powerful attack on the ukrainian capital, since the spring. florida braces as idalia intensifies to a category four hurricane with catastrophic damage expected in some areas. travellers are still facing disruption after a fault on the uk's air traffic system saw hundreds of flights cancelled. hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. we begin with a special report from the front lines in eastern ukraine. the focus has been on the counter—offensive in the south of the country — but ukraine says 100,000 russian troops have marshalled on its north eastern border in a renewed attempt to seize territory there. the advance of moscow's forces east of the city of kupiansk has already lead to civilian deaths and the evacuation of nearby towns and villages.

0ur correspondent quentin sommerville and camera journalist darren conway have spent the last few weeks on the front lines between kupiansk and the city of lyman. both cities were retaken from the russians in september last year. ukrainian troops there now face a new deadly threat — russian kamikaze drones. the battle on ukraine's eastern front has reawakened. it is in these fields and trenches that the conflict now burns at its hottest. there has been a lot of russian activity in this area for the last few days, air strikes on the village just behind me. we are now having to move to get to the trenches. south of kupiansk, they cast russian forces out of here almost a year

ago, but their enemy is threatening to return. beyond these fields, russia has advanced in recent weeks. the men of the 68 brigade newly installed are here to ensure they go no further. they are up against infantry and artillery attacks daily along these lines. you can see here, thatis along these lines. you can see here, that is artillery. along the front, to said some 100,000 russian troops have gathered in newly formed battle groups, some beyond this tree line. if you look around here, there has been incoming fire here, there is lots of damage. so there is plenty of trench positions to take covering. —— cover in. it's easy to

forget with so much focus on the counteroffensive in the south of ukraine that there are vicious battles going on here in the east and the north. in the south they are making progress bit by bit, but here in the east, it is russia that is advancing. this is a war on many fronts and it is draining's —— my training russia possible resources but also straining ukraine's too. so demands on ukrainian forces are rising. this is frontmen, i cannot go... a russian drone spotted his vehicle before we took cover. we must go, he says. get in the car. a dozen shells landed in as many minutes. we first met andrei injune when he was fighting in the southern counteroffensive. this eastern front

is far more deadly, he says. translation:— is far more deadly, he says. translation: ., translation: there were far fewer soldiers there _ translation: there were far fewer soldiers there than _ translation: there were far fewer soldiers there than there _ translation: there were far fewer soldiers there than there are - translation: there were far fewer soldiers there than there are here i soldiers there than there are here and i have more weapons here, more of everything. that's why it's more dangerous here. its of everything. that's why it's more dangerous here.— of everything. that's why it's more dangerous here. its gains are modest but from kupiansk _ dangerous here. its gains are modest but from kupiansk to _ dangerous here. its gains are modest but from kupiansk to lyman - dangerous here. its gains are modest but from kupiansk to lyman further l but from kupiansk to lyman further south, russia is resurgent. and here it is especially fierce. we are heading deeper into this forest. there has been a lot of fighting here. , , ., , , ~ there has been a lot of fighting here. , , . , , ~ , here. this is artillery strike this mornin: , here. this is artillery strike this morning, maybe _ here. this is artillery strike this morning, maybe a _ here. this is artillery strike this morning, maybe a couple - here. this is artillery strike this morning, maybe a couple of. here. this is artillery strike this i morning, maybe a couple of hours ago. it is still burning. missile systems, can you see? no talks on the trees. . .,

the trees. the men compare the artillery barrage _ the trees. the men compare the artillery barrage is _ the trees. the men compare the artillery barrage is to _ the trees. the men compare the artillery barrage is to the - the trees. the men compare the artillery barrage is to the first i artillery barrage is to the first world war but there is a new lethal threat to content with, kamikaze drones. the gunner has fallen. are you 0k? he is he signals.— he is he signals. that was a drone attack. against _ he is he signals. that was a drone attack. against our _ he is he signals. that was a drone attack. against our car. _ he is he signals. that was a drone attack. against our car. that - he is he signals. that was a drone attack. against our car. that was l he is he signals. that was a drone | attack. against our car. that was a russian _ attack. against our car. that was a russian drone. they saw us, they send _ russian drone. they saw us, they send the — russian drone. they saw us, they send the drone and now they are seeking — send the drone and now they are seeking us — send the drone and now they are seeking us and hounding us so we need _ seeking us and hounding us so we need to— seeking us and hounding us so we need to go— seeking us and hounding us so we need to go faster. we are a couple of hundred — need to go faster. we are a couple of hundred metres from opposition. the drones— of hundred metres from opposition. the drones work in pairs, a surveillance drone is still above so they get off the road. so we have

