Republican debate: Live updates

Welcome to the CNN live blog, where we'll be bringing you all the best moments from the debate -- on the stage, on social media and behind the scenes.

Orbiting bacteria: Space Station may need some tidying up

The next time NASA picks an astronaut to live in the International Space Station, it might want to send Mr. Clean. That's because scientists using a kind of high-tech white glove test found something in the space dust there.

Nigerians free hundreds in raid on Boko Haram camps, army says

Nigerian troops rescued 338 people held captive at suspected Boko Haram terrorist camps, the Nigerian army said in a statement Wednesday. At least 30 Boko Haram terrorists were killed during the operation on Tuesday, which freed 192 children,138 women and eight men. The army said it recovered arms and ammunition during the raid.

Nigerians free hundreds in raid on Boko Haram camps, army says

Nigerian troops rescued 338 people held captive at suspected Boko Haram terrorist camps, the Nigerian army said in a statement Wednesday. At least 30 Boko Haram terrorists were killed during the operation on Tuesday, which freed 192 children,138 women and eight men. The army said it recovered arms and ammunition during the raid.

Showdown in the South China Sea: How did we get here?

Dotted with small islands, reefs and shoals, the South China Sea is home to a messy territorial dispute that pits multiple countries against each other.

Prince Harry goes to Washingto

"All right ladies ... Prince Harry is here! Don't look like you don't notice!"That's how an enthusiastic First Lady Michelle Obama kicked off the blushing bearded royal's whirlwind trip to the United States Wednesday, which included an informal meeting with President Barack Obama and a trip to the British Embassy.

China says it warned and tracked U.S. warship in South China Sea

China said it warned and tracked a U.S. Navy warship as it came close to one of its artificial islands in the South China Sea's contested waters.

ISIS ties foes to ancient Palmyra columns and blows them up

ISIS, which comes up with more and more heinous methods of execution, has ramped up its cruelty: Members of the group tied three people to the pillars in the ancient section of Palmyra and killed them by detonating the pillars, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi to be flogged again, wife says

A Saudi blogger convicted of "insulting Islam" is expected to receive the second 50 lashes of a 1,000-lash sentence soon, his wife says.

U.S. weighing 'direct action on the ground' in Iraq

The U.S. is considering increasing its attacks on ISIS through more ground action and airstrikes, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday.