Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye the Science Guy and President Barack Obama walk into the White House’s Blue Room and teamed up for a selfie.
The three got together for Friday’s White House Student Film Festival, which featured student videos highlighting how technology can transform education.
Attendees also got a sneak peek at the new Cosmos TV series, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson and due to premiere on March 9.
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye the Science Guy and President Barack Obama walk into the White House’s Blue Room and teamed up for a selfie
“The Academy Awards are not until Sunday, but as you can see, we brought the Oscars to the White House a little bit early,” President Barack Obama told the student filmmakers.
“We’ve got the red carpet, we’ve got the big screens, the opening monologue. The only difference is, nobody asks what you’re wearing,” he added.
A video showing former mercenary Alexander Muzychko entering a prosecutor’s office and attacking one of the employees in Central Ukraine has surfaced online.
Alexander Muzychko, who fought in Chechnya, is the current leader of the ultra nationalist group known as the Right Sector.
The video shows his method of dealing with the remaining authorities.
Ukraine nationalist Alexander Muzychko barged into the prosecutor’s office and attacked an employee
The ultra nationalist barged into the prosecutor’s office and attacked an employee while demanding to see the prosecutor, who was not there.
Alexander Muzychkothen began to terrorize staff members, assaulting one of them and threatening to tie him up and drag him out “like an animal”.
President Barack Obama has warned Russia against any military intervention in Ukraine.
The US president said he was deeply concerned by reports of Russian military movements inside Ukraine.
Ukraine’s acting President Oleksandry Turchynov has accused Russia of deploying troops to the Ukrainian region of Crimea and trying to provoke Kiev into “armed conflict”.
Crimea’s pro-Moscow PM Sergey Aksyonov has asked Russian authorities for help in maintaining peace in the region.
“I appeal to the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to provide assistance in ensuring peace and tranquility on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,” Sergey Aksyonov said in a statement.
Sergey Aksyonov, who was appointed by the Crimean parliament on Thursday, also said he was taking control of Crimea’s interior ministry, armed forces, fleet and border guards “on a temporary basis”.
The new cabinet in Ukraine is due to meet for the first time on Saturday to discuss the deepening crisis over Russia’s reported military deployments.
Russia’s UN ambassador earlier insisted any troop movements in Crimea were within an existing arrangement with Ukraine.
Barack Obama has warned Russia against any military intervention in Ukraine
Overnight reports said armed men in unidentified military uniforms had seized another airfield.
On Friday they took over airports in the Crimean capital, Simferopol, and Sevastopol, where Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is based.
Ukrainian media citing local officials said 13 Russian aircraft carrying nearly 2,000 suspected troops had landed at a military air base near Simferopol. The report remains unconfirmed.
Russian armored vehicles and helicopters were also seen in and around Simferopol and Sevastopol.
Flights from and to Simferopol were cancelled with airlines saying airspace over the peninsula had been closed.
The armed men also moved in on Crimea’s parliament, state television building and telecommunication centers.
Speaking from the White House, Barack Obama commended Ukraine’s interim government for its “restraint”.
“Any violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing, which is not in the interests of Ukraine, Russia or Europe,” he said.
“It would represent a profound interference in matters that must be determined by the Ukrainian people. It would be a clear violation of Russia’s commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and borders of Ukraine – and of international laws.”
Barack Obama added: “Just days after the world came to Russia for the Olympic games, it would invite the condemnation of nations around the world. And, indeed, the United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine.”
The president did not spell out what any US response might be.
In a TV address on Friday, Ukraine’s interim President Oleksandr Turchynov said Moscow wanted the new government to react to provocations so it could annex Crimea.
Pro-Moscow leader of Ukraine’s autonomous Crimea region Sergey Aksyonov has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for help to ensure peace.
A Kremlin source said it would “not leave unnoticed” the request from Sergiy Aksyonov.
Meanwhile President Barack Obama warned Moscow against intervention after mysterious troop movements.
Ukraine’s interim PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of seeking to provoke an escalation.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk was speaking at the first meeting of his cabinet, installed after the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych. The new Defense Minister, Ihor Tenyukh, accused Russia of “recently” deploying 6,000 extra soldiers to Ukraine.
