A short time ago, the signed part of an agreement for closer relations with ukraine. It is the same pact that sparked the countrys political crisis back in november. The signing follows the eu decision on thursday to add another 12 names to their sanctions list. Lets get the report. It was former ukrainian president yanukovichs decision to reject this agreement which sparked to protests leading to his overthrow and eventually to russias annexation to the crimean peninsula. Eu leaders take action against it on thursday. The European Union has decided to add two sanctions which will include travel bans on a number of people in addition to the freezing of their assets. 33 people who will be on this list. Threats of sanctions did nothing to prevent russia taking over leadership of crimea. Now eu eaters fear russia may lay claim to more of its former soviet era tory. European leaders are considering broader economic sanctions that could have a major effect on durussian trade, but not yet. It is important to send a very clear message that if there is further the stabilization in ukraine, then there should be further wideranging measures taken. Increasing numbers of Russian Troops amassing of the border with eastern ukraine, but the Russian DefenseMinistry Says they will not invade. Isthe government in kiev watching the dus moves closely. The countrys Prime Minister set to find out about the expectations. We expect the signature of eu , and we expect to get Financial Support from the eu. We expect a strong solid and united response to the russians. We expect that ukraine, and the longterm perspective, will be an eu member and a solid and successful eu member. As you heard earlier, the eu leaders are not issued an asset freeze and travel ban on a total of 33 people. That comes on the heels of washingtons announcement of further sanctions against russian officials. Moscow has answered back with its own travel bans against american officials. Lets get the report on the ongoing political wrangling. Areashington and moscow upping the ante. The u. S. Is freezing the assets of 20 more russian lawmakers and officials in addition to the 11 people already targeted by sanctions. The latest list includes the russian president chief of staff, the speaker of the duma, businessman, and a bank. The expanded sections deliver on obamas warning earlier this week to punish russia if it did not fall back from its absorption of crimea. I signed an executive order today that gives us the authority to impose sanctions, not just on individuals but on key sectors of the russian economy. This is not our preferred outcome. These sanctions will not only have a Significant Impact on the russian economy, but they can also be disruptive to the global economy. And moscow times on the lower house of the Russian Parliament ignored such threats on thursday, voting almost unanimously to approve the annexation of ukraines breakaway province. They voted 4451 to make crimea a part of russia. I am surprised at the scrutiny of our western earners which they have been addicted to more and more. It is a kind of dictatorial measure towards other countries. Theyd travel down the law to waste their stooges in power. Russia responded to american and european sanctions with measures of its own. Nine american officials from entering russia, including john boehner, harry reid, and john mccain. Numbercain was among a of american officials who visited ukraines new government last weekend. Meanwhile, russia continues its advance on crimeas upper house of parliament, just ratifying a treaty. Troops continue to extend their control into the peninsula. There is a they took over more you can gain military bases where soldiers have been trapped for weeks. Sanctionstle over continues, Russian Troops continue to extend their control over the crimean pin into it. Thursday times on they took over more Ukrainian Military bases where soldiers had been trapped for weeks. Still ukrainian flag flies over this vase but not for much longer. Over 100 ukrainian soldiers remain inside, barricaded by Russian Troops who have given them three choices join the russian army, lose their jobs, early crimea. Talks are underway to allow those who choose to leave to do so in safety. Negotiation is not an easy process. But slowly everybody is trying to make a compromise to protect lives. Erests of these our main concern is protecting peoples lives. In this progress and city, if you publicly support them. But some who do feel they have been let down by kiev. Of course not. They should not go away. Ukraine is one and undivided. Kiev she get involved and not just sit there messing around. They are talking about sanctions. That is ridiculous. Some have made their decision. This military base, the negotiations are already over and the base has changed hands. Both russian and ukrainian troops are now inside and a russian flag has been raised over it. Prorussian militiamen outside told us the vast majority of ukrainian soldiers at this base chose to join the russian army and changed sides. And those who did not have been allowed to leave in peace. And other world news, the acting prime and his or of australia says efforts to find the missing Malaysia Airline or have so far turned up empty. For a second day, investigators are focusing on the Indian Ocean South west of australia. Satellite imagery picked up what could be debris from the jetliner. So far the five aircraft taking part in the search have not yet confirmed that the debris is from flight mh370. The plane disappeared nearly two weeks ago with 239 people on board. Lets get the details. A concentrated search continues for a second day. The renewed hunt for the missing Malaysian Airline flight began on thursday after satellite images captured large objects floating in the southern indian ocean about 2500 kilometers southwest of perth. We would like to find something to give closure in answers to the family and relatives of the people on board the plane. But theres always hope that maybe the aircraft is somewhere else. Aircraft from australia, new zealand, and the u. S. Are sweeping it 20,000 square kilometers zone. Ships are also in the area. They continue to look for possible debris. China has sent warships there, too. Bad weather has hampered the operations. Stretching from northern thailand towards Central Asian is beginning swept, too. There is little comfort for the family of the missing passengers. My hope is that my son is still alive and safe and that all the passengers are alive. 