jazeera, there is no channel that covers world news like we do, we revisit places the state i'll deserve really invest in that. and that's a privilege. as a journalist, ah, we've cut off rushes government from western finance in the us and allies on violet slew sanctions against russia over actions. and ukraine would hold back on the russian president vladimir putin and says he is still open to diplomacy. ah, hi there, i'm kim vanelle. this is elder. they're alive from dough. when they're the front

lines of the conflict and east in ukraine with a threat of invasion is stoking more fair and resentment. also ahead with the argentinian wetlands ablaze, a un reported warmed x ray wildfires. i here to stay and multiply ah the us and its allies have warned their leaving room to punish russia further offer, announcing a range of new sanctions. us president joe biden acute lot of pollution of beginning and invasion of ukraine after the russian leader recognize the independence of separatist regions in the countries east of a incumbent don boss where separatists have been fighting against ukrainian forces since 2014 alan fisher reports from the white house for weeks he's warned the sanctions no faced with what he sees as russian aggression in ukraine. joe biden has acted re implementing full blocking sanctions on 2 large russian financial

institutions. v b and their military back reprimand incomparably sanctioned on russia's sovereign debt. that means we've cut off russia government from western finance. it will last post sanctions on russia's leech and their family members. they share in the corrupt gaze of the criminal policies and should share the pain as well. the president has spent a lot of time with his national security team over the last 48 hours. they insist they've covered all possible moves for more school. and the next step by vladimir putin will dictate for the u. s. reaction bite and still hopes for a diplomatic solution. but there was a wanting to the american public. an extended crisis might hit them in the pocket. defending freedom will have cost for us as well. and here at home, we need to be honest about that. one expert says it makes sense. the biden hasn't thrown everything at russia. they sadly leaving a diplomatic off ramp. they,

they need to keep, you know, part of their powder dry. to see what is next move is this, this gross violation the go further violation of ukrainian territorial integrity. there has to be a cost for that. i. the euclidean foreign minister has been in washington part of the international medical round of top level talks. he's been meeting defense, secretary lloyd austin at the pentagon. he says the russians have tried to split the west with their actions. something that has failed, and i have never seen, they know more united. the more resolute standing firm is one alliance in support of ukraine's right to the friend and sovereign territory. it's 2 years since then. candidate biden tweeted out that vladimir putin would be reluctant to take any aggressive action if he was president. because he's gone, taught to tour with them in the past, he touted his foreign policy experience. he's going to need all that experience. if

he's to reach a diplomatic solution to what is a growing military crisis. alan fisher al jazeera at the white house or the russian president vladimir version says he is still open to diplomacy. he spoken a day after obtaining parliamentary approval to deploy troops outside of russia in support of ukraine's separatists. no senator is voted against the decision. i, his deputy defense minister told the chamber that ukraine has left them with no choice as all negotiations have stoltz. barrett smith joins us now live from moscow. so even though. 1 that he says, are it oceans have store that themes that the russian president is, is looking to strike a more diplomatic tone. came on one side by the mere putin continues to turn the screw on ukraine. he has that approval from the upper house of parliament to deploy troops into eastern ukraine. what they prefer

to call peacekeepers. and he's established diplomatic relations. the russians say at the level of embassies, with those 2 separatist enclave donates and lew ganske island. he said he's going to evacuate diplomatic for a personnel from ukraine to protect their lives, but it's defender of the father and day here in russia today, a public holiday and, and video address to the nation. while on one hand, vladimir putin praise is the battle readiness of his troops. he does say he is still open for diplomatic solutions. maybe m gog, nebraska scala. we see how alarming the international context is, how dangerous current challenges are, such as weapons control, system destabilizing, or the nato blocks military activity. at the same time, russia's call to build an equal security system that can protect all countries. him is not being answered and we did that. but our country stays open for direct and honest dialogue for the search of diplomatic solutions for the most complex issues . but i repeat russia's interests are our citizens safety,

