10 things you need to know today: August 24, 2013

1. FORT HOOD SHOOTER FOUND GUILTY

Maj. Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist who killed 13 soldiers and injured 31 more at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009, was found guilty on multiple premeditated murder and attempted murder charges. Hasan, a radicalized American-born Muslim, could face the death penalty. [USA Today]

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2. MICROSOFT CEO STEVE BALLMER TO STEP DOWN

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced that he would retire within 12 months. A committee including Microsoft co-founder and chairman Bill Gates will pick his replacement. Investors have shown frustration as the company's stock has dropped 35 percent since Ballmer took over in 2000. [Forbes]

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3. U.N. SAYS 1 MILLION CHILD REFUGEES HAVE LEFT SYRIA

A new report by the United Nations says that 1 million children have fled Syria since the conflict began in 2011. The fighting has also led to 7,000 child deaths. So far, more than 100,000 people have died as a result of the violence. [TIME]

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4. PUTIN BANS PROTESTS DURING 2014 WINTER GAMES

In the face of growing international criticism over Russia's anti-gay laws, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order banning protests during a 10-week period around the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Some activists called for a boycott of the Games after Russia passed a law banning actions that promote "the social equivalence of traditional and nontraditional sexual relations." [The Wall Street Journal]

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5. THOUSANDS MARCH FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN BAHRAIN

Thousands of protesters marched peacefully in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, on Friday to demand a transition to a constitutional monarchy with a democratically elected parliament. The country is ruled by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, who recently passed a number of "anti-terrorism" laws that critics say are meant to silence political dissent. [Reuters]

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6. RETIRED ARMY VET ALLEGEDLY BEATEN TO DEATH BY TEENS

An 88-year-old veteran of World War II was allegedly beaten to death in Spokane, Wash., by two teenagers. Police found the man, Delbert Belton, with multiple head injuries outside of the lounge where he regularly went to play pool. One juvenile has been arrested so far on charges of first-degree robbery and first-degree murder. [CNN]

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7. INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER MASS GRAVE OUTSIDE MEXICO CITY

Forensic experts investigated seven bodies found in a shallow grave outside of Mexico City that they believe could belong to a group of 12 revelers who mysteriously disappeared from a bar in the city three months ago. While Mexico's drug war has produced mass graves before, Mexico City was thought to be relatively safe from the violence of the cartels. [Associated Press]

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8. NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA TO RESUME FAMILY REUNIONS

For the first time in three years, family members separated during the Korean War (1950-1953) will be allowed by the governments of North and South Korea to meet, a sign that tensions over nuclear tests conducted by Pyongyang in February have eased. [BBC]

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9. NEW HOME SALES PLUNGE IN JULY

Sales of new homes fell 13.4 percent in July, the biggest drop in three years, as the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage hit a two-year high. Some homebuilders remained optimistic as new home sales are still 6.8 percent higher than during the same period in 2012. [Bloomberg]

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10. BOB FILNER FINALLY RESIGNS

After a long summer of being dogged by sexual harassment allegations from 18 women, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner finally caved in Friday to near-unanimous calls to resign. The Democrat, San Diego's 35th mayor and a former 10-term congressman, will officially step down Aug. 30. [San Diego Union-Tribune]