ncois hollande focuses on international policy in his press conference, making a surprise announcement that he and herman chancellor angela merkel -- german chancellor angela merkel are headed to russia with a new peace plan. john kerry will talk about a new policy that good arm ukrainian forces in the fight -- that could harm ukrainian forces in the fight against pro-russian rebels. a surprise move from the ecb to block a key source of hunting --

funding as greek pushes to renegotiate its massive bailout deal. we will look at how the markets have reacted to that surprised ecb decision on loans to greek banks. and when you think of japan's sumo wrestlers, usually think of big, strong -- you usually think of big stonrong men. one female wrestler is trying to change that. french president francois hollande is putting the focus on international policy of his twice yearly press conference today. his remarks to french and foreign journalists came in a very different context from the last news conference six months ago.

in january, france was rocked by one of the worst terror attacks in its history that left 17 people dead. president hollande addressed security issues at the conference today, but he was also quick to point out his implication in the current struggle in ukraine. he made a surprise announcement saying he and the german chancellor angela merkel woodhead to kiev today -- he and the german chancellor, angela merkel would head to kiev today. >> along with angela merkel, i have decided to come up with a new initiative. we believe for kiev early this afternoon and we will put forward a new proposition on how to end the conflict. it will be based upon the principle of territorial integrity for ukraine and we will go and discuss it with president poroshenko today and friday in moscow with the russian president.

because time is running out. that way, no one will ever be able to say that france and germany together didn't do all they could to preserve peace. >> "france 24" was at that press conference at the presidential palace, a press conference i believe is still -- that i believe is still going on. international policy was key to the french president today. >> the press conference is just winding down. this was the big change from previous press conferences. generally, most of the questions, especially at the beginning are about domestic policy. today, it was about international affairs. with this surprise announcement of the new initiative by the french president and the german chancellor to go this afternoon -- which is probably why this press conference was scheduled this

morning instead of the traditional afternoon press conferences. he was going to ukraine to present a new plan to the ukrainian president and then on to moscow tomorrow to the russian president a very dramatic announcement, basically hinting there are two options -- either war and total war or diplomacy. he indicated it was the last chance for diplomacy after previous efforts to try to make sure there can be at least a way out of the conflict that is raging now in ukraine. he said it is very clear that this is a war taking place in the heart of europe. >> the president also have much to say about the mastic issues -- also had much to say about domestic issues. let's listen to one of the new reforms he put forth today. >> new civic contract -- the

universal service for young french people, and the creation of citizen reserves for all the french for all of those who want to take part in this collective momentum, giving their best. i also want more participatory democracy. this republican unity is so important for us to all live together and it will give france the means to not only achieve more within our borders, but also abroad. >> tell us more about this civic contract getting young people more involved in civic responsibility. what is he planning on doing exactly? >> this was already something that was planned, but on a much more modest scale. the idea is really as of june 1, to allow anyone between 16 and 25 to do a kind of general interest job. he is saying that anyone can ask

for it. until now, it was restricted. he is hoping that all the solidarity that was shown after the "charlie hebdo" attack and the attack on the kosher supermarket will lead to more voluntary work. the also said this would be open to adults -- he also said this would be open to adults. here's -- he referred several times to the "spirit of january 11," when millions went to demonstrate their solidarity and shock after the attacks. he is hoping this can morph into something substantial in terms of solidarity. we heard those words many times "need for national cohesion, national unity." he is hoping that eventually, this will lead to better -- a better situation in the suburbs that have often been abandoned.

he announced several initiatives in that regard, to make sure there is no apartheid the word was used by his prime minister manuel valls, in some areas of france. the president did not repeat this word, but he used words like segregation and the need to make friends is as cohesive as it proved -- france as cohesive as it proved to be that day. >> thank you so much. the twice annual press conference given by the french president, france will hollande. he is going to kiev this afternoon, along with german chancellor angela merkel. the u.s. secretary of state john kerry, has already landed in kiev. he will be in talks with the government over its fight with russian separatists in the east. on landing in kiev kerry sa id the u.s. is planning on getting 16 one $5 million in humanitarian aid -- giving $16.5

million in humanitarian aid. they could also be considering giving arms, which would be a change in policy. >>hundreds of civilians have been killed in recent weeks. the u.n. is warning of clear breaches of humanitarian law. >> this couple has just lost their son. they were waiting to take him home after a checkup when a shell hit the hospital. the explosion blast him against a wall, wriggling his body with shrapnel. >> my son was killed -- wriggling -- riddling his body with shrapnel. >> my son was killed right in front of me. it is awful. >> rescue workers rushed to cover the bodies. it -- the hospital is in shambles.

