10 things you need to know today: April 13, 2014

- 1. IPCC: Worst-case climate change can still be avoided
- 2. Pro-Russian gunmen, Ukrainian security forces engage in deadly clashes
- 3. Chilean wildfire kills 7, burns hundreds of homes
- 4. Early returns in Afghan election show close race
- 5. NSA allowed to exploit web bugs for national security
- 6. Large earthquakes strike Solomon Islands
- 7. Missing plane's black box may have died
- 8. Pope Francis delivers Palm Sunday remarks
- 9. Union College wins NCAA hockey title
- 10. Conan O'Brien to host MTV Movie Awards Sunday

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
1. IPCC: Worst-case climate change can still be avoided
The worst-case scenarios of global climate change can still be averted in an affordable manner, according to a United Nations report released Sunday. The report, the third and final installment from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, concluded that a concerted effort to funnel hundreds of billions of dollars away from fossil fuels and into renewable energy would trim global economic output by a slim 0.06 percent. The IPCC called on world leaders to work together, with IPCC official Ottmar Edenhofer saying, "Climate policy isn't a free lunch, but could be lunch that's worthwhile to buy."
The Guardian Wall Street Journal
2. Pro-Russian gunmen, Ukrainian security forces engage in deadly clashes
Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian forces on Sunday battled for control of a police compound in eastern Ukraine in what Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov called an "anti-terrorist" operation. One Ukrainian security officer was killed and five others wounded, with Avakov claiming there were an "unidentifiable number" of casualties among the separatists as well. The fighting came after pro-Russian gunmen stormed the police headquarters and occupied other buildings in the eastern Ukrainian city, stoking fears among U.S. officials that Mwscow was inciting violence to ultimately annex more territory.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

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.
3. Chilean wildfire kills 7, burns hundreds of homes
An enormous wildfire scorched the Chilean city of Valparaiso over the weekend, burning more than 500 homes and killing at least four. Chile's National Emergency Office said the fire has already burned more than 660 acres, with strong winds fanning the flames and making it difficult for the hundreds of firefighters who are battling the blaze to keep it contained. "It's been one of the worst fires in history," Vina del Mar Fire Superintendent Fernando Reseio told CNN.
4. Early returns in Afghan election show close race
One week after Afghan voters went to the polls in a historic presidential election, the first official returns showed former opposition leader and foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah with a slim lead. With about 10 percent of the vote tabulated, Abdullah had 41.9 percent of the vote, according to the Independent Election Commission, with Ashraf Ghani close behind at 37.6 percent. If neither candidate wins a majority, there will be a runoff in late May or June.
5. NSA allowed to exploit web bugs for national security
President Obama permits the National Security Agency to take advantage of web coding failures if there is a "clear national security or law enforcement need," according to The New York Times. Though the NSA is in most cases supposed to report such bugs so they can be fixed, the White House reportedly permits the agency to use those gaps for its own cyberattacks. The Times story comes on the heels of the administration categorically denying another report that it had prior knowledge of and possibly exploited the Heartbleed bug.
6. Large earthquakes strike Solomon Islands
Two powerful earthquakes shook the Solomon Islands on Sunday, triggering a tsunami warning in the area. The United States Geological Survey estimated the quakes both took place about 200 miles offshore, registering magnitudes of 7.6 and 7.5, respectively. There were no immediate reports of damage.
New York Times Associated Press
7. Missing plane's black box may have died
A little more than a week after search crews first heard encouraging pings possibly emitted by missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, the batteries on the plane's black box may have died. The batteries on flight recorders are supposed to last about 30 days, an aviation official told the Associated Press. The plane has been missing for 37 days now, and searchers haven't detected a pulse signal since Tuesday.
8. Pope Francis delivers Palm Sunday remarks
Speaking to an estimated crowd of more than 100,000 in Saint Peter's Square, Pope Francis commemorated Palm Sunday by speaking of the last days of Jesus' life and exhorting followers to evaluate how they were living their own lives. "Has my life fallen asleep." he asked. "Where is my heart?" Pope Francis followed up the service by mingling with attendees and posing for selfies.
9. Union College wins NCAA hockey title
The Union College Dutchmen defeated top-seeded Minnesota 7-4 Saturday night in the Frozen Four to claim the school's first ever college hockey title. The Gophers, with 14 NHL draft picks to Union's lone pro prospect, were favored to win, and they pulled within a goal with minutes remaining. Yet Union answered with another goal of their own, and tacked on an empty-netter in the waning seconds to seal the victory. Disgruntled fans back in Minneapolis rioted, leading police to arrest 19 people.
10. Conan O'Brien to host MTV Movie Awards Sunday
Late night comedian Conan O'Brien will host the 2014 MTV Movie Awards on Sunday. The host of TBS' Conan hinted that there would be plenty of flames and skin at the light-hearted awards show, which features such categories as "Best Shirtless Performance." And O'Brien joked that he may even flaunt his own pallid physique, saying, "My body is in incredible shape, and you might be seeing some of that on the show."
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
Sen. Bob Menendez charged with federal corruption, bribery
The longtime New Jersey Democrat finds himself in another round of legal peril
By Rafi Schwartz Published
-
Taking steps
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
Will the US keep aiding Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Republicans give Volodymyr Zelenskyy a 'cold shoulder' in D.C.
By Joel Mathis Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 22, 2023
Daily Briefing Zelenskyy visits Washington as Biden unveils more Ukraine aid, Rupert Murdoch steps down at Fox and News Corp., and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 22 September 2023
The Week’s daily digest of the news agenda, published at 8am
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 21, 2023
Daily Briefing Biden extends temporary protections to 470,000 Venezuelans, Republicans grill Garland on Biden and Trump investigations, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 20, 2023
Daily Briefing Zelenskyy, Biden urge UN members to oppose Russian aggression, hardline Republicans block spending bill as shutdown looms, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 19, 2023
Daily Briefing Iran, US swap prisoners in a complex deal, Canada accuses India of role in Sikh leader's assassination, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 18, 2023
Daily Briefing Protesters call for ending fossil fuel ahead of UN meetings, Trump doesn't 'even think' about going to jail, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 15, 2023
Daily Briefing A grand jury indicts Hunter Biden on gun charges, House defense spending bill stalls as shutdown looms, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 14, 2023
Daily Briefing Mitt Romney says he won't run for a second Senate term, Pennsylvania police capture an escaped murderer, and more
By Harold Maass Published