welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. four areas in fourareas in ukraine four areas in ukraine now controlled by russian troops around 15% of the country say they will hold referendums on becoming part of russia. the un secretary general has opened the general assembly in new york with a bleak assessment of the state of the world saying it faces a winter of discontent. exhuming the dead and ukrainian areas recaptured from russia. we report from one city with a bodies of dozens of civilians to dug up. the british prime minister liz truss tells the bbc she's prepared to make unpopular choices as prime minister

to ensure economy grows. it's six in the morning in singapore, and 6pm in new york where world leaders are taking part in a un meeting which is already being dominated by ukraine. russia's invasion was always going to be at the top of the agenda, but events on tuesday have brought the war into even sharper focus. officials in russian controlled areas in the east and south of ukraine have announced snap referendums onjoining russia. it appears to be part of a push by moscow to accelerate their annexation, in response to serious setbacks on the battlefield. we have set a course of

reunification with russia and will not turn back from it. based on the results of the referendum i will personally appeal to the president of the russian federation of vladimir putin with request for proof as soon as possible. and i'm sure this procedure will not take much time. sure this procedure will not take much time-— much time. how is the global community — much time. how is the global community reacting - much time. how is the global community reacting to - much time. how is the global community reacting to all - much time. how is the global community reacting to all of. much time. how is the global - community reacting to all of this? our correspondent at the un ga for us with is obviously a big focus of discussion as you can imagine. great to have you on the program. talk us through how the international community has been reacting to this. as you mentioned there, the war in ukraine was always going to dominate the discussion during that discussions here. western leaders have spoken out about how this referendum is another escalation of the war. they have swiftly condemned it. the french president for example emmanuel macron who spoke with the president

zelensky along with turkeys president duan, he said that this would be considered illegalfor the top it would not be accepted by the international community. take elation when he had to say. translation: isjust had to say. translation: is 'ust another provocation i had to say. translation: is 'ust another provocation which in h had to say. translation: isjust another provocation which in my l had to say. translation: is just - another provocation which in my view does not _ another provocation which in my view does not change our position. russia must _ does not change our position. russia must leave _ does not change our position. russia must leave ukrainian territory. the russian _ must leave ukrainian territory. the russian army must respect internationally recognised borders. when _ internationally recognised borders. when they are responsible for the displacement of vast populations the idea of— displacement of vast populations the idea of organising referendum in those _ idea of organising referendum in those regions where people have been forced _ those regions where people have been forced to— those regions where people have been forced to flee is a very signature of cynicism. other leaders were incredulous _ signature of cynicism. other leaders were incredulous as _ signature of cynicism. other leaders were incredulous as well. _ signature of cynicism. other leaders were incredulous as well. the - were incredulous as well. the ukrainian foreign minister said russia could do what it wanted, it wouldn't matter that ukraine would continue to defend its territory and the white house came out saying it was clearly paving the way on

crutches lead to annexation. something the united states again said they would work hard to guess. we have seen other countries taking more of a neutral stance in this conflict, even as western leaders are pushing for a tougher stance against russia. turkey for example has been one of the key brokers if you will between the west and russia in those key negotiations to get ukrainian grain and russian fertiliser out of the country. also in his address to the general assembly today he once again appealed for peace talks saying they needed to be dignified. take a listen to what he said in his address. listen to what he said in his address-— listen to what he said in his address. �* ,, �* listen to what he said in his address. �* ,, ~ _, . address. translation: the conflict is escalating — address. translation: the conflict is escalating and _ address. translation: the conflict is escalating and we're _ address. translation: the conflict is escalating and we're investing - is escalating and we're investing tremendous efforts in order to ensure — tremendous efforts in order to ensure the war will be finalised by protecting territorial integrity and the sovereignty of ukraine once and for aii~ _ so certainly ukraine has been the

