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Spanish journalists freed in Syria

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 30 Maret 2014 | 18.20

30 March 2014 Last updated at 05:42

Two Spanish journalists kidnapped in Syria six months ago by radical Islamist rebels have been released.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo said its Middle East correspondent, Javier Espinosa, had phoned the newsroom to say that he had been freed along with photographer Ricardo Garcia Vilanova.

Mr Espinosa said they had been handed over to Turkish soldiers.

Scores of journalists are believed to have been kidnapped or killed by rebel fighters in Syria.

Mr Espinosa and Mr Vilanova were seized by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) near the Turkish border in September.

El Mundo said at the time the two journalists had been trying to leave Syria at the end of a two-week reporting mission when they were taken.

Four members of the Free Syrian Army - the main Western-backed rebel group - who were protecting them were also captured but later released.

High risk

The Spanish daily said the kidnapping was initially kept quiet at the request of the men's families.

Many kidnappings have been played down in the hope of aiding negotiations.

The journalists are expected back in Madrid on Sunday, the paper said.

In December, 13 major international news organisations signed a letter urging Syrian rebel groups to stop kidnapping journalists, and to free those who are currently held.

Correspondents say ISIS assumes that all foreign journalists and aid workers in Syria are spies and has issued orders to arrest them.

The high risk of kidnapping has made many rebel-held areas of Syria no-go areas for most foreign journalists.

The Free Syrian Army's political wing - the Syrian National Coalition - says it is committed to protecting journalists, and securing the release of hostages.

'Most dangerous'

Mr Espinosa has been a Middle East correspondent for El Mundo since 2002 and is based in Beirut.

Mr Vilanova has worked for various news outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post and the AFP news agency.

The group Reporters Without Borders has called Syria the most dangerous country for journalists.

It says 17 foreign journalists and more than 20 Syrian news providers are currently being held hostage by rebel groups or are missing, while about 40 Syrian professional and citizen journalists are being held by the government.

Many others have gone missing since the conflict began in March 2011.

More than 100,000 people have died since rebels took up arms against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The conflict has displaced five million inside the country and created another two million refugees.


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China sea spat captured on camera

30 March 2014 Last updated at 07:27
A China Coast Guard vessel

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The Chinese crew instructed the Filipinos to turn away

Journalists on board a Philippine ship have witnessed Chinese coast guard vessels trying to block access to a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.

One of the Chinese ships radioed to demand the crew turn around, or "take full responsibility" for their actions.

But the Philippine boat, ferrying food to troops stationed on the Second Thomas Shoal, managed to slip past.

The shoal is one of many flashpoints in the area, where several countries have overlapping territorial claims.

Multiple claims

China claims a U-shaped swathe of the sea - creating multiple overlaps with areas claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Saturday's incident, which took place at Second Thomas Shoal (known as Ayungin in Manila and Ren'ai Reef in Beijing), is a rare glimpse into the tensions that routinely play out in the disputed waters.

Journalists say they saw two Chinese coast guard ships attempt to block the path of the Philippine boat, sending a radio message, in English, warning that it was entering Chinese territory: "We order you to stop immediately, stop all illegal activities and leave."

But instead of leaving, the Philippine boat managed to manoeuvre away and enter waters that were too shallow for the Chinese ships to follow.

The captain of the Philippine vessel, Ferdinand Gato, later told Reuters news agency that if they had not changed direction, they would have collided with one of the Chinese vessels.

Air-drop

Philippine troops are stationed on a beached, rusting military ship on the shoal that analysts say has become a symbol of the country marking its territory.

Two weeks ago, Manila made a formal complaint to Beijing after a similar incident when Chinese vessels succeeded in blocking a resupply mission to the shoal.

Philippine planes resorted to air-dropping food and water supplies for the soldiers stationed on board the marooned ship.

The latest confrontation was witnessed by more than a dozen journalists.

They had been invited by the Philippine military to board the government vessel to show alleged bullying by Chinese vessels in the area.

The Chinese foreign ministry condemned the Philippines for trying to "hype up" the issue, according to a statement quoted by Xinhua news agency.

The ministry accused Manila of trying to "illegally seize" the shoal.

The incident comes a day before the Philippines is due to file a case against China with the UN tribunal in The Hague, challenging its territorial claim to most of the South China Sea.


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China families vent fury in Malaysia

30 March 2014 Last updated at 10:25
Relatives of MH370 passengers

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The BBC's Jennifer Pak in Kuala Lumpur: "The family members have come here for answers"

Relatives of Chinese passengers from the missing Malaysian plane have vented their anger at government officials, after arriving in Kuala Lumpur.

Chanting "Tell us the truth", they said they wanted the Malaysian prime minister to apologise for what they regard as misleading statements.

Ten planes and eight ships are looking for remains of the airliner in a vast area of the Indian Ocean.

The Beijing-bound plane disappeared on 8 March with 239 people on board.

Continue reading the main story

At the scene

These new arrivals are being carefully guarded. Blue-shirted volunteers chaperone them to and from meetings. There are security guards dotted around their hotel, and at the airport this morning a welcoming party, including a local politician, was left standing as the families were whisked away from a hidden exit.

But the message these families have brought won't be so easy to manage. At a brief press conference, they unfurled a banner which accused the Malaysian government of speculation and "trampling on innocent lives".

Many relatives accuse the Malaysian authorities of misinformation and secrecy. With no sign of flight MH370 or its passengers, their worn faces have become the most visible symbols of this mystery. And their frustration won't be easy for the government to deal with.

Some relatives of the 153 Chinese passengers on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have refused to accept the Malaysian account of events and accused the authorities.

On Sunday several dozen family members travelled from Beijing.

After landing in Kuala Lumpur they held a news conference at a hotel holding up banners that read "We want evidence, truth, dignity" in Chinese, and "Hand us the murderer. Give us our relatives," in English.

Their designated representative, Jiang Hui, said they wanted the Malaysian government to apologise over the initial handling of the disaster, as well as for Prime Minister Najib Razak's earlier statement that indicated the plane had crashed with no survivors.

He said the conclusion had been announced "without direct evidence or a sense of responsibility".

He said the group wanted to meet airline and government officials face to face - although he stopped short of saying that these included Mr Najib, as some relatives had earlier suggested.

The relatives have previously expressed anger at officials during regular briefings by Malaysian officials at a hotel in Beijing.

Malaysia's acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said on Saturday that the search for survivors would continue.

"The hardest part of my job is to see the families," he said. "I've always said we are hoping against hope that we will find survivors."

For a second day on Sunday, Malaysian officials cancelled their daily update on the search operation.

Malaysian officials have concluded that, based on satellite data, the missing plane flew into the sea somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean. So far no trace of it has been found.

Men fit 'towed pinger locator' to ship

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The BBC's Jon Donnison, in Perth, explains how a "towed pinger locator" is used

A Chinese and an Australian ship failed to identify debris from the missing flight after their first day in a new search area, about 1,850km (1,150 miles) west of Perth, on Saturday.

Chinese patrol ship Haixun 01 and Australia's HMAS Success both retrieved objects but none was confirmed to be from flight MH370, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said in a statement.

Continue reading the main story

MH370 - Facts at a glance

  • 8 March - Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur-Beijing flight carrying 239 people disappears
  • Plane's transponder, which gives out location data, was switched off as it left Malaysian airspace
  • Satellite 'pings' indicate plane was still flying seven hours after satellite contact was lost
  • 24 March - Based on new calculations, Malaysian PM says "beyond reasonable doubt" that plane crashed in southern Indian Ocean with no survivors

Some of the objects have been very small, and officials have cautioned that they may be sea junk.

Aircraft involved in the search have so far reported seeing a number of objects of various colours floating in the sea in the new area since Friday.

Poor conditions have hampered recent search efforts.

An Australian vessel carrying a US device known as a "towed pinger locator" is due to join the search in the coming days.

The device is designed to detect any ultrasonic signals - "pings" - from flight recorders and can operate up to a depth of about 6,000m.

But the search area is huge - covering some 319,000 sq km (123,000 sq miles) - and time is running short. The flight recorders' batteries are expected to run out in about a week's time.

The current search area is about 1,100km (700 miles) north-east of the previous zone.

Officials said the focus changed after radar data showed the plane had been travelling faster that previously thought, thus burning more fuel.

This would reduce the possible distance the aircraft travelled south.

Various theories about what went wrong have been suggested - including the captain hijacking his own plane.

The speculation was fuelled by reports that files had been deleted on the pilot's home flight simulator.

However on Saturday Malaysia's transport minister said investigators had found "nothing sinister" from the simulator.

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 vanished less than an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur.

The airliner diverted off course and lost contact with air traffic controllers between Malaysian and Vietnamese air-traffic control areas.


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Turkey PM faces local election test

30 March 2014 Last updated at 11:29
Ballots cast in Turkey

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The BBC's Selin Girit says that Prime Minister Erdogan has been "campaigning fiercely"

People in Turkey are voting in local elections that analysts say could determine the political future of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

They are the first elections since mass protests erupted last June and a corruption scandal hit the government.

Mr Erdogan is not standing but has campaigned tirelessly in support of his Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The government blocked Twitter and YouTube in the run up to the elections, following a series of online leaks.

Mr Erdogan said social media was spreading misinformation.

'Ottoman slap'

On Saturday pro- and anti-government factions held rival demonstrations in Istanbul, which saw the Gezi Park protests of May and June last year.

The opposition Republican People's Party is fighting there to win the mayor's office from Mr Erdogan's ally Kadir Topbas.

The BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul says the opposition candidate, Mustafa Sarigul, drove around the city in an open-topped bus - throwing out red T-shirts to spectators leaning from their balconies.

Mr Erdogan is himself a former mayor of the city and the vote has become an unofficial referendum on his administration, our correspondent says.

The prime minister lashed out at his political opponents during a series of rallies on Saturday.

"They are all traitors," he told the crowd in Istanbul.

"Go to the ballot box tomorrow and teach all of them a lesson. Let's give them an Ottoman slap."

Mr Erdogan was forced to cancel a number of rallies on Friday on doctors' orders to rest his voice.

'Foreign plot'

The prime minister has purged hundreds of people from the judiciary and police since several of his allies were arrested over a corruption scandal in December.

He has accused the judiciary of being behind a series of wiretaps and social media leaks allegedly exposing major corruption, and blamed the probe on a "foreign plot".

The scandal has pitted the prime minister against a former ally, US-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, who has many supporters in the police and judiciary.

Mr Erdogan and his Islamic-leaning AK Party have been in power for over a decade.

Sunday's local assembly and mayoral elections are being seen as a key test ahead of presidential elections in August and parliamentary elections next year.

The government faced major street protests last year sparked by plans to raze Istanbul's Gezi Park and redevelop it. The police crackdown galvanised anti-government demonstrators in several cities.

The anger which led to the unrest flared up again earlier this month, with the news of the death of a 15-year-old boy who had been in a coma since last June after being injured during a protest.


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Gavaskar replaces India cricket boss

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 28 Maret 2014 | 18.20

28 March 2014 Last updated at 07:32

India's Supreme Court has installed former captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar as the interim head of the country's cricket board.

He replaces N Srinivasan who was asked to leave his post during a probe into spot-fixing and illegal betting in the Indian Premier League.

Mr Srinivasan also owns a team in the IPL, which is the world's richest cricket tournament.

He is regarded as the world's most powerful cricket administrator.

Mr Srinivasan was elected chairman of cricket's world governing body, the International Cricket Council, in February and is expected to take up the role in July.

The top court said on Friday that Mr Gavaskar would be appointed the "interim working president" of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and that he would also be in charge for the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which begins on 16 April.

The court said Mr Gavaskar would have to stop his work as a TV commentator to avoid any conflict of interest, adding that he would have to be "adequately compensated" by the cricket board for loss of earnings.

The court also said that the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals - the teams at the centre of allegations of illegal betting and spot-fixing - would be allowed to take part in this year's IPL. Mr Srinivasan owns Chennai Super Kings.

On Thursday, the judges had said that both the teams should be suspended from the eight-team tournament.

Spot-fixing involves players bowling wides and no-balls at certain times arranged beforehand with bookmakers.

Mr Srinivasan had "stepped aside" from his post as BCCI president in June last year after his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested over allegations of betting in the IPL.

Mr Meiyappan has since been released on bail, and Mr Srinivasan returned as the head of the cricket board. Both men deny any wrongdoing.

The IPL is considered to be the world's showcase for Twenty20 cricket. Top Indian and international players take part, contributing to what is the world's richest cricket tournament.


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Oscar Pistorius trial postponed

28 March 2014 Last updated at 10:32
Oscar Pistorius in court

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The BBC's Nomsa Maseko reports from the court in Pretoria

The defence in the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has been postponed until 7 April as one of the assessors assisting the judge has been taken ill.

The athlete had been expected to take the stand on Friday.

The trial, in the South African city of Pretoria, has already heard 15 days of prosecution-led testimony.

Mr Pistorius denies deliberately shooting his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in February 2013, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

Prosecutors allege that he killed her after an argument.

Continue reading the main story

There are no juries in South Africa's legal system but in serious High Court cases, two assessors are assigned to help the judge evaluate the case and act as additional eyes and ears.

They are usually lawyers or retired magistrates but they can also be lay people. For the sake of continuity and in the interest of justice, the same assessors need to be present for the entire trial.

In the event that both assessors disagree with a judge's verdict they can overrule her. But in the case of lay assessors, the judge's legal experience counts in her favour and her decision carries more weight.

Both assessors in the Pistorius case are lawyers so they are crucial in ensuring justice.

The justice department explains that a judge does not have to listen to the assessors' opinions but they usually helps the judge to reach a decision.

Judge Thokozile Masipa, announcing that the assessor was ill, said that in her absence the court was "not properly constituted".

The judge suggested the date of 7 April to resume the trial, which both prosecution and defence teams accepted.

Under South African law, there is no jury system and two assessors, normally lawyers or retired magistrates, help the judge reach a decision in serious cases.

The BBC's Karen Allen in Pretoria says that, although Mr Pistorius is not legally obliged to testify, he is the only witness to the alleged murder and is expected to testify when the trial restarts.

His lawyers had previously told journalists that it was "likely" they would call him to give evidence first, she adds.

Prosecution testimony has relied on accounts from neighbours and specialist ballistics, forensic and mobile phone evidence.

Our correspondent says the defence had been due to address key questions, in particular:

  • Allegations from witnesses that Mr Pistorius was reckless with guns and had fired a pistol indiscriminately on two occasions in the past
  • Why he didn't check the whereabouts of Ms Steenkamp when he feared an intruder was in the house
  • Why, as a person used to handling weapons, he didn't fire a warning shot

Ms Steenkamp, a model, reality TV celebrity and law graduate, was hit by four bullets while in the toilet cubicle of Mr Pistorius' home in Pretoria.

People who were in the area on the night of the shooting have told the court they heard screams, shots and bangs.

However, Mr Pistorius has said he believed Ms Steenkamp was in bed when he shot at the toilet door, thinking an intruder was about to attack them.

Mr Pistorius is a double amputee who holds six Paralympic medals and competed in the 2012 Olympic Games.

If found guilty, the 27 year old - dubbed the "blade runner" because of the prosthetic limbs he wore to race - could face life imprisonment.

Continue reading the main story

INTERACTIVE

  • ×
  • × Balcony

    Mr Pistorius said in his statement at the start of the trial that he woke in the early hours and walked on his stumps to the balcony, pulled in two fans, closed the sliding door and drew curtains. He said that shortly before he had spoken to Reeva, who was in bed beside him.

    He said he rejected prosecution claims that a witness heard arguing coming from the house before the shooting.

  • ×

    Mr Pistorius said he heard the bathroom window sliding open and believed that an intruder, or intruders, had entered the bathroom through a window which was not fitted with burglar bars.

    "Unbeknown to me, Reeva must have gone to the toilet in the bathroom at the time I brought in the fans," he said.

    Mr Pistorius said he approached the bathroom armed with his firearm, to defend himself and his girlfriend, believing Ms Steenkamp was still in bed.

  • ×

    Both sides agree four bullets were fired. Ms Steenkamp was hit three times.

    Mr Pistorius said he fired his weapon after hearing a noise in the toilet which he thought was the intruder coming out of the toilet to attack him and Ms Steenkamp.

    He said he was in a fearful state, knowing he was on his stumps and unable to run away or properly defend himself.

    Mr Pistorius said he rejected claims that he was on his prostheses when he shot at the door.

    A witness told the trial she woke to hear a woman screaming and a man shouting for help. She said that after the screams she heard four shots.

  • ×

    At his bail hearing last year, Mr Pistorius said he went back to the bedroom after shooting at the toilet door, then noticed Ms Steenkamp was not in bed.

    Mr Pistorius said he then realised she could have been in the toilet.

  • ×

    Mr Pistorius said he went back to the bathroom but the toilet was locked, so he returned to the bedroom, pulled on his prosthetic legs, turned on the lights before bashing in the toilet door with a cricket bat.

    Forensics expert Johannes Vermeulen told the court that the height of the marks on the door caused by the cricket bat suggest Mr Pistorius was on his stumps at the time.

  • ×

    Mr Pistorius's defence team say he then called security at the gated housing complex and a private paramedic service before carrying Ms Steenkamp downstairs.

    A security guard claimed it was the other way round, and he had called Mr Pistorius first after reports of gunfire. However, phone records shown to the court revealed Mr Pistorius called the estate manager at 3:19am, a minute later he called the ambulance service and at 3:21am he called estate security.

    A minute later he received an incoming call - estate security calling him back.

    According to police phone expert Francois Moller, Mr Pistorius called his friend Justin Divaris a short time later and just after 4:00am he called his brother Carl.

Are you in the region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Pistorius' in the subject heading and include your contact details.


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Ukraine leader warning on far right

28 March 2014 Last updated at 11:06

Ukraine's interim President Olexander Turchynov has condemned the ultra-nationalist Right Sector, saying the group is bent on "destabilisation".

Right Sector activists blocked the parliament (Rada) building in Kiev on Thursday night and smashed windows.

They blamed the interior minister for the killing of a Right Sector leader.

Meanwhile, ousted President Viktor Yanukovych has called for a national referendum to determine each region's "status within Ukraine".

He fled to Russia last month after massive demonstrations against him and clashes between protesters and police in which more than 100 people died. The Kremlin says the new government in Kiev came to power illegally.

"As a president who is with you with all my thoughts and soul, I urge every sensible citizen of Ukraine: Don't give in to impostors! Demand a referendum on the status of each region within Ukraine," said Mr Yanukovych, quoted by Itar-Tass news agency.

In his first comments since Crimea voted to become part of Russia, Mr Yanukovych denounced fresh presidential elections planned for 25 May.

Meanwhile, Russia's defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, said that all Ukrainian service personnel loyal to Kiev have now left Crimea and all military installations there are under Russian control.

'Attempt to destabilise'
Continue reading the main story

The shooting of Sashko Bily is a contract killing ordered by the minister"

End Quote Roman Koval Right Sector member

At a parliament session on Friday, Mr Turchynov, called the Right Sector rally outside parliament "an attempt to destabilise the situation in Ukraine, in the very heart of Ukraine - Kiev. That is precisely the task that the Russian Federation's political leadership is giving to its special services".

Right Sector activists are furious over the death of Oleksandr Muzychko, better known as Sashko Bily, one of their leaders. The interior ministry said he died on Monday night in a shoot-out with police in a cafe in Rivne in western Ukraine.

A member of the far-right group in Rivne threatened revenge for the killing of Mr Muzychko.

"We will avenge ourselves on [Interior Minister] Arsen Avakov for the death of our brother. The shooting of Sashko Bily is a contract killing ordered by the minister," Right Sector member Roman Koval was quoted as saying by the Ukrayinska Pravda website.

The Right Sector played a prominent role in the Kiev protests - and the clashes with police - which led to the removal of Mr Yanukovych from power. Its main support base is in western Ukraine.


