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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Mixing porn and politics?
It isn't everyday that video from inside a routine legislative session causes an uproar big enough to force three politicians to resign all at once but that is just what happened in South India after video surfaced of Indian ministers watching what appeared to be video of a sex act on a cell phone during a debate in the house assembly.

U.S.-Egypt relations tested in latest crisis
As though there were not enough tumult in Egypt, a new crisis has soured its strongest Western ally and threatened to sever military aid a year after revolution felled a longtime dictator.

'No negotiations' on Falklands, UK vows
The British Foreign Office Wednesday dismissed a complaint from Argentina about the "militarization of the South Atlantic" as tensions rise over the Falkland Islands, over which the two countries fought a war 30 years ago.

Russia, China battle to curb U.N. power
George Lopez: Russia's and China's vetoes of Syria sanctions are attempts to sabotage the U.N.'s power to intervene in global crises.

Steinem and Wolfe: Can we end rape as war tool?
Gloria Steinem and Lauren Wolfe say sexual violence in wartime is poorly studied, often not acknowledged and a devastating strategy of conquest. To end it, it's crucial that it be brought into the light.

Ex-Maldives president wants successor to resign
The former Maldives president recently forced to resign on Wednesday called for the new leader to step down, a lawmaker said.

BBC

Arab Syria mission 'may resume'
UN Chief Ban Ki-moon says the Arab League plans to revive its mission to Syria and accuses Damascus of stepping up "war on its own people".

Greek parties fail to agree cuts
The Greek prime minister has failed to secure his coalition parties' agreement to fresh austerity proposals, needed to agree a new bailout package.

NZ quake building 'sub-standard'
A building that collapsed during last year's Christchurch earthquake, killing 115 people, did not meet industry standards, an official report finds.

Washington approves gay marriage
Lawmakers in the US state of Washington pass a bill legalising gay marriage, making Washington the seventh US state to back the measure.

Chinese prices get New Year boost
China's rate of inflation accelerates to 4.5% in January as consumers raise spending around Chinese New Year.

Heart disease risk 'inherited'
Scientists say a common heart disease which kills thousands each year is passed genetically from father to son.

Reuters

Syria's Homs bombarded again, Turks push for solution
AMMAN (Reuters) - Armoured reinforcements poured into Homs as President Bashar al-Assad's forces bombarded the Syrian city for a fourth day, opposition sources said on Thursday, worsening the humanitarian situation and prompting a new diplomatic push from Turkey.

Signs build that Iran sanctions disrupt food imports
KUALA LUMPUR/TEHRAN (Reuters) - More evidence emerged of the crippling impact of new sanctions on Iran, with international traders saying Tehran is having trouble buying rice, cooking oil and other staples to feed its 74 million people weeks before an election.

Egypt to deploy soldiers, tanks ahead of strike
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's ruling generals said Wednesday they would deploy more soldiers and tanks across the country, an announcement seen as a warning to activists planning a national strike on the anniversary of the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak.

Ousted at gunpoint, ex-president of Maldives takes to streets
MALE (Reuters) - The ousted president of the Maldives, credited with bringing democracy to the Indian Ocean islands, said on Wednesday he had been forced out of power at gunpoint, prompting clashes between police and angry supporters.

EU asks India to pressure Iran over nuclear program: report
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The European Union will ask for India's help in convincing Iran to abandon its nuclear program and return to the negotiating table, EU President Herman Van Rompuy said in a newspaper interview published on Thursday.

U.S. drone strike kills four in NW Pakistan: officials
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - A U.S. drone attack in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region near the Afghanistan border killed four suspected militants Thursday, intelligence officials said, the second such attack in two days.

Yahoo!

Syria's Homs bombarded again, Turks push for solution (Reuters)
Reuters - Armoured reinforcements poured into Homs as President Bashar al-Assad's forces bombarded the Syrian city for a fourth day, opposition sources said on Thursday, worsening the humanitarian situation and prompting a new diplomatic push from Turkey.

Signs build that Iran sanctions disrupt food imports (Reuters)

Reuters - More evidence emerged of the crippling impact of new sanctions on Iran, with international traders saying Tehran is having trouble buying rice, cooking oil and other staples to feed its 74 million people weeks before an election.

Egypt to deploy soldiers, tanks ahead of strike (Reuters)
Reuters - Egypt's ruling generals said Wednesday they would deploy more soldiers and tanks across the country, an announcement seen as a warning to activists planning a national strike on the anniversary of the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak.

Ousted at gunpoint, ex-president of Maldives takes to streets (Reuters)

Reuters - The ousted president of the Maldives, credited with bringing democracy to the Indian Ocean islands, said on Wednesday he had been forced out of power at gunpoint, prompting clashes between police and angry supporters.

EU asks India to pressure Iran over nuclear program: report (Reuters)
Reuters - The European Union will ask for India's help in convincing Iran to abandon its nuclear program and return to the negotiating table, EU President Herman Van Rompuy said in a newspaper interview published on Thursday.

Why Syrians Fight, and Why Their Civil War May be a Long One (Time.com)
Time.com - The reason that there's no plausible end-game in Syria anytime soon is that the Assad regime is fighting a very different war to the one envisaged by many of its opponents.