main topic here. countries here have been looking at other crises that have been exacerbated by the war. the food crisis, the energy crisis and of course climate has also been on the agenda. in fact the un secretary—general said that should be the first priority of world leaders here. i be the first priority of world leaders here.— leaders here. i was really interested _ leaders here. i was really interested to _ leaders here. i was really interested to listen - leaders here. i was really interested to listen to - leaders here. i was really interested to listen to his comments, as you pointed out, he had the start warning for the world saying if we don't work together on these pressing issues we're really losing an opportunity to tackle some of these things.— of these things. yes. he really soke to of these things. yes. he really spoke to these _ of these things. yes. he really spoke to these geopolitical - of these things. yes. he really i spoke to these geopolitical divide saying they are being made worse by the war in ukraine and it is paralysing third response to issues of mutual concern. for, for example, he talked about how action has stalled. while the g20 accounts for 80% of emissions it is the most vulnerable countries that are able to get the assistance they need,

particularly now with they can't get access to finances, the dealing with inflation, rising food prices, energy prices with up so the secretary—general had one key solution. he said wealthy nations, developed nations should start taxing the windfall profits from fossil fuel companies and take that money and redirected to nations and people who are suffering from those harmful effects of climate change the most. it is one appeal he has made here. the secretary—general clearly wants progress during this high level week. especially as leaders prepare for 27 in a few weeks' time in egypt.- leaders prepare for 27 in a few weeks' time in egypt. thank you for keein: us weeks' time in egypt. thank you for keeping us up-to-date. _ weeks' time in egypt. thank you for keeping us up-to-date. certainly i keeping us up—to—date. certainly that view from the un secretary—general being echoed by other politicians. some of the politicians around the world. as she was talking about we heard the view from the un ga. but what is vladimir putin try to achieve with the referendums in these ukraine?

we will hear now from steve rosenberg. we will hear now from steve rosenberg-— we will hear now from steve rosenberg. we will hear now from steve rosenbera. ~ , ., ., rosenberg. when i first heard about these referendums _ rosenberg. when i first heard about these referendums the _ rosenberg. when i first heard about these referendums the first - rosenberg. when i first heard about these referendums the first thing i these referendums the first thing that came to mind when i heard about the referendums was what vladimir putin said on the 24th of february when he was announcing the invasion of ukraine he said it is not our plan to occupy ukrainian territory. that didn't age well because basically, the so—called referendums in russian occupied areas of ukraine, they are a vehicle to allow moscow to annex, and of a chunk of ukrainian territory. and it's been done very quickly, very fast i think because of the ukrainian counteroffensive we have seen in recent days, which is been pretty successful in reclaiming some occupied land. these referendums i think raise the stakes moscow is raising the stakes with them. i predict that once these areas miraculously declared that they want

to be part of russia, what we're going to see is russia say to you craig, "if you try to get these areas back you will be attacking what we now consider to be russia with big consequences. fiur what we now consider to be russia with big consequences. our russian editor steve — with big consequences. our russian editor steve rosenberg. _ still to come a bit later in the programme: we'll have a special report from our correspondent in ukraine, orla guerin who has been investigating the situation on the edge of izyum — which was recently retaken from russian forces. ukranian officials war crimes have been committed there — we'll have much more on that story for you in a little while right here on newsday — but first... let's turn now to the british prime minister, liz truss who has been speaking in new york during her first foreign trip. she has said she is prepared to take difficult and unpopular decisions to help get the uk economy growing. she said by focusing on economic growth, the uk will be more attractive to investors. the government is preparing to make a series of major announcements now the official period of mourning for the late queen is over.

from new york, here's our political editor chris mason. within hours of the queen's funeral, liz truss flew out of the country, her first overseas trip in office bringing her here to new york for a gathering of world leaders at the united nations. she has been prime minister forjust a fortnight, and what a fortnight. at the top of the empire state building she reflected on her opening days in downing street. it has been a very, very momentous time for our country and i was hugely honoured to be asked to form a government by her majesty the queen. and i think the news of her death was a shock to me, as it was a shock to the nation. after ten days of reflection, politics is roaring back. expect a blitz of announcements in the coming days with a focus on growing the economy, even if some of the ideas for doing

that will cause a row. lots of families at the moment are really struggling and they will see that one of the things you are happy to see happen is for bankers to get bigger bonuses. whose side are you on? what i want to see is a growing economy, so everybody in our country has the high paid jobs that they deserve, the investment into their town, the new businesses being set up. that's the kind of britain that i want to see. and if that means the rich get richer, that's fine? if that means taking difficult decisions which are going to help britain become more competitive, help britain become more attractive, help more investment flow into our country — yes, i'm absolutely prepared to take those decisions. you are willing to do unpopular things if you think it can contribute to a bigger economy? that's right.

