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BBC News with Zoe Diamond
Ukraine has accused Russia of staging a military invasion of Ukrainian territory to the north of Crimea. Tension is high on the eve of a referendum to be held by the pro-Russian government of Crimea, offering its citizens a choice of joining Russia or staying in Ukraine with greater autonomy. James Reynolds is in the regional capital Simferopol.
Here in Crimea's capital, there is an uneasy atmosphere. Ukraine says that Russia sent armored personnel carriers and helicopters to take over an area on a strip of a land right next to Crimea. In response, Ukraine says that its own forces took up defensive positions. The BBC is unable to confirm this event independently. But Russia remains in firm military control of Crimea itself, wherever you look here, there are posters encouraging a yes vote in the referendum. There is no option on the ballot paper for a no vote to keep things as they are. So Crimeans who want to stay with Ukraine say that there is little point in their going to vote.
At the United Nations, Russia has vetoed a Security Council resolution describing the Crimea referendum as illegal. The text drafted by the Untied States were supported by 13 of the 15 Council members. America's UN ambassador Samantha Power said the vote demonstrated the extend of Russia's isolation, following its invasion in the Peninsula.
“Russia cannot change the fact that moving forward in blatant defiance of the international rules of the road will have consequences. Nor can it change Crimea's status. Crimea is part of Ukraine today, it will be part of Ukraine tomorrow, it will be part of Ukraine next week, it will be part of Ukraine unless and until its status is changed in accordance with Ukrainian and international law.”
In Moscow, there have been large demonstrations both for and against the occupation of Crimea.
The Malaysian prime minister has said the search for the missing airliner has entered a new phase, after he disclosed that the flight's communication systems had been deliberately disabled. Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak told the world's media that missing flight MH370 had definitely not crashed into the Gulf of Thailand. Instead, it was deliberately diverted by someone on board. Even more stunning, the prime minister confirmed that satellite data shows that the plane continued to fly on for six hours. That could put it as far north as Kazakhstan or in the far south of the Indian Ocean.
A series of car bombs has killed at least 15 people in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, more than 40 others were wounded, no group has said it carried out the attacks, but correspondents say they were with the hallmarks of an al-Qaeda breakaway group which frequently uses car bombs.
This is the World News from the BBC
A number of people have been killed and dozens others injured in a stampede in the national stadium in the Nigerian capital Abuja. The incident occurred during a recruitment exercise by Nigeria's immigration department. One of the thousand who attended the event said he had struggled to breathe in the crash as people tried to reach the center of the stadium.
“everyone was so rowdy and you get a lot of smoke, you have to lock up the gate, and you know there where women here were pregnant when many people had to push, forced their way to..and people are falling down, there was no air, no breath I have to use my hands to push my fellow #$%- -”
The French government has decided to introduce alternative driving days in Paris in an attempt to tackle dangerous levels of air pollution in the capital. From Monday, drivers will only be able to use their cars every other day. It's only the second time since 1997 that the restriction has been forced.
The authorities in Brazil have deployed an extra 200 security personnel in two neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro, after another policeman was shot dead on Saturday. A further 100 men will be enforced security in.. in the north of the city as part of a government policy to drive out drug gangs ahead of this year's football World Cup.
One of the all-time great rugby player Brian O'Driscoll of Ireland has helped Ireland win a Six Nations championship on his final appearance for his country. Playing in Paris, O'Driscoll helped his country keep their nerve as the determined French side called back some but not all of a 9 point deficit.
“That's great to finish on a high, my last game and this my magnificent jersey, and what it is, when I do hang upon the hope inside, and it'll be with very fun memories. ”
Ireland won the game 22:20 and picked England to the title on points difference.
BBC World News.
