1. ObamaCare's health-insurance mandate is tweaked
Under the Affordable Care Act, individuals can sign up for health insurance for 2014 on HealthCare.gov until March 31, the end of the exchange's open enrollment period. The White House on Wednesday evening confirmed that it plans to delay the start of penalties for being uninsured until then. Previously, penalties would have kicked in around Feb. 15, meaning someone who applied and received health care in mid-March would have been still penalized under the individual mandate. [The Washington Post]
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2. Prince George christened at St. James' Palace
The son of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was baptized Wednesday in his first public appearance in three months. Because Prince George is in line to eventually succeed the throne, his baptism means he would also be the supreme governor of the Church of England. Seven godparents were named for the royal infant, whose christening gown was a replica of one made in 1841. [CNN]
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3. U.S. accused of tapping German chancellor's phone
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle summoned the American ambassador to Berlin on Thursday in response to allegations that the U.S. had tapped the phone of Angela Merkel, the German chancellor. Merkel’s spokesman said that she had already spoken with President Obama and called the allegations, if true, a "serious breach of trust." Ambassador John Emerson will meet with the foreign minister later today. [USA Today]
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4. Prime minister of Pakistan calls for end to U.S. drone strikes
President Obama hosted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the White House on Wednesday, a sign of improving relations between the two countries. During discussions, Sharif emphasized the need for an end to American drone strikes in Pakistan. Relations had been strained since the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011 and the death of 24 Pakistani troops by an American airstrike along the Afghan border months later. [BBC]
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5. Detroit bankruptcy trial begins
A judge began hearing arguments in the trial over Detroit's eligibility for bankruptcy Wednesday, the first legal step following the city’s July filing under Chapter 9. While city lawyers argued that unions and retirees stalled potentially city-saving negotiations, the unions and retirees claim Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder — who will testify at the trial — used the filing as a way to take control the city. [The New York Times]
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6. Jury finds Bank of America guilty of selling defective mortgages
A jury in a civil case against Bank of America on Wednesday found the company guilty of selling defective mortgages. It also deemed a top manager at the bank’s Countrywide Financial unit liable after prosecutors accused her of pushing for quantity over quality in mortgage writing. She allegedly linked bonuses to how fast bankers could originate loans. Prosecutors were seeking to fine the bank $848 million, but the presiding judge will finalize the actual penalty. [The New York Times]
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7. HealthCare.gov contractor says no amount of testing would have prevented glitches
A top executive from CGI Federal, one of the contractors involved with building the HealthCare.gov website, said no amount of testing could have prevented the glitch-riddled rollout. CGI Federal Vice President Cheryl Campbell is challenging claims by the Obama administration that the site, which has been plagued with technical problems, was a victim of a lack of adequate testing. She will testify before the House of Representatives in a hearing Thursday. [Fox News]
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8. World Series opens with a Red Sox win
In the first game of the World Series, the Red Sox dominated the Cardinals en route to an 8–1 victory. David Ortiz hit a two-run homer for the Red Sox, who also benefited from a rare overturned call, considering the six-man officiating team did not review any tape before reversing the ruling. Game Two of the series will be played today at 7 p.m. in Boston’s Fenway Park. [ESPN]
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9. Condé Nast discontinues its internship program
Starting next year, Condé Nast will no longer accept interns. The company, which produces the likes of GQ and Vanity Fair, was sued this past summer by two former interns, one of whom worked at W in 2009 and the other at The New Yorker in 2009 and 2010. The lawsuit, which claims the individuals were paid below minimum wage during their respective internships, is still pending. [WWD]
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10. Microsoft exec slams Apple’s apps
Following Apple’s announcement that its iWork and iLife suites would come free for download with any new device, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of communications, Frank Shaw, called Apple’s products "struggling, lightweight productivity apps" in a post on the company’s official blog. Mashable's Adario Strange called the post evidence that "playful jabbing" between the two companies "may be turning into a bona fide platform war." [Mashable]
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