this is bbc news. our top stories: ukraine says more mass graves have been unearthed in areas of the country recently liberated from russian forces. in a bbc interview, ukraine's president zelensky urges russian civilians to make a stand against the war. all that putin is afraid of, it's not even a nuclear strike, he's afraid of his own society, he's afraid of his own people. grief beyond measure — families mourn the deaths of 36 people murdered at a nursery school in thailand.

and, jubilation as liverpool is picked to host next year's eurovision song contest. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. ukrainian authorities say they've located two burial sites in the eastern town of lyman, which was recently liberated from russia. these images of the burial sites havejust come in. one site is believed to contain about 200 graves of civilians, while another mass grave is believed to contain both civilians and soldiers. the discovery comes as president zelensky says the world must act now to stop russia's nuclear threat. speaking in kyiv to our world affairs editor, john simpson, ukraine's leader

warns that russian officials have begun to "prepare their society" for the possible use of nuclear weapons, although he does not believe the country is ready to use them. here'sjohn�*s report. yesterday, president zelensky alarmed a lot of people by seeming to say he wanted a pre—emptive strike to stop russia using battlefield nuclear weapons. today, he was keen to say he'd just been talking about pre—emptive sanctions against russia, of nuclear weapons. they begin to prepare their society. they are not ready to do it, to use it, but they begin to communicate. what, you mean prepare society for using a nuclear weapon, you think? you know, it's. .. they don't know if they will use or they will not use. i think that it's dangerous even to speak about it. i said, you have to do preventive kicks, not attacks —

we are not terrorists, and we don't fight on another territory. even our attitude from our society, attitude to russians after this invasion, after all these eight years war, eight years blood tragedy, even after this, attitude from us, to them, to society, we are not ready to kill people, like russians do it. do you think that president putin is capable of launching nuclear weapons and using them? translation: ifi say, for example, _ they are incapable of using nuclear weapons, then an inadequate person who has this power in his hands will say, "really? i can't?" "well, here, see how i can," and therefore use it. now, if i say he can use it, it can cause panic moods in many countries,

including ukraine. all that putin is afraid of, it's not even a nuclear strike, he's afraid of his own society, he is afraid of his own people, because only these people can replace him, strip him of his power and give it to another person. do you think they should stand up against him? translation: they shouldn't be afraid. | let them not fight against somebody, but for themselves. and he had a word for the russian soldiers who are sent here. translation: those mobilised kids now, well, they come with nothing, without guns or body armour. they are being thrown here like cannon fodder, not people. if you do win, will vladimir putin survive? translation: i don't care. you don't care whether he's still in power, whether he's thrown out? translation:

not in the slightest. mr zelensky has developed into an impressive war leader, but he knows that the war is now entering its most dangerous phase. john simpson, bbc news, kyiv. in moscow, president putin has been celebrating his 70th birthday, with rallies of support and praise from the head of the russian orthodox church but there is now open criticism of the ukraine war on russian television. and this year's nobel peace prize has been awarded to human rights campaigners from russia, belarus and ukraine. our russia editor steve rosenberg reports from moscow. seventy today, vladimir putin was hosting regional leaders — a little summit in a large palace. his guests, of course, had brought him gifts, including, bizarrely, a mountain of melons. out on the streets, a highly choreographed happy birthday.

"putin's my president," they spell out. but apart from a little organised adoration, no widespread celebration. perhaps this is why. pro—kremlin commentators are now admitting that russia's doing badly in ukraine. "it's not going our way," the presenter says. "we must stop lying," says this mp and retired general. "certain leaders need to understand that." no present here for putin. in oslo, the nobel peace prize went to defenders of democracy and civil society. russian rights group, memorial, belarus activist, ales bialiatski, and ukraine's centre for civil liberties. they have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human rights abuses and the abuse of power.

for more than 30 years, memorial has been cataloguing the victims ofjoseph stalin's terror and rights abuses in modern russia. the authorities have shut it down but it's still trying to operate. translation: will the prize lead to less pressure on us from the authorities? no, it will only increase. i'm sure that in the current climate, our authorities will say, "right, their fifth column, "and they also got a nobel prize. "we'll show you how we'll restore order in our country." a prestigious peace prize for a russian rights group will not impress russia's president. vladimir putin still seems determined to secure victory in ukraine and against the west. but at the very least, it's a show of solidarity to those inside this country who still believe it's possible to build here a civil society. don't expect the kremlin to help. steve rosenberg,

bbc news, moscow. let's get some of the day's other news: at least three people have died following an explosion in county donegal in ireland. emergency services are continuing to search the area in case there are others trapped under debris. a number of others are being treated in hospital. the blast caused significant damage to a petrol station although it's not clear yet where the centre of the blast was from. in spain, university students were caught making sexual abusive gestures towards female students. spain's prime minister has condemned the incident. a trade minister in the british government, conor burns, has been sacked after a complaint of serious misconduct against him. he has also been suspended from the conservative parliamentary party.

