Ukraine: Putin signs Crimea annexation

Gavin Hewitt reports: ''The president saluted what he called a serious, momentous event''
President Vladimir Putin has signed a law formalising Russia's takeover of Crimea from Ukraine, despite fresh sanctions from the EU and the US.

The European Union's latest measures target 12 people involved in Russia's annexation of the peninsula.

Earlier, Ukraine and the EU signed an accord forging closer political ties.

Separately, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe has agreed to send monitors to Ukraine, after Russia dropped objections.

The six-month mission will initially consist of 100 international civilian monitors, who will be employed in nine regions of Ukraine - including the south-eastern areas rocked by violence between pro-Ukraine and pro-Russian activists.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso: ''Nobody has recognised the annexation of Crimea''
The observers will not go to Crimea but German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the decision was "a step that helps to support our de-escalation efforts".

Western diplomats had blamed Russia for several failed attempt to agree such a mission to help defuse the tense situation.

In Brussels, EU leaders also said they would step up efforts to reduce energy dependency on Russia.

The EU's new sanctions add to an existing list of 21 officials affected by travel bans and asset freezes.

They include Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and two close aides of Vladimir Putin, Sergei Glazyev and Vladislav Surkov.

Vladimir Putin was flanked by the two parliamentary speakers as he signed the law annexing Crimea
The speakers of Russia's two houses of parliament, Valentina Matviyenko and Sergei Naryshkin - both at Mr Putin's side as he signed the Crimea law - are also included.

While the list targets several figures close to the Russian president, it does not hit his inner circle as hard as the sanctions announced by the US on Thursday.

Downgrade

Shares fell sharply in Moscow on Friday as investors assessed the impact of Western sanctions on Russia's economy.

Two credit-rating agencies have now downgraded Russia's outlook from stable to negative.

Visa and Mastercard have also stopped providing services to two Russian financial institutions, Bank Rossiya (hit by US sanctions) and SMP Bank.

The accord signed by the EU and Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Brussels on Friday contains the political part of the EU Association Agreement rejected in November by Viktor Yanukovych, who was then Ukraine's president.

That decision triggered violent protests, Mr Yanukovych's eventual overthrow and Russia's subsequent move into Crimea.

Ukraine's PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk met EU leaders including Angela Merkel at the Brussels summit
The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, visiting Kiev the day after meeting Mr Putin in Moscow, urged Ukraine and Russia to hold talks to prevent the crisis spreading.

Ukraine's interim President Olexander Turchynov, after meeting Mr Ban, said Ukraine would never accept "the seizure of its territory".

In a separate development on Friday, Ukrainian police detained the head of the Naftogaz state energy firm, Yevhen Bakulin.

He is accused of embezzling $4bn (£2.4bn) during Mr Yanukovych's time in power.

Officials investigating corruption at Ukraine's agriculture ministry are reported to have seized tens of thousands of dollars in cash.

Russian troops enter a Ukrainian military base near the Crimean city of Simferopol

A child in the Crimean city of Simferopol takes part in the celebrations
In Crimea itself, forces allied to Russia have been seizing Ukrainian ships and taking over military bases.

The new authorities in Crimea have invited those serving in the Ukrainian forces on the peninsula to switch sides and join the Russian military.

Fireworks

Mr Putin ordered fireworks displays for Moscow and Crimea on Friday night to celebrate the region becoming part of the Russian Federation.

Russia has put in place travel bans and asset freezes for nine prominent US officials and lawmakers in response to Thursday's announcement of sanctions targeting Mr Putin's allies by President Barack Obama.

Senator John McCain, one of those targeted, joked in a tweet that he would have to cancel his spring break in Siberia.

Mr Putin said Moscow would not retaliate for the latest EU sanctions - although the Russian foreign ministry said there would be a response.
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MH370 Malaysia plane: No debris found on second search day

Jonathan Head says a military base in Western Australia is leading the hunt
A second day of searching for sightings of possible debris from a missing Malaysian airliner in the southern Indian Ocean has proved fruitless.

The operation is due to start again on Saturday with extra vessels joining the search, Australian officials say.

Five aircraft took part in Friday's search for flight MH370, which vanished two weeks ago with 239 people on board.

Satellite images have revealed objects possibly related to the plane in waters far south-west of Western Australia.

Bad weather had initially hampered Thursday's operation, but conditions improved on Friday.

Experts have warned that the searchers face extremely treacherous seas and that a recovery operation would be very dangerous.

