Top story: Egyptian officials said that they would lift a travel ban on seven Americans who had been caught up in the prosecution of U.S.-financed nonprofit groups in the country. The agreement to let them leave the country is meant to calm a crisis that had threatened to sever the three decade-long U.S.-Egyptian alliance.
However, the deal does not resolve the charges brought against the nonprofit groups or end the prosecution of the approximately one dozen Egyptian employees who have also been brought to trial. The American defendants will also have to post up to $300,000 each in bail, defense lawyers said.
The decision to lift the travel ban follows weeks of intense diplomacy, as U.S. officials attempted to avert a crisis that threatened to cut off the $1.3 billion in annual aid to the Egyptian military. On Feb. 28, the judges in the case abruptly recused themselves, saying that a more senior judge had asked them to reconsider the travel ban and, in doing so, had compromised their political independence. Their recusal, however, put the decision back into the hands of top judiciary officials, who lifted the ban.
North Korea pledges to halt nuclear program: Pyongyang agreed to halt nuclear weapons tests, uranium enrichment, and long-range missile launches, in exchange for food aid from the United States.
Asia
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NATO officials said that two of its soldiers were shot and killed on a base in southern Afghanistan.
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Three investigations are currently underway into the Quran burning at a U.S. base in Afghanistan that has sparked protests across the country.
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A U.S. court dismissed charges against the president of Sri Lanka for war crimes.
Middle East
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Israeli soldiers raided two Palestinian television stations in the West Bank.
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A Dubai bank ended its business relationship with several Iranian banks in anticipation that the United States would impose sanctions on the banks.
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The Syrian National Council, an umbrella opposition group, set up military bureau to coordinate the armed resistance to President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Europe
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The unemployment rate in the euro zone rose to a record high of 10.7 percent in January.
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A bomb exploded outside of the Istanbul offices of Turkey's ruling party, injuring 10 police officers.
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Google implemented its new privacy policy, despite warnings that it may violate European law.
Africa
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South African politician Julius Malema sounded a defiant note after being expelled from the African National Congress.
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Senegalese officials confirmed that the country will hold a run-off presidential election.
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South Sudanese officials accused Sudan of using fighter jets to bomb its territory and moving troops into disputed border regions.
Americas
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that he was recovering well from a recent operation in Cuba.
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A Guatemalan court approved the extradition to the United States of a man who is allegedly one of the country's main drug traffickers.
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The eldest sister of Fidel and Raul Castro died after a long illness.
KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images
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