>> from ukraine, germany russia. western leaders declare the moscow backed referendum to be illegal. the west is set to respond to eu ministers meeting this monday to decide on further tough sanctions against russia. the city of smog. the french government imposes harsh restrictions on city drivers as officials battle record pollution levels. hello and welcome to "france 24 ." top story -- and eu foreign minister due to discuss further sanctions against russia this

monday. the meeting comes a day after moscow acta referendum in crimea voting to step from ukraine. the 28 member bloc is considering a visa ban in an effort against a number of high-ranking russian officials. election officials in crimea essay some 97% of voters backed joining russia with moscow saying it will accept the result .ill sto >> last night they were raucous, joyous, celebratory. whatever we can say about the conducted,erendum is it did reflect the opinion of the majority of the people living in crimea. they were exalted last night. they feel they got what they had been wanting for many years. probably since the breakup of the soviet union. they have been chomping at the bit, wanting to get away from crime era. crimeay have had -- from

. now they have had the referendum. they cannot wait to be incorporated into the russian federation. there is no doubt in their minds that that is what will happen when the meeting takes place to discuss the application. they may be disappointed, but his heart -- but it is hard to see that at this point. at least 40% of the population of crimea is not russian. many of the ukrainians, it has to be said, did vote for unification, 50% or so did not. tartar muslim population seems to have voted en masse yesterday. i have spoken to many who have already been leaving the country. packing up their bags and going to other towns. nearby provinces. many will be considering

adoption because they do not want to become russian citizens. they feel this is their home and they have always been here. long before the russians came here, they were here and they are not going anywhere. can't wesaying why hold a referendum, talk about secession from russia? this future is very uncertain for them. >> in the crimea and regional ofital, there are statements mass celebrations on the streets. but in the ukrainian capital of very differenta mood. residentsoomy seen as watch the crimean referendum results with disbelief. >> my brother is living in russia. my nephews are working in moscow. , it is going on here unbelievable. who could imagine something like this.

it is not a referendum, it is a theatrical performance, russia written -- russia legalizing the takeover of crime era. >> an emergency session was held. the prime minister said to bring to justice those encouraging separatism in crimea and said the government had agreed to 500 million euro on extra defense. >> considering the current threats on ukrainian borders and the military aggression by the russian federation, we must make a decision today and immediately set up a reserve fund designating it to finance mobilization from idolization -- for modernization. >> tensions at the border after russian troops centered in a

village outside the border saturday and took control of it local gaster who bhushan center. sunday, ukrainian soldiers blocked a nearby road and begin digging trenches as russian helicopters flew low over their tanks. are meeting this monday to discuss sanctions over what they consider to be an illegitimate fight. top of ouringly, the agenda will be the situation in ukraine and to look at the results of the so-called referendum. i don't have to remind any of you that it could fall under international law. i call upon russia yet again to meet with the ukrainian leaders to start dialogue with them. to thetry and move escalation phase as quickly as possible. >> for more on the story, i am joined by our international reporter.

douglas, how tough were the sanctions and -- will be sanctions be and how worried is vladimir putin? >> two totally separate questions. it is easy to hear us yawn when we hear you officials -- either you -- when we hear eu officials talk about sections. everyone has been in their own corner with different interests, more dependence, less dependence on russia. what we are seeing in catherine ashton and angela merkel is a change in tone. angela merkel has given up on vladimir putin or is showing signs of her patients snapping. she has been the one talking to you and -- to put in and understanding him on a different level. she said he seems to be in a different mold -- that is partially the answer to one of your questions. it is hard to judge how vladimir putin will react to the sanctions. the public line from the kremlin -smanctions,ctions

we don't really care. they are targeting officials close to put in -- the head of security service, the defense minister, the head of the state-run gas monopoly. this is the top-tier list. presumably in a first run of sanctions it would be visa bans. slightly low level officials so they keep some ammunition so they can escalate if putin were then to move on to steps beyond just crimea, ruling military hardware into other parts of ukraine. they want some leeway. the real question with the economic sanctions. will europe be able to speak in the collective voice, give us a sizable economic interest with russia. $600 billion of exports of russia to europe. $500 million from europe to russia. can europe go it alone and step up to the plate and get tough?

