1. Supreme Court to decide whether same-sex couples can marry nationwide
The Supreme Court announced on Friday that it will hear as many as four cases challenging state bans on same-sex marriage, which could decide the legality of same-sex marriage nationwide. The justices will likely begin discussion on the issue in April, with a decision potentially reached by June, before the Court's current term ends.
The New York Times
2. International Criminal Court investigates possible Israeli war crimes
Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, opened preliminary inquiries into possible Israeli war crimes on Friday. The investigation comes just a few weeks after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas took steps to join the ICC — a move that was decried by both the U.S. and Israel as unilateral and combative in nature. Bensouda and her team will investigate whether Israel's actions in last summer's 50-day Gaza fighting qualify as war crimes, as the Palestinians assert.
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The New York Times
3. NCAA reaches proposed deal to restore wins for Penn State, Joe Paterno
The NCAA announced a proposed agreement on Friday that would restore the 112 wins taken from the Penn State football team and head coach Joe Paterno during the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal. The restored games would be part of a settlement that would include a $60 million fine to be paid out within Pennsylvania and address child abuse. The proposed settlement would also resolve a pending lawsuit that Paterno's family members brought by replacing a 2012 consent decree.
The Associated Press
4. Scientists confirm 2014 as the hottest year on record
Scientists announced on Friday that 2014 was the hottest year since record keeping began in 1880. The 10 warmest years have all occurred since 1997, with 2010 placing second hottest behind 2014. Scientists from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration attributed the rising temperatures to global warming, a long-term condition caused by increased human emissions.
The New York Times
5. President Obama vows to veto new sanctions on Iran
During a meeting at the White House with British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday, President Barack Obama said he would veto any bill Congress proposes that includes new sanctions on Iran. He said he wants the U.S. to wait a few more months to see if a deal to end Iran's nuclear program can be reached, although he admitted that Tehran agreeing to halt its nuclear work is unlikely. Still, "Congress needs to show patience," Obama said, adding that the proposed sanctions should be saved in case a deal is not reached.
The Associated Press
6. Floods kill at least 170, leave thousands homeless in Malawi
Heavy rains over the past month have caused massive flooding in Malawi, with authorities estimating that at least 170 people have died in flash floods, while more than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. Malawian President Peter Mutharika has declared over half the nation's districts a disaster area, and he has appealed to the international community for aid and supplies.
BBC News Bloomberg
7. Belgium deploys troops to key sites in wake of anti-terror raids
For the first time in 30 years, Belgium authorities sent troops out across the country on Saturday, to help local police guard possible targets from terrorists. The uptick in security comes just a day after French, German, Belgian, and Irish police conducted sweeping anti-terror raids, which landed dozens of suspects in jail. Two more suspects were killed in a firefight. Belgium also raised its terror level to 3 — its second-highest level — in the wake of the terrorist attacks in and around Paris last week.
The Associated Press
8. Top ObamaCare health official announces resignation
Marilyn Tavenner will step down from her post as administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in February, agency officials confirmed on Friday. Tavenner oversaw the Affordable Care Act rollout, the early stages of which were plagued with technical glitches. Her acting replacement, Andrew Slavitt, was brought in to address HealthCare.gov's problems in 2014. He will still need Senate confirmation in order to become a permanent replacement for the post.
The Huffington Post
9. Millennials on track to overtake Boomers as largest living generation
Millennials should overtake Baby Boomers in 2015 as the nation's largest living generation, according to projections from the U.S. Census Bureau. Millennials, defined as those who are between the ages of 18 and 34, will number 75.3 million by the end of this year; there will only be 74.9 million Baby Boomers by the end of this year. Gen X — those between the ages of 35 and 50 — is on target to overtake the Boomers by 2028.
Pew Research Center
10. The Grateful Dead to reunite for three 50th anniversary shows
The four surviving members of legendary rock band The Grateful Dead — Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann — will reunite to play three 50th anniversary shows July 3-5 at Chicago's Soldier Field. Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio will reportedly fill in for deceased frontman Jerry Garcia. The shows will mark 20 years since the Dead's last performance with Garcia, a month before his death in August 1995.
Billboard
