Today's News Highlights 06.10.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Newt Gingrich’s 2012 campaign implodes
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign imploded Thursday afternoon with virtually his entire senior staff leaving en masse, according to multiple sources familiar with the moves.
(By Chris Cillizza and Karen Tumulty)

Romney will skip Iowa straw poll in August
Former Massachusetts governor, widely regarded as the front-runner in the GOP presidential race, has decided not to participate in this year’s Iowa straw poll nor any other early tests in advance of the 2012 primaries and caucuses, his campaign announced Thursday night.
(By Philip Rucker and Chris Cillizza)

Ex-NSA official Thomas Drake pleads guilty to misdemeanor
The plea brings an end to a troubled prosecution that was one of the Obama administration's most prominent efforts to punish accused leakers of classified information.
(By Ellen Nakashima)

Senate legislation may slow, but quorums continue
The old ritual of calling senators to the Senate floor to bide time, “quorum calls,” has increased dramatically. Meanwhile, the amount of legislative business the body conducts is down.
(By David A. Fahrenthold)

An embassy-in-exile
American diplomats who evacuated from Libya are still working — in a makeshift mission at the State Department.
(By Mary Beth Sheridan)

POLITICS
Americans, Africans debate future of program that links trade opportunities to good government
LUSAKA, Zambia — Americans and Africans are debating the future of a program that links trade opportunities to with the U.S. to good government.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Alaska set to release emails from Palin's time as governor as she considers White House run
JUNEAU, Alaska — The nation is about to get a new look at Sarah Palin’s tenure as Alaska governor.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Citigroup credit card data taken from 200,000 customers in latest hack of major company
NEW YORK — Citigroup Inc. has become the latest victim in a string of high-profile data thefts by hackers targeting some of the world’s best-known companies.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Not even summer yet: Heat grips half the country; scientists say sign of things to come
WASHINGTON — Public schools in Philadelphia and parts of New Jersey and Maryland cut their days short, worried about students sweltering in temperatures in the 90s.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Redistricting stalemate in Virginia
The GOP-controlled Virginia House of Delegates and the Democratic-led state Senate approved conflicting plans for redistricting.
( by Rosalind S. Helderman , The Washington Post)

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STYLE
In wake of staff walkout, questions abound about Newt Gingrich's viability in White House race
ATLANTA — Rocked by the stunning walkout of his entire senior campaign brain trust, Newt Gingrich is nonetheless vowing to remain in the race for president.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Is age the only thing keeping them apart?
A reader wonders why she can’t get to the next level with a guy 13 years her senior.
(, The Washington Post)

Ask Amy: Learning the truth about the past
I come from a very large family — eight sisters and three brothers. By the time I was 8, my father and mother had both died. I went to live with my oldest sister (also the oldest child in the family) and her husband and his son.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: Sanitizing a spa tub
I am requesting a suggestion for deep-cleaning or sanitizing my spa tub. I’ve just cleaned it and scrubbed the jets with an old toothbrush. I want to be certain that all bacteria is gone so I can feel good about getting in my spa tub.
(, King)

