February 1st, 2012
02:38 AM ET
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U.N. Security Council members at standstill on Syria

Diplomats are expected to debate once again Wednesday about how to handle the mounting crisis in Syria.

On Tuesday, members of the U.N. Security Council failed to reach an agreement on a resolution that would call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down amid heightening reports of violence at the hands of the regime.

Arab and Western diplomats voiced their support for the draft resolution, but representatives from Russia and China slammed it as meddlesome.

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Filed under: Arab Spring • Syria • United Nations • World
February 1st, 2012
02:31 AM ET
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NATO: Man in Afghan army uniform kills service member

A man in an Afghan National Army uniform killed a NATO service member in southern Afghanistan, once again bringing a disturbing issue to center stage in the long Asian war - attacks by local security forces against coalition troops.

The incident took place Tuesday when the man "turned his weapon against an International Security Assistance Force service member," an ISAF statement said.

"Green on blue" - a euphemism for attacks by members of the Afghan security forces on their allies in the international force - are a mere fraction of the total coalition deaths in the war.

But  last month, an Afghan soldier killed four French troops, prompting French President Nicolas Sarkozy to suspend its training operations and combat help. In December, another Afghan soldier killed two French soldiers serving in an engineers' regiment.

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Filed under: Afghanistan • NATO • World
Tense Senegal braces for more protests as anger mounts
Senegal's opposition are angry at a ruling allowing President Abdoulaye Wade to run for a third term in office.
February 1st, 2012
02:03 AM ET
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Tense Senegal braces for more protests as anger mounts

A tense Senegal braced for more protests Wednesday following days of demonstrations over a court decision allowing the incumbent president to run for a third term.

President Abdoulaye Wade, 85, has been in office since 2000.

Wade plans to run for re-election this year despite a constitutional mandate that limits  presidents to two terms.

A court ruled in his favor last week after the incumbent argued he is exempt because he took office before the term limit was put into place.

Throngs took to the streets in the West African this week to protest the  Friday ruling, with protesters clashing with police in the capital Tuesday.

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Filed under: World
England soccer captain Terry to enter plea in racism case
Chelsea's John Terry, left, is accused of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, right.
February 1st, 2012
01:39 AM ET
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England soccer captain Terry to enter plea in racism case

England soccer captain John Terry, who is accused of racially abusing another player during a match, is expected to enter a plea in a London's Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

It wasn't known whether Terry will appear in person for the hearing, or whether his lawyers will enter the plea on his behalf.

The case stems from comments the Chelsea footballer allegedly made to Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand in an English Premier League match last year.

Alison Saunders, chief crown prosecutor for London, said Terry is being prosecuted for a "racially aggravated public order offense" because of the comments during the October 23 match.

"I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute this case," Saunders said in December.

The maximum penalty for the offense is £2,500 ($3,900).

The London-born defender denied the allegations, and his club has also backed him up.

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Filed under: Soccer • Sports • World
February 1st, 2012
01:10 AM ET
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WikiLeak's Assange extradition fight heads to UK Supreme Court

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's extradition fight goes to Britain's Supreme Court on Wednesday for two days of hearing on whether he should be sent back to Sweden to face allegations of rape and sexual assault.

In November, Assange - who is under house arrest - lost a court battle to stay in Britain. The following month, the British High Court said he would be allowed to mount an appeal.

Assange's lawyers have vowed to take the fight all the way to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.

Two women in Sweden accused Assange in August 2010 of sexually assaulting them.

Although he has not been charged with a crime, Swedish prosecutors want to question him in connection with the allegations.

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Filed under: Justice • WikiLeaks • World
February 1st, 2012
01:09 AM ET
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Romney claims victory in Florida, builds new momentum

Mitt Romney headed west Wednesday to begin campaigning in Minnesota and Nevada after cementing his status as the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination with a solid victory in Florida's bitterly contested primary.

Romney had 46% compared to 32% for Newt Gingrich, 13% for former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and 7% for Texas Rep. Ron Paul, according to the Florida Department of State website.

The victory gave Romney all 50 of Florida's convention delegates, and more importantly, new momentum heading into a series of caucuses and primaries building up to Super Tuesday on March 6, when 10 states will hold nominating contests.

In a sign of Romney's new prominence, a federal law enforcement source told CNN that Romney will receive Secret Service protection "within days."

Appearing to cheers of "Mitt, Mitt, Mitt" just 30 minutes after the last polls closed, the former Massachusetts governor thanked his supporters for what he called a "great victory."

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Filed under: Politics • U.S.
Netanyahu wins Likud party primary
Israeli Prime Minister and Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, casts his ballot at a polling station for the party's primary vote in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
February 1st, 2012
12:53 AM ET
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Netanyahu wins Likud party primary

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu handily won his Likud party leadership primary Tuesday, furthering speculation that he may soon call for nationwide elections.

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Filed under: Israel
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