welcome to bbc news. our top stories. international condemnation as russia's president putin grants recognition of two breakaway regions of east ukraine. the un security council meets to discuss the situation. today president — discuss the situation. today president putin _ discuss the situation. today president putin has - discuss the situation. today president putin has torn - discuss the situation. today i president putin has tom the president putin has torn the minsk agreement to shreds. we have been clear that we do not believe he will stop at that. the impact on the markets has been immediate and significant. tokyo stocks have slumped, oil prices are rising. cause for celebration in colombia as the country's highest court to

decriminalise abortion up to 2a weeks of pregnancy. also, living with covid—i9. all restrictions in england will end on three days' time despite the concerns of some experts. and dress you up like madonna. the iconic dress worn in the i984 the iconic dress worn in the 1984 material girl video is going up for auction in california. thanks for being with us. there has been a significant escalation in the ukraine crisis. that is after the russian president signed decrees recognising two separatist regions of ukraine. that is done yet and the handsome. he said it would send peacekeeping troops into those two territories. there's been a strong international

condemnation of the move and the un security council meeting to discuss the matter has been a forum for some of those comments. the ambassador to the un said the word could not look away in the face of such hostility. away in the face of such hostility-— away in the face of such hostili . ., ._ , hostility. today, president putin is touring _ hostility. today, president putin is touring the - hostility. today, president putin is touring the minsk| putin is touring the minsk agreement to shreds. we have been clear that we do not be clear he will be stop at light of president peter's latest actions, we must all stand up for the principles on which this organisation was founded. the us will be announcing new sanctions on russia in the course of tuesday. our correspondent has the details of a big day. 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. not long before the un security council started its session the ukrainian president gave an address to the nation. i asked our news reporter what his message was. he our news reporter what his message was-— our news reporter what his messaue was. . , ., message was. he hand his own security council _ message was. he hand his own security council meeting. - message was. he hand his own security council meeting. we i security council meeting. we saw president putin's wine industry's report. you spoke to president biden and the british prime minister 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. interestingly he said we are not afraid. of course, this is something that 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. was a slightly different tone taken by the ukrainian ambassador to the uk speaking to bbc newsnight. let's have a listen to how he put it.— to how he put it. this is a clear danger _ to how he put it. this is a clear danger to _ to how he put it. this is a clear danger to our - to how he put it. this is ai clear danger to our state. to how he put it. this is a - clear danger to our state. when the nuclear nation is calling your— the nuclear nation is calling your nation a historical mistake which has to be fixed, yes, _ mistake which has to be fixed, yes, you — mistake which has to be fixed, yes, you have to be worried what — yes, you have to be worried what he _ yes, you have to be worried what he has in mind.- what he has in mind. that seaks what he has in mind. that speaks for _ what he has in mind. that speaks for itself. - what he has in mind. that speaks for itself. right. what he has in mind. that. speaks for itself. right now, though, the west, ukraine, the eu, nato, they will united over the fact this is a breach of international rules and also this minsk agreement, the agreement that has held the piece in the east despite the fact that 13,000 people have

died there, is effectively seen as dead bail these people. so the pressure goes on to the west to have been talking about sanctions and we've been reporting it for many weeks now. what they do? america says that they are us economic activity related to these two independent regions. fine 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 wonder how much that means. indeed. and targeted sanctions, very targeted sanctions to people involved in this particular manoeuvre, this related to this too regions. let's have a look at what the uk has been saying. this is a reader between prime minister borisjohnson and the ukrainian president. the uk is already drawn up sanctions to target those complicit in the violation of ukraine's territorial integrity and those measures will come into force on tuesday. 0n the same song sheet there and if they go further the uk said 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 ambassador to the uk had to say

