this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. russia and belarus are extending joint military exercises, close to the border with ukraine, that were due to end today. but president putin and his french counterpart, emmanuel macron, have agreed to �*intensify�* diplomatic efforts over ukraine. queen elizabeth has tested positive for covid—19. buckingham palace says she is experiencing mild cold—like symptoms, but does expect to continue light duties. the legal requirement to self—isolate after catching covid in england is expected to be dropped from next week — despite concern from some scientists and medical groups australia has opened its borders to the outside world for the first time in two years. and after 16 days of competition, the winter olympics come to a spectacular end in beijing — with china handing over to

the hosts of the 2026 games, italy. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. russia and belarus are extending theirjoint military exercises close to the border with ukraine, as western the us secretary of state says the extension of military exercises by russia and belarus has made him more concerned about an imminent russian invasion of ukraine. antony blinken said he based his assessment on the extended exercises as well the russian troop build—up on the ukrainian border.(map)he also cited the increased clashes in eastern ukraine between government forces and russian—backed separatists. moscow denies that it is seeking a pretext for an attack. it says sunday's phone call

between president putin and the french president ended with agreement on the need for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in eastern ukraine. sarah rainsford reports from kyiv. distant explosions. these drills in belarus were meant to end with russian tanks rolling back to their bases. but all this firepower is now staying put indefinitely, not farfrom ukraine's border. in a crisis that is all about signalling, this is russia refusing to de—escalate. let's really take a moment to understand the significance of what we are talking about. it has been over 70 years and, through those 70 years, as i mentioned yesterday, there has been peace and security. we are talking about the real possibility of war in europe. russia is talking up the danger, too, helping evacuate women and children from the breakaway regions of ukraine it controls, claiming kyiv is planning an attack there. so president macron phoned vladimir putin today. the kremlin did agree to continue seeking a diplomatic solution, but its troops are still in place,

despite the threat of sanctions. we have to accept at the moment that vladimir putin is possibly thinking... ..illogically about this and doesn't see the disaster ahead. and i think it's vital for us all now to get over what a catastrophe it would be for russia. but for russia, this is all about pulling ukraine back into its orbit. eight years ago, ukrainians came out in huge numbers on this very square to demand their independence, the right to decide their own future and direction without moscow dictating. they paid a really heavy price for that, but the feeling is stronger than ever now. so they are preparing to resist here any way they can. this was self—defence for women for a wartime scenario.

pretty extreme, but so are the predictions of western governments in this crisis. sarah rainsford, bbc news, kyiv. leaders from across the world gathered this weekend for the munich security conference, which was overshadowed by the ukraine crisis. chief international correspondent lyse doucet was there — and explains what leaders tried to achieve. the security barriers are coming down behind us, and the convoys of limousines are speeding to the airport to take the delegations away from this munich security conference. the chairman of the conference described it as possibly the most consequential conference in a very long time. there was regret that sergey lavrov, the russian foreign minister, decided to stay away this year. but russia was the topic of almost every discussion. it was the question that was constantly buzzing through the halls. will president putin invade ukraine?

will there be some kind of an incursion? and the message that came clearly from munich this year was that nato was going, and the western alliance — the usa, canada, european partners — they were all going to stand together with a package of robust sanctions if president putin made a move across the border. this munich security conference, which always deals with the most pressing world crises, was all about what to do if president putin does make a move. of course, in the background, president biden in the united states was saying "i am convinced he's made the decision." more scepticism here, particularly among the europeans saying, "we are not sure if he has actually made that decision. how are we to know?" it is a decision perhaps only known by president putin himself. but the idea is that we have to be ready for every eventuality. and of course, if it is meant to be

a venue for diplomacy, to keep saying, as the president of the european commission told us, diplomacy has not spoken its last word. what difference will it make? buckingham palace has confirmed that the queen has tested positive for covid. the monarch is experiencing mild cold like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at windsor over the coming week. the queen who is 95 had been in contact with her eldest son, the prince of wales, who tested positive last week. here's our royal correspondent nick witchell with the latest. i'm here! windsor castle on wednesday, the queen meeting defence officials. the only health issue then was to do with her mobility. good morning, your majesty, how are you? well, as you can see, i can't move. congratulations... that exclamation, "i can't move," is thought to indicate she may be having knee or hip trouble. but now, after two years of careful shielding from the risk of covid, it's clear that the virus has

penetrated windsor castle. several staff have tested positive, and so has the queen. in a statement, buckingham palace said... those light duties are expected to include continuing with the paperwork as head of state. shortly after the palace confirmed the queen had covid, she sent a message congratulating the team gb women's and men's curling teams on their medals at the winter games. the main concerns of the queen's doctors will focus around the fact that she is nowjust nine weeks from her 96th birthday. any person of that age will need to be monitored fairly carefully, and also i think giving her anti—virals, we do know that if you give anti—virals early on in an illness, you can substantially reduce