russianard from the foreign minister saying that russia has no intent of sending troops into other parts of eastern ukraine. do you think that likely is to be the case? >> we are the parliament say a couple weeks ago they had no intent to move military hardware within crimea. before i went to crimea, if you had asked me what i be sent here today talking about a military intervention -- i would have said absolutely not. scenario, sotable i would not put too much stock in the official statements out of the foreign ministry and surgery lavrov. -- on certain lavrov. he has been taken off guard by the variance of many of the civilian russian pro militias, not just the soldiers but the civilian to have been in favor. in a sense they have almost

out-putined hooton. strategist.e is a he would like to rebuild parts along czarist empire czarist lines. whether he is ready to take no from crimea to the rest of ukraine, eastern ukraine, i am not going to get off the fence on that one. i do not know at this point. we have seen unrest in part to the ukraine, some deadly clashes. we have seen accusations from the government in kiev that the kremlin is fomenting unrest to whip up the local population into a frenzy and create a pretext for intervention. i think putin will want to strike a deal with ukraine. don't join europe, the russians greater rights. >> thank you so much for that. two other news -- australia has joined some 24 other countries

as the search continues for the missing malaysian airlines plane. malaysian officials say the boeing 777 was intentionally diverted. it could have flown on a northern or southern arc. the corona has more. day 10 of the multinational search operation is still no sign of the malaysian airlines jet. it now lies on the people on board. sabotaged.wo is it includes all of the ground staff. >> authorities are interested on the last words from the plane cockpit before it went missing. according to aviation experts, the casual handoff abandoned radio protocol.

a pilot should have read back instructions to traffic control. malaysian police are checking the flight simulator sent from the home of the captain. -- thes the pilot copilot has also been searched. there's no evidence so far linking either of the two pilots doing any wrong doing. their friends described them as responsible and well mannered. and tothing like this, her 200 people plus their families -- there is no way i think he would be involved. family, actively involved in community outreach. he is a very polite young man. >> a while, the search continues with 25 countries covering a vast area stretching from central asi.

>> the families of the passengers continued to express fury at the malaysian government. malaysia talked nonsense and lied, which delayed the search and rescue for a days. we want an expiration for this. this is totally different from a plane crashing or having some problems. they have cheated us and made a disaster worse. should have been found ages ago. but if it cannot be found or something happen, it is the government's problem. on, there has been further clashes in venezuela. police used tear gas to disperse a crowd of antigovernment protesters sunday. molotovhurled rocks and cocktails at the national guard. at least 25 people have died since the crisis began. they are against crime,

inflation, and food shortages. no longer the city of light but the city of smog. high pollution levels in paris have prompted the french government to impose major restrictions. only motorists who have odd-numbered registration plates will be allowed to drive on sunday. catherine clifford explains. >> the eiffel tower, visible once again in the paris skyline after spending several days shrouded by smog. french authorities are temporarily alternating traffic to reduce high levels of air pollution. those with an odd number in the license plates will be allowed on the road. there are some suggestions. electric cars and those used for carpooling, and of course emergency vehicles. numbers risk having

their car taken off the road. 700 extra officers were brought in. some commuters discovered their routes bipolar but transport -- their routes by public transport not as competent. just doesn'tnsport work. it takes 1.5 to two hours. >> i am willing to take my car and pay the fine. unfortunately to get my kids to school because i don't have a choice. >> the restrictions will be reviewed daily to determine if there is an extension necessary. a car sharing website said there was a 42% increase in requests for -- >> stay with us here on "france 24."

