this is bbc news. the headlines. a coroner concludes social media did play a part in the death of 14—year—old molly russell, the teenager who took her own life. molly's father gave his reaction after the inquest if this demented trail of life sucking content was safe, my daughter molly would probably be still be alive. i'm at the corners court in north london where molly's�*s family have called for a crackdown on tech companies to make sure this doesn't happen to another family. at an elaborate ceremony in the kremlin, president putin formally annexes four regions of ukraine into russia after discredited referendums denounced by the west as a sham.

translation: to be with its own | people to be with it's motherland. meanwhile an attack on a civilian convoy in one of the four annexed regions, zaporizhzhia, leaves at least 23 people dead. a bbc investigation has found big regional differences in the number of fines issued to parents whose children missed school in england without a valid reason. some local authorities handed out thousands of fines in the last academic year, in other areas there were none. when we sign up to train with the dogs we know one day this day is coming. saying good bye to sammy, the story of a retiring guide dog and how hard it is to get another one. and coming up later in the hour viola davis the are among an all—star cast

in the women king. find out what mark kermode thinks of that and the rest of this week's big cinema releases in the film review at 5:45. a coroner has found that unsafe content on social media platforms her own life five years ago. the inquest into molly's death had heard she'd viewed more than 2000 posts relating to depression, self harm and suicide in the six months before she died. the coroner said it was material that should never have been seen by a child. after the inquest, molly's father ian condemned social media companies for what he called the "demented trail of life—sucking

content" on their platforms. and children's charities said the inquest conclusions should send "shock waves through silicon valley". the latest now from our correspondent angus crawford, who first reported molly's story. after nearly five years, some answers and a sense ofjustice. ian russell always said social media helped kill molly. now a coroner agrees. he said molly died as a result of an act of self—harm while suffering depression and the negative effects of online content. the inquest was shown images like this, liked and shared by molly. "look in my eyes," it says. "i want to die." and here, a heart monitor. the question, "if it stopped, would you miss me?" the algorithms sent her thousands just like it, dark and miserable, cut wrists and nooses.

and there were hundreds of videos, black and white, glamorised, set to music. the coroner concluded that: "some of these sites were not safe. they allowed access to adult content a 14—year—old girl should not see." ian russell came every day, sitting through two weeks of graphic evidence about what molly felt and what she saw, the posts he described as a drip feed of daily hopelessness. and, in a first for big tech, executives for meta, which owns instagram, and the image—sharing site pinterest, called to account under oath in a court in the uk. at times, exchanges became heated. the family's barrister told elizabeth lagone from meta, it shouldn't alone decide what children could see. he shouted, "you have no right to do that. you are not their parent.

you are just a business in america." after repeated questioning, she said, "i am sorry molly saw content that violated our policies." for meta and pinterest, two weeks of tough questions and close scrutiny. and, for molly's father, at last, a reckoning for the industry he blames for her death. i hope this will be an important step in bring about much—needed change. thank you. let's get more from our correspondent frances read at the coronor�*s court now. we heard a bit from molly's father there were other reactions have been for molly's family. figs there were other reactions have been for molly's family.— for molly's family. as he heard there it has — for molly's family. as he heard there it has been _ for molly's family. as he heard there it has been a _ for molly's family. as he heard there it has been a very long i for molly's family. as he heard i there it has been a very long time coming. five years to wait for this inquest. molly's father and russell

pay tribute to her describing her as beautiful and thoughtful. but crucially he had a direct message for mark zuckerberg the ceo of meta which owns instagram and facebook and other social media companies as well. let's have a listen to what he had to say. i well. let's have a listen to what he had to say-— had to say. i think the simple message _ had to say. i think the simple message to _ had to say. i think the simple message to mark— had to say. i think the simple message to mark would - had to say. i think the simple message to mark would be i had to say. i think the simple| message to mark would be to had to say. i think the simple - message to mark would be to listen. listen— message to mark would be to listen. listen to _ message to mark would be to listen. listen to people that use this platform _ listen to people that use this platform listen to the conclusions that the _ platform listen to the conclusions that the corner gave in this inquest _ that the corner gave in this inquest. and they do something about it. ., , ,., inquest. and they do something about it. ., , ., ., inquest. and they do something about it. that is some of what molly's father had _ it. that is some of what molly's father had to _ it. that is some of what molly's father had to say _ it. that is some of what molly's father had to say what - it. that is some of what molly's father had to say what about i father had to say what about campaign groups what have they been saying after this inquest as well? indeed had a lot to say they held a press conference after the inquest conclusion came through. that was made up of children's charities and also suicide prevention groups. they raised awareness really that 200 young people die every single year

