Main news of February 22

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

WORLD

* Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said he does not hold a post he could resign from and said he would die a martyr in his home country

* Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will discuss a new Russia-EU partnership agreement and Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Brussels on Wednesday, a government spokesman said

* At least 65 people have been killed in a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in southern New Zealand, the country's prime minister said

* A group of Libyan army officers has called on the military to "join the people" and immediately march on the capital Tripoli to oust the country's longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, Al Jazeera reported

* The King of Bahrain agreed to pardon political prisoners, but rejected other demands by protestors

RUSSIA

* Extremism, including religious extremism, on the Internet should be fought but not by shutting down access to the worldwide web, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said

* Russian President Dmitry Medvedev proposed changes to the law to allow holding court trials outside an area where an offence has been committed

* A development program will continue for the Caucasus republics, including its tourism potential, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said during a meeting of the National Counterterrorist Committee

* Russians have become more concerned about rights abuses in the past few years, the country's rights ombudsman said

BUSINESS

* The Moscow city government has sold its 46.48% stake in Bank of Moscow and 25% plus one share in Stolichnaya Insurance Group, which owns 17.32% in Bank of Moscow, to Russia's No. 2 lender VTB for 103 billion rubles ($3.51 billion), Moscow Deputy Mayor Natalya Sergunina said

* Russian carmaker Sollers and U.S. auto giant Ford will invest $1.4 billion in a new joint venture to 2020, which will double Ford's market share in Russia within five years, Russian business daily Kommersant said