welcome to bbc news — i'm david eades — our top stories. international condemnation as russia grants recognition to two breakaway regions of ukraine and announces he is sending troops there. the decisions _ sending troops there. the decisions taken _ sending troops there. he: decisions taken today with the support of the russian citizens, all the patriotic forces of the country. the im act forces of the country. the impact on _ forces of the country. the impact on the _ forces of the country. the impact on the markets i forces of the country. the impact on the markets has been immediate. tokyo stocks are slumping and oil prices are on the rise. cause for celebration in colombia as the country's highest court decriminalise abortion up to 2a weeks of

pregnancy. also living with covid—19, or restrictions in england will end in three days' time despite the concerns of some experts. and dress you up like madonna. the chronic dress worn in the 1984 material girl video is going under auction in california. video is going under auction in california. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. there's been a significant escalation in the ukraine crisis — after the russian president, vladimir putin, said he would recognise two separatist regions of the country — and send troops into the areas. mr putin says they will perform what russia calls peacekeeping functions in the two territories.there's been strong international condemnation of the move — the united nations secretary general described it as a blatant violation of international law — the un security council is to meet in the next few hours to discuss the situation.

the white house said president biden the white house said president biden would impose sanctions on people operating in the breakaway areas of ukraine — luhansk and donetsk — captured by pro—russian groups in 2014. our moscow correspondent, steve rosenberg has the latest. he here is a map to showing you precisely where they are. he here is a map to showing you precisely where they are. 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 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. let's get the words first. the ukrainian president has been speaking to the nation. what is his message? fix, speaking to the nation. what is his message?— speaking to the nation. what is his message? a busy evening for him. he his message? a busy evening for him- he had _ his message? a busy evening for him. he had his— his message? a busy evening for him. he had his own _ his message? a busy evening for him. he had his own security- him. he had his own security council meeting. we saw president putin there in the report. he spoke to british prime minister and to present biden and his key messages were, they are not going to give anything to anybody but they still want to seek a diplomatic solution throughout

all of this. they expect a lot and clear and decisive action from their allies. he uses the phrase, we are not afraid. of course, this is something the american said would happen. the american said would happen. the american said would lead to a greater conflict. the president said we're not afraid. there was a slightly different tone taken by the ukrainian ambassador to the uk speaking to bbc newsnight. let's have a listen. , , ., . ., to bbc newsnight. let's have a listen. , , . . ., ., listen. this is a clear danger to our state. _ listen. this is a clear danger to our state. the _ listen. this is a clear danger to our state. the incursion l listen. this is a clear danger i to our state. the incursion has already— to our state. the incursion has already started. in the ukrainian nation is being called _ ukrainian nation is being called a _ ukrainian nation is being called a historical mistake which _ called a historical mistake which has to be fixed and we have — which has to be fixed and we have to _ which has to be fixed and we have to be aware what he has in mind _ have to be aware what he has in mind. . ,, ., ., , mind. that speaks for itself. ri . ht mind. that speaks for itself. right now. _ mind. that speaks for itself. right now, though, - mind. that speaks for itself. right now, though, the - mind. that speaks for itself. l right now, though, the west, ukraine, nato, they are all united over the fact that this is a breach of international rules and this minsk agreement, the agreement that is how the peace and ease despite the fact that, of course, 13,000 people

died there, as effectively seen as dead by all these people. so the pressure goes to the west who have been talking about sanctions. america says that they are stopping all economic activity related to these two independent regions. {line activity related to these two independent regions. one might wonder how _ independent regions. one might wonder how much _ independent regions. one might wonder how much that - independent regions. one might wonder how much that means. l independent regions. one might. wonder how much that means. and tar: eted wonder how much that means. fific targeted sanctions to wonder how much that means. 2.1c targeted sanctions to people involved in this particular manoeuvre. this two regions. let's have a look at what the uk this is a readout between president of ukraine and boris johnson. so along the same song sheet there. and if we go further the uk says they will explore sending further defensive support to ukraine at the request of the ukrainian government. what could that

support be? this is what the ukrainian ambassador to the uk had to say on that. we ukrainian ambassador to the uk had to say on that.— had to say on that. we have covered more _ had to say on that. we have covered more or _ had to say on that. we have covered more or less - had to say on that. we have covered more or less the i had to say on that. we have i covered more or less the tank, the immediate threat of the tank— the immediate threat of the tank incursion. we now have enough _ tank incursion. we now have enough to— tank incursion. we now have enough to cover the tanks which could _ enough to cover the tanks which could cross our border. we see trouble — could cross our border. we see trouble in — could cross our border. we see trouble in air. that is where our— trouble in air. that is where our efforts are concentrating right — our efforts are concentrating right now. our efforts are concentrating right nova— right now. interesting he is lookin: right now. interesting he is looking ahead _ right now. interesting he is looking ahead at _ right now. interesting he is looking ahead at the - right now. interesting he is. looking ahead at the military prospects of what lies next but just focusing for a moment on those separatist areas, now decreed as independent states by president putin, what has been a level of activity there, as we understand?— as we understand? there are reorts, as we understand? there are reports, witnesses _ as we understand? there are reports, witnesses saying - as we understand? there are | reports, witnesses saying they saw tanks along the borders there and it is unverified reports about what is actually happened. what is interesting here is that the diplomatic solution is still being flagged up solution is still being flagged up by solution is still being flagged up by france who say that a meeting between foreign ministers, between russia and

france, they hope will still go ahead on friday, and america say they also hope that all diplomatic avenues will be pursued until tanks roll in their words. pursued until tanks roll in theirwords. so pursued until tanks roll in their words. so we have the sense that there are these very selective sanctions. they have not got all the way and there is an ambiguity that we were not aware of before. the big question is, of course, how far president putin will go beyond the borders of the separatist states. . ~' , ., , the borders of the separatist states. ., ~ , ., , . states. thank you very much indeed for — states. thank you very much indeed for that. _ states. thank you very much indeed for that. i _ states. thank you very much indeed for that. i want - states. thank you very much indeed for that. i want to - indeed for that. i want to bring in another guest. i want to bring in another guest. jeffrey edmonds was the director of russia for the us national security council from 2014 to 2017. he's in washington. thank you for your time. it does feel as if there is a diplomatic nicety here that as long as there are issues involving the separatist regions that is different to moving any further into ukraine. how much license do you think president putin feels he has now for further you think president putin feels he has now forfurther action? he has now for further action? and he has now forfurther action? and is he going to take it? i

think he is going to take it. if you listen to what you said today, when you look back at the really crazy treaties he offered nato and the us in december in a kind of maximalist demands he has, you take that along with the fact that over 70% of the russian military is on the border of ukraine, i don't think this stops in the east. he is bigger designs in ukraine. this is more thanjust about designs in ukraine. this is more than just about ukraine. it is about the long litany of grievances you mentioned in a speech today going back for decades that really involve making sure that russia is in the centre of the discussion about security in europe. we don't need 70% of your military on the border to just recognise these separatist regions. i think there is a bigger operation that is going to take place. operation that is going to take lace. ~ operation that is going to take . lace, . ~' ., ., place. where the ukrainian ambassador _ place. where the ukrainian ambassador to _ place. where the ukrainian ambassador to the - place. where the ukrainian ambassador to the uk, - place. where the ukrainian . ambassador to the uk, former foreign minister, saying we are worried about the air and naval

positions as well. they can see what might be coming. sanctions are not going to be much of a turn—off for president putin, are they? so merck i do think the other have been. he is overly optimistic as to how well russia will survive these sanctions. lives about them in the past and the ever larger servants i think he kinda feels that russia can weather this but i also feel that this is an existential thing for him and so i don't think sanctions, there is no way he's going to walk back from theirs and i don't think sanctions will drive them to do so. if he steps forward, it is one thing, isn't it? to move boldly towards kyiv or however he wants to go, holding territory is a whole different ball game. so merck i don't know that he has a long—term plan for that. the other i get is, when you listen to his discussion, his speech, you get the sense that he is overly optimistic about

how much support he is going to actually get in ukraine for russia taking over half of the country. i think that is problematic but i am not sure he is thought that through. i imagine they surround kyiv and try to create some kind of scenario that makes it look like the ukrainians themselves put a new government there and i don't know that is going to last so don't think this phase out well in the long term. i'm very conscious that we are perhaps ahead of ourselves. we really must recognise where the activities at the moment. that said, and given your remarks, do you feel perhaps that even during your time and the national security council, there has been an underestimation of vladimir putin's long—term determination to do something perhaps not just about ukraine, perhaps further afield, just about ukraine, perhaps furtherafield, but further afield, but particularly ukraine? furtherafield, but particularly ukraine? 1 further afield, but articularl ukraine? ~ particularly ukraine? i think, es. particularly ukraine? i think, yes- that _ particularly ukraine? i think, yes- that is _ particularly ukraine? i think, yes. that is probably - particularly ukraine? i think, yes. that is probably true. i particularly ukraine? i think, | yes. that is probably true. we often — yes. that is probably true. we often overestimate the sense of narrative —

often overestimate the sense of narrative in the sense of legacy— narrative in the sense of legacy that he sees himself playing in the country's history _ playing in the country's history. 0verthe playing in the country's history. over the last year when _ history. over the last year when he _ history. over the last year when he has talked about red lines. — when he has talked about red lines. it— when he has talked about red lines. it is— when he has talked about red lines, it is a really long and boring _ lines, it is a really long and boring article on history and much — boring article on history and much of— boring article on history and much of the same things he said today— much of the same things he said today in— much of the same things he said today in so— much of the same things he said today in so i think we underestimate the fact that there — underestimate the fact that there is, _ underestimate the fact that there is, i don't like to reduce _ there is, i don't like to reduce russia to one person, as an analyst, _ reduce russia to one person, as an analyst, but in this particular case, he is one person— particular case, he is one person with very few advisers and i— person with very few advisers and i think we underestimate the narrative and the directions you might take to fulfil— directions you might take to fulfil that.— fulfil that. that is 20 years of one person _ fulfil that. that is 20 years of one person at _ fulfil that. that is 20 years of one person at the - fulfil that. that is 20 years of one person at the top i fulfil that. that is 20 years | of one person at the top as well. thank you very much for joining us. thank you. we'll have more on the situation a little bit later in the bulletin are these the effect on the markets butjust for now, let's have a look at some of the day's of the news. 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 0micron—driven covid outbreak. daily case numbers rose

to a record high of 7,533 infections with 13 deaths including that of a 11—month old child. 10 would—be robbers have been killed in south africa during a foiled cash heist. police acting on a tip—off stopped the attempted robbery in a suburb ofjohannesburg. 0fficers said a gang of 25 gunmen was targeting a vehicle carrying cash. eight have been arrested while the others are on the run. weather forecasters in portugal say the country is facing it worst drought in more than 15 years. they say more than 90 % of the country is now affected by the dry conditions. farmers say they're being particularly badly hit and have called for government help. in past years, such dry spells have often led to massive wildfires in the summer. the chilean government is returning to easter island one of the huge stone statues removed from there more than a hundred—and—fifty years ago. the monolith, depicting a human figure, will be taken by ship

on a five—day journey to the remote pacific island, which belongs to chile. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: we will tell you how you can dress up like the material girl herself, if that is what you want to do. herself, if that is what you want to do. 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 bbc news, the latest headlines. you are watching bbc news. the latest headlines: international condemnation is russia's president says he is recognising two breakaway regions of east ukraine and descending trips there. we will stay on that is our main story but from a slightly different perspective now. stock markets around the world, how are they reacting to these escalating tensions? reacting to these escalating tensions? our business correspondent mariko 0ijoins us from singapore with more on the story. a bit ofa a bit of a diplomatic quake today. what impact has that had? ~ , had? well, david, the first reaction — had? well, david, the first reaction we _ had? well, david, the first reaction we saw _ had? well, david, the first reaction we saw was - had? well, david, the first reaction we saw was in - had? well, david, the first reaction we saw was in oil| reaction we saw was in oil prices currently trading at the

highest level in about seven years. and then, of course, had asian stock markets starting to trade on tuesday morning. australia, japan and south korea starting to react down one half or 2% and then hong kong as well as chinese markets. they are all down. in case you're wondering why they are not reacting more that is because investors have been on edge for weeks now. there have been a number of warnings about an imminent attack even last week. the stock markets have been on somewhat of a roller—coaster ride and that is why we are not seeing a bigger reaction but of course we have the european markets and wall street reopening later today. wall street was closed for holiday yesterday but if you look at futures they do point to heavy losses at the opening. you mentioned some of this has been factored in already but 2% is still a big hit, isn't it?

where are the safe havens? where are the safe havens? where are the safe havens? where are people prepared to put their money, then? indeed. at a time _ put their money, then? indeed. at a time of— put their money, then? indeed. at a time of crisis _ put their money, then? indeed. at a time of crisis like _ put their money, then? indeed. at a time of crisis like this - at a time of crisis like this versus prefer should at safe haven asset so gold prices rising sharply today, currencies like the us dollar and the japanese yen. so they are strengthening as well. maybe not as much but that is because they've been reacting to the day's move. and of course, as those tensions escalate and as diplomacy continues trying to resolve the situation we will continue to monitor the stock market's reaction. monitor the stock market's reaction-— reaction. the usual girl is very important _ reaction. the usual girl is very important when - reaction. the usual girl is very important when with reaction. the usual girl is - very important when with regard to russia and the european union and western europe invite not based the gas pipeline in terms of sanctions at the moment. has that had any impact

on gas prices rocketing up anything?— on gas prices rocketing up anything? not 'ust yet but we're starting _ anything? notjust yet but we're starting to - anything? notjust yet but we're starting to hear- anything? notjust yet but| we're starting to hear from anything? notjust yet but i we're starting to hear from a lot of analysts warning that this could lead to higher gas prices and again, in the lead up prices and again, in the lead up to today's move we have seen gas rising in the uk and elsewhere in europe as well. there are quite a lot of warnings that if detentions deteriorate even this could have a significant impact on gas prices. have a significant impact on gas prices-— gas prices. thank you. columbia's _ gas prices. thank you. i columbia's constitutional gas prices. thank you. - columbia's constitutional court has decriminalised abortion in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy and the decision was celebrated by activists who have been campaigning very hard and for many years for change. they argue that illegal abortions risk the lives of thousands of colombian women every year, especially among the poor. a correspondentjoins me now.

