World News Briefs -- February 26, 2014

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/EW-1KifAH20" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ukraine: Rival Rallies Confront Each Other In Crimea -- BBC</b></span></div><br />Pro- and anti-government demonstrators have gathered in rival rallies in front of the parliament of Ukraine's Crimea region.<br /><br />Only a police cordon has been between the rallies, one pro-Russian and the other of Crimean Tatars and those who support the change of government.<br /><br />Tension has been rising in Crimea since President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted last week.<br /><br />A new cabinet is due to be unveiled in the capital Kiev in a few hours' time.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26354705">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MIDDLE EAST</b></span></div><br />Russia condemns rumored Saudi plans to arm Syrian rebels<b><a href="http://rt.com/news/syria-saudi-missiles-russia-741/"> with anti-air missiles.</a></b><br /><br />Scores of Syrian fighters killed in <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-syria-crisis-ambush-idUSBREA1P0TP20140226">army ambush near Damascus</a></b>. State media says Syrian Army <b><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/leader-syrian-militant-group-challenges-rivals-22665172">killed 175 rebels.</a></b><br /><br />Syria al-Qaeda group gives <b><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26338341">rival jihadists ultimatum</a></b>.<br /><br />Iraq: Sunni Arabs <b><a href="http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/iraq/articles/20140225.aspx">turn on Al Qaeda again</a></b>.<br /><br />Hezbollah seeking advanced weapons,<b><a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.576370"> says Israeli Navy.</a></b><br /><br />Hezbollah vows revenge for Israeli <b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/26/hezbollah-vows-revenge-israeli-attack-its-position/">attack on its positions</a></b>. Hezbollah says no casualties <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/hezbollah-says-no-casualties-israeli-raid-201422691722960482.html">in Israeli raid.</a></b><br /><br />China becomes Iran’s <b><a href="http://freebeacon.com/china-becomes-irans-largest-trade-partner/">largest trade partner.</a></b><br /><br />Sinai gas pipeline struck <b><a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2014/02/sinai_gas_pipeline_struck_for.php">for 4th time in 2014</a></b>.<br /><br />Turkey president signs <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/02/turkey-president-signs-judiciary-control-law-2014226104856594551.html">judiciary control law.</a></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ASIA</b></span></div><br />Pakistan launches military operation <b><a href="http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/25/pakistan-launches-military-operation-against-militants/">against militants</a></b>.<br /><br />Kerry says there is no <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-says-there-is-no-let-up-in-us-asia-pivot/1858949.html">let up in US Asia pivot</a></b>.<br /><br />Obama plans complete troop withdrawal <b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/25/obama-karzai-us-troops-prepping-leave/">from Afghanistan by year’s end</a></b>.<br /><br />U.S. quietly whittles down foreign detainee population<b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-quietly-whittles-down-foreign-detainee-population-at-facility-in-afghanistan/2014/02/25/ea52adfc-9a43-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html"> at facility in Afghanistan</a></b>.<br /><br />Pakistani official: US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014 <b><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140225/DEFREG02/302250036/Pakistani-Official-US-Withdrawal-from-Afghanistan-2014-Means-Civil-War-">'means civil war'.</a></b><br /><br />Pakistan court orders end to blockade <b><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/pakistan-court-orders-end-to-blockade-on-nato-supply-route-1.270003">on NATO supply route.</a></b><br /><br />Gunfire by night becomes new norm <b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2014/02/26/world/asia/26reuters-thailand-protest.html?ref=world&_r=0">in downtown Bangkok</a></b>.<br /><br />North Korea and Iran explore <b><a href="http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/pyongyang-tehran-discuss-deepening-relations/">broadening relations</a></b>.<br /><br />China's toxic air pollution <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/25/china-toxic-air-pollution-nuclear-winter-scientists">resembles nuclear winter, say scientists</a></b>.<br /><br />Fukushima radiation could <b><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Fukushima-radiation-could-reach-Pacific-coast-by-5264277.php">reach Pacific coast by April</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AFRICA</b></span></div><br />Nigeria’s President, UN’s Ban <b><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-26/nigeria-s-jonathan-condemns-school-massacre-in-northeast-town.html">condemn school massacre.</a></b><br /><br />MSF reports 'disturbing' attacks <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/doctors-without-borders-reports-disturbing-attacks-on-south-sudan-hospitals/1859414.html">on S. Sudan hospitals</a></b>.<br /><br />Egypt's Sisi to remain<b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/egypt-sisi-remain-as-defence-minister-2014226112953694656.html"> as defence minister.</a></b><br /><br />Egypt sentences 26 to death <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/egypt-sentences-26-to-death-for-alleged-suez-terror-plot/1859436.html">for alleged Suez terror plot.</a></b><br /><br />Tunisian navy rescues nearly <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-tunisia-migrants-idUSBREA1P0WH20140226">100 migrants off Jerba</a></b>.<br /><br />Uganda donors cut aid after president <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/feb/25/uganda-donors-cut-aid-anti-gay-law">passes anti-gay law.