had... we are still going forward, the data here is, the deeper you get into the forest, the cover doesn't get better, constant russian artillery. i think some of the trees on fire and it is turning these areas into wide—open areas, very exposed. no tree cover here. so we have had to come off the road to stop there are drones up above. we just saw what they can do. the thick armour and a driver's quick thinking means that everybody inside was unhurt. but of course, civilians along these reignited front lines have no such protection. young and old, villages around kupiansk have been evacuated from their homes. they are now in range of russian guns, and russia doesn't

discriminate. last year they endured six months of occupation here. they refuse to again. once more in the eastern front, the advance of russian guns is casting ukrainian families apart. victor gives his family fun a hug before they separate. —— a final hug. sophia is just five months old, too precious to remain in harm's way. why are you leaving? to remain in harm's way. why are you leavin: ? �* , , to remain in harm's way. why are you leavinu? �* , , , to remain in harm's way. why are you leavin?�* , , _.., to remain in harm's way. why are you leavin? , , ., leaving? because it is very scary to live here. leaving? because it is very scary to live here- i — leaving? because it is very scary to live here. i want— leaving? because it is very scary to live here. i want to _ leaving? because it is very scary to live here. i want to safeguard - leaving? because it is very scary to live here. i want to safeguard my l live here. i want to safeguard my children — live here. i want to safeguard my children. it's very scary not knowing _ children. it's very scary not knowing when the shelling will hit. if knowing when the shelling will hit. if you _ knowing when the shelling will hit. if you will — knowing when the shelling will hit. if you will survive or not.— if you will survive or not. victor ho ed if you will survive or not. victor honed that _ if you will survive or not. victor honed that he _ if you will survive or not. victor hoped that he was _ if you will survive or not. victor hoped that he was done - if you will survive or not. victor hoped that he was done with i hoped that he was done with

goodbyes. but as russia advances, he is once again left praying that he will see his family again. quentin sommerville, bbc news, kupiansk. important and brave reporting there. elsewhere in ukraine, in the capital kyiv, officials say the city has been subjected to the most powerful russian attack since the spring. kyiv�*s mayor says two people have been killed, and another wounded. vitaly klitschko says several buildings were set on fire by falling debris from targets destroyed by air defences. these are the moments the debris fell to ground in kyiv — as you can see, there was a large explosion when it came down. and this is more video from kyiv — it's not clear if this is a separate incident, or the same debris filmed from another angle. 0ur correspondent paul adams

is in kyiv — he gave us this update on what happened there in the early hours of the morning. this is what a single intercepted russian cruise missile will do to a street here in kyiv. it's been a few hours since the explosion here in the early hours of the morning, no—one was on the street, nobody was as far as we know hurt. but for 100 yards in both directions, people are having to get on with the business of removing all this broken glass, repairing shutters, doors, checking to see what the stock has been destroyed in these various shops along this stretch. it's a tiresome business, it is something that the city is very familiar with. it has been through this in many locations, many times. been through this in many locations, many times— a - been through this in many locations, j many times._ a bright many times. translation: a bright flash woke me _ many times. translation: a bright flash woke me up — many times. translation: a bright flash woke me up and _ many times. translation: a bright flash woke me up and then - many times. translation: a bright flash woke me up and then my - many times. translation: a bright. flash woke me up and then my husband saw a _ flash woke me up and then my husband saw a hall_ flash woke me up and then my husband saw a hall of— flash woke me up and then my husband saw a ball of fire. there was an explosion— saw a ball of fire. there was an explosion and the car alarms were

