BBC News:希腊国际收支经常项目首次出现顺差
The Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has appointed a new head of the armed forces. Hisspokeperson gave no reason, but earlier the Defence Ministry announced that the armedforces might be deployed in a nationwide anti-terrorist operation. In central Kiev, fires continuedto burn around the Independence Square with anti-government protesters and the riot policelocked in tense standoff. Our correspondent Duncan Crawford is there.
The Ukirian security service says they are planning this counter-terrorism operation theyblamed the violence on what they described as radical extremist and they say that over thelast 24 hours that protesters have stolen ammunition and weapons. A further revelation todaywhile President Yanukovych has dismissed the army chief. Now, no reason was given butreportedly last month, the Colonel General did warn against the military getting involved in thiscrisis. So potentially there is conflict in the top levels of the military as the how they shouldproceeds.
President Obama has warned Ukraine to ensure that the military doesn't step into issues thathe said can be resolved by civilians. Mr. Obama said the United States and its European allieswould be watching the situation closely and that could be consequences if as he put it: peoplestep over the line.
We're going to be watching very carefully, and we expect the Ukrainian government to showrestraint, to not resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protesters. We've said that wealso expect peaceful protesters to remain peaceful, and we will be monitoring very carefullythe situation.
NATO's top military commander also pressed Ukrainian leaders to avoid using military forceand called for a dialogue with the new military leadership.
Greece has posed a current account surplus for the first time since records began. MarkLowen reports from Athens.
It is the balance of trade and investment, the difference between how much money flows intothe country and what goes out called the economic terms the current account. Now, Greece forthe first time since records began in 1948 has posed a surplus, meaning it no longer spendingmore on imports than it raises through goods and services. The 1.24bn euro surplus last yearwas helped by a 16 % rise in tourism receipts, the country's biggest industry and marks a bigchange from 2012, when the current account was in deficit of 4.6bn euros.
Member of the Russian protest band Pussy Riot has been attacked in Sochi by Cossacksmilitia acting as security guards in the Olympic host city. The Cossacks whipped and punchedmembers of the group as they tried to perform by a sign advertising the Winter Olympics.
World News from the BBC
A leading rights group says that Syrian government forces have started using a more powerfultype of cluster munitions rocket. Cluster bombs have been banned in many countries becausethey are indiscriminate and leave unexploded ordnance that can be a danger, long after theoriginal attack. Sebastian Usher reports.
The New York based Human Rights Watch says it has been given photos of an attack on thetown of Keferzita last week that showed traces of cluster munitions that contained more than70 bomblets. It says this is much more powerful than similar weapons that Syrian forces haveso far used. The town which is near the central city of Hama has repeatedly come under attacksince rebels took control of it more than a year ago. It's been subjected to air strikes andshelling as well as for crudely made barrel bombs that has become a key weapon in thegovernment's armory.
Sri Lanka Central Bank has urged Buddhists and Hindu temples to accept electronic paymentsfrom worshippers because of a coin shortage. This report from Charles Haviland.
Public transport users in many countries can now pay their way with electronic cards enabling acash-free commute. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka now hopes Buddhists and Hindu templeshere can install similar devices to accept money electronically. Its governor Ajith Nivard Cabraalsaid this was necessary because there is a shortage of coins nationwide, something he blamedon the offering of prayer money. He's already in the negotiating with temples to get back theirloose change.
The Taliban in Afghanistan have dismissed peace talks in Dubai between representatives ofPresident Karzai's government and some Taliban members. The militant group said thoserepresenting the Taliban at the meeting in Dubai were not authorized to negotiate on its behalf.The talks between the government-backed high peace council and some Taliban members begunin Dubai on Tuesday.
That's the latest from the BBC World News
