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World celebrates International Women's Day
People around the world celebrate International Women's Day, staging protests against women's rights abuses.
The UN writes that the day, celebrated on March 8, is an occasion to commemorate achievements in women's rights and to call for further change.
The celebration dates back to the beginning of the 20th Century and has been observed by the United Nations since 1975.
Ukraine border guards 'evicted from outposts'
Ukraine's border guards said some of their men had been evicted from an outpost in eastern Crimea.
The Ukrainians said Russian soldiers seized apartments of some of the guard and forced them and their families out in the middle of the night.
"Aggressive Russian troops stormed and seized a unit of the border service at Shcholkine and ousted the families of the Ukrainian borders guards," the Ukrainian border service said in a statement.
"Russian armed servicemen rushed into the unit overnight. During the attack, they beat a duty officer who tried to resist and seized a weapons storage room."
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No immediate sign of wreckage - official
Malaysia's search ships have seen no immediate signs of wreckage in the area where the missing Malaysia Airlines flight made its last contact, a rescue official has said.
Joint search underway for missing airliner
Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore are conducting joint search and rescue operations for a missing Malaysia Airlines plane in waters south of Vietnam's Tho Chu island, China's Xinhua news agency says.
The report said that the information was relayed to China's civil aviation regulator by its Vietnamese counterpart.
The aircraft went missing while on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
TV licence avoidance may no longer be a crime
It may no longer be a crime to avoid the TV licence fee, under plans being considered by ministers to ease pressure on courts.
The change in law would mean that non-payment of the £145.50-a-year charge would be dealt with in the civil courts, rather than being viewed as a criminal offence.
Currently, anyone failing to pay the licence fee faces a £1,000 fine and a criminal record, as well as the prospect of jail if fines are not paid.
More than 100 MPs are supporting the change, including both Culture Secretary Maria Miller and Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, according to the Telegraph.
Missing Boeing 777 'did not send a distress signal'
Boeing, the maker of the Malaysian Airlines plane that has gone missing, has issued a statement saying it was aware of reports that the Malaysia Airlines plane was missing and was monitoring the situation.
Our team is assembled for technical assistance on MH370. Our thoughts remain with all on board & their families. http://t.co/2fOesibZJT
We’re closely monitoring reports on Malaysia flight MH370. Our thoughts are with everyone on board.
The U.S.-built Boeing 777-200 aircraft last had contact with air traffic controllers 120 nautical miles off the east coast of the Malaysian town of Kota Bharu, the airline's top official had said earlier.
The plane disappeared without giving a distress signal at an altitude of 35,000 feet.
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Plane captain had '18,365 flying hours experience'
The missing Malaysian flight was piloted by Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, the airline said.The 53 year-old Malaysian pilot had 18,365 flying hours experience and joined the airlines in 1981.
Families of missing plane passengers: 'It cannot be good"
Relatives of some of the 239 passengers onboard a missing Malaysia Airlines plane are gathering in a Beijing hotel where the airline was expected to release more information.
A woman wept aboard the shuttle bus while saying on a mobile phone, saying: "They want us to go to the hotel. It cannot be good!"
Malaysian transport minister: 'no sign' of wreckage
Malaysia Transport Minister has denied reports that Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has crashed off the coast of an island south of Vietnam.
Speaking to journalists at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Seri Hishammuddin said that search and rescue operations have not yet located the missing Malaysia Airlines flight and there is "no sign" of any wreckage.
Obama and Merkel discuss Ukraine
President Barack Obama has told German Chancellor Angela Merkel he welcomes the unified position of the United States and the European Union on Ukraine.
The leaders agreed that Russia must pull back its forces from Ukraine's Crimea region, allow international observers and human rights monitors into Crimea to make sure the rights of ethnic Russians in Ukraine are protected, and support free and fair presidential elections.
They also discussed the need for Russia to form a contact group to hold direct talks between the two governments.
More: Ukraine: No one will recognise Crimea referendum result