going _ explosion and the car alarms were going off — explosion and the car alarms were going off. then there was a second explosion — going off. then there was a second exlosion. , ., , going off. then there was a second exlosion. , .,, ., ., j~ going off. then there was a second exlosion. , ., ., fa , explosion. this was one of 28 cruise missiles and — explosion. this was one of 28 cruise missiles and 14 _ explosion. this was one of 28 cruise missiles and 14 drones _ explosion. this was one of 28 cruise missiles and 14 drones that - explosion. this was one of 28 cruise missiles and 14 drones that landed l missiles and 14 drones that landed in various parts of ukraine this morning. 0ne in various parts of ukraine this morning. one of the biggest strikes of its kind since the spring. but as you look around, you can see that people are not really phased, they are very, very familiar with this and they're just getting on with fixing what needs to be fixed. across the road in the park, the police are looking at the wreckage of what appears to be part of the missile that was intercepted as one of the interesting things about this is that as the months of russian attacks have gone on, ukrainians have become better and better at shooting these projectiles down. of the 28 cruise missiles and 14 drones fired overnight, almost all of them, we are told, were shot down. meanwhile, russia has reported ukrainian drone attacks in six different regions, with military cargo planes damaged at an airport in pskov.

the local governor said the military was repelling an attack. he uploaded video showing a large fire while an explosion could also be heard. all flights have since been cancelled as local officials investigate the scene. pskov is more than 600 kilometers, or about 370 miles away from ukraine, close to the border with estonia. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg sent us this update from st petersburg. well, this is following a pattern. in recent weeks, we've seen drone attacks across russia, sometimes deep inside russian territory. what's been happening over the last few hours is a particularly large—scale attack, a mass drone attack, as you say, targeting six russian regions. and also russian—occupied crimea. it's unclearjust how much damage those attacks have done. most of the drones have been shot down by russian air defence systems. the most significant attack seems to have been in pskov,

where the airport was targeted. initially, russian officials said four transport planes, military transport planes. that was revised down to two. attacks also in the region which borders ukraine. and reports this morning suggest that those attacks have been continuing this morning with an attempt on the local tv tower there. let's move to the us. idalia has strengthened to an extremely dangerous category four hurricane as it moves towards america's south—east coast. us forecasters say idalia is nearing landfall in florida's big bend region, bringing a storm surge that could reach almost five metres and destructive, life—threatening winds. thousands of people have fled their homes as evacuation orders are in force in more than 20 counties in the state. the cbs correspondent cristian benavides joined us from florida.

we're in crystal river. now, this is about an hour and a half north of the tampa bay area, which is currently seeing a lot of the effects from this hurricane. you can see behind me, things are relatively calm. we do get some of those bands of rain and wind from time to time. but the main, the primary concern here is going to be the potential for life—threatening storm surge. to give you some perspective, we're in a building that's elevated about ten feet off the ground — or off sea level, rather. but there are many homes that are at sea level here where officials have already been clear that you need to evacuate because they're anticipating 10 to 12 feet of storm surge in this area. now, that's according to the national weather service. in fact, they believe it's 7 to 12 feet. i'm not sure about the metric system conversion there, but we feel that by driving around,

just being around town here, it looks like a ghost town. so the hope is that a lot of the folks either left or are hunkering down in an area where they're going to be safe enough. in fact, at this hotel, we've encountered a couple of families that are staying here because of the storm surge that is anticipated. officials have made it clear that if you're in one of those low lying areas, emergency crews, they're not going to be able to come out and get you because they've also got to care for their safety. and i think it's important to also put in perspective where this storm was just a couple of days ago and not knowing where it's going to make landfall. we know now that the national weather service is anticipating this to become a category 4 hurricane prior to making landfall. i mean, it isjust incredible the amount of force that this storm

