SEOUL: The operation to recover bodies from the ferry that sank off South Korea last month has been suspended due to heavy seas, a spokesman said on Saturday, amid concern that many of the missing may never be found.

SLOVYANSK (Ukraine): Ukraine's offensive to recapture an eastern city controlled by pro-Russia forces sharply escalated the crisis in the country's east and set off a clash Friday in the southern port of Odessa that police say killed 31 people.

 MANILA, Philippines: Officials say the death toll in fighting between Philippine government troops and Muslim militants who launched a surprise attack to regain control of a captured jungle training encampment has risen to 26.

BELFAST: Northern Ireland police are questioning Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams over the 1972 abduction and murder of Jean McConville, his party said on Wednesday, after police said detectives investigating the case had arrested a 65-year-old man.

 BEIJING: A powerful bomb went off at a railway station in Urumqi, capital of China's disturbed Xinjiang area, while Chinese president Xi Jinping was visiting the region on Wednesday. State media said "the number of casualties remains unclear".

 SEOUL: A probe into South Korea's ferry disaster has heard that warnings over the ship's seaworthiness were ignored, prosecutors said Wednesday, as rescuers worked to recover more than 90 people still missing two weeks after it sank.

An army sniffer dog killed in an ambush alongside her handler in Afghanistan will be awarded the highest award for bravery

 MINSK: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Moscow saw no need for counter sanctions against the West, but could reconsider the participation of Western companies in its economy, including energy projects.

LONDON, A US deadline for peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians has come to an end without the two side reaching any agreement, BBC reported on Monday.

 CANBERRA, Australia: Australia's prime minister said Monday that the underwater search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet will be expanded.