1. Sec. Kerry threatens Russia with more sanctions
Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday said the U.S. could impose more sanctions on Russia should Moscow violate the latest truce in Ukraine and continue with its "land-grabbing" in the region. Though a delicate cease-fire aimed at ending the year-old conflict between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists went into effect last weekend, both sides accused the other of continued aggressions. "If this failure continues, make no mistake there will be further consequences including consequences that will place added strains on Russia's already troubled economy,” Kerry said.
The Guardian
2. Turkey evacuates soldiers, remains from Syrian tomb
The Turkish Army on Saturday rescued about 40 military guards from a shrine in northern Syria that had been encircled by ISIS. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said more than 500 troops, aided by tanks and armored vehicles, retrieved the soldiers from the Tomb of Suleyman Shah, which lies within Syria but is considered part of Turkey. Turkey also temporarily relocated the tomb's remains to prevent ISIS from obtaining or desecrating them. "The ongoing conflict and state of chaos in Syria posed serious risks to safety and security of the tomb," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
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3. Defense Secretary says U.S. may slow Afghan withdrawal
Making an unannounced visit to Kabul on Saturday, new Defense Secretary Ash Carter suggested that the United States' troop withdrawal from Afghanistan may be slowed to ensure that "progress sticks" in the war-torn nation. "President Obama is considering a number of options to reinforce our support for President [Ashraf] Ghani's security strategy, including possible changes to the timeline for our drawdown of U.S. troops," Carter said. The current schedule would wind the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan down to about 5,000 by the end of 2015, with a target of lowering that to a "normal" troop presence at the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan by the end of 2016.
Reuters
4. Scott Walker: 'I don't know' if Obama loves America, is a Christian
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R ) on Saturday declined to answer basic questions about President Obama's faith and commitment to the nation. "I don't know," Walker said when The Washington Post asked him if the president is Christian. "I've actually never talked about it or I haven't read about that." In a separate interview with The Associated Press, the prospective 2016 candidate also shrugged off a question about Rudy Giuliani's claim Obama does not love America, saying, "I've never asked him so I don't know." A Walker spokesperson later clarified the governor thinks Obama is indeed Christian, and that he was simply trying to avoid answering "gotcha questions."
The Washington Post
5. Bangladesh ferry capsizes, kills at least 30
More than two dozen people died Sunday after a ferry carrying more than 100 passengers collided with a cargo ship on the Padma River. Early estimates put the death toll between 30 and 40, though that could change as rescue divers search for people trapped inside the submerged vessel.
The Los Angeles Times
6. Chris Bosh out for season with blood clots in lung
Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season after developing blood clots in one of his lungs, the team announced Saturday. Bosh had been dealing with pain in his side for days before doctors discovered the clots, which can be fatal; former NBA player Jerome Kersey died Wednesday of a blood clot in his lung. "His health will be restored," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Saturday. "That's the most important thing. That's bigger than basketball."
ESPN
7. Study: India's polluted air cutting short 660 million lives
More than half of India's population may be facing a shortened life expectancy due to filthy air, according to a study published Saturday in the journal Economic & Political Weekly. Using previous research on China's air pollution, the study found that 660 million people were breathing in unsafe levels of fine particulate matter and losing at least 3.2 years of their lives as a result. "The extent of the problem is actually much larger than what we normally understand," Anant Sudarshan, one of the study's co-author's and the India director of the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago, said.
The New York Times
8. Sprawling storm brings fatal snow, ice to South and East
Yet another weekend storm dumped snow, sleet and, and ice across the South and East from Saturday into Sunday. At least 21 people died in Tennessee from storm-related fatalities, including hypothermia, as Gov. Bill Haslam (R) upgraded the state of emergency there to Level 2. Further north, Washington, D.C., and New York City each saw about five inches of snow, while snowed-in Boston received about another inch of powder.
USA Today CBS
9. NASCAR driver Kurt Busch loses final appeal
NASCAR driver Kurt Busch on Saturday lost the final appeal of his indefinite suspension from racing. NASCAR suspended Busch on Friday after a Delaware judge ruled he choked and beat his ex-girlfriend. The ruling means Busch will miss Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500.
The Chicago Tribune
10. Academy Awards to crown best in film Sunday night
The 87th Academy Awards will be held tonight as Hollywood's award season culminates with its most prestigious event. Birdman and Boyhood are expected to take home the night's top honors. Neil Patrick Harris will host the show for the first time.
ABC
