10 things you need to know today: July 28, 2013

1. POPE'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL VISIT ATTRACTS THOUSANDS

Hundreds of thousands of Catholics camped out on Rio de Janeiro's Copcabana beach Saturday night as Pope Francis readied for his final Mass for World Youth Day on Sunday at the famed Brazilian beach. Many of the young people had stayed behind after an estimated 3 million crammed onto the iconic beach Saturday night for a vigil by Francis. [USA Today]

………………………………………………………………………………

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

2. NETANYAHU PLANS TO RELEASE 104 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday that he had agreed to release 104 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom have served 20 years or more for attacks on Israelis, to pave the way for a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in Washington beginning Tuesday. Netanyahu issued "an open letter to the citizens of Israel" to explain the contentious move ahead of a cabinet vote on Sunday. This was the first confirmation by the prime minister of the number expected to be freed. [The New York Times]

………………………………………………………………………………

3. WEINER'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER STEPS DOWN

Danny Kedem, Anthony Weiner's campaign manager, has reportedly quit amid renewed sexting scandal allegations against the New York City mayoral candidate, leaving the "already skeletal political team without a day-to-day leader," wrote The New York Times. Kedem previously worked for a failed Staten Island congressional campaign. [Huffington Post]

………………………………………………………………………………

4. MORE THAN 1,000 DETAINEES ESCAPE FROM LIBYAN PRISON

More than 1,100 detainees escaped from Koyfiya prison near the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi in a massive jailbreak Saturday as protesters stormed political party offices in Libya's main cities. About 100 escapees have already been recaptured. The jailbreak may have been part of the protests over the killing of an activist in the country's Muslim Brotherhood group. [CBS News, Chicago Tribune]

………………………………………………………………………………

5. LEW SAYS OBAMA WON'T NEGOTIATE DEBT LIMIT

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew says President Barack Obama will not sign government funding bills that cut domestic spending and will not negotiate over the debt limit with Republicans seeking spending cuts. "Congress can't let us default. Congress has to do its work," Lew said on ABC's This Week Sunday morning, adding that the president has has been "crystal clear" that raising the country's debt limit this fall is not a topic of negotiation between Capitol Hill and the White House. [Politico]

………………………………………………………………………………

6. EU AND CHINA REACH SOLAR PANEL AGREEMENT

The European Union and Chinese solar-panel producers reached agreement on a multibillion dollar solar panel importing deal, the EU said Saturday, bringing an end to months of fierce negotiations. The deal effectively sets a minimum price on solar panels imported from China, while sparing Chinese manufacturers from heavy EU taxes. [The Wall Street Journal]

………………………………………………………………………………

7. DRIVER OF DERAILED SPANISH TRAIN FACES TRIAL TODAY

The driver of the train that derailed in northwestern Spain will face a judge Sunday evening after 78 people died from the crash. Police have already accused the driver, Francisco Jose Garzon, of "reckless homicide," the country's interior minister said Saturday. The driver was hospitalized for two days while under police guard. [CNN]

………………………………………………………………………………

8. KERRY'S WIFE RELEASED FROM BOSTON HOSPITAL

Teresa Heinz Kerry, the wife of Secretary of State John Kerry, was released Saturday from the Boston hospital where she was treated for a seizure she suffered on July 7. "Doctors said they expect Mrs. Heinz Kerry to complete a full recovery at home after some limited out-patient treatment," the State Department said. [Bloomberg]

………………………………………………………………………………

9. MERGER TO MAKE WORLD'S BIGGEST AD FIRM

France's Publicis and U.S. firm Omnicom have announced a merger to create the world's biggest advertising company worth $35.1 billion. Omnicom chief executive John Wren and Publicis Groupe boss Maurice Levy are to become joint CEOs. The firm will be listed in Paris and New York and will employ more than 130,000 people. [BBC]

………………………………………………………………………………

10. DIANE LANE TO PLAY HILLARY CLINTON IN NBC MINISERIES

A Hillary Rodham Clinton miniseries timed to precede the 2016 presidential election is part of NBC's effort to create "event" programming that will draw viewers to the shrinking world of broadcast network TV, NBC's programming chief said Saturday. Hillary will star Diane Lane as the former first lady and secretary of state. [The Washington Post]