on that. we ambassador to the uk had to say on that. ~ ., _, ., on that. we have covered more or less the _ on that. we have covered more or less the tank, _ on that. we have covered more or less the tank, immediate - or less the tank, immediate threat — or less the tank, immediate threat of— or less the tank, immediate threat of the tank into june. we now— threat of the tank into june. we now have enough to cover all the which — we now have enough to cover all the which could tanks cross a border — the which could tanks cross a border. we have some troubles with the — border. we have some troubles with the sea and that is where our efforts are concentrating right — our efforts are concentrating right now. is our efforts are concentrating right "ow-— right now. is looking essentially - right now. is looking essentially head - right now. is looking essentially head at l right now. is looking i essentially head at the military prospects of what lies next butjust military prospects of what lies next but just focusing military prospects of what lies next butjust focusing for a moment on those separatist areas, now decreed as independent states by president putin, what has been the level of activity there, as we understand?— of activity there, as we understand? ~ , , understand? when this is saying the had understand? when this is saying they had seen — understand? when this is saying they had seen tanks _ understand? when this is saying they had seen tanks along - understand? when this is saying they had seen tanks along the l they had seen tanks along the borders there. and it is unverified reports about what is actually happening. what is interesting is the diplomatic solution is still being flagged up solution is still being flagged up tjy solution is still being flagged up by fans who say a meeting between foreign ministers, between foreign ministers, between russia and france, there will still go ahead on friday and america saying that they also hope all diplomatic

avenues will be pursued until tanks roll, in their words that we have a sense that there are selective sections, they haven't gone all the waivers that there was an ambiguity that there was an ambiguity that we were not aware of before. but the big question is how far president will go beyond the borders of the separatist states.- separatist states. senior political _ separatist states. senior political scientist - separatist states. senior political scientist at - separatist states. senior political scientist at the l separatist states. senior - political scientist at the rand corporation, a research operation, he is a russia specialist injoint is operation, he is a russia specialist in joint is now from washington. thank you for joining us. can i do is have heard the us ambassador to the un saying that the minsk agreement, the peace agreement has been torn to shreds but also the white house saying, we will announce sanctions on tuesday. is that going to make a blind bit of difference, do you think? i a blind bit of difference, do you think?— a blind bit of difference, do ou think? ~' ,, ., , you think? i think the us has siunalled you think? i think the us has signalled thus _ you think? i think the us has signalled thus far _ you think? i think the us has signalled thus far that - you think? i think the us has signalled thus far that they l signalled thus far that they are not going to really pull out the full extent of the

arsenal for what russia has done to this point. i think they're reserving the, you know, approach to sanctions for something that goes beyond the separatist areas in the donbas which, although russia has not recognised them as independent, russia has been invading for almost eight years. so the extent to which the status quo changed the factor today, think they're trying to leave some ambiguity there because really, what everyone is worried about, not the forces on the border with separatist areas, but all the russian forces when on the other pieces of the border with ukraine. ~ ,,., , ukraine. absolutely. the ambassador _ ukraine. absolutely. the ambassador was - ukraine. absolutely. the ambassador was making | ukraine. absolutely. the . ambassador was making the ukraine. absolutely. the - ambassador was making the point that he is testing the west, effectively, in seeing how far it is prepared to respond to his own movements. do you think that we will see russian military activity these separatist regions in the next days and weeks?— separatist regions in the next

days and weeks? find it hard to believe that _ days and weeks? find it hard to believe that the _ days and weeks? find it hard to believe that the recognition - believe that the recognition movies the end of the story. it just does not make sense to have built up this force alone basically everywhere except the border with the separatist regions just to recognise the separatist regions and send the rest of the troops home. i would argue the better way to read what happened is that russia is creating a pretext for its own perspective to engage in an overt military campaign. in other words it not only recognised republics but signed mutual security packs with them all in one fell swoop. and therefore, it has the sort of legal, again, in russia's twisted definition of legal, right to defend them should there be a ukrainian attack which, as we have seen,

russia has been expert at manufacturing over the last week so i think this is really just the start of something much bigger, frankly. tote just the start of something much bigger, frankly. we have to wait to _ much bigger, frankly. we have to wait to see, _ much bigger, frankly. we have to wait to see, obviously. - much bigger, frankly. we have to wait to see, obviously. if. to wait to see, obviously. if we then extend beyond ukraine, we then extend beyond ukraine, we have heard words of anxiety from the baltic states, for example, not that they feel under director immediate threat but you can understand the anxieties. they are nato members. would you presume that really would be a step too far? ever make yes. i don't expect russia will deliberately target nato member states are deliberately tried to expand this conflict beyond ukraine. it is just that, you know, this conflict beyond ukraine. it isjust that, you know, the donbas and the separatist held regions are something like 3% of ukraine's settle territory. the forces that russia has within two hours drive of kyiv are quite significant as well.

