Cheat Sheet - Castro Reaches Out to Obama

Today: The Conservative Budget Backlash , India: Gay Sex Illegal , Ukraine Riot Police Retreat December 11, 2013 NOT A THAW 1. Castro Reaches Out to Obama It wasn't just the selfie that got international attention. President Obama shook Cuban President Raul Castro's hand at Nelson Mandela's funeral on Tuesday—but is this a sign of a thaw in U.S.-Cuban relations? Earlier this year, Castro agreed to host peace talks between Colombia and the FARC, and Obama praised those talks last week. "The Cubans regularly say to people that they are ready for a different relationship," said Dan Restrepo, the former NSC chief of Latin American policy. The Daily Beast's Eli Lake and Josh Rogin warn against calling it a thaw just yet—especially given Cuba's continued imprisonment of Alan Gross, a subcontractor that Cuba claims is a spy. Read it at The Daily Beast OH D.C. 2. The Conservative Budget Backlash Just in time for a nice, long holiday break, Congress avoided a January 15 government shutdown and shook hands on a bipartisan budget deal. At a press conference Tuesday, Republican Rep. Paul Ryan and Democratic Sen. Patty Murray announced that automatic spending cuts known as the sequester would be reduced by $63 billion in the next two years—replaced by airline fees and cuts to federal and military pensions—along with $23 billion of deficit reduction. Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and other Republicans are already expressing their skepticism about the bipartisan deal, writes The Daily Beast's Ben Jacobs. Read it at The Daily Beast AWFUL 3. India: Gay Sex Illegal Well this is depressing. The Indian Supreme Court on Wednesday declared homosexual sex illegal, bringing back a law that had been on the books since the colonial era but had been overturned four years ago. India's high court has now overturned that ruling, declaring the penal code was constitutionally valid. National Crimes Record Bureau chief statistical officer Akhilesh Kumar said Wednesday that India will be maintaining a central database of those prosecuted under the law. "Henceforth, we will be compiling crimes committed under this relevant section," Kumar said. "Maybe from the next year." New York-based Human Rights Watch called the ruling a "setback to human dignity, and the basic right of nondiscrimination." Read it at CNN CLASH 4. Ukraine Riot Police Retreat Riot police in Kiev retreated Wednesday after storming its occupied city hall and nearby Independence Square. Interior Minister Vitali Zakharchenko insisted in a statement Wednesday that no force will be used. "I want everybody to calm down," Zakharchenko said, hours after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expressed "disgust" over the government's response to the protests, saying "This response is neither acceptable nor does it befit a democracy." Riot police and interior ministry forces had dismantled the barricades and tents overnight, leading to violence, with KyivPost reporting police had clubbed protesters. Read it at BBC News INFIGHTING 5. U.S. Suspends Some Aid to Syria The United States has suspended all non-lethal aid to Syria after the hardline Islamic Front seized control of the headquarters of the U.S.-friendly Supreme Military Council, a U.S. spokesman in Ankara said. According to the U.S. armed forces code, non-lethal aid generally consists of communications equipment, medical supplies, intelligence assistance, and body armor. The Islamic Front, a union of six rebel groups, also took control of the Free Syrian Army bases at Bab al-Hawa near Syria's border with Turkey on Friday. Turkey closed its border crossing at the Hatay province after reports of increased clashes on the Syrian side. Read it at Al Jazeera sold on pot Uruguay Legalizes Marijuana First country to do so. BACKSTORY Photog: I Took Obama Selfie Pic "I captured the scene almost reflexively." WELCOME George H.W. Bush Joins Twitter No tweets yet on his socks. HEIST Signed Hirst Paintings Stolen From London gallery. DISNEY GIRL Lovato Admits Cocaine Addiction Says she would "smuggle it" onto airplanes. CNBC Ridiculously Expensive Supercars You'll Never Own Conde Nast Traveler Welcome to "Dildo", Newfoundland… Esquire 15 Great Songs You Probably Didn't Hear in 2013 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. Navy SEAL Stripped of Honor by Brandon Caro What Liz Cheney Didn't Understand About Apartheid by Jamelle Bouie 2013's Most-Watched Music Videos by Kevin Fallon

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