welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. president putin says he will recognise two breakaway regions of east ukraine and he's sending troops there. announcing the decisions taken today, i'm sure with the support of the russian citizens, all the patriotic forces of the country. we'll have the latest reaction to president putin's move from washington and around the world. also in the programme. all covid restrictions in england will end in three days�* time, despite the concerns of some experts. lets us learn to live with this virus and continue protecting

ourselves and others without restricting our freedoms. and the international court begins hearings into alleged genocide of the rohinga people in myanmar. it's seven in the morning in singapore, and two in the morning in moscow — where president putin has signed a decree recognising the independence of two breakaway regions in ukraine. he's ordered troops to go there and in his words �*maintain the peace�*. the move rachets up tensions between russia and the west sharply — and is likely to incur sanctions in response. in a long televised address,

mr putin said luhansk and donetsk — captured by pro—russian groups in 2014, were ancient russian territories, and he described the ukrainian government as a puppet regime controlled by foreign powers. our moscow correspondent steve rosenberg begins our coverage today. it was an astonishing piece of political theatre, played out on russian tv. the protagonist, the president. vladimir putin alone, aloof, like a modern—day tsar. the supporting cast, members of russia's powerful security council. "i will let you all speak," he said, "then we must decide what to do." and one by one, they spoke, all urging president putin to defy kyiv and the west, and officially recognise the pro—russia rebel republics in eastern ukraine. "we must recognise these republics," the interior minister says, "but within their earlier, larger boundaries."

the president listened, but looked like a man who'd already made up his mind. later, he addressed the nation. translation: the essence i of the aggressive, nationalistic character of the regime that seized power in kyiv hasn't changed. i consider it necessary to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the donetsk and luhansk people's republics. act two, the signing ceremony. the leaders of the rebel republics were already in moscow. they clearly knew what president putin's decision would be. earlier, this. russian tv claimed ukraine was shelling the rebel republics. fake news, kyiv says, and moscow inventing a pretext for military intervention.

in recent days, thousands of civilians from the separatist republics have been evacuated to russia. moscow's been accused of using these people as political pawns. many here are confused and frightened by what's been happening. the geopolitical consequences of vladimir putin's decision are not their priority. fireworks tonight, in the rebel republics russia has recognised, celebrations. but elsewhere in ukraine and in the west, deep concern that moscow may now move its forces openly into eastern ukraine, and that the kremlin is set on a major escalation. ukraine's president zelenskiy summoned his cabinet on hearing mr putin's announcement. they discussed the situation.

ukraine has consistently said it does not recognise what it considers to be the seizure of its territory around luhanks and donetsk. our chief international correrspondent lyse doucet is in kyiv — and she gave us this reaction to president putin's speech: this was watched around the world. yes, there was a domestic audience who saw the national security chief intelligence chief trembling and stammering in front of president putin when he called them to ask for their opinions. and he only wanted to hear, be already recognise the two rebel republics they described, we believe it was prerecorded in those translations. this was for the world to see and for the ukraine to see as well. the only woman of the national security council talking about, very emotionally, prev she does believe that given what russia has been hearing on russian television, the genocide, notjust a

russian—speaking ukrainians, but it hundred thousand russians live in those rebel held republics that have not been recognised as russian and some of them have only received russian passports in recent years and justjudging from the reactions on social media by ukrainian politicians and members of society, they have described this is dangerous and a declaration of war. the west has been quick to voice its concerns — and make public displays of support for ukraine. but — it's worth noting — that the nato position, that it will not send troops to ukraine, has not changed. instead — there will be sanctions. the european union said it was an:

live now to washington, and our state department correspondent barbara plett usher. let's start with president biden in the conversation he had for this ukrainian counterpart. what was said in that phone call? we ukrainian counterpart. what was said in that phone call?— in that phone call? we don't know the details — in that phone call? we don't know the details but _ in that phone call? we don't know the details but do _ in that phone call? we don't know the details but do know— in that phone call? we don't know the details but do know is - in that phone call? we don't know the details but do know is that - in that phone call? we don't know| the details but do know is that the reaction of the united states and president biden to the development of the last 12 hours or so and that was to impose very swift economic sanctions against the two breakaway regions and an executive order in