was able to gather in the past day. 24 hours ago, as i was live on tv, this was a tropical storm turning into a category1 hurricane. now we're anticipating it to be category 4. we are expecting to hear an update on hurricane idalia from the florida governor ron desantis in the next half an hour or so and we will bring that to you live on the bbc when it comes in. the president of gabon, ali bongo, is reported to be under house arrest along with members of his family after army officers claimed they have seized power. they said they were annulling the results of saturday's election in which president ali bongo was declared the winner. this is the moment the military made the announcement on national television. translation: in the name of the people of gabon - and as guarantors of the institutions, we have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime. to this end, the general

elections of 26th august 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled. the borders are closed until further notice. all the institutions of the republic are dissolved. live now to michael amoah, visiting senior fellow specialising in politics and international relations at the london school of economics. let's start with the basics, gabon is a country we don't talk about every day here in the bbc. what exactly is going on at the moment? well, what is going on is actually that there has been a recent election, and it would appear that the military are not quite happy about the results that have been announced. there are quite definitive that it was rigged. gabon has a history of, you know, the

bongo family ruling for several decades. the president's further was in charge for a long time and that he was —— and his son was imposed in the country and he is attempting his third presidential term and they're not happy about it. what tends to happen in gabon this out of the elections, internet is shut down so that opposition parties are not able to collect independently to results and then gabon announces what they wish and get on with it and i think this time the country has had enough, the military decided they would have to intervene and that is what is happening at the moment. tell us more about ali bongo and his family. mi tell us more about ali bongo and his famil . �* 1, ., ., tell us more about ali bongo and his famil . �* i, ., ., , ., , family. ali bongo rule for 42 years and there are _ family. ali bongo rule for 42 years and there are a _ family. ali bongo rule for 42 years and there are a couple _ family. ali bongo rule for 42 years and there are a couple of - family. ali bongo rule for 42 years and there are a couple of militaryl and there are a couple of military basesin and there are a couple of military bases in gabon and the equipment, any time there was an attempted

coup, the military base would intervene on his behalf so he managed to hang on for 42 years. and afterwards, when he died, his son was imposed on the country and because of the military might on the baseit because of the military might on the base it was impossible to really get rid of him. and i think that he has done the two terms, ali bongo has done the two terms, ali bongo has done two terms and it would appear he has attempted a third term and even the third term, citizens are quite definitive that the election has been rigged, and that there has to be a way of intervening to stop the monarchy as it were.- the monarchy as it were. michael amoah from _ the monarchy as it were. michael amoah from the _ the monarchy as it were. michael amoah from the london - the monarchy as it were. michael amoah from the london school. the monarchy as it were. michael| amoah from the london school of economics, thank you very much for bringing us more insight on that developing story from gabon. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other

stories making the news. the uk's foreign secretary, james cleverly, has travelled to bejing, the first such visit in more than five years. this is the moment he was greeted by vice president han zheng — the body language seemed to be warm enough, despite some recent tensions between the uk and china over human rights, espionage and the war in ukraine. police in canada have brought an additional 12 charges against a man accused of supplying a poisonous chemical to people who died by suicide. 57—year—old kenneth law had already been charged in may with two counts of counselling or aiding suicide in canada. ajudge in the us has rejected a bid by burger king to dismiss a lawsuit claiming it cheated hungry customers by making its whopper sandwich appear larger than it actually is. burger king was accused of portraying burgers with ingredients that "overflow over the bun," making itappear the burgers are 35% larger. you're live with bbc news.

the fallout from monday's air traffic failiure in the uk is still being felt, with thousands of air passengers stranded overseas or stuck in airports here in britain. many passengers are experiencing flight cancellations and are paying huge bills for extended hotel stays, rescheduled flights and food. the flight disruption has been caused by a data processing glitch that meant that air traffic controllers had to revert to a manual system. 0ur correspondent ellie pricejoined us from heathrow to tell us more... the idea that one single fight among millions a year could knock everything out seems unbelievable but as you heard from martin rolf they have at least worked out why it went wrong so i suppose lessons in that way have been learned but a lot of anger we are hearing from heads

