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Thứ Năm, 23 tháng 2, 2012

10 things you need to know today: February 22, 2012

Newt's $100-million man makes waves, two journalists are killed in Syria, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion 1. GOP SUPERDONORS ATTRACTING ATTENTION
Following Tuesday's news that Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson might donate an additional $100 million to help presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich, GOP "superdonors" and the super PACs through which they donate are taking center stage. According to a USA Today analysis, five wealthy people, Adelson among them, have donated nearly $1 out of every $4 flowing into the super PACs. [USA Today]

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2. 2 WESTERN JOURNALISTS KILLED IN SYRIA
Marie Colvin, 55, an American who worked for The Sunday Times of London, and French journalist Remi Ochlik, 28, were killed early Wednesday as government forces bombarded the city of Homs, according to officials and opposition activists. Meanwhile, the opposition reports that more than 100 people were killed Tuesday throughout the country as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime continues its brutal crackdown. [New York Times]

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3. OBAMA TO SEEK LOWER CORPORATE TAX RATE
President Obama on Wednesday is expected to propose lowering the corporate tax rate to 28 percent, while, at the same time moving to increase the government's take by eliminating various deductions and loopholes that corporations use to save tens of billions of dollars. The current U.S. corporate tax rate is 35 percent, one of the highest in the world, but many companies manage to pay next to nothing. [Washington Post]

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4. U.N. SAYS IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS FAILED
The United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency on Wednesday reported "renewed failure" following an inspector trip to Iran. International Atomic Energy Agency experts left Iran Tuesday after being denied access to a key military site where they suspect components of nuclear detonations are being tested. [Associated Press]

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5. NORTH KOREA, U.S. TO REOPEN NUCLEAR TALKS
In what's being taken as a positive sign, North Korea has agreed to reopen nuclear talks with the U.S. on Thursday in the first such meeting since Kim Jong Il's death. Before the "dear leader" died in mid-December, the two countries were nearing a deal for the U.S. to provide aid in exchange for a commitment from North Korea to cease uranium enrichment. [Associated Press]

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6.SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear an appeal from a white student in Texas who wants to end "racial preferences" in college admissions. The case marks the high court's first opportunity to weigh the constitutionality of affirmative action in universities. The Roberts court has previously ruled against affirmative action in elementary and high school districts. [Los Angeles Times]

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7. VIRGINIA GOVERNOR BACKS DOWN ON ULTRASOUND BEFORE ABORTIONS
Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) says he is no longer committed to signing a bill that would require a woman to have an ultrasound before an abortion. The bill, which has yet to pass the state's General Assembly, has attracted national attention and protests, partly because an ultrasound in the earliest stage of pregnancy might require an invasive probe rather than an external scan. [Washington Post]

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8. 3 KILLED IN AFGHAN ANTI-AMERICAN PROTESTS
At least three people were killed when police opened fire on thousand of anti-American demonstrators in Kabul, according to officials in Afghanistan. It was the second day of increasingly violent protests that began after NATO soldiers burned Muslim holy books — inadvertently, the U.S. says. [CBS News/Associated Press]

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9. ADELE GIVES BRIT AWARDS THE FINGER
The superstar chanteuse Adele flipped the middle finger when her acceptance speech for the best album award was cut off at the Brit Awards in London on Tuesday. "That was for the suits at the Brit Awards, not my fans," she reportedly said. "I'm sorry if I offended anyone but the suits offended me." [USA Today]

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10. HEART ATTACKS DIFFERENT FOR WOMEN
A new study has found that women appear to be less likely to display the classic chest pain signs of a heart attack, a fact that can delay life-saving treatment. While overall men are significantly more likely to have heart attacks, women under the age of 55 have a higher chance of dying if they suffer one. [BBC News]

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Thứ Hai, 20 tháng 2, 2012

10 things you need to know today: February 20, 2012

Santorum offers no apologies, nuclear inspectors return to Iran, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion 1. SANTORUM DEFENDS COMMENTS ON OBAMA'S FAITH
After telling a crowd in Ohio on Saturday that President Obama adheres to "some phony theology" and "not a theology based on the Bible," Rick Santorum defended the remarks on Sunday. "I accept the fact that the president's Christian," he told CBS's Face the Nation, framing Obama's environmentalism and "worldview that elevates the Earth above man" as problematic. An Obama advisor said Santorum's comment went "well over the line." [Los Angeles Times]

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2. UN NUCLEAR INSPECTORS RETURN TO IRAN
As tensions increase in the Middle East, United Nations inspectors arrived Monday in Tehran for another round of talks with Iranian officials about the country's nuclear program. On Sunday, Iran cut off crude exports to France and Britain in response to new economic sanctions, while British and U.S. officials urging Israel not to attack Iran. [CNN]
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3. SOUTH KOREA HOLDS MILITARY DRILLS
Despite threats from North Korea, South Korea proceeded with live-fire military drills near a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea on Monday. On Sunday, a North Korean officer told the Associated Press that the country would respond to any provocation with a "merciless retaliatory strike." [Associated Press]
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4. 4 DEAD IN WASHINGTON AVALANCHES
In Washington state, an avalanche in an out-of-bounds area near a popular ski resort claimed the lives of three veteran skiers Sunday. That same day, a snowboarder was killed in another avalanche at a separate ski area in the state. Experts say the dry winter and weak base layer of snow could increase the risk of avalanche throughout the ski season in the region. [CBS News/Associated Press]
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5. MEXICO PRISON RIOTS KILLS 44
In what may be the country's deadliest prison riot in history, 44 inmates were killed when cell-block fighting broke out between two rival drug cartels on Sunday in Apodaca, Mexico. A similior riot at another Mexican prison last month claimed the lives of 31 inmates. [Wall Street Journal]
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6. GREEK BAILOUT LIKELY TO GET APPROVAL
Monday could be the day for Greece, with seniors officials saying eurozone finance ministers are likely to at last approve a 130-billion-euro ($170-billion) bailout deal to save the country from default. [Associated Press]
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7. ESPN EDITOR FIRED OVER LIN HEADLINE
On Sunday, ESPN fired editor Anthony Federico for using the phrase "chink in the armor" in a headline about New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin and the end of the team's winning streak. Federico says he never intended it as a racial slur and called it an "honest mistake." [New York Daily News]
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8. SPACE ANNIVERSARY PROMPTS REFLECTION
Monday marks the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking flight that saw John Glenn become the first American to orbit the earth, effectively catching up with the Russians in the the space race. With the shuttle program having ended and NASA no longer able to fly astronauts into space, Glenn, now 90, told a crowd at the Kennedy Space Center on Saturday that "I regret that that is the way things have developed." [Reuters]
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9. LOHAN TO HOST SNL
Fallen starlet Lindsay Lohan is set to host Saturday Night Live on March 3rd. That news, along with the fact that Lohan's probation restriction soon ends, are spurring hopes of a turnaround for the troubled tabloid-fixture. She has hosted SNL three times before. [CNN]
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10. LEGENDARY ADVENTURER DEAD AT 74
A New York Times obituary celebrates the life of the late John Fairfax who was known for crossing both the Pacific and the Atlantic in a rowboat. It reads: "At 9, he settled a dispute with a pistol. At 13, he lit out for the Amazon jungle. At 20, he attempted suicide-by-jaguar. Afterward he was apprenticed to a pirate." [New York Times]

