World News Briefs -- February 19, 2014

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QYwS43BvxmM" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">World Leaders Condemn Ukraine Bloodshed -- Time/Reuters</span></b></div><br />E.U. considering sanctions on government of President Viktor Yanukovych<br />The European Union has called a rare meeting of the group’s 28 foreign ministers for Thursday in response to the deteriorating crisis in Ukraine.<br /><br />The anti-government protests descended into bloodshed Tuesday, with at least 25 killed and hundreds injured as protestors clashed with police forces in Kiev’s main square. The day of fighting was by far the bloodiest since protests against the Ukrainian government of President Viktor Yanukovych began in November. Clashes were expected to resume Wednesday.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://world.time.com/2014/02/19/world-leaders-condemn-ukraine-bloodshed/">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MIDDLE EAST</b></span></div><br />Russia’s Lavrov warns against <b><a href="http://en.ria.ru/world/20140219/187693438/Russias-Lavrov-Warns-Against-Military-Intervention-in-Syria.html">military intervention in Syria</a></b>.<br /><br />Assad escalates firepower using <b><a href="http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Assad-escalates-firepower-using-missiles-against-rebels-341885">missiles against rebels</a></b>.<br /><br />Islamists order women to don veil <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-syria-crisis-islamists-dress-idUSBREA1I1OX20140219">in eastern Syria</a></b>.<br /><br />Russia says U.N. Syria aid resolution<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/russia-says-u-n-aid-resolution-possible-coming-112138759.html"> possible in days: agency</a></b>.<br /><br />Syrian rebels call <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/syrian-rebels-call-commander-sacking-coup-2014219172827173502.html">commander's sacking a coup</a></b>.<br /><br />Lebanon dances into the abyss as <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26239778">Syria conflict crosses border</a></b>.<br /><br />'Twin suicide attack' <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26254300">in Beirut kills four</a></b>. Suicide bombers target <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-lebanon-blast-casualties-idUSBREA1I0PQ20140219">Iranian center in Beirut</a></b>.<br /><br />Kerry, Abbas to discuss <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-abbas-to-discuss-mideast-peace-in-paris/1854414.html">Mideast peace in Paris</a></b>.<br /><br />Iran, powers seek to agree basis <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-iran-nuclear-idUSBREA1H0S620140219">for final nuclear deal.</a></b><br /><br />Iran, six world powers tackle agenda<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iran-powers-hold-39-substantive-39-nuclear-talks-001157852.html"> for final nuclear accord</a></b>.<br /><br />Washington critics sound alarm <b><a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/dc-critics-sound-alarms-as-talks-with-iran-resume/">as Iran talks resume</a></b>.<br /><br />BAE Systems agrees Eurofighter pricing <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26254561">with Saudi Arabia</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ASIA</b></span></div><br />Seven convicted over Rajiv Gandhi assassination <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/19/india-state-rules-rajiv-gandhi-assassination-plotters-freed">set to be freed.</a></b><br /><br />Thai anti-government protesters gather<b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/19/world/asia/thailand-protests/index.html?hpt=hp_t2"> outside defense compound.</a></b><br /><br />Thai court warns against using emergency powers <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/thai-protesters-rally-against-pm-deadly-bangkok-clashes-031559648--sector.html">to disperse protests</a></b>.<br /><br />Sri Lanka considers A South Africa-style <b><a href="http://world.time.com/2014/02/19/sri-lanka-considers-a-south-africa-style-truth-and-reconciliation-commission/">Truth And Reconciliation Commission</a></b>.<br /><br />Afghan ethnic tensions rise in<b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/19/world/asia/afghan-ethnic-tensions-rise-in-media-and-politics.html?ref=world&_r=0"> media and politics</a></b>.<br /><br />No 'active negotiations' <b><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/198628-wh-no-active-negotiations-with-taliban">with Taliban</a></b>.<br /><br />White House mum on <b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/18/white-house-mum-damning-north-korea-report/">damning North Korea report</a></b>.