this is bbc world news. i'm lucy grey. our top stories: international outcry as president putin declares that four areas of ukraine, seized illegally, are new russian. translation: people in - luhansk and donetsk, kherson and zaporizhzhia are becoming our citizens, forever. a suicide bombing at an education centre in afghanistan kills 19 people, most of them young women about to sit an exam. making landfall in the us for a second time: hurricane ian strikes south carolina, residents in three states

are warned of life—threatening floods. hello and welcome to bbc news. president biden has warned russia that it will not of four occupied regions of ukraine. it's the biggest seizure of territory in europe since the second world war. in a signing ceremony at the kremlin, mr putin declared that donetsk, luhansk, zaporizhzhia and kherson are now part of russia. in response, ukraine has formally applied to join nato. our russia editor steve rosenberg reports. vladimir vladimirovich putin. what he was about to do had sparked international condemnation, but vladimir putin didn't care.

in the kremlin, he announced the annexation of 15% of ukrainian land. in the audience, kremlin—appointed officials from those territories occupied by russia. translation: iwant the kyiv authorities . and their real masters in the west to hear me, so that they remember this forever. people in luhansk and donetsk, kherson and zaporizhzhia are becoming our citizens, forever. defiant, unapologetic, russia's president laid into the west. translation: instead of democracy there, i there's suppression and exploitation. instead of freedom, enslavement and violence. america is the only country in the world that has used nuclear weapons twice — when they destroyed the japanese cities of hiroshima and nagasaki.

by the way, they set a precedent with that. comments like that are worrying in light of the kremlin�*s recent nuclear sabre—rattling. through this annexation, vladimir putin is trying to change the facts on the ground, trying to secure for himself some kind of victory. the problem is you can claim all you want that land you have occupied is rightfully yours, but ukraine isn't going to believe that, the international community doesn't believe that, and that leaves vladimir putin looking more isolated than ever. joe biden. president biden condemned the annexation and imposed new sanctions on russia. we're rallying the world to keep support for ukraine strong and consistent. applause and ukraine's right to exist as a people. this represents

the most serious escalation since the start of the war. none of this shows strength. it shows weakness. it is an admission that the war is not going to plan. moscow says these territories arejoining russia after holding referendums, but they've been widely discredited. the west denounced them as a sham, scripted and directed by the kremlin. and so, the stage was set for the next act — the signing ceremony. plenty of pomp, but think of the circumstance. vladimir putin has just raised the stakes. he's warned he will defend the annexed territories with all means at his disposal, and he says he's not bluffing. tonight, more kremlin choreography,

and the president portrayed like a pop star. many in this crowd have been bused in specially to create a sense of celebration, although polls show there is growing alarm in russia over the war in ukraine and about russians being called up to fight there. but this promise from the president — "victory will be ours." steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. in ukraine itself, officials in zaporizhia — one of the four areas annexed on friday — say 30 people have been killed and 88 more injured after a russian missile strike on a convoy of civilian vehicles. our ukraine correspondent james waterhouse has been to the site of the attack on the outskirts of the city. a warning — his report contains some distressing details. there was no doubting the target. this was about killing

civilians, people. here, waiting to be escorted to russian—occupied territory, they work methodically, patiently, under an eerie silence. until... crying and wailing people arrived to find someone dear to them has gone. viktoriia had stepped out for a break at the caf where she worked. she came back to find her boss lying dead on the floor. translation: people were dying here. - i was away for five minutes and when i came back, i saw a boy dying, his mother trying to save him. then i ran around, calling out for my boss. there was somebody�*s mother, her son saving her. somebody�*s husband, his wife weeping.

all this in complete hysteria. you can't believe how terrifying that was. then we're told to take cover. get off the flat. another russian missile is in the air and the fear is what's called a double tap — hitting the same place twice. this close to the front line, the threat is always there. another russian annexation of ukrainian territory has been met with a now typical kyiv response. translation: the entire territory of our country i will be liberated from this enemy — the enemy not only of ukraine, but also of life itself, humanity, law and truth. russia already knows this, it feels our power. when you think about what this place was used for, along with that enormous crater, all of those point to a very deliberate targeted strike. the reasons for it