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Chủ Nhật, 19 tháng 2, 2012

10 things you need to know today: February 19, 2012

Iranian warships deploy, Obama reconsiders a slogan — and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion 1. OUTED ARIZONA SHERIFF QUITS ROMNEY CAMPAIGN
Arizona's Paul Babeu, the Pinal County sheriff who gained national fame in 2010 after appearing in John McCain's "danged fence" ad, acknowledged on Saturday that he is gay, and stepped down as Arizona co-chair of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. But Babeu, who is also running for Congress, "forcefully denied charges that he threatened" a Mexican ex-lover with deportation when their relationship went south. "All of the allegations are false except one," Babeu said: "I am gay." [Politico]

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2. LOVED ONES SAY GOODBYE TO WHITNEY HOUSTON
At a Saturday ceremony in New Jersey, Kevin Costner, who starred with Whitney Houston in the 1992 film The Bodyguard, "moved funeral-goers to tears with his heartfelt words about the 'sweet miracle'" of Houston's life. "Off you go, Whitney. Off you go. Escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly father. And when you sing before him, don't you worry... You'll be good enough." [New York Daily News]

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3. IRANIAN WARSHIPS ENTER THE MEDITERRANEAN
For just the second time since Iran's 1979 revolution, Tehran sent warships through the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean Sea. An Iranian navy commander said the deployment was meant to show the Islamic republic's "might," while also delivering a "message of peace and friendship." It remains unclear how many ships crossed the canal, or what exactly they will do in the Mediterranean. [Agence France Press]

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4. OBAMA LOOKS TO REPLACE 'HOPE AND CHANGE'
The "change we can believe in" slogan that helped carry Barack Obama to victory in 2008 is getting an update for the "new reality" of 2012. The campaign is roadtesting slogans including "winning the future," "greater together," and "we don't quit." For now, campaign posters simply say, "Obama 2012." [Reuters]

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5. POPE BENEDICT HONORS 22 NEW CARDINALS
New York's Timothy M. Dolan was one of 22 new cardinals created Saturday by Pope Benedict XVI in a Vatican City ceremony. There are now 125 cardinals — essentially, "princes of the church" — who are under age 80, "and thus eligible to vote for the next pope." More than half of the cardinals are Europeans. Just three of the 22 new cardinals "hailed from the developing world: Brazil, India, and Hong Kong." [New York Times]

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6. CHINA IPHONE FACTORY VOWS TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS
Foxconn Technology, a giant manufacturer of gadgets for Apple, Dell, and HP, promised Saturday that it would increase salaries at its Chinese factories by 16 to 25 percent — to about $400 per month. Foxconn also said it would reduce overtime hours. Criticism has spiked in recent weeks over the punishing working conditions at Foxconn and other Apple suppliers. [New York Times]

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7. SYRIAN PROTESTERS MOVE CLOSER TO ASSAD'S PALACE
Anti-government protesters marched through a middle-class suburb of Damascus to get quite close to President Bashar al-Assad's palace "in the biggest such demonstration seen so close to the heart of the capital since the uprising started 11 months ago." Said one protester: "I hope President Assad opens the window of his office and sees how Damascenes are shouting against him and his regime." [Sydney Morning Herald]

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8. GREEK RIOT POLICE GUARD PARLIAMENT
As European leaders prepared to convene in Brussels to decide whether to give Greece the $171 billion bailout it needs to avoid bankruptcy, "riot police shielded Greece's national parliament," where hundreds of Greek demonstrators were gathered to protest the sharp cuts to Greece's economy that are needed to win the European bailout.

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9. ESPN APOLOGIZES FOR RACIST JEREMY LIN HEADLINE
After the New York Knicks' Jeremy-Lin-fueled seven-game winning streak was snapped by the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night, ESPN ran the feature headline "Chink in the Armor" on the mobile version of its website. The headline, which "was extremely insensitive and offensive considering Lin's Asian-American heritage," was changed 35 minutes later to "All Good Things." ESPN issued an apology, and is conducting "a complete review... to ensure this does not happen again." [Huffington Post]

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10. ELIZABETH SMART GETS MARRIED
The former kidnapping victim, who has since become "an advocate for missing children and occasional television news commentator," exchanged vows with her boyfriend of a year in Hawaii on Saturday. In a case that shocked and captivated Americans, Smart, 24, was kidnapped at knifepoint from her Utah home a decade ago, and was repeatedly raped by a "homeless streat preacher" during what Smart described as "nine months of hell." [Reuters]

