10 things you need to know today: October 29, 2013

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Reuters staff))

last updated 8 January 2015

1. Judge strikes down key Texas abortion restrictions

On Monday, a federal judge rejected two abortion limits that Texas state lawmakers had approved during a special legislative session in July. One of the rules limited doctors' options in prescribing pregnancy-ending drugs; the other required doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of an abortion clinic. District Judge Lee Yeakel said the measures, which were to take effect Tuesday, unconstitutionally restricted women's abortion rights. [USA Today]

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Chinese authorities suspect that the people who drove an SUV into a crowd of people at Beijing's Tiananmen Square were carrying out a premeditated suicide attack, Reuters reported Tuesday. The vehicle burst into flames, killing five people, including three who were inside. At least 38 others were injured. The incident occurred ahead of a November conclave of the Communist Party's Central Committee, which is expected to announce major economic reforms. [Reuters]

President Obama is preparing to order the National Security Agency to stop spying on leaders of U.S. allies, as the governments of Germany and Spain protest allegations of NSA eavesdropping. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Monday that the U.S. shouldn't collect phone calls or emails of friendly presidents and prime ministers. She said her committee would review all intelligence collection programs. [New York Times]

Penn State said Monday that it would pay $59.7 million to 26 men who said they were sexually abused by former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who was sentenced to 30 to 60 years last year. Sandusky admitted to taking showers with some of the boys, but denied molesting them. He has appealed his conviction from prison. University President Rodney Erickson said the settlement payments should be a "step forward in the healing process." [Los Angeles Times]

An airstrike reportedly killed two commanders of the terrorist group al Shabab in southern Somalia on Monday. Locals said the attack destroyed a vehicle the men were riding in. A Kenyan military source said government troops had raided nearby Jilib, but witnesses reported that the vehicle was hit by an armed aerial drone. Al Shabab was behind a terrorist attack that killed 67 people at an upscale Kenyan mall last month. [BBC News]

Apple shares dipped by 12 percent after hours on Monday after the smartphone and tablet powerhouse reported disappointing quarterly profits, despite strong iPhone sales. Apple sold 33.8 million iPhones in its third quarter. The company said it made between $55 billion and $58 billion, a bit better than Wall Street expected. Investors, however, had hoped for an even stronger showing, so many sold shares to cash in on the stock's recent gains. [Reuters]

The city of Irwindale, Calif., filed a lawsuit on Monday asking a judge to shut down a Sriracha factory, because people are complaining that spicy odors are giving them headaches and burning their eyes. City officials said they just wanted Huy Fong Foods, maker of the Asian hot sauce, to come up with a plan to eliminate the problem with the fumes. The factory processes the chilis needed for the whole year's worth of sauce in the three months between September and December. [Los Angeles Times]

The Boston Red Sox took a 3-2 lead in the World Series with a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night. The Red Sox got help from star David Ortiz, who went three for four with an RBI double and is now hitting .733 in the Fall Classic. The Red Sox are now just one win away from their third baseball championship in 10 years, and the final two games scheduled will be at their home field, Fenway Park. [Boston Globe, BBC News]

Harold Maass is a contributing editor at The Week. He has been writing for The Week since the 2001 debut of the U.S. print edition and served as editor of TheWeek.com when it launched in 2008. Harold started his career as a newspaper reporter in South Florida and Haiti. He has previously worked for a variety of news outlets, including The Miami Herald, ABC News and Fox News, and for several years wrote a daily roundup of financial news for The Week and Yahoo Finance.

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