'Gut-wrenching business'

Operations were halted on Friday at nightfall, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) confirmed. It added that an Australian navy ship, HMAS Success, was on its way to the search area.

In an earlier press conference, Malaysian authorities said the vessel was expected to "reach the vicinity of the objects tomorrow [Saturday]".

Australian authorities said one of the objects on the satellite images was 24m in size

The objects were seen on satellite images dated 16 March and assessed by experts
Other countries deploying additional assets included China, Japan and the United Kingdom, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.

He added that a French delegation was also assisting "with their considerable experience and expertise".

The team "includes a man who led the investigation into the Air France (Flight) 447 crash", Mr Hussein said.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott earlier described the search as "a gut-wrenching business for so many people, not least those who are charged with keeping their citizens safe".

Tony Abbott: "If there is anything down there, we will find it"
"It's about the most inaccessible spot that you can imagine on the face of the earth, but if there is anything down there, we will find it," said Mr Abbott, who is currently visiting Papua New Guinea.

"We owe it to the families of those people (on board) to do no less."

But he also cautioned that the objects spotted by the satellites could be unrelated to the plane.

Flight MH370 was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it lost contact with air traffic controllers and disappeared from radar at 00:41 Saturday, 8 March (16:41 GMT, 7 March).

Satellite data has led to a search in two corridors to the north and south of its last known location in the Malacca Straits - the opposite direction from its flight path.

The St Petersburg, a Norwegian merchant ship, was the first vessel to reach the area
Malaysian officials say they believe the plane was intentionally diverted. Authorities in many countries have scrutinised the backgrounds of both passengers and crew on board but say they have no substantive leads.

Other reports of debris to date have proved not to be linked to the missing plane.

Four military planes, including three Orions belonging to the Royal Australian Air Force, were taking part in the search, Amsa said. A civilian Bombardier Global Express is also involved.

The aircraft are searching a 23,000 sq km area, about 2,500 km (1,550 miles) south-west of Perth, Amsa said.

Each aircraft is able to search for no more than two hours, due to the distance from land.

China said it was sending three navy vessels to the search area. It also has an icebreaker in Perth that could join the search, its National Maritime Search and Rescue Centre said.

Two merchant ships have also joined the search.

'False information'

On Thursday, Malaysian authorities described the debris sighting as a "credible lead".

The largest object appeared to be 24m (78ft) in size, the Australian authorities said.

Correspondents say many families are hoping the objects are not debris from the plane, as they are holding on to hope that their relatives could be alive somewhere.

Wen Wancheng, whose 33-year-old son Wen Yongsheng was on the plane, said: "What wreckage? In a few days they are going to say it's not true.

"[The Malaysian authorities] need to stop giving us false information. I simply don't believe them any more."
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India thrash Pakistan in World T20

India 131-3 (18.3 overs) beat Pakistan 130-7 (20 overs) by seven wickets
Match scorecard.

India began the Super 10 phase of the World Twenty20 with a commanding seven-wicket win over Pakistan in Mirpur.

Pakistan scored a modest 11 fours and two sixes in their 130-7, Umar Akmal top-scoring with 33 from 30 balls and Sohaib Maqsood adding 21 off 11.
India's openers hit six fours and two sixes, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma racing to 54-0 within eight overs.

Three quick wickets fell but Virat Kohli (36) and Suresh Raina (35) guided them home with nine balls remaining.
Pakistan remain without a victory against India in nine World Cup and World T20 matches and will now seek a rapid improvement from their remaining Group Two matches against Australia, Bangladesh and West Indies, with only the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals.

England begin their campaign in Group One on Saturday against New Zealand, with Sri Lanka, South Africa and the big-hitting Netherlands to come.

The Pakistan innings began hesitantly after they were put in before a typically fervent crowd.

Kamran Akmal was run-out in the second over and more might have followed as the stuttering scoreboard created further anxiety.

When Amit Mishra had Ahmed Shehzad easily stumped in the ninth over with a prodigiously spinning leg-break and recorded that rarest of commodities in T20, the wicket maiden, it was 47-3 and only five boundaries had been scored.

Former skipper Shoaib Malik hit the first six in the 12th over with a glorious straight drive off Mishra, recording a half century stand in 42 balls with Umar as 26 runs came in two overs.

But Shoaib was caught at long-off in the 16th over, bringing the dangerman Shahid Afridi to the crease, and Umar was another to find the fielder, caught off Mohammad Shami in the 18th over.
Captain Afridi could manage only one boundary before he was well caught diving forward at deep mid-wicket by Raina in the penultimate over.