from suicide and they were saying that more needs to be done really to look at these algorithms that help kids understand as well, there is the law there is the legal side of it there is the tech company side of it there is the tech company side of it but there are also saying that what parents could do this evening is half conversations with their families around the dinner table about algorithms. about getting kids and teens to understand how social media algorithms might serve up harmful content and how they can be on the lookout for that. so they were very key to get that message across to families this evening. its, across to families this evening. a powerful message today from the corner from that inquest. the social media companies are any of those companies given a response yet to what has been said? yes absolutely. both meta and _ what has been said? yes absolutely. both meta and pinterest _ what has been said? yes absolutely. both meta and pinterest have - what has been said? yes absolutely. both meta and pinterest have said . both meta and pinterest have said that they will be looking very carefully at the report that the corner will make. and send to them as well. and that will be part of it. ithink as well. and that will be part of it. i think there as we already heard a big push for the law to change as well. that only companies

bill is going through the comments at the moment. and it is what will happen with that. they want to see pressure to get things change. molly's family very much hoping that this is a watershed moment to see some change. this is a watershed moment to see some change-— this is a watershed moment to see some change. thank you very much indeed francis. _ and you can see more about this story on the bbc news channel this weekend in our documentary "�*molly russell: a father'sjourney�* in which molly's father ian reflects on his path to getjustice for his daughter and his campaign to make the internet safer. that's on the bbc news channel this saturday at half 2 and again on sunday at half 5 and you'll also be able to find it on the bbc iplayer. russia's president putin has signed a decree, formalising the country's illegal annexation of four areas of eastern ukraine. at a televised ceremony held before an audience in the kremlin, president putin claimed the areas were now russian territory.

it follows discredited referendums that have held in the regions of donetstk, luhansk, kherson and zaporizhzhia. the annexation has been widely condemned around the world — the british government has summoned the russian ambassador to the foreign office, while us presidentjoe biden called it "fraudulent". at the signing ceremony, president putin claimed the people in those four annexed regions, which together make up 15 % of the total territory of ukraine, had "made their choice". he said it was "historicallyjust" for russia to take control of them. translation: i am sure that federal assembly will support the laws - of the formation of four new regions in russia, four new subjects of the russian federation because this is the will of millions of people. this is their right based on the historical unity that the generations

of our ancestors were winning who, through the centuries, where building and protecting russia. after calling on ukraine to cease military action and return to the negotiating table, president putin claimed russia would work to increase security in its four new regions. translation: today's key authorities should take this free expression - of will with great respect and no other way. this is the only way to peace. we will protect our land with every possible means that we've got to provide safe living for our people. this is a great liberation mission of our people. 0ur eastern european correspondent sarah rainsford was watching

president putin's speech. it was a show, it was meant to be a show, it was played out in this grand hall with a beautiful parquet floor beneath the golden chandeliers. it was all about president putin trying to give legitimacy to what he is doing in ukraine which is quite clearly a land grab. he is seizing four regions of that country. he is trying to portray it as restoring historical land to russia, he is trying to portray it as a cause that the russian people are somehow behind and he is trying to portray it as the rescuing and the protection of russian speakers in those regions. he dwelt on that somewhat. he talked about the fact that these people in these four regions, ukrainian people, were now becoming russian citizens forever, he underlined that, and he said that if ukraine and its western backers challenge that on the ground, and russia would defend those people with everything it has got.

it was a threat, it was throwing down the gauntlet but it was also an awful lot of ranting about the west. it was ranting. it was all of vladimir putin's favourite lines about how the west is out to get russia and hostile. it was quite off the point, frankly, if you are talking about why you are taking land in ukraine but it is everything that vladimir putin loves to say. the west is trying to weaken russia and he is making russia strong again. as part of that, it appears, he is prepared to seize territory from its neighbour. taking you lives to moscow now here is putin celebrating the annexation of those four regions in ukraine donestk luhansk, kherson. president

putin there celebrating what most of the world regard as the illegal annexation of those four parts of eastern and southern ukraine after those discredited referendums that have been called by most countries of the world, discredited and illegal sham referendums. but president putin and many others there in moscow celebrating and they are singing the national anthem there is a celebrate. moscow's annexation of those four regions and of course they are four regions that russia don't even control militarily, not even fully anyway. so annexing them when they don't even control them on the ground.

