>> welcome to aljazeera america. i'm del walters. these are the stories we're following for you. there are new leads this area in the search for the missing malaysian airliner. diplomats trying to find solutions to the situation in crimea as we're awaiting word from the president. and an army general in an extramarital affair with a captain.

we're going to go back to that missing plane story in just a moment, but we want to tell you first, that we're waiting for president obama to speak shortly. he's expected to address the crisis in ukraine. marine 1 in the foreground, landing just a short time ago, and we'll bring you his comments. in the meantime, the disappearance of flight 370. satellite showing two pieces that could be plane debris in the southern indian ocean. off of the australia coast. but ut search efforts have ended for the day. randall, we should point out that this sighting is far from a sure thing. >> that is so true, del. but however, it is, at this point, the only possibility that the authorities are looking at. what we have is two pieces of debris, as you indicated. one about 70 feet long, presumably corresponding to the length of one of the wings of

the plane, if that's indeed what it is. it was picked up by australian satellite four days ago, and it took time to identify the object because they had to look at each frame. so once they decided that this may be a possibility, they sent four search planes out, two from australia, one from new zealand. and four from the u.s., and so far the they have found no debr, but they will keep looking. >> randall, there have been a lot of false starts in these developments. how are the grieving passengers reacting to this? >> reporter: this has been such an agonizing wait for them. and so for no clue about where the plane is, and where their relatives are. and some have accused malaysian officials of being incompetent. they're still sad and still waiting. and the malaysian officials say they do under the attitude.

>> the families around the world, the one piece of information that we want most, that they want most is the information we just don't have. the location of mh370. >> there's one bit of information from chinese authorities of the they have searched the backgrounds of all chinese facials on flight 370, and they have not found any of them involved with terrorist organizations. del. >> let's show the images that the satellite saw that sparked this missing round of interest in the malaysian airlines flight. there were two vessels. one got to the area a short time ago and the second is on the scene, but it's my understanding, from your report in washington, that it's maybe too dark. >> reporter: well, the vessels are staying in the area until

the planes can spot, hopefully spot the wreckage, and keep in mind, obviously four days ago, ocean currents, waves, the debris has moved. so they're trying to extrapolate from what they saw four days ago to the debris today. the planes will have to spot it first, and then the ships will retrieve it hopefully. and that will be the first hard clues on to what may have happened to flight 370. >> randall in washington d.c., thank you very much. and also in washington d.c. at this hour, is our own mike viquera, standing by, awaiting the latest developments from ukraine, and mike, what are you hearing from the white house this morning. >> everybody is on the edge of their seat. this is the latest by the president where he has called a

last-minute departure statement. he's traveling to miami for a previously scheduled event as well as doing fundraising but he's going to stop and make a statement on the south lawn of the white house, this from the latest on crimea and vladimir putin. >> i was going to say, you know i do this all the time. but yes, this is the president of the united states. >> i want to provide an update on the situation in ukraine and the steps that the united states is taking in response. over the last several days, we continue to be deeply concerned by events in ukraine. we have seene' new illegal referendum in crimea, and move by russians to an ex crimea and dangerous threats of escalation, including threats to crimean personnel in crimea and southern ukraine as well. these are all choices that the russian government has made. choices that have been rejected by the international community, as well as the government of

ukraine. and because of these choices, the united states is today moving, as we said we would, to impose additional costs on russia. based on the executive order that i assigned in response to russia's initial intervention in ukraine, we're imposing sanctions on more. in addition, we are today sanctioning a number of other individuals with substantial resources and influence to provide material support to the russian leadership. as well as a bank that provides material support to these individuals. now, we're taking these steps as part of our response to what russia has already done in crimea. at the same time, the world is watching with great concern as russia has positioned it's military in a way that would lead to further incursion in southern ukraine and crimea.

we're dealing with our european warners if russia continues to escalate that situation. as part of that process, i assigned a new 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 would not only have a significant impact on russian economy, but could be disruptive to the global economy. but however, russia must know that it's actions will further isolate it from the international community. principles must be upheld in the 21st century, and that includes respect for sovereignty. that nations don't simply redraw borders or make decisions at the expense of their neighbors because they're larger or more

powerful. one of our other priorities continues to be providing assistance to the government of ukraine so it can stabilize its economy and meet the needs of its people. as i travel to g7 next week, i urge congress to provide legislation that's necessary to provide this assistance, and do it right away. expressions of support are not enough. we need action, and i hope that the imf will provide a package of support for ukrainians. in europe, i'll be enforcing vice president biden this week. america's support for our nato allies is unwavering. we're together by our commitment to defend one another and by our shared values that so many generations sacrificed for. we have already increased our support for our eastern european

