In About-Face, Obama Campaign To Ramp Up Super PAC
One day after President Obama openly fretted about an onslaught of negative campaigning by “super PACs” during the general election, his campaign manager said the president has decided to actively fight back with his own super PAC fundraising machine. The Obama campaign has decided to do “what we can, consistent with the law” to support the super PAC supporting his re-election, Priorities USA, in its efforts to counter the weight of the Republican super PACs, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said in a blog post Monday. “We can’t allow for two sets of rules in this election whereby the Republican nominee is the beneficiary of unlimited spending and Democrats unilaterally disarm,” Mr. Messina wrote, noting that all of the group’s donations will be fully disclosed as required by law. Washington Times
VOA VIEW: There was no doubt Obama was going to play dirty, as he has played every trick to beat the system.
 

Sandusky’s Lawyers Seek Release Of Records
Jerry Sandusky’s lawyer says prosecutors have redacted or withheld hundreds of pages of evidence in the child sex-abuse case against the former football coach, including records t hat could help show Sandusky’s accusers colluded against him. In a motion filed in Centre County, lawyer Joseph Amendola asked a judge to order the state Attorney General’s Office to turn over or release more details on dozens of police reports, psychiatric evaluations, interview notes, and other material gathered during the three-year investigation. The request was not unusual; defense lawyers routinely clash with prosecutors over what evidence they get and how quickly they get it. Philadelphia Inquirer

Fund-Raising In Fashion
New York’s fashion designers and bold-face celebrities held a “Runway to Win” fund-raiser last night to support President Obama’s re-election. The event in the West Village was hosted by Vogue editrix Anne Wintour and actress Scarlett Johansson. Obama campaign clothing, tote bags and accessories for sale were designed by Marc Jacobs, Russell Simmons, Rachel Roy and Diane Von Furstenberg. The Republican National Committee used the fashion fund-raiser to slam Obama. It was a tit-for-tat after Obama surrogates attacked the GOP’s Mitt Romney as an out-of-touch rich guy. “Watching the Obama campaign host a ritzy New York City fashion show while 12 million Americans remain out of work. Priceless,’’ the RNC zinged in a Web ad. NY Post
VOA VIEW: Obama is a hypocritical scam artist.

Vatican Sex Crimes Prosecutor Warns Bishops
The Vatican's sex crimes prosecutor has warned bishops that they must follow the church's laws and standards on dealing with priests who sexually abuse children or face possible church sanctions for negligence. Monsignor Charles Scicluna spoke Wednesday on the sidelines of a Vatican-backed symposium on clerical sex abuse that is designed to help bishops craft guidelines to protect children and keep pedophiles out of the priesthood. Abuse victims have long denounced the lack of accountability of bishops who routinely moved abusive priests from parish to parish rather than report them to police or punish them internally. Seattle Times

 Seniors On Social Security Cannot Reject Medicare Entitlement
A federal appeals court says American seniors who receive Social Security cannot reject their legal right to Medicare benefits in a rare case of someone suing to get out of a government entitlement. Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey is among the five senior citizens who sued to stop their automatic eligibility for Medicare. But the appeals court ruled in a split decision that the law gives them no way to opt out of their eligibility if they want to keep their Social Security benefits. Armey and his co-plaintiffs say their private insurers limit their coverage because they are eligible for Medicare, but they would prefer the coverage from their private insurers. Fox

Appeals Court Rejects California's Proposition 8
A federal appeals court ruled against California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage Tuesday, arguing the ban unconstitutionally singles out gays and lesbians for discrimination. In a split decision, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the state's Proposition 8 "works a meaningful harm to gays and lesbians" by denying their right to civil marriage in violation of the 14th Amendment.  CNN

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Bernanke: ‘A Long Way To Go’ Before Full Jobs Recovery
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the Senate Budget Committee that the country still had “a long way to go” before the jobs market fully recovers. Bernanke, in prepared remarks delivered at a Senate Budget Committee hearing Tuesday, said that the results of massive long-term unemployment and a sluggish recovery were a jobs market that would take a long time to recover fully. “[A]s shown by indicators like the rate of unemployment and the ratio of employment to population, we still have a long way to go before the labor market can be said to be operating normally,” Bernanke said. CNS News