fact nowjust signed by president biden specifically banning new investment, trade, to and from the breakaway regions which will have a significant and immediate effect although it has to be said, there isn't a huge amount of trade between the united states in those regions. in response, the western world, this will send a message to president vladimir putin but the mood here is grave at the moment and this has been anticipated by the united states but it does not bode well, especially if you look at the president biden has been saying with the past few weeks that an invasion is likely to happen. and, we the past few weeks that an invasion is likely to happen. and,— is likely to happen. and, we look at the backdmp _ is likely to happen. and, we look at the backdrop that _ is likely to happen. and, we look at the backdrop that you _ is likely to happen. and, we look at the backdrop that you have - is likely to happen. and, we look at the backdrop that you have just - the backdrop that you have just described, that mood in washington that this decision to implement

these sanctions, will it prompt russia to escalate things even further? i russia to escalate things even further? ~ ., russia to escalate things even further? ~' ., , further? i think the next move is only known _ further? i think the next move is only known by — further? i think the next move is only known by president - further? i think the next move is only known by president putin i further? i think the next move isj only known by president putin as further? i think the next move is i only known by president putin as to whether or not the position of sanctions which i probably been predicted released anticipated by russia in response to president vladimir putin's decision, whether or not it would change the bigger picture really remains. the united states is emphasising that it is a much wider thread combined with nato nations in the western world to impose much needed deeperfinancial sanctions against russia, russian business, against russian individuals and brussels individuals and the threat continues and it is unlikely that any sanctions when he brought in if an invasion happens but the threat remains that it's just a waiting game now for the next

few hours to let the dust settle and see what happens to us with the next move is. i'm joined now by, steve fish, politics professor at the university of california, berkeley. certainly, that ratcheting up of tensions between the west and russia very much the big focus of today's developments. if we take a step back and get a feel of what does president putin really want? what is his game plan? the president putin really want? what is his game plan?— his game plan? the mask is off and man in his game plan? the mask is off and many in the — his game plan? the mask is off and many in the west _ his game plan? the mask is off and many in the west that _ his game plan? the mask is off and many in the west that hoped - his game plan? the mask is off and many in the west that hoped that l his game plan? the mask is off and| many in the west that hoped that all vladimir putin really wanted was security assurances but that is always been a hollow hope. ukraine and all ukrainian territory is all

part of russia and vladimir putin is been speaking this for some time and he's been talking about the russian world which encompasses the ukraine and former russian empire and historic russia in saying that they all have the right to territory which includes finland and other places besides the ukraine. it is clear what he wants, he wants to take over the ukraine. we have to understand in the west, the vladimir putin, russia without ukraine is like the united states about new england or the plane states or the united states, doesn't even exist. this is his career long goal and this is what he has been waiting to get. i this is what he has been waiting to net. ~ this is what he has been waiting to net. ,, ., this is what he has been waiting to net. ~ ., ., , , get. i think for many people in the audience, that _ get. i think for many people in the audience, that is _ get. i think for many people in the audience, that is something - get. i think for many people in the audience, that is something that l audience, that is something that will elicit some degree of surprise and shock but does it stop with those two locations, what is next

when you think of the future game plan for when you think of the future game planfoeradimir putin? when you think of the future game plan for vladimir putin? he when you think of the future game plan for vladimir putin?— plan for vladimir putin? he wants to take back the _ plan for vladimir putin? he wants to take back the ukraine _ plan for vladimir putin? he wants to take back the ukraine he _ plan for vladimir putin? he wants to take back the ukraine he might - plan for vladimir putin? he wants to take back the ukraine he might do i plan for vladimir putin? he wants to take back the ukraine he might do itj take back the ukraine he might do it in small steps but he's made that clear that he's going go beyond luhansk and donetsk. and so far are sanctions have not been adequate. if you look at the history, vladimir putin has never played a great price for even interfering in a presidential election. or text western democracy. he has never paid a big press. in terms of sanctions, where they actually threaten vladimir putin's power? we have never really done that before. if the united states the western alliance limit themselves to financial sanctions to oligarchs, limiting their access to credit, they will be grossly inadequate because vladimir putin is motivated enough to push the sanctions in the

