1. ROMNEY CAMPAIGN BURNING THROUGH MONEY
Mitt Romney's campaign revealed Monday that it spent $18.7 million in January and raised just $6.5 million. Meanwhile, Restore Our Future, a pro-Romney super PAC, spent more than $13 million last month on attack ads against Romney's rivals. Commentators are noting that while Romney's spending is outpacing his fundraising — and not proving all that effective in winning primaries — he's still in a far better financial situation than his rivals. [Politico]
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2. GREECE MAKES A DEAL
Greece has secured a 130 billion euro ($170 million) bailout desperately needed to avoid default. The deal came early Tuesday following protracted, and at times acrimonious, wrangling with eurozone finance ministers. Before the cash comes its way, Greece will have to follow through on a number of austerity measures and submit to unprecedented monitoring of its finances. [Associated Press]
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3. IRAN WON'T LET NUKE INSPECTORS VISIT SITES
A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that U.N. inspectors will not visit the country's nuclear facilities. According to Iranian media reports on Monday, U.N. officials had asked to visit a military complex near Tehran. With tensions rising, Iran's deputy armed forces head warned that the country's military would take pre-emptive action if it felt its national interests were being threatened. [New York Times]
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4. SYRIAN FORCES BOMBARD HOMS
According to Syrian activists, government forces killed at least 16 and wounded hundreds on Tuesday with a heavy artillery attack in a rebel-held area of Homs. The bombardment came as humanitarian groups tried to negotiate a cease-fire to bring in much-needed aid to civilians. [Reuters]
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5. NATO APOLOGIZES FOR KORAN BURNING
Gen. John R. Alllen, the U.S. commander of NATO troops in Afghanistan, has issued an apology following a report that troops "improperly disposed" of a "large number" of copies of the Koran and other religious materials. Reports that a Koran had been burned led more than 1,000 people to protest outside of a U.S. air base near Kabul. [BBC]
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6. MEXICO PRISON RIOT WAS COVER FOR JAILBREAK
Officials say that a prison riot in Mexico on Sunday that left 44 inmates dead was actually part of an elaborate jailbreak plan. Thirty members of the Zetas, Mexico's deadliest gang, escaped, apparently with the help of guards and possibly other officials. All of those killed were members of the Gulf cartel, a key rival to the Zetas. [Los Angeles Times]
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7. DSK QUESTIONED OVER PROSTITUTION RING
In his latest confrontation with authorities over alleged sexual misconduct, former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was questioned by French police Tuesday in connection with a prostitution ring. Strauss-Kahn, once a frontrunner for France's presidency, allegedly slept with several prostitutes paid with corporate funds from a construction company. [BBC]
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8. VOTING AND VIOLENCE IN YEMEN
Yemenis vote Tuesday in a presidential election to replace Ali Abdullah Saleh, the fourth leader in the Middle East to fall to the Arab Spring. While there is only one candidate on the ballot, Vice President Abdurabu Mansur Hadi, observers hope that the election signals a symbolic turning point for the country. A child and a soldier were killed Tuesday morning as militants fired shots to prevent citizens from going to polling stations. [Bloomberg]
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9. COLBERT RETURNS
Stephen Colbert and The Colbert Report returned to the air Monday night after canceling two shows last week. The comedian joked about the numerous rumors surrounding his absence and briefly paid tribute to his 91-year-old mother, who is said to be ill. [USA Today]
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10. PORN INDUSTRY CONSIDERS LEAVING L.A.
With a law requiring adult-film performers to wear condoms going into effect on March 5, leaders in the porn industry are considering whether to launch a legal fight or move their business outside of southern California. [Los Angeles Times]