Unidentified soldiers are guarding key buildings in Crimea
Sergey Aksyonov, 41,who leads the main pro-Russian party in Crimea, was elected prime minister of Crimea by the region’s parliament this week in an emergency session, replacing Anatoliy Mohylyov.
In the same vote, the parliament called a referendum on the status of Crimea, a region dominated by ethnic Russians.
The Crimean prime minister has brought forward the vote to March 30, from May 25 – the date of Ukraine’s early presidential election.
Sergey Aksyonov’s election was not approved by the new authorities in Kiev, who traditionally appoint the prime minister of Crimea, in consultation with the regional parliament. He also refused to recognize Ukraine’s new government.
Mary-Kate Olsen is reportedly engaged to her boyfriend of nearly two years, Olivier Sarkozy.
Sources confirm to Us Weekly that Mary-Kate Olsen, 27, and the half-brother of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Olivier Sarkozy, 44, are now engaged.
They first stepped out together in 2012.
Mary-Kate Olsen is reportedly engaged to her boyfriend of nearly two years, Olivier Sarkozy
This will be Mary-Kate Olsen’s first marriage, and Olivier Sarkozy’s second.
Olivier Sarkozy was previously wed to Charlotte Bernard, with whom he has two kids: Julien, 12, and Margo, 10.
Mary-Kate Olsen’s twin sister, Ashley, is also dating an older man. Following her split from David Schulte, Ashley Olsen has been spending time with Moneyball director Bennett Miller, who is 20 years her senior.
A signed two-volume set of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi treatise Mein Kampf has sold for $64,850 at a Los Angeles auction.
The two volumes date from 1925 and 1926 before Hitler became chancellor of Germany and were purchased by an anonymous American buyer, auctioneer Nate Sanders said.
Adolf Hitler inscribed the cloth-bound volumes, one a first edition and the other a second, to Josef Bauer, an early Nazi party member and SS officer.
The signed two-volume set of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf has sold for $64,850 at Los Angeles auction
The Nazi leader offered Josef Bauer his best wishes in the Christmas season.
The online bidding started at $20,000 and concluded on Thursday night. The books received 11 bids.
Written by Adolf Hitler while he was jailed for his role in a 1923 failed putsch attempt, Mein Kampf (My Struggle) rails against Judaism and communism.
A New York medical examiner revealed Philip Seymour Hoffman died of an accidental overdose of a mixture of drugs including heroin, cocaine, amphetamine, and benzodiazepine.
Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead at his home in New York City on February 2 with a syringe in his arm. He was 46.
Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead at his home in New York City on February 2
The actor had struggled with drug addiction and had recently acknowledged he had relapsed after being clean for years.
The New York medical examiner revealed the post-mortem results on Friday.
Philip Seymour Hoffman was survived by his partner of 15 years, Mimi O’Donnell, and their three children.
President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden are taking part in First Lady Michelle Obama’s health campaign Let’s Move by making a film while jogging around the White House.
Michelle Obama’s initiative intends to fight childhood obesity by encouraging healthy eating and an active lifestyle.
President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden are taking part in First Lady Michelle Obama’s health campaign Let’s Move by making a film while jogging around the White House
The first lady has unveiled new changes to US nutrition labels, the most sweeping overhaul in more than two decades.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’s latest episode ended in suspense: Is Mama June pregnant or not?
This week’s episode of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo started with Alana Thompson walking into the bathroom and quickly emerging, flushed with horror, over someone who didn’t.
Declaring the situation “a poop mystery that we have to figure out,” Honey Boo Boo encountered a round of denials from the family, including Jessica “Chubbs”, who asks: “What are you, Sherlock Poop?”
After Honey Boo Boo failed to get to the bottom of the situation, the action shifted to Mama June and Sugar Bear, who once again asked for alone time, “which is baby-making time,” a notion June Shannon flat-out rejected as she wants no more kids.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’s fans are now wondering if June Shannon is pregnant
However, June Shannon agreed to go on a double date with her sister, Doe-Doe, and her new paramour, Jose.
The action is back to Honey Boo Boo slinking around the house with a magnifying glass, tracking her family with a vow to get to the bottom of this “mess-tery”.
The two couples went on a double date to a Japanese restaurant.