unaffordable bills. the pound has been tumbling, interest rates are rising, tough for people this winter? we're facing incredibly tough economic times. i'm here in new york at the united nations. we've had the invasion of ukraine which has pushed up energy prices. we're still seeing the after—effects of covid. what is very important, as well as growing our economy, we are also protecting our economic security. the conservatives won the last election with one prime minister, borisjohnson, and are now led by another, chosen only by party members. so, what will change? i will be my own prime minister,

and i wouldn't compare myself to any predecessors and the times we are in are different from the times predecessors have been in. we are entering a new era. it is a more insecure era and what my government is about is about delivering for people, making sure that people have the jobs, the opportunities and the future that they can rely on. this afternoon the prime minister met the french president emanuel macron. insecurity abroad, insecurity at home, a problem not unique to the uk. let's take a look at some of the stories in the headlines in the uk.... a peak audience of around 28 million viewers in the uk watched the queen's funeral on monday — making it one of the country's biggest ever tv events. the vast majority of them

were watching the bbc. and those figures don't include the number of people steaming the coverage online or on phones. and in cricket — for the first time in 17 years — england are touring in pakistan for a series of matches. security concerns have prevented any tours since 2005. england's team will be captained by moeen ali, whose mother was born in pakistan. if you want to get in touch with me i'm on twitter — @bbckarishma you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme — the role of tech companies and their influence on children in the spotlight again — an inquiry into the death

of teenager molly russell has begun in the uk. she took her own life, after viewing harmful material online. benjohnson, the ben johnson, the fastest man benjohnson, the fastest man on earth is flying home to canada in disgrace. earth is flying home to canada in disurace. n“ , earth is flying home to canada in disurace. , , ., , earth is flying home to canada in disurace. i, ., , . ., disgrace. ackley should be clean auoin into disgrace. ackley should be clean going into the — disgrace. ackley should be clean going into the game. _ disgrace. ackley should be clean going into the game. i'll - disgrace. ackley should be clean going into the game. i'lljust - disgrace. ackley should be clean | going into the game. i'lljust that justice is served. it is going into the game. i'll 'ust that justice is servedh justice is served. it is a simple fact that this _ justice is served. it is a simple fact that this morning - justice is served. it is a simple fact that this morning these i justice is served. it is a simple - fact that this morning these people were in_ fact that this morning these people were in their homes, tonight those terms _ were in their homes, tonight those terms two — were in their homes, tonight those terms two homes have been burnt down by serbian— terms two homes have been burnt down by serbian soldiers and police. all the taliban positions are long here have been— the taliban positions are long here have been strengthened _ the taliban positions are long here i have been strengthened presumably encase _ have been strengthened presumably encase americans— have been strengthened presumably encase americans invaded. - have been strengthened presumably encase americans invaded. it’s - have been strengthened presumably encase americans invaded.— encase americans invaded. it's no use having — encase americans invaded. it's no use having a _ encase americans invaded. it's no use having a secret _ encase americans invaded. it's no use having a secret service - encase americans invaded. it's no use having a secret service which | use having a secret service which cannot preserve its own secrets against the world. and so the british government has no option but to continue this action even after any adversejudgment in to continue this action even after any adverse judgment in australia. the concorde would pass the atlantic faster than any plane than ever before, breaking the record by six

minutes. this is newsdayon the bbc. in singapore.0ur headlines. four areas in ukraine now controlled by russian troops — around 15% of the country — say they will hold referendums on becoming part of russia. the un secretary—general opens the general assembly in new york with a bleak assessment of the state of the world — saying it faces a winter of discontent. time now for that special report from ukraine we told you about — and russia has suffered a series of setbacks on the battlefield in ukraine recently. in areas newly liberated by ukrainians forces, disturbing accounts of torture by russian soldiers are continuing to emerge. our senior international correspondent orla guerin reports now from the city of izyum — i want to warn you — orla's report contains some

distressing testimony. in distressing testimony. the center, the heart of darkness. in the center, the heart of darkness. ukrainian investigators say the russians turned this police station into a torture chamber. we were taken down to the cells in the basement. our escort checking carefully at every step of the way in case the enemy left any to be traps. you canjust imagine the fair people must have felt when they were brought into the cells. here on the walls someone has scratched a date, it looks like the 22nd ofjune of this year. the conditions are squalid, therejust thin mattresses, no class in the windows. people were kept to her without light or heat.