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'Objects seen' in new plane search

28 March 2014 Last updated at 11:10

A plane has spotted "objects" in the new area of the Indian Ocean being searched for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Australian officials say.

The sightings would need confirmation by ship, which is not expected until tomorrow, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said.

Earlier it was announced the search would now focus on an area 1,100km (684 miles) north-east of the previous zone.

The Beijing-bound airliner disappeared on 8 March with 239 people on board.

The identity of the objects - spotted by a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion - were "to be established", Amsa said.

The crew say they spotted 11 unidentified objects, the BBC's Phil Mercer reports from the western Australian city of Perth.

The images hold out the prospect of up-to-date information, as opposed to satellite images which are invariably days out of date by the time they are seen by investigators, our correspondent adds.


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Obama meets Pope Francis in Rome

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 27 Maret 2014 | 18.20

27 March 2014 Last updated at 10:28
Pope Francis (L) meets  US President Barack Obama on March 27, 2014 at the Vatican.

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The BBC's Alan Johnston describes the relaxed atmosphere at the meeting

US President Barack Obama says it was a "great honour" to meet Pope Francis for the first time during a European tour dominated by the crisis in Ukraine.

He flew into Rome after three days of talks with world leaders in the Netherlands and Brussels.

Tensions are high following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

On Wednesday Mr Obama said the US and the EU were considering deeper sanctions against Moscow if there were any further incursions.

Pro-Russian forces seized Crimea - which has a Russian-speaking majority - this month.

Continue reading the main story

The US president seemed to be preparing his audiences for a long struggle with Russia"

End Quote

Moscow annexed the peninsula after it declared independence following a referendum that Ukraine and its Western allies consider illegal.

In other Ukraine developments:

  • Six Ukrainian military officers detained by Russian troops in Crimea have been released, but five remain in custody. Those released include Col Yuli Mamchur, the commander of Belbek base, which fell on Saturday
  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it has agreed a loan deal with Ukraine worth $14bn to $18bn
  • Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk says the price Ukraine pays for Russian gas will increase by 79% from 1 April
'Brute force'

In a newspaper interview published before their meeting, Mr Obama described the Pope as a man who "lived the Christian Gospel".

US Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said President Obama has been inspired by Pope Francis' messages of inclusion and equality.

He said Mr Obama planned to express his appreciation for his leadership.

The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says the two men have very different views on subjects such as abortion, contraception and gay marriage, but at this meeting they are likely to emphasise what they share.

After meeting the Pope, Mr Obama is due to meet both Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

President Obama is accompanied in Italy by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso, Barack Obama and EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy

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US and EU 'united' over Russia

Pope Francis takes a 'selfie' with young Catholics

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What do Americans have to say about Pope Francis?

On Wednesday, Mr Obama held talks with EU leaders in Brussels. Washington and the EU have already imposed targeted sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian individuals over the annexation of Crimea.

Later he said Russians would "recognise that they cannot achieve security, prosperity and status... through brute force".

"That's why, throughout this crisis, we will combine our substantial pressure on Russia with an open door for diplomacy," President Obama said.

Pro-Russian forces began seizing key sites in Crimea days after Ukraine's Moscow-leaning President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted.

He left power following months of bloody protests over his decision to seek greater ties with Moscow rather than the EU.

President Obama flew to Brussels following a nuclear security summit in the Netherlands.


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IMF close to deal on Ukraine aid

27 March 2014 Last updated at 10:31

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is close to agreement with Ukraine on financial assistance worth $14-18bn (£8.5-£11bn) over the next two years.

An agreement still needs approval by the full board of the IMF

The stand-by arrangement comes at the end of a three-week visit by IMF officials to the country.

The deal is expected to unlock a further $27bn in loans for Ukraine from the European Union and the US.

"Following the intense economic and political turbulence of recent months, Ukraine has achieved some stability but faces difficult challenges", the IMF's Mission Chief for Ukraine said in a statement.

'Edge of bankruptcy'

The deal goes hand in hand with a reform programme for Ukraine's ailing economy.

A cut in energy subsidies to consumers has been one of the conditions of an international rescue deal and on Wednesday Ukraine's interim government agreed to raise domestic gas prices by 50% in its effort to secure the IMF aid package.

Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovich had refused to take this unpopular step.

But the country's new Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk told parliament that Ukraine was "on the edge of economic and financial bankruptcy".

He said that without the austerity measures proposed by the IMF, the economy could contract by as much as 10% this year.


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Philippines landmark accord signed

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Missing jet: '300 objects' spotted

27 March 2014 Last updated at 11:08

A Thai satellite has detected some 300 objects in an area of the southern Indian Ocean being searched for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The image was taken by the Thaichote satellite on 24 March, a day after images from a French satellite purported to show 122 floating objects.

Flight MH370 disappeared on 8 March with 239 people on board. No debris has been recovered from the ocean so far.

Searches by planes were suspended on Thursday because of poor visibility.

Ships are trying to continue the operation despite the bad weather, Australian officials said.

Continue reading the main story

MH370 - Facts at a glance

  • 8 March - Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur-Beijing flight carrying 239 people disappears
  • Plane's transponder, which gives out location data, was switched off as it left Malaysian airspace
  • Satellite 'pings' indicate plane was still flying seven hours after satellite contact was lost
  • 16 March - first satellite image of potential debris in southern Indian Ocean
  • 24 March - Based on new calculations, Malaysian PM says "beyond reasonable doubt" that plane crashed in southern Indian Ocean with no survivors

The latest Thai images were carried in The Nation and were said to show some 300 floating objects scattered over an area about 2,700km (1,680 miles) south-west of Perth.

The objects were about 200km (120 miles) from the site of the French satellite images.

The newspaper quoted officials as saying the information had been passed on to the Malaysian team involved in the search.

Anond Snidvongs, of Thailand's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, told the BBC the objects ranged from 2m to 15m (6.5ft to 50ft) in size.

He said he could not confirm they were debris from the plane.

The French images showed objects up to 23m (75ft) in length and were the first to suggest a debris field rather than just isolated objects. They had been described as the most credible lead so far.

The BBC's Paul Adams, in Kuala Lumpur, says the latest image forms part of a growing body of circumstantial evidence suggesting that it is in this inhospitable part of the Indian Ocean where the flight of MH370 came to an end.

The Thaichote is Thailand's Earth observation mission and was launched in 2008.

'Zero visibility'

Malaysia said on Monday that fresh analysis of satellite signals had shown that the plane had gone down in the southern Indian Ocean, with no survivors.

The plane had been en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared from air traffic controllers' screens over the South China Sea.

Pilot scours southern Indian Ocean for missing Malaysian plane

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The area is known as "the Roaring Forties" due to its strong winds

The search is being coordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa).

It said that aircraft had spotted three objects on Wednesday but despite several passes had not been able to relocate them.