the prime minister has taken the unusual step of meeting the head of the uk's independent economic forecaster amid the fallout from last week's mini budget. liz truss and her chancellor had talks this morning with the 0br, the office for budget responsibility. it follows days of financial turmoil and a record fall in the pound and the meeting has been seen as an attempt to reassure the markets. even so, the government are resisting pressure to publish an independent verdict from the 0br on their tax—cutting plans and increased borrowing before late november. 0ur economics correspondent andy verity reports. it's this man whose independent forecasts have been conspicuous by their absence from the biggest tax—cutting budget since the early 1970s, urgently desired by the world's financial markets but not so much by the chancellor or prime minister who turned down the offerfrom richard hughes to run the numbers last week. today as he and other top economists from the office for budget responsibility finally met liz truss and kwasi kwarteng,

mps pressed for the numbers sooner than november. i would be expecting, particularly as the markets expect something positive to emerge from this that they will come out and say something perhaps along the lines of, we will bring forward this forecast, which they can do, a full forecast, by around the end of october. after the meeting the 0br said it would deliver a forecast to the chancellor next week but not when it would be published. we saw the prime minister and chancellor and talked about providing the chancellor with updates of our forecast by next friday and we will set up a timetable for the focus process next week. one of the things that made markets take fright this week was a lack of one of these, the economic and fiscal outlook. we report this at every budget and prebudget report and it's this independent document that tells you what independent experts think is going to happen to growth, to the public finances, and to inflation.

after liz truss's comments yesterday, the government this morning was still saying all the trouble went back to the date putin invaded ukraine. we have seen a particular dynamic of last week. we absolutely should acknowledge that the bank of england has done itsjob. this all stems to the world that changed on the 24th of february. but today global investors flatly contradicted that. unprecedented volatility, those huge swings in prices. are they putin's fault? the last five days is nothing to do with what's been going on with the war in ukraine. what happened in the uk government bond market over the last week has much more to do, in fact entirely to do, with the nature of the fiscal package the government announced last friday and the response investors had to that, which was surprise and uncertainty.

today, revised figures said the economy did not shrink as previously thought for six months in a row, the technical definition of a recession, and markets were calmer. andy verity, bbc news. our business correspondent marc ashdown is with me. let's just talk about the mac or widen what exactly is it and why does it matter? haste widen what exactly is it and why does it matter?— widen what exactly is it and why does it matter? ~ ., , , does it matter? we hear these terms batted around — does it matter? we hear these terms batted around but _ does it matter? we hear these terms batted around but the _ does it matter? we hear these terms batted around but the obr _ does it matter? we hear these terms batted around but the obr the - does it matter? we hear these terms batted around but the obr the officej batted around but the 0br the office for budget responsibility was founded on the idea of transparency. it is body funded by the treasury but it is independent. the idea is that he gives analysis independently of any big government plans to cut taxes, raise taxes or anything big spending. so there eyes brows raised of course when the translator walked into number 11 last week firstly to the big energy packet and that a few days later many budget whatever you

want to call it. that it was not independently analysed by 0br. so there is no way really knowing of what these policies might do. many economists claim this lack of transparency if you like for the turmoil in the financial markets this week. the pound at historic lows against the dollar at the bank having to step into start buying government bonds, fears over pension schemes being exposed. we now know the chancellor was giving a plan, a forecast by 0br but decided not to make that public. so this morning after a week of volatility we have the three top guys at 0br went into number 11 with liz truss and kwasi kwarteng had about a 50 minute meeting afterwards they said they would now deliver a draught assessment of all of this by next friday. october the 7th the question now is will that be public? will now is will that be public? will with his latest? _ now is will that be public? will with his latest? the _ now is will that be public? will - with his latest? the government are holdin: with his latest? the government are holding lansing _ with his latest? the government are holding lansing no. _ with his latest? the government are holding lansing no. at _ with his latest? the government are holding lansing no. at that - with his latest? the government are holding lansing no. at that point - holding lansing no. at that point when they release the budgets they