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10 things you need to know today: February 18, 2012

Whitney Houston's funeral, the arrest of an alleged terrorist — and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion 1. CONGRESS EXTENDS PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY
After months of wrangling, the House and Senate approved a $150 billion economic package that extends a popular payroll tax holiday through 2012. Roughly 160 million U.S. workers will get to keep an extra $1,000, on average, thanks to the tax holiday. Congress also extended unemployment benefits through the end of the year. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law shortly after returning from a fundraising trip to the West Coast. [Washington Post]

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2. FEDS ARREST MAN ON ALLEGED D.C. SUICIDE MISSION
Amine El Khalifi, a 29-year-old Moroccan citizen living in the U.S., was arrested and charged Friday as he traveled toward Washington, D.C. with an eye to delivering "a suicide attack on one of the nation's most symbolic landmarks," the U.S. Capitol building. The FBI had been tracking Khalifi for months. He had thought "undercover FBI agents assisting him in his plot were associates of al Qaeda." [Fox News]

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3. MOURNERS PREPARE FOR WHITNEY HOUSTON'S FUNERAL
Friends, family, music legends, and Hollywood stars are converging on the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., today for a private ceremony. The funeral, which begins at noon, will be streamed live online. [E!]

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4. THE DOW CLOSES AT ITS HIGHEST POINT SINCE MAY 2008
After another solid week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 12,950 — its highest level in nearly four years. So far in 2012, the Dow is up nearly 6 percent, the S&P 500 has jumped more than 8 percent, and the Nasdaq has delivered "an impressive 13 percent run." [CNN Money]

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5. MAINE REPUBLICANS BOTCH CAUCUS VOTE COUNTING
Charlie Webster, head of the Maine GOP, conceded that Pine Tree State Republicans "made numerous clerical errors" during the vote counting for last weekend's presidential caucuses — "even omitting some votes because emails reporting tallies 'went to spam' in an email account." Webster insisted that the miscues would not change the overall results, which show Mitt Romney in first, Ron Paul in second. [Politico]

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6. RESEARCHERS MAKE NEW AUTISM DISCOVERY
New research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry explains how changes in autistic babies' brain development have now been detected in infants as young as 6 months. Typically, parents don't begin to notice autistic symptoms until children are at least 1 or 2. Researchers say the discovery could "help lead to earlier detection and treatment. [USA Today]

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7. PROMINENT BACKER BAILS ON MITT ROMNEY
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine endorsed GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum on Friday, after previously supporting Mitt Romney. "To be elected president, you have to do more than tear down your opponents," DeWine said in a statement. "You have to give the American people a reason to vote for you — a reason to hope — a reason to believe that under your leadership, America will be better. Rick Santorum has done that. Sadly, Governor Romney has not." Ohio's crucial GOP primary is on March 6. [ABC News]

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8. CASINO MOGUL DOUBLES DOWN ON NEWT
Billionaire Sheldon Adelson, one of the world's wealthiest men, reportedly plans to give a Newt Gingrich-aligned super PAC another $10 million. Adelson and his family have already given the Gingrich-friendly group $11 million — money that is widely credited with keeping Newt's otherwise struggling candidacy alive. [CBS News]

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9. LIBYA CELEBRATES THE ANNIVERSARY OF AN UPRISING
After traditional Muslim prayers Friday, Libyans waved their country's new flag, blasted off fireworks, and heralded the one-year anniversary of the start of a revolution that led to the death of Moammar Gadhafi and the birth of a new Libya. Libya's new leaders have not organized any official nationwide celebrations to mark the uprising's anniversary. [Daily Times]

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10. EXPERTS IDENTIFY EARTH'S HOTTEST CHILE
Researchers at New Mexico State University's Chile Pepper Institute have named the "sweat-inducing, tear-generating, mouth-on-fire Trinidad Moruga Scorpion" the world's hottest chile pepper. [Associated Press]

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10 things you need to know today: February 17, 2012

GM's record profits, a prize-winning journalist's passing, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion 1. GM STOCK UP ON RECORD HIGH PROFIT
General Motors on Thursday reported a record high profit of $7.6 billion for 2011. The company's stock surged on the news, closing at $27.17, its highest point since last August. GM will pay autoworkers $7,000, on average, in a profit-sharing deal, and the Detroit economy is expected to reap significant spinoff economic benefits. With Ford and Chrysler distributing similar bonuses, several states with auto factories will get a boost. [Detroit Free Press]

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2. NY TIMES JOURNALIST DIES COVERING SYRIA
Anthony Shadid, a Pulitzer-prize-winning New York Times reporter who covered the Middle East for decades, died Thursday while on assignment in Syria. He apparently suffered a fatal asthma attack while sneaking out of the country with smugglers. "Anthony died as he lived — determined to bear witness to the transformation sweeping the Middle East and to testify to the suffering of people caught between government oppression and opposition forces," Jill Abrmamson, the Times' executive editor, wrote in a staff email. [New York Times]

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3. NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY PASSES GAY MARRIAGE
New Jersey lawmakers passed a bill Thursday legalizing same-sex marriage in the state. Republican governor Chris Christie is expected to veto the measure. [Associated Press]

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4. LAWMAKERS STORM OUT OF CONTRACEPTION HEARING
Two female Democrats walked out of a heated debated on mandated coverage of contraception on Thursday, saying committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) was blocking female witnesses and only allowing men to testify. "Where are the women?" asked Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) before she stormed out. "I look at this panel [of witnesses], and I don't see one single individual representing the tens of millions of women across the country who want and need insurance coverage for basic preventive health care services, including family planning." [Politico]

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5. JOBLESS CLAIMS HIT FOUR-YEAR LOW
The Labor Department reported Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment benefits had fallen to 348,000. That's the fewest claims since March of 2008. There's other positive economic news as well, including a rise in new building permits, which suggests growing optimism in the construction industry.[New York Times]

