When my colleague phil black and his Television Crew were returning here from a day of work at the site of the Malaysian Air flight 17 crash, when they arrived just outside this hotel, there were a group of gunmen led by a senior separatist official who were waiting. They asked for the identity of anton skiba and then basically accused him of being a terrorist and led him away to a waiting car. He did not resist as he was taken away. When a cnn cameraman tried to film the detention with a cell phone, the separatists took that cell phone and returned it several hours later with an apology on condition that the video be deleted. The accusations against anton skiba have evolved since his detention. He was initially accused of promising cash rewards for the death of rebels on his facebook page. Later, he was accused of having different Identity Cards with different last names on them. We have not gotten any update as to his whereabouts or his welfare. Today, thursday, despite repeated requ
Good morning. Im ca Carol Costell you, thank you for joining me. The plea, an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Also, the latest setback, a temporary truce crumbles with israel and hamas trading accusations of who is to blame. And the death toll climbs. More than 1,000 palestinians have been killed along with 45 israelis. This morning, israel says theyre observing an unlimited ceasefire and washington echoes the calls for peace. A week ago before secretary kerry went to the region, we werent talking about temporary ceasefires and there wasnt enough engagement with the parties. What were looking at right now, what were trying to focus on is shortterm ceasefires that can build on each other. The secretary has been closely engaged with Prime Minister netanyahu with the israelis and encouraging them to agree to shortterm ceasefires. Were encouraged by this statement. Well see what happens over the course of the day. Cnns Martin Savidge is in jerusalem this morning with more for you. G
A truce in gaza. A new 72hour ceasefire takes effect between israel and hamas. But both sides say its up to the other party to make it last. Hamas has destroyed the hopes for a better future. Lets hope that they will heed that because we are ready to keep that from our side. Hamas and all the palestinian factions. Has one man already been saved from ebola . Well look at the experimental serum that might save the lives of two u. S. Patients stricken with the deadly disease. Also ahead here, stranded. Tens of thousands of russian holiday makers stranded abroad. Why some are blaming western sanctions on moscow. And welcome back to cnns special coverage. Im natalie allen. And im errol barnett. You will be excused right now if youre having a sense of deja vu, right . Absolutely. Because a new ceasefire is under way in the middle east. Now, the purpose of this is a humanitarian truce. Its now one hour old. It is supposed to last for 72 hours. At this moment its just after 9 00 in the morning
Parts of asia hard. The most intense cyclone is here. Its causing extensive damage. Hundreds of thousands of people are forced to leave their homes ahead of the storm. Theres a powerful storm in japan, vongfong. It is expected to hit the countrys southern mainland today. On saturday it blew through okinawa injuring at least 25 people. Derek van dam has been tracking it in the International Weather center. Where do we start . All eyes are on the east coast of india at the moment, including the eye wall of the Tropical Cyclone. This is the latest radar coming from the region. You can see the eye wall. This is edging closer to the main land of india. Its located right here. It should be feeling the brunt of the strongest winds be as we speak. Now well get a lull in the winds as the eye passes over but the winds will pick right back up again and it couldnt be worst timed as this is timed with high tide so well look at coastal flooding as a major concern. You can see the latest satellite im
Im natalie allen. We begin this hour in nigeria where the government has announced a major step in ending boko harams violent rampage. Officials say theyve reached a cease fire with the militant group. As part of the deal boko haram will release more than 200 school girls kidnapped six months ago. Boko haram has not yet issued a statement. A Senior Advisor to nigerias president spoke with cnn about when the school girls may be freed. The release of the girls is also part of this deal and it is a process. This will be followed by further action from the boko haram. Some people are questioning the timing of the Nigerian Governments cease fire announcement. Diana magnase is following the story from johannesburg. Reporter nigeria says the girls will be released, this is all part of ceasefire negotiations with boko haram and the final details will be ironed out at a meeting in chad next week which is where supposedly these talks have been taking place. The thing is, so far we have not heard