Back at home, June Shannon mused about how important it is to create lasting family memories, then emerges from the bathroom and looks at the calendar in a panic, realizing her time of the month is late.
People commenting on the show’s Facebook page are now wondering if June Shannon is pregnant.
„i dont think she is pregnant they just want to keep the suspence up in the show and get viewers most likely!” said one of the show’s fans.
However, the episode was filmed last summer… so, most probably, June Shannon is not pregnat.
The sons of two former ministers in Turkey’s government have been freed amid major corruption investigation.
Baris Guler and Kaan Caglayan, arrested in December, were among dozens of people held in an investigation into bribery relating to public tenders.
The inquiry enraged PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who saw it as a “plot” against him.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded with a purge of top police and judicial officials.
Azeri businessman of Iranian origin Reza Zarrab was also released on Friday.
Azeri businessman of Iranian origin Reza Zarrab was also released on Friday
The son of a third cabinet minister was also arrested in December, but was soon released.
The three ministers – Environment Minister Erdogan Bayraktar, Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan and Interior Minister Muammer Guler – resigned in December as the police investigation intensified.
All three denied any wrongdoing.
Police are investigating allegations of illicit money transfers to Iran and bribery for construction projects.
Earlier this month Suleyman Aslan, the former chief executive of Halkbank, was also released.
Suleyman Aslan is suspected of money-laundering in connection with the alleged bribery. When they searched his home police found $4.5 million (3.2 million euros) in cash hidden in shoeboxes.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his supporters in the ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party see the investigation as a plot masterminded by Fethullah Gulen, an Islamist cleric based in the US.
Wednesday’s episode of Duck Dynasty reality show drew only 5.2 million viewers.
However, this week’s episode drew more viewers than everything else on cable Wednesday night – roughly two and a half times the audience for the much-ballyhooed return of FX’s The Americans, and even surpassed a new episode of ABC’s Nashville.
Wednesday’s episode of Duck Dynasty reality show drew only 5.2 million viewers
The latest figures represent a massive 40% collapse from the 8.6 million viewers the show pulled in just one year ago this week.
Wednesday’s episode drew the smallest audience for a new installment of Duck Dynasty since Season 2 finale in November 2012.
Duck Dynasty family received a new business award from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on Thursday afternoon.
Bobby Jindal is honoring the Robertsons’ work with their business Duck Commander, which makes popular duck calls and other hunting merchandise in West Monroe, Louisiana.
Duck Dynasty family received a new business award from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
The Robertson family will be the first recipient of the Governor’s Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence, which has never been given out before.
“The reason for this award is the tremendous impact that Duck Commander’s expansion has had on our community and on all Louisianians,” said Bobby Jindal, according to a statement.
Governor Bobby Jindal said the award would be given out periodically to “homegrown Louisiana businesses” that are expanding.
Earlier this week, Armani and Jean Paul Gaultier model Quentin Elias died of a massive heart attack at the age of 39.
According to some rumors, Quentin Elias’ cause of death was an overdose while others claim that it was a case of suicide as the model was extremely depressed due to a bad break up with his boyfriend that financed his wonderful life.
Although, he was in great shape rumor has it that Quentin Elias was not getting enough modeling gigs to take care of himself. A source claims a note and photo of the man that recently ended the relationship with the model have been found at his home.
Quentin Elias died of a massive heart attack at the age of 39
In order to maintain his physique, Quentin Elias exercised regularly, repeatedly declaring he avoided drugs, and denying rumors that he used steroids.
Quentin Elias indulged in having a great number of tattoos and appeared in a great number of photoshots and video footage.
A statement posted on Quentin Elias’ Facebook page confirmed the news of his death saying: “Quentin Elias passed away at his home in New York on February 25th, 2014. The family would like to thank everyone for supporting Quentin’s career as he truly loved to perform for his loving fans.”
Cyprus’ parliament rejected a key part of the country’s bailout plan.
As part of the 10 billion-euro ($13.7 billion) deal with the EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF), lawmakers have until March 5 to pass a bill allowing state firms to be privatized.
On Thursday, the lawmakers threw it out, jeopardizing the next tranche of cash.
The government says it will re-submit the bill with some amendments.
