welcome to newsday in the bbc. i'm sharanjit leyl in singapore. the headlines: tens of thousands of people in the philippines have begun evacuating from coastal areas as super typhoon mankhut heads towards the island of luzon. and in the united states, there's more extreme weather as hurricane florence looms. forecasters expect life threatening flooding as a result of a storm surge. i'm kasia madera in london. also in the programme: we'll be talking to malaysia's first daughter about human rights and why she is not one to shy away from the spotlight. and bye bye beetle: german car manufacturer volkswagen announces it's stopping production of the iconic car next year. it's 7am in singapore, midnight in london and also 7am

in on the island of luzon, in the philippines, where people are doing what they can to prepare for typhoon mangkhut. it's due to make landfall on the northern tip of luzon on friday evening. up to ten million people are in the storm's path and with wind speeds expected to reach up to 255 kilometres per hour there's fears it could be hugely destructive. this is how it looks at the moment. heavy rocks tying down houses in the north in the hope it might see the ruse of their vulnerable homes when typhoon mankhut arrives. the philippines is hit by about 20 typhoons and storms the year. the destruction killing hundreds and leaving millions in a cycle of poverty. but this super typhoon has

been described as the strongest yet of 2018. schools and offices have been ordered shut and thousands evacuate in. at about 100 kilometres in diameter, the storm is expected to pack powerful wind speeds with heavy rains triggering landslides and flash floods. storm surges, too, are big threat, with highways likely to inundate the coastline. but the biggest fear is for the estimated 10 million people in the path of the storm, with worries authorities and rescue services will be stretched them. but the important thing is for them. but the important thing is for the government to make sure that the evacuation happens. in the evacuation happens. in the evacuation centres, there is no panic and they can provide food. the government is ready with food. 0fficials government is ready with food. officials want to see a repeat of the typhoon which killed thousands

in 2015, forcing many from their homes. this time, as people prepare and stock up on supplies, some even say they plan to stay, any hope they can their property. as typhoon mankhut draws ever closer. reged ahmad, bbc news. —— in the hope that they can protect their property. the other tropical storm raising much concern, this time in the us, is hurricane florence. it's nearing the east coast and is expected to bring life—threatening flooding as a result of rainfall and storm—surge. that's according to forecasters who say heavy rainbands with tropical—storm—force winds were spreading across the coast of north carolina. i've been speaking to our correspondent, laura trevelyan, who's in wilmington in north carolina. she says florence has been downgraded but the storm has become wider. as you can see behind me, the

leading edge of hurricane florence is reaching us here in wilmington north carolina. we are being battered by rains. the winds are getting heavier. although the hurricane has been downgraded to eight category two, forecasters are saying don't be complacent about that, because it has become much wider. —— a category. and it is a category five budding threat. if this carries on for several days, we may get record rainfall here in north carolina. and that could lead to catastrophic flooding, as there is nowhere for the water to run off as water levels rise on the coast, and also inland. so this is potentially a very dire situation, and, already, by the way, it 50,000 people are without power, even as the hurricane just approaches. people are without power, even as the hurricanejust approaches. but they listening to evacuation notices? in general, yes, they are.

—— are they listening. there is a barrier island behind us. people have heeded the warnings. a couple of people are trying to ride out the storm and bigger they will be all right, or people who have ridden out other hurricanes before. the people are taking the warning seriously. there was buying of supplies, and all the gas has been bought up. most people have had out of town, because when you were told that it is a monster, life—threatening storm, most people are taking that warning seriously. but a lot of concern over the rainfall? exactly. this is a very slow—moving storm. that is the other thing. because of changes to the jet stream, which other thing. because of changes to thejet stream, which may other thing. because of changes to the jet stream, which may be associated with climate change, normally the jet stream moves the hurricane off the eastern seaboard and pushes them away into the atlantic. the whistle with hurricane harvey last year, when i reported on that in houston, the storm sat over