will release the rest of the supply side policies. with that basically means is all of the other stuff they will do to try to grow the economy to try to balance his tax cuts. subsidy regulations, changes to that making planning a bit easier, change the immigration come abuses. that sort of things work out for. childcare even. this is the missing part of the puzzle the other side of it we have this big headline grabbing tax cuts but having an idea how they will pay for that. now the treasury also reaffirms daily europeans and defences saying they will work closely with them but they say they are independent but i think it really underlines how important it really underlines how important it is to have that second pair of eyes. the independent analysis for anything big so we can all have a bit of confidence. 0n anything big so we can all have a bit of confidence. on what it all means really is we don't get this uncertainty and turmoil. in uncertainty and turmoil. in that meetin: uncertainty and turmoil. in that meeting with — uncertainty and turmoil. in that meeting with prime _ uncertainty and turmoil. in that meeting with prime minister i uncertainty and turmoil. in that | meeting with prime minister the child flair —— chancellor with 0br was trying to calm down the markets and instill confidence but what happens next because we are on the

eve of the tory party conference what is happening in the markets? haste what is happening in the markets? - have half the conference the chancellors do to speak on monday so him and the prime minister say this is all going to plan. but will tory mp agree what the plan really to see the pound drop to historic lows to see the viability of pension funds called into question, the bank needed to step in with emergency action, stinging criticism for the world bank from the former bank mark. labour pulling ahead for many decades. they will hardly get a standing ovation. but looking ahead to that november deadline there will be pressure to publish that sooner the treasury has already said that they want to see it by the end of october. market are pretty steady 0ctober. market are pretty steady today but they are not rallying though the pound is pretty much back where it was before all of this. and of course a lot of big companies have dropped a long way in the past few weeks so i think it is hard to

see how there will be a big rally without some big concrete news. there is nothing planned we know but a bit of academic data that comes out in the next few weeks the market is looking a bit shady but we have a better of negativity but i think pressure will make this a bit clearer sooner. pressure will make this a bit clearersooner. but pressure will make this a bit clearer sooner. but i think you very much. just as they also thought back the prime minister will be interviewed live on bbc one this weekend on "sunday morning with laura kuenssberg" — you can see that at the slightly earlier than usual time of 8.30 police have started a new search for keith bennett, one of the victims of the moors murderers after they were notified of the discovery of human remains. keith was 12 when he was killed by ian brady and myra hindley in 1964. officers are examining a "site of interest" on saddleworth moor near 0ldham where three of the five victims were found buried.

the number of nurses leaving the profession in england has hit a record high according to new analysis by the nuffield trust for the bbc. in the year tojune, more than 40—thousand qualified nurses left nhs employment, that's eleven and a half per cent of the total workforce. our health editor hugh pym reports. ijust had to just leave this poor mum who's just left her brand—new—diagnosed child with cancer and just say, "i'm really sorry, there's nobody to look after you." and thatjust felt like i'd failed that mum so much. from front—line care to running a coffee shop. amanda, after 20 years as a paediatric nurse in west yorkshire, decided the stress and strain of nhs work was too much, and it was time for a new career. for me, i wanted to leave because i was burnt out. i was completely burnt out. i didn't feel that i was meeting the mark any more. i felt like i was letting families down, i was letting parents down.

the profession has changed immeasurably over probably the last ten years. nobody could say they're truly happy in the nhs. amanda isn't alone in quitting the nursing profession. over the last year, more than 40,000 nurses in england left nhs employment. according to the nuffield trust think tank, the number of nursesjoining — shown here by the blue line — is rising, but the total leaving — including for maternity leave, the red line — is going up fast. this latest research comes at a time when nhs providers, representing trusts in england, has voiced concern about the impact of the rising cost of living on staff. employers are finding it's difficult sometimes to hang on to skilled healthcare workers who want to leave to take less stressful and better—paid jobs. we've heard some heart—rending stories around a nurse having to skip meals to fund school uniforms, for example, and about people being worried about covering the cost

of getting into work. all of that is having a chilling effect on recruitment and retention in the nhs at almost the worst possible moment, when we've already got over 130,000 vacancies and we are trying to gear up for quite a challenging winter ahead. the nuffield trust said the proportion of nurses quitting in scotland was almost the same as in england. similar data is not available for wales and northern ireland. the department of health said nurse numbers had increased in england since 2019, and there would be a long—term workforce plan to help recruit and retain more staff. hugh pym, bbc news. an investigation by bbc panorama has found parents face very different risks of being fined for their child missing school depending on where they live. but there are many reasons why kids miss school where fines are not used and wouldn't make a difference. 0ur education editor has been following teenagers who've struggled to attend school this is mollie's story.

