From Washington,this is VOA News.

Security forces have pulled back from a protest camp around a central square in Ukraine's capital Kyiv following clashes between police and pro-European Union demonstrators.

President Viktor Yanukovych later vowed not to use force against the protesters and called on the opposition to meet for talks. The offer follows meeting the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Kyiv as a part of push to the solution of the crisis.

The United States has suspended non-lethal aid to northern Syria after Islamist fighters seized warehouses used by the Western-backed Free Syrian Army rebel group.

U.S. officials say those warehouses contain supplies and equipment provided by the United States.

Thousands of mourners are paying last respects to anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, as his body lies in state in the South African capital.

Mr. Mandela's widow, Graca Machel, and current South African President Jacob Zuma were among those who filed past the casket on Wednesday.

The glass-covered casket is in the amphitheater of the Union Buildings, South Africa's official seat of government.

The public will be allowed to pay their respects at the site through Friday. Mr. Mandela's burial takes place Sunday, in his childhood hometown of Qunu.

Many South African retailers will be shutting their doors.And Peter Cox reports.

As the nation has made its way through a 10-day period of mourning, many businesses have followed suit.

Anita Vandenberg works for JD Group, which owns more than a dozen retail businesses in South Africa.He stopped by Mandela's home on Monday on her lunch break.

She said her company was allowing stores to close from 11 - 3 on Tuesday so that employees could watch the official memorial at the FNB sports stadium in Johannesburg.

Closures weren't the only gesture of mourning from businesses. Many have taken out ads in national papers, paying respect to the anti-apartheid icon.

Peter Cox Peter Cox.

Japan will set up a new amphibious military unit and deploy surveillance drones as part of its new defense plan in response to China's growing military power.

The proposals were included in drafts of new security strategy and defense guidelines released Wednesday. They are set to be approved by the Cabinet next week.

Tibetan exiles say Chinese authorities have expanded a re-education campaign in the county of Driru by locking down at least three monasteries and calling back locals who were studying outside of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR).

Pakistan's Supreme Court Chief retired on Wednesday. Iftikhar Chaudhry played a key role in establishing independence of the judiciary in Pakistan.

Ayaz Gul reports.

The outgoing chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry rose to prominence in 2007 when he increasingly questioned attempts by then-president, General Pervez Musharraf, to cling to power.

Under Chaudhry, the Supreme Court intervened in matters ranging from traffic regulations to civil service appointments and even questioned contracts between the government and foreign companies - one of the reasons experts cite for declining foreign investment in Pakistan.

Chaudhry's designated successor, Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, is described by legal observers as “a gentleman” and expect him to steer clear of intervening in government policy.

Ayaz Gul VOA News ISLAMABAD.

U.S. news magazine Time has named Pope Francis as its Person of the Year.

Time said the new pontiff reshaped the image of the Roman Catholic Church in the nine months since being elected.

The magazine said the pope, who turns 77 next week, has presented a more accommodating face for the church.

U.S. lawmakers are beginning to consider a compromise 2014 spending plan for the national government that would avert another government shutdown, but again postpones major decisions on the country's most prominent long-term financial issues.