Eleven planes were sent out again on Thursday.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

Some of the people we may need to put on suicide watch to try to protect them"

End Quote Paul Yin Psychologist

However, Amsa later tweeted: "Update: Ships staying in search area & will attempt to continue searching but all planes returning. Bad weather expected for next 24 hours."

Amsa spokesman Sam Cardwell said eight of the 11 planes had reached the search zone and looked for about two hours before the suspension.

He said: "They got a bit of time in, but it was not useful because there was no visibility."

Lt Cmdr Adam Schantz, in charge of the US Navy's Poseidon P8 plane, said: "The forecast in the area was calling for severe icing, severe turbulence and near-zero visibility. Anybody who's out there is coming home and all additional sorties from here are cancelled."

It is the second time this week the operation has been hampered by poor conditions.

The Australian Navy ship HMAS Success is in the search area and has been joined by four Chinese ships - Xue Long, Kuulunshan, Haikon and Qiandaohu.

A total of six countries are now involved in the search - Australia, New Zealand, the US, Japan, China and South Korea.

Erik Van Sebille, an oceanographer from the University of New South Wales, told the BBC that if aircraft debris were found, experts could try to work out where the plane had crashed, although it would not be easy.

"This is home to the strongest current in the world," he said.

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The reasons why the plane deviated off course and lost contact with air traffic controllers remain a mystery.

Search plane

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Both Malaysia Airlines and Boeing are facing legal action over flight MH370

Investigators have ruled nothing out, including mechanical or electrical failure, hijacking, sabotage or deliberate action by the pilot or co-pilot.

On Wednesday, FBI chief James Comey said that analysis of data from a flight simulator taken from the home of pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah should be completed "within a day or two".

Some relatives of the flight's 153 Chinese passengers have refused to accept the Malaysian account of events and accused officials of withholding information.

A US-based law firm, Ribbeck Law, has said it expects to represent half of the families of missing passengers in a lawsuit against both Malaysia Airlines and Boeing Co, and has filed an initial petition.

Chinese insurance firms have begun to offer payouts to the relatives, state news agency Xinhua said.

On Thursday, Malaysia Airlines took out a full-page condolence advertisement in the New Straits Times, saying: "Our sincerest condolences go out to the loved ones of the 239 passengers, friends and colleagues. Words alone cannot express our enormous sorrow and pain."

Are you in the region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Malaysia Airlines' in the subject heading and include your contact details.


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China's Xi starts first Europe tour

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 22 Maret 2014 | 18.19

22 March 2014 Last updated at 05:38

Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to land in the Netherlands later for his first trip to Europe as leader.

His tour will include France, Germany and Belgium as well as the headquarters of the EU in Brussels.

A 200-strong business delegation will join him on a trip that is expected to be dominated by trade - possibly including an order for 150 Airbus jets.

Mr Xi is also likely to face pressure from Western powers to be firmer with Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

China usually supports Russia in foreign-policy issues, but last week declined to fully back its ally over Ukraine.

Beijing abstained from a vote at the UN that would have condemned Russia's takeover of Ukraine's Crimea region.

The BBC's John Sudworth in Shanghai says Europe and China have a relationship often marred by friction.

A tit-for-tat trade dispute, with China targeting French wine after the EU imposed tariffs on Chinese solar panels, was only resolved on Friday.

Mr Xi will be welcomed by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the start of his state visit to the Netherlands.

He arrives in advance of a G7 meeting on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in The Hague next week.

Mr Xi is expected to discuss the situation in Ukraine with President Obama on the sidelines of the summit.

Correspondents say the Chinese president is likely to repeat Beijing's call for "calm and restraint" in the crisis.

The Chinese leader will also meet French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on his trip, which ends in Belgium on 1 April.

One side issue of note from the visit comes from reports in the German press suggesting that the Chinese delegation had asked for an official visit, accompanied by Chancellor Merkel, to a Holocaust memorial.

Berlin is said to have refused, fearing that it would be used by China as propaganda to highlight its complaint that Japan has not done enough to atone for its militaristic past.

Der Spiegel reports that the Chinese delegation has been told that President Xi is free to visit memorials in his own time.


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Crusader castle has Syria war scars

22 March 2014 Last updated at 09:24

Government troops in Syria have recaptured the historic Crusader castle of Krak des Chevaliers from rebels, close to the border with Lebanon.

An officer said the army had killed 93 rebels in fierce fighting in the area on Thursday, while there appeared to be heavy damage to a nearby village.

Journalists allowed to visit the Unesco World Heritage site on Friday found signs of a hasty retreat.

Walls of the hilltop castle showed signs of damage from bombardment.

It is unclear how much of this was caused by the government operation to capture the fort this week, as part of an advance in the Homs region.

The castle, which was in rebel hands for two years and also came under fire last year, is just one of many historic sites in Syria threatened by the three-year civil war.


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China checks new 'debris' images

22 March 2014 Last updated at 11:18
Malaysia's acting transport minister Hishammuddin Hussein

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Hishammuddin Hussein was handed the information during his daily briefing

China is investigating new satellite images of debris in the southern Indian Ocean, potentially from missing flight MH370, Malaysian officials say.

Malaysia's acting transport minister read out the news as he was handed it during at his daily briefing, saying one element of debris was 22.5m by 13m.

He said the Chinese government would give more details on Saturday.

Flight MH370 dropped out of contact an hour after leaving Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on 8 March carrying 239 people.

Malaysian officials suspect the plane was deliberately taken off course.

Angry relatives

Malaysia's Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein broke off the question and answer segment of his briefing in Kuala Lumpur to say: "The news that I just received is that the Chinese ambassador received satellite image of floating objects in the southern corridor and they will be sending ships to verify."

He added: "Beijing is expected to make an announcement in a few hours."

China is one of 26 nations involved in the search for flight MH370. Most of those on board the plane were Chinese nationals.

Planes and vessels are already searching the southern Indian Ocean following earlier satellite images this week that detected possible debris 2,500 km (1,550 miles) south-west of Perth in Australia.

The Xinhua state news agency said the latest satellite image was of objects about 120km from that site.

China's CCTV carried the latest image - taken by the Gaofen-1 high-resolution optical Earth observation satellite of China's National Space Administration.

The search in the Indian Ocean is being led by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa).

It despatched six planes to the area on Saturday, to search an area roughly the size of Denmark. Additional vessels supplied by China, Japan and the United Kingdom are due to join them in the search.

The first plane returned with no success in finding debris.

Before being handed the note at his briefing, Mr Hussein said that all means were being pursued to narrow the search corridor and that planes intended to search 10,500 sq nautical miles on Saturday.

But he said the conditions were "very challenging", with strong currents and rough seas, and a tropical cyclone warning that could affect ships involved in the search.

Mr Hussein also said investigations of the plane's cargo manifest did "not show any link to anything that may have contribution to the plane's disappearance".