of anger we are hearing from heads of various airlines, a lot of anger because the airlines are the companies that will have to fork out for all of this, but it is absolutely an air traffic control system problem. but as i say, she says today that it will not happen again, that it was a glitch that basically, the safety systems kicked in and it meant that air traffic control had to put the flight plans manually, which basically meant everything else was massively delayed which had a knock—on effect, which therefore let all the cancellations and delays. but here we are wednesday, still talking about it and still facing a huge amount of disruption.- about it and still facing a huge amount of disruption. things are very much _ amount of disruption. things are very much getting _ amount of disruption. things are very much getting back- amount of disruption. things are very much getting back to - amount of disruption. things are i very much getting back to normal, amount of disruption. things are - very much getting back to normal, so today we are looking about 1% of all arrivals and 1% of departures being so that is way down from the 27% we saw on monday. the so that is way down from the 27% we saw on monday-— saw on monday. the numbers are cominu saw on monday. the numbers are coming down _ saw on monday. the numbers are coming down massively. - saw on monday. the numbers are coming down massively. having l saw on monday. the numbers are i coming down massively. havingjust coming down massively. having just been into the terminal, things are seaming a lot calmer, you're not seeing the sort of scenes are seaming a lot calmer, you're not seeing the sort of scenes of people sleeping on the floor and any seat

that they can find. so there is a sense that this is getting sorted and probably in the next heir to, things will be sorted out. australia will hold a constitutional referendum on 14 october on whether to recognise its indigenous people for the first time. at issue — the right of aboriginal and torres strait islander people to be consulted on laws which impact their communities. 0pinion polls suggest that a vote against is currently leading. prime minister antony albanese made it clear he supports a yes vote. every australian will have a once in a generation chance to bring our country together and to change it for the better. cheering and applause let's speak now to cheryl saunders, who's a constitutional law expert at the university of melbourne. thanks very much forjoining us. what brought about this referendum? there has been a long—standing debate whether to recognise the

first nations peoples in the constitution of australia. they are very much a part of australian national identity and it is an obvious gap in the constitution and this proposal has come up through a round of consultations with indigenous themselves. round of consultations with indiaenous themselves. ~ , ., ,._ indigenous themselves. when you say reco . nised indigenous themselves. when you say recognised in — indigenous themselves. when you say recognised in the _ indigenous themselves. when you say recognised in the constitution, - indigenous themselves. when you say recognised in the constitution, what i recognised in the constitution, what rights does that mean they don't have at present?— rights does that mean they don't have at present? well, they are not mentioned in _ have at present? well, they are not mentioned in the _ have at present? well, they are not mentioned in the constitution - have at present? well, they are not mentioned in the constitution at - have at present? well, they are not mentioned in the constitution at all| mentioned in the constitution at all at the moment. as a distinctive aspect of australian national identity. so what this would do is to things, really. first, recognise them as the first peoples of australia and remarkably, having been on this continent for 50 to 60,000 years, and secondly it would give them much more of a voice in parliament. not a right to be consulted butjust an opportunity parliament. not a right to be consulted but just an opportunity to come together to make representations about how they need to be governed to the commonwealth

parliament and government. 50 it parliament and government. so it would give _ parliament and government. so it would give first _ parliament and government. so it would give first nations people rights that they don't currently have, but this is a controversial referendum, isn't it? has divided opinion. referendum, isn't it? has divided oinion. ~ , ., , ., opinion. well, it is controversial because, opinion. well, it is controversial because. you — opinion. well, it is controversial because, you know, _ opinion. well, it is controversial because, you know, any- opinion. well, it is controversial because, you know, any change| opinion. well, it is controversial i because, you know, any change to opinion. well, it is controversial - because, you know, any change to the constitution is likely to attract political controversy, doesn't happen very often in this country and on this particular occasion, it has attracted opposition from parts of the political spectrum. but the reality is that the idea of constitutional recognition of indigenous people is not particularly controversial, and this mode of doing it is fairly restrained and was not originally very controversial either. {lilia restrained and was not originally very controversial either. 0k, very briefl , very controversial either. 0k, very briefly. what _ very controversial either. 0k, very briefly, what are _ very controversial either. 0k, very briefly, what are the _ very controversial either. 0k, very briefly, what are the powers - very controversial either. 0k, very i briefly, what are the powers looking like in terms of which way this might go? i5 like in terms of which way this might go?— like in terms of which way this miaht no? , , , ., ., might go? is pretty hard to tell because for— might go? is pretty hard to tell because for a _ might go? is pretty hard to tell because for a change _ might go? is pretty hard to tell because for a change to - might go? is pretty hard to tell because for a change to pass i might go? is pretty hard to tell. because for a change to pass here you need a national majority and you