thank you very much indeed for joining us. just give us a census to the significance, as you see it, of court ruling. this is a landmark ruling that the court handed down today. it turns columbia into the most advanced country in the latin american and caribbean region in terms of the right to abortion. so it is historic and we hope that these ruling inspires other countries in this region to further decriminalise abortion to protect women from unsafe abortions. protect women from unsafe abortions-— abortions. we have seen celebrations _ abortions. we have seen celebrations outside - abortions. we have seen celebrations outside the | abortions. we have seen - celebrations outside the court and there is no hiding the jubilation going on there but i do need to ask you, we are

talking about a strong country. we have not heard from the church yet. how secure do you feel with this court decision? because one might expect some sort of, if not a backlash, an attempt to row back again. this is something — attempt to row back again. this is something that _ attempt to row back again. “113 is something that we saw in 2006 when the women's league actually had the first big case on abortion within this court and of course there will be attempts to backlash but as in 2006 we are optimistic and we will defend these victories. with all the tools that we have. this is a ruling from a highest court of the country and it must be respected by citizens. ., , ., ., , and it must be respected by citizens. ., , ., ., citizens. columbia has gone from a very _ citizens. columbia has gone from a very rigid _ citizens. columbia has gone from a very rigid position i citizens. columbia has gone| from a very rigid position on abortion too, she put it there,

the most progressive country now in south america. are you surprised at the sort of scale of the jump, surprised at the sort of scale of thejump, if surprised at the sort of scale of the jump, if you like, surprised at the sort of scale of thejump, if you like, in legislative perspectives here? well, this is another victory of the green wave movement that is in latin america. there is trend in this region of going doing the steps forward so it was, it is not surprising that colombia is the next with a very vibrant women's rights movement here.— very vibrant women's rights movement here. thank you very much for talking _ movement here. thank you very much for talking us _ movement here. thank you very much for talking us through - much for talking us through that. the british prime confirmed that people in england test positive for covid will no longer be required to

isolate. borisjohnson said the change was part of attempts to live with the virus. the legislation will be replaced with guidance to stay at home for five days.— for five days. today is not the da we for five days. today is not the day we can — for five days. today is not the day we can declare _ for five days. today is not the day we can declare victory - for five days. today is not the | day we can declare victory over covid because this virus is not going away. but it is the day where all the efforts of the last two years finally enabled us to protect ourselves whilst restoring our liberties. in full. and, after two of the darkest, grimmest years in our peacetime history, i do believe this is a moment of pride for our nation and a source of hope for all that we can achieve in the years to come.— for all that we can achieve in the years to come. the end of those restrictions _ the years to come. the end of those restrictions kicking - the years to come. the end of those restrictions kicking on i those restrictions kicking on thursday. madonna fans should definitely be checking their bank balance because the entire outfit she wore in the �*material girl�* video is going under the hammer in may as part of the music icons auction in california. wendy urquhart reports

it is one of the most historic and iconic pieces of my donor and we have it on the cover of our catalogue but very few items that this iconic of hers are in the public domain, so we anticipate it will sell for a lot of money. we anticipate one or $200,000 for this dress is very conservative. the ambassador to albania speaking there as they discuss

the decision taken by president putin in the course the day to recognise two breakaway regions in eastern ukraine. and to commercially put it, sending peacekeeping troops to those regions. there has been general widespread condemnation certainly from western countries with regard to that. the us ambassador to the un has said that mr putin has torn up the minsk agreement, torn it to shreds, in his words. i'd added that the us does not believe he will stop at that. so the threat of sanctions has been raised for some time. there are sanctions to be taken certainly by the uk and probably by the us as well with regard to those particular regions. but no further sanctions unless, and until, there is any invasion of the rest of ukraine. that session carries on a wheel give across it for you and you can

get the latest on the analysis on our website. 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 40 mph for some of us. so, another fairly 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, anotherfairly 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: international condemnation as russia grants recognition to two breakaway regions of ukraine and announces they are sending peacekeeping troops there. the un is meeting to discuss the situation. the impact on the markets has been immediate. tokyo stocks are slumping and oil prices are on the rise. cause for celebration in colombia, as the country's highest court decriminalises abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. activists argued illegal abortions risked lives.

now on bbc news, we follow the oystermen of the river fal