this is bbc news. the headlines at midday. the strongest typhoon so far this year has been battering the northern phillipines with violent winds and 20 foot storm surges. thousands have been evacuated. there has been a need for water and kitchen essentials to make their lives more tolerable in the evacuation centres. tropical storm florence is causing catastrophic flooding on the us east coast. five are reported dead so far, as forecasters warn of life—threatening storm surges. but once we get to that nine foot range, this is an absolute life threatening scenario. also coming up this hour, an overhaul of divorce law. ministers set out plans for no fault—divorce, removing the need to allege blame. known as the ‘good doctor‘ to the locals of guernsey, luftwaffe officer dr albert kowald was imprisoned for giving

medical supplies to locals. in halfan in half an hour, it is a brexit special on click, as they look at the technology that could be used at the technology that could be used at the borders. the world's strongest storm this year, super typhoon mangkhut, continues to hit the northern coast of the philippines with strong winds and heavy rain. three people have died in the storm. around four million people are in its path. these are the latest satellite pictures of the typhoon as it moves across the north of the island. over the coming days, mangkhut will move away from the philippines towards hong kong. tiffany wertheimer reports. typhoon mangkhut hit before 2am

local time on saturday, wreaking havocin local time on saturday, wreaking havoc in the predawn darkness. this is what people woke up to. in this city, almost every building is damaged in some way. downed trees, crushed cars, debris, including fallen power lines hit the streets. translation: when the wave hit the road, it also hit the embankment and the houses we re hit the embankment and the houses were shaking. mangkhut is the strongest tropical cyclone the world has seen so far this year. even though it's wind speeds dropped when it hit land, mangkhut is still packing wind equivalent to a harry kane for cyclone. 185 kilometres an hour. the

philippines is no stranger to typhoons and residents were as prepared as they could be. flights have been cancelled, schools shut and the army is on standby. but the torrential rain has caused landslides, which have already claimed lives and authorities feel the death toll will rise. now it is heading for china. the typhoon is forecast to pass over hong kong on sunday afternoon. authorities say when it hits, it may be upgraded once again to a super typhoons stop conditions should ease by tuesday. our correspondent howard johnson is travelling towards the north east of the philippines, where the typhoon hit hardest and reports on the damage there. we are on the road between two of the areas hardest hit by this storm. overnight, we have seen this area battered by heavy winds and rains and on the way here, we saw electricity posts felt, trees ripped

to shreds. we have also heard reports there have been bridges and roads closed by flooding and also by landslides but what people are most concerned about are the coastal areas, these remote areas near the seaboard, what we have heard is that the storm passed directly overhead last night and the fear is that the devastation will be worse there. lot felizco is oxfam's country directorfor the philippines. she told me the extent of the damage across the philippines from typhoon mangkhut. it has been 16 hours since typhoon mangkhut made landfall and because of the coverage of this typhoon, it covers 23 provinces, along the eastern seaboard and in the northern portion of luzon. some of these areas are mountainous areas, along the coast, not very accessible from town centres, so we are only

starting to receive initial reports now and looking to having a more com plete now and looking to having a more complete picture maybe in another day or two even. and what do you think the priority is going to be for oxfam, for the help that you can give to people? what will you be focusing on? in this case, we will of course have to focus primarily in the first two days on life—saving needs. considering the number of displaced families, there are already more than 50,000 scattered across more than 50,000 scattered across more than 700 evacuation centres. there will be needs for also access to water purification tablets to make sure there is water. there will be need for hygiene and kitchen essentials to make their lives more tolerable in the evacuation centres. but also, although that will be over

the next few days, we think that given the strength, the power of the typhoon, the heavy winds and rains, there will be considerable damage to shelter, houses that were made of flimsy materials. there will be a need for shelter repair and in the medium term, considering that this has hit farming and fishing areas, there will be a lot of support needed for livelihoods recovery. but of course all of this, we will have to coordinate with the local and national governments to make sure that other responses are lined and coordinated. five people are known to have died in the us as a result of tropical storm florence, with warnings of catastrophic flooding in the coming days as its moves further inland. the national hurricane center said the storm, which was downgraded from a hurricane, is slowly weakening as it moves into eastern south carolina, but it continues to cause extensive flooding, with life—threatening storm surges and strong winds. hundreds of thousands of people have been left without power and evacuation warnings are in place for 1.7 million people across south carolina, north carolina and virginia. chris buckler reports.

