10 things you need to know today: August 22, 2012

The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has killed thousands in its crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising that began nearly two years ago.

(Image credit: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

last updated 8 January 2015

1. SYRIA: IT'S POSSIBLE ASSAD COULD RESIGN

Qadri Jamil, Syria's deputy prime minister, said the government is prepared to discuss embattled President Bashar al-Assad's resignation. Jamil, who made the remarks during a stop in Moscow, insisted, however, that Assad stepping down cannot be a condition for engaging in peace talks. Assad's bloody crackdown on opposition forces has devolved into an all-out civil war, and many Syria watchers believe the embattled president's days are numbered. Jamil's remarks come as President Obama says he'd be willing to use military force to intervene in the country should Syria use biological or chemical weapons. [BBC]

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Todd Akin, the Republican Senate candidate under fire for his controversial remarks about rape, plans to stay in the Missouri Senate race. His decision comes as leaders of the Republican establishment — including presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney — have called on the Missourian to drop out. Akin let the initial deadline to drop out on Tuesday pass. He could still take his name off the ballot by Sept. 25, though doing so would require a court order. The strict social conservative created an uproar this week after suggesting in an interview that a woman's body could somehow prevent pregnancy in the cases of "legitimate rape." [Reuters]

The number of U.S. deaths in Afghanistan has hit 2,000, according to a New York Times analysis. The grim statistic comes after a nearly 11-year war. More than half of the deaths occurred in the past 27 months, an increase attributed to President Obama sending thousands of extra troops into the country to rev up the U.S.-led NATO mission against insurgents. The troops are set to withdraw by 2014. In addition to Afghanistan, the statistic includes deaths in Pakistan and other countries where American forces are involved with the war. [New York Times]

Americans throw out nearly every other bite of food, according to a new study by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The study revealed that Americans waste 40 percent of the country's annual supply, which totals $165 billion of uneaten provisions. Since the 1970s, the percentage of uneaten food has jumped 50 percent, and is 10 times more than it is for those living in Southeast Asia. [Los Angeles Times]

The Clarence House is confirming that photographs of Prince Harry running around a Las Vegas hotel room without clothes are indeed the naked truth. The embarrassing photos, obtained by TMZ, were posted after the young royal attended a party at the MGM Grand on Friday and participated in a game of strip billiards. The Clarence House told AFP the Sin City snaps were genuine but would not comment further. [AFP, TMZ]

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