U.S. Ocean Fence Aims To Curb Smuggling From Mexico
U.S. authorities are building a steel and concrete barrier 300 feet out into the Pacific Ocean south of San Diego to curb dangerous attempts by illegal immigrants and smugglers to slip through the breakers to California. The new maritime fence is being built at a cost of $4.3 million at the point where the U.S.-Mexico border plunges into the ocean between San Diego and the industrial powerhouse of Tijuana, in northwest Mexico. The new "surf fence" is a steel-and-concrete barrier up to 18 feet tall that replaces a rusted and uneven line of posts. "It was falling apart, it was out of alignment, it looked like a bad set of teeth," said Customs and Border Protection spokesman Ralph DeSio. Reuters

US, Japan Pave Way To Send Okinawa Marines To Guam
The transfer of thousands of U.S. Marines to Guam will not require the prior closure of a base on the southern Japan island of Okinawa, the United States and Japan announced Wednesday in a compromise they hope will break a stalemate over opposition to the large U.S. military presence there. The announcement follows high-level talks to rework a 2006 agreement for 8,000 Marines on Okinawa to move to Guam by 2014 if a replacement for the base - Marine Corps Air Station Futenma - could be built. That agreement has been effectively scuttled by opposition on Okinawa, where many believe the base should be simply closed and moved overseas or elsewhere in Japan. More than half of the 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan, including 18,000 Marines, are stationed on Okinawa. Tampa Tribune
VOA VIEW: No base, no free military assitance, services and aid.

Iran Feels Sanctions Pinch As Asia Traders Cut Ties
Malaysia has halted palm oil exports to Iran because of payments problems and Asian oil buyers have cut crude purchases as Western sanctions tighten a financial noose around Iran. Traders in China said they would cut iron ore purchases from Iran, which are worth over $2 billion a year, because of sanctions that have forced payment defaults on Indian rice imports and prompted Ukrainian and European sellers to stop booking shipments of Ukrainian grain to the Middle East country. The problems are the most visible evidence to date that Western sanctions are squeezing Iran's trade. Sun Sentinel

Three-State Sweep By Santorum Bolsters His Case
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who says he's on a clear path to the Republican presidential nomination, hit a speed bump Tuesday night as rival Rick Santorum won an upset victory in the Colorado caucuses after scoring easy wins in the Minnesota caucuses and the non-binding Missouri primary. "Tonight was a victory for the voices of our party, conservatives and Tea Party people," Santorum told a cheering rally in St. Charles, Mo., before the final results in Colorado were known. He called President Obama an elitist "who thinks he's smarter than you" and Romney a flawed standard-bearer who would be unable to draw sharp contrasts with him in the fall. "Ladies and gentlemen, I don't stand here today to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney," Santorum declared. "I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama." USA Today

Newt Gingrich's Survival Strategy
In remarks following his loss in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday, Newt Gingrich suggested his campaign strategy involves putting together a "series of victories" culminating in the April 3 Texas primary that would, theoretically, leave him even with Mitt Romney in terms of delegates. Gingrich elaborated on CBS' "Face the Nation" the following day, saying his goal is to get "all the way to Super Tuesday and then beyond to Texas." His goal, he added, is to "basically be about tied in delegates around the time we come out of Texas." Gingrich's strategy is built on surviving until voting takes place in some big Southern states - starting with his onetime home state of Georgia, where 76 delegates are at stake. The Georgia primary takes place on March 6 - Super Tuesday - as do primaries in two other Southern states: Tennessee, where 55 delegates are at stake, and Oklahoma, where 40 delegates are at stake. Gingrich also looks competitive in another Super Tuesday primary, Ohio, where 63 delegates are at stake. CBS

GOP Rivals Pounce On Romney’s ‘Assault On Religion’ Line
Mitt Romney’s Republican rivals pounced today on his accusations that President Obama has an “assault on religion” by forcing Catholic institutions to provide contraceptives and abortion services, suggesting it was a hypocritical statement. Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum charged that Romney  made the same demands on Catholic facilities when he was the governor of Massachusetts and implemented his health care plan. Romney kept up his attack on Obama’s policies and Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul dismissed the remarks by Gingrich and Santorum.  ABC

