Australian search operation failed to locate assumed aircraft debris
A day of searching yesterday in the waters off the west coast of Australia has so-far failed to detect any sign of possible debris from the missing Malaysian Airlines flight first spotted by satellite imagery.
As darkness fell, the day-long air search for two objects that could be part of missing flight MH370 ended without any success.
Meanwhile, a Norwegian ship has been diverted from its journey from Madagascar to the area where the two floating objects were spotted.
In the wake of the possible discovery, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot have held a telephone conversation, with Abbot updating Xi Jinping on the latest developments.
Russia produces tit-for-tat sanction list against U.S.
The Russian government has responded to the most recent US sanctions by imposing a set of its own on US politicians.
Moscow has barred a total of nine of US politicians from entering the country.
Among those banned include US House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, former US Presidental candidate and senator John McCain, along with three other lawmakers.
Three of US President Barack Obama's leading advisors are also being barred from entering Russia.
The Russian sanctions come three days after the United States imposed sanctions against a number of leading Russian officials and lawmakers in the fallout from the absorption of Crimea into the Russian Federation this week.
Syrian troops recapture key town in Homs
Syrian government forces are reporting another key victory in their fight against rebel forces.
Government troops have re-captured a strategic town near the city of Homs in central Syria.
In taking the town of al-Husn, Syrian government forces have also reclaimed control of a centuries-old castle, raising a Syrian government flag above the heritage site as a sign of victory.
The re-taking of al-Husn comes on the heels of another major victory for Syrian government forces, who earlier this week seized the community of Yabroud north of Damascus.
Yabroud is a key intersection point between Lebanon and the Mediterranian Coast, which has been used as a key transit area for rebel forces.
Syrian government forces have been making gains in recent weeks, as rebel forces have been forced to split their time fighting both government troops and Islamic jihadists.
The jihadist groups, once on the side of the rebels, have since turned against their former partners, creating a factional divide among forces hoping to oust the administration of Bashar al-Assad.
Progress reported in removing Syrian chemical weapons material
A new report is suggesting more than half of Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles have been removed from the war-torn country as of this week.
The head of a joint mission helping oversee the elimination of the deadly arsenal has made the statement from the Syrian port of Latakia.
This is the location where the shipments of Syria's chemical weapons are transferred to cargo ships for eventual destruction.
Sigrid Kaag says 53.6-percent of Syrian chemical weapons have been removed from or destroyed in the country as of Thursday.
French PM urges "everything" to block far-rightists in local elections
France's Prime Minister has put out an urgent call for right-wing parties to "do everything" to stop members of the extreme-right Front National Party from being elected.
Jean-Marc Ayrault's plea comes just over a week ahead of municipal elections across France.
The far-right FNP campaigns on an anti-immigration and anti-EU platform.
The Front National Party is hoping to see upward of 15-hundred of its candidates elected in the forthcoming vote, which is scheduled for March 30th.
More Chinese kindergartens investigated over drug scandal
At least two more kindergartens are being investigated amid allegations they have been feeding antiviral drugs to children.
Local authorities in Hubei say a legal representative of a Kindergarten in the city of Yichang has been detained in connection with the latest allegations.
A number of parents say their children at the kindergartens told them they were asked to eat "bitter tablets."
Word of the investigation comes on the heels of revelations that authorities at some kindergartens in Shaanxi's capital Xi'an had been illegally giving children small doses of anti-viral drugs.
Those involved say they took part in the scheme to try to help the children resist the spread of viruses during the spring and fall months.
China to relax green card policy
The Chinese government is preparing to relax its policies of awarding permanent residency, Chinese Green Cards, to expats.
The relaxed policies appear to be targeted toward members of the overseas Chinese community.
The head of the State Council's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Qiu Yuanping, says the plans include tightening the protection of domestic investments by overseas Chinese.
The new rules will also make it easier for them to obtain education, employment and social insurance.
The government began relaxing the Green Card rules here in China last year.
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