INDReporter

10 things to know today

by Walter Pierce

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012. 1. FACTORY LOST FIRE SAFETY CERTIFICATION
A Bangladeshi garment factory producing clothes for Wal-Mart, Disney and other major Western companies lost the certification in June, five months before a fire killed 112 workers.

2. POWERFUL QUAKE STRIKES NEAR JAPAN
A 7.3 magnitude temblor strikes off the coast of northeastern Japan in the same region that was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami last year, but only a handful of injuries reported thus far.

3. HOW MUCH SANDY MAY HAVE AFFECTED JOB GROWTH
At 8:30 a.m., the government's jobs report will reveal how much the superstorm crimped employment for November.

4. "A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY"
Crowds will gather at Pearl Harbor to mark the 71st anniversary of the Japanese attack that killed thousands and plunged the U.S. into World War II.

5. FIRST PLANES, NOW AUTOS
Automakers have quietly been tucking "black boxes" into most new cars for years. Now the government wants to make such installations a requirement.

6. WHY OBAMA IS FLYING HIGH IN THE POLLS
An AP poll finds that more Americans say the nation is heading in the right direction now than at any time since the start of his first term.

7. EGYPT'S PRESIDENT DIGS IN HIS HEELS
Mohammed Morsi takes an uncompromising stand in a nationally televised address, while the opposition plans another big rally in Tahrir Square.

8. ELECTION DIDN'T COME CHEAP
Finance reports show that the U.S. presidential campaign cost more than $2 billion - a spending record.

9. WHAT LEADER'S LANDMARK VISIT TO GAZA MEANS FOR HAMAS
Khaled Mashaal's trip signals that the Islamic militant group - branded a terror organization by Israel - is gaining acceptance in the region.

10. PEYTON'S PLACE IS THE BLACK HOLE
Manning throws his 30th touchdown pass of the season and the Denver Broncos roll to their eighth straight victory, 26-13 over the Oakland Raiders.