ijust think that are quite significant as well. i just think that politically the recognition does not itself solve any problems russia has identified for itself. while i think there's going to be the need for additional deterrence, the member states worship of orders, i think i don't see russia looking to expand into a russia looking to expand into a russia nato conflict. thank you very much indeed. just to say that obviously, things are moving pretty fast and i wonder if we can show the un security council for a if we can show the un security councilfor a moment if we can show the un security council for a moment because as you can see, the russian federation, the ambassador to russia speaking now and we will bring you a notification as to what he has to say and also, if you want more, do go to the website. we have got the latest analysis from all of our correspondence covering the story. 0r correspondence covering the story. or of course you can download the bbc news app.

download it once, you've got it forever and we will have all the latest developments. lets catch up in other news from around the world. 0fficials catch up in other news from around the world. officials in hong kong say they are going to launch a vaccine purse scheme for shopping malls and restaurants this because hospitals are struggling under the weight of an immigrant driven covid outbreak. daily case numbers rose to record high beyond infections including 13 deaths. among them, and their 11—month—old child. ten would—be robbers have been killed in south africa during a foiled cash heists. police acting on a tip—off stop the attempted robbery in a suburb of johannesburg. 0fficers robbery in a suburb of johannesburg. officers say a gang of gunmen was targeting a vehicle carrying cash was up eight have been arrested and the rest are said to be on the run. the chilean government is returning to easter island one of these huge stone statues

removed from their more than 150 years ago. the monolith, which depicts a human figure, will be taken by ship on a island which does belong to chile. stay with us. a lot more to bring you including this iconic address. we can tell you how you can dress up just like the material girl herself. 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. you are watching bbc news. our main headlines this hour. international condemnation is the russian president says he will recognise two breakaway regions of east ukraine and he is sending troops there. ijust want to focus on this. it is obviously our main story. 12 points to bring up, though,

because there are developments all the time as we have just been saying and we have got some pictures to bring you, actually. these are from the outskirts of donetsk, the capital one of these two breakaway regions in eastern ukraine that at this as a few hours after the recognition by president putin of their status as independent states. you can see these military vehicles coming through. no marks on them also so we don't have categoric verification as to who is are. but as i said, just coming a short while after mr putin's announcement that he would be sending peacekeeping troops. in the last couple of minutes, russia's ambassador to the un has also said to un security session which is under way now that a new bloodbath in donbas is something we do not intend to do. so we will keep a very close eye on that. it is all, of course, having

reverberations around the world not least in the world of the stock markets. however they reacting? we canjoin our correspondent in singapore for us. what is the latest? the first reaction _ us. what is the latest? the first reaction we _ us. what is the latest? the first reaction we saw- us. what is the latest? tue: first reaction we saw was us. what is the latest? tte: first reaction we saw was in oil prices which are currently trading at the highest level in about seven years. then, of course, we had a job's stock markets reopening for trade. australia, japan, south korea, although pinning between one and a half to 2% lower. we were thenjoined by hong kong's index as well as the chinese markets and they are all currently trading one 1/2—3% lower. to a 3% fall is quite significant but in case you're wondering why the reaction was not an even bigger that is because investors have been on edge for many weeks now. there were a number of warnings of an imminent attack even last week so the stock markets here have been on a roller—coaster ride and that is why the reaction may not be as bad as one may

have expected. of course we will continue to monitor how the european markets reopen as well as wall street. the us stock markets were closed for a public holiday yesterday but features indicate that there will be some masters at tuesday's open. at, will be some masters at tuesday's open. a public hohda tuesday's open. a public holiday in _ tuesday's open. a public holiday in the _ tuesday's open. a public holiday in the fight - tuesday's open. a public holiday in the fight we i tuesday's open. a public. holiday in the fight we have heard the us ambassador to the un with some pretty feisty words in the security council session at the moment and washington at the heart of this as one would expect. well street would feel it is at the rough end of this.— rough end of this. indeed. while we _ rough end of this. indeed. while we are _ rough end of this. indeed. while we are expecting i rough end of this. indeed. i while we are expecting those potential losses on wall street, the same time, at a time of crisis like this, investors like to go to what is known as safe haven asset so we are talking about gold prices, going up quite sharply, as well as currencies like the japanese yen and the us dollar. they've been strengthening again. the reaction has been taking place