and accounts are still emerging from those who say they would torture here. we met one of them at the cities main hospital, which somehow is functioning. he has been treated here for his injuries. he is a pensioner, age 67 but that didn't stop the russians. he says they held him down and broke his arm, they suspected him of sabotage. translation: they tortured me for 12 days, he says. i was taken from their half dead, three hours before our forces arrived. they tortured me with an electric current. they gave me shocks in my fingers. how they burned. they put needles into my

back, they were long and they put them under my skin. here and here, inside. and across town, at the former russian command centre a grim discovery. we're told there is blood on this acts. the chief investigator says he doesn't know who's. then suddenly panic. get to the he says. police cover �* what get to the he says. police cover �*what sounded get to the he says. police incoming ver �*what sounded get to the he says. police incoming fire �*what sounded get to the he says. police incoming fire but �*what sounded get to the he says. police incoming fire but this at sounded get to the he says. police incoming fire but this time inded like incoming fire but this time there was no explosion in the forest at the cities edge they are still exhuming the dead. more than 160 so

far, mostly civilians. officials say some had their hands tied and bore signs of torture. elayna arrives with her husband yuri, they come to look for her father. she is caught between hope and dread. he was last heard from on the front lines in april. heard from on the front lines in aril. . ,, . heard from on the front lines in aril. �* . . ~' ., heard from on the front lines in aril. . ,, ~ ,, ., ., , april. translation: we know families who were in the _ april. translation: we know families who were in the same _ april. translation: we know families who were in the same situation - april. translation: we know families who were in the same situation as - who were in the same situation as we're now. but they have found remains. , ., , _ ., ., remains. they were happy to at least have a body — remains. they were happy to at least have a body to _ remains. they were happy to at least have a body to bury. _ remains. they were happy to at least have a body to bury. in _ remains. they were happy to at least have a body to bury. in the _ have a body to bury. in the countryside near izyum ukrainian forces are still on the move. having

swept forward so fast they have to secure their gains and plugged any gaps. inside the broken city, food is in short supply. she handful. there is no no water, wars long running water, just wars long shadow. she cradles her tim of we' re can't suit all of his tears. we're scared, she says. we don't know if it will be safe over the longer term. we're on thin ice. military actions are still going on, victory isn't certain. in she says she's

praying for peace, for a brighter future for ukraine's children who have already suffered too much. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines... protests have continued for a fourth day in iran over the death in custody of a young woman accused of breaking the rule on wearing a headscarf. demonstrations have been reported in more than a dozen cities, including tehran and mashad. videos posted on social media show women at the forefront of the protests, with some setting their headscarves on fire. rescue teams injapan are warning of the danger of mudslides, following continued heavy rain brought by typhoon nanmadol. at least four people have been killed by what has been described as one of the most powerful storms to hitjapan for several decades. hundreds of thousands of homes are without power, and forecasters say some areas can expect up to thirty centimetres of rain in a single day.

winds of up to a hundred and five miles per hour are lashing in turks and caicos as british fear, main islands earlier hit the dominican republic where flash floods is still affecting the killed the in also been killed in the storms in the us territory �*puerto rico. and before we go — the role of tech companies and their influence on children, is in focus in the uk, as the actions of internet firms is being examined at the inquest into the death of the teenager molly russell. fourteen year old molly russell killed herself in 2017, after viewing material about self harm, suicide and depresson on instagram. now her grieving parents are taking on social media companies they believe are at fault for not doing more to prevent this. our correspondent angus crawford has been at the hearing in north london.

a family wanting answers — why did molly die, and what part did social media play? ahead of them, two weeks in court, hundreds of pages of evidence a bright, apparently happy teenager, molly was just ilt when she took her own life. going through her social media accounts, herfather, ian, discovered she was being bombarded with content about suicide, depression and self—harm, on instagram, pinterest and other apps. this is an inquest. no—one's on trial. the aim — to find out why a child ended her own life. but, for the first time, executives from two social media companies will have to give evidence under oath about what they do to protect their young users online. it contained some material that i'm sure is going to be very upsetting.