are not clear, as ever, but the devastation is plain to see. ukraine says it is once again applying tojoin nato. the alliance, however, has always been worried about causing an escalation — something russia is less concerned about. james waterhouse, bbc news, zaporizhzhia. well, earlier, i spoke to angela stent, who's a senior adviser to the center for eurasian, russian and east european studies at the brookings institution. i asked how she felt these annexations may affect the course of the war. so, you know, when the war began, he could characterise this as an offensive war to, you know, have complete control over the donbas region. now, of course, having annexed these territories, he can say this is a defensive war to protect these new russian territories from any kind of ukrainian attack — an ukrainian attack which, of course, is fuelled by us and

other nato weapons. so, he's really raised the stakes here and he has also made it impossible, really, for there to be any negotiation because, clearly, the ukrainians can't accept this kind of sham referendum and the annexation of what are ukrainian territories. but do you think there is no room for dialogue, then, now? we heard today president zelensky saying he will not talk to putin, isn't he? he said it would need to be another president in russia. yeah, i think there's no room for dialogue because the russians have made clear they are willing to sit down with ukraine — and putin even said that today — if it surrenders and accepts russia's conditions. and no ukrainian leader who wants to remain in power would do that because it's a major loss of territory. what can the international community do, then? we've heard a lot of condonation today, haven't we,

and countries increasing their sanctions, but what would you like to see them do? well, i think they have to continue supporting ukraine. i mean, it's nato that's supporting ukraine at the moment, providing them with weapons, providing them with the wherewithal to fight back against the russians and take back territory. sanctions are a part of this. but i think another challenge is to get much of the rest of the world on board with this, and we saw even today, a country like india abstaining in the united nations security council when russia was condemned for what it did. so i think there's also a persuasion part of it that really needs to happen. so nato is supporting ukraine, but what about allowing it into the group? we've seen ukraine today asking for fast—track access. the last time this happened in 2008 when the us wanted to give a membership action plan to ukraine, germany and france objected, they thought that it would provoke russia and nothing happened —

and, infact, nothing has happened since then. i believe this probably would not have a consensus still today within nato, but the process might begin. but i think the fast track is unlikely given what's happening at the moment. what about the nuclear threat? president putin today talking about how the us set a precedent with hiroshima and nagasaki at the end of the second world war, although i do see that the us national security advisorjake sullivan has said today that there's no sign that any nuclear weapon use was imminent. right, so, you know, the us government does not see those signs but the threat is there, putin's doing this to deter and intimidate, to try and get, really, the us and the other nato parties to force the ukrainians to the bargaining table, but you cannot rule out completely that he might consider using a tactical nuclear weapon. i mean, this war makes no sense anyway. as your previous reporter said, russia isn't winning this war.

what's been happening is really a sign of almost desperation on putin's part, having started a war that was senseless anyway and, therefore, you cannot say with certainty that he would never try and use a weapon of mass destruction. but there doesn't appear to be an imminent use of it. angela stent from the brookings institution. a suicide attack at an education centre in the afghan capital kabul has killed at least 19 people, most of them young female students. many more are wounded. louisa pilbeam has more. sobbing this woman is ringing her sister. "my sister was in there," she says, "taking an exam." but there's no answer. she says there's no information. victims were rushed to hospital, most young women, teenagers and in their early 20s. families searched lists outside to find out if their loved ones were among the dead. female students had been sitting on these benches

at the front of the kaaj higher educational centre. before detonating his device. were young people studying for university entrance exams. translation: we were | in the midst of the exam, and suddenly, an explosion occurred. the blast happened between where the girls were seated. the girls were sitting at the first row and we, the boys, were sitting behind them. translation: when i heard the sound of the explosion, l i saw so many pieces of flesh in the air. people were panicking so much. some were injured and some were crying. i went to help them. i helped to carry some dead bodies. the casualty toll was so high. this area to the west of kabul has seen frequent attacks. most people living here are from the hazara shia minority,

an ethnic group previously targeted by an affiliate of islamic state. the taliban's return to power last year saw violence decline. but security has deteriorated in recent months with some suicide bombings claimed by is. no group has yet claimed responsibility for this attack. louisa pilbeam, bbc news. disaffected soldiers in burkina faso say they've carried out a coup, the second this year. a statement read out on national television said an army captain, ibrahim traore, had deposed the military ruler paul—henri damiba and dissolved the government and constitution. protests our broken out across burkina faso over the security situation in the west african country. now, whis is the second coup in burkina faso in just eight months. it is a very familiar scene, again, a group of soldiers appear in these military fatigues late at night, and they make an announcement on state television,

