10 things you need to know today: September 13, 2012

President Obama speaks in Nevada on Sept. 12: After protests at U.S. embassies in Cairo and Benghazi, the president said of Egypt: "I don't think we would consider them an ally."

(Image credit: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

1. PROTESTERS STORM U.S. EMBASSY IN YEMEN

Protesters enraged by an anti-Islam film stormed the U.S. Embassy in Yemen on Thursday. Hundreds of rioters yelled, "Death to America!" as they reached the compound grounds and breached security, though they were not able to enter the main offices. Protesters took down the U.S. flag and replaced it with a banner declaring "There is no God but Allah." Outside the grounds, the demonstrators took down the embassy's sign, set tires on fire, and threw rocks at the compound. The attack comes the same week that protesters swarmed the U.S. embassies in Libya and Egypt, resulting in the death of America's ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens. [Associated Press]

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In an interview with Telemundo, President Obama called for justice in Tuesday's U.S. Embassy attacks in Libya and Egypt, which left four Americans dead, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya. Obama called for a full investigation, adding that when it comes to tracking down the culprits, "our hope is to be able to capture them, but we'll obviously have to cooperate with the Libyan government." His statements came as new evidence suggested that the attack in Libya may have been perpetrated by terrorists who used the mob uproar as cover for the deadly attack. When asked by host José Díaz-Balart if he considered Egypt a friend, Obama said, "I don't think we would consider them an ally. But we don't consider them an enemy." [AFP]

A man claiming to be the manager of a production group behind the anti-Islam film that resulted in the bloody attacks in Libya and Egypt might also be the director, according to the Associated Press. Nakoula Basseley Nakoula said he was involved in the production of the film (which paints the Prophet Mohammed as a pedophile, rapist, and fraud), and that he knew the filmmaker, Sam Bacile. Earlier, a man claiming to be Bacile, speaking from an undisclosed location, told the press via phone that he was surprised about the film's repercussions but intended for it to be provocative. When Bacile's cellphone number was traced, it led to Nakoula's house. Furthermore, there is no evidence of Bacile's existence. According to the AP, Nakoula has a history of using Bacile as an alias. Meanwhile, the actors in the controversial video issued a joint statement Wednesday saying they had been misled about the project. [Associated Press]

Chicago's teachers union and the nation's third-largest school district are now hopeful that a strike, which has resulted in 350,000 children being left without classrooms, will end soon. "Plan for something for your children tomorrow and let's hope for something (an agreement) Friday," said a cheerful Karen Lewis, the teachers union president, following Wednesday's late-night talks. "We made a lot of progress. We are definitely coming much closer." Still, no deal has been reached, and strikes will enter their fourth day on Thursday. The city's mayor, Rahm Emanuel, is pushing for a longer school day and year, and wants to judge teachers based on student performance on standardized tests. [Reuters]

The cat is finally out of the bag. Apple unveiled its obsessively anticipated iPhone 5 on Wednesday, touting its taller and skinnier frame and bigger screen. The smartphone will go on sale in the U.S. on Sept. 21. The larger screen (4 inches diagonally versus the previous 3.5) creates more room for another row of icons on the screen. The iPhone 5 will also have the ability to connect to the fastest new wireless data networks. [Associated Press]

Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev is calling for the three jailed members of the punk band Pussy Riot to be freed, after the women were sentenced last month to two years behind bars for staging a protest against President Vladimir Putin. Medvedev said that while he was "sickened" by what the women did, the "prolongation of their incarceration in the conditions of jail seems to me to be unproductive." Pussy Riot's supporters weren't optimistic, however, noting Medvedev's history of appealing to Russia's liberals while rarely following through. [The Guardian]

A 73-year-old woman reported that she was raped Wednesday in New York's famed Central Park, possibly by a man angered that she once took photos of him exposing himself. The woman told authorities that the man asked, "Do you remember me?" before attacking her around 11 a.m. in broad daylight. The woman said she thought the alleged attacker was the same man she once photographed masturbating in the park. She said the man demanded that she delete the image before they parted ways. [NBC News]

Get ready to know the exact repercussions of supersizing. All McDonald's restaurants and drive-thrus in the U.S. will start posting calorie information starting Monday. The move comes ahead of a regulation that could require major chains to post the information as early as next year. "We want to voluntarily do this," said Jan Fields, president of McDonald's USA. "We believe it will help educate customers." Posting the calorie count is already mandatory in cities like New York and Philadelphia. [CBS News]

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