the risk of severe disease. the queen is thought to have been fully vaccinated against covid and, if she is given anti—viral drugs, they should protect against serious illness. political leaders were quick to tweet their good wishes. the prime minister said... the leader of the opposition, sir keir starmer, tweeted... in recent days, both the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall have tested positive for covid. the prince, who met his mother at windsor on the 8th of february, has already made a full recovery. it is to be hoped that his mother will do the same. nicholas witchell, bbc news. joining me now is royal biographer and commentator angela levin.

good to have you with us, you are welcome to bbc news. i suppose some of us were surprised that she tested positive, maybe because we are two years into this pandemic and of course we have been trying to shield anybody, particularly elderly or vulnerable.— anybody, particularly elderly or vulnerable. , , , vulnerable. were you surprised? i was uuite vulnerable. were you surprised? i was quite shocked. _ vulnerable. were you surprised? i was quite shocked. my _ vulnerable. were you surprised? i was quite shocked. my heart - vulnerable. were you surprised? i i was quite shocked. my heart stopped beating for a moment and i thought, good gracious, she can't be ill. people don't want to be ill in general terms but also because she's so look forward to her platinum jubilee, it is so important to her. the only royal who has been on the throne for 70 years so she beats all the records, and it has been so important to her. i long for her to make it and i am sure everyone else does as well. at the moment there doesn't seem to be any reason why

she wouldn't but as we know, she is nearly 96 and all the antibodies aren't as strong as they would be in somebody younger. find aren't as strong as they would be in somebody younger.— somebody younger. and people do worry about _ somebody younger. and people do worry about her — somebody younger. and people do worry about her being _ somebody younger. and people do worry about her being elderly - somebody younger. and people do worry about her being elderly but l worry about her being elderly but she has incredible resilience, i think everybody will agree, even going back to some of her former celebrations, terrible weather and she stood throughout the whole event, as we remember, on the thames, this torrential rain. go ahead. ,, , , ., , ., ., ahead. she insisted on standing for four hours. — ahead. she insisted on standing for four hours, while _ ahead. she insisted on standing for four hours, while her— ahead. she insisted on standing for four hours, while her husband, - ahead. she insisted on standing for four hours, while her husband, he. four hours, while her husband, he went to hospital because he caught a virus, but prince charles and camilla, they all had to stand up in the top of the boat for four hours to wait till they went from one end to wait till they went from one end to the other. she is very fit and of course she has done lots of exercise like horse riding and walking and she is very determined, as you say.

she also has a huge sense of duty and she doesn't want to miss out on anything that she thinks that she should do it. on the other hand, since she was ill in october and spent a night in hospital and we don't know what she had, she has listened to the doctors who said you must take it easy and lighten your load and she has done and has isolated herself a lot so she didn't deserve this, really.— deserve this, really. absolutely not. and deserve this, really. absolutely not- and i _ deserve this, really. absolutely not. and i suppose _ deserve this, really. absolutely not. and i suppose they - deserve this, really. absolutely not. and i suppose they talk i deserve this, really. absolutely i not. and i suppose they talk about buckingham palace, as they release that statement, that she will continue with light duties. many of us have friends and family who have had covid and have taken to their beds with no work for a week or two. yes, this is the difference in her attitude, but also part of me thinks that the palace doesn't want to upset or make everybody in this country feel very worried about her

and panic and make assumptions. they want to protect her and others by keeping it as low—key as they think they can. keeping it as low-key as they think the can. ~ ~ , keeping it as low-key as they think the can. ~ . , , they can. which is the way they often do- _ they can. which is the way they often do. thank _ they can. which is the way they often do. thank you _ they can. which is the way they often do. thank you so - they can. which is the way they often do. thank you so much i they can. which is the way they | often do. thank you so much for joining us and we do of course wish her a speedy recovery. ministers are preparing to unveil a new plan for �*living with covid' in england — including ending the legal requirement for people to self—isolate after testing positive.. labour has accused the government of "declaring victory before the war is over". our health editor hugh pym reports. a new direction, moving ahead without legal restrictions, but today's developments underline again that the virus can still spread. the requirement to self—isolate after a positive test is set to be scrapped in england following tomorrow's announcement, but there have been warnings that detailed guidance for the public will be needed. restrictions can end, but we need that to happen with provisions for people that are clinically vulnerable. we need that to happen for those