Despite a late six and four from the robust Sohaib, their total was significantly down on the average score on the ground of 148.

That was quickly emphasised by Rohit, who stepped down the wicket to square drive Junaid Khan over point for six in the third over.

And when the mercurial Saaed Ajmal, who tormented England with 24 wickets in the three-Test series in early 2012, was introduced in the next he was promptly dispatched for three vigorous leg-side boundaries by Dhawan.

But Dhawan hooked recklessly off balance to fine-leg, Rohit played on to Ajmal and when Yuvraj Singh's off-stump was rattled by bustling seamer Bilawal Bhatti's first ball, three wickets had fallen in 15 legitimate deliveries.
However, Kohli calmly took his team towards their target with some sweetly struck, wristy strokes and the pugnacious Raina played a no-nonsense innings, seizing on anything short.

Raina was dropped twice, on seven and 28, but remained undefeated in a decisive partnership of 66 in barely eight overs.

India captain Mahendra Dhoni said there was more to come from man-of-the-match Mishra, who took 2-22 in only his second T20 international.

"I think Mishra bowled 70-75% of what he can bowl," Dhoni said. "But we are not sure of playing three spinners every time. A lot will depend on whether there is evening dew or not."
Counterpart Mohammad Hafeez said: "We were at least 20 runs short. Then we dropped some catches, which we can't afford in games like these.

"But there is a long way to go in this tournament and we will try to make a strong comeback."
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Van Persie out for up to six weeks

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie will miss between four and six weeks with a sprained knee.
The Dutch international, 30, was taken off on a stretcher after scoring a hat-trick in Wednesday's 3-0 win against Champions League opponents Olympiakos.

Manager David Moyes said an initial scan was "inconclusive" but a second look revealed the extent of the damage.
Van Persie will now miss both legs of United's Champions League quarter-final against holders Bayern Munich.
Van Persie has scored 17 goals in 25 appearances for United this season despite suffering a thigh problem against Shakhtar Donetsk which meant he missed the majority of December and January.

The former Arsenal player was absent as United exited both the FA Cup and Capital One up, losing four times in five matches.

Van Persie won the Golden Boot for the second season running last year, scoring 26 goals in the Premier League.
Seventh-placed United face West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday and, reflecting on the victory against Olympiakos, Moyes said he felt he could "look in the face" of home supporters again after reaching the Champions League last eight.
Domestically the Red Devils are 12 points adrift of the top four - and Champions League qualification - after last weekend's 3-0 defeat by Liverpool at Old Trafford.

"We had given them something to shout about. There was nothing to be ashamed of about our performance," said the ex-Everton boss, who replaced the retired Sir Alex Ferguson last summer.

"In some of the games I have felt ashamed because we haven't played well enough and I have not got a team out that has got a good enough result."
The reigning Premier League champions have lost five of their 14 top-flight matches at Old Trafford under Moyes, winning six and drawing three.

But the 50-year-old Scot, who signed a six-year contract at Old Trafford, is confident United will produce winning performances given time.

"Our form and our performances have not been consistent enough," he said.
"We have shown some really top performances and some really low performances. We have to get better at that, but it is going to take time. We are not going to be able to do everything immediately.

"Because of the period we are in, that is happening a little bit; a very good one and maybe a bad one at times. My job over the coming years is to make sure we get rid of that."
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Man Utd face Bayern in Champions League SEE FULL DRAW LIST BELOW

Manchester United have been drawn against holders Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, while Chelsea face Paris St-Germain.

Spanish champions Barcelona play La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid meet Borussia Dortmund.
The first legs will be played on 1-2 April, with the return matches on 8-9 April.

This year's final is to be held at Benfica's Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Saturday, 24 May.

United overturned a 2-0 deficit against Olympiakos to book their spot in the last eight, while Chelsea saw off Turkish side Galatasaray.

Premier League champions United beat their Greek opposition 3-0 in the second leg on Wednesday to provide some much-needed relief for manager David Moyes and his players, who are struggling in seventh in the Premier League.

But they now play Bayern, with the first leg at Old Trafford, and Moyes believes the German league leaders - who beat Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate in the last 16 - are favourites to win the competition and retain their European title.

"I was thrilled we were in the draw and that we are in the quarter-final of the Champions League," said the Scot.

