states in nate spaf with the main city of new orleans bracing itself for a direct hit the deadly storm has strengthened to a category one hurricane and is expected to reach the area late on saturday. supporters of russian opposition activist alexina valmy have taken to the streets in cities across the country and around the is currently serving a twenty day prison sentence for calling for an authorised process protest rather now he's called on his followers to demand that authorities allow him to enter the twenty eight hundred presidential race in saturday's demonstrations coincide with president vladimir putin's birthday there are reports that police have arrested some protesters in some cities. well as cross live now to our russia correspondent emily show and who is on the so-called field of mas in st petersburg where the central rally is supposed to happen emily what's happening where you are at the moment. well people are assembling here a lot of people have already assembled it's hard to say how many people are here i would say definitely a few hundred and it's also people younger