absolute as we will continue strengthening and developing our army and navy, and increasing their efficiency, providing them with the most advanced equipment lena, that and what do we actually know about russian true maneuvers? i know that the parliament approved the ability to deploy overseas that have troops actually cross the border and ukraine. so vladimir putin has not officially announced that russian troops have entered ukraine and has no visible signs of them on the ground, except some indications, including from our colleagues from al jazeera, who are indian asked that there are some russian troops already there. we've seen video from a nighttime arrival of armored personnel carriers not marked by russian military markings, but our colleagues are spoken to the soldiers. they are clearly russian soldiers. and there's been some other intelligence that that might already be russian troops

in eastern ukraine, even if it's not official or their britons foreign minister has said this morning in the u. k. las trust, she says that they haven't got any verified evidence yet. that an invasion has taken place, but certainly everything is in place for an invasion. ukraine is surrounded. we've seen for months, the build up of russian troops along all round ukraine now. and we've seen height and activity, particularly in the last few days along the eastern borders. that everything is in place should lottie marapoo to decide to go the next step and incent his troops into cray in a fallen invasion. i, beth nathan foster, moscow. thank you. while that a bad susan may be open to more talks, the u. s. in france of canceled meetings this week with russia's foreign minister. so guy left off your secretary of state, abbey blink, and says rushes language and actions. so it's not interested in any discussions.

president putin's deeply disturbing speech yesterday and his statements to day made clear the world how he views ukraine. not as a sovereign nation with the right to territorial integrity and independence, but rather as a creation of russia and therefore subordinate to russia. it's a completely false assertion that ignores history international law and the 10s of millions of patriotic ukrainians who are proud citizens of a free and independent ukraine. let's say the entire east in ukraine now hold on. they'll. hamid joins us now live from cremmit, sourced in the northern dynette region. what i, i believe we are waiting for the ukranian president to make an address any moment now, but for now, what has the ukrainian government said so far about these western sanctions on russia? well certainly the euclidean government has welcome these sanctions as has

something to have been asking for. for the past several weeks. president zalinski in the boss has actually expressed frustration of the fact that those sanctions was, were in coming as soon enough. he said several times, why are we waiting for an invasion before imposing the sanctions? why not impose the sanctions now? that happened, but we just heard from his foreign minister this morning say, well, we need more sanctions. in his word, in his tweet he said, hit them hard, hit them now. so, so in the ukraine, is it, it is demanding or is expecting a more wide ranging as sanctions imposed on russia, on the inner circle of president vladimir putin. and if the ukrainian could have it their way on vladimir putin himself, how do you've been travelling round speaking to people in the region? what are they saying about the threat of the invasion? how do people feel?

was sidney now and you speak to people? the idea of an invasion has come close to home. i mean, if you could travel along the front line along that very long contact life and all these villages and towns, you hear the shelling it's, there's part of the daily life and is intensifying people say we've been living with this for about 8 years. but now it's become much worse and it many told us that it reminded them of the early days of this conflict back in 2014 and 15. not only because of the cells the hearing, but because of certain divisions that exist among the people living in those villages of society is quite polarized. some people are back, king ukraine, and de sovereignty of ukraine. well, others, i actually putting the blame on the government in cave and actually do agree with

russia, some even going as far that they do expect de russia to come across their contact line. now this is our report from at v if go uncertainty is hanging over at v fca, one of the frontline gowns in eastern ukraine. when we met chaplain alina 3 weeks ago, she brushed away the prospect of war. now she's worried and feels uncomfortable being on the streets. some of her neighbors are openly hostile to her fork, their phone from like granite or from like me or the mon, you or you the brushing you have though annual calling they things ukraine is guilty party when it comes to this shelling they don't believe russia could act like this, my life is at risk in this kind of society. anything can happen, especially now, less than the kilometer away at the front line. soldiers on alert. recently the shelling has intensified evidence still fresh of the latest rocket attack. the