the mp says he has not been given any information about the allegation and that he looks forward in thailand, distraught families have been mourning the deaths of 36 people, including more than 20 children, murdered by a former police officer in their nursery school yesterday. the country's prime minister hasjoined grieving parents placing flowers on the steps of the centre in the town of uthai sawan, where the attack took place. jonathan head sent this report. how do you deal with a loss like this? in this temple, not far from the school where so many young lives were ended in the most brutal way imaginable... wailing ..it was with heart—tearing

howls of anguish, as mothers and grandmothers saw the undersized coffins and, for the first time, the little bodies they contained. what we've been witnessing at this temple is grief on an immeasurable scale, as the full impact of the inexplicable horror visited on this community has hit home. it is grief that's being shared among friends and neighbours and by much of the country. but it is still grief as raw and as harrowing as it gets. this couple rushed back here on news of the attack. their three—year—old son, phubet, who lived with his grandmother, was one of the victims.

and the big names in thai politics came to pay their respects at the gate of the nursery building where, just 2a hours before, the former police officer had gone on his mindless killing spree. the prime minister then handed out giant cheques probably a welcome gesture in a poor region which usually gets little attention from the central government. but this community has been profoundly shaken by a terrible event which as yet cannot be explained. jonathan head, bbc news, north—eastern thailand. in texas, the entire police department in the uvalde school district has been suspended, following the mass shooting in may. 19 students and two teachers were killed at robb elementary school.

the delayed police response has been widely criticised and is under investigation. well earlier i spoke to former fbi special agent tracy walder. i asked her to explain the significance of this suspension of uvalde's police officers. i think this is a really big deal. they are recognising that there were a lot of files in regards to the security of the school. at least here in texas, and this school present, this is a police department that is actually employed by the school district itself, not the uvalde police department and theirjob is to ensure the school stays safe, they follow protocol and that superintendent is aware of all of these protocols. as more information has come out as a

result of the investigation into this, it has shown that has been a lackadaisical approach to a lot of these safety protocols and really everyone needs to be retrained and new protocols put into place. and new protocols put into lace. , ., place. if the division, if the police department - place. if the division, if the - police department that provides security in the school, has been suspended, who is providing security now? that is a aood providing security now? that is a good question. _ providing security now? that is a good question. the - providing security now? that is i a good question. the department of public safety has sent stepped in and is providing that safety for schools. all of them have been trained in the alert training that we give here in texas in regards to active shooter training and skill security. so texas department of policy is the answer to that question. in terms of what motivated the suspension of this police department in uvalde school district, was it a community

push? did people feel angry about the way it had been handled? what has been the community reaction? i handled? what has been the community reaction?- handled? what has been the community reaction? i think it is a coume — community reaction? i think it is a coume of _ community reaction? i think it is a couple of things. - community reaction? i think it is a couple of things. i - community reaction? i think it is a couple of things. i think. is a couple of things. i think it is absolutely a community push but since the investigation has gotten under way, we have seen a lot of security action. there are things that should be done immediately. we saw the superintendent but really those school district police officers are also responsible so i would imagine there is somewhat of a political push but also a community push as well. find community push as well. and what do you _ community push as well. and what do you think _ community push as well. and what do you think the - community push as well. and what do you think the community will make of this decision? it is hard to say. i think right now, there is a lot of mistrust in the community and rightly so, between the community and

the police department. i think the police department. i think the community will see this as a step into the right direction, however i think they would be extremely cautious and their optimism because the reality is, there is still an investigation that is under way and if the uvalde police department itself is also still being investigated. fix, department itself is also still being investigated.— being investigated. a former fbi agent — being investigated. a former fbi agent speaking - being investigated. a former fbi agent speaking to - being investigated. a former fbi agent speaking to me i fbi agent speaking to me earlier. stay with us on bbc world news, still to come: the aviation industry reached a long—term goal of decarbonisation air travel with a goal to become carbon neutral by 2050. this was a celebration by people who were relishing their freedom. they believe everything's going to be different from now on, they think their country will be respected in the world once more, as it used to be, before slobodan milosevic took power. the dalai lama, the exiled spiritual leader of tibet, has won this year's nobel peace prize.

