Reuters - President Barack Obama's re-election campaign is returning more than $200,000 in donations from the family of a fugitive casino magnate linked to violence and corruption in Mexico who has been seeking a pardon, Obama's campaign confirmed on Tuesday.

Rival dissident army officers are claiming to lead the increasingly armed rebellion within Syria, exposing rifts within the opposition.

The Ticket - There are three GOP nomination contests today. Voters will gather for caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado, and head to the polls for a primary in Missouri. Networks could project winners in Minnesota and Missouri as early as 8 p.m. EST and 9 p.m. EST in Colorado. Delegates at stake Tuesday: 76. Needed to win the [...]

AP - President Barack Obama's campaign is asking top fundraisers to support a Democratic-leaning outside group that is backing the president's re-election bid, reversing Obama's opposition to "super" political action committees, which can spend unlimited amounts of cash to influence elections.

Glencore and Xstrata on Tuesday announced an all-share merger that would create a $90bn giant combining the world's largest commodities trading house with one of the biggest miners of thermal coal, copper, nickel and zinc.

Eastern Europe remained in the grip of brutal cold and deep snows Tuesday, with authorities in Ukraine, the hardest-hit country, scrambling to help thousands of people whose lives are at risk due to the weather.

AP - A presidential historian is expected to plead guilty in a case in which he's accused of stealing documents signed by leading figures throughout Western history.

Russia's foreign minister is in Syria to meet President al-Assad, days after world leaders accused Moscow of giving Damascus a green light to kill more civilians.

A Norwegian court says Anders Behring Breivik, charged with killing 77 people in an attack he claimed merited a medal of honor -- will stay in custody until his trial.

Reuters - Two top 10 shareholders in miner Xstrata said on Tuesday they would vote against a takeover by commodities trader Glencore, threatening the industry's biggest deal to create a powerhouse spanning mining, agriculture and trading.

Iranian lawmakers appeared ready to impose a ban on oil exports to Europe in retaliation for sanctions put in place by the European Union and the United States in January, state media reported Tuesday.

The Maldives descends into violence and political chaos after a revolt by police led to the resignation of the country's first democratically elected president in decades.

Air France expects to cancel nearly half its long haul flights Tuesday as a strike by aviation workers enters its second day.

Reuters - China and the United States suffer a "trust deficit" that Vice President Xi Jinping's trip to Washington could help ease, a Chinese diplomat said in a speech published on Tuesday, playing down Chinese fears about a U.S. "pivot" towards Asia.

AP - Supporters and opponents of California's ban on same-sex marriage were anxiously awaiting a federal appeals court decision Tuesday on whether the voter-approved measure violates the civil rights of gay men and lesbians.

AP - President Barack Obama will stress the importance of science and technology education Tuesday when he hosts the second White House Science Fair.

AP - Republican Rick Santorum is planning some last-minute campaigning in each of the three states holding presidential contests Tuesday.

AP - Presidential contender Mitt Romney is fighting to win over social conservatives in Tuesday's Republican caucuses.

AP - Ron Paul has invested days of campaigning and money for television ads ahead of caucuses in Minnesota, where he's hoping he can eke out the first win of his Republican presidential campaign.

AP - Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is campaigning in Ohio in hopes of appealing to Republicans who will vote well ahead of the state's March 6 primary.