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6. FACING SCANDAL, GERMAN PRESIDENT RESIGNS
German president Christian Wuff, an ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, resigned Friday after being caught in a corruption scandal related to a home loan and reported attempts to block the story from being reported in a German tabloid. [Guardian]

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7. PAKISTAN TEMPERS TALIBAN PEACE HOPES
On Friday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Friday that it is "unrealistic" and "preposterous" to expect Pakistan to deliver the Taliban's leader to peace talks. While it's not clear if Afghan President Hamid Karzai asked for access to Taliban chief Mullah Omar at a three-way summit in Islamabad with leaders from Pakistan and Iran this week, in the past he has called on Pakistan to facilitate communication with the insurgent group. [Associated Press]

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8. GOOGLE TRACKING IPHONE USERS
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Google and other ad companies have used a special code to bypass privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser and track users as they surf the web on iPhones or desktop computers. Google says the report "mischaracterizes what happened" and that it isn't collecting personal information. [CNET]

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9. TAYMOR TO GET SPIDER-MAN PAY DAY
Producers of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Broadway's debacle-turned-hit, have settled with the union of Julie Taymor, the legendary director they fired from the show last March. As part of the settlement, Taymor will receive $9,750 a week in royalties. The settlement does not affect Taymor's separate federal lawsuit against the producers. [New York Times]

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10. CATCHER GARY CARTER DEAD AT 57
The New York Mets' Hall of Fame former catcher, Gary Carter, died Thursday after battling brain cancer. Carter was known for his effervescent personality and hitting a bottom-of-the-10th single in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series that helped the Mets turn things around to win it. [Associated Press]

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Thứ Sáu, 17 tháng 2, 2012

10 things you need to know today: February 16, 2012

Lin's seventh-straight win, Congress' payroll-tax deal, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion 1. LIN LEADS THE KNICKS TO 7th STRAIGHT WIN
The Linsanity continued Wednesday night as the New York Knicks extended their winning streak to seven, handily beating the Sacramento Kings 100-85. Focusing on his passing game, Lin scored just 10 points but handed out a career-high 13 assists. "As a point guard, my field goal attempts have been really high and I don't think that's necessarily good," Lin said. "I think it's more my job to distribute and get people in rhythm." [Associated Press]
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2. CONGRESSIONAL PANEL FINALIZES PAYROLL-TAX DEAL
In negotiations that stretched past midnight, members of a House-Senate committee agreed early Thursday on a $150-billion proposal to extend payroll tax cuts and long-term unemployment benefits through the end of the year. While many of the details of the deal had been worked out earlier in the week, plans to save $15 billion over a decade by changing federal worker benefits were a sticking point. The measure should be ready for a House vote Friday. [New York Times]

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3. MICHIGAN GOVERNOR BACKS ROMNEY
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is set to endorse Mitt Romney on Thursday. Romney, whom Snyder called "the man for the job" in an op-ed Thursday, needs all the help he can get to stave off Rick Santorum. Losing the Feb. 28 primary in Michigan, where his father served as governor in the 1960s, would be a major embarrassment from which his campaign might not be able to recover. [New York Times]
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4. SECRET PEACE TALKS WITH THE TALIBAN
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says secret talks are underway between the Taliban and U.S. and Afghan governments to broker an end to the 10-year war. "People in Afghanistan want peace, including the Taliban," Karzai told The Wall Street Journal. [Telegraph]
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5. IRAN SEEKS TO RESUME NUCLEAR TALKS
In a letter to European foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, Tehran proposed resuming nuclear talks, which have been stalled since a "fruitless" meeting in Istanbul last month. Meanwhile, Israel's defense minister says that Iran's recent claims of big advancements in its nuclear program have been been embellished and exaggerated but that country's nuclear plans remain dangerous. [Reuters]
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6. HONDURAS FACES PRISON FIRE AFTERMATH
Forensic exports are working to recover the bodies of the more that 350 killed after a fire broke out in a Honduras prison on Tuesday. It was the world's worst prison fire in a century; Honduras' government has said it will launch a full investigation, and that reform is needed. With the highest murder rate in the world, Honduras has 13,000 prisoners in a system meant for just 8,000. [BBC]
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7. GREEK BAILOUT DELAYED
European markets are down and the euro at a 3-week low as political acrimony holds up the 130-bilion-euro ($169 billion) bailout deal Greece desperately needs to avoid default. European leaders are having a hard time believing Athens will hold up its end of the bargain. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble compared Greece to a "bottomless pit," a remark that Greek President Karolos Papoulias, an octogenarian veteran of the Nazi resistance, did not take well. [Reuters]
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8. SANTORUM RELEASES TAXES RETURN
GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum released his tax returns Wednesday. In 2010, Santorum earned $923,411 and paid a tax rate of 28.5 percent. By contrast, Mitt Romney raked in $21.7 million in 2010 and was taxed at a rate of just 13.9 percent because the majority of his income came from investments, which are taxed at a lower rate than wages. [ABC News]
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9. INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE HITS A NEW HIGH
A new study says interracial marriage in the U.S. has hit an all-time high. In 2010, 8.4 percent of all marriages in the U.S. were between spouses of different of ethnicities and races, compared to 3.2 percent in 1980. Fifteen percent of new marriages in 2010 were interracial, compared to 6.7 percent in 1980. [CNN]
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10. HOUSTON FUNERAL TO BE LIVE-STREAMED
The late singer's Saturday funeral will be an intimate, invitation-only affair, but fans will be able to share in the mourning. A camera will be allowed in the church, and the service will be live-streamed on the internet and broadcast via satellite. [Associated Press]

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Thứ Tư, 15 tháng 2, 2012

10 things you need to know today: February 15, 2012

Obama meets with China's next leader, Iran's nuclear program advances, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion 1. OBAMA MEETS CHINA'S LEADER-IN-WAITING
President Obama was said to be "friendly but firm" when he met with Chinese heir apparent Xi Jinping on Tuesday. Obama said he welcomed China's "peaceful rise" but that the country must adhere to the same trade rules as other superpowers and improve its human rights record. He also criticized China's recent veto, along with Russia, of a U.N. security council resolution condemning Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. [Reuters]