the carolinas knew what was coming, but they could never fully prepare for the force of florence. along this coastline, houses found themselves on the front line for a fierce incoming storm, and a surge of water that flooded streets and homes. despite the many days of warnings, there were people caught out, and families who needed to be rescued from their homes. cool water. there you go. in new bern, in north carolina, the emergency services had to move in as people became cut off. i've never been so terrified in my entire life. it was horrifying. just wondering what was going on and where the water's going to go, how high it's going to go and how we're going to get out. in the town of wilmington, street after street was littered with the debris of the storm. huge trees, no match for the power of the winds, even though this hurricane had weakened before it reached land.

this morning, people gathered to see what was left of their neighbourhood. they kept telling us how bad it would be, and we thought we were prepared. but you just can't be prepared for that. there's nothing you can do when a tree falls, you know? and this storm has already proved to be deadly. a fallen tree near here was responsible for killing a mother and her child. hurricane florence is powerful, slow and relentless. it's an uninvited brute who doesn't want to leave. while florence is here, some families have headed to emergency shelters, places where they know they will be safe. what are you worried about? not having a place to go home to, or a job. all those practical concerns are shared as florence continues to hover over the carolinas. she's wheelchair— bound, and it's been really rough.

i said, "god, throuthesus christ, our lord, please, please, protect our home and everyone else in wilmington." evacuation warnings remain in place, as families steel themselves for another night of wind, rain and damage here on cape fear. there are significant concerns about the level of flooding expected as the storm moves inland, flash flood warnings are in place for a number of areas, with surges up to nine—feet high expected in some places. us broadcaster the weather channel demonstrates the danger of these conditions in this report. once that water comes up to three feet, it will be coming up towards my waist. this could be enough to knock you off your feet. it could

even float some cars. this is extremely dangerous. but once we get up extremely dangerous. but once we get up into that six foot range, look at how high this water goes. the winds pick everything up, cars would be floating at this point. this water is over my head. i would not be able to stand here, even withstand the force of the water coming in. they might even be dangers like chemicals and exposed power lines looking in the waters. but once we get to that nine foot range, this is an absolute life threatening scenario. this water is through the first floor of your home, into the second, you can see there is fish floating around in here. this is an extremely dangerous and life—threatening situation. if you find yourself here, please get out. if you are told to go, you need to go. listen to the local officials and make sure you heed the advice if told to do so. our weather presenter helen willetts is here, with more about what's expected in the coming days. we can see from the pictures and that graphic, the dangers. let's

start with what is going on in the philippines and what is likely to happen next. across the philippines we have had the most powerful storm of the year so far. so far this season a lot of the storms have tracked further north towards japan. this is mangkhut, this hit the philippines as we know yesterday and overnight and it is now starting to move out into the south china sea. we will still see some very difficult conditions across the philippines but gradually from now on, we will start to see the conditions if you like get a little less severe than they have been but we have got a lot of rain that has fallen in a short space of time still to come down from the hills and we have had numerous landslides already. it is moving very rapidly now and it will move across the south china sea pretty rapidly and at its next target is southern parts of china. the coastal areas. it has already seen a large swelling as

pa rt already seen a large swelling as part of the world and it could pass perilously close to hong kong, one of the biggest storms in this part of the biggest storms in this part of the biggest storms in this part of the world for some time as well. it has now been downgraded to a category three. it will probably hit asa category three. it will probably hit as a category two. however, that is still a very powerful storm indeed and it will unleash an awful lot of rainfall as well as the storm surge. again, the same issues are going to bea again, the same issues are going to be a concern for parts of china.“ we look now at the other side of the world and what is going on in america, you can see how dramatic it is. is it the fact it is moving quite slowly? that is the difference. this powerful storm is a monster as well but it is a slow—moving one. it is going to hang around for two or three days. when it hit, we had hurricane force winds the length of the coastline. and it still has not really moved much in almost a day. although it was category one and it does not sound as much, we still had 100 mph winds.