allies, and we'll continue to strengthen nato's collective defense, and we'll step up our cooperation with europe on economic and energy issues as well. let me close by making a final point. diplomacy by the united states and russia continues. we have emphasized that russia still has a different path available. to deescalate the situation, and one that involves russia pursuing a diplomatic solution with the government in kiev with the support of the international community. the russian people need to know, and mr. putin needs to understand that the ukrainians shouldn't have to choose between the west and russia. we want the ukrainian people to determine their own destiny. and they have good relations with the united states, with russia, with europe, with any one that they choose. that can only happen if russia

also recognizes the rights of all of the ukrainian people to determine their future as free individuals and as a sovereign nation. rights that people around the world understand and support. thank you very much. >> that is president obama addressing reporters prior to a trip to florida, announcing that there will be new sanctions indicating that the russian government will be targeted, targeted by the sanctions this time as well. signing yet another executive order authorizing future actions, should those actions be necessary, telling reporters that expressions of support are not enough, saying that this is what he told the nato allies we need action. mike viqueira in washington d.c., this is what he said, ands

this not enough in action. >> we're a month into the crisis, and it's clear now it's only deep thing and growing more dire. let's unpack what the president said. he has already authorized two orders sanctioning, and those were mocked at by the russians and they said hey, why don't you put sanctions on all of us. so the president following through on that, but not just senior officials around vladimir putin. as far as we know, these sanctions will not sanction vladimir putin himself. but individuals, the oligarchs around valentine' vladimir putie bank will be sanctioned. and not only individuals but for these key sectors within the russian economy, and now it's getting serious, and you're right, the president got to the nut of this. he needs the eu onboard. and he has called a g7 meeting

for this previously scheduled nuclear summit. and that's going to be completely overwhelmed come monday in the netherlands by the crisis in ukraine. he's going to need the eu onboard. and much has been made about the integration between the russians and the ukrainians, these oligarch spending billions of dollars in london and the french capitals. outside of ukraine, they share a majority or significant population of ethnic rugs. president obama said that russia has placed it's military in a menacing fashion around southern and eastern ukraine and that's a dire warning. there was hope last week, del, that after crimea took its referendum on sunday, vladimir putin said point made, and we're not going to back down.

vladimir putin is not backing down and the russian government is not backing down, and this has ratcheted up to a new level as the president prepares to meet european leaders on monday. and he goes to another previously scheduled eu meeting in brussels and that's looming very large. >> one of the things that wee talked about this morning, we talked to the former ambassador to nato and asked him whether or not we're looking at the obama doctrine, in this case, realizing that there's no stomach in the united states or europe, for that matter, for war and economic sanctions do have teeth. unlike world war ii, when so many people referred to, we need military action, we have a global economy and are we looking at a new way of fighting war. >> the obama doctrine, and i don't think that anybody has used that terminology, but in

iran, these crippling sanctions in iran over the last five years to bring iran to the table. but the irony, ever since nasa and the world trade organization, if the nations are more integrated, it will make them less likely to antagonize each other in the geo political or aggressive stance for another country, and it hasn't worked out that way. the irony is that the integration has hamstringed the response, at least this far, by the united states and the europeans. obviously this book has not yesterday been written, but there are signs that the russians are going to be reluctant. you mentioned nato and ukraine in nato. and they signed an agreement in 1994, get rid of all of our old nukes -- the helicopter is lifting off of the south lawn

now. great britain will guarantee your territorial internet. and it didn't work out that way. ukraine saying, we thought you were going to defend us, and they're not part of nato. poland is part of nato and poland and the baltic states. i thought it was forthright with the symbolism and the rhetoric, leaving no doubt that nato will defend them if the unthinkable happens. if vladimir putin has ideas. >> they are not working in syria either. and meanwhile, the u.n. secretary general is in moscow at this hour, hoping to end moscow's dispute with ukraine. even as russia's parliament has

now atfied the takeover of crimea. we are joined from kiev with more on that, and bring us up-to-date on the european developments. >> well, del, the europeans are meeting to discuss their version of sanctions. we have the strong sanctions coming from the white house, and we hear that they will be discussing in brussels an equal package or at least stronger than what has come out so far, and they're going to be discussing an association agreement, a partnership with ukraine. the document they're discussition is actually the thing that sparked this entire increase. they're not going to do the economic side of the negotiation agreement. but the political side and that means bringing ukraine closer into the western sphere, and that's exactly what they're asking for. we have seen a lot of work on the diplomatic side. we have secretary of state wenty

sherman, and she held a press conference, touring the square where there are memorials of those killed in the clashes to oust victor yanokovych. she was visibly shaken by that experience. tears. she had to hold back her tears, and there were a number of things going on. and let's take a look at one of them. >> it's very interesting. if i would listen to the russian rhetoric, i would expect to walk through the streets of kiev and attacked by dangerous elements. and i was approached by school children with flowers. >> so clearly, wendy sherman pointing out that the information coming out of the kremlin doesn't gel with what she saw on the streets of kiev today. and she's saying that the united states will continue to give assistance to ukraine, not only in sanctions but in support for their fledgling government.

but clearly, the united states is stepping up it's activities to support the government in kiev. >> phil, one question before you go. it's easy to follow this diplomatic back and forth from washington and new york, but are they afraid on the streets of kiev? >> they are afraid that their future is being decided in other capitals. and we have heard an awful lot since they have been here that they still have a voice. they want to make sure that the international community -- of course they do want support from. they clearly understand that they can't go at this alone, but at the end of the day, this is our revolution and we need to have a voice in this. and they want any decisions that they make between them, they have to take into consideration that the people here have to live with those consequences. >> phil, thank you very much. and coming up on aljazeera

america, a u.s. army general learns his sentence.