as the parade _ was reaching its climax, two grenades exploded and a group of soldiers - jumped from a military truck taking part in the parade, and ran towards the president, firing from — kalashnikov automatic rifles. after 437 years, the mary rose went through another heart—stopping drama. i want to represent everybody. cheering and applause this is bbc world news, the latest headlines: a reminder of the latest headlines: officials in ukraine say they have located two

burial sites in the eastern town of lyman that was recently recaptured from russian forces. families mourn the deaths of 36 people murdered at a nursery school in thailand. the shocking death of nika shakarami made her the second icon of iran's current protest movement. the 16—year—old girl was found dead days after going to protests. the authorities said she fell off a building but herfamily and their supporters disagree. her mother now says the authorities contacted them and tried to make them say that nika had killed herself. the bbc�*s parham ghobadi has this report. like many fearless iranian women, 16—year—old nika shakarami joined the protests in tehran. but she went missing and was found dead ten days later. in her last call to her

family, she said she was being chased by security forces. her mother says they killed her. translation: i mother says they killed her. translation:— mother says they killed her. translation: i saw her body, her limbs. _ translation: i saw her body, her limbs, fingers, _ translation: i saw her body, her limbs, fingers, legs - translation: i saw her body, her limbs, fingers, legs and i her limbs, fingers, legs and body were fine, but her face, cheeks and teeth were broken. her skull was dented at the back of her head as a result of a severe blow. all the damage was done to the head. the family had _ was done to the head. the family had no _ was done to the head. the family had no peace, - was done to the head. the family had no peace, even in death. her mother says security forces still nika's body from the morgue and buried her secretly a0 kilometres away. this infuriated mourners who chanted death to the dictator, a reference to iran's supreme leader ayatollah khamenei. the police responded by firing birdshot�*s. the victims birdshot�*s. among the victims was this 70—year—old man who had a message �*the iranians

had a message for the iranians leader. the revolution has begun. all of this happened on the day nika was to the day nika was supposed to turn 17. translation: the day nika was supposed to turn 17. tuna/mom- the day nika was supposed to turn17. translation: today was our turn17. translation: today was your birthday. _ turn17. translation: today was your birthday, sweetheart. - your birthday, sweetheart. instead i should say happy martyrdom. instead i should say happy martyrdom-— instead i should say happy ma rdom. ~' ., , martyrdom. like many young --eole martyrdom. like many young people from _ martyrdom. like many young people from generations - martyrdom. like many young people from generations e, l martyrdom. like many young i people from generations e, nika loved to sing. these young women and men pose the most serious challenge to the clerical regime. iranian state tv tells a different story. they say nika fell from this building. translation: security forces contacted _ building. translation: security forces contacted my _ building. translation: security forces contacted my relatives - forces contacted my relatives threatening me to tell the story they had fabricated and to falsely confess so they can film and broadcast it to say nika committed suicide. ihlika nika committed suicide. nika miaht nika committed suicide. nika might have — nika committed suicide. nika might have been _ nika committed suicide. nika might have been one - nika committed suicide. nika might have been one of the first child terms of the protests but she is sadly not

the last. another 16—year—old who writes group amnesty said was after severe blows to her head stopping the authorities said she fell off a building too. in new york the mayor has declared a state of emergency, in response to the influx of asylum seekers being bused there by republican governors. more than 17,000 have arrived in the city from the southern border since april. republican states like texas and florida have been sending migrants to democratic areas in recent months. the aviation industry has agreed a long term goal of decarbonising air travel. the international civil aviation organisation, meeting in canada, has accepted a plan for net—zero emissions by 2050. airlines have agreed to offset their carbon and develop greener fuels. the bbc�*s tim allman

has the story. when you look up to the skies you can see the threat to our climate first hand. criss—crossing through the air, an industry that endangers the environment with every single flight. now airline companies have agreed a deal that could perhaps make a difference. in a statement, the head of airports council international said: so what have they agreed? well, the aviation industry contributes around 2.5 — 3% of global co2 emissions. the plan is to decarbonise with a target

of net zero x 2050. the airlines say they will require an investment of more than $1.5 trillion. how will they do it? partly, they will use a system of carbon offsetting. for every flight, a certain number of trees will be planted which can absorb co2 from our. the airline industry may also to encourage the development of greener, more sustainable fuel. critics remain unconvinced, saying this is a non—binding goal that will fail to reduce carbon emissions to zero x 2050 but the airline industry insists it is a start, a step, even a flight in the right direction. tim allman, bbc news. there was lots of excitment here in the uk tonight as the host city of the 2023 eurovision song contest was announced.

liverpool. congratulations! liverpool beat glasgow to be named as the host of the 2023 eurovision song contest. this year's competition was actually won by ukraine, with britain coming second. but the event's organisers, the european broadcasting union, decided next year's competition couldn't be hosted by ukraine, because of the danger posed by the war, and asked britain to step in. alasdair rendall is the uk's top eurovison superfan. i asked him what the eurovision fans' verdict was after hearing liverpool will host in 2023. yeah, so i was watching the live reveal earlier this evening with a bunch of other eurovision fans here in cardiff, and the reception was great. whatever city had won, glasgow or liverpool, would have been an amazing choice, but there were big cheers in the room when liverpool was announced, i think it is going to be a fantastic host city. you say cheers for liverpool — lulu said her heart sank when the announcement was made that it wasn't glasgow. how could they do that to her!