</a></b><br /><br />South Africa presents cautious budget<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/south-africa-presents-cautious-budget-despite-elections-130103771.html"> despite elections.</a></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>EUROPE</b></span></div><br />Vladimir Putin orders test of combat readiness, <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/26/ukraine-new-leader-disbands-riot-police-crimea-separatism">raising fears over Ukraine</a></b>. Tensions high in Ukraine's Crimea <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-ukraine-crisis-crimea-parliament-idUSBREA1P0PI20140226">as rival crowds gather.</a></b><br /><br />Ukraine 'set to<b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/02/ukraine-set-unveil-new-government-201422692657721108.html"> unveil new government'</a></b>.<br /><br />Ukraine disbands police unit <b><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/ukraine-disbands-police-unit-accused-of-violence-1.270020">accused of violence</a></b>.<br /><br />Moscow slams Ukraine’s bill <b><a href="http://en.ria.ru/world/20140226/187893079/Moscow-Slams-Ukraines-Bill-on-Curtailing-Russian.html">on curtailing Russian</a></b>.<br /><br />U.S. experts in Ukraine to help tackle <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-ukraine-crisis-burns-idUSBREA1P0UZ20140226">economic crisis: U.S.'s Burns</a></b>. EU hoping that Russia can be involved <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-ukraine-eu-assistance-idUSBREA1P0Q820140226">in aid to Ukraine.</a></b><br /><br />U.S. warns banks to watch for ousted <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-ukraine-crisis-us-treasury-idUSBREA1P07G20140226">Ukraine leader moving looted funds</a></b>.<br /><br />Swiss bank accused of helping clients <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/swiss-bank-accused-helping-clients-evade-us-taxes-004852389.html;_ylt=AwrSyCSfTg1THTcAfUbQtDMD">evade US taxes</a></b>. Credit Suisse 'cloak-and-dagger' tactics <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/feb/25/credit-suisse-offshore-tax-senators">cost US taxpayers billions – senators.</a></b><br /><br />Reforms, presidential vote in focus <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-romania-politics-idUSBREA1P0VA20140226">after Romania coalition splits</a></b>.<br /><br />Peter Robinson quit threat <b><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-26352967">over IRA Hyde Park bomb case</a></b>.<br /><br />Germany Karlsruhe court <b><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26351565">scraps EU vote threshold</a></b>.<br /><br />Ex pope Benedict denies <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-pope-benedict-resignation-idUSBREA1P0KV20140226?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=992637">he was forced to resign</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AMERICAS</b></span></div><br />In Venezuela protests, both sides <b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/24/world/americas/venezuela-protests/">draw battle lines -- but call for peace.</a></b><br /><br />Obama seeking $300 billion <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/obama-seeking-300-billion-for-roads-railways/2014/02/26/5b6e7580-9edf-11e3-878c-65222df220eb_story.html">for roads, railways</a></b>.<br /><br />Mexican drug kingpin Guzman <b><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-guzman-extradition-20140225,0,984221.story">dodges U.S. extradition for now</a></b>.<br /><br />Mexican war on drugs: 5 drug lords still at large following the arrest <b><a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/mexican-war-drugs-5-drug-lords-still-large-following-arrest-sinaloa-cartel-kingpin-el-chapo-1557400">of Sinaloa cartel kingpin ‘El Chapo’</a></b>.<br /><br />Pope pleads for <b><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-26353651">'end to violence' in Venezuela</a></b>.<br /><br />Quebec parties in a candidate-recruiting race <b><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/quebec-parties-in-a-candidate-recruiting-race-as-election-call-nears/article17108086/">as election call nears.</a></b><br /><br />Saddle Ridge Hoard: <b><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-26349136">Buried gold coin stash 'worth $10m'</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR</b></span></div><br />Surge in Syria Jihadist arrests prompts <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/surge-in-syria-jihadist-arrests-prompts-security-fears-in-europe/1858507.html">security fears in Europe</a></b>.<br /><br />EXCLUSIVE: FBI had human source in contact with bin Laden<b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/25/fbi-source-had-contact-with-osama-bin-laden-in-199/"> as far back as 1993</a></b>.<br /><br />Stealth search: Embattled Al Qaeda hunts<b><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/stealth-search-embattled-al-qaeda-hunts-new-bin-laden-n37656"> for a new Bin Laden.</a></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS</b></span></div><br />Rolls-Royce drone ships challenge <b><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-25/rolls-royce-drone-ships-challenge-375-billion-industry-freight.html">$375 billion industry: Freight</a></b>.<br /><br />Apple’s serious security issue: <b><a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/apples-serious-security-issue-update-your-iphone-or-ipad-immediately/?src=me&module=Ribbon&version=origin&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Most%20Emailed&pgtype=article">Update your iPhone or iPad immediately.</a></b><br /><br />Bitcoin value <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/value-of-bitcoin-drops-sharply/1858734.html">drops sharply</a></b>.

World News Briefs -- February 26, 2014

Ukraine: Rival Rallies Confront Each Other In Crimea -- BBC Pro- and anti-government demonstrators have gathered in rival rallies in front o...

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