777 with 239 people onboard disappeared on march 8 less than one hour after it took off from kuala lumpur bound for beijing. Radar evidence has indicated was taken deliberately off course after the Communications System was shut down. Lastve turks tweeted their weeds . The social network was blocked late thursday. Eight came after the Prime Minister threatened to wipe out the site. It and other media platforms have been highlighting corruption allegations against erdogans government. And turkeyeters tried to access a social network today, this is what they did a list of four rulings from the state Prosecutors Office saying the site has been banned. It is a security measure. One hour before twitter turned dark, the Prime Minister warned he would eradicate it. Twitter, we have a court order now. We will wipe out all of it. The International Community can say this or that, but i do not care at all. Powerfulwill see how the public of turkey is. To explain the band, the government says ritter refused to comply with court orders and remove various links from its pages. Links showing alleged police andments proving erdogan allies are guilty of corrupt of corruption. The allegations involve several ministers and businessmen. Erdogan says it is a conspiracy from abroad. The eu commissioner for Digital Affairs called the latest prohibition groundless, pointless, and cowardly, amounting to censorship. Turkish tweeters criticized erdogan, stressing this latest attack on social media comes a few days ahead of local elections. Twitter says turkish users can still post messages using mobile phones. To the syrian conflict another victory for bashar alassads forces. His troops have captioned a faint crusader castle at the border with lebanon. After days of intense clashes, the government flag is now flying above the fortress. The castle dates back to the 12th century. The Government Forces have seized at least four towns and villages in the area over the past two weeks. Thailands Constitutional Court has ruled that a general election held in february was invalid. The decision on friday sets the stage for a new vote and adds another layer of complication to dealing with the countrys political crisis. The judge has declared the election unconstitutional being heldvoting not in 28 constituencies. That was due to antigovernment road testers who prevented candidates from registering. The constitution says the election must be held on the same day nationwide. The country is gearing up for local elections. But it is one man who is not a candidate that is getting headlines. Nicholas sarkozy is finally speaking out over a phone tapping scandal that has been brewing for weeks. He is now telling his side of the story. Lets get more. Breaking the silence former president nicholas thosey has lashed out at behind the secret recordings of him and his colleagues while in office. He writes secret vegetables of our republic sacred principles of our republic are being trampled. Clandestine the recordings were worthy of the german stasi of the 1930s. Heave a part of the blame with the current government, warning that anyone in contact with him now could be the subject of surveillance. Were not talking about the actions of a dictator somewhere in the world against the opposition. This is france. The socialist party replied immediately. I am shocked to see the former president compare our country, his country, to the former east germany and the era of the iron curtain. Party stalwarts leapt to his defense. It is essential that nicholas are closing defends himself. And that he respond to the hateful attacks that have been aimed at him for weeks. Earlier this month, a paris d sarkozys aide for making the recordings and ordered the website which published them to remove the file. Appears twoticle days before the first round of the municipal elections. I am in paris and youre watching france 24. The first round of voting is set to take place this sunday, march 23. While the outcome is likely to determine the Political Landscape at a local level, it is also seen as a crucial test for the government of president francois hollande. But beyond frances borders, there is the race to win the keys to paris. But see who is in the running and how they have campaigned. The city is not enough for the both of them. Battle is almost certain to throw up the french capitals first female mayor. A local election on march 23. I am a candidate. Socialist frontrunner has already served 13 years as did the mayor. She sought to distance herself becausencois hollande of national discontent of tax levels and his approval ratings. Be risingill not taxes over my first time because i think the national tax level is already high enough. Both for households and for businesses. Has plans to build council housing. The Billionaires Row has arab russian oligarchs, and african heads of state. The socialist Campaign Poster is heavily retouched and has come in for ridicule. Risiblexpert says it than advertisement for antiwrinkle cream said one pr expert. Of nicholasotege sarkozy former environment minister, the candidate pledge to cut local taxes. Have an Outgoing Administration that has given up. They are looking for excuses. I am looking for solutions. But she faces a challenge from her own political party. Her campaign has run into repeated pr blunders. A photo from 2005 earned her a nickname which allowed opponents to cast her as overprivileged and out of touch. Her efforts to come across as just another parisienne fell flat, unable to give the price of a metro ticket during a radio interview. And photos of her with the luxury handbag. Political commentators are arguing that the two candidates no little on policy and seek to outlandishother with development projects. Swimming pools on the river and suggesting converting abandoned metro stations into theaters. ,or paris voters, housing transport, transport time, and crime levels are the top priorities. In the ranks of the socialist party, given the unpopularity of thedent francois hollande, cities will be shifting to the right to distance himself from paris politics. A number of