houston for several days, leading to heavy rains and flooding. essentially the same thing could happen here. this is a new phenomenon on of hurricanes lasting for days. —— phenomenon. much more on our website. but now onto past hurricanes, which are continuing to have a political impact. politicians across the united states have rebuked president trump for questioning the number of puerto ricans killed as a result of hurricane maria last year. the president sent a flurry of tweets rejecting official findings that nearly 3,000 people died in puerto rico as a result of last year's storms. he accused democrats of inflating the official death toll to make him "look bad". the official figure was released last month after an independent study. paul ryan, the republican us house speaker, is one of those who disagrees with president trump's comments. casualties to make a personal bad.

that's not... i have no reason to dispute these figures. i was in puerto rico after the hurricane. it was a terrible storm. ministers hope mensch contingency plans for areas including passports, driving licences, and mobile phones. —— ministers have published. and christie ‘s has —— new york auction house christie's has revealed what they say will be the most expensive work of art by a living artist ever sold at auction. the piece portrait of an artist by british artist david hockney has been set at about $80 million for auction. the 1972 creation, that christie's describe as iconic and one of hockney‘s greatest works, will go up for auction in november. the two men named as suspects in the salisbury nerve agent attack have appeared on russian state television and denied being involved.

the men dismissed british claims that they were intelligence officers, insisting instead that they work in the fitness industry. they said they'd taken a short break in the uk to visit salisbury cathedral. 0ur security correspondent gordon corera reports. speaking out for the first time, the two russians accused of the deadly nerve agent attack in salisbury. today, they appeared on programme on television to declare their innocence. translation: our friends had suggested for a long time we visit this wonderful town. they deny that they are russian intelligence agents. asked what they we re intelligence agents. asked what they were doing in salisbury, they came up were doing in salisbury, they came up with this. translation: it is a tourist city and they have a famous cathedral there. salt creek cathedral. it is

famous throughout europe. and in fa ct famous throughout europe. and in fact around the world, i think. it is famous for its 123 metre spire. it is famous for its clock was it is the old is working clock in the world. the men claimed they were so keen to see the sights, they made two trips here in two days. the weather was so bad they back. it is politically the first visit was actually become a source for the attack. so did they visit the house where sergei skripal and his daughter were poisoned? translation: maybe we pass or maybe we didn't. i had never heard about them before this nightmare started. i'd never heard his name before. i did know anything about them. from the very start, the kremlin has dismissed the accusations coming from london as lies. 0fficials here have called the whole affair absurd, a soap opera. now these two men are being presented as definitive proof of that. however implausible their own story actually sounds. sergei skripal and his daughter survived

the poisoning. but the sturgess died after using eight perfume bottle her boyfriend found. police believe that is how the nerve agent was brought to britain. when you go through customs, they check all your belongings, so if we had anything suspicious, any police officer would have questions. why would a man have women's perfume in his luggage? accused by britain, the men now claim they are worried for their lives. they even demanded an apology. at this appearance was controlled, carefully choreographed. the suspects have vanished as suddenly as they appeared for the state television cameras. we've all heard of first daughter ivanka trump — but what about marina mahathir? a writer, activist and the eldest daughter of the newly elected malaysian prime minister mahathir mohamad, she is not one to shy away from the spotlight. vocal about human rights and her defence of the lgbt

community — despite homosexuality being illegal in the country — she's well known for directly criticising her father's government. and i'm very pleased to say marina mahathirjoins me live on the programme. thank you so much for coming in and speaking with us today. let us to remind viewers about what has been going on with knowledge and politics, because sometimes it reads like an house of cards. your father, at the age of 93, has been re—elected as the prime minister. he willed malaysia for over 20 years until 2003. he is back. he campaigned alongside his former nemesis, anwar ibrahim, who he had jailed, so a lot of questions are being asked. the question is when he will step aside to eight way for an ebrahim, because he is 93, after all. his campaign promise was that he was there for two years, then and my ebrahim would take over. —— anwar