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Romney Downplays Expectations For Tuesday Voting
Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney sought to tamp down expectations Tuesday as voters headed to the polls in three primary states, a sign he is unsure of sweeping all three, especially considering a late surge in the polls by rival Rick Santorum in Missouri and Minnesota. The Romney campaign released a statement noting that there are no actual delegates at stake tonight. Both Colorado and Minnesota hold caucuses as a first step toward naming delegates to the party's national convention, and Missouri is conducting a beauty contest primary in advance of its caucuses next month. However, the night's results will go far in determining the relative strength of the candidates going forward, and in some cases, how delegates are awarded down the road. CBS

Older Women At Highest Risk For Breast Cancer Death
Older women with breast cancer may be at greater risk than younger women of dying from the disease, regardless of the type of tumor they have or treatment they undergo, according to a study released Tuesday. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests that women's age may play a larger role in risk of death from breast cancer than previously believed. Researchers in the Netherlands analyzed the data from more than 9,000 women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who'd been enrolled in a five-year randomized clinical trial, during which 1,043 women died. ABC

U.S. Job Openings Rise By Most In Almost A Year In Recovery Sign
Job openings in the U.S. increased in December by the most in almost a year, showing employers are gaining confidence the economy will keep growing in 2012. The number of positions waiting to be filled climbed by 258,000, the biggest gain since February 2011, to 3.38 million, the Labor Department said today in Washington. Excluding government agencies, openings at private employers climbed to the highest level since August 2008. More openings mean companies may be looking beyond the European financial crisis and are making plans to expand this year as sales grow. Payrolls increased by 243,000 workers last month after a 203,000 gain in December, and the jobless rate fell to 8.3 percent, a three-year low, Labor Department figures showed on Feb. 3. Bloomberg
VOA VIEW: Lies - there is no rational reason for job increases.

Poll Finds Broad Support For Obama’s Counterterrorism Policies
The sharpest edges of President Obama’s counterterrorism policy, including the use of drone aircraft to kill suspected terrorists abroad and keeping open the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have broad public support, including from the left wing of the Democratic Party. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that Obama, who campaigned on a pledge to close the brig at Guantanamo Bay and to change national security policies he criticized as inconsistent with U.S. law and values, has little to fear politically for failing to live up to all of those promises. The findings also highlight the dilemma of Republican front-runner Mitt Romney and other GOP rivals, who have portrayed Obama as weak abroad and politically motivated in moving to end America’s two long wars. Washington Post

Lawmakers Question UK's Military Capabilities
Britain would struggle to mount another operation on the scale of its intervention in Libya because of massive defense cuts, a report from lawmakers said Wednesday. The Defense Committee report said the intervention in Libya, which led to the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi, was successful and justified but has raised "important questions" about the extent of the U.K. military's capabilities. "The real test is whether the success of this mission was a one-off or whether the lessons it has highlighted mean that future such missions can be successfully undertaken, whilst maintaining the U.K.'s capability to protect its interests elsewhere," said committee Chairman James Arbuthnot. Boston Globe

Getting Caffeine Fix As Easy As Taking Deep Breath
Move over, coffee and Red Bull. A Harvard professor thinks the next big thing will be people inhaling their caffeine from a lipstick-sized tube. Critics say the novel product is not without its risks. The product, called AeroShot, went on the market late last month in Massachusetts and New York, and is also available in France. A single unit costs $2.99 at convenience, mom-and-pop, liquor and online stores. Biomedical engineering professor David Edwards said AeroShot is safe and does not contain common additives, like taurine, used to amplify the caffeine effect in common energy drinks. Each grey-and-yellow plastic canister contains 100 milligrams of caffeine powder, about the amount in a large cup of coffee, plus B vitamins. Houston Chronicle

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9 Out Of 10 Americans Eat Too Much Salt
Despite public health messages telling Americans to lower the amount of salt in their diets, most of us still eat too much of the stuff, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nine out of 10 people ages 2 and older in the United States consume more than the recommended amount of sodium each day, the report says, and the leading culprit is not potato chips or popcorn but slices of bread and dinner rolls. Bread may not have much salt in a single serving, but when eaten several times a day can raise daily salt intake. A single slice of white bread could contain as many as 230 milligrams of salt, according to the CDC. MSNBC

