10 things you need to know today: August 6, 2013
The U.S. and the U.K. urge citizens to leave Yemen, Jeff Bezos buys The Washington Post, and more
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1. DRONE STRIKES IN YEMEN AS AMERICANS ARE URGED TO LEAVE
All Americans and Britons have been urged to leave Yemen immediately after U.S. drone strikes killed four al Qaeda militants there. It is unclear whether the strikes were related to the global travel advisory and widespread embassy shutdowns that were triggered after U.S. officials intercepted a message from al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri to operatives in Yemen telling them to "do something." [CNN]
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2. SURVIVORS TO FACE FORT HOOD SHOOTER IN COURT TODAY
Nearly four years after Major Nidal Hasan shot 13 people dead and wounded more than 30 others at Fort Hood, Texas, some survivors of the attack will come face to face with Hasan during cross examination, as the accused shooter has opted to serve as his own lawyer. He claimed he was trying to protect Taliban leaders from soldiers deploying to Afghanistan, and has acknowledged being the gunman. [The New York Times, ABC News]
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3. NASA CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF CURIOSITY LANDING
The Mars Science Laboratory celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Curiosity rover's touchdown on the red planet at 1:32 a.m. ET Tuesday. Curiosity has made numerous discoveries, including finding evidence that Mars once had an environment that would have been hospitable to life as we know it. [NBC News]
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4. BULGER'S JURY TO BEGIN DELIBERATIONS
The jury in the James "Whitey" Bulger racketeering trial is set to begin deliberating this morning. Bulger is charged with participating in 19 murders during the 1970s and '80s while he allegedly led the Winter Hill Gang. During closing arguments Monday, a prosecutor called Bulger "one of the most vicious, violent, and calculating criminals ever to walk the streets of Boston." [The Boston Globe]
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5. GUNMAN OPENS FIRE AT PENNSYLVANIA TOWN MEETING
Rockne Newell showed up at a Ross Township, Pa., supervisors' meeting and opened fire Monday night. Three people were killed in the shooting rampage, and three others were wounded, including the shooter. The suspect remains under arrest. [ABC News]
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6. JAPAN MARKS 68TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIROSHIMA BOMBING
Japan marked the 68th anniversary Tuesday of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima with a ceremony near the epicenter of the blast that killed up to 140,000 people. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that as the sole country to face nuclear attack, Japan has the duty to seek to wipe out nuclear weapons. [TIME]
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7. CBS CALLS TIME WARNER'S OFFER A SHAM
Four days into the CBS programming blackout on Time Warner Cable in eight markets including New York and Los Angeles, the cable company proposed to restore the stations, including an alternative to allow customers to purchase CBS a la carte. CBS rejected the offer as a "sham." TWC dropped CBS Friday after the companies failed to agree on a new retransmission contract by a 5 p.m. deadline. [USA Today]
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8. CANDLELIGHT VIGIL HONORS WISCONSIN SIKH TEMPLE SHOOTING VICTIMS
Hundreds of people in Oak Creek, Wis., Monday night marked the one-year anniversary of a shooting rampage at a Sikh temple with a candlelight vigil. The vigil honored the victims killed by a white supremacist who wounded five other worshippers and a police officer before killing himself. [The Associated Press]
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9. APPLE OFFERS EXCHANGE DEAL FOR THIRD-PARTY CHARGERS
In the wake of reports about safety issues associated with USB chargers made by other companies, Apple is offering to take in and dispose of third-party products. Customers who turn them in at an Apple store between Aug. 16 and Oct. 18 can get an Apple-made charger for $10. [The Wall Street Journal]
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10. JEFF BEZOS BUYS WASHINGTON POST
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Monday said that he is buying The Washington Post and affiliated papers for $250 million, a bolt-from-the-blue announcement that instantly shook up the newspaper industry. The sale will end the Graham family's four generations of ownership of the storied paper. [The Week]
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Terri is a freelance writer at TheWeek.com. She's a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism and has worked at TIME and Brides. You can follow her on Twitter.
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