1. Russia, Syrian Army Pound Rebels Ahead of Fighting Halt
Russian warplanes bombed Syrian rebel-held areas in northwestern Syria and government forces pound a suburb of the capital, ahead of a planned halt to fighting that rebels predict Damascus and Moscow will ignore.
2. Rubio, Cruz Go on Attack Against Trump at Debate
Republican rivals Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz attacked front-runner Donald Trump over his position on illegal immigration, using a debate to try to thwart Trump from making massive gains in the presidential race next week.
3. US, Backed by China, Proposes Tough N Korea Sanctions at UN
The United States presented a draft UN Security Council resolution it negotiated with China that would dramatically tighten existing restrictions on North Korea after its 6 January nuclear test and create the toughest UN sanctions regime in more than two decades.
4. Apple Calls FBI iPhone Request ‘Unprecedented’ in Court Filing
Apple struck back in court against a US government request to unlock an encrypted iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino, California shooters, arguing such a move would violate its free speech rights and require the company to devote significant resources to comply.
5. Bangkok Shrine Bombers First Targeted Pier for Chinese Tourists
The perpetrators of last year’s deadly explosion at a Bangkok shrine originally chose a pier packed with Chinese tourists as their primary target and had amassed enough chemicals to make ten equally powerful bombs, the chief of Thailand’s police bomb squad told Reuters.
6. Big Verdict Doesn’t Assure More Wins for Plaintiffs in Talc-Cancer Cases
The $72 million verdict against Johnson & Johnson in a US case alleging links between talc-based powder and ovarian cancer has prompted global headlines, social media buzz and calls to lawyers from would-be plaintiffs.
7. Libyan Forces Battle Islamic State in Sabratha, Three Killed
Libyan forces battled to clear Islamic State insurgents from the western city of Sabratha, in fighting that killed at least three Libyans and one of the militants, officials say.
8. Europe’s Free Travel Will End Unless Turkey Halts Migrant Flow, Officials Say
Europe’s cherished free-travel zone will shut down unless Turkey acts to cut the number of migrants heading north through Greece by 7 March, European Union officials said.
9. Zika Infection May Cause Stillbirth, Loss of Brain Tissue
The case study of a stillborn baby whose Brazilian mother was infected with Zika have raised suspicions that the virus may be capable of doing more damage to fetal tissue than previously thought, researchers said.
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