10 things you need to know today: March 25, 2016

1. Kerry arrives in Belgium for high-level counterterrorism talks

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Brussels Friday morning for counterterrorism talks with leaders from the European Union and Belgium. He also will pay his respects to the 31 people who died and 270 who were wounded in this week's Islamic State-linked suicide bombings at the Brussels airport and a subway station. Police in Brussels detained at least six people in counterterrorism raids Thursday night and early Friday as authorities hunt for two suspects in the Brussels bombings and try to head off another terrorist attack.

The Associated Press CNN

2. Former Bosnian Serb leader convicted of genocide for 1995 massacre

The International Criminal Tribunal on Thursday convicted former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic of genocide for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. The United Nations judges sentenced Karadzic to 40 years in prison. Karadzic, 70, served as president of the breakaway Bosnian Serb Republic during the massacre. Eight thousand people were killed in what has been called the worst war crime in Europe since World War II. Presiding Judge O-Gon Kwok said Karadzic was the only person who had the power to halt the killing of Bosnian Muslims.

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

Reuters

3. France says raids foiled terror plot

French authorities said Thursday that police raids in northwest Paris thwarted a planned terrorist attack. French national Reda Kriket, 34, was arrested. Belgium convicted him in absentia last year on terror charges linked to a ringleader in the November Paris attacks. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the suspect was in an "advanced stage" of plotting an attack. French officials did not immediately say whether the alleged plot was linked to the networks of terrorists behind this week's Brussels suicide bombings and the November Paris attacks.

NBC News AFP

4. Belgium acknowledges error in failing to arrest Brussels bomber

Belgian Justice Minister Koen Geens conceded Thursday that the government made a mistake by failing to act last year when Turkey urged them to arrest a suspected Islamic State terrorist who has been identified as one of the suicide bombers who attacked the Brussels airport and a subway station. Turkey arrested the man, Ibrahim El Bakraoui, as he crossed the border from Syria, then deported him, and urged Belgium to arrest him. Geens said his government was "probably not diligent enough;" the first high-level admission of bungling by the Belgian government.

The New York Times

5. Korean-American reportedly confesses to spying in North Korea

A Korean-American man detained in North Korea has confessed to stealing military secrets and appealed for mercy, Japanese and Chinese news agencies reported Friday. The man, Kim Dong Chul, reportedly made comments similar to the confession of another American, Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced to 15 years with hard labor earlier this month after being accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner. The cases come as tensions rise over the isolated communist state's nuclear program.

Reuters

6. Playboy reportedly goes up for sale

Playboy reportedly has hired investment bank Moelis & Co. to explore a sale of the iconic men's magazine brand. The news came weeks after the Playboy mansion went up for sale for $200 million. The magazine also recently unveiled its first non-nude issue as it adjusts to online competition that has eroded its circulation. Playboy chief executive Scott Flanders told CNN the decision to explore a sale, which could fetch more than $500 million, "arose out of the interest in the sale of the mansion."

The Wall Street Journal CNN

7. Investigation finds flaws in NFL concussion research

A New York Times-led investigation has concluded that the National Football League's concussion research had serious flaws. More than 10 percent of diagnosed concussion cases were omitted from the data, making concussions seem less frequent than they are in the NFL. The findings call into question the NFL committee's 13 peer-reviewed articles that claim that players do not suffer long-term damage from brain injuries. Committee officials acknowledged the missing data and said that "the clubs were not required to submit their data and not every club did."

The New York Times

8. Top seeds advance in March Madness

Underdogs did not fare well in Thursday's Sweet 16 games in March Madness. In the West Region of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, the top-seeded Oregon Ducks steamrolled No. 4 seeded and defending champion Duke, 82-68. Another No. 1 seed, Kansas, also won, defeating Maryland 79-63 to advance to Saturday's Elite Eight. They'll play No. 2 seeded Villanova, which beat No. 3 seed Miami on Thursday. Oklahoma, also a No. 2 seed, beat No. 3 seeded Texas A&M.

ESPN

9. Indiana governor signs new abortion restrictions

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) on Thursday signed a law making his state the second in the nation to ban abortions due to fetal genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome. The measure, approved by the Republican-controlled legislature two weeks ago, is due to take effect in July. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky plans to ask a court to block it.

The Associated Press

10. Groundbreaking comic Garry Shandling dies at 66

Comedian Garry Shandling died Thursday after suffering a heart attack. He was 66. Shandling got his start as a writer for 1970s sitcoms such as Sanford and Son and Welcome Back, Kotter. He is best known for his own innovative and critically acclaimed sitcoms, It's Garry Shandling's Show, which aired on Showtime from 1986 to 1990, and The Larry Sanders Show, which aired on HBO from 1992 to 1998.

Los Angeles Times