ahead of them, a forensic look into molly's use of social media. ian, with his legal team, have already seen much of that evidence — files full of it. there was just no let—up for molly. this is relentless. i remember my disbelief when i saw my lifeless youngest daughter. over the years, ian has become a high—profile campaigner for internet safety... the corporate culture at these platforms needs to change... ..addressing mps... we need to be proactive rather than reactive. ..even meeting prince william, hoping that his campaigning and what the coroner decides here will make social media a safer place for all young users. this is both an intensely private moment for the family, hoping to find answers, but also a very public inquiry into the impact of social media on young minds. and with the online safety bill

making its way through parliament, it's sure that this inquest will be closely watched at westminster and in silicon valley. before we go i want to show you the scene live in new york where the president of poland is currently speaking. a little bit earlier as we've been reporting france's president emmanuel macron spoke and he skews countries who have remained silent about russia's invasion of ukraine of serving the cause of what he calls moscow's new imperialism for the in a speech to the un jeeets said the inaction risk in his words tearing down the global order with which peace is not possible. he's called on members of the assembly to give up what russia has called the choice of war. meanwhile, we will expect to hear from the us choice of war. meanwhile, we will expect to hearfrom the us president joe biden in the ukrainian leader volodymyr zelensky who are both do to speak on wednesday lots of

coverage on that right here on bbc news. for now that's it for me and the team. thank you so much for joining us. hello there. weather conditions fairly for us across dominican republic and turks and caicos a first major hurricane with winds gusting over 130 miles an hour, getting close to bermuda thursday and friday but could maintain a target status as it slams into the east of canada, aided and abetted by unusually warm sea waters in the north atlantic for the up and said spinning towards us a good head towards the arctic sea and very warm air there too. back to our shores with that cool conditions but things get milder with south—westerly winds developing a heart of this weather front. it does mean is going to take a few days before that warmer air gets in because of be a chilly test to wednesday, 6 degrees, mist and fog of a mile the north and but here

the breeze, the cloud and outbreaks of drinkable western dolls, bring him because of be a chilly test to wednesday, 6 degrees, mist and fog of a mile this was the north and west but here the breeze, the cloud and outbreaks of drinkable western dolls, rain coming and going all day long for the sum outbreaks of rain developing in cape mass. some in northern island it will turn damp later in the day. isolated showers in scotland in northern england but mostly uk have a dry day. mr south and clearing a bit of clout to set a speu and clearing a bit of clout to set a spell since it others for the best on the couch feeling a bit warmer than recent days with temperatures up than recent days with temperatures up a degree is so for that when slightest the southeast of the country a wednesday afternoon for the strongest or the north and west across the western house we could see gale force winds develop before the days out. those women strengthen across scotland and northern ireland as we go into wednesday night for that wednesday night into thursday outbreaks of rain developing quite widely, there will be a bit of her rain shadow not maturing towards the northeast of scotland for the northeast of scotland for the northeast of scotland. cumbria and alabama later in around that rain been a pretty mild night in the story of scotland. cumbria and alabama later in around that rain been a pretty mild night in sort 12 to 14 been a pretty mild night in sort 12 to 1a degrees. fresh further south. and bright to for england and wales

with up arrayed in northwest most of the day, the morning to the southeast of island and will stay that way in scotland but northwestern parts of scotland, the nurse to another island should brighten up, fresher later on for the southeast of that into west wells by the thursday but it's going to be another reason will be mild if not warm day. 21 to 22 degrees with a mild air gets squeezed out as our weatherfront meanders. a mild air gets squeezed out as our weather front meanders. slowly in a radically towards the southeast corner heading into friday. could bring rain to cardiff and london, showing up on the capital city for gas. by the weekend fresher for all again but many places will be dry.

this is bbc news, the headlines four occupied regions of ukraine say they'll hold referendums on joining russia this weekend; kyiv says the votes will be a sham and it will press on with its campaign of liberation. the un secretary general has told the un general assembly in new york, the world is facing a winter of discontent because of the war in ukraine, food shortages and climate change. health officials in pakistan say they've seen an increase in waterborne diseases, in the wake of the devastating floods. the head of the world health organisation warned of a double disaster if more isn't done to help the country. rescuers injapan are warning of the dangers of mudslides as one of the biggest storms in recent decades continues to batter the country.