A Syrian general is killed by “terrorists”, state media say, in what is thought to be the first assassination of a senior officer in Damascus since the uprising began.

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Syria general ‘shot in Damascus’

“No president since the modern state of Israel [was formed] has failed to stand by our ally Israel — only President Obama. …The president spurned the president of Egypt when he took his first foreign trip to Cairo… In May he even said that Israel should retreat to its indefensible 1967 borders… Obama’s State Department now designates Jerusalem as an international city and in a bizarre move our State Department will not even acknowledge that Jerusalem belongs to Israel.” Read full article > >

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Michele Bachmann at CPAC: History through a partisan lens

The Obama administration will free 10 states from the requirements of No Child Left Behind, responding to complaints from teachers and school administrators across the country that the nation’s main education law is outdated and punitive. Read full article > >

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Obama: 10 states to receive No Child Left Behind waivers

Back in August, Texas Gov. Rick Perry — a man who appeared to have a serious chance at becoming the next president — was saying his state would treat Ben Bernanke “pretty ugly” if he didn’t stop printing money. But Bernanke’s reception in front of the Senate Budget Committee was quite a bit, well, prettier. “I believe when history has been written, you will be a critical figure,” enthused Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). “Your role has been prominent in preventing the complete collapse of the financial system. For that I am grateful.” And Nelson wasn’t alone. The hearing quickly turned into a total Bernanke lovefest. Read full article > >

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A bipartisan Bernanke lovefest

The story of David and Barbara Beers’s effort to renovate their mid-century modern home can be boiled down, ultimately, to THE windows. A squat, airy, contemporary confection built in 1964 in Montgomery County, the house needed serious updating. But the Beerses were determined to maintain its clean, modern lines — and that meant keeping its 80-some windows free of details and embellishment, even as the glass and frames were replaced. Read full article > >

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For owners of ’60s-era Carderock Springs house, renovation ordeal was worth it

After sweeping three states.

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Santorum Raises $1M in 24 Hours

Could be seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage.

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WA Passes Gay Marriage Bill

Washington was poised to become the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage, with the State House expected to give final passage on Wednesday night.

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Washington State Set to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

RICHMOND — Virginia will likely become the second state in the nation — after North Dakota — to allow private adoption agencies to turn away parents based on sexual orientation or religious and moral beliefs. Read full article > >

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Virginia adding ‘conscience clause’ to adoption laws

The United States in Iraq, population 16,000, is a country within a country. It has a $6 billion budget, its own airline and three hospitals, and imports virtually all of its food. Its central fortress, otherwise known as the Baghdad embassy compound, is nearly as large as Vatican City. Read full article > >

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U.S. evaluating size of Baghdad embassy, officials say

A federal appeals panel in San Francisco ruled Tuesday that California’s ban on same-sex marriage violates the constitutional right to equal protection. The panel overturned Proposition 8, which was approved by 52 percent of the state’s voters in 2008 and amended the state’s constitution to limit marriage to a man and a woman. Read full article > >

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Calif. same-sex marriage ban ruled unconstitutional

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke is testifying before the Senate Budget Committee Tuesday morning about the state of the U.S. economy and the nation’s fiscal health. Bernanke is expected to warn lawmakers against impeding near-term economic growth in the name of cutting a long-term budget deficit. And he is expected to defend the Fed’s policy of keeping interest rates near zero to stimulate the economy — all in line with Bernanke’s testimony last week before the House Budget Committee. Read full article > >

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Bernanke expected to warn lawmakers against hampering growth

Former senator Bob Kerrey told The Fix on Tuesday that he will not run for the open Senate seat in Nebraska, a move that robs Democrats of their top potential recruit in a tough state. Democrats eyed a potential Senate comeback for Kerrey after Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) announced in late December that he wouldn’t seek reelection . Read full article > >

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Bob Kerrey won’t seek Nebraska Senate seat

The city of Homs was reported to be under renewed heavy bombardment on Tuesday, a day after the United States closed its embassy in Syria amid escalating mayhem.

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Syria Renews Bombardment as U.S. Closes Embassy and Russia Sends Envoys

Authoritarian rulers have long viewed pro-democracy groups financed by the United States with deep suspicion, but never has a government gone as far as Egypt’s.

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In Egypt, a History of Distrust of U.S.-Aided Groups