>> ♪ ♪ >> >> two weeks on and frustration boils over again as the search for the missing malaysian airliner intensifies. >> hello, welcome to al jazeera, live from our headquarters in doha. >> also ahead - russia celebrates and international monitors attempt to mediate as moscow tight eps its hold -- tightens its hold over crimea.

>> risking their lives - an all-female tribe demanding right for women. >> i'm in north western iran, in the site of what once was the middle eastern greatest lake. a place where an environmental disaster is unfolding. >> it is two weeks since malaysia airlines flight disappeared. there's no trace of the aircraft, or the 239 people on board. search teams have been focussing on the southern indian ocean over the past two days, after australia picked up satellite images of two objects. six australian aircrafts are combing over the water off perth, including two commercial jets and two p3 orrions, two chinese planes will arriving and two more japanese jets will join the search on sunday.

malaysia asked to borrow solar equipment from the u.s. to help in the search. andrew thomas has the latest from perth. >> it's two weeks to the day since flight mh370 disappeared en route from kuala lumpur to beijing. who would have thought it would be here, in perth, south-west australia, where all eyes would be on a search effort. australia deputy prime minister was at the base and asked repeatedly if there were more satellite images that the australian government wasn't releasing that might suggest there was debris in the southern indian ocean. it was a question he avoided answering. he did say that this search would go on until it was clear there was nothing to find, saying that the object spotted by the first satellite last sunday, the big object in the southern indian ocean, they may have sunk by now. he doesn't think all objects would have done, and there are

objects to find. whether they have anything to do with flight mh370 is unclear. six aircraft, including one behind me, are involved in saturday's search. they'll have 18 hours directly over the search zone. that's the most number of search hours on any day. the weather is better in the search zone on saturday than friday. it's likely to be also better on sunday. that will be a crucial day in the search for the objects that may or may not be connected with flight mh370. >> the australian deputy prime minister gave this update on the investigation a short while ago. >> while these aircraft are equipped with advance technology, much of this search is visual. using eyes of men and women to be able to look across the ocean and try to pick up any pieces of debris or parts that may be

related to this aircraft's disappearance. >> well, hundreds of relatives of the passengers on board the plane have been holding their own media conference in beijing. >> they say they haven't been able to speak to malaysian officials and are complaining that they are being ignored and neglected by the malaysian authorities. >> let's get the latest from our correspondent. she's live in beijing. what happened in the briefing? >> well, indeed, as you saw there, frustrated doesn't begin to describe the emotions. they are furious at what they feel is a disrespectful showing towards them and china, from the malaysian government - not just the government but aviation officials, who have been spacing them over the last few days

there were several hour-long meetings held between a special envoy from the malaysian government and an envoy of the officials and families. they were told they were not allowed to ask candid questions and a lot of irrelevant information and technical details were thrown at them by the malaysians and they feel they are being deceived and that there is more behind the disappearance of the plane than they are told. the malaysian government is still not ruling out a hijacking or act of terrorism. they also said they cannot confirm that they are dealing with hijackers. they say they haven't heart from anyone or there has been no claims to corroborate the suspicion as yet. now, the relatives feel they should be treated with a little more respect here, and they did

not appreciate that this morning, the malaysian officials basically walked out of a half our meeting saying they were not prepared to take any questions from the relatives. >> in many ways, it's been a pr disaster, hasn't it, by malaysian authorities to the families. it's been two weeks, growing frustration as we can see from the pictures. what has been done for them. what support are they receiving here? >> well, this is it, they feel they have received not enough. it's taken two weeks before they feel they have been given special treatment by the malaysians. the officials that came to meet with them on friday should have been here within a day that the plane went missing. it's been two weeks before they have gotten any official response. they feel even though there has been meetings with the malaysian

ambassador, and several officials here as well. what we understand is that these relatives are in a closed-door meeting with chinese government officials, and they are wanting to get a backing from the chinese government. as they said they were, they feel the disrespect is not just to them, but towards the entire people of china. >> thank you very much for that. >> that's margo joining us from beijing. >> to other news - an international team of monitors is being sent into ukraine as the new incarnation of the country takes shape. the team will begin its work after russia dropped objections. there is disagreement on whether they'll be allowed into crimea. fireworks lit the skies over moscow after vladimir putin signed a law entering the region into a russian federation. thousands celebrated in

simferepol. ukraine has been moving closer to the west. germany's foreign minister is due to visit. on friday european leaders signed a deal with the government. >> for every action there's a rehabilitation. every move made by ukraine and its we were partners is matched in retaliation by moscow. >> in brussels, european union leaders met for a second day to speed up and entrench ukraine's move. all this should end the rampant corruption plaguing ukraine for years, and putting the country on a closer political footing with the european union. >> this is the historic day for my country, and we believe it's an historic day for europe. we want to be a part of the european family. >> it recognises the aspirations of the people of ukraine to live

