10 things you need to know today: October 12, 2015

1. Iran says Washington Post's Jason Rezaian convicted in espionage trial

Iran's Revolutionary Court has convicted Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, who was imprisoned more than 14 months ago on espionage charges, a spokesman for the country's judiciary told Iranian state TV on Sunday. The spokesman, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, did not immediately provide details of the verdict or sentence, and Rezaian's lawyer said she had no news. Rezaian could face up to 20 years in prison. The Post's executive editor, Martin Baron, called the verdict "an outrageous injustice."

The Washington Post The Associated Press

2. Dell and EMC prepare to announce record tech merger

Dell is expected to announce Monday that it will acquire computer data storage provider EMC in a roughly $65 billion deal that would be the largest tech merger ever. Dell reportedly will pay the equivalent of $33.15 a share in cash and a special kind of stock in a complex arrangement. That is 27 percent higher than EMC's stock price before the deal was announced. EMC also has asked for a "go-shop" clause that will let it solicit rival bidders and pay Dell a breakup fee if it makes a deal with another company.

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3. Angus Deaton wins Nobel in economics

Princeton University's Angus Deaton has won the Nobel memorial prize in economics "for his analysis of consumption, poverty, and welfare," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced Monday. The Scotland-born Deaton is best known for his work examining the individual choices consumers make. "By linking detailed individual choices and aggregate outcomes, his research has helped transform the fields of microeconomics, macroeconomics and development economics," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

The Associated press The New York Times

4. Obama says Clinton's private email server a "mistake," but the controversy is partisan

President Obama said in an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes aired Sunday that Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state was a "mistake," but it didn't pose a national security risk. Obama said that Republicans had "ginned up" the controversy in a partisan attack on Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, "in part because of politics." The FBI is investigating whether classified information was handled on Clinton's system.

Los Angeles Times

5. Iraq says it killed eight top ISIS officials

Eight high-ranking Islamic State figures were killed in a Sunday airstrike launched by Iraq's air force. Iraq said it had targeted a meeting and a convoy that was taking ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to the gathering. Baghdadi was not believed to be among the dead. Iraqi officials said he apparently was driven away from the scene. The U.S. said it had seen no evidence that Baghdadi was injured.

Reuters

6. Turkish Kurds mourn victims of suspected ISIS bombing

Thousands of mourners in the Turkish capital, Ankara, protested against the government Sunday, a day after two explosions at a peace rally in the city left at least 95 people dead. Most of the victims — and protesters — were Kurds. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the apparent suicide bombings, but investigators suspect the Islamic State, Turkish officials said Monday. Turkey also continued bombing Kurdish separatists who had reportedly declared a unilateral ceasefire.

CNN The New York Times

7. Iranian lawmakers back nuclear deal

Iran's parliament on Sunday approved the basics of the nuclear deal with world powers finalized in July. Hours earlier, however, the country tested a new guided long-range ballistic missile in what might have been a violation of the pact between Tehran and six world powers, including the U.S. The deal aiming to curb Iran's controversial nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions also prohibits Iran from building missiles that could carry nuclear warheads.

The New York Times

8. Benghazi committee chair denies ex-staffer's claim of GOP attack on Clinton

The chairman of the House Benghazi committee on Sunday denied a former committee investigator's claim that Republican members were focusing on Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton out of partisanship. Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said the investigator, Bradley Podliska, was the one obsessed with Clinton. Gowdy said Podliska was told to stop, then fired. A Podliska lawyer said his client, an Air Force reservist and conservative Republican, was fired after complaining about the focus on Clinton, and getting reserve duty overseas.

The Washington Post

9. California bans "Redskins" team names in public schools

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) on Sunday approved a law making his state the first to ban the use of the term "Redskins" as a team name or mascot in public schools. Starting in 2017, all public schools in the state will be barred from using the name, which many Native Americans consider a blatant racial slur. The law affects four high schools. Brown vetoed another bill that would have banned municipalities from naming parks and buildings after Confederate heroes.

Los Angeles Times Reuters

10. Dodgers' Chase Utley suspended for two games over hard slide against Mets

Major League Baseball suspended Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley for two playoff games on Sunday for a controversial slide that broke New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada's right leg. The play helped the Dodgers defeat the Mets and tie the best-of-five National League Division Series at 1-1. MLB chief operations officer Joe Torre said a review determined Utley's slide was illegal. Utley's agent called the punishment "outrageous" and said Utley would appeal.

The Associated Press