Whats New?

Humanitarian issues are top of the agenda in the first tentative meetings between the Syrian regime and opposition forces in Geneva.
BBC News – Middle East

Police in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo clash and arrest dozens of people after a peaceful demonstration against the football World Cup.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

Ukraine’s opposition leaders say they will not drop their demands after the president offers them top government posts, as clashes continue in Kiev.
BBC News – Europe

Forecasters warn of more heavy rain across parts of the UK, prompting further risk of flooding on the Somerset Levels in south-west England.
BBC News – UK

Three people have died after a shooting incident at a shopping mall in the US state of Maryland, not far from Washington DC, say police.
BBC News – US & Canada

At least 29 people are killed in clashes in Egypt as rallies mark the anniversary of the 2011 uprising which overthrew President Hosni Mubarak.
BBC News – Africa

Jamie Dimon, the chairman and chief executive of the banking giant JP Morgan, saw his pay increase to $ 20m (£12.1m) for 2013, according to the company.
BBC News – Business

Syria’s opposition and government will meet “in the same room” in Geneva on Saturday, the UN says, for talks aimed at “saving Syria” from devastation.
BBC News – Middle East

Argentina eases strict foreign exchange controls, a day after the peso suffered its steepest daily decline in 12 years.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

Protesters in Ukraine seize several regional government offices after talks between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych stalled.
BBC News – Europe

A man and a woman are jailed for sending abusive messages on Twitter to feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez.
BBC News – UK

Bitter cold is hindering the search for up to 30 elderly Canadians missing after a fire destroyed a Quebec old people’s home, killing at least five.
BBC News – US & Canada

Six people are killed and some 100 others wounded as militants step up attacks against the authorities with a series of explosions across Cairo.
BBC News – Africa

Car production in the UK is at its best level since 2007, according to the trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
BBC News – Business

UN mediator for Syrian peace talks Lakhdar Brahimi will hold separate talks with rival delegations to assess their willingness to meet together.
BBC News – Middle East

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner makes her first public speech in six weeks, ending a speculation about her health after brain surgery.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

Ukraine’s opposition threatens to lead pro-EU protesters “on the attack” in the capital, Kiev, if the government fails to call snap elections.
BBC News – Europe

Waiting time information for non-emergency operations such as knee and hip replacements in England is unreliable, a watchdog says.
BBC News – UK

The bulk collection of phone data by the US government is illegal and has had “minimal” benefits, an independent US privacy watchdog says.
BBC News – US & Canada

The Moroccan parliament unanimously amends laws that allowed rapists of underage girls to avoid punishment by marrying their victims.
BBC News – Africa