the storm surge and this rain. nearly a year ‘s worth of rain in some areas. we could see another ten or 15 inches. it looks like it could bring the wettest conditions to the carolinas that we have ever seen from a storm. the main concern is that threat to life. it still remains a severe threat. it will come inland as well and hit the appellations. and then the risk of landslide and mudslides become a significant threat as well. it will slowly move out into the atlantic eventually. but unfortunately we have several days more very wet weather to come. very briefly, you can see the track there. when it crosses the atlantic, we get the tail end sometimes, not in the same way, of course. yes, you have the energy still within the atmosphere.

into the beginning of next week, we have the remains of ex—hurricane helene, which is now a topical. yes, they become non—hurricane arthur like, if you like. it getting poked into some of our low pressure is developing. they can enhance the wind and rain. thank you very much for all of that. couples wishing to divorce could soon benefit from a less confrontational process, under proposals confirmed by thejustice secretary david gauke. in a consultation the government is proposing removing fault, and the ability of spouses to contest the divorce. the government has launched a consultation proposing removing the need to allege "fault", and the right of spouses to contest a divorce. the changes would apply to heterosexual and gay marriages, and civil partnerships. i've been speaking to nigel shepherd, head of family law at mills and reeves. he welcomed today's decision.

i have been campaigning for this for the best part of three decades, along with my organisation. i think this is a really positive step. the government has been listening to the calls for reform and most importantly i think this is great news for the couples that i am helping on a daily basis and most importantly for their children because the current system pushes people into conflict, it means that they are looking backwards, rather than looking forwards and we need a modern process for a modern society and these changes will certainly bring that about in my view. there will be those those who say that actually in some ways, you are speeding up the process which might be good, but could it be that it becomes too quick? that actually couples do not reflect and don't have time to maybe think again? what the government is proposing actually will take longer than the current system. it is possible to get divorced now within four or five months. the government proposals will be a longer period. but what is

really important is that people are looking forward to the future, they are looking to take things constructively, rather than recrimination and checking mud at each other and this is why this reform is necessary. it is so overdue. are you surprised it has taken this long? it does seem to be a high—profile case where a husband did not want to divorce his wife, she wanted to leave, that seems to have propelled this change?” she wanted to leave, that seems to have propelled this change? i think it has been a perfect storm of developments. we have been campaigning for it for years and the government in fact introduced no—fault divorce just over 20 years ago but it was never actually implemented. actually the recent case has certainly been a catalyst for change, and there has been some brilliant research done which shows exactly what damage the current system does, how intellectually dishonest it is. all of this i think has persuaded the government to take this step. it is a really positive step. i think we can really look forward now to change and families can look forward to a better future

when sadly they go through a divorce. do you think your clients are aware of these changes? is it something they will welcome? i think people will welcome it overall. there is a lot of misunderstanding about how the current law works. but when people are told by me for example that they both want a divorce but i say to them, unless you can afford or you wa nt to them, unless you can afford or you want to wait at least two years to do it by consent, the only way you can get on with this and move forward and sort things out and get them settled is for one of you to blame the other and they are aghast at that. they just think it blame the other and they are aghast at that. theyjust think it is absolutely crazy. i think when people understand what this change means, i think they will really welcome it and that is certainly what the research showed. the headlines on bbc news: warnings of catastrophic flooding as tropical storm florence continues to batter the us east coast — five deaths have been linked to the storm and thousands are in emergency shelter. the strongest typhoon of the year so far hits northern phillipines with violent winds and 20 foot storm surges. three have been confirmed dead so far. ministers reveal plans