for molly secondary school went wrong. for molly secondary school went wronu. ~ ., y for molly secondary school went wronu. y ., for molly secondary school went wronu. ., ., , ., wrong. molly now volunteers with a sorts wrong. molly now volunteers with a sports charity- _ wrong. molly now volunteers with a sports charity. she _ wrong. molly now volunteers with a sports charity. she wants _ wrong. molly now volunteers with a sports charity. she wants to - wrong. molly now volunteers with a| sports charity. she wants to mentor younger kids. sports charity. she wants to mentor younger kids-— younger kids. looking back on it obviously l _ younger kids. looking back on it obviously i know _ younger kids. looking back on it obviously i know where - younger kids. looking back on it obviously i know where i - younger kids. looking back on it obviously i know where i went . younger kids. looking back on it - obviously i know where i went wrong. i can admit when i did things wrong but i can see where his school did wrong when they could've helped and it is different for each kid. malia; it is different for each kid. molly filter gcse _ it is different for each kid. molly filter gcse maths _ it is different for each kid. molly filter gcse maths and _ it is different for each kid. molly filter gcse maths and english i it is different for each kid. molly filter gcse maths and english by one grade this year. her mum said molly was bullied and it was not tackled. her daughter was often set home to study. her daughter was often set home to stud . , ,, , her daughter was often set home to stud. , ,, , ._ her daughter was often set home to stud. , ,, , .,y study. gcse is massive anyway and ou can study. gcse is massive anyway and you can come _ study. gcse is massive anyway and you can come see _ study. gcse is massive anyway and you can come see the _ study. gcse is massive anyway and you can come see the breakdown l study. gcse is massive anyway and| you can come see the breakdown of that _ you can come see the breakdown of that it _ you can come see the breakdown of that. it wasn't molly that we knew growing _ that. it wasn't molly that we knew growing up she turned into a shell of herself — growing up she turned into a shell of herself. her growing up she turned into a shell of herself. ,. ., ., ., ,

growing up she turned into a shell of herself. ,. ., , , of herself. her school had 'ust been treated in adequate. _ of herself. her school had 'ust been treated in adequate. and _ of herself. her school had just been treated in adequate. and said - treated in adequate. and said behaviour was badly managed. the school will not comment on individual cases adding it will not tolerate bullying. this school follows up on missing pupils. trying to work with parents, not find them. if you go straight and heavy—handed with a fine and itjust breaks the relationship between schools and it is so important that we keep the dialogue and we can to get the child in no matter what. but ultimately, what we can't have is the education go for the child.— go for the child. finds are a last resort but _ go for the child. finds are a last resort but as — go for the child. finds are a last resort but as a _ go for the child. finds are a last resort but as a parent _ go for the child. finds are a last resort but as a parent your - go for the child. finds are a last. resort but as a parent your chances of being find art dependent on where you live because some councils use them far more than others. the children's commissioner is a top priority so his disruptive behaviour a reason to give up on it? it is a reason to give up on it? it is absolutely _ a reason to give up on it? it is absolutely not _ a reason to give up on it? it is absolutely not and _ a reason to give up on it? it is absolutely not and in - a reason to give up on it? it is absolutely not and in fact it is normally— absolutely not and in fact it is normally a signal, a call for help.

and it _ normally a signal, a call for help. and it is — normally a signal, a call for help. and it is absolutely the time where the intervention and the support of the intervention and the support of the child _ the intervention and the support of the child really needs to go into what _ the child really needs to go into what is — the child really needs to go into what is actually going on there. molly— what is actually going on there. molly has— what is actually going on there. molly has had a fresh start in college. the government told us every day in school counts. search and rescue efforts are continuing in the us state of florida after hurricane ian caused widespread devastation. according to the state's emergency director the death toll could be up to 21 people, one confirmed and 20 unconfirmed, but officials fear the death toll could rise considerably. the state governor said it may be days before the full number of casualties is known.president