<br /><br />India’s 29th state born <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/indias-29th-state-born-amid-protest-pepper-spray/2014/02/18/8318e8ba-98ac-11e3-80ac-63a8ba7f7942_story.html">amid protest, pepper spray</a></b>.<br /><br />Filipino Muslim rebels <b><a href="http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_PHILIPPINES_MUSLIM_REBELS?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-02-18-07-26-27">expel leader for beheading</a></b>.<br /><br />China respects Taiwan system,<b><a href="http://www.sinodaily.com/reports/China_respects_Taiwan_system_Xi_tells_Taipei_ex-VP_Lien_999.html"> Xi tells Taipei ex-VP Lien</a></b>.<br /><br />Raid on Kim Dotcom’s mansion <b><a href="http://rt.com/news/court-dotcom-warrant-legal-646/">ruled legal by NZ court</a></b>.<br /><br />North Korea detains <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26252483">Australian missionary</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AFRICA</b></span></div><br />Robert Mugabe's lavish 90th birthday plans decried <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/19/robert-mugabe-birthday-plans-condemned-zimbabwe-struggles">as Zimbabwe struggles.</a></b><br /><br />Mubarak denies he <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/mubarak-denies-he-stole-public-funds-2014219142420673362.html">stole public funds</a></b>.<br /><br />South Sudan rebels say capture <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/18/us-southsudan-unrest-idUSBREA1H15U20140218">oil-producing state capital</a></b>.<br /><br />Libyan militias keep up <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/un-envoy-in-libya-urges-talks-in-parliament-crisis/2014/02/19/5db4f09c-994b-11e3-b1de-e666d78c3937_story.html">pressure on parliament</a></b>.<br /><br />Nigeria's Boko Haram crisis: <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26254480">Bama attack mars victory claims</a></b>.<br /><br />Peacekeepers clash with <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/gunfire-blasts-near-airport-c-african-capital-104338101.html">anti-balaka fighters in C.Africa</a></b>.<br /><br />MSF: CAR aid efforts <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/car-msf-18feb14/1854091.html">have failed</a></b>. Heavy fighting in CAR <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-heavy-fighting-in-central-african-republic-capital-disrupts-un-aid-visit/1854536.html">disrupts UN aid visit</a></b>.<br /><br />UN protest at Liberia-Ivory Coast <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26248723">'forced extraditions'</a></b>.<br /><br />Egypt taking 'ultimatum <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248702">against tourists' seriously.</a></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>EUROPE</b></span></div><br />Ukraine president 'agrees truce'<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26267220"> with opposition</a></b>.<br /><br />Embattled Ukraine: Kiev’s vicious cycle of violence rages on <b><a href="http://rt.com/news/kiev-clashes-rioters-police-571/">- Live Updates</a></b><br /><br />Violence in Ukraine: Yanukovych <b><a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/violence-in-ukraine-leads-eu-to-finally-consider-sanctions-a-954511.html">forces EU into sanctions</a></b>.<br /><br />Moscow blames radicals for deadly clashes in Ukraine, EU leaders ponder <b><a href="http://rt.com/news/ukraine-deadly-clashes-reactions-652/">sanctions against government</a></b>.<br /><br />Yanukovich says opposition <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/02/yanukovich-says-opposition-crossed-limits-201421943854745891.html">'crossed limits'</a></b>.<br /><br />Ukraine leader denounces coup bid, <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-ukraine-idUSBREA1G0OU20140219">West weighs sanctions</a></b>.<br /><br />Ukraine: 25 killed, 241 injured <b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/19/ukraine-25-killed-241-injured-kiev-clashes/">in Kiev clashes</a></b>.<br /><br />Merkel, Putin agree to <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-ukraine-merkel-putin-idUSBREA1I1SI20140219">avoid Ukraine escalation</a></b>.<br /><br />Pussy Riot say Cossacks beat them <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-olympics-pussyriot-idUSBREA1I1MM20140219">with whips in Sochi</a></b>.<br /><br />IMF urges European Central Bank to mull <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/feb/19/imf-european-central-bank-interest-rates-deflation-eurozone">cutting interest rates below zero</a></b>.<br /><br />Britain to protest over Spanish incursion<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-britain-spain-gibraltar-idUSBREA1I15G20140219"> into Gibraltar's waters</a></b>. Spanish warship disrupts Royal Navy <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/19/spanish-warship-gibraltar-royal-navy-exercise">Gibraltar training exercise</a></b>.