for no fault—divorce, removing the need to allege blame in a seperation. tory peer lord heseltine says borisjohnson will become the next leader of the conservatives, but warned the move is likely to divide the party. the former deputy prime minister, an outspoken critic of mrjohnson, also said the recent slew of negative headlines had not damaged the former foreign secretary's reputation in the long term. here he is speaking to bbc breakfast earlier. you have to ask yourself, who are the members of the house of commons going to choose in preference to boris? and that is where the difficulty lies. i don't see any likelihood of him not being in the

last two. and if he gets into the last two. and if he gets into the last two, i don't see the likelihood of the activists not voting for him. that is why i said what i did. the liberal democrats are discussing a major shake—up of the party as their conference gets underway in brighton this morning. the changes, set out by the leader sir vince cable earlier this month, include allowing supporters — as well as fullyjoined—up members — to vote for a new leader. the lib dems are also urging disillusioned labour and tory supporters to join them to help stop brexit. our political correspondent gave us this update from the conference in brighton. vince cable is making this pitch to his party membership to open up the liberal democrats and turn it into, as you say, a movement for moderates. he wants people to be able tojoin moderates. he wants people to be able to join as unpaid supporters of the party, for those people to have a say in leadership contests and also to allow people who are not a liberal democrat mps to stand for the leadership and potentially go on

to lead the party. butjust because he wants that to happen does not mean it necessarily well. the liberal democrats pride themselves of course on being a party where the members come first and they have a real say in saying how the party is run and also deciding what its policies are. as so vince cable arrives in writing, he may have the weather for a relaxing few days by the seaside but these are serious times for the party. it is having something of an identity crisis. it knows it needs to change, to get itself back into the mainstream british politics because it only has now a dozen mps and struggles in the opinion polls and despite being the only party with any profile to have a firmly anti—brexit stands, it has not been able to capitalise pitifully welham. we will hear the brexit spokesman making a speech this afternoon, appealing for people to come to the party, if they are disillusioned or disaffected labour or conservative supporters or people

that want a say on the final deal reached with brussels. it is that adults of the potential changes that sir vince cable has set out for the party that will dominate their conference and we will hear him speak as he arrives in brighton later on this morning with that appeal, again for people to join the lib dems and create what he wants to bea lib dems and create what he wants to be a more powerfulforce in british politics. ministers are to announce a review of the rail industry next week, following extended periods of disruption up and down the country. details are yet to be confirmed, but the department for transport said it was committed to improving journeys for passengers. labour said it would re—nationalise the railways. the head of the organisation of american states has said that a military intervention to overthrow president nicolas maduro of venezuela shouldn't be ruled out. luis almagro was speaking to reporters in colombia near the border where he met with venezuelans who have fled their country. the united nations estimate that two point three million people have left since the country's economic

and political crisis began in 2014. the metropolitan police have charged former never mind the buzzcocks host mark lamarr with common assault and false imprisonment. the tv personality and comedian was charged on 1 september in london and will appear at uxbridge magistrate's court on 2 october. the mp frank field says he's been expelled from labour, but says that the party has no basis to do so. he quit the party's group in parliament last month, saying the leadership is becoming a force for anti—semitism in british politics. i have been expelled from the party, my membership of 60 years has been cancelled and i have been told i am no longer a member. the lawyers that

are advising me suggest that the party has no basis to do that. so i hope very shortly i will regain my membership. a spokesperson for labour said that the rules mean that resigning the whip means exclusion from the party. the archbishop of canterbury will lead a meeting next week to discuss calls for the church of england to take over the loan book of the payday lender wonga, which went into administration last month after a surge in compensation claims. the idea came from the mp frank field, the chair of the commons work and pensions committee, who says this could prevent thousands of borrowers facing higher interest rates if the loans were sold to another commercial lender. ariana grande has given an emotional tribute to her former partner mac miller, who she called her "dearest friend" and the "kindest, sweetest soul". the us rapper, aged 26, was found dead at his home in los angeles following a reported overdose. the pair performed together at a memorial concert following the 2017 manchester arena bombing. the occupation of