>> at one point, brigadier general, jeffrey sin clear, was looking at life in prison for mistreating a sub order that captain, who was his former mistress. at fort bragg, north carolina, what happened inside of that courtroom? >> there were a lot of hugs, laughter and smiles on the part of sin ca claire and his defense team. he immediately we want to call his wife after he received the sentence. he said the process worked and he has always been proud of "my army." this is what kind of penalty he's receiving. the judge gave him a reprimand. it will go on his former record and he will be asked to pay

$20,000 in fines. hhe was not dismissed from the military. he's asking to retire. so upon retirement, he will have to go before a board. it's standard protocol for all soldiers. the board will determine his last rank that he served satisfactorily, and he could very well be demoted, in fact, his defense team expects him to be demoted to lieutenant colonel. that's the last rank that he served. as a result of this possible demotion, sinclair could lose an estimated $831,000 in pensions and benefits. now, the government asked that he be dismissed from the military and if he had been missed, that would have been a seven-figure amount. this is what some might say is an embarrassing turn of events. a month before the trial began, the chief prosecutor quit. he wanted the sexual assault

charges to be dismissed. and once the court marshal began, the judge said that political ramifications rejected the plea offer from the defense. this has cast a huge spotlight on sexual assault in the military and how the military is handling it, and i asked the defense attorney what they thought the impact this case might have going forward. and the attorneys say that the process really needs to be reviewed. that politics shouldn't play a role in these cases, and that prosecutors need to be allowed to operate without any influence from their higher ups. >> joining us live from fort bragg, north carolina, natasha, thank you very much.

>> wall street seems to be shaking off any earlier signs of weakness. the dow is up after 34 points of economic indicators that growth may rebound in the second water. china is teaching up to develop a 2 and a half million dollars entertainment complex in shanghai. disney already has plans to announce disney's shanghai there. it will be the first theme park on the mainland. sony, the company is developing a tv series for its play station. it will be called powers, based on a comic book series with that same name. coming up on aljazeera america. 18,000 students getting set for origami.

>> welcome back to aljazeera america. i'm del walters and here are your headlines at this hour.

president obama threatening new sanctions in the wake of russia's take over of crimea. speaking at the white house a few minutes ago, he said is that he assigned an executive order allowing sanctions to be imposed on an entire sector of the russian economy x. negotiated crimea's leaders that were elected. a possible site of debris of the malaysian airplane, putting it off of the australian coast in the indian ocean. the search so far has been called off for the day. >> i'm meteorologist, dave warren, today, eastern daylight time. the sun right over the equator, and that is the start of spring. the equinox happens today, 12:57. and this is what it looks like with the temperatures, till cool with the snow coming down across the great lakes.

it's not like we flip a switch and everything changes. it will take awhile with the weather pattern. but warmer weather in the south and the southern plains and the southwest, average temperatures working their way up to the dakotas. not much in the weather map except for this storm in the northeast. there's that snow across the great lakes, and you'll notice that the rain pushes out. a lot of rain yesterday. and here's the front that came through. now that it has pushed off the coast, maybe a light shower is possible, but you'll notice that the wind is picking up and the temperatures getting a bit colder. that's all happening this afternoon. 50 right now in philadelphia. but here's the cold air. cleveland and pittsburgh, move east. and it will be colder in the next few days. we're looking at light snow across the great lakes, and warmer there. farther south, it's warmer and we still have the gusty weather. fire danger in texas, oklahoma and kansas.

the wider view with the satellite plus the radar shows the snow here. but pretty quiet weather except for the northwest, and it's moving east. what do we expect here? temperatures in the next few days, feeling like spring, and actually, the temperatures feeling like they should for this time of year, but still winter weather across the great lakes and the northeast. highs this saturday. 22 in chicago. and the warm weather is trying to make its way up the east coast. del. >> thank you very much. and happy first day of spring. by the way, a large group of greek students have the guinness book of world record for folding paper. largest origami mosaic. they created 52,000 paper lotuses. they were arranged to norm a giant owl. and it's enough to beat portugal's record.

they will soon decide if the teamwork paid off. and the question is, what are they going to do with all of those origami. thank you for watching aljazeera america. i'm del walters in new york. and "inside story" is next. >> it president obama barack obama the deporter in chief or an ally in the latino struggle for immigration reform. how you answer that could have huge implications fo. this is the "inside story." >> h,