good morning and welcome to al jazeera america. i'm morgan bradford live in new york city, and here's the stories we're following right now. a massive search continues for that missing malaiysian airplane. administrators may have found items from the crash site. in ukraine, a standoff between pro and anti-russian forces. in venezuela protesters come face to face with riot police. plus, empowering people with disabilities by putting them up on the silver screen.

new details emerging this morning into the missing malaysian jumbo jetliner that vanished somewhere over the south china sea. according to reuters a va vietnamese navy plane founds object that may belong to the aircraft. the united states has joined the search. a navy ship will arrive on the scene less than 24 hours from now. investigators from ntsb are recorded there. rescue crews are widening the search area since radar shows the plane may have actually turned back before it disappeared. this as families of the passengers wait anxiously for updates, but a spokesman from malaysian airlines delivered the news they had all been dreading. >> we had communicated to the

family members that after more than 30 hours without any contact with the aircraft, we believe that the family members should prepare themselves for the worst. now, to another twist in the mystery of flight 370. officials are looking into how two passengers with stolen passports from italy and austria were actually able to get on board in the first place. they're also investigating two more passengers who made it onto the flight but whose names didn't even appear in the flight manifest. >> the four names, i've indicated to our intelligence agencies and i've also spoken to the international intelligence agencies to assist us. >> reporter: have they dispatched anyone? >> yes, yes. we already have officers here who have already met. >> let's turn to scott in call

la lum purr with the latest. >> another 12 hours of search and rescue, and malaysian officials are empty-handed. no indication of where the 777 might have gone down. they expandzed the area they searched from 20 naught call miles to 50. that's mailly because the air force chief says there's indications on radar the plane changed direction possibly coming back. a lot of nations have joined in the search. about a half-dozen plus air asats and ships, but right now, since it's nighttime on sunday, it's only ships that continue the search and rescue overnight. then the aircraft will be brought back in on monday morning. another area of focus on sunday has been these two gentlemen who boarded the plane using fake passports. a statement by interpol said they're very concerned they were allowed on the aircraft because the passports were in the system marked as stolen and they should have been red flagged before they got on. interpol is looking other questionable names on the

manifest for this aircraft. right now -- this is from malaysian officials -- they will continue to focus directly on the aircraft and finding the aircraft. they say any of the answers to all of these questions out there will possibly answered once they find that aircraft. >> one of the three americans on board that plane was reportedly philip wood from texas. an online profile says the 50-year-old worked for ibm in malaysia and his ex-wife posted this photo right here on facebook saying wood was a wonderful man and a wonderful father. emotions ran high as wood's brother spoke of him on saturday. >> philip wood was a man of god and honor and integrity. his word was gold. incredibly generous, creative and intelligent, phil cared about people, his family and above all christ. >> that was his brother, tom, speaking. two-thirds of the flight's passengers are chinese. anxious relatives in beijing

spent hours saturday waiting for some word about their loved ones. rob mcbride has that story. >> reporter: the ongoing wait for news as the anguish continues. some of the relatives now gathered at hotels in beijing. malaysian airlines has been criticized as a slow response as the emergency unfolded. a special team habben flown in to off care and support made up of staff and volunteers. >> translator: we are malaysian-chinese and can help communicate with the families because of the airline doesn't have enough staff here. >> reporter: until they have confirmed otherwise, the airline officially lists the aircraft as simply missing, and already it seems relatives are prepared for the worst. she traveled here for her province trying to find news of her brother-in-law. we still don't know what happened, she told us. we've had no final confirmation.

relatives have been turning up all day for briefing sessions with airline staff at this hotel looking for any news about their loved ones while the whereabouts of the aircraft remain know nun, that alone the cause of its loss, the authorities take no chances. president jinping is having security stepped up on all aircraft leaving and entering china. >> authorities told relatives when the plane is found, they'll be able to visit the site. tensions escalating on the ground in ukraine where pro-ukrainian activists were attacked by pro-russian groups at a rally in crimea. russian troops are in control of the region, and secretary of state john kerry has warned russia any moves to annex crimean peninsula would close the door to diplomacy. jennifer glasse has been following the developments. putin says they won't go to war,