Obama Seeks Compromise On Contraception Furor
Advisers to President Obama sent signals Tuesday that the administration is considering a compromise with Catholic-affiliated institutions following an uproar over the administration’s plans to force them to offer birth control with employees’ health-care coverage. David Axelrod, a senior adviser to Mr. Obama’s reelection campaign, signaled the potential retreat during an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”. “We certainly don’t want to abridge anyone’s religious freedoms, so we’re going to look for a way to move forward that both provides women with the preventive care that they need and respects the prerogatives of religious institutions,” Mr. Axelrod said. “I’m less concerned about the messaging of this than to find a resolution that makes sense.” Washington Times

California Holding Out With New York As Foreclosure Deal Passes Deadline
California, New York, Nevada, Florida and Massachusetts are among states that haven’t signed a settlement with banks over foreclosure abuses, according to state officials and two people familiar with the talks. The holdouts include some with the highest rates of foreclosures. More than 6 percent of Nevada housing units had at least one foreclosure filing in 2011, the nation’s highest rate, according to RealtyTrac. California was third-highest with more than 3 percent, said the firm, which tracks foreclosures. California Attorney General Kamala Harris and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who have been among the most outspoken in pushing for changes to the accord, were among those who hadn’t joined as of yesterday’s deadline. More than 40 states signed on, said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who is helping to lead talks with the banks. Bloomberg

Michigan Prison Privatization Effort Stalls
A law requiring contractors pay prisoners minimum wage is holding up a privatization push meant to shave up to $93 million from the state Corrections budget this year, officials confirmed Tuesday. Requests for proposals to privatize roughly $400 million in prison services were put on hold in January after a review by Attorney General Bill Schuette's office revealed private contractors using prisoners for kitchen, janitorial and other duties would have to pay Michigan's $7.40 an hour minimum wage — 10 times what unskilled prisoner employees are paid by the state. Detroit News
VOA VIEW: Private enterprise should not capitalize on prison cheap labor.

Greek Party Leaders Prepare For Crucial Debt Talks
Greek coalition leaders are studying a draft deal on harsh cutbacks needed to secure a €130 billion ($170 billion) bailout that will help the country avoid a looming bankruptcy next month. The office of Prime Minister Lucas Papademos said Wednesday that the heads of the three parties backing his interim coalition government received the draft 50-page austerity document, drawn up with the country's debt inspectors, earlier in the day. A meeting of Papademos with the party leaders, originally scheduled for 1100 GMT, was delayed until 1300 GMT to give parties more time to study the draft. Atlanta Journal

Romney Intensifies Fight For Social Conservatives
Republican Rick Santorum, a fierce and vocal opponent of abortion and gay rights, trounced the GOP front-runner in Minnesota's caucuses and won bragging rights for placing first in Missouri's non-binding primary. The victories exposed Romney's longtime struggles to convince cultural conservatives that he's now in line with their beliefs despite his previous support of abortion rights. Colorado's conservative GOP electorate also was caucusing. Before the results were in for that state, Romney told supporters in Denver: "This was a good night for Rick Santorum. I want to congratulate Sen. Santorum, but I expect to become the nominee with your help." NY Times

US Searches For Strategy To Halt Syria Violence
The United States appears to be out of answers on what to do with Syria. The Obama administration says it is not considering invading Syria or arming its rebels to remove President Bashar Assad from power. Diplomatic efforts at the U.N. have collapsed. A new, much-touted option of humanitarian assistance for Syria's beleaguered population is a longshot - and would only bandage over the violence instead of stopping it. For now, Washington is relying primarily on what it has been doing for the past 11 months in a so-far unsuccessful bid to force Assad's government to end its bloody offensive on opponents: sanctions targeting the Syrian regime and isolating it from the world economy. Charlotte Observer
Michigan Prison Privatization Effort Stalls
A law requiring contractors pay prisoners minimum wage is holding up a privatization push meant to shave up to $93 million from the state Corrections budget this year, officials confirmed Tuesday. Requests for proposals to privatize roughly $400 million in prison services were put on hold in January after a review by Attorney General Bill Schuette's office revealed private contractors using prisoners for kitchen, janitorial and other duties would have to pay Michigan's $7.40 an hour minimum wage — 10 times what unskilled prisoner employees are paid by the state. Detroit News
VOA VIEW: Private enterprise should not capitalize on prison cheap labor.