socialists have decided to steer their focus to purely local issues. Lets go to some of those towns. They have had this stunning cathedral for centuries. Alsohe people of reims have a tramway system. Now the campaign is less about getting around easier and more votes. Imiting protest are you happy with the school . Feels that the School Reforms are too risky at election time. On her flyers there is no socialist party logo. She is also aware of the current malaise. It is true that there is some regard toction with certain problems that have not been sorted out by the government. But i think for people here that is not a reason not to vote for us. Her opponents disagree. A vote against hollande thing is divisions, right wing say they lost the city to the socialists. Now they are determined to reconquer the city hall. Aware that she supports Francois Hollandes policies. Message. E one simple hollandes accomplice is her. People should vote against her. It is not the only, could swing back to the right. This town has been held by the socialists since 2008, but industrial policies have been put to the test. One of the factories now faces closure. And then on the right a former sports journalist was born and bred here and knows how important it is to the town. As workers leave the plant for the day, he stresses he is one of them. Legs for a while i was living there. Just like me. Where were you yesterday . What number were you at . Number 65. I was 71. He says hes ready to do anything to save jobs, something he believes the current mayor is not willing to do. Fight for the factory. Confident he will be reelected, he is not phased and offers a much quieter style of campaigning. I spoke to the director general on the phone and he guaranteed it would be closing tomorrow. I do not need to go around screaming of this in the streets. Two battleground towns hanging in the balance. You left eager to show it still has steam. The right eager for voters to purge the socialists. With president Francois Hollandes socialist party languishing in the polls and the other party embroiled in scandals and infighting, the far right is hoping to win big in these minutes poll elections here they put forward a Record Number of candidates. It now remains to be seen if le pens tough talk on europe, crime will get the vote. Will head north to a town in the far north of france, here at this social club, theres celebrating the end of carnival season but battle lines are being drawn on the dance floor and in the town on the whole. It is a traditional stronghold of the left. Challenges coming from the far right. This candidate is the current sweetheart. The gap is narrowing between him and the incumbent socialist mayor. The danger is that people are saying to the left to try something new. The rising star has been campaigning here since he was a boy. Campaign staff feel that their time has now come. Le pen owns property here. She is throwing her support behind briwas. I am backing the culture here. Cultural events in the local catwalk local patwa. The town is traditionally leftwing but factory closures and Unemployment Rate at over 18 have brought a feeling of abandonment and a shift in loyalty. As the left gears up for combat to the far right, they are fighting the battle on many fronts. Reside afteryor being arrested on corruption charges five years ago. He won his appeal and has thrown himself into the race, fracturing support on the left. I am going to be the leftwing candidate. No problem there whatsoever. Those on the right are happy either. These activists from the mainstream right wing ump feel abandoned. You face them, why are the big names in the National Party not coming down here to help us . ,ike speck of the social club the front runners are trying to shore up the final few thoughts back at the social club. The front runners are trained to shore up the final votes. These might be french missable elections, but it does not mean you have to be from france to take part. In some regions of the country comes on english people make up a sizable chunk of the population. Many have decided to get involved in local politics. , this is a glance quintessential french village. On second look, it is not quite so french anymore. About 10 of People Living here are british. Some are getting involved in running the place. This person moved here five years ago and is now standing for the local council. She thinks are british perspective can give local politicians some fresh ideas. We are, by nature, people that tend to want to get things done. If it is something that needs fixing, lets go fix it. I think the french have a tendency to say, well, this needs to be done, to which organization is going to do it . More of a topdown and bottomup approach. She is not the only one who thinks the brits are shaking things up. The mayor says x thats on his counsel have had also sent benefits, including getting everyone to turn up to the meetings, among other things on his that expats counsel have had benefits. Is easy to work with english people. Because they moan less than french people. Perhaps that is why few british residents and france bother to get involved in politics. There are an estimated 200,000 winning in this country but many are not even aware they are able to vote in these local elections. They do not speak french. They do not listen to politics. Television or on the radio. Unfortunately, an awful lot of the english people that are here nowadays deal with everything english. That is what she is trying to change. She is busy getting up the vote and informing locally resident ofpats of their rights getting registered. Many are keen of getting their voices heard, many saying if they cannot vote in the , they feell polls disenfranchised. We are able to vote in local elections. And for 15 years from our data but are chertoff, we are able to vote in the english general elections 15 years from our date of departure. I think there should be the right to vote in the national elections. We are here. We are adopted. People full stop, but in this sleepy village with barely 1000 voters, they are adding a foreign flavor to a very frenchgg99nnwccnmw hello. I am dr. And kendra. Welcome. Well there it is bozo bites, or surgery, we will keep you up todate. Bugs or bites, or surgery, we will keep you uptodate