and a historical floodwaters. and a dramatic rise in the number of ukrainian deaths in the war in ukraine according to estimates from us officials. hello. you are very welcome. tracking the potential for destructive life—threatening wins in florida as hurricane idalia, now a category two, barrels towards the sunshine state. winds and rain are already whipping across the coast in some parts of the state as forecasters warn the storm is extremely dangerous. it is expected to make landfall early on wednesday, likely reaching category three as it hits. that means it could cause devastating and catastrophic damage. a potentially life—threatening storm surge of up life—threatening storm surge of up to 3.5 metres or 15 feet above in destructive waves are expected to slam the coast. the

purple on this map shows what areas can expect more than a 12 foot surge. evacuations and preparations for the storm are under way. the worst is expected to hit them a sparsely populated areas further north. of course, things can change quickly. state police. shutdown bridges once the winds intensify. at his latest briefing ron desantis warned residents to evacuate while they still could as the storm is fast approaching. this they still could as the storm is fast approaching.- is fast approaching. this is crunch time _ is fast approaching. this is crunch time right - is fast approaching. this is crunch time right now. - is fast approaching. this is i crunch time right now. you're going to get hit with the major hurricane. it will be sometime that i will arrive on shore sometime tomorrow morning, likely. and it is going to have major impacts, particularly around the big bend region to listen to your local officials, take the appropriate precautions to protect you and your family and, precautions to protect you and yourfamily and, once precautions to protect you and your family and, once the storm passes, we will have help that will be on the way.— will be on the way. let's go live now — will be on the way. let's go live now to _ will be on the way. let's go live now to jason _ will be on the way. let's go live now to jason from - will be on the way. let's go live now to jason from cbs | will be on the way. let's go - live now to jason from cbs news live now to jason from cbs news who is in crystal river in florida, about an hour north of

tampa. jason, what is it like where you are now?- tampa. jason, what is it like where you are now? well, for the moment _ where you are now? well, for the moment at _ where you are now? well, for the moment at least, - where you are now? well, for| the moment at least, katrina, it is quite calm here in crystal river which is nice because we know what is ahead. within the last few hours there was a very, very heavy band of rain which passed through and things dried out would be watching the radar and know that as the storm sets 120 miles off to our west right now that further bands of rain, as you watch them come to the tampa area, are about to make their way here. we will expect that when in the next few hours for doubles in the next few hours we expect the wind to pick up, just a very light breeze here right now but tropical storm strength winds are approaching and expected to be here within the next few crystal river has flooded several times before including with hurricane emma in 2017. what sort of conditions have you been one to expect there? i don't know if you can hear me there, jason. i'mjust

don't know if you can hear me there, jason. i'm just saying that crystal river has flooded several times with other canes before, hurricane m and have you been warned to expect similar type of conditions? i thinkjason canty was there so we might move on and try to get him back a little earlier. condition is obviously difficult there as they are awaiting landfall of that hurricane. forecasters predict the us states of georgia, north carolina and south carolina will also see heavy rainfall. this is the expected path of hurricane idalia hitting florida first and travelling all the way up to the carolinas before heading back out to sea. so far florida, georgia and south carolina herbal issued state of 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

their another storm the king of their another storm the king of the south—east of the us. that is hurricane franklin, a powerful category four. but it is expected to stay out at sea. and this is hurricane daria seen from space as adapters ever closer to landfall. earlier i spoke with the national hurricane center was made deputy director and he explained just what we can expect from this. thanks indeed forjoining us. first off, where is hurricane idalia now? it has changed its trajectory a little and strengthened, i believe? it little and strengthened, i believe? , little and strengthened, i believe?— believe? it is currently located _ believe? it is currently located about - believe? it is currently located about 200 - believe? it is currently i located about 200 miles south—west of tampa bay florida. maximum winds have been increasing steadily during the day. it is now a category two hurricane with maximum staying 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. be a major hurricane this evening-— be a major hurricane this evenina. �* . , , evening. already people in around 50 _ evening. already people in around 50 counties - evening. already people in around 50 counties are - evening. already people in i 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. for sounds? for some communities, yes- for some — sounds? for some communities, yes. for some communities - sounds? for some communities, yes. for some communities it. sounds? for some communities, yes. for some communities it is | yes. for some communities it is probably going to be worse than they are envisioning because so few people understand the power a major hurricane. 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 could be impacted by these powerful winds. , ., , ., winds. the wins, the rains are one thing- _ winds. the wins, the rains are one thing. you _ winds. the wins, the rains are one thing. you are _ winds. the wins, the rains are one thing. you are a - winds. the wins, the rains are one thing. you are a storm . one thing. you are a storm surge specialist as well. what is the impact of the storm surge going to be? you make there will be looking at the storm being maximised here in what he called the nature coast of the big bend area. this

