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Signals in remote seas thought to be from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are "rapidly fading" massive, massive task Trying to locate anything 4,500 metres (15,000 feet) beneath the surface of the ocean, about a 1,000km (620 miles) from land is a massive, massive task Abbott: 'Plane signal' rapidly fading http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27000576

Gunmen seize Ukraine police station http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27000700

US Republicans block 'fair pay' bill April 9, 2014 9:14 PM By the bbc edited by me to make it shorter. Senate Republicans argue the legislation would increase risk of lawsuits against companies Republicans in the US Senate have blocked a Democratic bill aimed at closing the gap between what men and women are paid. The Paycheck Fairness Act fell seven votes short of the 60 required to advance. But Democrats cite Census Bureau data indicating women earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn. 'Good politics' The bill would have barred employers from retaliating against employees who share salary information and limited the factors businesses can cite for paying women less than men. But Republicans have argued that would increase frivolous lawsuits against companies. "It's time for Washington Democrats to stop protecting trial lawyers and start focusing on actually helping the people we were sent here to represent," Republican Senate Minority Leader Mit...

Russia 'refuses to talk to Ukraine' March 12, 2014 9:42 AM Steve Rosenberg reports from Lugansk in eastern Ukraine: ''After the Crimea, there is concern that this region could be the next flashpoint'' Russia's leaders are refusing all negotiations with their Ukrainian counterparts, Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has said. He told AFP news agency that Ukraine would not intervene militarily in Crimea, even though a secession referendum there was a "sham". Meanwhile interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk is travelling to the US to meet President Barack Obama. On Thursday he is due to address the UN Security Council in New York. 'A provocation' "We cannot launch a military operation in Crimea, as we would expose the eastern border [close to Russia] and Ukraine would not be protected," Mr Turchynov told AFP. President Turchynov said that the referendum in Crimea this weekend would be falsified by Russia ...

Swiss bank boss 'regrets' tax ploy February 26, 2014 8:07 PM The boss of Swiss bank Credit Suisse has said he "deeply regrets" that some of its bankers violated US tax laws. But Chief Executive Brady Dougan said in a statement to a US Senate committee that there was only "scattered evidence" of improper conduct. A US Senate report alleged the bank had helped US clients hide billions of dollars from the US taxman. Mr Dougan admitted some private bankers had helped Americans hide income and assets to illegally avoid US tax. Deep regret He said: "We deeply regret that - despite the industry-leading compliance measures we have put in place - before 2009, some Credit Suisse private bankers appear to have violated US law." "The evidence showed that some Swiss-based private bankers went to great lengths to disguise their bad conduct from Credit Suisse executive management." The report said that in 2006, Credit Suisse held 22,000 account...

'Ethnic cleansing' of CAR Muslims Updated 17 minutes ago Militias have been attacking Muslim civilians International peacekeepers have failed to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Muslims in the Central African Republic, a human rights group says. Militia attacks have led to a "Muslim exodus of historic proportions", according to a report by Amnesty International. Aid groups have warned of a food crisis, as many of the shops and wholesalers were run by Muslims. The UN's World Food Programme is due to start airlifting aid on Wednesday. The roads are too dangerous to transport food without a military escort, WFP spokesman Alexis Masciarelli told the BBC. This means it is being forced to take the more expensive option of flying food in from neighbouring Cameroon. He said 82 tonnes of rice would arrive on Wednesday, with a further 1,800 tonnes of cereal to follow over the next month. This is enough to feed 150,000 people but he said 1.25 million need food aid. ...

Tunisia assembly passes constitution http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25908340 Tunisia assembly passes constitution January 27, 2014 3:17 AM Assembly members waved the Tunisian flag in celebration after the constitution was passed Tunisia's parliament has adopted a new constitution - the first since the ousting of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali three years ago. The National Constituent Assembly passed the text by 200 votes from 216. Analysts say politicians hope it will send out a message of stability after months of deadlock between Islamist and secular forces. Meanwhile, Prime Minister-designate Mehdi Jomaa says he has formed a new caretaker government. The cabinet consists mainly of independents and technocrats, and is expected to run the country until new elections. No date has been set for the polls. 'Consensus' After the vote on Sunday, the Tunisian flag was unfurled and parliamentarians embraced each other inside the chamber. Mehdi Joma became pri...