but 16,000 pro-russian troops are occupying the region. are russians continuing to gain ground? >> reporter: morgan, good afternoon from sevastopol. you'll hear music behind me in a couple of minutes. you wouldn't know this is an occupied peninsula, but it is. the 16,000 troops that came here are in addition to the 15,000 usually here of the black sea fleet. they took another coast guard base today. though are very lightly guarded bases with troops that are not combat-trained. we went to another base that fell last week that the russians simply took from the ukrainians, and the ukrainians knowing they couldn't fight them left the base and boats behind and took what boats and ships they could to odessa, another port. the standoff continues across the crimean peninsula. russian troops have virtually every ukrainian naval base and

ground military base surrounded or blockaded. the military ships here in artillery bay, there's a russian ship behind me keeping anything in the ukrainian navy from moving anywhere. sailors stuck on the ships. the sailors have been on the ships for a week and they will remain on the ships until they get other orders, morgan. >> jennifer, you mentioned the standoffs. what about the scene on the ground today in terms of demonstrations? >> reporter: well, it's sunday here, and that usually brings people out because it's a day off. we've seen demonstrations in both capitals. we saw a pro-russian demonstration there. in kiev tens of thousands came out in independence square. today they came out in solidarity of the nation of ukraine, which they're worried. their watching it disisn't grate

and watching crimea hived off by russia. international observers have tried to get in for four days now and couldn't get in. here in sevastopol there was a demonstration but it's been mostly peaceful. >> the interim government in kiev calls the upcoming referendum illegal. can they really do anything to block it? >> reporter: they can't really do much. everything is already under way for that referendum here. they're printing the ballots, and they've already said what the ballots will say. the election commission in kiev did freeze the election register. did freeze the election register so that the officials here won't have access to it. i don't know how much that will hinder things, but everything seems to be rolling along towards that march 16th referendum when the people of crimea choose between rush wra and ukraine. >> all right, jennifer glasse

reporting from the ukraine. thank you for being with us this morning. diplomatic efforts on resolving the crisis in ukraine seems to be at a stand still. ukraine's prime minister is headed to the u.s. to discuss it. good morning, randall. do we have any details yet of the prime minister's visit? >> reporter: well, we know that the administration is already offering ukraine a package, a loan package of $1 billion with the international monetary fund and also urging our european allies to come up with funds foster that government. it's of symbolic significance indicating that america is not accepting russia's point of view that the government is illegitimate. the former press secretaries for presidents obama and bush, robert gates, says it appears to him that russia has crimea already. >> i think it's part of a

long-term strategy on putin's part to re-create a russian sphere of influence and a russian bloc. i don't think that he will stop in ukraine until there is a government in ukraine, in kiev that is essentially pro-russian. >> reporter: so the other point of view that we're talking about today has to do with gates' point of view that, in fact, in fact, it's all right a fate comple that russia will keep ukraine. we heard the national defense and security adviser talk about that today. he said that the obama administration is telling russia, don't do it. >> if there is a referendum and it votes to move crimea out of ukraine and to russia, we won't recognize it and most of the world won't either. russia had a government in ukraine that it supported and

that started to take very aggressive action against its own people. that government is gone. the government that's more oriented towards the rest of the world and towards the west is in place, and so what you're seeing is, i think, putin acting from a position of weakness. >> we also see the two leading world superpowers with a very different point of view about our very strategic and critical part of the world, ukraine and crimea. morgan. >> randall pinkston reporting from washington, d.c. thank you for being with us again today. be sure to join us tonight at 8:30 for the regular sunday segment "the week ahead." we examine the growing crisis in the ukraine and what it means for international security. respecting world order is our topic. that's tonight on al jazeera america. a group of greek orthodox nuns kidnaps in syria have been released. they were exchanged for 150 prisoners held by the syrian

government. they were captured after their maun monastery was overrun by anti-government forces. they claim they were holding the women for their own protection. coming up, it was a blood sunday in iraq. next, the coordinated car bombings that claimed three dozen lives. the deadly violence in venezuela hitting home for ex-patriots living right here in the united states. how one major league baseball player is keeping in touch with family as his homeland spirals out of control. common ground with his local host? >> "must really take it out of mr. loteef"... >> toughest place to be a ferryman

