Late-surging Santorum looks to rally voters ahead of Iowa caucuses - CNN

Rick Santorum started the new year riding the wave of a strong finish in the last major poll before Tuesday's Iowa caucuses and looked to rally his supporters in a series of events on Sunday.

There were few surprises in Saturday night's Des Moines Register poll -- front-runners Mitt Romney and Ron Paul finished 1-2 as they had in other polls during the week. But the Register poll showed Santorum, who just weeks ago had registered only in single digits, pulling ahead of rivals Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry.

via articles.cnn.com

Crude Advances Amid Manufacturing Expansion, Tension Over Iran - Businessweek

Jan. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Oil climbed in New York after manufacturing activity in China and India expanded, while concern persisted that further sanctions against Iran may disrupt supply.

via businessweek.com

Gold, silver gain after Iran nuclear reports

Gold and silver gained after reports that Iran produced its first nuclear fuel rod, spurring investors to buy the precious metal as a haven.

Gold for immediate delivery advanced 0.2 per cent to $US1566.27 an ounce in New York. Silver was 0.1 per cent higher at $US27.8625 an ounce. Gold rose 10 per cent last year, the 11th straight annual gain, and silver dropped 9.9 per cent.

A domestically made rod was inserted into the core of Tehran's atomic research reactor after performance tests, the Iranian Students News Agency reported today, citing the country's atomic energy agency. The Tehran reactor produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment, according to Mehr news agency. Nuclear fuel rods contain pellets of enriched uranium that provide fuel for nuclear power plants.

via smh.com.au

Iowans consider the GOP candidates up close – USATODAY.com

DES MOINES – Mary Troll watched former House speaker Newt Gingrich cry as he talked about his late mother and she considered the campaign pitch of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, but as the moment of decision nears in Iowa she finds herself leaning toward former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum.

via usatoday.com

Loss of faith in democracy could make 2012 the most frightening year ever | Mail Online

via dailymail.co.uk

Body found believed that of Mt. Rainier gunman - CBS News

via cbsnews.com

'Person of interest' detained in L.A. arson fires - latimes.com

Los Angeles police this morning have detained and are questioning a “person of interest” in the spate of arson fires around the city since Friday.

The suspect, believed to be the man in a video police released Sunday, was detained near Sunset Boulevard this morning, said an LAPD source familiar with the investigation into the case.

However, in a statement, a Los Angeles fire official said “it is too early to speculate if this person responsible for the spree arson fires.”

via latimesblogs.latimes.com