i'm laura trevelyan in washington, and this is bbc world news america. the international effort to get grain out of ukraine's ports has begun. ukraine is preparing to export grain again — from black sea ports blockaded by russia. turkey opens a headquarters, to over see operations. the federal reserve hikes us interest rates for the fourth time this year — as it tries to curb roaring inflation. the impact of that inflation hits hamburgers. in the uk, mcdonalds is one of the big brands putting up the prices because of soaring costs. homes reduced to ashes by california's largest wildfire this year. we hear from families who've lost everything.

welcome to world news america on pbs, in the uk and around the globe. we begin tonight with the effort to restart blockaded grain exports from ukraine, and ease a globalfood crisis. in turkey, a coordination center has begun work, as part a complex deal to get grain out of ukranian ports. the aim is to export five million tonnes of grain a month — that was the figure before russia's invasion of ukraine. our correspondent richard galpin reports. from richard galpin reports. the start of the war back in february, from the start of the war back in february, russian forces has been blockading ukraine's black seaports. preventing experts of ukrainian wheat and other grains, vitalfor the food supply of many countries around the world. according to officials, there are around 20 million tonnes of grain in ukraine.

but fear is growing of global food shortages, it seems there may now have been a breakthrough with a deal agreed by the two sides. it is hoped it will be possible for ships to be inspected near turkey and then guided past ukrainian sea mines before being loaded with grains and fertiliser. the first shipments are due in the coming days. all this after tricky�*s defence minister unveiled a coordination centre in istanbul to oversee the export of ukrainian grains. translation: currently, the professional line is that ships laden with grain that will leave ukrainian ports. this is done by the world joint coronation centre will contribute to overcoming the food crisis affecting the whole world. . ., ~ ., ., world. the un come ukraine and russia have _ world. the un come ukraine and russia have all _ world. the un come ukraine and russia have all said _ world. the un come ukraine and russia have all said they - world. the un come ukraine and russia have all said they expectl russia have all said they expect experts to begin in a few days. but russia's deputy foreign minister has

warned the deal could collapse if the obstacles to pressure's agricultural experts are not promptly removed. richard galpin, bbc news. meanwhile, ukrainian rocket strikes have forced russia to close a key bridge, which is a crucial supply line for russian forces. the antonovsky bridge connects the occupied city of kherson, to the east bank of the dnipro river. our diplomatic correspondent explains. this is late last night, pretty substantial barrage of precision rockets launched by this newly acquired system, which the american has supplied. it gives them the ability to launch precision strikes at some distance, and they have been using it to try to destroy the bridges that connect kherson and the region around kherson to other russian controlled territory on the other side of the dnipro were the

river. and judging by the images that we have seen evidence, it is going to take quite a long time to repair it. it's not the only bridge come there's also a railway bridge and another to bridge on nearby tributary which is being targeted by ukrainians. this is all parts, western officials say, of a growing ukrainian counteroffensive designed ultimately to retake kherson, a city that was taken very early on in the war by the russians. the first city of any consequence to be taken regarded western officials say is the jewel in the crown of russia's occupation of southern ukraine. so obviously if ukraine could retake it, that would be a huge setback for russia. paul adams reporting there. as the war grinds on, european gas prices have soared by almost two percent — close to the record high set after the russian invasion of ukraine. it comes a day after countries in the european union agreed

to reduce their gas use by 15% between august and march. that's in response to russia slashing it's supply to the continent. the us federal reserve has raised interest rates by three—quarters of a percentage point — the fourth rate rise this year, and the second big monthly hike in a row, as the central bank tries to bring down inflation — which is at a forty year high. the chairman of the fed jerome powell said he didn't believe the us was currently in recession, despite the slowing economy, but added — the path to avoiding a recession is narrowing. today's increase is in the target range and the second the five basis point in as many meanings. while another unusually large increase could be appropriate at our next meeting, that is a decision that will depend on the data begets between and then. inflation is at a ito—year high in the uk, too — where big name brands including mcdonald's, coca—cola, and unilever are putting up prices in response. mcdonald's has raised the price of cheeseburgers

for the first time in 14 years — as companies grapple with the impact of higher costs. here's our consumer affairs correspondent colletta smith. big names are putting prices up. over recent weeks, we have heard from huge household brands saying they are charging us more. today, it was mcdonald's.— was mcdonald's. what can i get a few? cheeseburger, _ was mcdonald's. what can i get a few? cheeseburger, please - was mcdonald's. what can i get a few? cheeseburger, please type| was mcdonald's. what can i get a l few? cheeseburger, please type it they've announced _ few? cheeseburger, please type it they've announced that _ few? cheeseburger, please type it they've announced that they - few? cheeseburger, please type it they've announced that they have | they've announced that they have added 10—2010s to lots of items on the menu. all right, care. my cheeseburger has gone up from 99p to £119. mcdonald's say they are facing increased costs for things like fuel, wages and ingredients. when the likes of mcdonald's and other big brands start increasing the price on key products that everyone knows the price for, that's when it's everyone knows the price for, that's when its customers really start to feel the difference. it shows that what's happening behind the scenes is that even the world's biggest