"I have to say we have probably drawn out the favourites and holders of the competition. It is a really tough draw for us but one I am looking forward to.
"If you are old-fashioned, you would always say you want to be at home in the second leg. I have to say that would be the preference. We just have to take it."

It is a rematch of the 1999 Champions League final, when late goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham won the trophy for Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Bayern beat United on away goals in the 2009-10 quarter-finals, ending the English club's hopes of reaching a third successive final.

"We can't allow Manchester United's current position in the Premier League table to affect our mindset for this game," said Bayern skipper Philipp Lahm after Friday's draw in Switzerland.

"We'll travel to Manchester to play attacking football and score goals. I don't think it matters if you play the away leg first."

Premier League leaders Chelsea will travel to the French capital to play PSG in their first leg.

The Ligue 1 champions, with Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as their spearhead, are eight points clear of nearest rivals Monaco as they aim to retain their domestic title.

Chelsea are unbeaten in their two previous Champions League meetings with PSG, which came in Blues boss Jose Mourinho's first season at Stamford Bridge.

The west London club won 3-0 in Paris before a 0-0 home draw in the 2004-05 group stage.

Spanish leaders Real, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in blistering form, brushed aside Schalke 9-2 on aggregate in the last 16 and now face German opposition again after being drawn against last season's runners-up Dortmund.

Atletico Madrid, who are second in La Liga, are rewarded for a comfortable 5-1 aggregate win against seven-time European champions AC Milan with a tie against domestic rivals Barcelona.
The sides drew 0-0 in their league meeting at Atletico's Vicente Calderon stadium in January.

Full draw:
Barcelona v Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund
Paris St-Germain v Chelsea
Manchester United v Bayern Munich
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Ditch that tape measure; You can make floor plans by tapping your iPhone on the walls

Next time you need to draw up a floor plan or recreate a room's dimensions, save yourself some trouble and don't dig out your toolbox — just whip out your phone, head to the AppStore, and download an app called RoomScan.

Despite the fact that it does some fairly complicated calculations, the app is extremely simple to use. Once you fire it up, a series of straightforward voice prompts and instructions will guide you through the process, but they're almost unnecessary. To use the app, walk around the room and hold your iDevice on the wall for a
few seconds until you hear a beep, and then continue onto the next wall. You'll need to take care that you include every wall and door, but once you've completed the circle, RoomScan will compile a surprisingly accurate map of the area.

Using on your phone's built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, and gyroscope to determine distances and the orientation of walls, RoomScan can reliably estimate measurements to within about half a foot, which should be adequate if all you need is a rough floor plan. If, you need more precise measurements, you can opt for the $5 Pro version, which allows you to specify exact distances, and will automatically correct the entire room if you adjust a couple dimensions.

The Pro version also allows you to scan multiple rooms and have RoomScan stitch them together to create one large, unified map of your entire space. It even lets you add doors as you go instead of dragging and dropping them to the finished floor plan like in the standard version. Check out the video below to see it in action, or head to RoomScan's website for more details.
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LifePrint is a small social networked printer that lets you output photos from anywhere

While it's perfectly fine to print your pictures at home or at a photo center, what if you want to print a picture somewhere in between? You're not near either of those places, so that picture-printing urge usually has to sit in the back burner. LifePrint, however, wants to make sure you can print your pictures regardless of where you are, with a small nondescript printer and, hopefully, $200,000 in Kickstarter funding.

LifePrint, specifically meant for photo printing from your smartphone, separates itself from the competition (Polaroid and Fujifilm being the biggies) in how you're able to print. Through the LifePrint app, you can print pictures either on a WiFi network or on a cellular data network. In addition, you can print pictures from a LifePrint device that could be thousands of miles away, so long as you and someone else follow each other on the LifePrint app. Don't care for a particular photo? You can reject to print that cat picture your grandma keeps sending you.

Speaking of following, LifePrint isn't just the printer and the app, but also a social network where you can follow people. Interestingly, instead of a "like" option for pictures, you can just print them out. You can also choose to share pictures through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, with those pictures having the #LifePrinted attached to them. You can, of course, choose not to do any of that and remain off the grid, for the privacy-focused among us.

Through the app, you can also edit your pictures, with options such as color filters, picture stitching, adding talk bubbles and other text, and border selection. Pictures won't be huge by any means, with the "film" size at 3 x 4, capped at 10 prints. If you want to buy more prints, LifePrint hopes to have film available through retailers and its website once the Kickstarter campaign is finished.
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