west needs to be taking threatening action that actually threatens vladimir putin's power. {lin action that actually threatens vladimir putin's power. on that, what is the _ vladimir putin's power. on that, what is the best _ vladimir putin's power. on that, what is the best possible - vladimir putin's power. on that, j what is the best possible avenue vladimir putin's power. on that, - what is the best possible avenue out of this crisis if sanctions will not work? . ., , of this crisis if sanctions will not work? . ., ., ~ , , work? sanctions can work, they 'ust have to be very fl work? sanctions can work, they 'ust have to be very strong intent h work? sanctions can work, theyjust have to be very strong intentjust i have to be very strong intentjust be limited to economic sanctions. they have to include actions that will affect his hold on power. threatening him and begin the process of trying to peel away some of his oligarchs and officials were losing money in a big way right now and trying to get them to defect and join us and deposition and make it clear through going to support the resistance for a decade or more, if necessary. these are the things they're going to get his attention much than financial sanctions. where do we no much than financial sanctions. where do we go from _ much than financial sanctions. where do we go from here? _ much than financial sanctions. where do we go from here? is _ much than financial sanctions. where do we go from here? is there - much than financial sanctions. where do we go from here? is there any - do we go from here? is there any more room for diplomacy and talking, given the escalation nursing right now? ., , , ., ., �* 4' now? honestly, no, i don't think there is was— now? honestly, no, i don't think there is was think _ now? honestly, no, i don't think there is was think the _ now? honestly, no, i don't think there is was think the key - now? honestly, no, i don't think

there is was think the key now . now? honestly, no, i don't think there is was think the key now is that the western alliance, the discipline that's going to stick with the ukraine in this about so much more than the ukraine. and a great moral clarification going on and it's been fairly ambiguous for some time now but the truth is, we now have vladimir putin with xi jinping in china, and the president of brazil, and the president and hungry, all of the forces of dictatorships and would—be dictators lining up on one side very clearly in the force of democracy and attempts to preserve the postwar international order which is guaranteed peace for 75 years in europe on the other side. it is no longer unclear what is going on here. in the west is to be ready to face this challenge and the whole world of democracy has to face this challenge as a threat to global democracy, notjust the conflict over control of the ukraine.

university of california, thank you so much forjoining us on newsday. you can get much more, including analysis from our covering the story for you. let's take a look at some of the stories in the headlines in the uk... prince charles has chosen his bride. the prince proposed the lady diana spencer three weeks ago. she accepted, she says, without hesitation. as revolutions go, this had its fair share of bullets. a climax in the night outside the gates of mr marcos' sanctuary, malacanang, the name itself symbolising one of the cruellest regimes of modern asia. the world's first clone has been produced of an adult mammal. scientists in scotland have produced

a sheep called dolly using a cell from another sheep. warren beatty and faye dunaway announced to the world - that the winner of best film was la la land. _ the only trouble was it wasn't. the mistake was only put right in the middle of gushing - speeches by the team behind the modern musical. - not for 20 years have locusts been seen in this part of africa. some of the swarms have been ten miles long. this is the last time the public will see this pope. very soon, for the sake of the credibility and authority of the next pope, benedict xvi will, in his own words, be hidden from the world for the rest of his life. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. our main story this hour — president putin says he will recognise two breakaway regions of east ukraine and he's sending troops there.

all covid restrictions in england will end in three days' time. the prime minister borisjohnson says it's a move away from government measures, towards a policy of personal responsibility, but some nhs leaders say it would be �*very premature�* to see this as some kind of permanent victory over the virus. here�*s our political editor laura kuenssberg: now and then. the empty streets and silence of early lockdown. today millions of workers heading back to their desks, replacing the ghosts of empty offices before. the first vaccine, a modern miracle. applause jabs in almost every arm now. good evening. a prime minister back then with an emergency instruction. you must stay at home. today, the laws which governed our behaviour swept away. we will remove all remaining domestic restrictions in law.

