10 things you need to know today: June 23, 2013
Snowden lands in Moscow after fleeing Hong Kong, flood tolls reach record levels in Canada and India, and more
1. SNOWDEN FLEES HONG KONG
U.S. intelligence fugitive Edward Snowden has landed in Moscow after flying out of Hong Kong "on his own accord" on Sunday, from where the U.S. was seeking his extradition on charges of espionage. The former NSA contractor is reportedly expected to fly on to Cuba en route to Venezuela. Hong Kong said Washington had failed to meet the requirements for extradition. [BBC, Wall Street Journal]
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2. OBAMA TO UNVEIL CLIMATE-CHANGE PLAN
President Obama announced in an online video that he will unveil a national plan to combat climate change in a speech Tuesday. Obama says he'll lay out his vision for reducing carbon pollution, preparing the U.S. for the effects of climate change and leading other nations in the global effort. White House aides have suggested the steps will include renewable energy and energy-efficient appliances and buildings. [Huffington Post]
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3. GRAHAM CONFIDENT THAT IMMIGRATION BILL WILL GET VOTES
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a chief GOP proponent of immigration reform, said on Fox News Sunday that he's confident the Gang of Eight bill can net the 70 votes he's been shooting for. Graham said the bill, which includes a "border surge" plan, would offer sufficient southern border security. The Senate could pass a reform package by the end of the week, but the bill could face a tall hurdle in the Republican-controlled House. [Politico]
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4. PAKISTANI GUNMEN KILL 9 TOURISTS
Gunmen burst into a small hotel in northern Pakistan early Sunday, killing nine foreign hikers. The victims were Ukrainian and Chinese, while another Chinese man managed to safely escape. The attack took place between midnight and 1 a.m., said Ali Sher, a senior police official. He said the violence occurred in Fairy Meadows in Gilgit Baltistan province. [CNN]
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5. PLANE CRASH AT OHIO AIR SHOW KILLS TWO
A biplane carrying a wing-walker (a daredevil who traverses the length of an aircraft during flight) crashed into a field during an air show in Ohio at Dayton International Airport on Saturday, killing the stunt performer and the pilot. Jane Wicker and her veteran pilot, Charles Schwenker, were performing stunts at the 39th Vectren Air Show, which will continue today. [NBC News]
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6. FLOOD TOLLS IN CANADA AND INDIA REACH HIGHEST LEVELS
While as many as 100,000 people in the Canadian province of Alberta have been forced out of their homes as torrential rain continues to cause serious flooding, flash floods, and landslides in northern India have killed at least 1,000 people in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in the past week. Both tolls are expected to rise as harsh weather persists in both regions. [New York Times, BBC]
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7. SUPERMOON ARRIVES IN EARLY-MORNING SKY
"Supermoon," the largest and brightest moon since 1993, officially arrived at about 7 a.m. EDT Sunday morning, as the moon makes its closest swing by Earth this year (perigee). About a half hour later, the moon reached full status, making it appear 12 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than a regular full moon. The effect should linger for a few nights. [NBC News, Christian Science Monitor]
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8. JON STEWART VISITS EGYPTIAN COUNTERPART
Two weeks after temporarily handing over The Daily Show desk to John Oliver, Jon Stewart paid a visit to his Egyptian counterpart Bassem Youssef, who hosts the country's Daily Show equivalent, The Program (Al-Bernameg). Youssef and Stewart discussed Stewart's upcoming Jordan-set film, the trouble with satire, and taxi drivers. [New York]
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9. POLICE RETURN TO HERNANDEZ'S HOME FOR SEARCH
State police officers and dogs searched the home of New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez for more than 3½ hours on Saturday as they continued to investigate the killing of a semi-pro football player whose body was found about a mile away. Authorities are expected to execute an arrest warrant at some point for Hernandez for obstruction of justice. [ESPN]
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10. PAULA DEEN FANS RALLY BEHIND THE CHEF
Fans of Southern chef Paula Deen are lambasting her soon-to-be former employer Food Network for dropping the longtime star after her admitted use of the n-word. Angry messages piled up Saturday on the network’s Facebook page, with many Deen fans threatening to change the channel for good. Deen and her brother are being sued by a former manager of their restaurant who says she was harassed and worked in an environment rife with innuendo and racial slurs. [Washington Post]
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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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