10 things you need to know today: February 15, 2015

1. Danish police kill suspect in Copenhagen terror attack

Danish police on Sunday said they killed a man believed to have murdered two people in a pair of shootings in Copenhagen. Police said the suspect, who has yet to be identified, opened fire when officers arrived to monitor a potential hideout in the Danish capital city. "We are working under the assumption that it was the same perpetrator who was behind both shooting incidents," Police Commissioner Torben Molgaard Jensen said. The suspect is believed to have killed two and injured five in two attacks, the first on Saturday at a cafe hosting a free speech event, and the second early Sunday outside a synagogue.

NBC The New York Times

2. Ukraine cease-fire goes into effect

After months of escalating clashes, Ukrainian and pro-Russian separatists pulled back as a cease-fire agreement went into place at midnight on Sunday. Fighting between the two sides ramped up in recent days, but the new truce appeared to be holding in the early hours despite reports of isolated skirmishes. The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany struck the last-ditch cease-fire after negotiations last week in Minsk, Belarus.

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Wall Street Journal

3. Another blizzard ravages New England

Already beset by record snow accumulation this month, Massachusetts on Sunday braced itself as another massive storm moved across the state. A blizzard warning went into effect Saturday and will stretch into Monday, with Boston expected to see a foot of snow and close to two feet projected for other parts of the state. Elsewhere in the Northeast this weekend, snow, freezing cold, and strong winds knocked out power and grounded more than 1,000 flights from Washington, D.C., through New England.

Boston Globe

4. Palestine requests role in Chapel Hill murder probe

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Saturday condemned the killing last week of three Palestinian-Americans in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as "terrorism" and requested its investigators be included in the subsequent murder probe. "We consider [the killings] a serious indication of the growth of racism and religious extremism which is a direct threat to the lives of hundreds of thousands of American citizens who follow the Islamic faith," the ministry said in a statement. Craig Stephen Hicks has been charged with murder for allegedly shooting to death Deah Barakat, 23, his wife Yusor Abu-Salha, 21, and her sister Razan Abu-Salha, 19.

Reuters

5. Canada foils Valentine's Day shooting spree plot

Canadian police on Saturday said they scuttled a plot to carry out a mass shooting in Halifax on Valentine's Day. Authorities arrested and charged a 23-year-old American woman, Lindsay Kantha Souvannarath, and a 20-year-old Canadian man, Randall Steven Shepherd, of conspiracy to commit murder. A third suspect, a 19-year-old man, killed himself when police closed in on him. "This appeared to be a group of murderous misfits," Justice Minister Peter MacKay said, adding that they were "prepared to wreak havoc and mayhem on our community."

BBC

6. Pope Francis appoints 20 new cardinals

Warning that their new role as Roman Catholic cardinals "is not a kind of accessory," and should not cause them to be "puffed up with pride," Pope Francis on Saturday elevated 20 prelates. "Nor are church dignitaries immune from this temptation," Francis said of the loss of humility that can accompany the red "biretta" hats. Instead, he counseled the new cardinals, many of whom are from developing countries, to work for justice.

NPR

7. Zach LaVine wins NBA dunk contest

Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Zach LaVine blew away the competition on Saturday to win the dunk contest at the NBA All-Star game. LaVine scored a perfect 100 in the opening round on two stunning slams, one of which involved him donning a No. 23 jersey as an homage to Michael Jordan. You can check out all of LaVine's dunks here.

ESPN

8. Agriculture Department approves non-browning apples

The U.S. Agriculture Department on Friday approved two types of apples that are genetically modified to resist browning. While genetically engineered crops do not have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration prior to being put on the market, most companies voluntarily complete a review process with the FDA. The Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny Smith apples, produced by Canadian company Okanagan Specialty Fruits, Inc., could appear in grocery stores by late 2016.

Bloomberg

9. Autopsy reveals David Carr died of cancer

Revered New York Times media columnist David Carr died of complications from lung cancer, according to an autopsy report released Saturday. Carr collapsed Thursday in the Times office and died shortly thereafter. He was 58 years old.

The New York Times

10. Benedict Cumberbatch, Sophie Hunter wed

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch and theater director Sophie Hunter tied the knot on Saturday at a ceremony on the Isle of Wight. The couple announced last month they are expecting their first child.

USA Today