Main News of February 21

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

WORLD

* Ukraine Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych announced an early presidential election and a return to an earlier constitution in concessions aimed at finding an end to the bloody political crisis gripping the country

* The president of Kazakhstan sought to dismiss concerns that any of the country’s lenders was in danger of going bankrupt as unease persists in the wake of a decision to sharply devalue the national currency

RUSSIA

* A court in Moscow found eight opposition activists guilty of rioting and using violence against authorities in a 2012 anti-Kremlin rally in a high-profile case that has aroused concerns of increased repression against anti-government groups

* A state medical commission approved the Russian members of a new expedition to the International Space Station ahead of the launch on March 26, Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said

* A new advanced fighter jet prototype has been delivered to the Russian Air Force for testing, the manufacturer said

* The Russian military will adopt domestically designed “future soldier” gear this summer, the Defense Ministry said

* Russians are increasingly saving money in rubles rather than dollars, despite the declining relative value of the domestic currency, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said

* Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the country’s top anti-corruption official, the Kremlin said

SPORTS

* Russia's Viktor Ahn stormed to his second gold medal of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on Friday with victory in the men's 500 meters

* Less than an hour after winning Sochi Olympic short track gold in the 500m, Viktor Ahn led Russia to victory in the 5,000m relay to round off an incredible night's action for the home crowd

* Powered by twin sisters Vita and Valj Semerenko, Ukraine skied to women’s biathlon relay gold at the Sochi Olympics on Friday, while Russia claimed a silver that gives the nation its greatest-ever total medal haul at a Winter Games