Greek Party Leaders Prepare For Crucial Debt Talks
Greek coalition leaders are studying a draft deal on harsh cutbacks needed to secure a €130 billion ($170 billion) bailout that will help the country avoid a looming bankruptcy next month. The office of Prime Minister Lucas Papademos said Wednesday that the heads of the three parties backing his interim coalition government received the draft 50-page austerity document, drawn up with the country's debt inspectors, earlier in the day. A meeting of Papademos with the party leaders, originally scheduled for 1100 GMT, was delayed until 1300 GMT to give parties more time to study the draft. Atlanta Journal

Romney Intensifies Fight For Social Conservatives
Republican Rick Santorum, a fierce and vocal opponent of abortion and gay rights, trounced the GOP front-runner in Minnesota's caucuses and won bragging rights for placing first in Missouri's non-binding primary. The victories exposed Romney's longtime struggles to convince cultural conservatives that he's now in line with their beliefs despite his previous support of abortion rights. Colorado's conservative GOP electorate also was caucusing. Before the results were in for that state, Romney told supporters in Denver: "This was a good night for Rick Santorum. I want to congratulate Sen. Santorum, but I expect to become the nominee with your help." NY Times

US Searches For Strategy To Halt Syria Violence
The United States appears to be out of answers on what to do with Syria. The Obama administration says it is not considering invading Syria or arming its rebels to remove President Bashar Assad from power. Diplomatic efforts at the U.N. have collapsed. A new, much-touted option of humanitarian assistance for Syria's beleaguered population is a longshot - and would only bandage over the violence instead of stopping it. For now, Washington is relying primarily on what it has been doing for the past 11 months in a so-far unsuccessful bid to force Assad's government to end its bloody offensive on opponents: sanctions targeting the Syrian regime and isolating it from the world economy. Charlotte Observer

Trump To Redevelop Historic Washington Property
Donald Trump will be converting a historic building on Washington's Pennsylvania Avenue into a 250-room luxury hotel. The federal government announced Tuesday that the Trump Organization has been selected to redevelop the Old Post Office Pavilion. The Old Post Office was completed in 1899 to house the U.S. Post Office headquarters and the city's post office. It boasts a 315-foot clock tower, which is the second-tallest structure in the nation's capital after the Washington Monument. The General Services Administration began soliciting proposals to redevelop the property after declaring it underutilized. It houses a food court and shops that cater largely to tourists. Las Vegas Sun

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College Vending Machine Dispenses 'Morning-After' Pill
Students at Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania can get the "morning-after" pill by sliding $25 into a vending machine installed at the request of the student government. The Etter Health Center at Shippensburg, a public school of 8,300 students in Appalachia's scenic Cumberland Valley, provides the Plan B One Step emergency contraceptive along with condoms, decongestants and pregnancy tests. The pill is available without a prescription to anyone 17 or older, and the school checked records and found that all current students are that age or older, spokesman Peter Gigliotti said. The machine was installed after a request from the student association. The pill's availability in a vending machine appears to be rare, if not unprecedented. MSNBC

Abortion, Birth Control Grab Political Spotlight
A political firestorm over abortion and birth control spread suddenly to multiple fronts on Tuesday. A high-ranking official resigned from the Komen breast-cancer charity after its backtracking treaty with Planned Parenthood, and Republican presidential candidates blistered the Obama administration for a recent ruling on Catholic hospitals and contraception. The White House made a point of declaring it wanted to allay the concerns of church-affiliated employers _ many would be required to provide birth control coverage to their workers under the new rules _ but there was no word on how those concerns might be addressed. Las Vegas Sun

