Whats New?

The head of Syria’s main opposition coalition tells the BBC international allies must honour what he says were promises to supply heavy weapons to the Free Syrian Army.
BBC News – Middle East

US Secretary of State John Kerry says Venezuela’s government must end its “terror campaign against its own citizens”, as protests continue.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

US and Russian envoys hold key talks in London on the Ukraine crisis, as Sunday’s disputed referendum in Crimea looms.
BBC News – Europe

Veteran Labour politician Tony Benn has died at home at the age of 88, his family says.
BBC News – UK

Rescuers find the body of an eighth victim following a gas leak and explosion that demolished two buildings in Harlem, New York City.
BBC News – US & Canada

Hundreds of militants stage a multi-pronged attack on the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, including the army barracks, witnesses say.
BBC News – Africa

The UK housing market’s recent surge in demand is showing signs of easing off, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says.
BBC News – Business

Israeli warplanes attack Palestinian targets in the Gaza Strip in response to a militant rocket barrage into southern Israel, the military says.
BBC News – Middle East

Three people are killed in the central Venezuelan city of Valencia, as marches mark one month since the current protest movement began.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

US President Barack Obama welcomes Ukraine’s new PM to the White House and vows to “stand with Ukraine” in the dispute with Russia.
BBC News – Europe

A children’s heart surgery unit temporarily closed last March due to fears over a high number of patient deaths is safe, a review has found.
BBC News – UK

Three people are killed and nine are still missing as a gas leak sparks an explosion which razes two buildings in New York City.
BBC News – US & Canada

A forensics expert swings a cricket bat at a toilet door in the courtroom at Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial to demonstrate key pieces of evidence.
BBC News – Africa

The Co-operative Group has accepted the resignation of chief executive Euan Sutherland, and named his replacement as chief financial officer Richard Pennycook.
BBC News – Business

The number of Syrian children in need has more than doubled in the past year to 5.5 million, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) says.
BBC News – Middle East

Michelle Bachelet – Chile’s first woman president in 2006 – is sworn in for a second time after her election victory in December.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

The EU offers Ukraine trade breaks worth nearly 500m euros ($ 694m; £417m) to stabilise its economy, as Russia tightens its military grip on Crimea.
BBC News – Europe

General secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union Bob Crow dies aged 52 of a suspected heart attack.
BBC News – UK

The head of the US Senate intelligence committee accuses the CIA of improperly accessing computers used by congressional staff amid an investigation.
BBC News – US & Canada

Libya’s parliament dismisses Prime Minister Ali Zeidan after a tanker laden with oil from a rebel-held port reportedly breaks through a naval blockade.
BBC News – Africa