saying that they have been compelled to take over. they say it is for security reasons, which are the same reasons that the first group of soldiers cited back in january when they took power. burkina faso is part of this group of countries in the sahel in west africa where islamist insurgent groups have been trying to carve out territory. and back injanuary, when paul—henri damiba and his group of soldiers took power, they said that they would be able to tackle those groups. eight months later, many in burkina faso feel that they have not done enough and the new leaders of this coup say that colonel damiba, the last interim leader, was too busy pursuing his political ambitions to try and secure the country. they say that they have been given no choice but to take over. they have made promises for the international community that they will respect all of their obligations, including respect of human rights, the united states has already released a statement saying that they are concerned as to the latest development

in burkina faso and urging their citizens to limit movement. i think one key thing to look out for over the next few days is whether this new group gives any indication as to whether they might want to form international partnerships. in the past france, the former colonial ruler of burkina faso, was the main military partner of the country. increasingly in the region, many west african countries now feel they need to turn to other partners. mali has recently started collaborating with russian fighters, and there were protests on friday afternoon where civilians on the streets of ouagadougou were saying that this new group, new junta should partner with russia when it comes to fighting terrorism in the region moving forwards. what they decide to do i think will be very instrumental as to whether the russian influence continues to grow in west africa. hurricane ian has made

landfall in the us state of south carolina as a category one storm after pummelling florida. �*s the historic coastal city of charleston has been lashed by winds and heavy rain. the bbc�*s nada tawfik is in south—west florida and has sent this report. the category one storm made landfall friday afternoon in georgetown north of the historic city of charleston with winds of 85 mph. it's powerful storm surge down power lines finding 400,000 people into darkness and left lines finding 400,000 people into darkness and left a lines finding 400,000 people into darkness and left a summer stranded. at pawley�*s island local police capture the end of a peer collapsing before it floated away. 0fficials did not feel evacuations were necessary and they have urged residents to avoid going out. if and they have urged residents to avoid going out.— to avoid going out. if you don't need _ to avoid going out. if you don't need to _ to avoid going out. if you don't need to go - to avoid going out. if you don't need to go outside| to avoid going out. if you i don't need to go outside in to avoid going out. if you - don't need to go outside in the wind right now stay inside. if you don't need to drive anywhere, don't drive. be

careful and be smart. still, the damage _ careful and be smart. still, the damage was _ careful and be smart. still, the damage was nowhere l careful and be smart. still, . the damage was nowhere near careful and be smart. still, - the damage was nowhere near as devastating as in florida where the coastguard had to rescue people by helicopter from barrier islands cut off from the mainland. beach destinations along the south—west coast such as for myers were batted and forever transformed. clearly there is still a lot of cleanup ahead and besides the personal loss from the storm businesses are now going to be suffering right ahead of what should have been ahead of what should have been a busy tourist season here. the beaches and marinas are devastated. the storm weary lined up for hours to purchase petrol and water. they all said this was unlike any storm they had ever experienced. honestly, it is sad. hearing _ had ever experienced. honestly, it is sad. hearing all _ it is sad. hearing all the stories about it, my friends house, underwater. so, everyone i grew up with, everyone that i

knew, their houses are all underneath the water and it is sad. �* . ~ ., ., sad. after making landfall twice in the _ sad. after making landfall twice in the united - sad. after making landfall| twice in the united states, sad. after making landfall - twice in the united states, ian is forecast to weaken rapidly. it will now move inland. next this is bbc news. our top story: international outcry as president putin declares that four areas of ukraine, seized illegally, are now russian. here in the uk. the prince of wales has said that online safety for children and young people should be a prerequisite, not an afterthought, after a coroner ruled that social media did contribute to the death of 14—year—old molly russell, who took her own life five years ago. after viewing thousands of posts related to depression, self—harm and suicide. a warning — angus crawford's report does contain some distressing details. full of love and bubbling with excitement, her family say. but in secret, overwhelmed by depression and what she saw on social media. now, afterfive years, some

answers and a sense ofjustice. i hope that this will be an important step in bringing about much—needed change. ian russell always said social media helped kill molly. now, a coroner agrees. he said molly: 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:

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. ian russell first spoke out about what he found on molly's phone in 2019. "this world is so cruel "and i don't want to see it any more." he became a vocal campaigner, speaking to mps. i remember my disbelief when i saw my lifeless youngest daughter... even meeting the prince and princess of wales, who tonight said...

