1. Shooter terrorizes Los Angeles International Airport
A gunman shot and killed a TSA agent on Friday morning at Los Angeles International Airport. Several other people were treated for injuries after a man reportedly fired a "high-powered rifle" inside LAX's Terminal 3, causing the terminal to be evacuated and flights to be grounded. Police say they believe the suspect, 23-year-old Paul Ciancia of New Jersey, acted alone. [Los Angeles Times, Associated Press]
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2. Drone strike reportedly kills Taliban leader in Pakistan
Hakimullah Mehsud, leader of the Pakistani Taliban, was reportedly killed by a U.S. drone strike, according to intelligence officials and members of the Taliban. Mehsud is believed to be behind a failed car bombing in New York City's Times Square. He was reportedly killed by a drone strike in 2010, but eventually resurfaced. [Associated Press]
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3. NSA leaker Edward Snowden asks United States for clemency
Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who leaked hundreds of thousands of classified government files, has appealed to the U.S. government for clemency. He currently faces decades or even life in prison on charges of theft and espionage. The appeal was carried to Berlin from Russia, where Snowden has been granted asylum, by a member of the German parliament. [New York Times]
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4. Nearly 1,000 Iraqis killed in October
The United Nations announced that 979 people were killed as a result of violence in Iraq during the month of October, including 852 civilians. Sectarian conflict has led to an increase in car bombings, shootings, and other attacks this year, creating fears that Iraq could slip towards the bloodshed the country experienced from 2006 to 2007. [USA Today]
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5. European countries coordinated spy programs
The intelligence agencies of Germany, France, Spain, and Sweden worked closely with the British spy agency, GCHQ, to develop ways to monitor phone and internet communications, according to documents leaked by Edward Snowden. GCHQ reportedly took the lead, showing the others how to tap into fiber-optic networks and develop relationships with telecommunications companies. [The Guardian]
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6. John Kerry to visit Egypt the day before Morsi goes on trial
Deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi will go on trial Monday. His Muslim Brotherhood supporters have called for daily protests until then, creating an awkward atmosphere for visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who is trying to repair U.S.-Egyptian ties that were frayed by Morsi's ouster. [Reuters]
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7. Banksy painting sells for $615,000
A painting by famous street artist Banksy sold for $615,000 at an online auction, raising money for the charity Housing Works, which provides support for patients living with HIV/AIDS. Titled "The Banality of the Banality of Evil," the painting depicts a Nazi looking out on a bucolic lake scene. [Bloomberg]
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8. Boy sent to juvenile detention facility for killing neo-Nazi father
A boy who shot his neo-Nazi father in the head at point-blank range at age 10 was sent to a juvenile lockdown facility by a judge in California after being found guilty of second-degree murder. Now 13 years old, the youth could spend the next 10 years in lockdown, although he will be eligible for parole in seven years with good behavior. [CBS News]
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9. Derek Jeter signs $12 million contract with the Yankees
The New York Yankees have re-signed shortstop Derek Jeter to a one-year deal worth $12 million. Jeter, who turns 40 next year, comes off a season where injuries forced him to miss all but 17 games. [NBC News]
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10. Heidi Klum transforms into old lady for Halloween
Supermodel Heidi Klum, 40, employed an Oscar-winning make-up artist to transform into a wrinkled senior citizen for her 14th annual Halloween party. While the costume amused some, critics called it offensive to older women. [People]