biden has warned it could be the deadliest hurricane in florida's history with what he called �*substantial loss of life.�* nada tawfik reports from florida. this was fort myers just days ago. and this is it after hurricane ian barrelled through. the scale of the devastation has rocked this community, the hardest—hit on florida's west coast, as it deals with what's been described as a 500—year flood event. residents were under mandatory evacuation, but those who chose to stay described how quickly they were overtaken by water, and the fear they felt. we got out the door — swam out the door, because the water was here — and then we got over onto this, and then we walked our way around the whole side of the house from the roof line, and then swam over to that pontoon over there. so far, there have been 700 rescues across the state. the national guard and the coastguard used boats and, in some places, helicopters to reach those trapped. sanibel island was completely cut

off from the mainland after the storm destroyed sections of this bridge. president biden has ordered federal aid to help with the recovery, and is sending an emergency administrator to florida today to check in on response efforts. this could be the deadliest hurricane in florida's history. the numbers are still unclear, but we're hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life. the priority for emergency response teams is the search—and—rescue effort, the clean—up, and getting basic services back up and running. but looking at the widespread damage, it's clear that a full recovery will take years. ian has regained hurricane strength, and is now moving towards georgia and the carolinas, more low—lying areas vulnerable to flooding. nada tawfik, bbc news, on florida's west coast. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith—lucas.

hello it is but out there quite windy gusts of the excess of 70 miles an hour earlier on. here's the weather front miles an hour earlier on. here's the weatherfront in the miles an hour earlier on. here's the weather front in the last few hours orso weather front in the last few hours or so moving across england it is reach the london area now and it will take another few hours before it clears out into the north sea. so over the next few hours so some heavy rain over east anglia the south—east england as well and then by around 11 o'clock it should be out of the way. that should be exiting hand and then and it's way we have some strong winds scattered showers but also plenty of clear spouse. through the early hours of saturday morning. temperatures will be around 10 degrees also. blustery day tomorrow, most frequent showers expected in the north west of the uk because we are closer to the centre of the low pressure, of the cyclone here to the south and east of that i think you shower surround. temperatures can actually get up to around 90 celsius i don't think it

will feel like it necessarily, because of the breeze. for the london marathon this weather front, a separate weather front will be brushing southern parts of england so i think rain in the morning for the london marathon and then come the london marathon and then come the afternoon it should dry out. for many of us sunday, should be a not a bad day at all with some sunshine. hello, this is bbc news. i'm ben brown. our latest headlines: a coroner concludes social media did play a part in the death of 14—year—old molly russell, the teenager who took her own life. molly's father gave his reaction after the inquest.

if this demented trail of life—sucking content was safe, my daughter molly would probably be still be alive. at an elaborate ceremony in the kremlin, president putin formally annexes four regions of ukraine into russia — after discredited referendums denounced by the west as a sham. meanwhile, an attack on a civilian convoy in one of the four annexed regions, zaporizhzhia, leaves at least 23 people dead. a bbc investigation has found big regional differences in the number of fines issued to parents whose children missed school in england without a valid reason. some local authorities handed out thousands of fines in the last academic year — in other areas, there were none. those are our headlines. let's look at your sports news now and here is lizzie at the bbc sport centre.

thanks. england's cricketers are in action in lahore trying to level their twenty20 series against pakistan. they set england a target of i70 they set england a target of 170 to win. england are 21 without loss. the seven—match series is currently is a warm up for the t20 world cup, which starts in less than a fortnight in australia. rugby union's worcester warriors say they expect an exodus of players and staff after breach of contract notices were issued after not getting paid today. worcester�*s men's and women's sides are currently suspended the player salaries are paid by a separate business, but that's also facing a winding—up petition from hmrc next week. my my understanding is the wages are not being paid today, there are no funds to do that, so i imagine the players association will be advising the players to serve ia day notices

of their termination of the contract. the next thing that will happen is a winding up period on that company, on the fit of october. i understand from the directors hmrc�*s intentions is to proceed with the whining about the company. —— winding up of the company. the rugby league world cup starts here in just over a fortnight and the england men's head coach shaun wane has named his squad for the tournament. salford's andy ackers is among six debutants. but several of the 2a man squad play in the australia/new zealand—based nrl. veteran sam tomkins will captain despite nursing a knee injury, but he says he's ready for what will be his last world cup. iam i am pretty much thinking forward. we have lost them players, they are very experienced, they have done a greatjob for england in the past, but the fact is they have gone and we have to move on. we cannot do anything about that. i have gotten