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2. SYRIA TO HOLD CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM
As the Syrian military continues its violent crackdown on the opposition, President Bashar al-Assad ordered a referendum to draft a new constitution later this month to allow more political freedom. When the Syrian uprising began relatively peacefully last March, constitutional reform was one of the opposition's key demands. Since then, security forces have reportedly killed thousands. Now many opposition leaders say they'll settle for nothing less than Assad's resignation. [Associated Press]

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3. IRAN ANNOUNCES NUCLEAR "ACHIEVEMENTS"
Continuing to defy Western pressure to halt its nuclear program, Iran announced on Wednesday that its nuclear program is advancing. According to state media reports, Iran has built new uranium enrichment centrifuges and succeeded in making its own nuclear reactor fuel plates. The country continues to insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to Thailand says bombs used in the thwarted attacks in Bangkok were similar to those used to target Irsaeli diplomats in India and Georgia earlier this week. [Telegraph]

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4. PEKINGESE WINS WESTMINSTER
A 4-year-old, 11-pound Pekingeses named Malachy won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Tuesday night. More than 2,000 dogs of 185 different breeds competed in the show. Malachy is the first Pekingnese to take top dog honors at Westminster since 1990, and only the fourth ever. [USA Today]

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5. OBAMA UP IN POLLS
According to a new New York Times/CBS News poll, President Obama's popularity is rising as the economy approves. His approval rating is at 50 percent, the highest it's been since May of 2010, excluding a short spike after Osama bin Laden was killed last May. [New York Times]

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6. COUNTERFEIT CANCER DRUG FOUND IN U.S.
Swiss drug maker Roche has warned that fake versions of Avastin, a popular and pricey drug used to treat colon, lung, and other cancers, has been found in the U.S. While it has long been assumed that counterfeit drugs aren't a problem in the U.S., a string of recent incidents suggests that might be changing. [Wall Street Journal]

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7. ROMNEY FACING TOUGH RACE IN MICHIGAN
While his home state was once thought to be an easy victory, Mitt Romney is preparing for a tough battle in the Michigan presidential primary on Feb. 28. Recent polls show that Rick Santorum has surged into the lead in the state. Santorum has also gained elsewhere, and is now running neck-and-neck with Romney nationwide after his support doubled in recent weeks. [Washington Post]

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8. JEREMY LIN KEEPS WINNING
The New York Knicks' Asian American sudden star added to his growing legend Tuesday night, hitting a winning three-point shot with less than a second left in the game. The Knicks beat the the Toronto Raptors 90-87, the sixth consecutive victory for the Knicks since Lin came off the bench to lead the team. [Los Angeles Times]

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9. NO PUBLIC MEMORIAL FOR HOUSTON
Whitney Houston's mother, Cissy, is planning a small, private funeral for her daughter at a Newark, N.J., church on Saturday. Despite previous reports to the contrary, the family is said to have no plans to hold a large, public memorial at New Jersey's Prudential Center. [ABC News]

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10. ANTIBIOTICS MIGHT NOT HELP WITH SINUS INFECTIONS
While doctors routinely prescribe antibiotics to treat sinus infections, a new study says they don't actually help in most of these cases. Study participants who received antibiotics did not experience an ease in symptoms or get better any fasters than those that were given a placebo. [Reuters]

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Thứ Hai, 13 tháng 2, 2012

10 things you need to know today: February 10, 2012

Romney struggles, Giffords' aide announces a run, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion

1. ROMNEY TRIES FOR A CPAC COMEBACK
Following Rick Santorum's three-state victory on Tuesday, Mitt Romney is trying to "reconnect" with the GOP base at the Conservative Public Action Conference in Washington, and convince skeptics on the right that he should be their presidential nominee. The former Massachusetts governors is set to deliver a speech at CPAC Friday, where, he says, he'll reassure voters of his commitment to conservative issues and ideology. [New York Times]

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2. WOUNDED GIFFORDS AIDE TO RUN FOR HER SEAT
On Thursday, Rob Barber, a top aide to former U.S. representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), announced he would run for the congressional seat she held until last month, when she stepped down as she continues to recover from a gunshot to the head. Barber was also injured in the January 2011 Tucson shooting, sustaining gunshot wounds to the face and leg. He says Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, asked him to run and gave him their "full support." [Bloomberg]

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3. SYRIANS PROTEST RUSSIA
Across Syria, tens of thousands of people filled the streets Friday to protest against Russia for vetoing a U.N. resolution that would have urged President Bashar al-Assad to stop his violent crackdown on the pro-democracy uprising, and step down. Meanwhile, government troops and tanks continued their assault on opposition-controlled areas in Homs, Syria's third largest city, and state media reported two bomb blasts and dozens dead in the northern city of Aleppo. [CNN]

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4. GREEK DEAL IN LIMBO
Greek political leaders have agreed to a new series of drastic spending cuts to secure a 130-billion-euro ($173 billion) bailout and avoid default, but European finance ministers says they need more reassurance from Athens before they'll approve the new aid package. Labor Unions in Greece have called for a 48-hour strike to protest the new austerity measures. [Los Angeles Times]

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5. CHANGING RULES FOR WOMEN IN COMBAT
On Thursday, the Pentagon recommended to Congress that women in combat be allowed to serve closer to the front line, a move that could potentially open up 14,000 more jobs to women. When asked about the Pentagon plan on CNN, presidential candidate Rick Santorum said "other types of emotions" could interfere with military missions if women were allowed in combat. [AP]

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6. ARAB SPRING PHOTO WINS 'PHOTO OF THE YEAR'
The 2011 World Press Photo of the Year award has been given to Spanish photographer Samuel Aranda for a "painterly" picture he took in Yemen of a burqa-clad woman holding a wounded relative after a demonstration. Aranda shot the image on assignment for The New York Times. [New York Times]

