Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
1. VATICAN FORCED TO DEFEND ITS RECORD ON CLERGY SEX ABUSE: At a U.N. hearing, a top church official acknowledges there can be "no excuse" for child abuse, as the Vatican faces allegations it enabled the rape of thousands of children by protecting pedophile priests.
2. $1.1 TRILLION US BUDGET ADVANCES: The bill sweeps through the House and is on track for a big Senate vote by week's end.
3. WHICH OSCAR CATEGORY MAY CREATE THE MOST BUZZ: Best actor hopefuls are especially strong, including stars like Matthew McConaughey ("Dallas Buyers Club") and Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Wolf of Wall Street").
4. LARGE MAJORITY FAVOR EGYPT'S NEW CONSTITUTION: Unofficial results show that more than 90 percent of voters said "yes" on the draft charter, an election official reports.
5. OHIO PREPARES FOR EXECUTION WITH UNTRIED DRUG COCKTAIL: Intravenous doses of two drugs — a sedative and a painkiller — are to be used to put the inmate to death because supplies of the previous drug have dried up.
6. WHERE THE AIR HAS TURNED GRAY: Beijing sees the winter's first wave of extremely dangerous pollution, with visibility reduced in the Chinese capital to several hundred yards.
7. HEAVY DRINKING SPEEDS MENTAL DECLINE, STUDY SAYS: For middle-aged men, a history of heavy drinking can hasten mental decline with aging, new research shows.
8. V FORMATION IS A PRECISION DRILL: While flying in the characteristic formation, birds choreograph the flapping of their wings to save energy, a study suggests.
9. WHO'S ENTERED REHAB FOR ALCOHOL ABUSE: Country singer Trace Adkins seeks medical help after canceling the several performances on a weeklong cruise.
10. TOSS ANOTHER TENNIS BALL ON THE BARBIE: The temperature at the Australian Open reaches 108 degrees, forcing the suspension of some matches.