need a majority in a majority of states, in other words a majority in at least 46 australian states, and polls are not looking hugely encouraging. 0n the other hand, nobody quite trusts them, so we will see. . ~' nobody quite trusts them, so we will see. ., ~ , ., nobody quite trusts them, so we will see. ., ~ i. ,., nobody quite trusts them, so we will see. ., ~ i. . nobody quite trusts them, so we will see. ., . , see. thank you so much. cheryl saunders _ see. thank you so much. cheryl saunders from _ see. thank you so much. cheryl saunders from the _ see. thank you so much. cheryl saunders from the university i see. thank you so much. cheryl saunders from the university ofj saunders from the university of melbourne. that referendum will happen in october. stay with us here on bbc news, we will hopefully bring you that update on hurricane idalia, press conference that is expected shortly. hello again. over the next few days, the weather is going to become more settled. but we do have some rain in the forecast, and today we also have sunshine and showers. low pressure is still very much driving our weather and we've got showers wrapped around it. and as we go through the course of today, what you'll find is with fair weather cloud bubbling up, we'll see a few more showers

develop and some of those, especially across east anglia, could be heavy and thundery. but many of us will miss them and get away with a largely dry day with sunny spells. now, temperatures today down a little bit on yesterday. we're looking at a range of 15 in the north to 20 as we push further south. into this evening and overnight, then, many of the showers fading. a lot of dry weather, a lot of clear skies. 0ut towards the west, though, the cloud is going to thicken, heralding the arrival of a weather front, which is going to bring in some rain and also strengthening winds. but if you want to see the supermoon, you've got a good chance in central and eastern parts of the country. but you'll need to wrap up warmly because it's going to be a chilly night, especially in the countryside. tomorrow, we start off with a lot of dry and sunny weather in central and eastern areas, but the rain is going to continue to push northwards and eastwards as we go through the course of the day. so the best of the sunshine will be across northeast england and also much of scotland. temperatures, 15 to about 20 degrees north to south. so then as we move from thursday

into friday, high pressure starts to establish itself across the uk. so we're looking at a fair bit of cloud to start with, some mist and some fog — that will lift. there will be a few showers dotted around as well, but fewer than on thursday and we are looking at a lot of dry weather and sunshine by the afternoon. highs, 14 to 21 degrees. so here is that area of high pressure i was talking about, really establishing itself across the uk as we head on through the course of the weekend. so a lot of dry and a lot of settled conditions to come. so on saturday, we start off with some low cloud, some mist and some fog, that will slowly lift. there will be one or two showers here and there, but most of us again will miss them and get away with a largely dry day with sunny spells. temperatures 14 to 23 degrees, so those temperatures starting to pick up. and then for sunday, again, a similar story with high pressure firmly in charge, a lot of dry weather, a fair bit of sunshine, with highs up to 22.

the german cabinet approves a four—year, 32 billion—euro tax cut package designed to reignite growth in europe'sfaltering economic giant.

and less glitz, less glamour. why this year's venice film festival will be a more subded affair. welcome to world business report , i'm ben thompson. we will come to the story of the german tax cut package announced designed to boost economic growth in the faltering economic giant and a second but let's start in the us. the us commerce secretary has told officials in china that many american businesses feel it's too risky to invest in the country. but gina raimondo said she didn't want washington to cut links with the chinese economy. she is on a four—day trip to china to try to improve relations. meanwhile, concern and loss of confidence in the chinese property sector is mounting. shares in evergrande — the world's most indebted property firm with liabilities of 328 billion dollars — fell a further 13 percent on tuesday.