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SURABAYA, Indonesia (AP) — Officials directing the search for a missing AirAsia jetliner aren't seeing any reason for optimism. An Indonesian helicopter saw two oily spots in the search area and an Australian search plane spotted objects in the water. It's too early to know if they are connected to the aircraft and its 162 passengers and crew.
BARI, Italy (AP) — A smoke-filled Greek ferry continues to drift in the Adriatic Sea with more than 160 people still aboard, waiting to be evacuated. Meanwhile, a cargo ship with 49 evacuees has arrived in the Italian port of Bari. It's the first big group to reach land. One person has been killed and two others injured during the rescue.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — There's been a funeral for a senior commander in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which says he was "martyred while performing his advisory mission" in Iraq opposing the Islamic State extremist group. State TV says the funeral was held in a Guard compound in Tehran. He will be buried in his hometown in southeastern Iran. Shiite Iran says it has sent military advisers to Syria and Iraq, but not combat troops.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — As the Taliban return to areas of Afghanistan once cleared by now departing foreign forces, thousands of Afghan civilians are pouring into makeshift camps in the capital to shelter as best they can during the harsh winter. Hundreds of families are huddled in flimsy tents or mud shelters while children forage for fuel and food. Some families burn garbage at night.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A case dubbed "nut rage" is still reverberating in South Korea. The Transport Ministry says four officials will be punished for improper conduct during an investigation into a former Korean Air Lines executive who forced a flight to return over a bag of macadamia nuts that should have been served on a plate. The ministry has been under fire following revelations that some officials leaked information and committed other improper acts.
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