Cyprus’ parliament rejected a key part of the country’s bailout plan
The deal was agreed in March last year in an attempt to stave off the collapse of Cyprus’s banking sector and the wider economy.
It included moves to restructure the banks, along with other measures such as tax rises and privatizations.
Late on Thursday, the privatization bill was narrowly defeated after parliament split 25-25 on the vote, with five abstentions. This meant the legislation failed to pass.
The vote took place as hundreds of people opposed to privatization staged a protest outside the parliament building.
A government spokesman, Christos Stylanides, said the bill would be amended to reflect concerns over workers’ rights after privatization.
The new version of the bill would be submitted to the House of Representatives on Friday.
Ukraine’s ousted President Viktor Yanukovych has made his first public appearance since being removed from office last week.
Viktor Yanukovych said at a news conference in Russia he would fight for his country.
He said he was “not overthrown”, but was compelled to leave Ukraine after threats to his life.
Those who drove him from power were “young neo-fascist thugs”, he said.
Viktor Yanukovych said current tensions in Crimea were “understandable” but stated his desire for Ukraine to remain united.
The focus of unrest in Ukraine has shifted to the Russian-majority Crimea region since Viktor Yanukovych was ousted by Western-leaning opponents last Saturday.
It followed a bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters who had taken over central Kiev since Viktor Yanukovych rejected an EU trade deal in favor of one with Russia last November.
Viktor Yanukovych has made his first public appearance since being removed from office at a news conference in Russia
On Friday, Ukraine accused Russia of carrying out an “armed invasion” in Crimea by sending naval forces to occupy Sevastopol airport. Moscow has denied the claims.
“I intend to continue to struggle for the future of Ukraine, against terror and fear,” Viktor Yanukovych told the news conference in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
“I can’t find words to characterize this new authority. These are people who advocate violence – the Ukrainian parliament is illegitimate.
“What’s going on now is lawlessness, lack of authority, and terror. Decisions in parliament were taken under duress.”
He apologized to the Ukrainian people for not having “enough strength to keep stability” and for allowing “lawlessness in this country”.
Viktor Yanukovych insisted he did not “flee anywhere”, explaining that his car was shot at as he left Kiev for the north-east city of Kharkiv and he was forced to move around Ukraine amid fears for the safety of himself and his family.
He said he arrived in Russia “thanks to a patriotically minded young officer” and was given refuge in Rostov, near the Ukrainian border, by an old friend.
Speaking in Russian, Viktor Yanukovych said he would return to Ukraine “as soon as there are guarantees for my security and that of my family”.
Viktor Yanukovych ruled out taking part in elections planned for May 25, describing them as “illegal”.
He made clear his view that the only way out of the crisis is to implement an EU-backed compromise agreement he signed with opposition leaders last week before he was deposed.
Viktor Yanukovych said the current turmoil in Crimea was “an absolutely natural reaction to the bandit coup that occurred in Kiev” and added that he was surprised by the restraint shown by Russian President Vladimir Putin so far.
He also stressed that “military action in this situation is unacceptable” and said he wanted Crimea to remain part of Ukraine.
Earlier, Ukraine’s general prosecutor said he would ask Russia to extradite Viktor Yanukovych on suspicion of mass murder following the deaths of more than 80 people in last week’s violent clashes between protesters and the police.
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, who are couple for nearly two years, are now engaged, Us Weekly reported.
“She is crazy about him!” a source close to the couple told the publication.
Mila Kunis, 30, dropped a subtle hint while shopping with her mom at The Grove in Los Angeles on Thursday as she wore a noticeable ring on her engagement finger.
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are now engaged
If they get married, it will be the first marriage for Mila Kunis and the second for 36-year-old Ashton Kutcher, who finalized his once-contentious divorce from Demi Moore last November.
Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, 51, split in fall 2010 following his infamous San Diego fling with Sara Leal.
Mila Kunis ended her 8-year relationship with Macauley Culkin around the same time.
Kim Kardashian’s decision to attend a Viennese ball on Thursday night as the paid guest of Austrian billionaire Richard Lugner, was not a good one.
Kim Kardashian, 33, received an estimated $500,000 for her troubles at the Viennese ball, RadarOnline reported.