Romney Intensifies Fight For Social Conservatives
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney set aside his focus on the economy in recent days and shifted to abortion, religious freedom and gay marriage, part of an intensified effort to win over social conservatives in GOP caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota on Tuesday. Romney, who previously supported abortion rights and is now an opponent, has struggled since his 2008 presidential... Newsday

Dems Trying To Cut Costs Around Convention
The Democratic National Convention Committee spent $724,000 on salaries in the fourth quarter of last year, U.S. Federal Election Commission records show. The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer said the FEC reports offer a glimpse into the costs behind the September convention, which is expected to pump $150 million into Charlotte's economy. Democratic National Convention Chief Executive Officer Steve Kerrigan said the committee is spending nearly $10 million less than what was spent in 2008. The DNCC spent $1.2 million in the last three months of 2011. Nearly 60 percent went to salaries for staff members. Some $365,000 was spent on payroll services. The money comes from a U.S. Treasury grant of $17.7 million from taxpayer-checkoffs that is awarded to each party for their national conventions. Congress last year awarded each host city $50 million for convention security and nearly $37 million has been raised by the host committee. New party rules bar donations from corporations and lobbyists and limit the size of individual contributions. UPI

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Bernanke Tries To Keep Fed Out Of Politics
By now, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke must be used to being a punching bag. Both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have vowed to replace him if they're elected president. Texas governor and former presidential candidate Rick Perry claimed it would be "treasonous" for Bernanke to use Federal Reserve policy to stimulate the economy before the election. But criticism of the Fed also extends into Congress. Some Republican lawmakers are scolding Bernanke for what they feel is a case of him overstepping his bounds and telling them how do their job. In a House hearing last week, Rep. Scott Garrett took issue with a white paper published by the Federal Reserve last month that analyzes several potential housing policies. CNN

Inspired By Michelle Obama, Walmart Introduces ‘Healthier’ Food Logo
Shoppers in the grocery aisles of Walmart will soon see a new icon popping up on foods deemed healthier by the retail giant, which will also track how many of those items make it to the checkout counter. Corporate officials unveiled the “Great for You” icon at an event in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. The new signage is part of a wider Walmart campaign, announced last year alongside First Lady Michelle Obama. Andrea Thomas, the company’s vice-president of sustainability, said the company would monitor how shoppers react. CNS News

Texas Democrats Want Financial Details For Perry's Campaign Security
Rep. Lon Burnam is seeking answers from the Department of Public Safety over taxpayer money that the agency used to provide security for Gov. Rick Perry during his ill-fated five-month presidential bid. "I am concerned about the use of public funds for campaign-related activities, particularly at a time when the state budget is under such strain," the Fort Worth Democrat said in a letter to Col. Steve McCraw, DPS director. House Democrats say DPS security for Perry's campaign cost $2.6 million from his entrance in the race in mid-August until his withdrawal Jan. 19. The DPS has reported $800,000 in security expenses for the part of the campaign from September through November. McClatchy

Special Ops Teams First In, Last Out In Afghan War
First in and last out -- that's the current plan for elite U.S. forces in Afghanistan, according to Adm. Bill McRaven. The top U.S. special operations commander said his troops could be tapped to lead the mission in Afghanistan, while also increasing their numbers in places like Africa and the Pacific. But he stressed that no final decisions had been made. "I have no doubt that special operations will be the last to leave Afghanistan," the commander of last year's Navy SEAL raid against Osama bin Laden told a Washington audience Tuesday. "As far as anything beyond that, we're exploring a lot of options," he said of the still-evolving war strategy. Indy Star

Mystery Surrounds Fate Of Famed China Police Chief
The former top cop of a major Chinese city has dropped from sight amid unconfirmed reports he is seeking U.S. asylum following a quarrel with one of China's most powerful local politicians. Wang Lijun, a crusading lawman who made his name busting crime gangs and inspired a drama on state TV, has taken leave to recover from anxiety and overwork, the city government of Chongqing said in a statement Wednesday. Wang, also is a vice major of Chongqing, was shifted out of his role as police chief last week, prompting speculation of a falling-out with the city's powerful Communist Party secretary, Bo Xilai, who is widely believed to be seeking national office. San Diego Union