the channel islands during world war two is generally regarded as a dark chapter in their history. but every so often a story emerges which demonstrates the humanity shown by some members of the german forces. that's what happened when workmen found a box of personal possessions during a house clearance in guernsey. from the channel islands, robert hall reports. a dusty box, from a dusty cupboard, but its contents would transport one guernsey visitor back through the decades to a family story she never knew. a story which unfolded when she was a child... ..and herfather, dr albert kowald, was among german forces occupying these islands. tremendous character.

he came here injanuary1943, he was posted as an air force doctor, and he was posted to look after the luftwaffe troops on the islands. and here, carefully packed away, albert kowald's medical books, his pistol, his cameras, letters from home and photos of his family. he told us about guernsey, he was very fond of guernsey, but he was very lonely and he was homesick. these are some of his medical magazines. but albert didn't tell his family everything. since the find, investigations have revealed he risked his own life to help islanders. among those on his trail, a tv sleuth turned occupation historian. the islanders were starving and they were dying and suffering from all kinds of diseases, typhus and so on, for which they had no medication.

and albert kowald, against the military law, provided the civilians with a great deal of help. the entrance would have been just here. albert secretly treated his islander patients at the military hospital where he worked. he even helped them keep in touch with the bbc. he told them that there is a speech from churchill and he invited them to hear the speeches, and it was forbidden. they could have shot him. when albert was betrayed and imprisoned by his superiors, islanders wrote letters in his support. and he had left one last surprise for his daughter. it's very special. and it's yourfather‘s medals. she gasps. those are his medals.

and they were left here. i give my thanks to him for his life, because it was, for him, it was a bad life outside, but a good life inside. i am proud of what he did. robert hall, bbc news, guernsey. a zoo in colombia is celebrating the arrival of a newborn spider monkey. these monkeys are among the 25 most endangered primate species in the world. they're in critical danger of extinction. this tiny primate, seen here clinging to its mother, was born at the san fe zoological park in colombia's second largest city of medellin. this little guy weighs just one kilogram. it's only the third spider monkey born at the zoo since 2012. now it's time for a look at the weather forecast. quite a quiet start to our weekend

so far. we have seen some lovely spells of sunshine this morning across central and southern areas. but thicker cloud further north and west and that will produce some showery outbreaks of rain from time to time. nothing particularly significant until late on in the day. more on that in a moment. we will enjoy some sunshine. eastern scotla nd will enjoy some sunshine. eastern scotland may cling onto some breaks. and temperatures will peak between 14 and temperatures will peak between 1a and 21 degrees. the winds will strengthen by the end of the day and it is going to push in some heavy rain through northern ireland and into scotland. that will gradually drift across the borders, nestling close to northern england, north wales by dawn tomorrow morning. it brings with contrast across the country, a north—south divide really

for the second half of the weekend. it looks as if it will be a little warmer in the south—east for the next couple of days. showery outbreaks of rain further north and west. the headlines and bbc news. the strongest typhoon so far this year has been battering the philippines with violent winds. in the us, tropical storm florence causes catastrophic flooding on the east coast. five have reported dead as forecasters warned that storm surges remain a dangerous threat. an overhaul of divorce law. ministers set out plans for a no—fault divorce, removing the need to allege blame. the church of england is discussing whether to buy payday

lender wonga, which went into administration last month. sport now, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here is mike. news of britain's new world champion in triathlon. vicky hall came second in this race in australia, but that was enough to claim the title. holland has to beat her american rival to become world champion for 2018. holland had considered retirement after winning bronze at the 2016 olympics, fought back on the 2016 olympics, fought back on the bike on the gold coast, but the final transition to be running shoes gave holland the advantage. although she finished second on the actual run to australia's ashley gentle, she could celebrate the world crown. i can't believe it. i