so, from this thursday, if you test positive in england it won�*t be law to stay at home. from april, only the most vulnerable will get free covid tests but there will be another booster vaccine for the elderly and those at risk. mr speaker, it is time that we got our confidence back. we don�*t lead laws to compel people to be considerate to others, so let us learn to live with this virus. minister, is it too soon to relax restrictions? but covid has never been straightforward. ministers turned up this morning to finalise the details. what is the cabinet minister cancelled, minister? but they were sent away within minutes, the meeting cancelled because the treasury and department of health were still haggling over how much to keep spending on covid tests. ammunition for the opposition. all we've got to date is yet more chaos and disarray. not enough to prepare us for the new variants

which may yet develop, an approach which seems to think that living with covid means simply ignoring it. this morning, he couldn't even persuade his own health secretary to agree the plan. northern ireland has already scrapped its legal restrictions, but scotland and wales are sticking for now and there is concern about the prime minister�*s moves. this statement is not- about protecting the public, it's about the prime minister - scrambling to save his own skin. first and foremost, removing the legal rules will make many practical differences, but it is also the end of a strange and stressful era in england at least, when politicians have passed laws that dictated so many aspects of our lives. for borisjohnson it is, in a way, a welcome relief to satisfy those in his party who believe that the restrictions have been in place for too long and have been too tight. but the pandemic is not over and loosening up

is not without risk. listen to the prime minister�*s sentiment tonight. i do believe this is a moment of pride for our nation. then his top doctors�* caution. we still have high rates of omicron and i would urge people in terms of public health advice, this is very much the government's position, that people should still, if they have covid, try to prevent other people getting it and that means self—isolating. you are scrapping free tests for all, but you are telling . everybody they have _ to take personal responsibility. how can people take personal. responsibility if they may not be able to afford to get a covid test? vulnerable people will continue to have access to free tests. we are going to make sure we invest in surveillance because we want to have the keenest pair of eyes in the crow�*s nest to watch for the iceberg in the form of any variant. the virus is still present, even in windsor castle,

where the 95—year—old queen herself has covid with mild symptoms. another stop on this agonising nationaljourney, that rarest of moments where every single one of us has been affected. and yet while the laws are loosening, the pandemic has not yet gone and is certainly not forgotten. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. let�*s talk about myanmar now, because four days have asked for an emergency meeting and the chair of the council and it is not clear when that might happen. meanwhile, the news agency is reporting that australia�*s prime minister since his country will be in lockstep with its allies and sanctions against russia. japan is also been reported to consider

sanctions on russia united states president has signed an executive order to prohibit trade and investment between us individuals the two breakaway regions of eastern ukraine, recognised as independent ljy ukraine, recognised as independent by russia and that is according to the white house. we will have more for you on that throughout the day on bbc news. so, do be sure to check in to our website as well. bbc dot slashed news. let�*s talk about myanmar now, because four days of hearings have opened at the international court ofjustice — into allegations that the government of myanmar committed genocide against the muslim rohingya minority. this was the scene in the dutch city of the hague, outside the the international court ofjustice, or icj, the mainjudicial body of the united nations — where human rights groups staged protests. myanmar�*s national unity government — that�*s a self—declared government in exile, set up after the military coup — said it would be a profound injustice if myanmar�*s generals were given a voice in court.

it's it�*s very sad and disappointing that icj with the other institutions approved thejunta, the conductors who appointed the genocide. myanmar�*s military government has hit out at the genocide case brought against it. a lawyer representing the country said that the gambia — which was the country which brought the case — does not have the legal right to do so. me and mark contends that the relevant — me and mark contends that the relevant facts are clear. as to the law, _ relevant facts are clear. as to the law, it _ relevant facts are clear. as to the law, it cannot be possible for an organisation to bring a case before the court _ organisation to bring a case before the court by using estate as proxy applicant — the court by using estate as proxy applicant. the the gambia have not provided _ applicant. the the gambia have not provided a — applicant. the the gambia have not provided a response that contention.