He also referred to the angry scenes as Malaysian officials briefed Chinese relatives in Beijing.

Mr Hussein admitted the briefing had been "tense" and an investigation was under way to try to improve the situation.

The briefing also touched on a reported transcript of communications between the pilots of the plane that was carried in Britain's Daily Telegraph.

Transcript

The Telegraph's transcript showed routine communications, ending with the fateful final words of co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid: "All right, good night."

Experts say only two elements appeared of any note, although they stressed it was important not to read too much into them. One was that the final message at 01:07 about the plane's altitude - at 35,000ft - was an unnecessary repeat of a message six minutes earlier.

The other was that the loss of communication with the plane occurred at the handover point of Malaysian to Vietnamese air control.

At the press briefing, Mr Hussein said the transcript "does not indicate anything abnormal".

Another Malaysian official at the briefing said the transcript was "not accurate", without specifying what was wrong with the document.

Earlier, Australian Deputy PM Warren Truss vowed the search would continue until "further searching would be futile - and that day is not in sight".

The search has been in two distinct corridors - one stretching to the north-west of the last known location in the Malacca Straits and one to the south-west. This was based on a data "ping" apparently sent to a satellite from the missing plane.

However, on Saturday, Mr Hussein said that China, India, Pakistan, Myanmar and several other nations had informed Malaysia that analysis of their radar records had revealed no evidence of flight MH370 crossing their airspace.


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Russia dismisses EU sanctions

22 March 2014 Last updated at 11:06

Moscow has described further EU sanctions against prominent Russians over its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine as "detached from reality".

The foreign ministry said Russia reserved the right to an "appropriate response" after Brussels expanded its black list from 21 to 33 names.

Those on the list, who include close allies of President Vladimir Putin, face asset freezes and travel bans.

Meanwhile international observers are set to deploy in Ukraine.

Advance teams from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are due to visit areas that include the troubled south-east after Russia dropped its objections.

However, the 100-strong OSCE Mission is not expected to go to Crimea.

Russia argues that Crimea has become part of Russia and therefore the mission has no mandate to go there.

In Crimea itself, forces allied to Russia have been seizing Ukrainian ships and taking over military bases.

The new authorities in Crimea have invited those serving in the Ukrainian forces on the peninsula to switch sides and join Russian forces.

'Regrettable' move

On Friday, the EU announced sanctions against 12 Russians including Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, State Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin, Kremlin political strategist Vladislav Surkov and Mr Putin's top adviser on Ukraine, Sergei Glazyev.

All four men are already under US sanctions for their involvement in the crisis over Crimea.

Continue reading the main story
  • 21 Nov 2013: President Viktor Yanukovych abandons an EU deal
  • Dec: Pro-EU protesters occupy Kiev city hall and Independence Square
  • 20-21 Feb 2014: At least 88 people killed in Kiev clashes
  • 22 Feb: Mr Yanukovych flees; parliament removes him and calls election
  • 27-28 Feb: Pro-Russian gunmen seize key buildings in Crimea. Parliament, under siege, appoints pro-Moscow Sergei Aksyonov a PM
  • 6 Mar: Crimea's parliament votes to join Russia
  • 16 Mar: Crimea voters choose to secede in disputed referendum
  • 17 Mar: Crimean parliament declares independence and formally applies to join Russia
  • 18 Mar: Russian and Crimean leaders sign deal in Moscow to join the region to Russia

The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday that the European Council's decision to impose the sanctions was "regrettable" and "detached from reality".

It called for both sides to return to a "pragmatic basis for co-operation that meets our countries' interests" but warned that Russia reserved "the right to give an adequate response to the action taken".

President Putin signed a law formalising Crimea's annexation on Friday, despite the sanctions and international outcry over his actions in Ukraine.

The OSCE, which has 57 member-states in both Europe and North America, reached a deal on dispatching observers on Friday evening.

The Vienna-based group said that initially 100 civilian observers would deploy for six months in nine regions of Ukraine. Up to 400 extra personnel could be deployed if necessary.

The areas the monitors are due to visit include Odessa, Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk, and Luhansk, which have been recently rocked by clashes between pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian activists.

Washington tried to argue that the mission had a "mandate to work in Crimea and in all other parts of Ukraine".

On Saturday, the Russian foreign ministry said: "The mission's mandate reflects the new political and legal realities and does not apply to Crimea and Sevastopol, which became a part of Russia."

It said it hoped the mission would "help to overcome the internal Ukrainian crisis, stop rampant nationalist banditry and eradicate ultra-radical tendencies".

Earlier this month OSCE monitors had to abandon attempts to visit Crimea after warning shots were fired at the border with the Ukrainian mainland.

Are you in Crimea or the wider region? What are your thoughts on recent events? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject heading 'Crimea'.


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Nine killed in Kabul hotel attack

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 21 Maret 2014 | 18.19

21 March 2014 Last updated at 08:24

Nine people were killed when gunmen broke into a hotel in the Afghan capital Kabul and attacked diners on Thursday evening.

Two children and four foreign nationals were among the dead, the official said.

Special forces shot the gunmen. The Taliban said it was behind the assault.

The Afghan government has blamed the attack on Pakistan's ceasefire with the Taliban, which it says has enabled the militants to focus on targeting Afghanistan, correspondents report.

Afghan authorities are usually unwilling to voice Kabul's belief that Pakistan is behind violence in Afghanistan, the BBC's David Lloyn, in Kabul, reports.

But Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi was very specific in blaming Pakistan for a ceasefire in the frontier region during the Afghan election campaign, our correspondent says.

The truce allowed the Taliban to move across Afghanistan, and enabled the group to keep open thousands of religious schools, known as madrassas, which Mr Sediqi said "teach terrorists to fight Afghans".

Pistols in socks

The gunmen - alleged to be teenagers - entered the five-star Serena Hotel, which is popular with foreigners, with pistols hidden in their socks.

They arrived at about 18:00 local time (13:30 GMT) claiming to be diners at a special buffet put on to mark Nowruz, the spring equinox and the start of the new year.

They started shooting three hours later after hiding in a toilet.

Among the dead were two women from New Zealand and Canada, and two men from India and Pakistan; the others killed were Afghans.

AFP news agency is reporting that one of its journalists, Sardar Ahmad, died in the attack along with his wife and two of their children.

Six other people were also wounded, Deputy Interior Minister General Mohammad Ayub Salangi told the BBC.

An Afghan MP, Habib Afghan, is in hospital after being shot in the face, stomach and leg.

The building was immediately surrounded by members of the elite Afghan Crisis Response Unit, who killed the attackers.

The Serena Hotel is less than 1km (0.6 miles) from the presidential palace and key government ministries.

It currently houses UN staff who will be monitoring April's presidential elections.