it is the latest in a series of tax -- shellings in donetsk. they have become a daily occurrence. >> we were having a birthday party. the house was full of little children. now they are all sitting in the hallway. >> pro-russian separatists blamed the ukrainian army. kiev has accused the rebels of turning their weapons on the civilian population. last month, more than 220 people were killed and similar attacks, a surge desk killed in similar attacks -- more than 220 people were killed in similar attacks. thousands have fled the fighting. the civilians that remain, officials say, are hiding underground without water or electricity. >> the greek parliament is meeting for the first time since last month's shock election that

injured -- ushered in the new anti-austerity government. the new greek leaders have been on a major charm offensive around the eu to renegotiate its massive bailout deal. greek finance minister yanis varoufakis has a meeting today with one of greece's biggest critics germany. more reaction from athens. since the decision was announced yesterday, greece has said it will not be blackmailed. tell us of your more about reaction from athens. >> immediately, the greek government spokesman came out and said this is purely political pressure in the midst of a very important negotiation with other european countries. greece will resort to the emergency liquidity assistance mechanism, which will be held

from the bank of greece. it will be at a higher interest rate. the finance minister, back when he was an economics professor said in december, warned the ecb would proceed to such a move. he called it an arbitrary and dictatorial move. that is the initial reaction we are getting. also there was that morning from varou -- warning from varoufakis himself. >> it seems as if the ecb has dashed some of the hope. >> indeed. they are standing their ground. greeks with this new government, have found a new sense of pride. they are restoring their eroded

dignity from five years of austerity. they are finally rising up and saying enough of austerity. we finally have a government that is powerful and nine image and will negotiate for us -- powerful and dynamic and will negotiate for us. this one is in favor of the greek government and austerity. just a few hours from now -- the press is in arms against the political decision made by the european union, calling the european central bank -- saying they are besieging grace to -- greece to arise to act as a sovereign state in negotiations. these institutions are not supposed to be making political

decisions, he says. it is really interesting. it raises many points in the greek society. >> thanks so much for that report from athens. we will be talking a bit more about the situation -- the affect the situation from greece has been having ---- the effect the situation from greece has been having. the death toll from the transasia crash has gone up. the plane went down almost right after takeoff, when it's wing clipped -- when its wing clipped a bridge and went down into a river just moments after. some viewers may find this report disturbing. >> mayday mayday, engine flameout. those were the pilot's last words before the plane crashed the tip of the plane on

dashboard cam showing how it clipped the bridge before plunging into the river. rescue workers are continuing to search for bodies. the river is shallow, but the cold is making their work difficult. >> the water temperature has dropped. this will make today's task very difficult. if the water improves, the search-and-rescue effort will be easier. >> the flight crashed just two minutes after taking off from the capital's downtown airport shortly before 11:00 wednesday morning. aviation officials have urged local media not to speculate on the crash's cause. >> some media reports are saying this, though no examination was done before the plane was allowed to take off.

we want to clarify in front of our media friends here that is not true. >> the plane's blackhawks has been recovered, but aviation officials have so far not commented -- plane's black box has been recovered, but aviation officials have so far not commented on what may have caused the accident. >> the 26-year-old was burned alive in a cage in that horrific video released by the militant group. king abdullah has promised war against the i.s. in response. let's take a look at the day's business news with stephen carroll. let's get back to talking about greece. the banks are having a bad day after that decision by the ecb to cut financial support. >> shares have tumbled after the move coming from and for late on wednesday -- coming from

frankfurt late on wednesday. it did not cut emergency funding altogether. it is allowing greece's emergency bank to provide funding to lenders. >> panic on the markets shares in athens plunged at the opening of trade. greek banks were hit hardest as they digested news of the european central bank's decision to limit greek access to loans. late on wednesday, the ecb said it would no longer accept government that or bonds as collateral. they said they could not assume a successful conclusion to the review of the bailout program. greek banks can still apply for emergency funding, but it must come from the central bank in athens. they will have to pay a higher rate of interest, and the onus is on greece to finance its lenders. on thursday the central bank

said it would not be blackmailed, adding that it had given approval to access 10 billion euros in additional emergency funding is needed. the ecb move is seen as a warning to greece's new anti-austerity government not to renege on promises made under its bailout deal. the greek finance minister, unisphere, -- yanis varoufakis said changes must be made. >> these are reforms we need in order to end the various malignancies that have afflicted the greek economy and society for so many years. >> emergency funding for greek lenders is a key issue for athens. funds had been left short of cash reserves week before the bailout deal expire. >> now to london to speak with a chief market analyst. thanks for being with us on

