[World] Hugo Chavez's return ends 10-week absence from Venezuela

Hugo Chavez's return ends 10-week absence from Venezuela
http://www.news.com.au/world/ailing-venezuelan-president-hugo-chavez-returns-to-venezuela-from-cuba/story-fndir2ev-1226580699168
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Ending a 10-week absence from Venezuela for cancer treatment, President Hugo Chavez finally returned from Cuba early Monday morning as the government planned welcoming celebrations in several cities.

EU foreign ministers reject arming Syrian rebels
http://www.smh.com.au/world/hezbollah-accused-of-fighting-for-assad-20130218-2enie.html
PARIS - Rejecting a push by Britain, European governments on Monday decided against providing weapons to Syrian rebel forces, expressing fears that more arms would only lead to more bloodshed in a conflict that already has taken nearly 70,000 lives.

Steenkamp's mom: Why did Oscar Pistorius do this?
http://www.iol.co.za/sport/more-sport/oscar-s-coach-in-shock-1.1472521
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - The family of Oscar Pistorius' slain girlfriend wants answers, her mother told a Johannesburg newspaper, as South Africans braced to hear why prosecutors believe a national hero murdered the model who was shot multiple times.

Armenian President Sargsyan Wins Re-election, Exit Poll Shows
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Exit-poll-shows-Armenian-President-Serge-4286532.php
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan won a second term in an election that's been dominated by one candidate's attempted assassination and another's hunger strike.

EU tightens sanctions against N. Korea after nuclear test
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g5BIxaeNrlTydaca3gvEAcVsn-Rg?docId=CNG.a672e431baadf31d98644c2fcee6f72e.3d1
BRUSSELS - The European Union agreed a raft of new sanctions on Monday against North Korea in retaliation for the country's nuclear test last week which it condemned again in the strongest possible terms.

Pakistan military intelligence under fire for failing to prevent Quetta bombing
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/18/pakistan-inteliigence-isi-quetta-bombings
Pakistan's all-powerful military intelligence services have been on the receiving end of unusually harsh public criticism for being "scared to take action" against militant groups in the wake of a bomb attack that killed 85 members of the Hazara ethnic minority.

Anti-Apartheid Leader Forms New Party in South Africa
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jYu8sFswR3fw8d65ENdLEi3bCkSg?docId=0aca0f1d6c114d8ba1f20ee286c8a4ef
JOHANNESBURG - Mamphela Ramphele, a respected veteran of the struggle against apartheid, announced on Monday that she had formed a new political party to compete against the governing African National Congress, calling on South Africans to “join ...

Red-letter weekend for Latin America's left as Correa wins reelection and ...
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/Latin-America-Monitor/2013/0218/Red-letter-weekend-for-Latin-America-s-left-as-Correa-wins-reelection-and-Chavez-returns-home-video
The photos illustrating the biggest news in Latin America this weekend could not have differed more. One was of a vigorous and victorious Rafael Correa in Ecuador, winning a third term in office Sunday; the other was of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's ailing ...

Cameron backs 'brilliant' AgustaWestland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21498865
Prime Minister David Cameron has said that the UK helicopter firm AgustaWestland is a "brilliant" company. Despite the company's owner, Italy's Finmeccanica, facing bribery allegations over a helicopter deal with India, Mr Cameron gave full backing to ...

Peres to Decorate Obama with Award for Supporting Israel
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/18/barack-obama-israel-presidential-medal-distinction
President Barack Obama will be the American president ever to receive the Israeli “presidential decoration” when he visits next month, the office of President Shimon Peres announced Monday.

Islamist Group Claims Kidnapping of Foreigners in Nigeria
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/9877423/Islamist-group-Ansaru-claims-Nigeria-kidnapping.html
The Islamist group Ansaru has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of seven foreigners in northern Nigeria. In a statement Monday, the group said it has "the custody of seven persons, which include Lebanese and their European counterparts working ...

Belgium court denies Marc Dutroux release
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21498535
A Belgian court has rejected a request by convicted child killer Marc Dutroux for early release. Dutroux, 56, was given a life sentence in 2004 for kidnapping and raping six girls, four of whom died, after being arrested in 1996.

Suicide Bombers Strike Pakistan Officials Setting Election Rules
http://www.brecorder.com/top-news/108-pakistan-top-news/106619-blast-shooting-at-compound-of-govt-official-in-peshawar.html
Suicide bombers attacked the office of a senior government administrator in the Pakistani city of Peshawar as political parties discussed preparations for a May election, killing four security personnel, Geo TV reported.