Nepal mulls ban on solo foreign climbers
Kathmandu, March 28
Nepal is considering making it mandatory for foreigners to be accompanied by at least one local guide for mountain climbing and trekking expeditions, a move aimed at minimising mishaps involving solo climbers.

Perth, March 28
The search for the crashed Malaysian jet today dramatically shifted 1,100 km further northeast in the Indian Ocean and multiple objects were spotted in the new area with fresh radar data suggesting the plane flew faster and ran out of fuel more quickly than estimated.

“Five aircraft spotted multiple objects of various colours during Friday's search for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370. Search activities have now concluded. A total of 256,000 square kilometres was searched," the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said.

“Photographic imagery of the objects was captured and will be assessed overnight. The objects cannot be verified or discounted as being from MH370 until they are relocated and recovered by ships," it said in a statement.

AMSA, coordinating the operations to locate the debris of the plane that went missing 20 days ago, said the search would now focus on an area 1,100 km further north-east in the southern Indian Ocean off the western Australian coast. The new area is closer to land and has calmer weather than the old one, making search operations easier. It said that the new search area was about 1,850 km west of Perth and covered some 319,000 sq km.

However, this means the huge, isolated areas of the ocean that ships and planes had combed for more than a week -- and where various satellites detected objects that might be debris from the missing plane -- are no longer of interest.

Ten aircraft from six countries — Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States -- were diverted to the new area of search operations.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P3 Orion reported sighting a number of objects white or light in colour and a fishing buoy.

The plane spotted a "debris field" with several objects floating in the water, the pilot of the plane was quoted by a reporter of the China's state-run CCTV as saying.

Following the lead an Australian ship was rushed to the area which was expected to reach tomorrow morning.

An Australian Air Force P3 Orion relocated the objects detected by the RNZAF Orion and reported it had seen two blue/grey rectangular objects floating in the ocean.

A second RAAF P3 Orion spotted various objects of different colours in a separate part of the search area about 546 kilometres away.

Though a number of satellites of different countries spotted floating debris fields, this is the first time a search plane spotted the objects which the captain said could be that of missing Malasia Airlines Flight MH 370.

The jetliner - carrying 239 people, including 154 Chinese — had vanished after taking off from Kuala Lumpur. — PTI

Washington, March 28
US President Barack Obama today said Russia must "move back" its troops from the Ukraine border and start negotiating.

Obama told CBS News that Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to assemble forces on the border may "simply be an effort to intimidate Ukraine, or it may be that they've got additional plans."

Obama said that "to de-escalate the situation" Russia should "move back those troops and begin negotiations directly with the Ukrainian government as well as the international community." He also said Putin had been "willing to show a deeply held grievance about what he considers to be the loss of the Soviet Union," and the Russian leader should not "revert to the kinds of practices that were so prevalent during the Cold War".

"I think there's a strong sense of Russian nationalism and a sense that somehow the West has taken advantage of Russia in the past and that he wants to make up for that," Obama said. — AFP

Kabul, March 28
Taliban gunmen stormed a Kabul guesthouse used by a US-based aid group and held four foreigners hostage for several hours on Friday. Kabul is already on high alert and people across the country are on edge ahead of an April 5 vote.

The siege of the walled compound, which is also home to a small church, lasted several hours before Afghan security forces killed the last remaining Taliban gunman holed up inside.

At least one Afghan child was killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the building and insurgents forced their way in. There were no casualties among foreigners. A Reuters witness saw about 20 people being evacuated from the guesthouse in an upmarket residential area of Kabul, many looking frightened and shocked. — Reuters

Washington, March 28
In an unprecedented move, US Air Force has fired nine top commanders in the wake of a major scandal involving systemic cheating on proficiency tests by officers in the US nuclear missile programme as early as 2011.

The fired officers were in "leadership positions" at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said.

Though not directly involved in cheating, "they failed to provide adequate oversight of their crew force," she said yesterday.

In addition, Col. Robert Stanley -- head of the 341st Missile Wing and a 25-year veteran -- "relinquished command" and submitted his resignation, said Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, the commander of the Air Force's Global Strike Command.

"Leadership's focus on perfection led commanders to micromanage their people," said Wilson, pointing to pressure to get 100 per cent scores on monthly proficiency exams when only 90 per cent was necessary to pass.

James said that 100 lower-level officers were at one point implicated in the ordeal -- having either been accused directly of cheating or having looked the other way. Nine of those have been cleared and will be allowed to return to duty, while others could face punishments ranging from letters of counseling to courts-martial on various charges, CNN reported. — PTI

Brampton, March 28
A man was shot and killed after opening fire in a courthouse just outside Toronto, injuring a police officer today, officials said.

Ontario's Special Investigations Unit said a man entered the court house in Brampton, Ontario and fired shots, injuring a police officer before being shot dead by police. The wounded officer was taken to a Toronto hospital.

Peel Regional Police Cst. Fiona Thivierge said the courthouse had been sealed off, following the shooting.

Alex Anderson said he was in the hallway of the first floor of the building when he heard a shot being fired. — AP

Kathmandu, March 28
Nepal is considering making it mandatory for foreigners to be accompanied by at least one local guide for mountain climbing and trekking expeditions, a move aimed at minimising mishaps involving solo climbers.

“As there are incidents of missing trekkers and climbers as well as mountain-related accidents involving solo climbers, we are floating the idea of local guides accompanying foreigners during expeditions,” said Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association, a private body that is responsible for regulating mountaineering in the country.

In case of Mt Everest, a climber should be accompanied by a mountain guide and in case of mountains less than 8,000 metres high, there should be at least one guide for two climbers, he added.

"As we have noticed many incidents taking place and sometimes trekkers have gone missing if tourists are not accompanied by local guides. The idea has been floated for the safety and security of foreign climbers and also to protect the local environment," he said.

Foreign trekkers should also be accompanied by at least one local guide, he added. This will not only ensure safety for the climbers and protect the environment, but also serve as an income-generating opportunity for local people, Sherpa pointed out.

He said it had not been made mandatory, but they were encouraging such practices from now onwards.

He, however, added that the idea was being discussed with the authorities concerned to make regulations for discouraging solo climbers. "No matter how brave foreign climbers or trekkers are, they cannot be as competent as the local guide, so we are floating this idea," he pointed out.

The proposal comes ahead of the start of the climbing season late next month. Last year, a fight took place on the Everest between three European climbers and guides. — PTI

Dhaka, March 28
Bangladesh has set up a high-level task force to bring back home all the fugitives, including those involved in 1971 war crimes and assassination of the country's founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"Law Minister Anisul Huq will lead the 10-member Task Force," according to a gazette notification issued by the cabinet division here yesterday.

The other members of the task force include the foreign minister, state minister for home, the attorney general, inspector general of police, Directors General of Forces Intelligence and National Security Intelligence and secretaries of home, law and foreign affairs.

The task force would prepare a list of fugitives, identify their locations abroad "using appropriate sources" and take steps for their extradition while the home ministry would provide secretarial assistance to the high-powered body, according to the notification.

A cabinet official preferring anonymity said even if any convicted Bangladeshis were found to have obtained nationality of any other country, the task force would devise ways for their return to be face trial. — PTI