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

1. VETERAN TV HOST DICK CLARK DIES

The legendary entertainer died Wednesday morning after suffering a "massive heart attack." He was 82. With American Bandstand in the 1950s, he changed the way the country listened to pop music. In 1972, he began hosting the New Year's Eve festivities on ABC, a holiday tradition that continued for decades. "He was a remarkable host and businessman and left a rich legacy to television audiences around the world," said Ryan Seacrest, who co-hosted ABC's Rockin' Eve with Clark in recent years. "We will all miss him." [New York Times]

………………………………………………………………………………

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

2. INDIA TESTS LONG-RANGE MISSILE

India successfully test-launched a long-range, nuclear-capable missile on Thursday morning. The Agni V rocket has a range of about 3,100 miles, putting China well within India's striking distance. [CNN]

………………………………………………………………………………

3. STRUGGLING SPAIN AUCTIONS OFF ITS DEBT

Spain was expected to auction off as much as €2.5 billion ($3.3 billion) of its bonds on Thursday. The move is seen as an important test of investor confidence in the troubled nation's ability to handle its own debts. [Washington Post]

………………………………………………………………………………

4. PANETTA APOLOGIZES FOR AFGHAN PICTURES

On Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta apologized for new pictures that show U.S. soldiers posing with the bloody remains of Afghan insurgents. "I know that young people sometimes caught up in the moment make some very foolish decisions," Panetta said. "I am not excusing that behavior, but neither do I want these images to bring further injury to our people or to our relationship with the Afghan people." [Associated Press]

………………………………………………………………………………

5. NEW JUDGE TAKES OVER TRAYVON MARTIN CASE

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr., a 15-year veteran of the bench, will be the new judge in the George Zimmerman case. On Wednesday, Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler recused herself after Zimmerman's attorney cited a possible conflict of interest because Recksiedler's husband's law partner is a CNN legal analyst on the case. Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder for killing Trayvon Martin in February. Zimmerman claims he acted in self defense, though Martin was unarmed. [Detroit Free Press]

………………………………………………………………………………

6. SECRET SERVICE FIRES THREE AGENTS AMID SCANDAL

The Secret Service has forced out three unidentified agents implicated in a prostitution scandal that unfolded during President Obama's recent trip to Colombia for the Summit of the Americas. Eight more agents will remain on administrative leave, as the Secret Service acts quickly to clean up the mess. [Associated Press]

………………………………………………………………………………

7. JETBLUE PILOT TO PLEAD INSANITY

Clatyon Osbon, the JetBlue pilot who had an in-flight meltdown last month, will plead insanity in the case, according to a filing his lawyers made Wednesday. Osbon is charged with interfering in the operations of the flight crew. [Reuters]

………………………………………………………………………………

8. EXERCISE MAY DECREASE ALZHEIMER'S RISK

Research published Wednesday in the journal Neurology suggests that physical activity is linked to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, even in older patients. "The implication of this study is really astounding," says its lead author, Dr. Aron Buchman. [USA Today]

………………………………………………………………………………

9. REPORT: FACEBOOK TO GO PUBLIC ON MAY 17

According to multiple unnamed sources, Facebook is aiming to make its Wall Street debut on May 17, if all is well with the SEC. Many say that Facebook will be valued at a approximately $100 billion when it goes public. [Tech Crunch]

………………………………………………………………………………

10. RESEARCHERS SAY BREAST CANCER IS 10 DISEASES

After studying the breast cancers of 2,000 women, researchers from the U.K. and Canada have found that breast cancer can be categorized as 10 completely separate diseases. Currently the cancer is classified by using tests for "markers" on cancerous tumors. But researchers have learned that all the different ways tumor cells change when they become cancerous can be grouped into 10 different categories. The discovery could improve treatment by tailoring drugs for a patient's exact type, but it will take at least three years for the findings to be used in hospitals. [BBC]