Live blog: Russia forces issue ultimatum in Crimea
Ukraine troops are told to surrender or a "real assault will be started."
Cruz steering Texas Republicans further right in primary fights
By Jon Herskovitz and Marice Richter AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The longest shadow in Tuesday's primary election in Texas is being cast by a politician not even in the running, freshman U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican. Cruz, just two years into his first major elected office, has arguably become the most loved politician among Republicans in Texas, an incubator for national conservative policies where the party dominates the statehouse and has not lost a statewide race since 1994. Cruz has turned an already right-leaning Texas Republican Party even further to the right, analysts said. "Cruz scared the daylights out of center and center-right conservatives to the extent that they do not feel comfortable enough to run on their true positions and feel compelled to cater to the most conservative elements of the Texas Republican primary electorate," said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University in Houston.
Reuters33 mins agoHigh court to consider cases on teeth-whitening, inmate's facial hair
WASHINGTON (AP) — Facial hair and teeth-whitening will be getting unusually prominent attention from the Supreme Court.
Associated Press41 mins agoFirst lady plans visit to China
WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama plans a weeklong solo visit to China this month that includes meetings with China's first lady and high school and university students.
Associated PressCourt skeptical of IQ scores in deciding execution
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court appeared likely Monday to say that states can't rely on intelligence test scores alone in borderline cases to determine that a death row inmate is mentally able and thus eligible to be executed.
Associated Press46 mins agoSuicide bombers kill 11 in Pakistani capital
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A group of armed men, including two suicide attackers, stormed a court complex in the Pakistani capital on Monday in a rare terror attack in the heart of Islamabad that killed 11 people and wounded dozens.
Associated PressBin Laden's son-in-law goes on trial in NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — Osama bin Laden's son-in-law was introduced to prospective jurors Monday at the start of his trial on charges that he conspired to kill Americans and support terrorists in his role as al-Qaida's spokesman after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Associated Press21 mins agoSunken Great Lakes oil pipeline raises spill fears
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A freshwater channel that separates Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas is a premier Midwestern tourist attraction and a photographer's delight, offering spectacular vistas of two Great Lakes, several islands and one of the world's longest suspension bridges.
Associated Press47 mins agoGates back on top of Forbes' billionaire rankings
NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is back on top of the list of the world's richest people after a four-year hiatus.
Associated Press4 women with new wombs are trying to get pregnant
LONDON (AP) — A Swedish doctor says four women who received transplanted wombs have had embryos transferred into them in an attempt to get pregnant.
Associated PressStrong start for Oscar telecast in ratings
NEW YORK (AP) — Ratings for the Academy Awards telecast in the nation's biggest television markets are up 7 percent over last year.
Associated Press35 mins agoSnow predictions lowered as another storm hits US
WASHINGTON (AP) — School is canceled, buses are halted and federal government workers are staying home as a storm dumped snow on the nation's capital and parts of the East Coast.
Associated PressA Cold War reprise as US seeks Moscow's isolation
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a sudden reprise of Cold War sensibilities, the U.S. and its allies are weighing sanctions on Moscow and whether to bolster defenses in Europe in response to Russia's military advances on Ukraine. Secretary of State John Kerry, soon on his way to Ukraine's capital, said world leaders "are prepared to go to the hilt in order to isolate Russia with respect to this invasion."
Associated PressDiversity the big winner at the Academy Awards
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Diversity was perhaps the biggest winner at the 86th annual Academy Awards.
Associated Press44 mins agoRussia demands 2 Ukraine warships surrender
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia pressed hard Monday for Ukrainian politicians to return to the Feb. 21 agreement that promised to create a new unity government which would rule until an early election no later than December.
Associated PressWinter's last gasp? Another storm hits much of US
WASHINGTON (AP) — Winter kept its icy hold on much of the country Monday, with snow falling and temperatures dropping as schools and offices closed and people from the South and Mid-Atlantic to Northeast reluctantly waited out another storm indoors.
Associated PressDiversity wins big at 86th Oscars
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Diversity was perhaps the biggest winner at the 86th annual Academy Awards.
Associated PressPistorius trial: Neighbor heard 'bloodcurdling screams'
South African Paralympian star Oscar Pistorius pleaded not guilty Monday to murdering his girlfriend as his trial opened with a neighbour's account of "bloodcurdling" screams before shots rang out on the night of the killing. Pistorius, whose trial is being broadcast live around the world, faces a life sentence if convicted of the fatal Valentine's Day shooting of model and reality television star Reeva Steenkamp a year ago. After a state prosecutor charged that Pistorius "unlawfully and intentionally did kill" Steenkamp, he entered a plea of "not guilty, my lady". Pistorius, 27, a double amputee sporting hero known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre running blades, also pleaded not guilty to three unrelated gun charges.
AFP'12 Years a Slave,' 'Gravity' top 2014 Oscars
The slavery drama takes home Best Picture, while the sci-fi epic wins seven awards.
Ukraine says Russia issues Crimea ultimatum
Europe and Washington appear to have limited options as Putin flexes his military muscle.
AFP47 mins ago
