Here’s a brief look at some of the top news stories around the world for Feb. 17, 2015.

A-Rod says sorry to Yankees fans over drug ban

Baseball star Alex Rodriguez released a handwritten letter to fans, in which the New York Yankee apologizes for the mistakes that led to his suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs.

[Read more from ESPN]

Columnist quits over newspaper's 'failure to print bank stories'

A leading British political columnist has quit his job, saying stories about HSBC were being suppressed by the Daily Telegraph so the banking giant continue to buy advertising – a claim the newspaper denies.

[Read more from the Independent]

Judge puts a hold on Obama's immigration action

A judge in Texas has put a temporary block on President Obama's executive order to shield millions of illegal immigrants in the United States from deportation.

[Read more from Reuters]

Ceasefire in Ukraine continues to crumble

Five more Ukrainian service members have been killed in fighting with pro-Russian separatists just three days into a supposed ceasefire, signaling that the truce might be about to collapse.

[Read more from CNN]