on al jazeera america

good morning, to you, and welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm morgan radford. it's been a violent weekend in iraq. today a suicide bomber driving a minibus completely packed with explosives killed at least 35 people. police say at least 50 cars were set on fire at an area checkpoint, and people were trapped inside. nearly 150 victims are treated

for injuries, and then on saturday at least four people died from a car bomb blast in northern baghdad. it happened near a popular market. today marks seven years since an american working for the cia mysteriously went missing in iran. robert levinson will turn 66 on monday, and an investigation by the associated press last year suggests the former fbi agent vanished while spying on the iranian government. in a statement released today secretary of state john kerry says the united states remains committed to the safe return of mr. levinson to his family. he also added we respectfully ask the government of iran to work cooperatively with us so we can ensure his safe return. protests are expected again today in venezuela where more than 20 people have died as police and anti-government crowds continue to clash. the advocacy group human rights watch has accused the government

of using brutal force, and al jazeera has more from the town of valencia. >> reporter: clashes like this one are common as venezuelans take to the streets to protest against rising crime, rampant the opposition says their marches are peaceful, while the government accuses them of enciting the violence. there have been victims and accusations on both sides. >> translator: here we continue to follow our commander in chief's orders, which are, keep internal order. guard public order. give citizens necessary security, and if it is necessary for us to lay down our lives, we will. our order must be restored. enough already with these facist groups and enough of this violence that unjustly hurts the population. >> reporter: he says he was arrested during a protest three weeks ago. while in custody, he says he was raped with a rifle by the

national guard. he's not allowed to speak publicly while his case is being processed, but off-camera he told me he's angry and frustrated. his mother, rebecca, can speep on his behalf. >> translator: there are no words to describe how we feel. we're all stuck in the apartment because we can't leave him alone. i don't believe anymore in this country's justice system. i don't believe. >> reporter: his case like those of other protesters killed and beaten by the security forces have become nationally known. they're martyrs to the opposition cause. it was one of the highest crime rates in the world, very few criminals here are ever captured, never mind being prosecuted in places like this. with a political element of these cases, things are unlikely to be any different. while the families mourn, the fight is waged to ensure basic human rights are maintained.

this is one putting pressure on the authorities. >> translator: they've not been respecting the minimum standards in the prevention of torture. that's evident. those detained didn't have access to lawyers or families. they've taken away their telephones and erased photo that is could compromise the authorities. >> reporter: the government maintains that it's upholding the rule of law and battling against undemocratic forces that are trying to remove it from power. as venezuelan society becomes increasingly polarized, the efforts to maintain fundamental human rights are becoming ever more concentrated. al jazeera, venezuela. over 100 venezuelans play major league baseball right here in the u.s. we caught up with a member of the miami marlins concerned about his loved ones back home. >> reporter: with a pregame hug

and kiss to his wife and newborn daughter, miami marlins star push henderson alvarez prepares to take to the mound. alvarez is one of over 100 major league baseball players from venezuela, a country now mirekd is social and political violence. anti-government political demonstrations in recent weeks have resulted in more than 20 reported deaths in clashes between protesters and police. alvarez brought his wife and newborn daughter and father over earlier than planned. he says it's comforting to know his family is with him and safe as he prepares for the upcoming season. alvarez's wife describes events in venezuela as out of control. >> translator: i'm very worried about the situation. my family is still in venezuela, my husband's family. the situation is too harsh. that's the reason i came to the states with my daughter. >> reporter: like most professional athletes, alvarez says his priority is a winning season for his team, but with so

much tension back in his homeland, the solidarity among venezuelan teammates is also growing. >> translator: the few venezuelans that we have here, we support each other 100%. we are focused on working very hard. we're training to be 100% ready. >> reporter: while baseball has long been considered america's pastime, many players hail from venezuela. this season some players use their profession as an opportunity to share thoughts on more than just sports. many venezuelan major league players turned to social media to express support for their countrymen and a return to calm in the homeland. players from the marlins, including alvarez, the detroit tiers, minnesota twins, seattle mariners, texas rangers and philadelphia phillies and washington nationals have all recently posted images to twitter and instagram to alert the world to events in venezuela. the players are using hashtags like venezuela, baseball, and

