10 things you need to know today: July 16, 2014

1. Israel launches more air strikes after Hamas rejects truce

Israel resumed its air strikes in Gaza on Tuesday after Hamas, which runs the Palestinian territory, rejected a cease-fire plan proposed by Egypt and approved by Israel's security cabinet. Israel warned that Hamas "would pay the price," and urged tens of thousands of Palestinians to leave their homes in northern and eastern Gaza, suggesting their neighborhoods would be targeted next. A fresh barrage of rockets from Gaza killed one Israeli man.

The Dallas Morning News

2. Buffett gives his biggest annual charity gifts ever

Investment billionaire Warren Buffett donated a record $2.8 billion in securities to charity this year, according to a report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday. The contributions, which went to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and four Buffett family foundations, brought his contributions to $18.7 billion over eight years since he pledged to give nearly half of his wealth to the foundations in annual gifts.

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Omaha World-Herald

3. Typhoon kills 10 in the Philippines

At least 10 people were killed on Tuesday when a powerful typhoon struck the Philippines. Typhoon Rammasun, the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year, knocked down trees, telephone wires, and power lines as it cut across the main island, Luzon, south of Manila on Wednesday.

Reuters

4. Officials impose fines for wasting water in California

California authorities approved drastic new water conservation measures on Tuesday to help the state handle historically low levels of rainfall this year. The new rules include fines of up to $500 per day for watering a garden, washing a car, or rinsing a sidewalk. Gov. Jerry Brown had already declared a drought emergency. "People don't understand the gravigty of the drought," State Water Resources Control Board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus said.

The New York Times

5. Nigeria catches a top Boko Haram commander

Nigerian police said Tuesday they had arrested a top Boko Haram commander, Mohammed Zakari. Police spokesman Frank Mba said Zakari, 30, was wanted in the recent killings of seven people. Nigeria has launched a push to round up members of Boko Haram, which is fighting to establish a state under sharia law. Boko Haram has been blamed for kidnapping hundreds of schoolgirls in recent months.

Xinhua

6. Survey finds that 2.3 percent of Americans are gay or bisexual

About 2.3 percent of U.S. adults are gay or bisexual, according to the annual National Health Interview Survey, which was released Tuesday. Gay or bisexual men and women far more likely to suffer anxiety or engage in self-destructive behavior than their straight peers. It was the first time questions about sexual orientation were asked in the annual survey.

Al Jazeera

7. Police free hundreds of abused children from group home in Mexico

Mexican police rescued 452 boys and girls from a children's home where they were allegedly sexually abused and forced to beg in the streets. More than 130 adults were also rescued. The owner of House of the Big Family facility in the state of Michoacan was arrested along with eight employees. "I'm in utter dismay because we weren't expecting the conditions we found at the group home," local governor Salvador Jara said.

BBC News

8. SpaceX gets approval for private spaceport

The Federal Aviation Administration has granted approval to Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, to build the nation's first private rocket-launching site, in Cameron County, Texas. SpaceX wants its own launch facility to give it more control so it can meet its ambitious schedule. It plans to send up 12 rockets a year from the site. The company plans to use the site to launch the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy orbital vertical launch vehicles, and other rockets.

Space.com

9. Jon Stewart tries to get Hillary to reveal her 2016 plans

Hillary Clinton withstood a grilling by Jon Stewart on Comedy Central's The Daily Show, but she avoided shedding any light on whether she had decided to run for president again in 2016. The appearance came as Clinton wrapped up a tour to promote her book, but Stewart joked: "She' here solely for one reason: to publicly and definitively declare her candidacy for President of the United States." Clinton did say she wanted an office with "fewer corners."

CNN

10. Jeter helps the American League win his last All-Star game

The American League beat the National League 5-3 in the 85th annual MLB All-Star game on Tuesday night. This year's game was the last for New York Yankees star shortstop Derek Jeter and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, both of whom are retiring at the end of the season. Jeter got a three-minute ovation when he left the game in the fourth inning after getting two hits. "It was a wonderful moment," Jeter said.

The Boston Globe