· Wooden pallet clue in aircraft hunt

Malaysia says it has received new satellite images from France showing floating objects in the main search area for a missing Malaysian jet in the Indian Ocean.

The images include “potential objects in the vicinity of the southern corridor”, the Malaysian Transport Ministry said in a statement on Sunday evening local time.

It is the third such satellite reading since the search began.

Australia, China & France hv now released sat images that show potential objects re #MH370 in vicinity of southern corridor @HishammuddinH2O

— H2O Comms (@H2OComms) March 23, 2014

The announcement comes after a weekend when the Chinese provided satellite imagery of a large object in the Indian Ocean and when an Australian civil aircraft spotted what appeared to be a wooden goods pallet other nondescript objects.

Last week, Australian authorities also used satellite images to identify similar objects.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said the search was now ‘visual’, with the aim of spotting a possible wreck by sight.

As many as eight planes are expected to search the waters south west of Perth this week.