QZ8501: Basarnas confirms recovery of 53 remains

The search and recovery mission continued to be hampered by high waves and adverse weather conditions.

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Indonesia has confirmed having recovered a total 53 remains.

Of the number, 45 had been identified by the team from the Disaster Victim Identification, Police Department Indonesia (DVI POLRI).

AirAsia in the statement here said eight other remains were in the process of being identified.

"The DVI POLRI announced that there is no identification release today. The DVI POLRI team is currently gathering more DNA evidence on the remaining passengers," said the statement.

The statement said Basarnas was able to recover more debris such as passenger windows, seats and other interior parts believed to be from AirAsia QZ8501.

The search and recovery mission continued today as divers began to descend in the Java Sea floor to observe the fuselage wreckage this morning.

However the floating mission continued to be hampered by high waves and adverse weather conditions.

AirAsia Indonesia Flight QZ8501, carrying 162 people on board, went down on Dec 28 after losing contact with air traffic control on its way from Surabaya, to Singapore.

- Source: Bernama

99% of Man Utd fans 'would rather keep De Gea than sign Bale'

The vast majority of Manchester United fans want David de Gea to sign a new contract rather than see him used in any swap deal for Gareth Bale.

De Gea put in another top-class performance on Saturday in United's 2-0 win at QPR.

The Spaniard, who has 18 months left on his contract, has been linked with Real Madrid and reports over the weekend suggested the goalkeeper could be used in an exchange that would see Bale move to Old Trafford.

The Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST) asked United fans what their preference would be in a poll on their Facebook page.

MUST asked: "If you had a straight choice to either keep David de Gea or sell him as part of a player exchange deal for Gareth Bale with Real Madrid, what would you choose to do?"

Twelve hours after posing the question, MUST said "over 99 per cent" of the 600-plus fans who responded said they would prefer to keep De Gea.

"With this in mind it signals the challenge (executive vice-chairman) Ed Woodward and (owners) the Glazers have to get Manchester United's most popular player signed up on a new contract, before Real Madrid attempt to prise him away," a MUST spokesman said.

- Source: PA Sports