in a country governed by values, democracy and the rule of law. >> of course, the russian president is impervious to all of that. his country's annexation of crimea has been achieved. the upper house of the russian parliament ratified it, so in moscow it is. as you expect, the vote as unanimous. >> translation: i call on both houses of parliament to actively engage in the effort and make sure the process continues painlessly and be fruitful for the whole of russia and crimea. >> the head of the united nations turned up in kiev, calling for negotiations. given the collapse between the west and moscow, it's much like trying to push water uphill. >> this counter crisis can only be resolved through peaceful

diplomatic solutions, based on the principle of united nations charter, including respect for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of you grain. >> in the russian crimea, the standoff continues. the prime minister dmitry medded ef posted that they'd try to get back money for renting the naval base. no doubt ukraine will not pay. kiev will see it as adding insult to injury. >> ukrainian officers say 1,000 people have left the peninsula through march. there has been heavy traffic in recent weeks. pro-russian forces began to take over key government and military buildings in late february.

>> translation: around 3,000 vehicles and people go through this checkpoint. from march 4th to the 21st, 9,000 refugees arrived. >> the head of the border guards billeted a position. the task was to stop prove okay tours from russia from entering ukraine. they are wary of russian assurances of military exercises near the border. >> the russians stated that they are intending military exercises. given the past practice, and the gap between what they have said and done, we are watching it with skepticism. >> nick spicer joins us from crimea's cap tam, simferepol. how tense are things on the

border post where ukrainian staff are tasked with stopping russian prove okay tours. >> there has been tension for weeks. as things are seen from kiev, moscow is sending in professional political agitators to create an impression in the media that the rites of russian speakers in the east and south-east are not being respected. the idea is that moscow is sending in people that will create violent incidents or swirl demonstrations, to give the impression that kiev is not doing all it should to respect the rights of russian speakers in ukraine. kiev denies this, and says it's all a matter for moscow to manipulate world public opinion, and the rights of speakers are being respected. >> what are the monitors tasked with doing there.

will they be playing a role in clarifying the situation at all? >> i think it's a welcomed development, certainly in the eyes of the united nations and in kiev. observers were prevented from coming in, except those chosen by moscow and simferepol, from observing the referendum, which took place last sunday. a u.n. team arrived on friday. today it continues work, not talking to the media, but members of the ukrainian military, who feel they have to leave the country, and people involved in human rights. the acting prime minister - they'll make a statement. as they were saying, is a significant development is a decision by the o.s.c.e., to send 100 observers into ukraine. that will help to shed lying on a murky situation in the east, and help dispel the claims by

one side or the other of russians being repressed or moscow sending in prove okay tours. it may boost 400 observers. the one big question mark is whether ukraine include crimea. it ended with an agreement to disagree between the united states and russia, as to whether the o.s.c.e. observers will be allowed into crimea. we'll have to wait and see if they get in. that's a significant development, in terms of having an international eye, and what is going on in dispelling the claims of both sides. >> nick spicer joining us from the crimean capital simferepol. >> a turkish plan to ban twitter seems to have backfired. the volume has risen by 138%, according to brand watch. many feel that recep tayyip

erdogan ordered the ban to suppress corruption against him and his government. the president says blocking twitter is unacceptable. turks are divided over the ban. >> this is definitely not the solution. that would make people angry, politically active. it's not a very - it's not a smart reaction. >> translation: the government shut it down because of the leak of recordings. >> the turkish government insists it is not politically motivated. >> blocking access is a decision taken by court orders. it's not a political decision. turkey is not a country that bans the internet. twitter, youtube or other social media websites have to comply with the laws in turkey.

>> we'll have more on the ban coming up, including how turkish twitter users are lampooning recep tayyip erdogan. also, the economic impact of a digs to fall in line with western sanctions.

>> good to have you with us. these are the top stories of al jazeera - hundreds of angry relatives of the passengers on board the missing malaysian

airliner have been holding their own media conference in beijing, two weeks on from the plane's disappearance. they say they have not been able to speak to malaysian officials whom they accuse of not being honest. >> vladimir putin signed laws you nighting crimea into the russian federation. an international monitor has been sent to ukraine, it's un clear whether it will be acloud into crimea. >> turkey citizens defying a twitter ban. tweets have doubled. the turkish prime minister has been told it is not right. >> ties are being cut, isolating

a cash-starved economy in khartoum. >> the decision it more significant than the counterparts. two-way trade links with sudan, and sudanese nationals work in saudi arabia and send money home to their families. sudanese bankers are putting on a brave face. >> there are bans dealing with sudan, and there are some banks continuing their relationship with sudan, and that would be enough for the exports >> not everyone is as optimistic though. >>. >> translation: the situation is bad. it will be impossible to attract investigators. no one is transferring money from here or bringing it in. others will have to rethink their presence here. >> sudan's economic problems have been increasing since 011