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7. IPAD 3 ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED IN MARCH
Apple reportedly plans to announce a new version of its vaunted tablet in early March. The speculation pushed Apple stock to an all-time high of $496.75 in intraday trading Thursday, before it closed at $493.17, up 3.46 percent from its opening price. [Wall Street Journal]

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8. CANCER DRUG REVERSES ALZHEIMER'S
Scientists have "serendipitously" found that a drug used to treat skin cancer reverses Alzheimer's disease in mice. Seventy-hours after receiving a large dose of bexarotene, the mice had substantial improvements in memory and dramatically lower amounts of amyloaid plaque, a key signifier of Alzheimer's, in the brain. [CNN]

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9. ZEBRA STRIPE MYSTERY SOLVED
It's long been wondered why zebras have stripes. Now, European researchers say the have the answer: The stripes make the animals "unattractive" to pesky, blood-sucking flies because of the unique way their pattern reflects light. [BBC]

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10. TESLA UNVEILS ITS FIRST SUV
On Thursday night, luxury electric car company Tesla showed off its third car, and first SUV, The Model X. Unique features include falcon wing doors and dual electronic motors, one to power the front wheels, one to power the rear set. [CNBC]

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10 things you need to know today: February 11, 2012

Obama caves, Syria bleeds, Madonna unloads — and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion 1. OBAMA COMPROMISES ON CONTRACEPTION
In an attempt to calm a weeks-long "furor," President Obama backtracked on a "rule that would require health insurance plans — including those offered by Roman Catholic hospitals, universities and charities — to provide free birth control to female employees." The tweaked rule now requires insurers, not religious organizations, to offer the cost-free contraceptives. "Religious liberty will be protected, and a law that requires free preventive care will not discriminate against women," the president said. [New York Times]

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2. ROMNEY INSISTS HE'S "SEVERELY CONSERVATIVE"
GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney won "multiple standing ovations" at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., largely by proclaiming himself a true conservative. The former governor, who Newt Gingrich brands a "Massachusetts moderate," used the word "conservative" 25 times in his speech. Sarah Palin will address the conference on Saturday afternoon. [Washington Post]

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3. VIOLENCE SPREADS IN SYRIA
At least 26 people were killed by Syrian government forces on Saturday, a day after dozens were killed and hundreds wounded when two explosions rocked Syrian military and security buildings in the commercial capital of Aleppo. "Mangled, bloodied bodies as well as severed limbs lay on the pavement" in the "worst violence to hit the country's commercial hub in the 11-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad." No one claimed responsibility for the Aleppo attacks, though state media was quick to blame "foreign-backed 'terrorists.'" [Reuters]

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4. GREECE FACES A CRUCIAL TEST
The Greek parliament is scheduled to vote Sunday on an austerity package that European leaders are demanding in exchange for handing Athens a second massive bailout. Without a rescue from the rest of Europe, Greece will likely default on a 15 billion euro debt payment due in March. Prime Minister Lucas Papademos said his nation must do "whatever it takes" to lock down the emergency loans. "Any other development would be disastrous." [CNN]

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5. JERRY SANDUSKY GETS A COURT DATE
A judge has set May 14 as the tentative trial date for Joe Paterno's ex-assistant football coach. Sandusky, whose alleged crimes have sparked a months-long identity crisis at Penn State, faces 52 criminal counts for alleged sexual abuse involving several young boys. Sandusky maintains his innocence. [Associated Press]

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6. THE NAVY NAMES A SHIP AFTER GABBY GIFFORDS
One of the Navy's new close-to-shore combat ships will be named the Gabrielle Giffords, in honor of the former congresswoman who narrowly survived an assassination attempt last year. The as-yet-to-be-constructed ship would traditionally be named after a city — the last two were dubbed Montgomery and Little Rock. [Navy Times]

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7. OFFICIALS IDENTIFY SEPT. 11 VICTIM'S REMAINS
More than a decade after the 9/11 attacks, the remains of a woman who worked on the 89th floor of the World Trade Center's south tower have been identified. Scientists "matched remains for Karol Ann Keasler, 42, by retesting remains recovered during the original excavation of the trade center ruins." [NBC New York]

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8. MADONNA KNOCKS M.I.A.
Super Bowl halftime star Madonna has finally weighed in on fellow performer M.I.A.'s controversial decision to flip the bird on-air, telling Ryan Seacrest that she "wasn't happy about it. I understand it's punk rock and everything, but to me there was such a feeling of love and good energy and positivity, it seemed negative.... It was just out of place." [USA Today]

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9. AMERICA'S PLASTIC SURGERY RATES CLIMB
Americans went under the knife for roughly 1.6 million cosmetic surgery procedures in 2011 — a 2 percent increase over 2010, but far from the record-high of 2.1 million in 2005. Last year, Americans had more than 300,000 breast augmentation procedures, 196,000 eyelid surgeries, 119,000 face lifts, and nearly 250,000 nose jobs. [USA Today]

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10. RESEARCHERS DETAIL THE DEADLY RISKS OF DRIVING STONED
Driving within three hours of smoking pot nearly doubles your chance of getting into a fatal or near-fatal car crash, according to an ambitious new study. Nearly 1 in 20 American adults have driven "under the influence of a drug other than alcohol, overwhelmingly marijuana." [TIME]

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10 things you need to know today: February 12, 2012

Jeremy Lin shines, Rick Santorum surges, the world mourns Whitney Houston — and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion 1. THE WORLD MOURNS WHITNEY HOUSTON
Whitney Houston, the '80s and '90s mega-star behind hit songs like "I Will Always Love You" and "Saving All My Love for You" (and the popular film The Bodyguard), died Saturday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Houston, who had seen "much of her success crumble away amid the fumes of addiction and reckless ego," was 48 years old. The cause of her death remains unknown, though authorities are planning an investigation. [Los Angeles Times]

