secretary met with's on tuesday. she addressed dialogue needed to find common ground and achieve possible cooperation. she added that the us does not want to sever the links between the two economies, especially with hundreds of billions of dollars at stake for both countries. they do remain far apart on some key economic issues. she said us companies tell her that china's increasingly on investable because of raids on businesses. the new counterespionage law that broadens the definitions of spying, broadens the definitions of spying, it warned it could be used to penalise any business activities. china, meanwhile, wants to see the us reduce export controls on sensitive technologies and scrap a new executive order that bans us investment in key technology industries like quantum computing and artificial intelligence. we are receiving reports from russia that say there has been a drone attack on the airport of the north—western city. the local governor said the military was repelling an attack. he uploaded a video showing a large fireball explosion could be heard. an unconfirmed russian media report says for transport planes were damaged at the airport. more than 600 kilometres or about 370 miles away from ukraine, close to the border with estonia. meanwhile, the us has announced a new package of military aid for ukraine on tuesday. valued at $250 million according to a state department press release, the aid package includes weapons and equipment such as air defence missiles and artillery ammunition as well as services, training and transportation among other battlefield capabilities. staying with the war in ukraine, us officials claim there has been a dramatic rise in the number of ukrainian casualties. ukraine is not given an official number of those who have died in battle but there are reports as 70,000 are dead. earlier, president zelensky paid tribute to the fallen men and women who died defending the country. the toll of the world hangs heavy on the soldiers fighting to stop russian advances on the eastern front. the bbc has been in the front. the bbc has been in the front line and sent this report. a fitness champion who volunteered to fight. his convoy was destroyed last november. honestly, it is still very hard to accept that he is gone. it is only when i am here that it sinks in. ifeel gone. it is only when i am here that it sinks in. i feel he gone. it is only when i am here that it sinks in. ifeel he is still somewhere. that he is still somewhere. that he is still alive and on a mission. doing hisjob. in marriage, she made a pact with her husband. she would join up if he was killed in action. she is still getting used to army life and the dangers that come with it. this road is regularly shelled. here, outside back moat, they had out and immediately take cover in nearby woods. this position is in range of russian guns. like thousands of other ukrainians, she has very little time to mourn. instead, she chose to fight. and what we have a lot of soldiers on the front line is that the time to grieve will come when the war is over. russian mercenary chief yevgeny prigozhin was quietly buried in the outskirts of st petersburg in russia on tuesday. heavily guarded private burial comes six days after he was killed in a plane crash that the kremlin denies any involvement in. however russian editor was there. all day, st petersburg has been buzzing with rumours and counter rumours and speculation about where exactly prigozhin would be buried. 0n social media, at least four different cemeteries were being talked about as possibilities. in the end, it was none of them. at the end of the day, mr prigozhin�*s representatives revealed that he would be buried in the cemetery behind me. no military honours for the head of the wagner paramilitary group, and reportedly only a few people attended. now, we have been told by police here that the cemeteries officially closed for the day. we can't go inside. and to make sure that the media that is gathered here doesn't try to get inside, the place is pretty much under lockdown. lots of police here all along the perimeter fence and inside the cemetery. so the ceremony itself was low—key, the security certainly isn't. and you can understand why, because the mutiny that mr prigozhin organised was seen by the kremlin as treachery as far as the russian authorities are concerned, the lesser tension, the better. for the latest on hurricane idalia please do check out our website. you can find out which areas have been evacuated as well as on the ground coverage as the storm approaches the florida coast, expected to make landfall in a few hours from now. well, thanks for watching and do stay with us here. do take care. goodbye. hello. 0n the other side of the atlantic, a major weather story is going to be developing during wednesday, because florida is bracing for the arrival of hurricane idalia. this storm has been strengthening, moving northwards over the very warm waters of the gulf of mexico. it's going to make landfall during wednesday in the northwest of florida with a combination of dangerous winds, a life—threatening storm surge, with the potential to cause catastrophic flooding. we will, of course, keep you up to date with that. here at home, a much quieter weather outlook for wednesday. sunny spells and scattered showers. most places getting off to a fine start. a little bit of mist here and there that will tend to lift and clear, and then a lot of sunshine around. but shower clouds will bubble up through the day. a scattering of showers to take us through the afternoon, the odd heavy one. but there will be some big dry gaps in between. temperatures ranging from 15 degrees in stornoway and lerwick to 19 in london, maybe 20 somewhere in the south east corner. but those temperatures will drop once again under clear skies during wednesday night. the early hours of thursday, though, will bring outbreaks of rain in across the south west of england, wales, perhaps northern ireland, turning milder here by the end of the night. but where those clear skies hold on, yes, it will be rather chilly to start thursday. now, on thursday, we'll see this band of rain pushing its way north and eastwards. southern parts of england, wales, the midlands, northern ireland, seeing some of that wet weather. much of eastern england staying dry. much of northern england, too. and scotland should have a fine day with some spells of sunshine. temperatures north to south, 14 to 19, maybe up to 20 degrees. now, some showery bits and pieces of rain may still be with us on friday, but increasingly things will be turning drier. there will be some spells of sunshine. those temperatures typically in the mid to high teens, the low 20s for some. and as we head into the weekend, what actually it looks as if high pressure is going to build across the uk and where we see high pressure, that tends to mean fine and settled weather. so, yes, as we move through the first few days of september, the weather is really going to be settling down. there will be some good spells of sunshine through the weekend. the vast majority will be dry and it's going to feel a little bit warmer as well. bye for now. the vast majority will be dry and it's going to feel a little bit warmer as well. bye for now. australian gas workers plan to strike with wage pressures high in the mining—dependent country. and the business of comedy — we take a look at what the edinburgh fringe festival does for the scottish capital. welcome to asia business report. we begin in australia. a planned strike by workers at two massive offshore gas plants run by us major chevron highlight that even with a small dip in inflation, wage pressures are not easing. unions are asking chevon to improve pay and conditions. workers at rival woodside energy last week managed to reach a deal on conditions, and shell did last year as well. in a couple of hours, we'll be getting the latest reading on the country's consumer prices in the month ofjuly. 2—3% is the target. australia managed to achieve that from the 1990s, but since the pandemic, it has seen inflation rise outside the target range, just like the rest of the world.