frontline here been moved ever since the mince agreement was signed with leader sides making tutorial gains or losses. but now the recognition by russia after 2 sins proclaim republics of don, yes and logan's puts into question. when to new lines are going to be drawn. the agreement set of 420 kilometers demarcation line, giving the russian back separatist only a 3rd of what they see as their historical land. now, with official support from moscow, they could try again to expand their control. i seen that. i think it will be border over the mask and hans derucia as they are, was at the bus not on with the sarah that already have got further. and i think that is the reason of most dangerous situation here. basically,

we understand that there we are, are on the way of them do ukrainian army is in a difficult situation. many civilians in this area don't support it. they welcome to separate his back in 2014 and continued to support russia. now. others like victor, blamed a current situation under government in keith as well. what are they fighting for who they fighting for here? i don't see any sense on that. if it's for me or my family, there's no nate, what are they doing here? if you're showing the separatists all the time, rush, a coddling them on mariah with if our president had negotiated with them, then things could have been different with the minsk agreement now in tatters. ukraine has declared at vive can other towns and villages along the front line, restricted areas. but for the soldiers, the most difficult battle could be winning over the support of the people.

now even the soldiers under frontline told us that they were now expecting that a push by the separatist that set at one soldier actually told us we are on their way and their their ambition is to take the whole of lugens and don't yes region because that's what they have written in this constitution, and when you speak to people, whether they're under ukrainian side, or they support the russia. well, both of them agree on one issue is that this is not going to stop here. and soon they believe that war will reach their towns and villages. so a lot of anxiety in the air and how that army, therefore us income towards thank you. ukraine had started calling up reservists, aged 18 to 60, in preparation for any russian military action. but president obama zalinski has stopped short of a general mobilization,

the maximum service period for those called up from the territorial defense forces is one year. have where the check next and then ah, another victory for mannequin bullshit rights activist. with a landing in columbia and praying for more protection disappointment among australian religious groups at the failure of legislation aiming to ban discrimination. ah hallo is saints and staggering rainfall totals across eastern parts of australia has caused flooding. more on that in a moment for the time being some pretty wet weather into our parts of southeast asia, indonesia seeing over 200 millimeters, the fray in 24,

asked ice very disturbed here. over the next couple of days. usual splash of rain across march of south east asia, vietnam seen some shower shower's there to into where the philippines will. ne monsoon, the clutch of stores bring some very heavy rain to wasn't belie peninsula towards kuala lumpur over the next couple of days. just notice a little further south, just around the northern parts of australia, the possibility of developing cycling coming in here. that's one to watch. rather more pressing concerns. erica said east side of australia where we have seen some incredible amounts of rainfall. they say weather system just out in the car call. see, just bringing some tropical moisture into that eastern side of australia. 100 millimeters of rain in sidney, in the space of 24 hours. further north to the north of brisbin, over 400 millimeters, a friend framed and 88 millimeters of rain coming in in just 9 hours and that wet weather will stay in place as we go on through the next couple of days. there will be further flooding concerns and that widespread heavy rain will continue right

into the weekend. ah, the rip a hotel is the o tell that i've ever stated name and the biggest box you have ever seen. how did it explode? would have taken out the hotel. this was church. we loved it when it was built and renamed it even when it was bombed. a major target of the conflict in northern ireland in the late 20th century belfast europa, a new episode of war hotels on all g 0 o the me

just remind the top stories they follow us is imposing new sanctions on russia. cutting off 2 major institutions from western finance. move comes after president bush and recognize the independence of 2 separate as tell areas of eastern crane. russian president vladimir says he's ready to look for a diplomatic solution to resolve the stand off of ukraine. comes a day also, he was given parliamentary approval to use troops outside of russia to support ukraine. and the u. s. fixed, or if they cancel the meeting this week was russia's foreign minister. so okay, that and the blank and says it makes no sense to hold talks and russia has started an invasion to be crane. exhausted crews are still trying to get on top of wildfires in northern argentina, which have burned more than 800000 hector's of farm and wetland. the fires have taken hold and particularly hot dry weather brought about by the nemea weather