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2. MITT ROMNEY WINS MAINE AND CPAC
Romney won a pair of potentially momentum-shifting victories on Saturday, "reasserting himself in the GOP presidential race with a win in the straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference and later emerging triumphant in the Maine caucuses." Romney won the CPAC straw poll with 38 percent, followed by Rick Santorum's 31 percent. In Maine, Romney edged Ron Paul 39 percent to 36 percent. Neither Santorum nor Newt Gingrich contested the Maine caucuses. [Politico]

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3. BUT SARAH PALIN "SHINES BRIGHTEST" AT CPAC
With her fiery, Obama-blasting keynote speech Saturday, the Alaskan political star "received far-and-away the most spirited and enthusiastic reception" at the weekend's conservative conference. "The cheers for Palin were so loud that they drowned out her remarks again and again." If Palin had been on the straw poll ballot, "there is little doubt she would have won." [The Hill]

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4. RICK SANTORUM SURGES INTO A NATIONAL LEAD
After his victories last week in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri, the former Pennsylvania senator has catapulted to a 15-point national lead over Mitt Romney in PPP's latest poll. Santorum has surged to 38 percent, with Romney at 23, Newt Gingrich at 17, and Ron Paul at 13. "It's been an amazingly fast ascent to first place for Rick Santorum," says PPP's Dean Debnam. But remember, when Romney inevitably attacks, Santorum's lead "could evaporate just as quickly as it was created." [PPP]

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5. THE ARAB LEAGUE CONSIDERS RETURNING TO SYRIA
At a meeting Sunday, the 22-member regional group will consider reviving its "suspended observer mission in Syria by expanding it to include monitors from non-Arab, Muslim nations and the United Nations." The Arab League yanked its observers out of Syria last month "under heavy criticism for failing to stop the bloodshed engulfing the country." Thousands have been killed in President Bashar al-Assad's brutal assault on pro-reform activists. [Associated Press]

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6. GREECE NEARS VOTE ON AUSTERITY PACKAGE
Greek leaders are inching toward agreement on "a deeply unpopular bailout deal" in an attempt to avert "economic chaos." The austerity package, which the 300-member parliament will vote on Sunday evening, cuts 3.3 billion euros worth of domestic wages, pensions, and jobs in order to secure a 130-billion euro bailout from the EU and IMF. [Reuters]

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7. CATHOLIC BISHOPS BLAST OBAMA'S COMPROMISE
Catholic bishops still have "grave moral concerns" over President Obama's birth-control mandate. The president bowed to pressure by giving religiously-affiliated employers an exemption from having to directly pay for employees' contraceptive coverage, mandating instead that insurers provide these services directly to workers. But bishops are still condemning what they call "a nationwide mandate of insurance coverage of sterilization and contraception." [Politico]

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8. MUSIC FANS PREDICT A BIG GRAMMY WIN FOR ADELE
Whitney Houston's death will surely cast a pall over Sunday's 54th Annual Grammy Awards. But as far as the honors themselves, "the soulful British chanteuse Adele" is the odds-on favorite to dominate the evening. The young singer, who hasn't performed publicly since undergoing vocal chord surgery in November, is expected to sweep Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Album. [Regional News Network]

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9. JEREMY LIN'S "MAGICAL RUN" CONTINUES
New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin led his team to its fifth win in a row Saturday night, a 100-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lin, a massively underated, undrafted point guard from Harvard who's still sleeping on his brother's Manhattan couch, continues to amaze basketball fans, and himself, with his shockingly strong play. "I feel like I'm in a dream right now," Lin said. [ESPN]

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10. THE WORLD GETS A GLIMPSE OF BLUE IVY CARTER
Five "emotional and captivating" photos of the "world's most-hyped 1-month-old" appeared online this weekend, showing baby Blue Ivy Carter being cuddled by proud parents Jay-Z and Beyonce. Though many celebrity couples "shop baby photos for millions of dollars," the Blue Ivy pics were posted for free on Tumblr. [New York Post]

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10 things you need to know today: February 12, 2012

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Thứ Sáu, 10 tháng 2, 2012

10 things you need to know today: February 10, 2012

Romney struggles, Giffords' aide announces a run, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion

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10 things you need to know today: February 9, 2012

Santorum's million-dollar day, $26 billion for homeowners, Washington legalizes gay marriage, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion

1. VIOLENCE ESCALATES IN SYRIA
Syrian forces continue to bombard the opposition in the city of Homs, while world leaders debate how best to help rebel forces and civilians. In the last week, Homs residents and activists say hundreds have been killed as President Bashar al-Assad tries to stamp out the country's pro-democracy uprising with military force. [Reuters]

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2. SANTORUM RAISES $1 MILLION IN ONE DAY
In the wake of his three-state sweep on Tuesday, Rick Santorum's presidential campaign says it raised nearly $1 million in 24 hours, and Santorum is continuing his fundraising push on Thursday. At a rally Wednesday in Texas, Santorum focused on culture issues, saying President Obama has an "overt hostility to faith." [ABC News]

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3. $26 BILLION FORECLOSURE SETTLEMENT NEARS COMPLETION
California and New York have signed on to a settlement with the country's biggest banks over foreclosure abuses. The deal would provide as much as $26 billion in relief to some two million current and former homeowners hurt by the collapse of the housing bubble. As of Wednesday night, at least 42 states were on board, although the final details of the settlement are still being hammered out after months of difficult negotiations. [New York Times]

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4. WASHINGTON TO LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE
On Wednesday, Washington state legislators passed a bill that would allow gay marriage in the state and make Washington the seventh state in the country to let same-sex partners to marry. Opponents say they'll fight the new legislation with a November ballot measure.
[AP]

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5. GREECE FAILS TO MAKE A DEAL
As of early Thursday, Greek leaders still hadn't managed to agree to the austerity measures demanded by creditors, despite all-night talks. The impasse leaves the country's critical $130-billion bailout in limbo. Reportedly, disagreements about pension reform are impeding the deal. [Reuters]