with my staff and picked 2a very committed, very fit players who want to play for england, so i'm very happy with that 2a moving forward. carlos sainz was fastest in second practice for this weekend's singapore grand prix. the spaniard was two tenths of a second quicker than his ferrari team—mate charles leclerc. championship leader max verstappen was fourth fastest and he could wrap up his second successive world title if results go his way this weekend. but there was a heart—stopping moment for pierre gasly when his car caught fire in the pit lane. luckily, no—one was hurt. tennis. british number one cameron norrie has pulled out of the korea 0pen less than an hour before his quarter final match. the second seed was due to play americanjenson brooksby, but the atp has confirmed he was unable to play due to illness. he's the third seeded player to withdraw from the korea 0pen. norrie had said after his last match that he was suffering from jet lag. one of horse racing's top flat jockeys, christophe soumillon,

has been banned for 60 days after pushing another rider off a horse during a race in france earlier today. the incident happened towards the back of the field at st cloud. soumillon appeared to lean into fellow jockey rossa ryan until he fell off. ryan wasn't seriously hurt and soumillon said it was an accident. but he was disqualified and given him the two—month ban, starting on october iath, which means he can still ride one of the favourites in the prix de l'arc de triomph this sunday. it should never have happened. it was dangerous. he apologised straightaway to the rider affected, to the horse any trainer of the horse as well. he is aware he put them in real potential danger. luckily, no incident came of that, and i admire soumillon for putting his hands up and being so apologetic so soon after the event. as i say, largely out of character, but what an intranet every rush of blood to

the had that was. it could have been so much worse. —— what an extraordinary. lucky it was not, but that is all the sport for now. lizzie, think you very much indeed. let's return now to the news that russia's president, vladimir putin, has addressed a gathering in the kremlin to announce the formal annexation of four ukrainian regions — which account for over 15% of the country. in response, the united states has imposed sanctions targeting hundreds of people and companies. let's show you these latest pictures from red square. there was a pop concert and there was vladimir putin to talk to the crowd out in red square, and what he said to them was that russia would win. he said russia would achieve victory in its military campaign in ukraine, and he repeated his assertion that russia created the modern ukrainian state and he also led the crowd in three

cheers of her for the four and next regions of ukraine, and those are the four progression leaders of those regions —— hoorah. which, by the way, are not under full russian control at the moment. and we have just had some reaction from nato's secretary—general. he said this illegal annexation of more ukrainian territory, together with the mobilisation of more troops in russia, represents the most serious escalation since the start of the war. that is what the nato secretary—general has been saying. let's get the latest reaction from ukraine as well. 0ur correspondent hugo bachega is in kyiv. hugo, of course this annexation was very much expected after these sham referendums, but what has been the reaction in ukraine? the referendums, but what has been the reaction in ukraine?— reaction in ukraine? the ukrainians are sa in: reaction in ukraine? the ukrainians are saying that _ reaction in ukraine? the ukrainians are saying that these _ reaction in ukraine? the ukrainians l are saying that these announcements by president putin have no legal value, there no legitimacy, they had

said that the so—called referendums that were held in these four regions were a farce, a propaganda exercise to be used by the kremlin to go ahead with this landgrab. the ukrainians say that nothing really changes. they are going ahead with this counteroffensive and they will take back territory that is now under russian occupation, and i think that is something we heard from the foreign minister reacting to this speech by president putin, and he also said that president putin is trying to grab territories that he does not even physically control on the ground, so reacting to those two regions that are partially occupied by russia, donetsk and zaporizhzhia, also verse on an luhansk, the four regions that president putin has formally annexed —— kherson. not recognised by the international community. in -- kherson. not recognised by the international community.— international community. in one of those regions. _

international community. in one of those regions, zaporizhzhia, - international community. in one of those regions, zaporizhzhia, we i international community. in one of. those regions, zaporizhzhia, we had that attack on a convoy of civilian cars. ukrainians saying that was a russian missile attack. what more do we know about that? it russian missile attack. what more do we know about that?— we know about that? it seems that it was a gathering _ we know about that? it seems that it was a gathering point _ we know about that? it seems that it was a gathering point in _ was a gathering point in zaporizhzhia, this convoy, these cards, were waiting to travel to the russian control part of the region and it seems that they were gathering there, they were trying to gather, take some humanitarian supplies to that part of the country when that attack happened. president zelensky said it was a cynical attack by russia, he described russia as a terrorist country, and i have been to zaporizhzhia a number of times and this city is very close to the front line, so it is a major hub for people coming from occupied areas but also for people trying to bring some humanitarian supplies, other supplies, to parts of the country that are under russian

