Posted: 27 Apr 2014 03:05 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: President Barack Obama on Sunday offered continued US support for Malaysia in the search for missing flight MH370 but warned of a "laborious" task ahead to find the plane.

"It is a very challenging effort, a laborious effort and it is going to take some time," said Obama, who arrived in Malaysia on Saturday for a two-day stay.

The jet mysteriously disappeared on March 8 on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people aboard and is thought to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

But no trace has been found, leaving distraught relatives demanding answers and accusing Malaysia's government of a bungled response and possible cover-up.

Obama expressed the "deepest condolences of the American people to all the families who lost love ones on that flight".

"I completely understand the heartache the families are going through and want some answers. But I can tell you the United States is absolutely committed to providing whatever resources and assets that we can," he said during a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

US experts were brought in shortly after the plane vanished to help with investigations.

American assets have been involved in a multi-nation search coordinated by Australia that has for weeks scoured the remote Indian Ocean for wreckage.

"I can say that the United States and other partners have found the Malaysian government eager for assistance and fully forthcoming with us in terms of the information that they have, and this is a joint effort," Obama added.

But he also made a point of urging transparency in investigations.

"I think it is very important … that there should be full transparency in terms of what we know and what we don't know and how the process is proceeding," he said.

Najib expressed Malaysian gratitude for US help in the investigation and search.

Malaysia is the third stop on an Asian tour by Obama that has taken him to Japan and South Korea. He heads to the Philippines on Monday. – AFP

South Korean prime minister resigns over ferry sinking

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 11:18 PM PDT

SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea's Prime Minister Chung Hong-Won tendered his resignation on Sunday over the sinking of a passenger ferry that left more than 300 people dead or missing.

"I offer my apology for having been unable to prevent this accident from happening and unable to properly respond to it afterwards," he said.

"I believed I, as the prime minister, certainly had to take responsibility and resign."

The government, along with almost all other branches of officialdom, has come in for fierce criticism over the disaster, and the handing of the rescue operation.

"I wanted to resign earlier but handling the situation was the first priority and I thought that it was a responsible act to help before leaving.

"But I've decided to resign now not to be any burden on the administration," he said. – AFP

We encourage commenting on our stories to give readers a chance to express their opinions; please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. While the comments here reflect the views of the readers, they are not necessarily that of Borneo Post Online. Borneo Post Online reserves the right not to publish or to remove comments that are offensive or volatile. Please read the Commenting Rules.

Pope promises to help Ukraine

Posted: 26 Apr 2014 07:11 PM PDT

VATICAN: Pope Francis told Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Saturday that he would "do everything possible" for the country, amid fears that Russia could be about to invade.

Yatsenyuk said he asked Francis "to pray for Ukraine and for stability in Europe" and told him he was grateful for the support.

He said the Vatican had already averted wars during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and the Argentina-Chile territorial dispute in 1978.

The Vatican said in a statement that Francis and Yatsenyuk had discussed the "specific role" that religious organisations could play "in fostering mutual respect and harmony".

"Mention was made of possible further initiatives by the international community in this regard," the statement said.

Yatsenyuk's spokeswoman said the premier was cutting short his trip to Rome and will miss the canonisation of John Paul II and John XXIII, as tensions mount in the eastern part of the ex-Soviet country and Western nations threaten sanctions.

Yatsenyuk spent 18 minutes behind closed doors with the pope, who had urged the international community to "prevent violence" in Ukraine in his Easter Sunday message.

At an exchange of gifts, Yatsenyuk presented Francis with a photograph of Maidan square in Kiev on New Year's night.

"This is where Ukrainians fought for their freedom and rights. Millions of people," he said.

The pope in return offered the Ukraine leader a pen, saying "I hope this pen will sign the peace", to which Yatsenyuk replied "I hope so." -AFP

Obama vows support for Malaysia over MH370

Obama vows support for Malaysia over MH370