10 Things

10 Things to Know Today

by The Associated Press

Oscar predictions pit "Birdman" against "Boyhood" for best picture; clues to humanity lie in Antarctica; attacks continue in Ukraine; Snowden leaks continue and more national and international news for Friday, Feb. 20, 2015.

1. LATEST SNOWDEN LEAK DETAILS GOVERNMENT HACKING

The NSA helped Britain steal codes from a data chip manufacturer, allowing both governments to spy on mobile phones worldwide, the documents reportedly show.

2. UKRAINE SAYS REBEL ATTACKS CONTINUE DESPITE CEASE-FIRE

Separatist fighters fire on Ukrainian positions nearly 50 times over the past day, a Ukrainian military spokesman says.

3. CAR BOMB IN EASTERN LIBYA KILLS AT LEAST 30

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which seems to bear the hallmarks of Islamic militants who have battled the army for months in and around the eastern city of Benghazi.

4. GOVERNORS JOCKEY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AS 2016 LOOMS

A three-day gathering beginning Friday in Washington will give a select group of state executives a chance to work in private to improve their White House prospects.

5. ARREST IN ROAD-RAGE KILLING OF LAS VEGAS MOTHER

The 19-year-old suspect is a neighbor who had a history with the family before the shooting, police say.

6. WHICH CONTINENT HOLDS KEY TO MANKIND'S FUTURE

Clues to answering humanity's most basic questions are locked in Antarctica - a continental freezer the size of the United States and half of Canada.

7. WHAT HURTS U.S. CORPORATE EARNINGS

For some global corporations, the surging U.S. dollar means the difference between a profit and a loss.

8. 'PARKS AND RECREATION' WRITER-PRODUCER DIES

Harris Wittels, 30, was found dead of a possible drug overdose at his Los Angeles home, police say.

9. BEST BETS FOR BEST PICTURE

"Birdman" will win the Oscar on Sunday, AP Film Writer Jake Coyle predicts. But his colleague Lindsey Bahr is picking "Boyhood."

10. WHO UNVEILS NEW EDUCATION INITIATIVE

In a nod to the often overlooked science behind races, NASCAR announces a commitment to promote "STEM" — the buzzword for science, technology, engineering and math — inside classrooms and out.