Morning Newsdome: President Obama expected to support Gang of 6 budget plan, Republican senators expected to immediately retract support April 12 2011
A daily news round-up of all that's important from around the world
>> President Obama is expected to back the unfinished Gang of 6 debt reduction plan (created by three Democrats and three Republicans) at a speech at George Washington University tomorrow. While team work is great, it means Obama doesn't have a debt plan of his own and could actually hurt the cause for Republican senators who don't want to be associated with the president. I feel great that these are the men we elected to fix our economy. (the Washington Post)
>> A 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit 77 miles southeast of Tokyo this morning. But before that, Japan raised the nuclear crisis level from a Level 5 to a Level 7, the worst possible disaster rating only issued before for Chernobyl. Officials say that radiation released from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant poses a long-lasting threat to human health and the environment. No duh. (CNN, the New York Times)
>> Remember when the revolution in Egypt and consequent ousting of President Hosni Mubarak promised a new, free, democratic nation? Maikel Nabil, a 25-year-old blogger, was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday for criticizing the military. Leave rabble-rousing bloggers alone! (the New York Times)
>> With heightened tensions following the arrest of CIA security officer Raymond A. Davis who killed two Pakistani men claiming they were robbing him, Pakistan is demanding that the U.S. reduce the number of active CIA agents in the country by 25 to 40 percent. US to Pakistan: Too bad. (the New York Times)
>> And finally: Entitled twins of the century, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, will file a petition in the next fifteen days after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals turned down their appeal of the 2006 settlement against Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg. Having millions and millions of dollars sure is the pits. (the Telegraph)