--urle of the big bend area. this purple area _ of the big bend area. this purple area could - of the big bend area. this purple area could see - of the big bend area. this purple area could see a i of the big bend area. ti 3 purple area could see a surge of up to 10—15 feet. 10—15 feet. less surge to the south and west but still very impactful and 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. jamie, that's a huge volume — here. jamie, that's a huge volume of _ here. jamie, that's a huge volume of water. - here. jamie, that's a huge volume of water. in - here. jamie, that's a huge volume of water. in a - here. jamie, that's a huge - volume of water. in a practical sense, what is that going to mean for people? what would they see? it might turn having 50 feet is hard for a lot of people to fathom. and in vision. but i stand 60 that would be over to have me so if you put two, my personal my shoulders again you can see how high that would be. are you satisfied with the level of preparations that are in place? it is hard to know. we're focused here on the forecasting so i don't always get the latest information on the preparation but what little bit i have heard, people are really taking it seriously.— taking it seriously. now, if this hurricane _

taking it seriously. now, if this hurricane tracks - taking it seriously. now, if this hurricane tracks and i taking it seriously. now, if. this hurricane tracks and goes to the big bend region of florida there, beat and that hasn't seen hurricane like this by very, very long time, what is causing this hurricane to track so differently from the ones that the people of florida would be well used to seeing? the steering for this one is very to other hurricanes. it is just, for anyone area, a major hurricane is a relatively rare event so a lot of places receive the edges of the hurricane and this area has received the edges of many hurricane is batty at this track materialises, the core of a powerful category three could move through later tomorrow. at move through later tomorrow. at this stage, the people had to leave the state to be save or other local options for them? element they would follow evacuation orders issued by local authorities and evacuate tens of miles, not hundreds of miles. i know you are a busy man. thanks indeed for your time. thanks forjoining us.

well, one place that is subject to a mandatory evacuation order is crystal river in florida so let's go back now to cbs news reporterjason allen who is there. jason, how is everyone preparing there? how are people preparing? are the authorities ready as well?— ready as well? yeah, great question- _ ready as well? yeah, great question. because, - ready as well? yeah, great question. because, often l ready as well? yeah, great - question. because, often times, we here in the situation is that people are just going to ride the storm out but remember this is an area that, just a year ago, this is an area that, just a yearago, less this is an area that, just a year ago, less than a year ago, so hurricane ian, much the same directions of the damage and the destruction of that hurricane as it took that right hand turn into the area which is south, south of us. so with that knowledge in mind, especially of the damage that the storm surge debt, they have taken this storm very seriously but talked to the sheriff here in this countyjust a couple of hours ago and he said he felt everyone was taking it seriously so a lot of people

boarding up homes, packing up their things, and moving down to higher elevations. staying with people who are higher elevation. where we are in crystal river elevation are generallyjust crystal river elevation are generally just about 11—5 feet above sea level. the worst—case forecast here is that the water could rise anywhere from seven to 11 feet. depending on the exact path of the so, with that in mind, people had been preparing. they have been heating those evacuation orders and one of your earlier question is are there shelters and there are. the skills in this area are all closed. close today, closed tomorrow, many of the skills and inland areas have been turned into shelters. places for people to stake my families to stay, place to keep their pets. i know a lot of businesses started shutting down midday today in preparation for this storm and for others, people told us that they are making plans, may be at home they felt were safe and making alternate plans to go to homes of relatives or friends, even further inland. so it is

