RUSSIAN TROOPS TAKE OVER CRIMEAN NAVAL BASE
Russian troops and members of pro-Russian self-defense groups raided and took over a Ukrainian Naval base in Crimea, the third in the last 48 hours, The Kyiv Post reports. After the early morning raid, acting President Olexandr Turchynov said the Ukrainian military units in Crimea had been ordered to withdraw from the peninsula, citing “threats to the lives and health” of his soldiers.
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This comes amid reports from U.S. and UK officials that Russian forces might be preparing to invade Eastern and Southern Ukraine, as well as Transnistria, the eastern region of Moldova, The Washington Post reports. “There is absolutely sufficient force postured on the eastern border of Ukraine to run to Transnistria if the decision was made to do that,” NATO’s supreme allied commander Gen.Philip Breedlove told The Guardian. According to ITV, Romanian President Traian Basescu asked NATO to “reposition its resources in response to ongoing Russian military operations.” In Moscow, Deputy Defense Minister dismissed claims of a military buildup on the border and said that foreign missions had been sent to inspect their troops, whose numbers fall within the limits of international agreement.
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President Barack Obama is in the Netherlands today where he is holding a series of meetings with representatives of the G7 countries. Although the planned visit was supposed to focus on nuclear terrorism, the Ukrainian crisis is expected to take center stage, with Obama seeking support for a tougher response to Russia. “We’re united in imposing a cost on Russia for its actions so far,” he said after a first meeting with Dutch PM Mark Rutte. Read more from AP.
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Meanwhile, the situation in Eastern Ukraine is growing increasingly tense with RT reporting “massive anti-Maidan rallies” in Kharkov, Donetsk, Lugansk and Odessa Sunday, where thousands of people protested against Kiev’s new government, its political agreement with the European Union and the presence of NATO troops. Crimea’s deputy PM claimed that Ukraine had withdrawn 50% of its power supply, denouncing the move as “blackmail.” Read more from Itar-Tass.
AUSTRALIA AND CHINA SPOT POTENTIAL PLANE DEBRIS
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the country’s Royal Air Force had spotted more “objects” that could be debris from Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, about 2,500 kilometers southwest of Perth, as the search operations continue in the South Indian Ocean, Australia’s ABC reports. Earlier today, the crew aboard a Chinese plane also reported having spotted “suspicious objects” in the area. Read more from Xinhua.
EIGHT DEAD IN U.S. MUDSLIDE
At least eight people are now confirmed dead with over a dozen missing after a massive mudslide destroyed some 30 homes Saturday near the town of Oso, Washington,The Seattle Timesreports. According to the local authorities, the number of victims is likely to rise. “I just saw the darkness coming across the road. Everything was gone in three seconds,” a witness told The Daily Herald.
HUNDREDS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN EGYPT
An Egyptian court sentenced to death 529 supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, while acquitting 17 in the second hearing of their trial, AFP reports. But before the sentence can be carried out, the court decision will have to be approved by Egypt’s Grand Mufti, the highest official of Islamic law in a Muslim country. The trial will continue tomorrow, with another 700 accused of attacking people and property and murdering police officers.
JAPAN–U.S. NUCLEAR DEAL
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Barack Obama announced jointly that Tokyo would turn over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and separated plutonium to the United States. Indian newspaper The Economic Times describes the agreement as “a victory for President Barack Obama’s efforts to secure nuclear materials around the world.” The joint statement from the two countries says, “This material, once securely transported to the United States, will be sent to a secure facility and fully converted into less sensitive forms,” Read more from Reuters.
MY GRAND-PÈRE’S WORLD
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ELECTION OBSERVERS LEAVE AFGHANISTAN
The National Democratic Institute and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have pulled their observers from Afghanistan after last week’s Taliban attack on a luxury Kabul hotel, Reuters reports. According to an Afghanistan election observer, the decision could undermine confidence in the legitimacy of the upcoming April 5 presidential election.
BY THE NUMBERS
Sunday’s French local elections were marked by record low voter turnout and the strength of the far-right National Front party, which gained ground in important cities. Read more from Bloomberg.
VERBATIM
China is demanding an explanation after a report revealed the NSA infiltrated a telecom giant’s servers there. “China has already lodged many complaints with the United States about this. We demand that the United States makes a clear explanation and stop such acts,” the country’s foreign ministry spokesman said today.
FAREWELL
Adolfo Suarez, Spain’s first democratically elected prime minister after the death of right-wing dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, has died at age 81.
MAGIC TRICKS FOR DOGS
Jose Ahonen, a Finnish magician, has released a video of dogs’ reactions to a simple magic trick. Watch it here.