that need to take time off work to be able to do that safely, both for their health and their finances, so there needs to be an awful lot of planning around this. it cannot be as simple as restrictions end for everyone, this is freedom day for everyone. the latest survey by the office for national statistics suggests thatjust under 3 million people in the uk had the virus in the week ending the 12th of february — lower than the peak but still relatively high. but, with daily covid hospital admissions, there has been a continuing downward trend, from over 2,000 at one stage to closer to 1,000 a day. the prime minister said today that testing would be at a much lower level, and pcr testing sites are likely to be wound down. borisjohnson said the ability to monitor the virus would be maintained. free lateral flow test kits are likely to be cut back, with availability only in certain settings and for those most at risk. and the nhs is trying

to move forward after intense covid pressure. it is time to recover. it is time to try and get things back to normality. i'm afraid this virus is with us. you know, we are inevitably going to see more variants emerge in the fullness of time, but we have better tools of dealing with this, both in the community and in hospital. hospital staff will hope that responsible public behaviour will continue as the government's plan for living with covid is implemented. hugh pym, bbc news. it's a really interesting concept, living with covid as opposed to a zero covid policy that some of the countries have decided to adapt. going to be talking about australia and a few minutes because they have

actually opened the border so that will be coming up but if you want to hear more about this particular story, this report are others when it comes to making isolation not a legal requirementjust yet, there is more on our website and also on our app more on our website and also on our app with all these stories. 0ne more on our website and also on our app with all these stories. one of our most read at the moment is that the queen has contracted covid and there are more details on that also on our website and with the top story of course which is ukraine and russia and the continuing tension thatis russia and the continuing tension that is there. we want to move on now to sport and bring you a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. we have mark edwards with us. we've had the fireworks, the medals, the waving and the epic montage. and now the curtain has finally come down on the winter olympics in beijing. the closing cereremony

at the birds nest stadium marked the end of over two weeks of action with almost 3,000 athletes competing. the international olympic committee president thomas bach used his speech at the closing ceremony to call for political leaders "around the world" to be inspired by the athletes. the olympic flame was extinguished, with the next games taking place in milan—cortina in italy in 2026. the winter paralympics begins in beijing on march the 4th. one of the final golds of the games finally went to team gb. it came in the women's curling, led by skip eve muirhead, along with vicky wright, jen dodds, and hailey duff and mili smith beating the japan team 10—3 in the final. elsewhere on the final day, finland won their first 0lympic men's ice hockey gold with victory over the russian olympic committee. they beat the defending champions 2—1 to claim the last medal of the games. it rounds off an unbeaten run in the competition for finland, who have won a medal in the discipline in five of the past seven 0lympics. so after 19 days of competition, this is how the table finishes. perenial winter olympicjuggernauts

norway top the standings, taking home 16 golds in total — the most ever won at a single winter games. their 37 medal haul is ten more than germany who finish second. the hosts china come third — with the usa just behind. to the premier league then, and a six goal thriller as manchester united saw off leeds 4—2 in a dramatic day of action. there was a thunderous atmostphere at elland road and by half time, united were two goals up, thanks to captain harry maguire and bruno fernandes. leeds managed to pull things level with quick goals from rodrigo and raphina after the break. but manchester united restored their two goal lead through fred and anthony elanga. united consolidating fourth place. they're 4 points clear of west ham in 5th. at half time we were fully aware that we have to be always aware and always on the front foot and then we conceded two goals within four minutes and change the whole game. the atmosphere was amazing in those five minutes but we kept our heads up five minutes but we kept our heads up and showed some maturity and

unity on the pitch and that was the only way to achieve the turnaround once again. the only way to achieve the turnaround once again-— once again. the quality of the bench, once again. the quality of the bench. the — once again. the quality of the bench, the lads _ once again. the quality of the bench, the lads coming - once again. the quality of the bench, the lads coming on i once again. the quality of the i bench, the lads coming on really added _ bench, the lads coming on really added something. we stuck at it and knew even_ added something. we stuck at it and knew even if it went to the last ten minutes_ knew even if it went to the last ten minutes with the 2—0 deficit we were always— minutes with the 2—0 deficit we were always in_ minutes with the 2—0 deficit we were always in the game and proved we could _ always in the game and proved we could score — always in the game and proved we could score two goals in quick succession but unfortunatelyjust succession but unfortunately just tired succession but unfortunatelyjust tired legs at the end and they have world—class players, everyone knows that. world—class players, everyone knows that but _ world—class players, everyone knows that but we — world—class players, everyone knows that. but we showed a lot of fight and i_ that. but we showed a lot of fight and i think— that. but we showed a lot of fight and i think we can take confidence from _ and i think we can take confidence from it _ there was one other game in the premier league on sunday with wolves beating leicester city 2—1. ruben neves and daniel podence with the goals for the hosts. in scotland, rangers missed the chance to move top of the premiership after they were held to a 1—1 draw by dundee united. that means they stay second behind celtic, who have giakoumakis to thank after his hat—trick helped them past dundee 3—2. they're now three points clear of rangers at the top. elsewhere on sunday, ahead of hosting this year's euros, england's women drew 0—0 with spain as part of their four team tournament.