According to TMZ, Kim Kardashian “stormed out” of the gala after a staffer approached her wearing blackface and pretended to be her fiancé Kanye West.
Kim Kardashian told her camp that Richard Lugner, 81, was “aggressive, at times grabbing her and imploring her to lose her security”. He apparently wanted to be alone with her.
The reality star also faced down a guest who didn’t like being turned away for a dance.
Richard Lugner apparently wanted to be alone with Kim Kardashian at Vienna Ball
Richard Lugner had trouble with Kim Kardashian from the start. Seems he didn’t appreciate that Kim Kardashian, who arrived in Vienna with daughter North West and mom Kris Jenner, filmed scenes for Keeping Up With the Kardashians at a local schnitzel joint.
“Kim is annoying me, because she’s not sticking to the program,” Richard Lugner is quoted as telling reporters.
“She’s filming, and so she doesn’t want to have me around. The guest should be with me and not anywhere else that is not agreed upon.”
Richard Lugner, who claims he gussied up before the big event with “15 shots of Botox”, has long invited celebrities to accompany him to the annual ball, starting in 1991 with Gina Lollobrigida. Lindsay Lohan was tapped in 2010, but she failed to show after missing her flight.
More recent dates have included Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, Carmen Electra, Dita Von Teese.
MtGox Bitcoin exchange has reportedly filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan.
The application was made in Japan by lawyers acting on behalf of the exchange and comes only days after MtGox went offline.
On Tuesday, the exchange’s boss said he was working hard to find a “solution to our recent issues”.
Before going offline, technical troubles meant it prevented customers transferring digital cash to other exchanges on February 7.
MtGox Bitcoin exchange has filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan
Details of the bankruptcy are scant but the application for protection has been accepted by a district court in Tokyo, reported AFP. At the court hearing, the company said it had outstanding debts of about 6.5 billion yen.
MtGox’s lawyers are believed to have decided to apply to the court for protection after US regulators filed a subpoena against the company.
Reports suggested the site shut down after it discovered that an estimated 744,000 Bitcoins – about $350 million – had been stolen due to a loophole in its security.
MtGox’s troubles have put pressure on the price Bitcoin owners can get for their holdings. Currently one Bitcoin is worth about $561, a price far lower than the high of $1,000 per coin it hit in November 2013.
Meanwhile, Vietnam has banned its banks from handling Bitcoin saying the virtual cash is not legal tender. Vietnam’s state bank said trading in Bitcoins carried “potential risks” for users.
At the same time, Japan’s deputy finance minister said any regulation of Bitcoin would have to involve international cooperation to avoid opening up loopholes that traders could exploit.
Subrata Roy – the chairman of Sahara, one of India’s biggest businesses – has been arrested after he surrendered to the police.
The Supreme Court had ordered the arrest of Subrata Roy on Wednesday after he failed to appear before judges in a case of fraud.
Two Sahara firms are accused of raising 240 billion rupees ($3.9 billion) through bonds that were found to be illegal.
Market regulators say Subrata Roy failed to refund the money to millions of investors despite a court order.
He is expected to remain in custody until March 4 as the Supreme Court refused to take up his bail petition on Friday, saying it was “not urgent”.
“Mr. Roy willfully submitted himself before [the northern city of] Lucknow police. He is co-operating with all authorities,” his son, Seemanto Roy, told a press conference in Delhi.
Senior police official Habibul Hasan in Lucknow said the businessman would be produced before the magistrate soon.
The Supreme Court had ordered the arrest of Subrata Roy on Wednesday after he failed to appear before judges in a case of fraud
Earlier on Friday, Subrata Roy issued a statement saying he was not “absconding” from arrest after police in Lucknow said they had raided his house on Thursday, but failed to find him.
Subrata Roy said he was indeed in Lucknow but had stepped out to consult doctors about his ailing mother.
On Wednesday, angry judges ordered the businessman’s arrest after his lawyer said the Sahara chief had been unable to appear in court since his 92-year-old mother was very unwell.
Subrata Roy and his rags-to-riches life story is a household name in India.
Sahara group, worth 682 billion rupees ($11 billion), has businesses ranging from finance, housing, manufacturing, aviation and the media. It also has interests overseas – it owns New York’s landmark Plaza Hotel and London’s iconic Grosvenor House.