i know, poor lulu! but then of course sonia, she was cheering for liverpool, so the big eurovision heavyweights were up against each other. ok, alasdair, we are speaking — clearly there is a bit of shared enthusiasm for eurovision here, but there will be some people who look at this and say, goodness, it is going to cost liverpool millions and millions of pounds to host this — is it worth it? it is absolutely worth it. it will be the focal point notjust for europe but for the world for that week in may next year. it is going to be an absolutely amazing experience, there will be people travelling from across europe and beyond to descend on liverpool to watch the show, to soak up the atmosphere. all the host cities have done an amazing job over the last few years, and ijust know liverpool is going to do just a fantastic show. the atmosphere — we are months away already and the atmosphere is really building, it's going to be incredible. of course one of the big difficulties — not difficulties, but one of the logistics to sort out

is all the acts that were scheduled to be in the arena, they have got to reschedule those dates. so presumably they have got to send some big apologies to fans who were looking forward to seeing some of our favourite pop stars? i know, there will be a few difficult conversations to be had, but you know, it is eurovision, it's absolutely worth it. if i was one of those global superstars who had been preparing to play in liverpool, i would be happy to give up a week or so to allow eurovision to take place, because it is the world's biggest music event after all. the next challenge will be to get people's hands on not only hotel rooms but putting it —— tickets as well, that is the big challenge. it will be like gold dust trying to get tickets for liverpool this year. every year it is a real battle for fans to get tickets to the show, but i think this year, even moreso for 2023. but for those lucky people it is really going to be worth it. and even if you don't get tickets for the grand final, there is the semifinals,

there's the jury finals, you will hopefully be able to watch it on big screens in the city, so it is going to be a great show nonetheless. and if you have never been to eurovision, i heard a colleague of mine describe it before as a football tournament but with more glitter. hello there. brief respite on the horizon across the whole country to start the weekend, thanks to a ridge of high pressure building in. that'll settle things down to bring quite a lot of sunshine around and lighter winds on saturday for all areas. but it will be turning wet and windy again on sunday across scotland and northern ireland, tending to stay drier further south. so here it is, our area of high pressure, building in for saturday. fewer isobars on the charts as well, so winds will be lighter, as well. so it's a chilly start to saturday, maybe a little bit of mist and fog across southern areas, but plenty of sunshine around. however, the far north and west of scotland will tend to remain breezy. more cloud here with a few showers at times, and there

could be the odd shower, northern ireland, north—west england too, but most places dry — temperatures reaching 1a—17 celsius. feeling quite pleasant in the south, with lighter winds. through saturday night, conditions start to deteriorate across the north and west of the country. winds pick up, cloud starts to push in, so temperatures recover, but central—southern eastern england could be really quite chilly by sunday morning with some mist and fog in places. well, the temperatures recover across the north and the west because we've got this area of low pressure sweeping into scotland and northern ireland throughout the day on sunday. so it turns much wetter here, winds picking up to gale force, maybe even severe gale force and exposure. few showers getting into the north and west of england, and into north—west wales at times, too. but for the rest of england, it'll stay dry with plenty of sunshine after that chilly start. a breezier day in the south, but very windy across the north and west with gales or even severe gales, like i mentioned. those temperatures ranging from around the mid teens in the north, again up to 17—18 celsius in the south. that band of rain spreads across all areas during sunday

night, but into monday, it will eventually clear away from the south—east, and then we're into another ridge of high pressure. so, many places will be dry across central and southern areas on monday. a bit more of a breeze, though, across scotland, perhaps northern ireland, the far north—west of england, one or two showers here. we've got the low teens here, quite a cool feel — in fact, up to 16 or 17 celsius further south. the area of high pressure continues to bring fine weather through tuesday and wednesday in the south—east. but areas of low pressure start to turn things more unsettled again in the north and the west as we move deeper into the week. so, i think by the end of the week, all areas will be turning cooler and more unsettled with wet and windy weather spreading in at times.

this is bbc news. the headlines: ukrainian authorities say they've located two burial sites in the eastern town of lyman which was recently liberated from russia. one site is believed to contain about 200 graves of civilians while another mass grave is believed to contain both civilians and soldiers. ukraine's president zelensky has told the bbc that he echoes president biden�*s warning that any use of nuclear weapons would lead to armageddon. he's urged russians to stand up against the war. it comes as ukrainian troops continue making steady progress in reclaiming land occupied by russian forces. in thailand, distraught families have been mourning the deaths of 36 people,

including more than 20 children, murdered by a former police officer in their nursery school. the country's prime minister hasjoined grieving parents,