Oil Rises Above $99 After US Crude Supply Drop
Oil prices rose to above $99 a barrel Wednesday in Asia after an unexpected drop in U.S. crude supplies suggested demand is improving. Benchmark crude for March delivery was up 83 cents at $99.24 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.50 to settle at $98.41 on Tuesday. Brent crude fell 20 cents to $116.03 a barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange in London. The American Petroleum Institute said late Tuesday that crude inventories fell 4.5 million barrels last week while analysts surveyed by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos., had predicted an increase of 2.3 million barrels. Miami Herald

Santorum Labels Romney 'Well-Oiled Weather Vane'
A jubilant Rick Santorum is leveraging victories in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri to increase pressure on Mitt Romney, labeling him "a well-oiled weather vane" who often shifts his positions. Santorum tells CNN Republican conservatives "are beginning to get it" that he's best equipped to take on President Barack Obama. The former Pennsylvania senator acknowledges Romney has a substantial advantage in political fund-raising, but says, "We feel like going forward we're going to have the money we need to make the case we want to make." Santorum said Romney "had a great career in the private sector, but we're not running for CEO of the country. We're running for someone who can lead the country." SF Gate

Obama Boosts Funds For Alzheimer's Research
The Obama administration plans to spend an additional $156 million over the next two years to help find an effective treatment for Alzheimer's, a fatal brain-wasting disease that affects more than 5 million Americans. The White House said on Tuesday it will spend and extra $50 million this year, and it will seek an extra $80 million in fiscal 2013 to bolster Alzheimer's research. Obama also plans to spend an additional $26 million in programs to support people who care for Alzheimer's patients. The spending increase is intended help make good on a U.S. target set last month to find a way to treat or prevent Alzheimer's by 2025, a goal some experts fear is too ambitious. Reuters

Foreclosures Dragged Down 2011 Prices To A 4.7 Percent Loss
Home prices in the U.S. decreased 4.7 percent in 2011, achieving the fifth consecutive annual loss after prices fell five straight months in a row in the second half of the year. Without distressed sales, prices would have fallen only 0.9 percent in 2011, an indication of the impact of distressed sales on home prices in 2011 according to CoreLogic, a leading provider of information, analytics and business services. In December, home prices decreased 1.4 percent on a month-over-month but excluding distressed sales, prices would have posted their posted its first month-over-month gain since July 2011, rising 0.2 percent. The December drop in home prices follows a decline of 4.3 percent in November 2011 compared to November 2010. Excluding distressed sales, year-over-year prices declined by 2 percent in November 2011 compared to November 2010. Distressed sales include short sales and real estate owned (REO) transactions. UPI

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Lieberman: New Iran Sanctions Send 'Very Important Message'
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman thanked US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Tuesday for the “very important message” recent sanctions on Iran have sent. Lieberman, who made his first official visit to Washington this week since 2010, spoke of the significance of further sanctions against Iran in his meetings at the State Department and on Capitol Hill. Related: US extends sanctions to Iran’s central bankObama: Jerusalem undecided on Iran attack“The measures that were taken in the last weeks sent a very important message to the entire region,” he told Clinton, according to a statement put out by the Foreign Ministry. Later, standing alongside Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), Lieberman welcomed “the very crucial decision regarding sanctions” taken by the United States. Jerusalem Post

'Hezbollah Will Choose Response To Strike On Iran'
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday stated that in the event of an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, Hezbollah would decide itself how to react, rather than taking orders from Tehran. "Some are wondering what would happen if Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities, and although I rule out this possibility I assure you that the Iranian leadership will not ask Hezbollah to do anything. On that day, we have to sit down and think before we decide what to do," Lebanese website Naharnet quoted Nasrallah as saying. Related: Nasrallah responds to Ban: Hezbollah won't disarmNetanyahu to Nasrallah: Stay in your bunkerIn a speech delivered via video link at a ceremony marking the birth of Islamic prophet Muhammed, Nasrallah thanked the Iranian regime for its support, saying that Tehran could escape western sanctions if it wanted to, but instead chooses not  to "sell out Palestine." Jerusalem Post