ibrahim. it has been two months, so we have two years ago. some serbs been taken. anwar ibrahim has to be elected again into a parliamentary seat, which is due to happen. he has just announced that one of the mps will step down. and he will take over that, all will stand in a constituency, port dickson, and then we will see how it goes. of course, the main reason why it your father has been re—elected, the shock victory in may, was because of, to a great extent, the scandal involving the former prime minister being accused of stealing millions. he has denied that and said that it was a donation. najib razak‘s lawyers have been arrested this week, so there are been arrested this week, so there a re lots of

been arrested this week, so there are lots of concerns about whether the former prime minister will get a fair trial the former prime minister will get a fairtrial in an the former prime minister will get a fair trial in an atmosphere that has been described as something of a witch—hunt. so will he?” been described as something of a witch-hunt. so will he? i don't know if witch—hunt is if fair word to use. if witch—hunt is if fair word to use. the police has been investigating. there is a lot of evidence out there. the us department ofjustice has a lot of evidence and the new attorney general is really making sure that everything is in place for a fair trial and his appointed. two private lawyers who are very very experienced. and, well, we think it is, you know, it should be a fair trial. i think, is, you know, it should be a fair trial. ithink, well, without prejudging it, the evidence is to be overwhelming. but you know, we will just go through a trial. and who knows? we have a strictjudge, as

far as knows? we have a strictjudge, as farasi knows? we have a strictjudge, as far as i know. and if the evidence is not add up, he was that does not add up. but i mean there is a lot of anger in malaysia. my mother's family is still there. there is a lot of anger of which i know. they wa nt to lot of anger of which i know. they want to be vindicated and they want to see theirformer want to be vindicated and they want to see their former prime minister behind bars, with the revelations of moons of dollars in handbags, jewellery, being lim to them. it is an incredible story. everybody wants to see them in jail. an incredible story. everybody wants to see them injail. —— millions of dollars. —— being linked. we will follow the law. we will do everything properly because we don't wa nt to everything properly because we don't want to be — i am not saying we, i am not the government, but this governor does not want to be like the last government. now, let's talk about your role. for years, you have writing a column, you have been forthright in your views. malaysia

has been a conservative society for yea rs. has been a conservative society for years. taking on the subject of defending the sexual rights, women's rights, that has or has been seen as somewhat controversial. you are being criticised in the past were doing it, as well. that is a brave move, isn't it, to speak out for women, and gay rights. move, isn't it, to speak out for women, and gay rightslj move, isn't it, to speak out for women, and gay rights. i suppose so. i rarely talk about human rights. and whether you are female or male and whatever your sexuality is, you are human beings. so you are entitled to the same rights as every other human being. we have cost you and the guarantees equality before the law. and i am just calling on people, particularly the authorities, to follow the law. it is about the rule of law. —— we have a constitution that guarantees. we saw two women caned them for the sexual acts. when you see much change happening in malaysia in terms of the strict islamic laws, the shahriar alams, is progress

being made? we should know that that is in being made? we should know that that isina being made? we should know that that is in a state will buy it the opposition islamic party. . i think it was an attempt to assert their authority in the face of this new government which promises to be more open, more progressive. —— sharia law. more democratic. so it was kind ofa law. more democratic. so it was kind of a provocation. and the government or the federal government, has said that they did not approve of it, they do not condone it, because, under the constitution, women cannot be caned. and basically we want to get rid of corporal punishment altogether for anyone. and that is the issue. it is been done before. that women are being caned in public and everything. so a long way to go before malaysia truly becomes a modern society, usa?” before malaysia truly becomes a modern society, usa? iwould before malaysia truly becomes a modern society, usa? i would not say. that is an isolated case. ——

