The CNN Washington Bureau's morning speed read of the top stories making news from around the country and the world. Compiled by Dan Merica
WASHINGTON/POLITICAL For the latest political news:
http://www.CNNPolitics.com CNN: GOP contenders hit the road after CNN debate The day after what might have been their final debate, the four remaining Republican presidential candidates set their plans Thursday for a nearly two-week sprint across America that could determine who earns the right to square off against President Barack Obama this fall.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/23/politics/campaign-wrap/index.html CNN: Obama derides energy critics in Miami speech President Barack Obama said Thursday his Republican critics promising immediate lower gas prices are either uninformed or dishonest, and he pledged in a speech to University of Miami students to continue pushing for alternative energy sources.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/23/politics/obama-energy-speech/index.html CNN: Obama apologizes to Afghanistan for Quran burning Afghan rage over the burning of Qurans by NATO troops continued Thursday even after a President Barack Obama apologized for the "error."
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/23/world/asia/afghanistan-burned-qurans/index.html?hpt=wo_c2 CNN: Gingrich first to hit Obama for Afghanistan apology; suggests troop pullout Newt Gingrich lambasted President Barack Obama for apologizing to Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai Thursday, suggesting the United States pull its troops out of the country after two American troops were killed Thursday.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/23/gingrich-first-to-hit-obama-for-afghanistan-apology/ NATIONAL For the latest national news:
http://www.CNN.com CNN: Midair helicopter collision kills 7 Marines Seven U.S. Marines were killed in the midair collision of two U.S. military helicopters along the Arizona-California border, officials said Thursday.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/23/us/arizona-marines-killed/index.html?hpt=us_c1 CNN: Maryland Senate approves same-sex marriage bill The Maryland Senate voted Thursday evening to legalize same-sex marriage, the latest sign of growing national recognition of such unions among gay and lesbian couples.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/23/us/maryland-same-sex-marriage/index.html?hpt=us_c2 CNN: John Edwards sex tape to be destroyed after settlement reached A former aide and a former mistress of one-time presidential candidate John Edwards have settled a civil lawsuit between them that, among other measures, mandates the imminent destruction of sex tapes featuring Edwards and the woman.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/23/justice/north-carolina-edwards-sex-tape/index.html?hpt=us_c2 CNN: Newark mayor urges probe into NYPD spying program The mayor of Newark has called for an investigation into a far-reaching New York Police Department surveillance program that was allegedly conducted in the New Jersey city's Muslim neighborhoods.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/23/us/new-jersey-nypd-survelliance/index.html?hpt=us_c2 INTERNATIONAL For the latest international news:
http://edition.cnn.com CNN: Behind the scenes of Australia's political 'soap opera' In announcing his resignation as Foreign Minister Wednesday, Kevin Rudd referred to the "soap opera" underway in Australian politics.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/23/world/asia/australia-politics-explainer/index.html CNN: Why the world isn't intervening in Syria As the death toll grows in Syria, so do the desperate pleas for help. "What is the world waiting for?" asked one Syrian woman this week while holed up in a makeshift bomb shelter with her sick son. "For us to die of hunger and fear?"
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/23/world/syria-intervention/index.html?hpt=wo_c1 CNN: Dozens killed in wave of attacks across Iraq A series of explosions and shootings killed 44 people and injured more than 200 in Baghdad and elsewhere Thursday morning, Iraqi police said.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/23/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html?hpt=wo_c2 CNN: Fear of Iran is inflating gas prices Tensions with Iran are adding at least 30 cents to a gallon of gasoline in the United States, and experts say gas prices have only just begun to rise.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/23/markets/Iran_gas_prices/index.htm?hpt=wo_c2 BUSINESS For the latest business news:
http://www.CNNMoney.com CNN Money: The corporate tax 'shell game' It sounds great. Lower the top corporate tax rate of 35% and make up for the lost federal revenue by reducing the number of business tax breaks -- especially those much maligned and ill-defined "loopholes" carved out by corporate lobbyists.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/23/news/economy/corporate_tax_rate_reduction/index.htm CNN Money: Stocks close higher on positive economic data U.S. stocks closed higher Thursday, as investors digested better-than-expected economic news.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/23/markets/stocks/index.htm?iid=HP_LN CNN Money: 35,000 Postal Service jobs on the chopping block The U.S. Postal Service announced on Thursday new plans to consolidate or close 223 mail processing plants, putting 35,000 jobs at stake starting in late May or June.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/23/news/economy/postal_service__plant_closings/index.htm?iid=HP_LN In Case You Missed It… Rudy Giuliani says the GOP's stance on gay marriage makes it look like it "doesn't understand the modern world."
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/02/24/of-giuliani-gay-marriage-mpg.cnn