Obama Campaign Returns Funds Linked To Mexico Fugitive
US President Barack Obama's election campaign is to return donations linked to the family of a fugitive Mexican casino magnate. The Chicago-based brothers of Juan Jose Rojas Cardona, known as Pepe, raised some $200,000 (£126,000) for Mr Obama. Pepe Cardona fled the US in 1994 and is now seeking a pardon for drug and fraud charges, the New York Times reports. Meanwhile, Mr Obama is to allow a pro-Democratic fundraising group to raise unlimited cash to back his candidacy. Mr Obama's official campaign war-chest is healthy - with some $81m cash in hand at the end of 2011 - but relies on small donors. Campaign officials have said that most donors give $250 or less, with an average donation of $56. BBC

Iran Parliament Summons President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Iran's parliament has summoned the president for questioning for the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faces a long list of questions about the state of the economy, as well as his foreign and domestic policy decisions. MPs have threatened similar action before, but failed to follow through. The summons will be sent to Mr Ahmadinejad in the next two days. He must appear in parliament within a month according to Iran's constitution. That means he could appear after legislative elections on 2 March - the first national elections since the disputed presidential poll in 2009. BBC

RAF Helicopter Death Revelation Leads To Secret Iraq Detention Camp
On the evening of 11 April 2003, a pair of RAF CH47 Chinook helicopters swept over Iraq's western desert towards a remote rendezvous point beside Route 10, the highway that begins life on the outskirts of Baghdad before running for mile after mile towards the border with Jordan. As they approached their destination, the crews assumed they were on an operation that would be uneventful. Two days earlier Saddam Hussein's statue had been toppled after American tanks rolled into the Iraqi capital; three weeks later George Bush would stand in front of a banner saying "mission accomplished". Guardian

Silvio Berlusconi Faces New Trial Over Banking Scandal
Silvio Berlusconi is to stand trial next month on charges of revealing confidential information in a case related to a 2005 banking scandal, adding to a string of legal woes, the former prime minister's lawyer said on Tuesday. Berlusconi, who resigned in November beset by scandals and financial market turmoil, is already facing three separate trials on charges including corruption, tax fraud and paying for sex with an underage prostitute. "All as expected. We've lost count of the number of trials," said Berlusconi's lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini. The trial will start on March 15. Guardian

Russia Claims Assad Promised 'Cessation' Of Violence In Syria
But Sergei Lavrov's words were immediately undermined by the Syrian interior ministry, which pledged to press on with the offensive against "armed terrorist gangs" in the city of Homs. "Operations to hunt down terrorist groups will continue until security and order are re-established in all neighbourhoods of Homs and its environs and until we overcome all armed persons terrorising citizens," said a statement. As Mr Lavrov met the president in Damascus, where he was greeted by friendly crowds waving the Syrian and Russian national flags, more shells and mortars were fired into Homs. Telegraph

Coffee Could Improve Memory
Drinking decaffeinated coffee could improve our memory, a study suggests. Researchers said the drink could improve the memory of people suffering from diseases of the brain or age-related forgetfulness, and may even prevent symptoms from appearing in the first place. They tested their theory by giving a dietary supplement with the same properties of decaffeinated coffee to mice with type 2 diabetic mice. The disease lowers glucose levels in the brain, causing impairment in memory and other brain functions, but after five months of treatment mice given the supplement, as opposed to a placebo, showed raised levels of glucose. Telegraph

After President Resigns In Maldives, Ban Voices Hope Crisis Will End
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced hope today that the resignation of the President of the Maldives and the appointment of his deputy as the new leader will help to peacefully end the ongoing political crisis in the Indian Ocean country. Mohamed Nasheed announced his resignation earlier today and will be succeeded by Vice-President Mohammed Waheed Hassan. The move followed recent street protests and mounting tensions between parts of the Government and the military. UN News

As Syrian Violence Rages On, UNICEF Voices Alarm Over Plight Of Children
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today sounded the alarm about the plight of children caught up in the bloodshed in Syria, where nearly 11 months of violence have led to the deaths and injuries of hundreds of young people. “There are reports of children being arbitrarily arrested, tortured and sexually abused while in detention,” the agency said in a statement, adding that reported heavy shelling by Government forces of civilian neighbourhoods in the city of Homs in recent days is no doubt causing further suffering for more children.  UN News

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