you would say. 0n the east coast. you optimistic about the future?” am very optimistic. i think a lot of good signs. we will leave it there. thank you for coming in and speaking to us today, marina mahathir, the first daughter of malaysia. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: we'll take you to vostock, where russia is holding its biggest military exercise since the cold war. freedom itself was attacked this morning, and freedom 30 hours after the earthquake that devastated mexico city, rescue teams still have no idea just how many people have died. there is people alive and there is people not alive. we just can help and give whatever we've got. it looked as though they had come to fight a war, but their mission is to bring peace to east

timor and nowhere on earth needs it more badly. the government's case is being forcefully presented by the justice minister. he has campaigned vigorously for abolition, having once witnessed one of his clients being executed. elizabeth seton spent much time here and now that she has become a saint it is expected this area will be inundated with tourists. the mayor and local businessmen regard the anticipated boom as yet another blessing of saint elisabeth. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm sharanjit leyl in singapore. i'm kasia madera in london. our top stories: tens of thousands of people in the philippines have begun evacuating from coastal areas as super typhoon mankhut heads towards the island of luzon. 0n the east coast of the united states there's more extreme weather as hurricane florence looms. let's take a look at some front

pages from around the world. 0n the front page of the south china morning post, there is an exclusive story about cathay pacific. they will be revamping their pay and perks package for new pilots. those who fly more, will take home more. 0n the front page of the philippine star, it shows that evacuations are now under way in luzon. it is the most powerful typhoon to threaten the country this year. as a precaution, some schools and offices have already closed. the centre of typhoon 0mpong, which is also known as mangkhut is expected to hit cagayan tomorrow. and finally, the international edition of the new york times has an article about a museum exhibition dedicated to political anger. the exhibition is called "i object" and is in london. it traces political anger all the way back to the ancient egyptians. items include a babylonian brick and a banksy prank. those are the papers.

now, kasia, what stories are sparking discussions online? that exhibition sounds good. sharanjit, the story that has got people really interested online is the singer dua lipa calling her fans brave. it's after what happened during her concert in china last night. videos appear to show security guards dragging people from their seats and removing them from the venue in shanghai. it's been claimed those fans targetted, were waving gay rights flags. a china representative for dua lipa's record company told the bbc that no—one was available to comment. let's take you to siberia now, where russian troops are taking part in the country's biggest military exercise since the cold war. as we've been reporting on newsday this week, china is lending its support, sending more than 3,000 troops to the region, with military, economic and political ties seen to be strengthening between the two countries. from siberia, steve rosenberg reports. from over the hills,

the russians are coming. they are the largest russian manoeuvres since the cold war. a third of the entire russian armed forces is taking part, says moscow. and joining them here, troops from china. under pressure from the west, russia tilting east. the army invited us to watch the show. the aim of the exercises across the russian far east, to test combat readiness. the drills, moscow insists, purely defensive. some experts suspect the russians have inflated troop numbers, but the show of strength was indisputable. we weren't the only ones watching. vladimir putin followed the drills and then pledged to make

russia's armed forces even stronger. translation: russia is a peaceloving country. we don't have any aggressive plans. but we have a duty to the motherland to be ready to defend russia's sovereignty, security and national interests. the message russia wants to send with all this is pretty clear, that it has a powerful army and powerful allies in the east, and that moscow has no intention of giving in to pressure from the west. and that's where china comes in. presidents putin and xi have been cooking up a strategic partnership as a counterweight to the west. moscow sees closer ties with beijing as a recipe for surviving western sanctions. russia always wanted to be integrated into the west. now this era is over and russia needs a very strong external partner that can provide technology, new markets and investments. and that is china.

