10 Things to Know for Thursday

AP

President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laugh as they participate in a joint news conference, Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Thursday:

1. SENATE DOES ITS PART TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Spending bill that locks in $85B in cuts now goes to the

House.

2. HOW THE US IS REASSURING ISRAEL

Obama, visiting Jerusalem, vows he would do "what is necessary" to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

3. CYPRUS TURNS TO 'PLAN B'

A new proposal to avoid a financial meltdown includes some Russian assistance and a smaller tax on people's bank deposits.

4. NORTH SUSPECTED OF HACKING

A cyberattack in South Korea paralyzes bank machines and makes TV broadcast computers go blank.

5. WHO'S WORRIED ABOUT THE POPE'S IMPULSIVENESS

Pope Francis delights his flock by eschewing armored limos and mingling with bystanders — but that has his security team saying a few extra prayers.

6. WHAT CHAVEZ LEFT BEHIND

Venezuela is riddled with rampant crime, seen by many as the main failing of the late president's government.

7. SURVEY SAYS MORE APPROVE OF GAY MARRIAGE

A poll finds that 49 percent of Americans favor same-sex unions, including 14 percent who used to disapprove. Asked why, almost one-third say they now know someone who is gay.

8. COOLEST CATCH

An Atlantic Ocean expedition led by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos pulls up two mammoth rocket engines — ones that helped boost Apollo astronauts to the moon.

9. WHY TIGER WENT PUBLIC

He says he decided to spread the word about his romance with Lindsey Vonn as a way to pre-empt coverage by "all those sleazy websites that are out there following us."

10. HOOPS HYSTERIA

Sixty-four teams. Thirty-two contests. It'll be an exhilarating — and, yes, exhausting — two-day mosh pit of NCAA hoops.