this is bbc news. our top stories: separatist leaders in ukraine announce a series of referendums to decide if their regions willjoin russia — western leaders queue up at the un to condemn president putin's invasion. translation: when they are responsible _ for the displacement of vast populations, the idea of organising a referendum in those regions where people have been forced to flee is the very signature of cynicism. exhuming the dead — we report from one city in eastern ukraine where the bodies of civilians are still being unearthed. further protests across iran over the death in custody of a young woman accused of breaking the islamic dress code.

and a hollywood comeback — the golden globes return to television screens after being dropped due to a lack of diversity. and twilight of the tigris. why climate change is having a devastating impact on one of the world's most famous rivers. the globe. western leaders are warning president putin not to attempt areas of the country said they would hold referendums on becoming part of russia. there are plans for votes to take place in donetsk, luhansk, kherson and zaporizhzhia regions — here in red — but a chorus of leaders at the un general assembly in new york said such

ballots would be a sham. more on the implications of such a move in a moment, but it does come as russia has suffered a series of setbacks on the battlefield in ukraine recently. and in areas newly liberated by ukrainian 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 — a warning, orla's report contains some distressing testimony. in the centre of izyum, 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 every step of the way,

in case the enemy left any booby—traps. you can just imagine the fear people must have felt when they were brought into these cells. on the walls, someone has scratched a date and it looks like the 22nd ofjune of this year. the conditions are squalid and there's just thin mattresses, no glass in the windows. people were kept here without light or heat and accounts are still emerging from those who say they were tortured here. we met one of them at the city's main hospital which somehow is functioning. mihilo has been treated here for his injuries. he is a pensioner aged 67, but that did not stop the russians. he says they held him down and broke his arm. they suspected him of sabotage. "they tortured me

for 12 days," he says. "i was taken from there 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 are told there's blood on this axe. the chief investigator says he doesn't know whose. then, suddenly, panic. distant whistle

shouting "get to the basement," he says. police running for cover after what sounded in the forest at the city's 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. olaina arrives with her husband yuri. her father was last heard from on the front lines in april. "we know families who were in the same situation

"as we are now," says yuri. "but they have found remains. "they were happy to at least have a body to bury." in the countryside near izyum, ukrainian forces are still on the move. having swept forwards so fast, they have to secure their gains and plug any gaps. inside the broken city, food is in short supply. she leaves with a handful. there is no power, no running water, just war�*s long shadow. dasha cradles her son tim but can't soothe all his fears. "we are 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." she says she's praying for peace, for a brighterfuture for ukraine's children, who have already suffered too much. orla guerin, bbc news, izyum. western leaders have been pretty unequivocal in their condemnation of russia at the united nations general assembly currently meeting in new york. here's just a flavour of what some of the leaders have been saying.

translation: today we need a simple choice, that of war nor that of peace. on 24th of february, russia permanent member of the security council through an act of aggression and annexation broke our collective security. it deliberately violated the un charter and the principal of un states. �* ,, �* charter and the principal of un states. �* ,, ~ �* , states. translation: it's imperative _ states. translation: it's imperative to _ states. translation: it's imperative to maintain - states. translation: it'sj imperative to maintain the international order with the rule of law is firmly established. ., ., , established. united nations has been playing — established. united nations has been playing a _ established. united nations has been playing a central— established. united nations has been playing a central role - established. united nations has been playing a central role in i been playing a central role in the such_ been playing a central role in the such international order. we see — the such international order. we see today its foundation being — we see today its foundation being greatly shaken. russian aggression against ukraine as an act— aggression against ukraine as an act that tramples on the vision — an act that tramples on the vision and principles of the un charten —

vision and principles of the un charter. �* ,, �* ' ' charter. translation: 141 countries — charter. translation: 141 countries categorically - countries categorically condemned ukraine swore —— russia's wharf occupation, that is not enough, if we want this war to end, we cannot be indifferent to how it ends. vladimir putin will only give up vladimir putin will only give up this— vladimir putin will only give un this war_ vladimir putin will only give up this war and _ vladimir putin will only give up this war and his - vladimir putin will only give . up this war and his imperialist ambitions _ up this war and his imperialist ambitions if— up this war and his imperialist ambitions if he _ up this war and his imperialist ambitions if he realises- up this war and his imperialist ambitions if he realises he - ambitions if he realises he cannot— ambitions if he realises he cannot win _ on that, earlier i spoke to michael o'hanlon, senior fellow at the brookings institution. here is what he had to say. he knows we won't believe him, his wanting to say the people have decided to become part of russia now they are under attack from ukraine, the thing we used to call a military operation should be a fully fledged war, this is a pr