so russia is slowly drifting into china's embrace, definitely ignoring the bigger picture and ignoring these tectonic shifts between the two. i think it's very dangerous and shortsighted. but, in courting china, will russia end up thejunior partner? it's determined not to. moscow continues to see itself as a military super power. volkswagen has said it will stop making one of its most recognisable cars, the beetle, next year. the german car maker says it's moving towards a more family friendly fleet of cars and putting more emphasis on developing electric vehicles. beetle mania, one of the bestselling

ca rs of beetle mania, one of the bestselling cars of all time, but now the end of an era. after an official speech from hitler, the german motor show. it was originally the dream of a despised dictator that came to symbolise the freewheeling 60s, finding mass fame in the disney film, bucket and capturing hearts with its cheap price and funky design. reliability, economy and the distinct look in short if success but now as volkswagen looks towards mass—market electric cars production is to cease. there will be two final edition models costing around $23,000. there is shock on social media. porto news europe announced... beatle fan deezus tweeted. .. driver gifts lamented... and hillary said... the company

admitted the loss of the beetle after three generations and nearly seven decades would evoke a host of emotions from its many devoted fans but the company has hinted the model could be revived at some point. never say never, it teased. never say never indeed. you have been watching newsday. i'm kasia madera in london. and i'm sharanjit leyl in singapore. and before we go, we'd like to leave you with these live pictures from cape fear in north carolina, where the american flag has been ripped apart because of strong winds from hurricane florence hours before it's expected to make landfall. of course we will monitor that at the typhoon here on newsday. hello. well, before we go to the

weather for the uk, an hello. well, before we go to the weatherfor the uk, an update on hurricane florence battering the east coast of the united states. and the worst of the weather is technically still out to sea. the storm's i isn't expected to cross land, that is make landfall, until around about lunchtime on friday uk time. but it has already been battering north carolina, south carolina, areas towards the north as well as further inland and it is a slow—moving storm, that means it is dumping a lot of rainfall in the same place for a considerable amount of time and those destructive winds, the storm surge, likely to be some destructive flooding from this or the system. meanwhile of asia—pacific we have a very powerful storm, even stronger, typhoon mankhut, super typhoon heading for northern parts of luzon in the philippines and the effects of the storm could be catastrophic, so to make very powerful storms both sides of the globe. meanwhile here in the

uk, obviously it is a lot quieter, thank goodness. showers in the north, much more dry in the south, and this is a satellite image from the last 12 hours, clouds into the northern part of the country, further south the clouds have broken up further south the clouds have broken up at it so we have clearer weather. and that's how we start friday morning. a lot of dry weather not just in the south but some eastern areas, whereas in the north—west noticed the rain in northern ireland, western scotland and the north—west of england. as we go through the morning into the afternoon, there is the clock, ten,, 11,12, afternoon, there is the clock, ten,, 11, 12, showery spells, in the southee should be dry, if not even sunny, 19 in london, fresh in aberdeen at around 15 degrees. now that takes us into the friday night and eventually saturday. i pressure to the south of the uk will bring warm and sunny weather in the near continent and not so bad in the south of the uk as well and in the midlands. sunshine on the way for

saturday. you can see some of the bright weather extends all the way to scotland but a weather front only coming from the north—west, so eventually on saturday in the north—west there will be some rain and a decent breeze. 21 the top temperature on saturday. here is a look at sunday's weather forecast and a weather front is expected to move and a weather front is expected to m ove a cross and a weather front is expected to move across the uk. that means the central swathe of the country could have some rain but either side we have some rain but either side we have some rain but either side we have some brighter weather and the warm spot of course in the south and the south—east up to around 22 degrees. that's it from me. i'm kasia madera with bbc world news. our top story: typhoon mangkhut is heading towards the philippines. tens of thousands of people have begun evacuating from coastal areas as the super typhoon heads towards the island. 10 million people are believed to be at risk in the path of the storm. there's more extreme weather, this time on the east coast of the united states, as hurricane florence looms. forecasters expect life threatening flooding as a result of a storm surge. residents are being warned that ‘time is running out‘ if they are to leave their homes.

and this story is trending on bbc.com: the singer dua lipa has called her fans "brave" after videos showed security guards dragging people from their seats in shanghai. it's been claimed those fans targetted were waving gay rights flags. now on bbc news: hardtalk.