Subrata Roy’s group also sponsors the Indian hockey team and owns a stake in Formula One racing team, Force India.
With more than 1.1 million workers, Sahara is India’s biggest private sector employer.
David O. Russell has decided to pull out of TV drama The Club he was set to make, a month after it was commissioned.
The American Hustle director had co-written ABC’s The Club, a drama set in a private country club.
David O. Russell has decided to pull out of TV drama The Club he was set to make
No official reason has been given for his departure, although it is thought David O. Russell wants to focus on film-making, according to Deadline Hollywood.
The series is still set to go ahead.
The director had co-written and developed The Club with Erin Brockovich scribe Susannah Grant, who will remain on the project and also executive produce.
David O. Russell suggested at an industry event over the weekend he was not ready to move from cinema to the small screen.
First Lady Michelle Obama will guest star in Parks and Recreation Season 6 finale, her White House office confirmed.
Michelle Obama’s appearance, in an episode titled Moving Up, will centre on her campaign against child obesity.
“Time to get real about Pawnee’s obesity… @FLOTUS is coming to town for our #ParksandRec season finale Thursday, April 24!,” the show tweeted.
FLOTUS is an acronym for First Lady Of The United States and Pawnee, Indiana is the fictional town where the show takes place – home to public servant Leslie Knope.
Michelle Obama will guest star in Parks and Recreation Season 6 finale
Amy Poehler – who plays Leslie Knope in the show – joined Michelle Obama’s campaign earlier this month when she appeared at a Let’s Move event in Miami.
Michelle Obama is not the first US politician to appear on the show – Vice President Joe Biden made a cameo on the show in 2012.
Three further senators, including presidential runner John McCain, have also guest starred in the show, which is currently in its sixth season.
Parks and Recreation executive producer Michael Schur told the Hollywood Reporter last month that he was still hoping to persuade Hillary Clinton to make an appearance on the show.
Dolly Parton will perform at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, the event organizer, Emily Eavis, has confirmed to BBC 6 Music.
Dolly Parton later told her three million followers the news via Twitter.
“I’m incredibly excited to FINALLY announce that the #BlueSmokeWorldTour is coming to @GlastoFest on June 29th! 😉 Stay tuned for more info…” the country singer wrote.
Dolly Parton will perform in Sunday afternoon’s renowned “legend slot” on the Pyramid Stage, which last year featured fellow country star Kenny Rogers.
Festival-goers enjoyed a mass singalong of Islands in the Stream – his hit duet recorded with Dolly Parton.
Dolly Parton will perform at this year’s Glastonbury Festival
Emily Eavis appeared to rule out rumored headline acts Prince, Stone Roses and Fleetwood Mac.
However, she did admit timings were still a work in progress.
Arcade Fire have already confirmed they are 2014’s Friday night headliners for the event.
The Canadian seven-piece revealed the news in December, tweeting a photo bearing the words “June 27 – Glastonbury”.
Lily Allen is among the other acts who have already let slip they will be performing, but Emily Eavis said the remaining headline acts would stay a closely guarded secret for now, and would “be with you in the spring.”
According to Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, Russian military forces are blockading Sevastopol airport in the Ukrainian region of Crimea.
Arsen Avakov called their presence an “armed invasion”.
Armed men also took over the other main Crimean airport, Simferopol, on Friday morning.
Relations between Russia and the Ukraine have been strained since the ousting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanokovych, who is now in Russia.
These tensions have been particularly evident in Crimea, Ukraine’s only Russian-majority region.
On Thursday, pro-Russian armed men stormed the Simferopol parliament, ousted the existing cabinet and appointed a new prime minister.
Meanwhile, in a further challenge to Kiev, Viktor Yanukovich is preparing to give a press conference on Friday, after resurfacing in Russia on Thursday, asserting that he is still Ukraine’s lawful president.
Armed men took over Simferopol airport in Crimea on Friday morning
Armed men, said by Arsen Avakov to be Russian soldiers, arrived in the Sevastopol military airport near Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Base on Friday morning.
The men were patrolling outside, backed up by armored vehicles, but Ukrainian military and border guards remained inside, Arsen Avakov said.
