Cheat Sheet - Santorum Defuses a Birth-Control Bomb at GOP Debate

Today: U.S. Troops Killed in Quran Protest, U.N. May Charge Syrians, Experts Back Anti-Obesity Drug February 23, 2012 DEBATE 1. Santorum Defuses a Bomb Rick Santorum dodged a political bullet on the birth-control controversy at the CNN debate Wednesday night, deflecting criticism from Mitt Romney and batting down the notion that he would discourage contraception. The Daily Beast's Howard Kurtz on how the 20th—and possibly final—primary debate was full of harmless jabs. Plus, Paul Begala, Michelle Cottle, Andrew Sullivan, and more columnists weigh in. Also, watch video of the seven most memorable moments. Read it at The Daily Beast AFGHANISTAN 2. U.S. Troops Killed in Quran Protest The fallout from the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of two U.S. troops. An Afghan official tells CBS that an Afghan soldier shot the soldiers out of anger over the burning of the holy books. Protests over the incident have raged for three days in Afghanistan. Afghan police fired shots to disperse a mob of protesters who tried to break into a U.S. military base in eastern Afghanistan. Read it at CBS News SYRIA 3. U.N. May Charge Syrians The United Nations may be stymied by Russia and China, but it's drawn up a list of Syrian officials who could be charged with crimes against humanity, according to a U.N. panel. A report by the U.N.-appointed Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria says that "a reliable body of evidence exists" that could be used to charge "commanding officers and officials at the highest levels of government" with crimes against humanity. The U.N. Human Rights Council is expected to hold a meeting on Syria next week. President Bashar al-Assad, meanwhile, continued his assault on the city of Homs a day after two journalists were killed there. The city has been under siege since Feb. 4. Read it at The Associated Press QNEXA 4. Experts Back Anti-Obesity Drug The FDA may be close to approving a new drug to fight obesity. An outside panel of experts voted 20–2 on Wednesday to recommend approval of the drug Qnexa even though the FDA had already rejected it because of safety concerns, saying the benefits outweigh the heart risks. The committee also recommended that the drug manufacturer, Vivus, conduct a study on potential side effects and suggested that pregnant women not take the drug. If the FDA approves the drug, it would be the first new prescription weight-loss drug in 13 years. The FDA, which is not bound by the panel's recommendation, will make a decision by April 17. Read it at Reuters BLOODSHED 5. Iraq Attacks Kill 60 Iraq saw another round of sectarian violence, with bombs going off simultaneously at Shiite targets across the country. At least 60 people were killed and dozens wounded in one of the deadliest days since U.S. troops withdrew in December. In Baghdad, 10 explosions hit Shiite neighborhoods during rush hour, killing at least 32, and more than a dozen blasts hit cities elsewhere in the country. There has been a string of attacks in Iraq since December, when Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki sought to arrest Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi for alleged assassination plots. Read it at Reuters VERDICT Ex-UVA Lacrosse Player Found Guilty Huguely Faces up to 40 years for murder. YOU HACKED ME Cherie Blair Sues Murdoch Former P.M.'s wife blows open News Corp. scandal. NOT SO FAST Scientists Didn't Break Speed of Light It was a wiring flaw. SCARY Two-Headed Fish Found Near Mine Raises concerns about metal byproduct. DRESS CODE Sacha Baron Cohen Banned From Oscars Unless he promises not to dress as dictator. 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. So What If Iran Goes Nuclear? by Neil Padukone Obama's Crafty Tax Ploy by Nomi Prins Whitney's Final Romance by Ramin Setoodeh

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