Hourly News 每日新闻 2014-02-21

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European Foreign ministers have agreed to adopt sanctions against Ukraine.

The sanctions include the freezing of assets, bans on visas and a ban on the export of anti-riot shipments to Ukraine.

At the same time, EU-member countries have also agreed to ship medical aid into Ukraine.

Despite the announcement of a truce¹ on Thursday by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, clashes between protesters and riot police are continuing into this Friday.

The death toll² from this week's unrest, which began Tuesday, is now believed to be at least 67.

Hundreds more have been hurt in the unrest.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government has begun equipping its riot police with combat weapons.

In making the move, the country's Interior Minister contends rioters have been using assault weapons on police, forcing authorities to respond in-kind.

 

Timetable for future Iranian nuclear talks set

Negotiators at the Iranian nuclear talks have agreed to hold a new round of meetings, which have been set for March 17th.

This comes after the latest round of talks in Vienna ended earlier than scheduled due to the worsening situation in Ukraine.

Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, has described the talks in Vienna the past few days as "productive."

Recent talks among Iran and the P5+1 are meant to try to create a permanent agreement, following the creation of an interim³ agreement hammered out in November.

That deal has seen Iran suspend its key enrichment programs in exchange for a partial lifting of sanctions.

 

Two Koreas hold first family reunion in over three years

South and North Korea have held the first reunion of families separated by the Korean War in more than three years.

82 elderly South Koreans, four-fifths of them over 80, have reunited with 178 of their long-lost relatives from the North for the first time in six decades. 

The three-day reunion is taking place at the North's Mount Kumgang resort on the east coast.

Another three-day event is scheduled to begin on Sunday, when 88 North Korean applicants⁴ will reunite with some 370 family members from the South.

 

24 killed in explosion near Syrian-Turkish border

At least two-dozen people are dead following a massive explosion along the Turkish-Syrian border.

The blast hit a Syrian refugee camp in the southern Turkish province of Kilis, leaving at least 24-dead.

Numerous others have been wounded in the explosion, which is believed to have been caused by a car bomb.

So far there's been no claim of responsibility.

The province of Kilis is the main destination for Syrian refugees fleeing from the northern city of Aleppo.

Aleppo has been under siege for the past few weeks by Syrian government forces.

Turkey is currently housing over 700-thousand Syrian refugees.

 

13 people killed in gunmen attack in central Nigeria; 90 bodies buried in northeast

At least 13 people are dead following an overnight attack in central Nigeria.

It's being reported gunmen attacked a village in the central state of Plateau around 1am local time, gunning down the victims as they slept.

9-children are said to be among the victims.

It's unclear at this point what the motivation behind the attack is, or who may be responsible.

Meanwhile, authorities in the northeastern state of Borno have buried most of the victims of another deadly attack there this week that killed 96.

The massacre⁵ comes on the heels of another deadly assault on a village in the state of Borno over the weekend which left over 100-people dead.

 

Venezuelan opposition⁶ leader to remain in jail during trial

Authorities in Venezuela have decided⁷ to remand opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez in custody⁸ while he awaits his trial connected to the continuing political urest in that country.

The courts say they're remanding Lopez for his own protection, suggesting an attempt to take his life if he were granted bail⁹ could be cause for more violence.

The far-right leaning Lopez is facing four charges, including inciting¹⁰ the recent violent demonstrations¹¹ in Caracas which has left 3 dead.

Lopez, however, has not been charged in connection with those deaths, as was previously¹² expected.

Demonstrations against the government of Nicholas Maduro broke out earlier this month, demanding his resignation.

 

France Brings Down Euro-Zone Business Activity

Business activity in the 18 nations that use the euro lost some momentum¹³ in February, dragged down by weakness in France. 

Weakness in France outweighed¹⁴ strong growth in Germany. 

The findings are suggesting the euro zone's economic revival¹⁵ will remain fragile in the short term. 

French consumer prices have also declined at a record rate in January, highlighting weakness in domestic demand. 

Prices have dropped by 0.6 percent in January from December. 

At the same time, the PMI in the eurozone has fallen slightly to 52.7 in February from 52.9 the previous month. 

Any reading above 50 still indicates expansion.

The euro-zone economy grew 1.1-percent during the final three months of last year.

 

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