going to be an interesting 12 hours here. everybody is very cautious, very nervous about what to expect. we know that the rain bands will start moving on in the next few hours. the heavy, heavy rains and katrina probably in the morning hours is when we expect to see some of that storm surge in waterways. to see some of that storm surge in waterwavs-— in waterways. thanks for bringing _ in waterways. thanks for bringing us _ in waterways. thanks for bringing us up _ in waterways. thanks for bringing us up to - in waterways. thanks for bringing us up to date. l in waterways. thanks for. bringing us up to date. do in waterways. thanks for - bringing us up to date. do take care yourself. thank you. president biden has already approved an emergency declaration for florida on monday the 28 of the state's 67 counties are already under some form of evacuation orders. the president says he is in constant contact with governor ron desantis. brute constant contact with governor ron desantis.— ron desantis. we are worried about the _ ron desantis. we are worried about the surge, _ ron desantis. we are worried about the surge, the - ron desantis. we are worried about the surge, the ocean i about the surge, the ocean surge, we don't know exactly, it is our two hour watching this. but the governor and the mayor, regions that are likely to hit first. we are there as long as it takes a lot of going to make sure they have everything they need. in the last hour. — everything they need. in the last hour. i _ everything they need. in the last hour, i was _ everything they need. in the last hour, i was joined - everything they need. in the last hour, i was joined by i last hour, i wasjoined by elizabeth zimmermann who is a

senior executive advisor and former fema associate administrator and director of disaster operations. you are no stranger to this sort of situation. what is your assessment of the preparations in florida head of hurricane idalia making windfall? can you ever be too cautious in giving the storm is like this one? you might know, you had that the right direction there. you can never be too cautious. the state has _ never be too cautious. the state has a _ never be too cautious. the state has a lot _ never be too cautious. the state has a lot of - never be too cautious. tie: state has a lot of experience as we know, many decades of hurricane experience. in the preparations that they are taking eye those that do should be. looking at the part of the hurricane and looking at what evacuations need to be done by the residents and those in florida and away from the coastline, as you've noticed, as you have 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? do _ get out. how far do people need to go to do that? do they - get out. how far do people need to go to do that? do they need i to go to do that? do they need to go to do that? do they need to flee the county, flee the state entirely or other local shelter options?— state entirely or other local shelter options? there are a local shelter _ shelter options? there are a local shelter operations. - shelter options? there are a | local shelter operations. they are in florida. all of the counties are in different evacuation zones and so it is listening to the local authorities, to say how far they need to go. to get out. and what direction they need to go said there are going to safer ground.— go said there are going to safer round. ., ., , ., ., safer ground. now, as we had a moment ago. — safer ground. now, as we had a moment ago, an _ safer ground. now, as we had a moment ago, an emergency - moment ago, an emergency declaration has already been activated for florida by president biden. what difference does that make in terms of resourcing and for fema and others who are trying to provide resources there? yeah, so, that allows the state of florida to know that they will get reimbursed by the federal government for the actions that they are taking right now. the cost that they might incurfor right now. the cost that they might incur for evacuating individuals, for the shelters that they are doing and 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. in there with all of the vegetation and trees in florida there will be a lot of 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 - done. and, in a practicalway, how does fema manage a - how does fema manage a situation like this when you have impending landfall in florida but as soon as that is dealt with it will move on, expected to hit georgia and the carolinas too?— carolinas too? yeah, so, fema and other— carolinas too? yeah, so, fema and other federal— carolinas too? yeah, so, fema and other federal agencies - carolinas too? yeah, so, fema and other federal agencies alll and other federal agencies all have federal resources, commodities, supplies that are in florida as well as georgia, south carolina and north carolina so fema is coordinating to the regional office to make sure 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 the urban search and rescue teams that are on alert ready to go should they need to be activated to go out to find people that are missing. itruiith people that are missing. with the wildfires _ people that are missing. with the wildfires and _ people that are missing. with the wildfires and the - people that are missing. with