companies cannot absorb the amount of price increases that they are facing at the moment, so they are passing it straight on to us. with prices rising so quickly on bills and household basics, at those with the least you are struggling the most. hi, how are you? geraldine has four children — most. hi, how are you? geraldine has four children and _ most. hi, how are you? geraldine has four children and is _ most. hi, how are you? geraldine has four children and is dependent - most. hi, how are you? geraldine has four children and is dependent on - four children and is dependent on her universal— four children and is dependent on her universal credit _ four children and is dependent on her universal credit payments. i her universal credit payments. trying my hardest, that's all i can do. that's what anyone can do, just try their hardest, but it's like our hardest is just not enough. im’ith hardest is 'ust not enough. with -rices hardest is 'ust not enough. with rices for hardest isjust not enough. with prices for food, _ hardest isjust not enough. with prices for food, groceries and energy bills set to rise much higher in the months ahead, geraldine and millions like her are hoping for help, but bracing themselves for the worst. coletta smith, bbc news. in the uk, the knock—on effects from today's rail strike are expected to disrupt services into thursday. more than 40,000 rail workers from the rmt union and 14 train operators walked out on wednesday, reducing services in some parts of the uk to 20% of the usual schedule. the unions say talks over jobs and pay have not

progressed in recent weeks, while the government called the action "completely unnecessary". a possible trip to taiwan by the speaker of the us house of representatives nancy pelosi is raising tensions between bejing and washington. china regards taiwan as its territory — even though taiwan sees itself as an independent country, with its own constitution and democratically—elected leaders. a spokesperson for china's foreign ministry says if the visit goes ahead, china will resolutely respond with countermeasures. for more, i spoke to the former prime minister of australia kevin rudd, who's now president of the asia society. china is warning of a firm and absolute response if speaker pelosi goes to taiwan, saying that the us will be responsible for all of the serious consequences call, what does that mean? does that sound like a potential military response by

beijing? i potential military response by bei'ina ? ., potential military response by bei'in. ? ., ., ., “ potential military response by bei'ina ? ., _ beijing? i would look careful by both of the _ beijing? i would look careful by both of the statements - beijing? i would look careful by both of the statements by - beijing? i would look careful by both of the statements by the i both of the statements by the foreign ministry but also the chinese ministry of defence. if you look at the text of that. these are unusual statements in terms of being forthright. i think it's quite conceivable there will be a form of military response, but we should not necessarily restrict that to in theatre, that is directly relevant to the speaker's proposed visit. it could be reflected elsewhere. at this is speculation, i note that this is speculation, i note that this language is unusually sharp. when president biden speaks to the president in taiwan, due to speak on thursday, do you expect the situation could be de—escalated somehow? my situation could be de-escalated somehow?— situation could be de-escalated somehow? g ., , ., ,, somehow? my own view is that speaker pelosi should — somehow? my own view is that speaker pelosi should not _ somehow? my own view is that speaker pelosi should not go. _ somehow? my own view is that speaker pelosi should not go. the _ somehow? my own view is that speaker pelosi should not go. the reason - pelosi should not go. the reason is i don't see her visitor asked her visit to actually enhancing taiwan's interests. most of us are fans of

taiwan want to see the long—term preservation of the taiwan status quo, and that is going to be achieved by a bunch of other measures from the united states, its partners, friends and allies. in a taiwanese itself, including taiwan's indigenous defence, bringing in a crisis early by what is essentially a symbolic visit, i don't think helps. so, hopefully by the time these two leaders speak, the matter is resolved, but if it's not, then it will inevitably be a focus of this summit. this is only the third virtual summit with these two leaders since president biden took office. it would be unfortunate if it was derailed by this symbolic visit by the united states speaker. has the us got itself into a medal now whereby if speaker pelosi doesn't go to taiwan, the us looks weak? to doesn't go to taiwan, the us looks weak? ., , ., ., ,, weak? to be fair to the us administration, _ weak? to be fair to the us administration, i- weak? to be fair to the us administration, ithink- weak? to be fair to the us i administration, i think there weak? to be fair to the us - administration, i think there is signalling and overall there china

strategy, undersecretary state