"france 24." this was a shock at the open on the greek markets this morning. how are things looking now a couple of hours on? >> the markets have settled down a little bit. it is starting to come back a little bit. i think for me the timing of this was rather strange, given the fact that it came just after mr. varoufakis had just spoken to mr. draghi and just before he was due to meet with german finance minister wolfgang schauble. it is very dangerous territory here politically, in terms of changing the rules of the game. let's face it, the greek finance minister has essentially said he wants to negotiate in good faith with eu leaders and its creditors. the rhetoric so far has been fairly -- been fairly calm and

considered. this action by the ecb sort of shatters that consensus. it brings short-term borrowing up to levels near 20%. >> what sort of state are the greek banks in? are they just taking on the weak point of the economy with this action by the ecb? >> i think what mr. varoufakis said a couple days ago that greece is essentially insolvent is not far from the truth. greek banks are reliant on funding from the european central bank. i think the ecb is trying to focus minds. the problem is that is not the ecb's job. the ecb is there to keep the money flowing while politicians sort out the final the -- finer details of any renegotiation package. we have quite a few days left until this bailout package expires. it could have been handled a lot better. >> the markets don't like

uncertainty. this is an uncertain time for greece. are we seeing any knock on effects? >> we are not. that is somewhat surprising. that is largely as a result that greece still has access to funding by the e.l.a., at higher rates, and i think that is why you are seeing the euro-dollar start to regain some of its footing. i think you are seeing a little bit of saber rattling by the ecb and the eu. you go into a negotiation in good faith. what you don't do is going to negotiations and, from the very start, put a gun on the table and say, let's talk about it, but just remember we got the ultimate sanction -- we've got the ultimate sanction here. >> let's take a look at some of the figures. the borrowing costs for greece,

that key figure for the country as it looks to try to renegotiate its bailout deal. we saw them take off. let's look at the 10-year bond deal, up over 11% from yesterday since that ecb announcement. greeks can't really borrow at that level. anything over 7% sees them locked out of the international market. >>stocks opened down by about 9%, the athens market now down just over 5.5% today. the banks taking the worst hit. plenty of turmoil still on the greek markets today. across the european markets, no great knock on effect, but still the markets down a little in trading today. the benchmark borrowing rate steady. >> it seems like there is some

hope for the euro zone economy -- eurozone economy. >> they upgraded their growth outlook. the 19 countries that use the currency could grow by 1.9% next year. france, too, seemed to do a little bit better. they have downgraded the forecast for greece, but only slightly. these forecasts are contingent on greece continuing with its bailout plan. >> stephen carroll, thank you so much. time now to take a look at what has been trending online. web users around the world have been paying tribute to that captive jordanian pilot who was killed by the islamic state group. >> web users the world over have been reacting to the death of the jordanian pilot on tuesday,

february 3, murdered by the islamic state terror group. the tragic news has generated widespread commentary on social media. many have shared their sorrow and outrage, paying tribute to the soldier who was captured i by i.s. late december, 2014. they have extended their sympathy to the fighter pilot's friends and family condemning the terrorist organization for the cowardly murder. many social networkers have been remembering the jordanian pilot as a hero. the people who posted the messages are hailing his bravery. others are saying that al -kasaesbeh gave his life trying to protect his fellow citizens and his life should never be forgotten.

some have shown photos taken of him before he was captured. they say it is important to hold onto positive images of the pilot. others have urged people not to share photos of him awaiting his death. again, they want to avoid spreading islamic state propaganda. the number of refugees worldwide has grown from 3.5 million to over 10 million in less than 40 years. alarming figures visualized on this interactive infographic which also details the origin of refugees and where they have been displaced to. pakistan was a top country for asylum. you can take a closer look at the refugee project -- at the

refugeeproject.org. this hashtag has been trending. it consists of wearing a cat as a heat and sharing the photos on social networks. hundreds of weird and wonderful snaps as this new social media craze continues to grow. he creates works of art out of bananas. as we can see from these photos, he sculpts and etches them to produce portraits, landscapes, and original themes. you can take a look at them on the instagram page -- the isteef

instagram page. in this video, we see a belgian stuntman do an impressive performance. he decided to go wing suit flying over egypt's÷p÷