Russia to formally annex 4 more areas of Ukraine

MOSCOW, Sept 29 (BBC/AFP): Russia's Vladimir Putin will hold a signing ceremony on Friday formally annexing four more areas of Ukraine after self-styled referendums condemned by Ukraine and the West as a sham.
Russian-backed officials had earlier claimed the five-day exercise secured almost total popular support.
So-called votes were held in Luhansk and Donetsk in the east, and in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south.
The Russian president will make a major speech at the Kremlin.
A stage has already been set up in Moscow's Red Square, with billboards proclaiming the four regions as part of Russia and a concert planned for the evening.
The event echoes Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, which also followed a discredited referendum and was heralded by a presidential victory speech from a stage. That initial annexation has never been recognised by the vast majority of the international community. There is no confirmation that Mr Putin is planning a similar outdoor address.
"Tomorrow at 15:00 (12:00GMT) in the St George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace a signing ceremony will be held on incorporating the new territories into Russia," said spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Two Russian-backed separatist leaders from the east are also expected to take part.
The Russian president is expected to make a separate address to the upper house of parliament on 4 October, three days before his 70th birthday. Parliament will also have a role in ratifying Russia's annexation, rejected by most of the international community.
Fleeing Russians worry
border will 'close forever'
Fearing the border may close "forever" after President Vladimir Putin's mobilisation order for the war in Ukraine, Russians are rushing to flee across Finland's Vaalimaa crossing.
On this foggy early morning, dozens of cars and buses with Russian licence plates are lined up at the border, their passengers hoping to make it into Finland before it's too late.
Some smoke cigarettes outside their vehicles as they wait impatiently.
"Many people are afraid," says Oleg, a bar owner from Moscow who has just crossed over to the Finnish side.
"The mobilisation is a first sign that something worse might happen."
He fears the border might "close forever" and Russians "will live in a totalitarian state where they can't do anything at all".
"I live in a country which sinks a little more every day," he explains.
Finland said on Monday that more Russians came to the country over the weekend than any other weekend so far this year-around 17,000 entries-after Moscow's military call-up announcement sparked a surge in arrivals.
Helsinki announced on September 23 it planned to "significantly restrict the entry of Russian citizens" and would finalise the decision in the "coming days".
US announces $1.1b in new
arms aid for Ukraine
The United States announced Wednesday a new package of arms and supplies for Ukraine worth $1.1 billion for reinforcing Kyiv's forces over the medium and long term.
The package of orders for US military suppliers includes Himars missile systems and ammunition, systems to counter drones, radars and armored vehicles, according to a Defense Department statement.
The package "represents a multi-year investment in critical capabilities to build the enduring strength of Ukraine's Armed Forces" as they continue to battle the invading Russian army, the Pentagon said.
The new package took the total military aid from the United States to Ukraine since the Russians invaded on February 24 to $16.2 billion.