World News Briefs -- February 21, 2014

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BkgsTV3Xmxo" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ukraine President, Opposition Sign Deal -- Voice of America</span></b></div><br />Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych signed an agreement Friday with three opposition leaders to end a crisis that sparked violent clashes between protesters and police on the streets of the capital Kyiv.<br /><br />A Reuters correspondent at the signing inside the presidential headquarters said Yanukovych did not smile during a ceremony lasting several minutes.<br /><br />The agreement followed an announcement by Yanukovich to hold early elections, to form a national unity government and relinquish some of his presidential powers. The agreement was witnessed by two European Union foreign ministers who brokered the deal.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-opposition-activists-to-sign-preliminary-deal/1856149.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MIDDLE EAST</b></span></div><br />U.S., allies agree on aid <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-allies-agree-on-standards-for-which-opposition-groups-in-syria-will-receive-aid/2014/02/20/7b5b8b02-9a53-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html">for Syrian rebels</a></b>.<br /><br />Dozens killed as mortars <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/dozens-killed-as-mortars-hit-town-iraq-201422135331552974.html">hit town in Iraq</a></b>.<br /><br />Iran’s most sensitive <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/irans-most-sensitive-uranium-stockpile-shrinks-after-nuclear-deal/2014/02/20/82230d14-9a64-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html">uranium stockpile shrinks</a></b>.<br /><br />Fears of Syria militancy expand <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-saudi-princemohammed-insight-idUSBREA1K0MW20140221">influence of Saudi prince</a></b>.<br /><br />Gaza's fragile ceasefire threatened by<b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/gaza-ceasefire-threatened-border-clashes-hamas-weak-palestinian"> border clashes as Hamas weakens</a></b>.<br /><br />Lebanon detains top suspect <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/lebanon-detains-top-suspect-in-car-bomb-campaign/1856271.html">in car bomb campaign</a></b>.<br /><br />One killed in south Yemen <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-yemen-south-protests-idUSBREA1K18C20140221">pro-independence protests: sources</a></b>.<br /><br />Turkey scraps coup plot courts<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-turkey-courts-idUSBREA1K0WE20140221"> in battle over judiciary</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ASIA</b></span></div><br />Suicide attack kills, wounds several <b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/21/suicide-attack-kills-wounds-several-afghan-police-/">at Afghan police complex</a></b>.<br /><br />Afghan women <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/afghan-women-campaign-for-peace/1856204.html">campaign for peace</a></b>.<br /><br />Thai Prime Minister denies corruption allegations <b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/20/world/asia/thailand-protests/">over rice program</a></b>. Thai rice farmers give government <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/thai-rice-farmers-give-government-a-week-to-make-payments/1856234.html">a week to make payments</a></b>.<br /><br />Nepal to deploy security on <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26285028">Everest after brawls</a></b>.<br /><br />Musharraf will not be tried <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/musharraf-not-to-be-tried-in-military-court/1856178.html">in military court</a></b>.<br /><br />South Korea to develop <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26287527">Stuxnet-like cyberweapons</a></b>.<br /><br />Japan to review testimony of women <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-japan-history-idUSBREA1K0SU20140221">who served in wartime brothels</a></b>.<br /><br />China denounces Barack Obama's<b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/china-us-barack-obama-dalai-lama"> meeting with Dalai Lama</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AFRICA</b></span></div><br />Somali presidential HQ a<b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/02/somali-presidential-hq-attacked-al-shabab-201422112586270319.html">ttacked by al-Shabab</a></b>. 11 die in attack by militants <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-somalia-blast-idUSBREA1K0KF20140221">on Somali president's compound</a></b>. Somalia's Shebab launch suicide attack<b><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5imP6own5YjAFfzB22AFB8wrgBktg?docId=1d8db902-321b-4d20-9ff0-515ee97a6ddf"> on presidential palace</a></b>.<br /><br />UN chief urges rapid <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/02/un-chief-urges-rapid-reinforcements-car-2014220215313877691.html">reinforcements for CAR</a></b>.