“I consider what has happened to be an armed invasion and occupation in violation of all international agreements and norms,” Arsen Avakov said on his Facebook page.
Armed men also arrived at Simferopol airport overnight, some carrying Russian flags.
A man called Vladimir told Reuters he was a volunteer helping the group there, though he said he did not know where they came from.
“I’m with the People’s Militia of Crimea. We’re simple people, volunteers,” he said.
“We’re here at the airport to maintain order. We’ll meet the planes with a nice smile – the airport is working as normal.”
On Thursday, a separate group of unidentified armed men entered Crimea’s parliament building by force, and hoisted a Russian flag on the roof.
The Crimean parliament later announced it would hold a referendum on expanding the region’s autonomy on May 25.
Recent developments in the Crimea region – which traditionally leans towards Moscow – heightened tensions with Russia, which scrambled fighter jets to monitor its borders on Thursday.
Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, last night urged his government to maintain relations with Kiev and even join Western efforts to bail out its troubled economy – but he is also rewarding the rebellious Crimean government with humanitarian aid from Russia.
Venezuela’s police and National Guard have used tear gas to break up a student demonstration in the capital, Caracas.
Hundreds of protesters were demanding the release of fellow students detained during two weeks of unrest, and called a fresh march for Sunday.
In another part of Caracas, a large pro-government march was held.
Earlier this week, President Nicolas Maduro declared an early start to the week-long Carnival public holiday in an attempt to end the unrest.
On Monday, Venezuela’s Attorney General Luisa Ortega said 13 people had died in the violence, although President Nicolas Maduro put the figure of protest-related deaths at more than 50 on Wednesday.
Despite the start of the long holidays on Thursday, students again gathered in Caracas.
“There’s no Carnival for anybody here. Here we are still on the streets, committed to the fight,” student leader Juan Requesens told EFE news agency.
Their peaceful demonstration ended in clashes with security forces when some masked protesters tried to block a road.
Police and the National Guard used tear gas to break up the protest, while demonstrators hurled stones at them.
Venezuela’s police and National Guard have used tear gas to break up a student demonstration in Caracas
Juan Requesens said there would be a “big march” on Sunday.
At the presidential palace in Caracas, hundreds of Nicolas Maduro’s supporters took part in a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Caracazo, the violent protests against economic measures imposed in 1989 by the government.
There were no reports of other large protests in other parts of Venezuela on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua, who is in Uruguay as part of a regional tour, said he believed the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) would be a better forum to discuss the current political crisis in Venezuela.
Panama had suggested the Organizations of American States (OAS) should discuss the issue, but Venezuela requested the motion to be cancelled.
“UNASUR has been much more efficient on these issues than the OAS. How many coups has the OAS stopped in its existence? On the contrary, it has legitimized many,” Elias Jaua told reporters.
On Wednesday, Nicolas Maduro held a “national peace conference” without the participation of the opposition.
The Roman Catholic church and a major business federation took part in the meeting.
The current unrest started more than two weeks ago with student protests in the western states of Tachira and Merida demanding increased security. They also complained about record inflation and shortages of staple items.
Quentin Elias has been found dead at his New York home at the age of 39.
The former lead singer of French band Alliage and model for several fashion designers such as Armani and Jean Paul Gaultier has reportedly died of a massive heart attack.
A statement posted to Quentin Elias’ official Facebook page this afternoon confirmed the news of his death: “Quentin Elias passed away at his home in New York on February 25th, 2014. The family would like to thank everyone for supporting Quentin’s career as he truly loved to perform for his loving fans.”
Quentin Elias has been found dead at his New York home
According to Quentin Elias’ management company, EventsLive Productions, the singer was confirmed dead in his home on February 25.
Quentin Elias is perhaps best known as the former lead singer of ’90s French boy band Alliage, and for his solo music career that began after he relocated to New York City in 2002. According to Obnoxious TV, he worked in NYC as a television actor, a stage actor, and a fashion model for Armani and Jean Paul Gaultier.
It was questions about the use of steroids that he emphatically denied.
Originally from France, of Algerian origin, Quentin Elias was the lead singer for Alliage from 1996 to 1999. After his departure from the group, he relocated to New York City.