passing in the pacific ocean through the boat reports now from san antonio near the border. with brazil, the wildfires are rapidly moving from one place to another and consuming almost everything in this area in the argent time province of korean. this and fire fighters are also moving fast, trying to burn a control line that will slow down the advance of the flames. and i said, well, what they are doing is burning a line that will force the parts slow down and then they will attack and with water . there's already group working inside, which we have to stop, where it reaches the road because if it passes there, there are thousands of tech to the pine trees and it will get even worse and sort of the over 800000 heck there's they have already been destroyed and with it, livestock grains and was life. this is an area that generally cease abundant rainfall that strong winds, lack of humanity and drought. i'm making it easy for fire like this when to spread

all across the province on an average of around 30000. and hector is of land are burning every day. also at risk. i 12000 hector's of marshlands in the area is a natural reserve where caymans and phoebe, and another 300 species of birds are being affected firefighters from brazil, and other parts of the country. leguinn aside, who have come here in an effort to prevent the fires from causing even more damage . oh my god, i'm on, but it is in charge of the fire fighters that have come from when a site is only going to cause a lot. but the only thing we can control is nature. so you need to control everything else. coney interest is lacking resources. they don't have the equipment they need. they have great people, but they're not prepared. they need pickup trucks, 5 fighting kits, uniforms, among other things. so throwing young have he had

a store of these desperate he says he has lost almost everything he owns. most of his land was burned by the fire, and like many others is currently in debt. joe, sometimes i don't want to continue, but i have to because what am i going to tell my family? i have a family of 60 people, 19 work with me. where's my family going to work? there is no work here. aside from this rain is crucial at this point to prevent the fires from spreading to other provinces. but heavy rainfall is not expected until march along wait for those involved in the daily fight against the flames. i live theda korean, this argentina or the emergency in argentina is adding weight to a report that warns of an increasingly fiery future for the world. the u. n. environment program predicts that the number of extreme wildfires will increase by 30 percent by the middle of the century and the scorching places that have never

been prone to fires before. like the arctic tundra and the amazon rain forest. the reports, authors blame our warming climate but also unprecedented levels of land clearing for agriculture. crim. tim rather christopherson, is from the un environment programs nature for climate branch. he says, wildfires are likely to increase in quick action is needed. we project that even with the moderate emissions scenario. so even if we manage to curb emissions wildfire are still going to increase. this is because the earth systems have a long response time and therefore it is clear that why fi as i here to stay. they are going to increase and we, we have to be better prepared. of course, we also need to be better prepared because we urgently need equal assistance forests, pete lance. savannah, as carbon stores. so when we risk that these carbon stores are going up in flames,

then we lose one of our best allies in the fight against climate change, which is nature. nature of a solutions can help us clearly to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. but the most important message remains that we have to, urgently and quickly curb our greenhouse gas emissions globally. the national guard and mexico has confronted hundreds of undocumented migrants desperate to reach the united states. burning road blocks, disruptive traffic in the city of tampa. tula, migrants may meet from haiti and africa have demonstrated that the national migration institute for the past month, the demanding their documents, a process that they can reach. the u. s. women's rights campaign is in columbia are celebrating the legislation of abortion at the latest court ruling in latin america, where the roman catholic church has traditionally been influential. aka, you don't have reports women's rights act to this said tears of joy for years. even fighting for the right to legal abortion. now,

columbus constitutional court has made it possible that i know this is a big achievement. for all women. we will a greater recognition of our full citizenship, more security over our bodies, and over our sexual and reproductive rights. or i visited her every year. columbian prosecutors open 400 cases against women, accused of having illegal abortions, or those would lead, gently helped them. more than 340 women have been convicted since 2006. until now, colombian women were only allowed to terminate pregnancies, in cases of rape fetal deformity, or if the mother's life was in danger. but even those exceptions weren't always respected. in atlanta, both middle bank just and 202-4000 girls between 10 and 14 years gave birth pregnancies and children that young can only be the result of rape. the only explanation for such high numbers is that women needed more protection. that's what