that's all the sport for now. australia has opened its borders to the outside world for the first time in two years. as of a few hours ago fully vaccinated tourists, business travellers and even australian citizens will finally be allowed into the country as it eases some of the world's strictest covid travel rules. one of the first people to make it through passport control is simon calder, the independent�*s travel editor. really great to have you with us. what was it like, thejourney really great to have you with us. what was it like, the journey down and then arriving into australia? the 24 and then arriving into australia? the 2a hours on a plane and economy with the mask on is not going to be much fun for anybody but you should have seen the scenes at sydney airport. i wasjust have seen the scenes at sydney airport. i was just showered with gifts, a koala, a well—known paste

spread. it was extraordinary because of course they had no visitors for the last two years. now if you are fully vaccinated you can get in. it is a real palaver having to fill in forms, a difficult digitalform and you have to upload all the details of your vaccinations and take a lateral flow test before you get in. when the flight arrives you are not allowed to get off, you have to listen and set to two back—to—back pre—recorded announcements which remind you you have to take a lateral flow test as soon as you arrive and you're not not allowed to go into any correctional facilities for at least a week. so it is a bit weird but getting through passport control was not too difficult and here i am and it is a beautiful monday morning in sydney with the opera house. it is warming up very nicely and i dare say i might make it out to the beaches later. the one problem is actually they have chosen today to go on strike so all the

trains are not running and there is chaos in the traffic but apart from that, there are worse places to be than this. i that, there are worse places to be than this. ., that, there are worse places to be than this. . ., ., , than this. i am wondering, who else was on the — than this. i am wondering, who else was on the flight _ than this. i am wondering, who else was on the flight with _ than this. i am wondering, who else was on the flight with you? - than this. i am wondering, who else was on the flight with you? was - than this. i am wondering, who else was on the flight with you? was it . was on the flight with you? was it possible to know? i was on the flight with you? was it possible to know?— possible to know? i went around talkin: to possible to know? i went around talking to them _ possible to know? i went around talking to them all _ possible to know? i went around talking to them all and - possible to know? i went around talking to them all and the - possible to know? i went around talking to them all and the onlyl talking to them all and the only tourist here in sydney. there were no tourists because they only came up no tourists because they only came up with this a couple of weeks ago and to plan a long trip to australia wasn't really on. they were mostly actually australians going home, one or two people who were here on business who had been kept out, but really, it wasn't the great homecoming that i thought it might be with lots of families being reunited. it was a fairly quiet arrival, nobody clapped when we touched down at the airport and everybody just touched down at the airport and everybodyjust kind of got on with

it. everybody “ust kind of got on with it. ., , ~ everybody “ust kind of got on with it. ., , ., everybody “ust kind of got on with it. ., a i. ., everybody “ust kind of got on with it. let me ask you one more thing. western australia, _ it. let me ask you one more thing. western australia, the _ it. let me ask you one more thing. western australia, the largest - western australia, the largest state, that has a different state of affairs. is that another couple of weeks before they open the? another 12 da s. weeks before they open the? another 12 days- this — weeks before they open the? another 12 days- this is _ weeks before they open the? another 12 days. this is one _ weeks before they open the? another 12 days. this is one of— weeks before they open the? another 12 days. this is one of the _ 12 days. this is one of the remarkable things. australia has kept its borders very tightly shut in for a long time they have been rationing the number of australians who could come back into australia and a number of those had to go to a former mining camp in the northern territory for two weeks of isolation before they were let loose into the community. however, western australia, which until very recently was doing incredibly well as a covid state, has said we want to get 90% of our population notjust vaccinated but boosted as well, and as a result of that they are keeping closed for another 12 days. meanwhile, the omicron infection rate locally in perth and elsewhere

are going through the roof and an awful lot of people were saying to me, they should have opened up at the same time and they will be kind of left behind. what everyone is now thinking, 1000 miles away or so from here, new zealand, when are they going to open up? at the moment they are saying sometime injune for tourists and family members. i think it might be a little bit quicker than that. we are now on to the competitive reopening stage of recovery may be will speak to you in about 12 days' time from perth. enjoy your couple of days in sydney. environment agencies have issued alerts for flooding across the uk. more than 400 homes in south manchester are being evacuated after two severe flood warnings because of the rising levels of the river mersey. there's been flooding in northern ireland — and nearly 80,000 homes in england and wales are still cut off from power supplies — in the wake of storm eunice. james reynolds reports.

