1. Romney camp rips Santorum on spending.
GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney's campaign stepped up its criticism of conservative challenger Rick Santorum Friday, continuing to hit the former Pennsylvania senator on his spending record while in Congress. For his part, Santorum was slated to hold three "Faith, Family and Freedom" town hall meetings in New Hampshire, now four days away from its first-in-the-nation primary. Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, and Ron Paul also had a series of events scheduled in the state. Romney holds a large lead in New Hampshire in most polls, but as a result is facing sky high media-driven expectations next Tuesday. The other candidates are believed to be scrambling for a second place finish that can provide a degree of momentum heading into the January 21 South Carolina primary.
2. 26 dead in Syrian 'terrorist' blast, state media says.
A suicide bomber blew himself up in the heart of the Syrian capital Friday, killing at least 26 people and wounding dozens, Syrian state media reported. The incident took place in the al-Midan quarter of Damascus. Casualties included mostly civilians and some law enforcement personnel, the Syrian Arab News Agency said. It's the second such strike in Damascus in two weeks. Car and suicide bombings have long common in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But this development in Syria, similar to strikes on government security targets two Fridays ago, stokes fears that the troubled country is headed into a new level of civil conflict.
3. State media: Iran to hold military drills in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran plans to conduct military drills in the Strait of Hormuz in February, state media said Friday.
The announcement comes amid tensions about the strategically important waterway. Dubbed "the Great Prophet," the drills will be different from previous ones, a commander with Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps told Press TV. It was unclear how the drills will be different.