Cheat Sheet - Is Israel Behind Iran Killings?

Today: 5 Pardoned Men Missing, Newt Jabs Romney For Speaking French, U.S. Warns of Bangkok Terror Threat January 13, 2012 SHADY 1. Has Israel Been Killing Iran's Nuclear Scientists? Iran buried nuclear expert Motsafa Ahmadi Roshan on Friday, in a funeral state TV said had thousands of mourners. Circumstantial evidence suggests Mossad is quietly claiming credit for the scientist's death. At least, that's what Israel's defense establishment would like its allies to believe, writes The Daily Beast's Eli Lake. Read it at The Daily Beast MISSISSIPPI 2. 5 Pardoned Men Missing Five men who were pardoned by former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour are still on the loose—and the attorney general says they will likely be sent back to prison. The four men all worked as trusties in the governor's mansion, and four are convicted murders and another has been convicted of armed robbery. Attorney General Jim Hood said Thursday that the state had not met a crucial deadline to free the men, who were among 208 prisoners granted pardons by Barbour in one of his last acts as governor. New Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, a fellow Republican, said Thursday that he would support a state constitutional amendment to tweak the governor's clemency powers. Barbour, once considered a presidential hopeful, has sparked national outrage over the pardons. Read it at Jackson Clarion-Ledger SACREBLEU! 3. Newt Jabs Romney For Speaking French Well, Newt just lost the French vote. In a bizarre online ad titled "The French Connection" that's sure to go viral—for all the wrong reasons—Gingrich's campaign emphasizes the similarities between Massachusetts politicians Mitt Romney and John Kerry. The ad hits on Romney's record as a governor who donated to Democrats, as a moderate, and then suddenly shifts gears in its final moment. "He'll say anything to win," the narrator says. "And just like John Kerry, he speaks French too." What follows is not for the faint of heart—a 2002 video of Romney speaking about the Winter Olympics in French. Meanwhile, Gingrich expanded his campaign from South Carolina to Florida, the next battleground state. He opened his Florida headquarters in Orlando, just a few weeks ahead of the Jan. 31 primary. Read it at Politico BEWARE 4. U.S. Warns of Bangkok Terror Threat The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok warned Friday that there is a credible threat of a terrorist attack against Americans in the Thai capital. "Foreign terrorists may be currently looking to conduct attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future," a message on the embassy website said. "U.S. citizens are urged to exercise caution when visiting public areas where large groups of Western tourists gather in Bangkok." Thai police are holding a Lebanese man with alleged links to Hizbullah militants for questioning, and Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said he received a tipoff before the New Year that the Palestinians were planning an attack to target Israelis, though he said "it turned out to be the Hizbullah." The U.S. and Israel are in a tense state with Iran—which allegedly has close ties to Hizbullah, and is accusing the two countries of killing a leading nuclear expert. Read it at Associated Press AMNESTY 5. Burma Releases 651 Prisoners Almost all of Burma's most prominent political dissidents have been set free, as the thawing government released 651 prisoners Friday in another move toward democracy. Those freed include leaders of the 1988 student protest movement, Army dissidents jailed in 2004, and monks arrested in 2007 demonstrations. Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the move was a "positive sign," and the West welcomed the amnesty—and the European Union could lift sanctions as soon as April. Read it at The Telegraph MOB Beijing Apple Store Egged Company halts iPhone 4S sales in China. JUDGEMENT Manning Likely Faces Court Martial May also be facing life in prison. KNOW YOUR HOST Christie Praises Obama In Oprah Interview Warns those who 'underestimate' president. BLAME GAME Penn State President Defends Paterno Puts blame for scandal solely on Sandusky. OSCAR WATCH The Artist Wins Critic's Choice The Help also wins big. GET The Cheat Sheet A speedy, smart summary of news and must-reads from across the Web. You'll love the featured original stories on politics, entertainment, and more from The Daily Beast's diverse group of contributors. GET The Yes List Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. Michelle Obama Confronts Racial Stereotypes in White House Tell-All by Allison Samuels The Truth About Private Equity: Politicians Need It, Taxpayers Fund It by Nomi Prins Stephen Colbert's GOP Debate and More Political Jokes Turned Causes by Josh Dzieza

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