US closes Syrian embassy as diplomacy collapses (AP)
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:14:41 GMT
AP - The U.S. closed its embassy in Syria and Britain recalled its ambassador to Damascus on Monday in a new Western push to get President Bashar Assad to leave power and halt the murderous grind in Syria — now among the deadliest conflicts of the Arab Spring.

Deeper Iran sanctions; US targets its central bank (AP)
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:14:46 GMT
AP - Targeting Iran's economy, the U.S. ordered tough new penalties Monday to further pinch the country's financial system and encourage Israel to give sanctions more time before any military action against Iran's nuclear program.

Police: Powell planned deadly fire for some time (AP)
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:14:47 GMT
AP - Josh Powell planned the house fire that killed him and his young sons for some time, dropping toys at a charity over the weekend and sending final emails to several acquaintances in the minutes before the blaze, authorities said Monday.

Romney works to fend off Santorum challenge (AP)
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:14:52 GMT
AP - Sensing a possible threat, Mitt Romney criticized Rick Santorum's time in the Senate as "not effective" because of his past support for spending on pork-barrel projects as he worked to fend off an unexpected challenge in the next states to vote.

Tea party: Warming or resigned to Mitt Romney? (AP)
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:14:57 GMT
AP - Long skeptical of Mitt Romney, tea party activists are either warming up to the GOP presidential front-runner or reluctantly backing him after abandoning hope of finding a nominee they like better.

Palestinians take step toward unity (AP)
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:15:02 GMT
AP - After months of wavering, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas took a decisive step Monday toward reconciliation with the Islamic militant group Hamas, a move Israel promptly warned would close the door to any future peace talks.

Tucson shooting suspect to remain at Mo. facility (AP)
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:15:08 GMT
AP - A federal judge ruled Monday that the suspect in the Tucson shooting rampage that wounded former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords will spend four more months at a federal prison facility where officials are forcibly medicating him.

Parents protest at scandalized LA grade school (AP)
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:15:09 GMT
AP - Many children stayed home Monday while parents demanded more protection at an elementary school where two teachers are suspected of molesting students in class.

'Halftime in America' ad creates political debate (AP)
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:07:56 GMT
AP - People rarely pick a fight with Dirty Harry. But Chrysler's "Halftime in America" ad featuring quintessential tough guy Clint Eastwood has generated fierce debate about whether it accurately portrays the country's most economically distressed city or amounts to a campaign ad for President Barack Obama and the auto bailouts.

Belichick: Giving Giants TD gave Pats best chance (AP)
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:20:27 GMT
AP - Bill Belichick gave clear instructions to his defensive unit: Let the runner score.