occupation, and everybody knows where these gathering points are located, so it is difficult to believe that it was not an intentional attack. that is what the ukrainians have been saying, that the russians knew this was a gathering point for civilians, and ukrainians have been saying this out russia is reacting to military defeats on the battlefield, by attacking civilian targets, civilian infrastructure, and that is what they say that is exactly what happened today in zaporizhzhia. thank you very much. hugo bachega, our correspondent in kyiv. now back to the uk economy — the prime minister took the unusual step of meeting the head of the uk's independent economic forecaster, the 0br, amid the fallout from last week's mini budget. the meeting follows days of financial turmoil — and a record fall in the pound — and was seen as an attempt to reassure the markets. let's discuss it now with the director of the national institute

of economic and social research. thank you very much for being with us. was this an attempt to calm the markets and if so do you think it will be successful? it is markets and if so do you think it will be successful?— markets and if so do you think it will be successful? it is a process. we had a mini _ will be successful? it is a process. we had a mini budget _ will be successful? it is a process. we had a mini budget that was . will be successful? it is a process. i we had a mini budget that was much larger than a we had a mini budget that was much largerthan a mini we had a mini budget that was much larger than a mini budget, involved large unfunded tax cuts as well as a set of statements that caused financial markets to get concerned. the 0br exists essentially to try and provide guidance to the government but also to financial markets and to households about the sustainability of the government's financial plans, was asked not to produce a forecast, and did not have one accompanying what was a very large fiscal statements. that then lead financial markets to take great concern not only because of the rejection of the forecasts that the 0br offered them forecasts that the 0br offered them for last week but also because it came at the end of a culmination of

a long series of statements by the government that were almost repudiating economic advice and experience from individuals, independent institutions, who ultimately want to help policymakers bring about the ideas that they have and help them come to fruition. there were attacks on the bank of england, arguing it had lost control of inflation, and as well a statement that was necessary to move away from treasury orthodoxy, that led ultimately to the sacking of the head of the treasury, and when this adds up, concerns are that the government may be pursuing a disruptive strategy for its own sake that ultimate he would make britain a riskier country thanit would make britain a riskier country than it was otherwise, and as a result, on that very friday of last week, wendy mini budget was announced, financial markets dropped sterling by 2%, long—term interest rates went up by 2% or more, equity

markets went up. this was the rest of the world marking the chancellor's homework for him and feeling him last friday.— feeling him last friday. when you finall aet feeling him last friday. when you finally get a _ feeling him last friday. when you finally get a verdict _ feeling him last friday. when you finally get a verdict from - feeling him last friday. when you finally get a verdict from the i finally get a verdict from the office of budget responsibility, what do you think i will say? do you think it will say the government figures do not add up, that their homework is basically wrong? what figures do not add up, that their homework is basically wrong? what we have is a statement _ homework is basically wrong? what we have is a statement that _ homework is basically wrong? what we have is a statement that will _ homework is basically wrong? what we have is a statement that will be - homework is basically wrong? what we have is a statement that will be a i have is a statement that will be a plane for medium—term growth, and at the moment, that is penciled in for the moment, that is penciled in for the 23rd of november. there may be other measures the chancellor is considering that may indeed help needed term growth of the economy, which is what we really need for prosperity. the problem that we had last week that the 0br would have published, had they published at the same time as the mini budget, is that the tax cuts suggested were intact injecting more domain into an economy that is already inflationary stub it was saying, hang on a

minute, demand is already running well ahead of our potential in our supply, and these tax cuts are adding fuel to the fire, but we might have a little bit later on, in a few weeks' time, is a statement along lines of things that may actually help medium—term growth, and what we want from the is an assessment of all of those things in the round, and if i may, i thought today was really part of this process of having learned from the evers of last week. —— errors of last week. there needs to be a re—engagement with the government of economic expertise. that is what happened on monday, when the announcement for the 23rd of november was announced. that is clearly what was trying to be signalled to us today, with the arrival of the top of the 0br, but also there was some heavyweight learning on wednesday. because of the lessons of the chancellor last week, almost directly, there was a run on markets on wednesday that meant that pension funds found themselves desperately short of the