in south manchester, the environment agency has issued a "risk to life" flood warning. it will evacuate hundreds of homes in the east didsbury area. pravin and his son have come out to check the water level for themselves. our house is just pretty much on the edge of the river, so we're probably at quite high risk of flooding if there is any — hopefully not. in the west of england, more than 20,000 properties remain without power. thank you so much. caroline bullock and her 91—year—old mother, kathleen, have had to rely on the help of neighbours. friends have been fantastic in bringing us thermoses of hot water for hot water bottles to keep my mother warm. the village of wadhurst in east sussex lost power on friday morning. repairs are slow. 80—year—old carole robbins has not had any official help. normally, somebody my age, they term me as vulnerable . so they would ring or send texts, but i have heard nothing - from anyone, so i have no

means of finding out, - other than other people, - when it might come back on. these pictures of rising water levels were taken today in bakewell near the river wye in the derbyshire dales. storm eunice will now be followed by storm franklin. the met office has issued another amber weather warning for storm franklin, actually for the north coast of northern ireland, valid from midnight tonight until 7am on monday morning, when we are going to see potential gusts of wind in excess of 80 mph. but i also want to stress that we could see damaging gusts of wind once again across southern scotland, northern england and parts of wales. in 0magh in northern ireland, water levels have risen and the wider area now braces for the strong winds of storm franklin. james reynolds, bbc news.

a dog has been reunited with its owner in california, 12 years after going missing. �*zoey�* had been dumped from a vehicle earlier this month looking old and unwell. police scanned the dog's microchip and found her original owner — who had reported zoey lost in 2010. the owner says she's delighted to get zoey back and hopes to bring her back to health to live the rest of her life. you are watching bbc news. and we'll find out how this story — and many others — are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:30 and 11:30 this evening in the papers — our guestsjoining me tonight are geri scott, political correspondent for the press association, and the broadcaster and journalist, james lewer. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. good evening. once again, damaging winds to come across the uk. the met office has issued an amber weather warning as storm franklin arrives over the next few hours. the amber warning is for northern ireland, with gusts of winds potentially peaking in excess of 80 miles an hour at times. now, this is storm franklin, this area of low pressure is going to continue

to drift its way between iceland and the far north of scotland. it is on the southern flank where we will see the tightest of the isobars. that means the strongest of the winds, as well. not only do we see strong winds, but we've also got some heavy rain and sharp showers moving through scotland, heavy persistent rain pushing out of southern scotland into northern england and wales, as well. so, the amber weather warning will remain in force until 7am on monday morning, with gusts of wind potentially 60—80 miles an hour, perhaps one or two stronger gusts in places, as well. that has the potential to cause some significant disruption first thing in the morning, and it's notjust for northern ireland. we are going to see strong gale force gusts of wind through irish sea coasts, in excess quite widely of 60 miles an hour, in some places, 70—75 miles an hour, as well. with that rain, the temperatures are going to fall away, so it's going to be a chilly start to our monday morning, as well, just to add insult to injury. the rain, however, will move quite swiftly south and east, and as we go through the afternoon,

it will be an improving picture. the winds will start to ease just a touch, gusting around about 35, a0 miles an hour in many places, and the showers will fade away allowing for some sunny spells to come through, and after that chilly start, temperatures will recover, to top out between 8 and 13 celsius. so, as we say goodbye to monday and head towards tuesday, there is another area of low pressure in a similar position up into the far north, and that is going to bring some very strong winds and some heavy rain yet again. the rain, though, will weaken as it moves south and east, and then allow for some sunshine to come through with a trail of scattered, possibly wintry showers, with elevation in the far north—west of scotland. top temperatures once again between 5 and 13 celsius. as we move into wednesday, it does look likely that we will start to see fewer showers around, and slightly lighter winds, and hopefully some glimpses of sunshine from time to time.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: president putin and his french counterpart, emmanuel macron, agree to "intensify" diplomatic efforts over ukraine, while the president of ukraine calls for an immediate ceasefire between government forces and pro—russian separatists in the east. the queen has tested positive for covid—19. buckingham palace says she is experiencing mild cold—like symptoms, but does expect to continue light duties. the legal requirement to self—isolate after catching covid in england is expected to be dropped from next week — despite concern from some scientists and medical groups. i'm not saying you can totally throw caution to the wind —