Whats New?

Russian troops storm a Ukrainian airbase in Crimea throwing stun grenades and firing guns in the air, as Moscow tightens its grip on the region.
BBC News – Europe

Three youths are arrested after a teenage girl thought to be aged about 15 is shot dead in east London, the Metropolitan Police says.
BBC News – UK

Michigan becomes the latest US state in recent months to overturn a ban on gay marriage – in a case brought by two female nurses.
BBC News – US & Canada

The Ebola virus has been identified as the cause of an outbreak of fever now thought to have killed nearly 60 people in Guinea, officials say.
BBC News – Africa

Russian stock markets fell sharply on Friday as investors weighed the impact of western sanctions over Ukraine.
BBC News – Business

At least two people have been killed in northern Lebanon bringing to 16 the death toll since clashes linked to the conflict in Syria began a week ago.
BBC News – Middle East

President Jose Mujica of Uruguay says his country will take five prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

EU leaders seal an accord on closer ties with Ukraine, as President Putin completes the treaty on Crimea’s entry into the Russian Federation.
BBC News – Europe

The first UK prosecutions over female genital mutilation are announced by the Crown Prosecution Service.
BBC News – UK

Fred Phelps Sr, the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, which was widely known for its inflammatory anti-gay protests, has died, his family say.
BBC News – US & Canada

Female MPs in Kenya storm out of a late-night parliamentary session in a row over the legalisation of polygamy as a new marriage bill is passed.
BBC News – Africa

The US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen hints that interest rates in the US could start to rise in early 2015.
BBC News – Business

Iran’s foreign minister says he sees signs of a comprehensive deal on its nuclear programme, after talks with world powers, Iranian media report.
BBC News – Middle East

Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos confirms the removal of Bogota mayor Gustavo Petro, despite international protests.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

Ukraine is drawing up a plan to withdraw soldiers and their families from the Crimea region, the security chief in Kiev says.
BBC News – Europe

Ministers say people should be trusted to manage their money in retirement despite concerns about planned pension changes.
BBC News – UK

The FBI is aiding Malaysia’s investigation into the disappearance of the airliner missing for more than a week.
BBC News – US & Canada

South Africa’s top corruption fighter says President Jacob Zuma “benefited unduly” from state funds to upgrade his rural home and acted unethically.
BBC News – Africa

The Bank of England is to have two new deputy governors – Ben Broadbent for monetary policy and Nemat Shafik in charge of markets and banking.
BBC News – Business

Jihadist rebels have carried out mass executions in Syria and the government has increased its use of indiscriminate weapons, UN human rights investigators say.
BBC News – Middle East