>> a sit down to beat roger federer. the number eight took 6-3 putting him in control of the -- thetaking? which swiss master making his rifle hold. two breaks, he took a 5-1 lead before the serb ultimately became the 7-3 leader. flavia pennetta eased a victory in the women's event. never -- flavia pennetta took a 3-2 lead, taking control of the next service game. injury froming and the first to the second set, but the italian stormed ahead and won her next six games.

the second time she was asking to win the second set. girls had a home win. lyon.win at eight points clear with my matches left in the series. todayplayed a good game and we have the two girls. things to my teammates and we have another nine games to play and we will see where we have become. carlos has become the first colombian to ring the paris nice race. by 11xembourg rider led seconds. he made a break for home but was swallowed home -- swallowed up.

he came in eight to take on permanent -- the fiftho victory on stage. the spaniard attacked on the stage with 30 kilometers to go. just over 30 seconds with 15 kilometers remaining. ,e went on to set the stage just under five hours, taking the standings on their head. taking a second lead from cantona, the colombian. the garage word, the preseason favorite. kimmy right tone and was disqualified.

teammate lewis hamilton retired on the last three with engine problems. victory.ook he was also in pursuit. 33 minutes, 37.1 section -- faster. three seconds second place was not enough for him to clinch the overall cup for the third season in a row. up by hirsch are followed claiming the slalom crown as well. he had the slimmest of leads after the morning course and produced a strong second run to claim the final crystal globe of the season by 15 points.

two minutes, 7.74 seconds to win the salmon -- the slalom event. proving just over three quarters of a second better. the austrian and german team have traded words over complaints of skis. another austrian, marion mapp three -- .3int -- seconds off. three times in a row she won the title. it was double for austria as an -- the 24-year-old -- wrapped up the oversight she would claim her second crystal globe of the season. she was the second fastest on the first run. ahead of her, nearest challenger

jessica. from sweden. medalists in sochi, last month plus video, to add to her collection. came in second of the day of the swiss venue, point 25 seconds slower than her compatriot's time. ,he head of the final day 14-point advantage. she finished third in the final race of the season. >> hello and welcome to today's web news, where we will take a look at some of these stories nicking headlines. coming up on today's show, unusually high levels of pollution in the french -- and france.

of europeanation air traffic on a summer day. scores of parisians have taken to wearing protective masks over the past few days as unusually high levels of pollution hit the french capital. they will share their accounts of the coming crisis on social networks. photos online have been distributed to show how to protect from pollution. has affectedsmog the city of lights. astonishing images where most landmarks like the eiffel tower, the tomb, are barely visible behind the thick smog of pollution.

it is an environmental apocalypse on the way. ae p aaron's influence -- couple wearing gas masks walk through the streets of the capital. making this a possible paris for the future. not everyone is so perturbed by the pollution, making light of the situation. of join parodies the type conversations parisians are now having when they go out. we are existing in surviving. jawahar is speaking out even with the current leader. he says there are two other systems -- there are two other

sisters being held against their will in the royal palace. the palace is rundown, neglected. he'saudi rinse estimates threatened. death, yourter my brothers will torture \ you more than me. made -- men silence -- using that as varied as an example, leaders in the west do little for the human rights of women and children in the country. somedo have the support of posting under the suite of -- an online petition among other things. he is scheduled to meet with him during his trip to saudi arabia at the end of march.

when he set up an instagram account to document his cancer treatment schedule, he now has followers. it hails the energy and brave the -- and bravery of the 80-year-old grandmother as she battles this devastating illness. scientists have set up a shop -- a shark tracker projects, saying you can do just that, follow their movements with tracking devices. like a shark coming up the the aim of the--

project is to learn more about sharks. a baby girl dressed up as the host of well aimed tv characters, paying tribute to some of the most popular tv shows of the past two years, =ú?xgg99ññwçça7guc@@ a?ññ

>> the following program is an original production of link tv. [applause] >> thank you. thank you very much. i'm so delighted to come here and talk about our work. and this is an occasion that, uh, gives me the opportunity to raise more issues that we see in the connection with our work. grameen bank, which was started back in 1976...