afternoon news 29/01/2010

1. Obama Has Some Advice for Congress and the Supreme Court
   In a high-spirited State of the Union address, President Obama lays out his priorities for the next year--and gives a little nudge to the other branches of government.
   Read original story in The White House | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010

2. Karzai: Afghanistan Needs Western Support for 15 Years
   Ahead of a major international conference of his country's supporters, Karzai announced that Afghanistan will need 15 years of support to sustain security forces until the country is financially stable.
   Read original story in AFP | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010

3. Testimony Ends in Same-Sex Marriage Battle
   The star legal team fighting to overturn California's Prop 8 banning same-sex marriage has expressed confidence that when the judge rules soon it will be in their favor.
   Read original story in The Los Angeles Times | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010

4. North Korea Detains American Man
   Officials announced today that the American was being detained and under investigation for entering the country illegally from China.
   Read original story in TIME | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010

5. Another Survivor Found in Haitian Rubble
   A teenage girl was discovered alive yesterday under a house in Port-au-Prince, 15 days after the earthquake.
   Read original story in The Guardian | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010

6. "People's History" Author Dies at 87
   Howard Zinn, the revisionist history author and professor, "played a powerful role in helping and in many ways inspiring the Civil rights movement and the anti-war movement."
   Read original story in The Boston Globe | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010

7. Hey, Apple Has a Tablet!
   Steve Jobs surprises no one but excites everyone by unveiling Apple's latest gadget, the phone/laptop hybrid that will be called the iPad.
   Read original story in Engadget | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010

8. Endeavour Set For February Launch
   The launch is the first of five that NASA has planned for this year before the shuttle fleet is retired.
   Read original story in CNN | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010

9. Leno Hasn't Spoken to O'Brien
   The former and once-again host of the Tonight Show sits down for an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey today, during which he will admit that the jokes made about him have stung.
   Read original story in The Oprah Winfrey Show | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010

10. North Korea Fires Toward South Again
    North Koreans engaged in a second day of shootings near a disputed border in an attempt to kick start disarmament-for-aid talks, analysts believe.
    Read original story in Reuters | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010

11. Fathers Get Paid Paternity Leave in UK
    The government will announce today that fathers will get six months of paternity leave--three months paid--if their child's mother returns to work.
    Read original story in The Daily Telegraph | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010

12. Big Names Being Considered for "Idol" Judge Spot
    Who will replace Simon Cowell? Tommy Mottola, the former head of Sony Music Entertainment, is the latest name to enter the conversation.
    Read original story in CNN | Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010