already in the lead up to today's latest development but still, we are seeing those safe assets doing quite well as well. of course, oil prices, energy prices are the focus, traders are very much concerned about potential disruptions to supplies of oil, energy and other commodities as well. thank you very much indeed. i just want to add a couple of points because russia's ambassador to the un was speaking a moment ago. he did add that russia remains open to diplomacy and it is the ambassador to ukraine he was speaking now. we'll bring you his comments as they roll into us here at bbc news. i want to focus on columbia for a moment because the constitutional court there has two decriminalised abortion in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. it is a decision that was

celebrated by activists campaigning long and hard for change. they argued that illegal abortions risk the lives of thousands of women every year especially among the pooh every year especially among the poor. i have been speaking to our correspondence and asked her how significant she felt this ruling is. the other make this ruling is. the other make this is a landmark ruling that the constitutional court of colombia handed down today. it turns colombia 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 this ruling inspires other countries of this region and other regions to further decriminalise abortion to protect women from unsafe abortions. we have seen the celebrations outside the court. there is no hiding the jubilation going on there. but

i do need to ask you, we are talking about colombia, strong catholic country. we have not heard from the church yet. how secure do you feel with this court decision? because one might expect some kind of if not a backlash, an attempt to row back again?— row back again? well, this is something — row back again? well, this is something that _ row back again? well, this is something that we _ row back again? well, this is something that we saw - row back again? well, this is something that we saw also | row back again? well, this is - something that we saw also 2006 when the charity actually read the first big case around abortion within this court and of course there will be attempts but as in 2006 we are optimistic and we will defend this victory with all the tools that we have. this is a ruling from the highest court of the country. it must be respected by citizens and by other powers. by citizens and by other powers-— by citizens and by other owers. ., ., , ., ., by citizens and by other �*0wers- ., ., , ., ., ., powers. colombia has gone from a very rigid _

a very rigid position on abortion too as you put it there, the most progressive country in south america. are you surprised at the sort of scale ofjump, if you like, in legislative perspectives here? well, this is another victory of the green wave movement that is in latin america. there is a trend in this region of going and doing the steps forward in reproductive rights so it is not surprising that colombia is the next with a vibrant women's rights movement here. we have im ortant rights movement here. we have important moments _ rights movement here. we have important moments with - rights movement here. we have important moments with regard | important moments with regard to ukraine and russia. the un security council is in session at the moment. this is the ukrainian ambassador to the un. we werejust listening ukrainian ambassador to the un. we were just listening for a moment or two. we

we were just listening for a moment or two.— we were just listening for a moment or two. we must do all we can to _ moment or two. we must do all we can to make _ moment or two. we must do all we can to make sure _ moment or two. we must do all we can to make sure that - moment or two. we must do all we can to make sure that the i we can to make sure that the problem of donbas is result of implementation of the minsk agreements. that was said here in the security council chamber just four days ago. said by the russian deputy foreign minister in the chair of the president of the council. with reference to president putin. president putin, who has taken the decision that we discussed today, is a threat to the rules —based order, to the un charter, in particular article two of the charter.- charter, in particular article two of the charter. that is the ukrainian _ two of the charter. that is the ukrainian ambassador - two of the charter. that is the ukrainian ambassador laying l two of the charter. that is the i ukrainian ambassador laying out the importance of the issue of the importance of the issue of the donbas. we had from the russian ambassador saying there was no intention for a new bloodbath in donbas either. we will keep across that. the prime minister has confirmed that people in england who test positive for covid—19 were no longer be legally required to isolate from thursday. mr

johnson said the change is part of attempts to live with the virus and the laws will be replaced with guidance to stay at home for five days.- replaced with guidance to stay at home for five days. today is not the day — at home for five days. today is not the day we _ at home for five days. today is not the day we declare - at home for five days. today is not the day we declare victoryl not the day we declare victory over covid because this virus is not going away. but it is the day when all the efforts of the day when 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. t achieve in the years to come. i did promise you a bit more on that iconic dress. madonna's material girl video address. it is going under the hammer in may as part of a music icons auction in california. the pink satin dress made for the 1980

tv movie norma jean mentored to madonna for the material girl video. they reckon it could go for 100— video. they reckon it could go for 100- $200,000. video. they reckon it could go for 100— $200,000. maybe more. that is bbc 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 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 troops there. the unsc 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. tens of billions of dollars has come off the value of assets. 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.