Cheat Sheet - Has Putin Picked His Next Target?

Today: Is Putin's Next Move to Take Over Odessa? , The Seedy Side of Sainthood: Was John Paul II Canonized Too Fast? , 7 Dead in S. Korea Ferry Sinking April 17, 2014 ON A ROLL 1. Has Putin Picked His Next Target? With Crimea already in his clutches, and unrest spreading in eastern Ukraine, there are now signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have picked his next targets. First, a small breakaway state in nearby Moldova, where thousands of Moscow's troops are already stationed. Second, and more significantly, Odessa, Ukraine's third-largest city and its largest remaining port. Eli Lake and Josh Rogin report. Read it at The Daily Beast JUMPED THE SHARK 2. Putin Denies Mass Spying in Snowden Q&A Edward Snowden has jumped the shark. In a Thursday interview with Moscow-run television station Russia Today, Snowden asked Vladimir Putin: "Does Russia intercept, store, or analyze—in any way—the communications of individuals?" Snowden has lived in Moscow for nearly a year since he leaked information from the National Security Agency. Putin responded: "Russia uses surveillance techniques for spying on individuals only with the sanction of a court order. This is our law, and therefore there is no mass surveillance in our country." Read it at RT HOLY SH*T 3. The Seedy Side of Sainthood Four million tourists and pilgrims are expected to descend on Vatican City for the double canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII. However, reports Barbie Latza Nadeau, critics say the two pontiffs were pushed through to sainthood without a thorough vetting. The rush to make John Paul II a saint has ignored his role in the church's sex-abuse scandal, while "the good pope" John XXIII had the second miracle requirement waived. Read it at The Daily Beast capsized 4. 7 Dead in S. Korea Ferry Sinking At least seven are dead and 287 are still missing after a South Korea ferry sank on Wednesday morning. An announcement to stay put was broadcast over the speakers, telling passengers, including 300 high-school students, that "If you move, it's dangerous." Survivors say they put on life jackets and jumped into the water to escape the capsizing vessel. A massive rescue operation has been searching the cold water for missing passengers, but conditions are making the search difficult. Reports indicate that 476 people were aboard the ferry. Read it at CNN NSA, Russia-style 5. Russian Zuck: Gov't Spied on Ukraine Pavel Durov, the founder of the Russian Facebook-like social site called VK, alleges the government used his site to spy on Ukrainian protesters. According to Durov, in 2013, the Russian security service demanded he turn over private user data for organizers of a major protest group. When he refused, he was pushed out of ownership shares in the company. "I still have something more important: a clean conscience and ideals that I am willing to defend," Durov wrote in a post. Read it at The Verge DEPORTER IN CHIEF? Court Deportations Drop 43% Over the last five years under President Obama. FAMILY BONDING Indiana Mayor, Family Indicted Accused of gambling with public money. back in the game John Edwards Returns to Law To represent 4-year-old boy. DISTURBING Bryan Singer Accused of Sex Abuse Of 15-year-old boy in 1998. OH YEA 'Mrs. Doubtfire' Getting a Sequel Robin Williams to reprise his role. 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 Culture Beast Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. Scandal's Baddest B*tch by Kevin Fallon A Prenup for Digital Privacy by Keli Goff Calm Down, Prince George Is Just a Baby by Tim Teeman

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