The hotel has been one of the most frequent targets of the Taliban with several previous attacks.

The election of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's successor is due to take place on 5 April.


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Twitter website 'blocked' in Turkey

21 March 2014 Last updated at 00:10
The Twitter logo

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The BBC's James Reynolds tries to access the site

Twitter users in Turkey report that the social media site has been blocked in the country.

Some users trying to open the twitter.com website are apparently being redirected to a statement by Turkey's telecommunications regulator.

It cites a court order to apply "protection measures" on the website.

This comes after PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to "wipe out Twitter" following damaging allegations of corruption in his inner circle.

The BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul reports that he is unable to access Twitter.

"I don't care what the international community says at all. Everyone will see the power of the Turkish Republic," Mr Erdogan said earlier on Thursday.

He spoke after some users had posted documents reportedly showing evidence of corruption relating to the prime minister - a claim he denies.

His office said that Twitter had not responded to Turkey's court rulings to remove some links, forcing Ankara to act.

Twitter has so far made no public comment on the issue.

There are about 10m Twitter users across Turkey.

In 2010, the country lifted its ban on YouTube - two years after it blocked access to the website because of videos deemed insulting to the country's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.


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Teams scour ocean for missing plane

21 March 2014 Last updated at 07:48
Tony Abbott

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Tony Abbott: "If there is anything down there, we will find it"

An international search of the southern Indian Ocean is continuing for a second day as authorities try to locate a missing Malaysian airliner.

Five military and civilian aircraft are taking part in the search for debris from flight MH370, which disappeared on 8 March with 239 people on board.

Satellite images released on Thursday showed objects possibly related to the plane in waters far south-west of the Australian city of Perth.

Bad weather hampered Thursday's search.

"It's about the most inaccessible spot that you can imagine on the face of the earth, but if there is anything down there, we will find it," said Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who is currently visiting Papua New Guinea.

"We owe it to the families of those people (on board) to do no less."

Flight MH370 was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it lost contact with air traffic controllers and disappeared from radar.

Satellite data has led to a search in two corridors to the north and south of its last known location in the Malacca Straits - the opposite direction from its flight path.

Malaysian officials say they believe the plane was intentionally diverted. Authorities in many countries have scrutinised the backgrounds of both passengers and crew on board but say they have no substantive leads.

Other reports of debris to date have proved not to be linked to the missing plane.

Bad conditions
Continue reading the main story

For another day the search for flight MH370 is again focused on some of the most remote waters on Earth. The aerial operation is run from the Pearce airbase north of Perth, where three Australian P-3 Orion reconnaissance planes are scouring distant parts of the southern Indian Ocean.

Their sorties are staggered to make the best use of daylight hours, and they are joined by a civilian Bombardier Global Express and a sophisticated American surveillance aircraft.

The challenge they face is immense. The weather so far out into the ocean can be harsh and unpredictable, while churning seas make it hard to see any floating objects.

Yet there is a determination here to get the job done no matter how long it takes, although so far there has been no sign of the debris that could yield vital clues in the hunt for the missing Malaysia airlines jet.

The debris which is the current focus of the search was identified on satellite images by Australian experts.

Mr Abbott announced early on Thursday that vessels were being sent to investigate, but cautioned that the objects found could be unrelated to the plane.

Four military planes, including three Orions belonging to the Royal Australian Air Force, are taking part in the search, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said in a statement.

A civilian Bombardier Global Express is also involved. Two Orions and the Bombardier Global Express were due in the search area on Friday morning, with another Orion and a US P8 Poseidon aircraft due there later in the day.

The aircraft are searching a 23,000 km area, about 2,500 km (1,550 miles) south-west of Perth, Amsa said.

Each aircraft is able to search for no more than two hours, due to the distance from land.

The first aircraft returned on Friday without finding any debris.

A Norwegian merchant ship is in the area and has been searching since Thursday. Another merchant ship is en route, as is an Australian navy vessel with recovery capacity.

John Young, manager of Amsa's emergency response division, said: "Although this search area is much smaller than we started with, it nonetheless is a big area when you're looking out the window and trying to see something by eye.

"So we may have to do this a few times to be confident about the coverage of that search area."

On Thursday military officials said weather had hampered the search.

The captain of the first Australian air force Orion to return from the search area described conditions as "extremely bad" with rough seas and high winds.

Warren Truss, Australia's deputy prime minister, emphasised the difficulty of the task.

"Clearly this is a very, very difficult and challenging search. Weather conditions are not particularly good and [the] risk [is] that they may deteriorate,'' he said.

China says it is sending three navy vessels to the search area. It also has an icebreaker in Perth that could join the search, its National Maritime Search and Rescue Centre said.

'False information'

On Thursday, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein described the debris sighting as a "credible lead".

The largest object appeared to be 24m (78ft) in size, the Australian authorities said.

Correspondents say many families are hoping the objects are not debris from the plane, as they are holding onto hope that their relatives could be alive somewhere.

Wen Wancheng, whose 33-year-old son Wen Yongsheng was on the plane, said: "What wreckage? In a few days they are going to say it's not true.

"[The Malaysian authorities] need to stop giving us false information. I simply don't believe them any more."

Malaysia says search efforts are continuing in both corridors, involving a total of 18 ships, 29 aircraft and six ship-borne helicopters.

"Until we are certain that we have located MH370, search and rescue operations will continue in both corridors," Mr Hishammuddin said.

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EU seals closer ties with Ukraine

21 March 2014 Last updated at 11:07
Ban Ki-moon

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COMING UP: UN secretary general news briefing after meeting Ukraine's interim leader

EU leaders have signed an agreement on closer relations with Ukraine, in a show of support following Russia's annexation of Crimea.

The EU signed the deal hours after announcing more targeted sanctions.

Pro-Moscow leader Viktor Yanukovych's abandonment of the deal in November had led to deadly protests, his removal and Russia taking over Crimea.

On Friday, Russia's upper house unanimously approved the treaty on Crimea joining the Russian Federation.

'Rule of law'

The EU Association Agreement is designed to give Ukraine's interim leadership under PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk economic and political support.

EU President Herman Van Rompuy said in a statement that the accord "recognises the aspirations of the people of Ukraine to live in a country governed by values, by democracy and the rule of law".

Mr Yatsenyuk said this was a "historic day", adding: "We want to be a part of the big European family and this is the first tremendous step in order to achieve for Ukraine its ultimate goal, as a full-fledged member."

He added that "the best way to contain Russia is to impose real economic leverage".

