10 things you need to know today: June 7, 2012

Syrian activists report another civilian massacre, Leon Panetta visits Afghanistan, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made a surprise visit to Afghanistan Thursday, after the deadliest day for civilians so far this year.
(Image credit: Zhang Jun/Xinhua Press/CORBIS)

1. SYRIAN ACTIVISTS: 78 DEAD IN QUBEIR MASSACRE

Syrian opposition activists say government forces killed at least 78 people on Wednesday in the small farming village of Qubeir in the Hama province. According to activists, at least half of those killed were women and children, and the deaths occurred after government tanks shelled the village for more than an hour; regime loyalists are said to have then gone through Qubeir and executed villagers with guns and knives. Syrian state TV reported that an "armed terrorist group" was responsible for the "horrible crime" in the tiny village. The latest violence comes less than two weeks after 108 people were killed in a massacre in Houla. [CNN]

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