while the case was getting under way in the hague, the european union added 22 officials from the militaryjunta in myanmar to its list of sanctioned people — along with four more companies. it said that since the military coup, the situation has continuously and gravely deteriorated. and we�*ll keep you up to date with the hearing, here on bbc news. let�*s take a look at some other stories in the headlines. the launch of donald trump�*s new social media app has suffered technical problems. users have complained about not being able to register. truth social became available in apple�*s "app store" on sunday. the former president was banned from most mainstream platforms following the capitol riot last year. officials in hong kong say they will launch a vaccine pass scheme for shopping malls and restaurants this week as hospitals struggle under the weight of an omicron—driven covid outbreak. daily case numbers rose to a record high of 7,533 infections with 13 deaths including that of a ii—month old child.

one of australia�*s most wanted men will appear in court on tuesday — a day after being recaptured having spent twelve years on the run. gene potter failed to appear in court in 2010, to face charges of conspiracy to murder. he now faces extradition from queensland to victoria, to stand trial. just time to share these pictures with you. mount etna is at it again! europe�*s most active volcano roared back into life yesterday sending a column of volcanic ash ten kilometres into the air. a crater on the southeast side of the volcano spewed lava and sent large clouds of smoke and ash into the sky over the surrounding villages and forcing the nearby catania airport to shut down. the 3,330—metre high volcano on the italian island of sicily erupts several times a year but rarely causes any damage. that�*s all for now —

stay with bbc world news. hello. the weather is looking a little calmer and quieter for the rest of this week. no new named storms, but still some wet and windy weather at times. and of course we�*ve got the legacy of all those storms, still some flooding. this is the picture in shrewsbury in shropshire. and it�*s really through the rest of the day, we�*re going to be continuing to see flood warnings in force, particularly across england and wales. there�*s also been a few for scotland as well. now, all down to the fact that we have got another band of rain approaching from the north—west, so some of that rain�*s going to be falling on areas that really could do without it. still quite a lot of isobars

on the map, so it�*s going to be another breezy day on tuesday, but certainly not those disruptive winds that we�*ve seen recently. to start the day, it�*ll be coldest towards the east. that�*s where we will have had the clearest skies for longest overnight, but rain already across northern ireland and scotland. could be quite heavy through tuesday morning with some blustery winds. that sweeps across northern england into wales, too, and then it will tend to become quite light and patchy as it reaches the south east later in the day. it�*ll be followed by sunshine and showers. some of those showers wintry over the higher ground of scotland, and gusts of wind around about a0 mph for some of us. so, anotherfairly cool—feeling day across scotland and northern ireland where you�*re exposed to the windier conditions, too. but reasonably mild still further south and east. temperatures about 13 degrees, but turning colder behind that cold front as it sweeps eastwards. now, overnight, then, we�*re in that colder air mass and lighter winds and clearer spells, too, so that�*s the recipe for quite a chilly night as we head into the early hours of wednesday. could be a touch of frost, particularly across england and wales. it will cloud over a bit from the north, bringing some rain across northern parts of scotland as we start the day. so, after that fairly cool, but mostly dry start towards the south at least, what we will see is this weather

frontjust making inroads into scotland and northern ireland, so trying to push in. bumping into higher pressure further south. so, that will bring outbreaks of rain, perhaps a bit of mountain snow to scotland, later in the day into northern ireland, perhaps a few showers in the far north west of england later on. but for much of england and wales, thankfully we�*re looking at a drier day on wednesday. some sunshine around, temperatures around about 10—11 degrees in the south, but to the north of that cold front, only around about seven degrees there for stornoway for instance. and then we�*re looking at a colder day more widely on thursday with some blustery showers, another fairly windy—feeling day, but thankfully things looking a little bit warmer, drier and brighter by the time we get to friday. bye for now.

this is bbc news. the headlines — president putin has signed a decree recognising the independence of two breakaway areas of ukraine controlled by russian—backed separatists. in a televised address, he said the donetsk and luhansk areas were ancient russian territories and called the ukrainian government a puppet regime. the announcement is likely to raise tensions with the west significantly. the european union has condemned the move as a blatent violation of international law. it said it would react firmly in solidarity with ukraine. the british government says england�*s remaining covid laws will be abandoned. the prime minister, borisjohnson, said people would no longer be legally required to isolate after a positive test. four days of hearings have opened at the international court ofjustice into allegations that the government of myanmar committed genocide against the muslim rohingya minority. human rights groups have been protesting outside the court in the hague.