(Image Source: CNN)

 

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

 

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.


In U.S. politics — it’s caucus day for Iowa and four GOP candidates are still neck and neck — according to an American Research Group poll. MSNBC reports -- the candidates’ jabs are now directed to the guy at the top of the poll.

“The latest polls show four candidates within striking distance of each other. In Iowa, Romney, Paul, Santorum and Gingrich. As Santorum becomes a competitive force here in Iowa, he’s getting increasingly aggressive in the campaign trail, aiming his shots at Mitt Romney. Santorum is not alone, of course, in going after Romney -- Gingrich trying to regain his footing after being cut down with a barrage of negative ads here in Iowa.”

Still on the Iowa caucus — Rick Santorum has been surging from behind at the polls and now -- thanks to an endorsement from a big family group of reality stars -- he might just get another push. Here’s Fox News .  

Bill Hemmer: “The stars of ‘19 Kids and Counting’ throwing their weight behind Santorum. They they are! Right there!”
Martha MacCallum: “Gotta have a lot of weight, with all those kids put together, right?”
Bill Hemmer: “They say voters with more conservative values have to get behind him too. They have 19 kids. They see a kindred spirit in Santorum, who has seven kids of his own.”
Martha MacCallum: “He’s a slacker.”

In business news — escalating tensions between Iran and the West are pushing oil prices to rise a little above $100 a barrel. Iran is the world’s fourth largest oil producer — and it faces potential embargo sanctions from the West over its nuclear program. CNBC has more .

“The latest of course with military exercises happening with Iran in the gulf area and the fact that Iran officials are telling the U.S. Navy not to enter the Persian Gulf. On top of that we have tougher sanctions being called on by France against Iran and all of this is causing Brent Crude and NYMEX crude to reach the highest levels we’ve seen since the middle of December.”

And in world news — the latest reports show Spain’s jobless claims rose in December for the fifth consecutive month. euronews says the unemployment rate has now hit a 15-year high .

“Estimates vary between 4.4 and nearly 5 million for the total number out of work. The overall percentage wasn’t given, but it’s thought that almost one in four is jobless — more than twice the European Union average.”

And finally — look out Apple fanboys and girls. A Chinese modelmaker is coming out with a lifelike action figure of the one and only Steve Jobs. It’s a little pricey -- but CNN says the enthusiasm for the doll is already creating Twitter drama.  

“This generation’s action figures aren’t superheroes or He-Men, they’re nerds! It’s the new Steve Jobs doll, complete with a signature black turtleneck and the jeans. This is trending on Twitter because people are upset because he is pictured with a tiny iPhone accessory, but it’s not included. It’ll be available next month, folks, for $100! (laughter).”