instagram did make some safety changes. three years ago, we spoke to the ceo, who had this message for ian. i have a lot of respect for the fact that he's turned an incredibly tragic experience into a force for change, into a force for good. and for that, i'm grateful. but ian says any reforms came too late for molly and much, much more needs to be done. if this demented trail of life—sucking content was safe, my daughter molly would probably still be alive.

and the final thing i want to say... ..is thank you, molly, for being my daughter. thank you. every network is being brought to a standstill because of a strike in a long—running dispute about pay conditions. bosses say that practices need to be updated. people travelling to football matches, the london marathon and the conservative party conference will be affected. it's less than two months now until the football world cup kicks off in qatar. excitement is building for supporters all around the globe. a lucky few will travel to see the matches in person, while many more will be watching on television. but some are showing their enthusiasm in a very particular way, as the bbc�*s tim allman explains.

football fever on a somewhat smaller scale. before every major tournament, people start collecting sticker books. but this year, for some, it's not been that easy. in argentina, there is a major shortage of stickers. shops have sold out, albums are yet to be filled. however, some are luckier than others. translation: my dad said, "i hope we get messi". - he opened it, and we got messi. i went around the house, shouting, "i got messi! "i got messi!" here in buenos aires, they are literally queueing around the block. desperate times call for desperate measures. translation: i arrived at 5:00 in the morning and discovered l

they are selling stickers here in one of the few places you can find them right now, because they are not available anywhere. in mexico, santiago fills up his sticker book, but he has to glue it in. his father couldn't afford the real thing, so he had to improvise, printing off copies from the internet — although santiago doesn't seem to mind. translation: i had this light bulb moment. - i couldn't do anything else. i got home. i gave him the album. i said to him, "take this, son." he hugged me, he kissed me, and he said, "daddy dearest, "i love you. "i love you, i love you." the devotion, the obsession, is clear. just imagine how excited they will be when some actual football gets under way. tim allman, bbc news. you can reach me on twitter —

i'm @lucyegrey. there is plenty more on our website. just go to the bbc news website or download the up. an atlantic weather front has swept across the uk. most of us had a spell of steady rain and gusty winds and now, in the wake of that weather front, we've sunshine and showers for this weekend and quite brisk winds as well, particularly around western areas. now, that low pressure will still drive our weather through the course of saturday and sunday. but here's that weather front, it's now moving into scandinavia through germany and also through france. let's look at the early hours. quite a few isobars here because the low pressure is still close by. well, just to the north—west of us, that means gusty winds pushing in the showers in scotland and northern ireland and there will be a few elsewhere, but predominantly clear spells early on saturday.

temperatures will range from 7 in aberdeen to around 12 in the south. here's the forecast for saturday itself and the picture remains more or less the same — brisk winds out towards the west, occasional showers, some of them quite heavy in scotland and northern ireland, best of the weather the further east and south you are. temperatures will be around 19 in london for a time, but for many of us in the north—west, closer to 13 or 14. now, sunday, another weather front is expected to brush southern parts of the uk, and why�*s that important? well, we've got the london marathon on sunday and here's the thinking — the rain will probably reach south—western parts of the uk early in the morning and then, it should reach london. it looks as though the rain will clear by the time we get to the afternoon, so we will call it a wet start to the marathon and through the afternoon, things should dry out, but there is uncertainty with regards to how quickly that will happen. the rest of the country should

have a fine day on sunday. if you're wondering about monday, high pressure is expected to build across england and wales, so fine weather here with light winds — really very pleasant conditions — and turning a bit warmer. but in the north—west, we'll be closer to atlantic weather fronts. some rain expected possibly northern ireland and quite likely there in the western isles of scotland. here are the temperatures — high teens and in scotland and northern ireland, mid teens. and here's the outlook. next week, it looks as though at times, the weather will be unsettled, but those temperatures for a time could reach 20 degrees in the south of the uk. have a good weekend.

this is bbc news. the headlines: russia's president putin has announced four illegally seized regions of ukraine are now part of russia. marking the declaration at events in moscow, he warned the west he would protect the territory with all means at russia's disposal. the us says the annexation is a sign that vladimir putin is struggling. hurricane ian's made landfall in the us again, slamming south carolina with winds of i40km/h. 0fficials there and in north carolina and georgia told residents to prepare for life—threatening flooding. it struck florida on wednesday as one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the us. police in afghanistan say

19 people have died and around 30 have been wounded in a suicide bomb attack at an education centre in the capital, kabul.