stunt. , ., , , stunt. given their has been some movement _ stunt. given their has been some movement for - stunt. given their has been i some movement for ukrainian forces into luhansk again, is that why it is happening now, is there anxiety within russian circles, that the ukrainians are going to start moving back into these areas, which have been separatist controlled for quite some time? i been separatist controlled for quite some time?— been separatist controlled for quite some time? i think that's exactly it. _ quite some time? i think that's exactly it. we _ quite some time? i think that's exactly it, we have _ quite some time? i think that's exactly it, we have known - quite some time? i think that's exactly it, we have known for l quite some time? i think that's exactly it, we have known for a few weeks he has been moving people into place in order to do the political work to set up the sham referendums, and he has been holding off on doing that because it would put him in a corner and now he is deciding this is his last option, it has to execute this plan in order to justify this operation in the next few days, or next few hours.— or next few hours. what is the practicality — or next few hours. what is the practicality of _ or next few hours. what is the practicality of holding - or next few hours. what is the practicality of holding a - practicality of holding a referendum in these regions now, is it remotely possible to do it? ., ._

now, is it remotely possible to do it? ., ., , do it? no way would we consider that a free _ do it? no way would we consider that a free and _ do it? no way would we consider that a free and fair _ do it? no way would we consider that a free and fair election, - that a free and fair election, i have worked for the oecd free and fair elections this violates ioo% and fair elections this violates 100% of the standards, this is again a pr exercise there is no chance of this being a fair election. however if we bring — being a fair election. however if we bring this _ being a fair election. however if we bring this back _ being a fair election. however if we bring this back to - if we bring this back to results being achieved and this is what it says and people want to join is what it says and people want tojoin russia, as a bargaining chip, that has some weight, doesn't it, when you are looking at western countries in particular, fighting hard to balance support for ukraine, financial support for ukraine as well as political and yet, the hardship at home, these sorts of things might yet make a difference?— sorts of things might yet make a difference? they might, but i am suspicious _ a difference? they might, but i am suspicious of— a difference? they might, but i am suspicious of those - a difference? they might, but i am suspicious of those kinds i a difference? they might, but i am suspicious of those kinds of arguments because war is chaotic and things changed suddenly and what you do today, might not have any connection to what you are negotiating six

months from now, it's possible that there are a lot of even —— events that could happen in between that could severe those sorts of connections. haifa sorts of connections. how damaging _ sorts of connections. how damaging a _ sorts of connections. how damaging a supposedly i damaging a supposedly mobilisation by president can be, in terms of again his domestic consumption, you said this move is very much for domestic consumption, would that be a very negative step for him, or might it yet once again serve to start rallying russian support?— again serve to start rallying russian support? war is about --eole, russian support? war is about pe0ple. and — russian support? war is about pe0ple. and he _ russian support? war is about people, and he is— russian support? war is about people, and he is trying - russian support? war is about people, and he is trying to - people, and he is trying to mobilise them because he needs more of them, but it's not about the number of people, he needs more well—trained, motivated junior officers. mobilisation might get him a lot of people, but is not going to get people who are trained and trained fast enough to be able to conduct offensive operations to turn the tide

with that's really what he needs. , ., . . with that's really what he needs. ., ., , , needs. do you have a sense as to what the — needs. do you have a sense as to what the timeframe - needs. do you have a sense as to what the timeframe might l needs. do you have a sense as. to what the timeframe might be on the conflict, it is almost impossible question, from our new prime minister, liz truss, has intimated it will be the same amount of money going in this year to ukraine to help as last year, running into the billions? i iast year, running into the billions?— billions? i think you are looking _ billions? i think you are looking at _ billions? i think you are looking at several- billions? i think you are looking at several more billions? i think you are - looking at several more months, i would even say another year, if you are looking at ukraine's possibility to train its own officers to engage in offensive operations to get weapons in place, and this kind of thing, russia will have a role, as betis russia has performed in the field they have a lot of weapons and a lot of people and at the end quantity is a kind of quality, if you throw every asset against a better force sometimes more mass wins, and we have seen morale is so bad in russia they have not been able to do that but that could

change. i would suspect this goes on at least until another year, we reach the year mark in february, probably beyond that, in the end this ins on the streets of moscow, the russian people had to take responsibility for the ruler they put place in the war, and they put place in the war, and the long—term, it won't end until they have. fist the long-term, it won't end until they have.— the long-term, it won't end until they have. at least nine eo - le until they have. at least nine people have _ until they have. at least nine people have died _ until they have. at least nine people have died after - until they have. at least nine people have died after a - until they have. at least nine l people have died after a bridge damaged demolished, two people have been rescued, 31 others survived, it could be more people trapped under the debris. stay with us on bbc world news, still to come: clearing landmines from the skies — the teenage ukrainian with a life—saving, and prize—winning invention.