the wildfires and the flooding that we have seen recently, you are very expert in this area, are very expert in this area, are you noticing a change in pace and the number of major natural disasters that are hitting the us?— natural disasters that are hitting the us? natural disasters that are hittin: the us? , ., hitting the us? yes. right now it feels like _ hitting the us? yes. right now it feels like we _ hitting the us? yes. right now it feels like we are _ hitting the us? yes. right now it feels like we are getting - it feels like we are getting bombarded every day with a new disaster. and you look at all of the that we've lined up in the atlantic coming towards the coastline there, as there, as well as those in the pacific, so, the and now we still going on, still 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. so they are ongoing and not stopping-— so they are ongoing and not sto--in~.~ ~ stopping. well, like elizabeth zimmermann _ stopping. well, like elizabeth zimmermann said _ stopping. well, like elizabeth zimmermann said at - stopping. well, like elizabeth zimmermann said at their - stopping. well, like elizabeth| zimmermann said at their and other experts say, these kinds of extreme weather events are becoming more commonplace and thatis becoming more commonplace and that is due to climate change. but are themselves actually getting worse? 0ur correspondent has been looking into it. perry keynes. some of the most powerful and damaging

storms have hit the us and just the last couple of decades. does that mean they're getting worse? well, if frequency is any measure of how bad they become then no. the sheer number of para— canes hasn't increased but, overall, the storms and getting stronger. the number of category three, four and five hurricane is, the most intense, is on the rise. that is making the storm is more costly and that they, too. hurricane katrina which hit louisiana in 2005 reached the coast as a category three storm which led more than 1200 people dead, displaced hundreds of thousands more and left $125 billion of damages. at the time it was considered a once in a century storm but between 2016 and 2018 alone, the us was by six other major hurricane. what powered katrina and others is

the heat in the oceans. so, is ocean warm, hurricane to gain more energy and become more severe. the result, scientists say, is that more will retire when speeds in rates of rainfall which can cause catastrophic disruption and widespread flooding like we saw with hurricane harvey in 2017. 9 trillion gallons of water fell over the texas coast, hitting houston especially hard. the region was under waterfor hard. the region was under water for days hard. the region was under waterfor days and tens hard. the region was under water for days and tens of thousands were displaced. has taken years so as hurricanes approach in the future, they are more likely to wreak havoc and impact notjust coastal communities but those further inland as well. for more information and for the latest on hurricane idalia med you check out our website. you can find out which areas have been evacuated as well as get on the ground coverage as the storm approaches the florida coast. around the world and across the

uk, this is bbc news. well, let's look at some other stories making use. in the uk, a police officer who was hit by a police officer who was hit by a train fell attempting to save a train fell attempting to save a distressed man on the tracks has died. alt0 years it has been described as hugely respected and popular colleague. at an's prime minister and home have both expressed sadness at the office and apartment passing. police in canada brought an additional 12 charges against a man accused of supplying a poisonous chemical to people who died by suicide. 37—year—old kenneth lowell had already been charged in may with two counts of counselling or aiding suicide in canada. police think you may have sent more than 1200 parcels containing lethal substances to around a0 countries. formerly known as twitter, lifting and nearly four—year ban on political ads in the us from candidates and political

parties. the company also said it would expand its safety and election teams added the 202a elections. the platform faced criticism for not doing more for preventing the spread of this information during us campaigns. you are like that bbc news. the us commerce secretary is in china. she is the fourth biden administration official to visit the country in three months. it is part of a effort to stabilise ties between beijing and washington. selecting a closer at the biden administration's diplomatic push. first, the secretary met with china's premier on wednesday, tuesday. address dialogue that is needed to increase 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 but they remain far apart on some key economic issues. she says un companies tell her china is increasingly under the best of all because

of raids on businesses, and a new counterespionage law that broadens the definition of spying. washington wines it could be used to penalising any business activities. china, meanwhile, wants to see the us reduce export controls on sensitive technologies and to scrap a new executive order that bans us investment in key technology industries by quantum computing and artificial intelligence. a short while ago the us commerce secretary added this to say after meeting the chinese ministers. after meeting the chinese ministers-— after meeting the chinese ministers. ~ ., ministers. we spoke about the importance _ ministers. we spoke about the importance of— ministers. we spoke about the importance of increasing - ministers. we spoke about the j importance of increasing travel and people to people. the minister and i launched the commercial issues working group which i believe will be very important working group to help us maintain a more direct communication and tried to resolve some of our challenges.