<br /><br />Italy's Renzi says expects government<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-italy-politics-idUSBREA1I12E20140219"> in place by Monday</a></b>.<br /><br />French police question <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26254615">industrialist Serge Dassault</a></b>.<br /><br />Siberian shale find fuels <b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/18/siberian-shale-find-fuels-russias-fracking-future/">Russia’s fracking future</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AMERICAS</b></span></div><br />U.S. condemns <b><a href="http://swampland.time.com/2014/02/19/ukraine-sanctions-obama-congress/">Ukraine violence</a></b>.<br /><br />Venezuela unrest kills fifth person,<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1I15M20140219"> Lopez faces court</a></b>. Venezuelan opposition leader Lopez due in court <b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/19/world/americas/venezuela-protests/index.html?hpt=hp_t1">after surrendering</a></b>.<br /><br />Obama arrives in Mexico for summit <b><a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/02/19/218679/obama-heads-to-mexico-summit-amid.html">that may show NAFTA strains</a></b>.<br /><br />Politics to shadow Obama’s<b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/19/world/americas/politics-shadow-obamas-trade-talks-with-mexico.html?ref=world"> trade talks in Mexico</a></b>.<br /><br />U.S., Mexico mull relaxing border for <b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/18/us-mexico-relax-border-trusted-business-travelers/#ixzz2tiLi9lWH">‘trusted’ business travelers</a></b>.<br /><br />Everyone is optimistic about Mexico, <b><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/02/19/mexico-obama-economy-summit/5604065/">except for Mexicans</a></b>.<br /><br />Ecuador pursued China oil deal while pledging <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/19/ecuador-oil-china-yasuni">to protect Yasuni, papers show</a></b>.<br /><br />Colombia fires army chief <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2014/02/colombia-fires-army-chief-over-scandal-201421924548335298.html">over scandal</a></b>.<br /><br />Argentina asks U.S. Supreme Court <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-usa-court-argentina-idUSBREA1I03N20140219">to hear bonds case</a></b>.<br /><br />Brazil's worst nightmare:<b><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/brazils-worst-nightmare-argentina-wins-world-cup-22551314"> Argentina wins World Cup</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR</b></span></div><br />Jose Pimentel pleads guilty <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26264273">in NYC 'bomb plot'.</a></b><br /><br />Split within Al Qaeda over <b><a href="http://freebeacon.com/split-within-al-qaeda-over-syrian-rebels-grows/">Syrian rebels grows</a></b>. Smuggled video testimony documents harsh rule of <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/19/smuggled-video-testimony-harsh-rule-of-syrian-islamista-raqqa">Syrian Islamist group.</a></b><br /><br />Obama administration 'to offer Taliban 5 Gitmo prisoners in exchange for last Afghanistan POW Bowe Bergdahl <b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2562211/Obama-administration-offer-Taliban-5-Gitmo-prisoners-exchange-Afghanistan-POW-Bowe-Bergdahl-spent-four-years-captive.html#ixzz2thXQCpRd">who has spent four years captive'</a></b>.<br /><br />FBI documents raise additional questions about Saudi and al-Aulaqi <b><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/02/18/FBI-Documents-Raise-Additional-Questions">connections to 9/11 attacks</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS</b></span></div><br />Blackberry boss 'outrage' <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26255645">at T-Mobile iPhone offer.</a></b><br /><br />Google spreading Fiber fingers<b><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/02/19/google-fiber-new-cities/5610707/"> to more cities.</a></b><br /><br />Thai rice to flood global markets<b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-thai-rice-to-flood-global-markets-as-subsidy-ends/1854297.html"> as subsidy ends</a></b>.<br /><br />Microsoft OneDrive launches worldwide; free cloud storage service provides one place <b><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140219-903256.html">for everything in your life</a></b>.<br /><br />Google fund invests in education start-up <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-google-investment-idUSBREA1I0XJ20140219">Renaissance Learning</a></b>.

World News Briefs -- February 19, 2014

World Leaders Condemn Ukraine Bloodshed -- Time/Reuters E.U. considering sanctions on government of President Viktor Yanukovych The European...

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