BBC NEWS WITH NEIL NUNES.

Intensive diplomatic efforts are taking place to rescue a deal to solve the Greek bail out crisis after it was
rejected by the German Finance Ministry. The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras has spoken by phone to
Chancellor Angela Merkel. Greece has asked its creditors for a modified six month assistance package.
Euro Zone Finance Ministers will discuss the latest proposal on Friday with Greece now within weeks of
running out of money. From Brussels, Gavin Hewitt.
The Greek plan was dismissed as not a substantial proposal for a solution. The latest plan was seen as
providing breach financing without meeting the conditions of a current bail out. Berlin and its powerful
finance minister Wolfgang Schuble want Athens to stick to the commitment made by the previous Greek
government, particularly over budget cut some reforms. Finland too has rejected the Greek offer. Athens
responded by saying that tomorrow's meeting is where then be clear who wants to find a solution and who
doesn't.
The White House as it is deeply troubled by reported violation of a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine after heavy
shelling earlier in the main rebel's stronghold of Donetsk. NATO's top military commander General Philip
Breedlove said the ceasefire signed last week existed in name only. However a spokesman for the proRussian separatists said their forces did not intend to go another offensive anywhere else. Ian Pannell has
more in this report.
Ukrainian military officials reported rebel attacks on government positions near the southern port city of
Mariupol. A spokesman claimed the rebels would bring in reserves into the area where sporadic fighting
has persisted throughout the ceasefire period. There had been a hope that the week old Minsk peace
agreement might start to take hold after the full of the strategic town of Debaltseve delivered the self
declared Donetsk People's Republic has said its forces would fight in Debaltseve but observe the ceasefire
elsewhere. The Ukrainian government has insisted it is abiding by the truce.
The biggest private employer in the United States the retail giant Walmart has announced a pay rise for
more than half a million of its workers. The company says that by February next year, all existing
employees will earn at least ten dollars an hour. Smear Hussein reports.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said wages for new employees will go up to at least nine dollars an hour.
Current workers are being guaranteed at least ten dollars an hour. Walmart is also making changes to sick
leave at how shifts are scheduled, giving workers more time to plan around work hours. Workers welcome
the news, but say the increases do not go far enough, that America's largest employer can afford to pay its
workers 15 dollars an hour, what they called a living wage.

World News from the BBC.

A convicted drug trafficker from Dominican Republic has claimed that he donated millions of dollars to the
former President Leonel Fernndez. The trafficker who identified himself as Quirino Ernesto Paulino told a
local TV station that he had delivered cash to Mr. Fernndez worth more than four and a half million dollars
stocked in suitcases. Mr. Fernndez said in a brief statement that Mr. Paulino's comments were part of a
campaign to discredit him.
Chelsea football club says it will bar three people from its stadium in London after investigating a racist
incident involving its fans on the Paris metro on Tuesday. Footage posted online showed Chelsea fans
preventing a black man named Souleymane S. from getting on the metro and chanting racist slogans. Here
is Hugh Schofield.