10 Things

10 Things to Know Today

by The Associated Press

Shark attack victim feels lucky to be alive; woman dies of measles in Washington State; Greece prepares for vote on creditors' conditions and more national and international news for Friday, July 3, 2015.

1. BP AGREES TO PAY $18.7B TO COMPENSATE GULF STATES FOR DAMAGE FROM DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL

The disaster killed 11 rig workers and spewed millions of gallons of crude that stained beaches, coated wildlife and polluted marshes.

2. GREECE PREPARES FOR CRUCIAL REFERENDUM

The country's voters will decide Sunday on whether to accept creditors' conditions in exchange for financial aid.

3. WHY OBAMA'S COUNTERTERRORISM POLICY IS FACING MOUNTING CRITICISM

Some say the current strategy, involving few troops on the ground and using drones to take out one extremist at a time, isn't effective at keeping the United States safe.

4. WHO IS OPPOSED TO HAVING A U.S. AMBASSADOR IN CUBA

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell doubts the Senate will confirm the nominee, and suggests his party would fight Obama administration efforts to fully lift trade and travel restrictions to the communist-led island nation.

5. BOKO HARAM GUNS DOWN 97 PEOPLE PRAYING IN MOSQUES IN NIGERIA

The attack on the town of Kukawa came the day after the Islamic extremist group attacked a village and killed another 48 men and boys.

6. WHERE TEMPERATURES ARE HITTING TRIPLE DIGITS

From Seattle to Salt Lake City, the West is baking under record heat, sending people inside looking for relief before the Fourth of July weekend.

7. DEBATE ON CONFEDERATE SYMBOLS SHOWS HOW MEANING OF A FLAG DEPENDS ON BEHOLDER

Raised from the smoking wreckage of the World Trade Center, planted atop a mountain on Iwo Jima, or held aloft at a sports event, a piece of cloth can symbolize struggle, heritage and perseverance.

8. WOMAN DIES OF MEASLES IN WASHINGTON STATE

Officials say it's the first such death in the U.S. in 12 years and the first in the state in 25.

9. SURVIVOR OF LATEST SHARK ATTACK THANKS MEDICAL TEAM THAT SAVED HIM

Andrew Costello says the incident was frightening and painful, but that he feels fortunate to have survived.

10. REELZ TV CHANNEL WILL BROADCAST MISS USA PAGEANT, DROPPED BY NBC DUE TO DONALD TRUMP'S COMMENTS

The company said the show and the women who compete in it "are an integral part of American tradition."