when south separated with the bulk of the oil. the north is in short supply. inflation is increasing, creating social pressures that are threatening to explode. >> the increasing isolation of sudan by international financial institutions is affecting private and government transactions. >> the import of medical supplies is jeopardised, causing shortages in hospitals country wide. they are increasing calls for a change your in policy. if sudan is to survive sanctions and a meltdown. >> translation: unless we have a change your in government policy, putting the interests of the people first, the problems will not be resolved. >> the u.s. enforced sanctions in sudan, i mid charges of terrorism and human rights abuses. >> the move reflects a curbs

attitude towards financial institutions. >> local media reports in pakistan that at least 35 people have been killed and dozens injured in a road accident. it happened when two buses and an oil tanker collided in a roundabout. >> a social worker is making history with a woman's right's campaign in pakistan, accusing the justice system of ignoring domestic violence. we report from swat valley. she is dealing with violent cases and murder. you may find some images disturbing. >> a sick woman mourning the loss of her daughter. >> her son tries to comfort her.

he, too, is overwhimmed. his sister was 12 when she was married. 10 years later, she's dead, the victim of an acid attack at home. it was a slow, painful death. she made her bother make this recording on his mobile phone, before passing away. she accused her husband, mother and father of attacking her. >> i want them to be banned in the same way i have been banned. >> it was her dying wish. she wanted justice. in this country, how can we as poor people get justice for her? >> it's a question that doesn't have a positive answer, in a place where women are rarely seen in public. >> this is a culture where women's right are few. in this case it is shocking. for many here, it is not surprising. >> this woman is trying to bring change your, setting up a

women's jirga, a pash tune forum, dealing with issues ranging from garbage to murder. >> i get threatened so many times, even my family was against me. i will never give up. >> the jurka has a lawyer. the judge cleared the girl's husband and parents of murdser. now they are waiting for an appeal. the lawyer says the police ignored the video. >> i have been trying my level best. this is the law, and this is the verdict. what can i do. >> this is a lone figure mounting a tough campaign for better justice. she needs more support, if she is to succeed.

>> a domestic worker is suing bangladesh, of forcing him to work 17 days without time off for more than 18 months. he claimed that the couple threatened to weight or kill him if he left the two manhattan homes. the lawsuit was filed in the manhattan federal court, seeking unspecified damages. >> an environmental disaster is unfolding in north western iran. this was the largest lake in the middle east. it's rapidly trying up. we have more on what is being done to save the lake. >> iran's great lake now a great desert. the waters of arumia in the north-west used to draw holiday makers in their thousands. they'd come from everywhere. now the ancient lake is almost empty, the tourists gone.

around the lake the bungalows are abandoned. the one coveted resorts a ghost town. opposite, it's the same. >> this man was in the tourist business, but left it long ago. >> compared to the past when the lake was not dry, it is totally different. when there was water, there were tourists and everything was flourishing. there was enough income. we had no water shortage for agriculture. if the water does not exist, would you come. >> the lake dried, people stopped coming, we loft our income. >> there are many reasons it is disappearing. government, water mismanagement and a lack of rain are the causes. the creation of the dam is officer. then the bridge, which is effectively dividing the lake in two. there's 5% of its water left.

it's eight times saltier than sea water. >> scientists d defines what happened though this lake is nothing short of an environmental disaster and warns it could get worse. one of the reasons is the surface. when the water dried up, it left behind the salt. when the wind blows, it creates salt tomorrows and it is blowing into neighbouring villages and towns. that's put the region's agriculture and economy at stake. then the ecological effects on native wildlife. they are obvious. it used to be full of mying rattery birds, now it's not. >> the government in conor trainor is trying to save it. it has 19 plans to do so, and brought in japanese experts to help. >> this situation did not happen in one day. it's not something that can be reversed in the day or even a year.

even if we start now, it's optimistic to think we could see an improvement in the next three to five years. in my opinion, a key in saving the lake are the people living in the vicinity. >> back in the village, the local kids turned abandoned boats into toys. this kid just wants the water to come back, to find out what it's like to play in the lake. >> three palestinians have been killed in confrontations with israeli forces in the occupied west bank. it happened at the janine refugee camp when a prominent member of hamas was trying to be arrested. 11 have been injured, three kitticly. >> pope francis is calling on members of the italian mafia to change your their ways. he said they'll end up in hell in they don't repent.

the mafia controls economic and criminal activity in the region. in the past two decades it extended its influence in rome and milan. . >> translation: the power, the money that you have now coming from so many dirty businesses, so many mavyosa crimes, it's blood stained money and power. you can't bring it to your next life. repenalty. there's time to not end up in hell. >> finally, turkey's internet users have been using humour to protest a court order blocking access to twitter. one sowed the beak off a twitter logo, and sewing its mouth. another turned it into pakman. recep tayyip erdogan featured in many. this is the prime minister spraying the twitter bird with

repellant, and one is education commissioner superimposed on barack obama's iconic post with the message "yes, we ban", >> you can keep up to date with the news on our website. aljazeera.com. ways day it's the inside story. >> hello, i'm ray suarez. it probably wouldn't rock your world to hear the kids who go to school in richer school districts have better equipped and better staffed schools . course offerings, teache