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6. FEDS TO OKAY GOOGLE-MOTOROLA DEAL
Despite antitrust concerns, sources say the U.S. Justice Department will approve Google's $12.5-billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility, perhaps as soon as next week. The Feds are also set to approve a $4.5-billion deal made by a pact of tech companies, including Microsoft, Apple, and Research in Motion, to acquire $4.5 billion worth of valuable smartphone-related patents from Nortel Networks. [Wall Street Journal]

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7. GROUPON REPORTS $42.7 MILLION LOSS
After trading closed Wednesday, the daily deals darling reported a net loss of $42.7 million for the fourth quarter. While the number was an improvement over the previous year, it disappointed analysts, who expected to see a modest profit. However, Groupon posted revenue of $506.5 million, exceeding expectations. The company's stock fell more than 15 percent in after-hours trading. [Chicago Tribune]

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8. CNN SUSPENDS ROLAND MARTIN FOR HOMOPHOBIC TWEETS
The cable news network announced Wednesday that it was suspending political analyst Roland Martin for tweeting remarks during the Super Bowl that seemed to call for violence against homosexuals. The network called the Tweets "regrettable and offensive." [CNN]

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9. FOX CANCELS HOUSE
The network and show creators have announced that the quirky, beloved medical drama will end after this season, its eighth. Last November, the show's star, Hugh Laurie, said he would likely retire from acting when House ended. [Entertainment Weekly]

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10. A NEW BOURNE IS BORN
The internet is buzzing over the first trailer for Bourne Legacy, the first Bourne movie to star Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) and not Matt Damon. Renner plays a new agent, Aaron Cross, as the story moves away from Damon's Jason Bourne.

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Thứ Năm, 9 tháng 2, 2012

10 things you need to know today: February 8, 2012

A super-quick roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion

1. SANTORUM TRIUMPHS OVER ROMNEY IN 3 STATES

On Tuesday, Rick Santorum won the Colorado and Minnesota caucuses and a nonbonding primary in Missouri, throwing yet another wrench into the volatile GOP primaries. Santorum's sweep, his first victories since he won the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, casts fresh doubt on frontrunner Mitt Romney's widespread appeal and Newt Gingrich's status as the leading conservative non-Romney alternative. The next round of primaries and caucuses will take place on March 6, when 11 states hold their nominating races. [The New York Times]

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2. CALIFORNIA'S GAY MARRIAGE CASE LIKELY TO HEAD TO SUPREME COURT

It was a landmark day for gay marriage Tuesday, when the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declared that California's Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot measure that defined marriage as being only between a man and a woman, was unconstitutional. Now, Prop. 8 proponents may appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. If the high court agrees to hear the case, the outcome is expected to hinge on Justice Anthony Kennedy, a known swing-voter who wrote the 1996 decision used as legal precedent for Tuesday's ruling. [Los Angeles Times]

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3. OBAMA UNDER FIRE FOR BIRTH CONTROL RULES

With a new administration rule requiring all health insurance plans, including those offered by Catholic institutions, to cover birth control threatening to become a pesky election-year issue, President Obama's aides are scrambling to quell a religious backlash. On MSNBC's Morning Joe, Obama's senior campaign strategist David Axelrod said a compromise was possible, leading some women's health advocates to worry that the President was caving on contraception. [Politico]

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4. U.S. WEIGHS OPTIONS IN SYRIA

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As the violent crackdown on opposition continues and U.N. diplomatic efforts collapse, the U.S. is struggling to come up with an effective strategy for Syria. Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) have called for arming the opposition forces, a move the Obama administration has rejected. "We are not considering that step right now," White House press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday. "We are working with our partners again to ratchet up the pressure, ratchet up the isolation on Assad and his regime… Ultimately, it needs to result in Assad ceasing the violence, stopping the brutality and allowing for a transition supported by the Syrian people." [CBS News]

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5. STOCKS AND EURO RISE ON HOPES FOR GREEK DEAL

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The euro hit an eight-week high on Wednesday and stocks have been bolstered as Greece nears a deal for a second bailout that would secure 130 billion euros for the troubled nation. Without the cash, Greece will be unable to payoff a large bond redemption next month, a default that could wreak economic havoc around the world. [ABC News]

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6. FORMER MALDIVES PRESIDENT SAYS HE WAS "FORCED TO RESIGN AT GUNPOINT"

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Mohamed Nasheed, the island nation's first democratically elected president, says army officers and police staged a coup and forced him to step down at gunpoint. On Wednesday, following protests in the streets, Nasheed called for immediate elections and demanded his job back. [BBC]

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7. NOKIA TO LAYOFF 4,000, SHIFT CELLPHONE ASSEMBLY TO ASIA

The Finnish electronics manufacturer has announced it will cease phone assembly in Europe; cut 4,000 jobs in Finland, Hungary, and Mexico; and shift production to Asia. It's just the latest reorganization move to better compete with Apple's iPhone and Google's Android in the smartphone market. Last year, Nokia announced some 10,000 layoffs. [Washington Post]

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8. NO SINGING MUPPETS AT OSCARS SPARKS OUTRAGE

The Academy has reportedly decided to nix performances of the Best Original Song nominees from this year's Oscar ceremony, a controversial move that will mean there will be no rendition of the song "Man or Muppet" from the hit movie, The Muppets. It's a "shame," says the song's writer, Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords. [Billboard]

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9. FORMER JFK INTERN-LOVER TELLS ALL

In her new book, Once Upon a Secret, out Wednesday, Mimi Beardsley Alford writes of the 18-month-long affair she had with John F. Kennedy as a White House intern, further tarnishing the JFK myth. [Washington Post]

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10. BREAD TO BLAME FOR AMERICANS' HIGH SODIUM CONSUMPTION

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control spotlights an unlikely salty culprit. Bread and rolls are the leading source of sodium in the America diet, accounting for more than twice as much of our salty intake as savory snacks. [ABC News]

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