mlb. the political crisis in venezuela is now more visible to the world because of this intersection between sports and politics. major league baseball leaders say they support and elm pathize with the venezuelan players, but say it's ultimately the game they expect these men to keep top of mind. >> sports guys, you know, they have a job to do. that's what he's doing. i know that's what he's focused on, is going out there and pitching. you can only control the things that you can control. >> reporter: heading into the 2014 season, henderson alvarez says he's up to date on events in venezuela and excited to have his family close at hand, yet, says his primary goal is to have a winning season. al jazeera, jupiter, florida. they say they're still facing discrimination despite the americans with disabilities act. >> if i hear the term "people with special needs" one more

time, i'm going to punch somebody. >> up next, bringing attention to people with disabilities by putting them on the silver screen. ♪ what is this place?

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welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm morgan radford live in new york city, and here's a recap of the top stories. the search for that missing malaysian jetliner continues, and so far there's no confirmed sign of the boeing 777 carrying 239 people. although reuters is reporting that the vietnamese navy may have actually spotted debris that looks like belongings from the missing plane. in a new twist officials are investigating four passengers, two who boarded with stolen passports and two who went even on the flight manifest. well, good morning to you all. it's another nice day across

portions of the northeast. a little chillier than yesterday. we have a weak alberta clipper system bringing a little light snow to portions of upstate new york. look out here. in the west we have a winter storm pushing on through spreading the rain along i-5 from seattle into portland, and northern portions of california, a lot of this moisture over the mountains and bring in the gusty winds into portions of montana. we have flood watches and warnings in effect. generally speaking with look at 1 to 4 inches of rain, especially across the washington cascades. be careful if you're traveling there. also, a bit of moisture along the i-10 corridor here across southern portions of louisiana and back into mississippi and georgia as well later on in the day. generally speaking across the southeast, it's a very comfortable day. temperature-wise we're in the 60s and also in the 70s across the north-central plains. yesterday temperatures were in the 20s right around the minneapolis area, but that warmer air is pushing in.

almost at 50 degrees out there today. going to be very nice out there, so hopefully you have a chance to get outside. back to you, morgan. it's 24 years since the passage of the americans with disabilities act, but members of the disabled community say they're still underreported. to bring attention they're putting them on the big screen. in 1971 semi was headed to washington to protest the vietnam war when she was injured in a car accident that left her partially paralyzed. >> from the beginning i didn't know what to call myself. >> so the focus of her protest changed. >> let's move it out. >> for more than 40 years she's been outspoken voice for people with disabilities, one that she channeled into a film called "invitation to dance." >> if i hear the term "people with special needs" one more time, i'm going to punch somebody. >> it's one of 23 movies by or

about people with disabilities being shown in the annual real abilities film festival. it's a week-long event held in 15 cities all across the country. over 300 filmmakers around the world applied for coveted spots in the line-up. >> it's interesting to put into a room a person who is deaf, a person who is blind, a person in a wheelchair and a person who is on the autistic spectrum. of course, these people have nothing to do with one another. often literally don't speak the same language, and yet, they connect on this topic of inclusion. >> and festival organizers are leading by example. sign language is provided for the deaf. audio descriptions for the visually impaired and all 32 ven fews in new york were made wheelchair accessible. while the pass of the americans with disabilities act in 1990 was a milestone, signs of stigma are still everywhere. >> if i go to the entrance of a building and there's a

wheelchair symbol that says this way and, and let's say i'm with a group of people. everybody else can go in through the beautiful, well-designed entrance and i gt off to the side. that's one of the kinds of signals that we get all the time. that we are marginal. >> one of the goals the festival is to draw attention to the underrepresentation of the stabled in the media. another is to portray them as ordinary people. >> you see my disability, but i can't see your disability. i can't see, you know, the average joe who holds the toor open on me a given disability. the hidden ones are sometimes the most disabling of them all, because society doesn't know it's there. >> society is learning thanks to disability activists new york city will soon require that half of the city's 13,000 taxis be accessible to people with disabilities. thanks so much for watching

al jazeera america. i'm morgan radford. stay tuned because "the listening post" is coming up next. for updates you can always head to our website at aljazeera.com. this is a special edition of "the listen post." we devote this program to the media story in turkey and the government. to say he takes a hands-on approach with the media is to understate the case. he's been known to call news editors personally and demand changes on what's on the air. the editors grant the wishes