Continue reading the main story
  • 21 Nov 2013: President Viktor Yanukovych abandons an EU deal
  • Dec: Pro-EU protesters occupy Kiev city hall and Independence Square
  • 20-21 Feb 2014: At least 88 people killed in Kiev clashes
  • 22 Feb: Mr Yanukovych flees; parliament removes him and calls election
  • 27-28 Feb: Pro-Russian gunmen seize key buildings in Crimea. Parliament, under siege, appoints pro-Moscow Sergei Aksyonov a PM
  • 6 Mar: Crimea's parliament votes to join Russia
  • 16 Mar: Crimea voters choose to secede in disputed referendum
  • 17 Mar: Crimean parliament declares independence and formally applies to join Russia
  • 18 Mar: Russian and Crimean leaders sign deal in Moscow to join the region to Russia

The BBC's Matthew Price in Brussels says Friday's accord is not the full package that Mr Yanukovych rejected in November - many parts will not be signed until after new presidential elections in May.

The most sensitive issue of trade integration with the EU is as yet unsigned.

But in its Conclusions on Ukraine, published on Friday, the EU said it was committed to signing the remainder.

The EU also said it would push ahead with similar cooperation deals with two former Soviet republics - Georgia and Moldova - in the summer.

Moscow has troops in breakaway parts of Georgia and in Trans-Dniester, which broke away from Moldova, and our correspondent says the EU's announcement on this is likely to infuriate the Kremlin far more than any sanctions imposed so far.

The EU has also cancelled a summit with Russia in June and said member states would cancel regular bilateral summits.

Friday's signing came hours after the EU broadened its sanctions over Russia's annexation of Crimea.

It added 12 individuals to an earlier list of 21 who now face asset freezes and travel bans.

People near flowers

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The BBC's Chris Morris meets people who have been camped in Kiev's Independence Square for over a month

The US on Thursday added to its own list and also targeted the Rossiya bank.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks with officials in Moscow that he would not take an immediate reciprocal action.

"I think we should refrain from taking steps in response for now," Interfax quoted Mr Putin as saying.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy

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Herman Van Rompuy: "We strongly condemn the unconstitutional referendum in Crimea"

However, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Ukraine should pay back $11bn in gas discounts as an agreement linked to the lease of the Sevastopol naval base in Crimea was now invalid.

In response to the US sanctions on Rossiya bank, Mr Putin said: "I personally did not have an account with it but will open an account there on Monday for sure."

Two credit rating agencies have now downgraded Russia's outlook to negative from stable.

In Moscow, all 155 senators present in the upper house of parliament voted to ratify the treaty incorporating Crimea into the Russian Federation.

Addressing the house, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said any reference to annexation was an insult to people, to their inalienable rights to self-determination, which they have exercised to the full".

Mr Putin is expected to complete the process by signing the treaty at a ceremony later on Friday.

Are you in Crimea or the wider region? What are your thoughts on recent events? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukwith the subject heading 'Crimea'.


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Plane searchers investigate debris

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 20 Maret 2014 | 18.19

20 March 2014 Last updated at 10:24
Satellite imagery provided by DigitalGlobe via the Australian Maritime Safety Authority shows possible object

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Amsa's John Young said the objects spotted were a "reasonable size"

Australia is investigating two objects seen on satellite images that could potentially be linked to the missing Malaysia Airlines plane, officials say.

Planes and ships from Australia, New Zealand and the US were in or heading to the area 2,500km (1,550 miles) from Perth to search for the objects.

The largest appeared to be 24m in size, maritime authorities said, but warned they could be unrelated to the plane.

Australia has been searching in the southern Indian Ocean for the aircraft.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein described the possible sighting as a "credible lead".

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on 8 March when it lost contact with air traffic controllers. A total of 239 people were on board.

Twenty-six nations have been involved in a major search for the missing plane, which Malaysia says was intentionally diverted.

Investigators have been scrutinising the backgrounds of both the crew and the passengers, but have so far identified no evidence of terror or other potentially relevant links.

A number of sightings of possible debris have been investigated in the course of the search but so far none have proved to be linked.

Southern corridor

Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the discovery based on satellite images taken on 16 March.

"The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) has received information based on satellite information of objects possibly related to the search," Mr Abbott told parliament.

"Following specialist analysis of this satellite imagery, two possible objects related to the search have been identified."

An Australian Orion aircraft searched the area on Thursday, joined later by US and New Zealand aircraft. A merchant ship was due there late on Thursday and an Australian naval vessel, HMAS Success, was also heading to the area.

Amsa said the debris had been located in waters some 2,500km south-west of the Australian city of Perth.

US P-8 Poseidon plane

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ABC News reporter David Wright is on board the US navy aircraft which will be first to reach the objects

The objects identified were of a "reasonable size", Amsa's general manager John Young said. The largest object appeared to be about 24m (78ft) in size, he said.

"The objects are relatively indistinct. The indication to me is of objects that are of a reasonable size and probably awash with water and bobbing up and down over the surface," he said.

Continue reading the main story

The relatives of Chinese passengers on board MH370 watched the announcements from Australia on monitors set up at the Beijing hotel where they have been waiting for the past 13 days.

When the press briefings were over, the families left the room. Most refused to speak to journalists, though one man told the BBC: "I don't believe any of this. I think my son is still alive."

Another relative, the son of a famed calligrapher on the plane, explained to us the families' reluctance to accept the possibility the plane had crashed.

"If the Australian findings really turn out to be the remains of the plane, that would mean there is no hope left for us."

"This is a lead, it is probably the best lead we have right now. But we need to get there, find them, see them, assess them, to know whether it's really meaningful or not."

He warned that poor visibility in the area could hamper the search.

Australia informed Malaysian authorities of the development on Thursday morning.

Malaysia's transport minister told reporters that while the debris sighting was a "credible lead" it needed to be verified and corroborated.

Mr Hishammuddin said search efforts were continuing in both "corridors", involving a total of 18 ships, 29 aircraft and 6 ship-borne helicopters.

Satellite signal

Investigators had identified two corridors of territory - one to the north and one to the south - spanning the possible positions of the plane about seven hours after take-off.

This was based on its last faint signal to a satellite - an hourly "handshake'' broadcast even when the main communication systems are switched off.

The plane lost contact with controllers over the South China Sea as it crossed from Malaysian to Vietnamese air space.

Malaysian officials say it then turned west and its last position - according to Malaysian military radar - was over the Malacca Straits, in the opposite direction to its planned flight path.

Attention has focused on the crew and on Wednesday multiple unidentified US officials said that the FBI was helping Malaysia analyse data from a flight simulator taken from the captain's home.

Hishammuddin Hussein on Wednesday stressed the captain should be considered innocent until proved otherwise and said that members of his family were co-operating with the investigation.

Meanwhile, relatives of those on board are still waiting for concrete news.

Bimal Sharma, a merchant navy captain whose sister Chandrika was on the plane, told the BBC he had experienced "hope and then despair and then hope and then despair".

"I have been very hopeful because it was intentionally diverted, so I don't believed it was crashed," he said. "It's been a very, very difficult time, and very emotionally stressing."

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

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