the secretary is set to meet chinese women executives at a conference in shanghai before she wraps up a four—day visit later on wednesday. we are receiving reports from russia to say that there is been a drone attack on the part of the north—western city. the local governor said the military was repelling an attack. the uploaded video showing a large fire while an explosion could also be heard. an unconfirmed russian media report says for transport planes were damaged at the airport. it is more than 600 kilometres, 370 miles away from ukraine and it is close to the border with estonia. staying with the one you drink a us official claim there has been a dramatic rise in the number of ukrainian casualties. ukraine is not given an official number of those who died in battle but there are reports that as many 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 war hangs heavy on the 68 brigade, soldiers were fighting to stop russian advances on the eastern front near the town. for 0ksana, advances on the eastern front nearthe town. for 0ksana, it is her husband she moans. for five years they were together and agree the still role. pablo was a fitness champion who volunteered to fight. a russian air strike destroyed his convoy last november.— last november. honestly, it is still very hard _ last november. honestly, it is still very hard to _ last november. honestly, it is still very hard to accept - last november. honestly, it is still very hard to accept that l still very hard to accept that he is gone. it is only when i am here that it sinks in. i feel he is still somewhere. that he is still alive and on a mission. doing hisjob.

in marriage, 0ksana 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, they had out and immediately take cover in nearby woods. this position is in range of russian guns. like thousands of other ukrainians,

0ksana had 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. pressure is mounting against the spanish football federation's president following his behaviour after the women's world cup final earlier this month. the federation has called for him to quit his post and criminal proceedings are under way after his unsolicited case of the spanish football star. the president of the spanish football federation is now looking more isolated than ever. that is because his own federation has turned against him. the members of the federation called on him to resign. and to step down as soon as possible. and this is a derivation which only a few days ago he seem to have about the strong grip own. but he is

also facing pressure from other front as well. prosecutors have announced that their opening investigations to see whether or not they can bring a case against him for years assault because of that case that he gave the soccer player at the end of the world cup. now, the government wants to remove him from office and has requested that the national sports tribunal opened proceedings against him. in a move which could lead to his eventual removal but that seemed to be a process which is taking rather longer than the government would like. another alternative is simply that he steps down of his own accord. we don't know if you intend to do that but down in the south of the country, his mother is carrying out a hunger strike in defence of her son because she said he has done nothing wrong. she says that infamous case was consensual and she has locked

herself in a church and is staging this hunger strike in defence of her own son. now, before we go, and wanted to leave you with these images of the times square subway station in new york. parts of the city's busiest station were flooded early on tuesday morning after 127—year—old water main broke. officials say more than1 million water main broke. officials say more than 1 million gallons of water flooded system before the source could be found and turned off. service was suspended on three lines and restored by midday. thank you for watching. restored by midday. thank you forwatching. i restored by midday. thank you for watching. i will be back at the top of the able bit more, stay with us here on bbc news. hello. on 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, 1a 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.

you're watching bbc news. the latest news headlines follow at the top of the hour, after this programme. what does it take to be a female sniper in a modern war?

what motivates a woman to take up arms? if it will not be for me a target, i will be a target for them. the battle against sexism and propaganda on the frontline... they ask me, am i a wife of some commander or am i a cook? ..and the challenges they face on their return. how did you tell your daughter that you were going to the frontline? i didn't tell my daughter about this. we've travelled to ukraine to meet combat women who've become the faces of the war on both sides of the frontline. russian media call them nazis. ukrainian — heroes. these are the real stories of two female snipers and a special unit sergeant who joined the frontline in ukraine after the russian invasion.