Here are the biggest stories in the world today;
Obama presses Putin to stop separatists
US President Barack Obama yesterday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to use his influence to make Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine stand down. Separatist groups continue to occupy public buildings in several cities despite threats from Ukraine’s acting President Olexander Turchynov to forcibly remove them. The groups occupying the buildings are demanding referendums on greater autonomy or an option to join the Russian Federation. A meeting with delegates from the US, Russia, EU and Ukraine is to convene in Geneva on Thursday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. For more go to BBC.
China to start new space race
Chinese President Xi Jinping today told members of the Chinese military to increase their air and space defence capabilities. Speaking at Air Force headquarters in Beijing, Xi said to officers that they need to speed up air and space integration. China has shown increasing ambition to develop its military space programme. Fears of a space arms race between China and the US and others were raised after China used a ground missile to destroy one of its satellites in 2007. For more go to Reuters.
UN human rights chief condemns Syrian abuse
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has condemned the widespread torture committed by all sides in the Syrian conflict. The Office of the High Commissioner yesterday released a report identifying individual cases of torture committed in detention facilities in Syria. The report detailed the torture techniques of state authorities and said that torture by opposition groups was on the rise, particularly in the north of Syria. More than 100,000 people are believed to have died in the three-year conflict. For more go the LA Times.
Also in the news today
Underwater search for MH370 cut short
Pistorious cross-examination concludes
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