benjohnson, the fastest man on earth, is flying home to canada in disgrace. all the athletes should be clean going into the games. i'm just happy that justice is served. it is a simple fact that this morning, these people . were in their homes. tonight, those homes have been burnt down by serbian _ soldiers and police. all the taliban positions along here have been strengthened, presumably in case the americans invade. it's no 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 adverse judgement in australia. concorde have crossed the atlantic faster than any plane ever before, breaking the record by six minutes.

this is bbc world news. i'm david eades. our main story this are: as the future of ukraine hangs in the balance, the un secretary—general warns of a winter of discontent. to iran now, where three people have died in protests which have followed the death in custody of a woman who was arrested by the morality police. the authorities say the woman died of natural causes, but her family says she was attacked by the police. bbc persian's rana rahimpour has this report. a warning — you may find some of the images distressing. women in iran set their headscarves on fire in fury. they are tired of the morality police beating them up and the islamic republic leaders who police their every move. their protest is sparked

by the death of this woman. her name is mahsa amini. she wasjust 22. she was arrested by the morality police in tehran earlier this month. they said she wasn't wearing the mandatory hijab or headscarf properly. the security forces have released the cctv footage of mahsa in detention. it's heavily edited. suddenly, mahsa collapses. the authorities say she had a heart condition. but eyewitnesses say she was beaten up in the police van. she's taken to hospital and ends up in a coma. a few days later, she's dead. women cry, "death to the dictator" and wave their headscarves at her funeral. the inscription on her gravestone reads that she is not dead, her name will become a symbol and live forever.

mahsa was kurdish but protests are spreading across iran. a woman stands calmly in front of a water cannon until it has to reverse. and here, a police motorbike is set on fire. the woman filming shouts, "look, we've got nothing but we made them run away!" as mahsa's family predicted, her name has already become a symbol. a symbol of resistance. rana rahimpour, bbc news. climate change has all sorts of consequences. in the arctic north, glaciers are melting at an alarming speed. in parts of the southern hemisphere there's drought, with red—hot temperatures and a desperate lack of rain. and in the middle east, one of the world's great rivers is all but disappearing, as the bbc�*s tim allman explains. if biblical legend is correct,

adam and eve may have drunk from these waters. they helped give birth to civilisation itself. but now, the river tigris is dying. farmers farmed land on its banks, relying on the water it brings. but the water is slowly, surely, disappearing. translation: our life depends on the tigris. | if the water level drops, our agriculture and region will be damaged. if iraq doesn't find a solution, there will be no water left and no agriculture. along this stretch of river there were once orchards, fields of wheat, livestock. most of it is gone now. man is to blame one way or another. translation: the water level | has dropped due to two reasons.

firstly, the dams installed by neighbouring countries. secondly, the effects of climate change, including high temperatures which exceed 50 celsius, and low rainfall. for generations, this man's family has tended to the palm trees. they provided dates, molasses and henna but life is a lot different these days. translation: the tigris and euphrates are gone, | their water doesn't reach here. my mind can't fathom how it went from good to poverty. water is the basis of everything and now the tigris and euphrates have no water. some have described this as the twilight of the tigris. if the river disappears, how can the communities it once supported hope to survive? tim allman, bbc news. one of the biggest events

in hollywood is making a return next year — the golden globes. for decades it was a precursor to the oscars and kicked off the annual film awards season. but last year it was dropped by its broadcaster, nbc, the chief reason being a lack of diversity among its judges. our correspondent in la, peter bowes, says newjudges have since been brought on board. that has been an overhaul on the way things are run.- the way things are run. they have new — the way things are run. they have new voters _ the way things are run. they have new voters for - the way things are run. they have new voters for the - the way things are run. they i have new voters for the golden globes, 2o have new voters for the golden globes, 20 new members, six of whom are black and outside the organisation more than 100 people in, racial diversity there, to also vote for the golden globes. this was clearly necessary because from the outside in there looks to be no awareness of racial diversity of its than 87 members, none

were black. this was a huge expose by the los angeles times about a year and a half ago stop there was a big question mark over whether the globes would ever return, such was the outcry in hollywood, the backlash against the organisation, even the boycotting of the organisation, refusing publicists are getting their actors take part in events that they put on during the year. people like tom cruise returning the golden globes that he had one in the past. globes that he had one in the ast. , ., ., globes that he had one in the ast. , . ., , past. given that, and perhaps fallin: past. given that, and perhaps falling ratings _ past. given that, and perhaps falling ratings over— past. given that, and perhaps falling ratings over the - past. given that, and perhaps falling ratings over the years | falling ratings over the years and the golden globes is not the biggest deal in town, we know that, the oscars still holds that crown. is there any surprise that nbc have been quite so quick to resurrect it? nbc seem to have been convinced by what the hollywood foreign press association has done and we can't forget that it isn't