<br /><br />Poor turnout in Libyan vote for <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-poor-voter-turnout-for-libyas-constitution-drafting-body/1855978.html">constitution-drafting body</a></b>.<br /><br />With hundreds jailed, Egypt's Islamists <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/hundreds-jailed-egypt-39-islamists-demand-protest-strategy-120003334.html">demand new protest strategy</a></b>.<br /><br />Robert Mugabe celebrates 90th birthday as <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/mugabe-celebrates-90th-birthday-zimbabwe-international-pariah">Zimbabwe's international pariah</a></b>.<br /><br />Zimbabwe court orders deportation <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-zimbabwe-court-orders-deportation-of-former-us-congressman/1856275.html">of former US congressman</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>EUROPE</b></span></div><br />Deal signed <b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/21/world/europe/ukraine-protests/">to end Ukraine crisis</a></b>.<br /><br />Ukrainian president and opposition<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26289318"> sign early poll deal</a></b>. Ukraine peace deal signed, <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-ukraine-idUSBREA1G0OU20140221">opens way for early election</a></b>.<br /><br />Ukraine credit rating cut by S&P<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26285792"> as violence continues</a></b>.<br /><br />Anti-Kremlin protesters found guilty amid scenes <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/anti-kremlin-putin-protesters-guilty-verdict-court">of violence outside court</a></b>.<br /><br />Basque separatists Eta set to take historic step <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/20/basque-separatist-eta-historic-weapons-mariano-rajoy">by handing over weapons</a></b>.<br /><br />Italy's Renzi set to<b><a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/italy-politics-idINL6N0LQ1SA20140221"> unveil new cabinet</a></b>.<br /><br />Germany arrests three suspected Auschwitz guards — aged 88, 92 and 94 — <b><a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/02/21/germany-arrests-three-suspected-auschwitz-guards-aged-88-92-and-94-and-uncovers-nazi-documents/">and uncovers Nazi documents</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AMERICAS</b></span></div><br />With 2015 budget request, Obama will call <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/with-2015-budget-request-obama-will-call-for-an-end-to-era-of-austerity/2014/02/20/332808c2-9a6e-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html?hpid=z1">for an end to era of austerity</a></b>.<br /><br />From jail, Venezuela protest leader<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1K17A20140221"> urges resistance</a></b>.<br /><br />Venezuela sends troops to border region <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/venezuela-troops-border-protests-police">as violence escalates</a></b>.<br /><br />Venezuela’s President Maduro threatens <b><a href="http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/21/venezuela-s-president-maduro-threatens-to-expel-cnn-over-its-coverage/">to expel CNN over its coverage</a></b>.<br /><br />Exclusive: Argentina, Repsol to sign <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-repsol-argentina-idUSBREA1K00E20140221">$5 billion YPF deal - source.</a></b><br /><br />Thousands of extra security agents <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-26283966">for World Cup 2014</a></b>.<br /><br />Venture capitalist in bid to<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/20/us-usa-california-split-idUSBREA1J22W20140220"> split California into six states.</a></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR</b></span></div><br />Report: U.S. drone may have <b><a href="http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140220/NEWS/302200002/Report-U-S-drone-may-killed-Yemeni-civilians">killed Yemeni civilians</a></b>.<br /><br />Sources: Airlines warned to beware <b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/19/us/airline-security-threats/index.html">of possible shoe bombs</a></b>.<br /><br />In Yemen, a woman's life entangled <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/yemen-woman-39-life-entangled-al-qaida-070459824.html">with al-Qaida</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS</b></span></div><br />Global growth under scrutiny at <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/global-growth-under-scrutiny-at-sydney-g20-finance-meeting/1856170.html">Sydney G20 finance meeting</a></b>.<br /><br />U.S. leads pushback against <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-g20-australia-oecd-idUSBREA1K05K20140221">emerging market angst at G20</a></b>.<br /><br />Mexico to trump Japan as<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/mexico-trump-japan-no-2-car-exporter-us-053738480--finance.html"> No. 2 car exporter to US</a></b>.

World News Briefs -- February 21, 2014

Ukraine President, Opposition Sign Deal -- Voice of America Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych signed an agreement Friday with three oppo...

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