we fought for. so 4 out of 5 judges voted in favor of extending abortion rights. despite opposition from the catholic church and pro life activists who prayed in front of the court. man, i mean the feminist believed this is a step forward for women. when we're yellow the, it's a step backwards because the fight for women's rights doesn't include murdering others. it's almost duality. xian president, yvonne dulcie was opposed as well saying the decision is too big to be made by 5 judges as you and the name was on that. why allowing abortions until $24.00 weeks? columbia's court has raised the bar even compared to countries which have taken giant steps to defend women's reproductive rights on what most countries the time limit for having an abortion is for shorter. in the meantime, women activists say it's not enough to have their rights on paper. they say they'll keep fighting to make sure the law is implemented. monica inactive al jazeera.

there have been long pews for fuel in sri lanka where the government is running low on foreign currency, which is needed for imports. there are shortages at many pumps. the state owned oil company can't get loans to buy more fuel because it's already 3 and a half $1000000000.00 in debt. if your shortage is also hitting the power grid causing rolling blackouts. some countries in southeast asia are reporting a record rise, uncovered 19 cases. new infections nearly doubled in south korea. the number of new cases rose to 170000. the country has been seeing an upward trend isn't on the corner emerged in mid january of number of seriously ill patients and deaths are low. according to south korea's health ministry, south korea has had just over 7000 deaths since the start of the pandemic. singapore has set a new daily record high of 26000 factions a most or having mild or no symptoms. despite 90 percent of the population being

vaccinated, almost $300000.00 singapore inter tested positive in the past month. religious groups estrella are disappointed the shelving of proposed legislation protecting minority fates the bill aimed to ban discrimination based on a person's religious beliefs. but there was concern, it could be used to target people in algae b t communities. sarah clark has more from brisbin rather saying is the head of the australian seek association. he represents of faith that is considered a minority religion in australia, but is the fastest growing. he says, despite his rising popularity, it still widely misunderstood in the country, and is often vilified by some members of the public seeks look different to a normal person veering turban, then sporting beards. so, in a way it, sir, is sir. maria difficult situation for, for

a growing kid serves greatly in the, in the schools legislation proposed by australian parliament would have offered protection to people who felt exposed because of their own religious beliefs. and such discrimination in their workplace. school or university would have been banned . but critics argued the bill would enable prejudice against other groups including gay teachers and students, and should cover all forms of discrimination. it was amended to include laws preventing religious schools, discriminating against students on grounds of their gender and sexuality. that cause division in federal parliament and the bill was shelved, politics should be left out and it should be all about the people who they serve. so at the end of the day, everybody should be treated equal. some community leaders say it's not just a matter of discrimination, but also of safety. since the massacre of 51 people by gunman in an attack on 2 mosques in christ church, 3 years ago,

members of some religious group say they feel targeted. and this bill offered greater protection, women are concerned about wearing the file and stepping outside because all the attention that attracts the vilification, et cetera. and we're certainly, we've had direct reports where women, for instance, think twice before they step out. many australia considered the country promotes a multi cultural environment, but there are no national laws specifically protecting people against religious discrimination. if they are raising concern, i feel that their rights are being undermined on the religious rights and it's something we should take seriously. the religious discrimination bill may be shelf for now. there's some fights to hoping that federal parliament will revive at a given the contentious nature of the debate. that's unlikely to happen any time soon. and a federal election is expected by may this year. sarah clark out 0 crispin, australia a u. s. jerry has determined 3 white men killed black jogger about aubrey because

of his race. it adds a federal hate crime conviction for the men who were already found guilty of murder . 3 weeks ago. father and son, greg and travis mic michael out a neighbor will be and brian are serving life sentences for killing 25 year old aubrey in georgia to u. s. military helicopters have crashed during a training exercise near a ski resort. no injuries were reported in utah. crash investigators a checking if heavy so fall was a factor. ah, this is out there and these are the top stories. the u. s. is imposing new sanctions on russia. cutting off 2 major institutions from west and financing. the move comes after president vladimir putin recognize the independence of 2 separate hist held areas of eastern ukraine.