as prestigious as the academy awards, as the oscars, but it kicks things off and gets the celebrities out there on television, talking about their movies, perhaps more people will go to see those movies as a result and ultimately it's all about money and selling tickets and that's what it in part manages to do, as well as drawing attention to those filmmakers and individuals who could potentially be up for oscars. that's what hollywood enjoys. everyone potentially as they winner, providing the event itself and the way the winners are chosen, aren't tainted by controversy, as they have been the last couple of years. they seem to be cleaning up their act. there are an estimated 100 million unexploded landmines planted across our planet, providing a constant risk to many millions of people. now, a new technique for detecting those landmines has been recognised with a major prize — and it's gone to a 17—year—old ukrainian student.

the global student prize is worth $100,000, awarded to igor klymenko who studies at the kyiv polytechnic institute and has developed what is called a quadcopter mines detector. in doing so, he has beaten off 7000 other nominations from all over the world. earlier i spoke to igor klymenko and asked him what is revolutionary about the quadcopter mines detector he has developed. nowadays we have created two devices, collaborative prototypes which detect landmines and provide exact co—ordinates of the found objects. we are working to improve it so we will make bigger ones. it can provide not only the exact co—ordinates but use artificial intelligence to know the exact type of landmine and the way of its safe removal. we want to spray paint the point where the landmine is located. how far away are you from

bringing this into operation from it becoming a mass—produced detection device? nowadays i'm working on getting a product to begin certification in ukraine and then mass production. i spoke with a factory providing military equipment for ukrainian militaries and they told me that they can help me make it mass production to provide it as fast as we can. it could take a year to two years. it's an amazing achievement and many congratulations for it. you are studying at the kyiv polytechnic institute. how difficult has that been and are you still studying there? this year i finished 11th grade at the institute and nowadays i'm getting two degrees, a full—time degree at the university of alberta

in canada and i am studying there full—time, and studying part—time online. well done, igor klymenko. that is bbc news. hello. whist weather conditions have been fairly quiet for us, across the other side of the atlantic we have seen a hurricane has battered parts of puerto rico, the dominican republic and turks and caicos, a first major hurricane with winds gusting over 130 mph. getting close to bermuda, thursday, friday, but could maintain the hurricane status as it slams into the east of canada, aided and abetted by unusually warm sea waters in the north atlantic. instead of spinning towards us, it could head to the arctic, seeing some very warm air there as well. to our shores, rather cool conditions. of the weather front. it means it's going to take a few days before the warm air gets in because it will be

a chilly start to wednesday, six degrees across the south—eastern areas, mist and fog. mildest towards the north and west but here the breeze, cloud and outbreaks of rain. western isles, rain all day long. orkney, shetland, some outbreaks of rain developing as we will see in caithness. to the west of northern ireland it will turn damp late in the day. isolated showers for southern scotland, northern england. most of the uk having a dry day. mist and fog in the south clearing, some cloud through eastern england, sunny spells elsewhere into the afternoon, the best of which are around the coasts, feeling warmer than recent days. temperatures up a degree or so. winds lightest to the south and east on wednesday afternoon. strongest towards the north and west. across the western isles, we could see gale force winds before the day is out. the winds strengthen across the rest of scotland and northern ireland as we go into wednesday night. wednesday night into thursday, outbreaks of rain developing widely. a little bit of a rain shadow so not much rain towards the north—east of scotland. some rain into cumbria and the isle of man. around that rain band, a pretty mild night, 12—14 degrees, fresher further south. the odd mist and fog patch but a dry and bright start for most on thursday

for england and wales. turning cloudy with outbreaks of rain, north—west england, north and west wales through the day. that moving to the south—east of northern ireland and staying that way in the south and east of scotland. but north—western parts of scotland, the rest of northern ireland should brighten up, feeling fresher later on. to the south—east of the rain band, which will be in to west wales by the end of thursday, it's going to be another reasonably mild if not warm day of 21—22 degrees. milder air squeezed gets out as the weather front meanders slowly and erratically to the south—east corridor heading into friday, it could bring rain to cardiff and london, showing up on the capital city forecast. but by the weekend, fresherfor all again, many places will be dry.

this is bbc news. i'm david eades. the headlines: western leaders are warning president putin not to annex parts of ukraine as officials in russian—held areas of the country said they would be holding referendums on becoming part of russia. a chorus of leaders at the un general assembly said such ballots would be a sham. in iran, three people have died in protests which have followed the death in custody of a woman who was arrested by the morality police. the authorities say 22—year—old mahsa amini died of natural causes, but her family says she was attacked by the police. one of hollywood's most famous awards ceremony, the golden globes, is set to return to television screens in 2023.

the star—studded event was dropped by the broadcaster