Music review: ‘Juggler in Paradise’ at NSO
Christoph Eschenbach conducts the emphatic work’s American premiere in his last program of his first season.
( by Anne Midgette , The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
Thursday's Sports In Brief
OSLO, Norway — Usain Bolt ran the fastest time in the world this season as he eased to victory in the 200 meters at a Diamond League meet, while Caster Semenya finished third behind Halima Hachlaf in the 800 meters.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Softball, baseball considering joint Olympic pitch for 2020 reinstatement effort
OKLAHOMA CITY — The sport of softball could be facing an identity crisis.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Mathis matches best PGA round for 1st lead on tour with 5-under 65 after 1st round at St. Jude
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — David Mathis certainly took the long way around to grabbing the first PGA Tour lead of his career.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Already connections for the four new men's basketball coaches in the Big 12 Conference
Before they became new Big 12 head basketball coaches, Missouri’s Frank Haith and Texas A&M’s Billy Kennedy had already known each other nearly two decades.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Alex Smith 'absolutely' expects to be 49ers starting QB, says there's no beef with Crabtree
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Alex Smith finds it awkward that a free agent quarterback is organizing the San Francisco 49ers workouts during the NFL lockout.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
Vietnam announces naval live fire drill as South China Sea dispute with China heats up
HANOI, Vietnam — A squabble over territory in the South China Sea escalated Friday when Vietnam announced a live ammunition drill in an apparent reponse to China’s demand that the Vietnamese halt all oil exploration in the area.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Gates says NATO has a ‘dim’ future
BRUSSELS — America’s military alliance with Europe — the cornerstone of U.S. security policy for six decades — faces a “dim, if not dismal” future, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday in a blunt valedictory address.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Japan government says tsunami survivors need long-term mental care to prevent suicide
TOKYO — Survivors of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami need long-term mental health care to protect them from debilitating conditions that could lead to suicide, Japan’s government said Friday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Karzai arrives in Pakistan for reconciliation talks
Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Islamabad Friday for talks with top Pakistani leaders amid cautious hopes that the two nations can forge a coordinated strategy for reconciling with insurgents.
( by Griff Witte and Pamela Constable , The Washington Post)

German disease control center says cause of E. coli outbreak locally-grown vegetable sprouts
BERLIN — Investigators have determined that locally grown vegetable sprouts are the cause of the European E. coli outbreak that has killed 29 and sickened nearly 3,000, the head of Germany’s national disease control center said Friday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS
We're having a heatwave: The Weather Gang Lab with Jason Samenow (Video)
Capital Weather Gang's Jason Samenow digs into this week's big weather story. Join the chat to find out what will happen -- and why.
(, vForum)

Palin vs. Bachmann, 2012 Elections and more: The Live Fix with Chris Cillizza
Get your Friday Live Fix as Chris Cillizza discusses Mitt Romney's Presidential candidacy, Weinergate, the Worst Week in Washington, and all the latest political news.
(, vForum)

Weiner's confession and Palin's emails: Dana Milbank Live
Dana Milbank answers your questions about politics and his columns and judges your "Etch-a-Sketch" submissions.
(, vForum)

Carolyn Hax Live: Advice columnist tackles your problems (Friday, June 17)
Advice Columnist Carolyn Hax takes your questions and comments about the strange train we call life.
(, vForum)

Carolyn Hax Live
Advice Columnist Carolyn Hax takes your questions and comments about the strange train we call life.
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
Lipdub? No. Founders Forum Re-creates Bond Movie Featuring Europe’s Startup Stars

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Groupon Was “The Single Worst Decision I Have Ever Made As A Business Owner”

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Citigroup says hackers accessed credit card data of some North American customers
HONG KONG — Citigroup Inc. said Thursday that hackers have accessed the credit card information of tens of thousands of its North American customers.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Apple Just Handed Twitter The Keys To The iOS Kingdom — Here’s Twitter’s Take

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Interview: Martin Rae, President Of The Academy Of Interactive Arts And Sciences

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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BUSINESS
World stock markets mostly down on concerns global growth is slowing
BANGKOK — World stock markets moved lower Friday over concerns global economic growth is slowing, despite news of a narrower U.S. trade deficit that sent Wall Street up after a weeklong slump.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Probe finds that NRC head manipulated information to make case for closing proposed nuke dump
WASHINGTON — While he apparently broke no laws, the head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission withheld and manipulated information to make the case for shutting down the proposed radioactive waste dump at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, according to an internal investigation.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Dutch government, unions, employers agree to increase retirement age to 67
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Dutch government says it has brokered a new pact with unions and employers to lift the retirement age to 67 to ease the financial burden of a graying population and rising life expectancy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Lipdub? No. Founders Forum Re-creates Bond Movie Featuring Europe’s Startup Stars

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

British industrial production slides 1.7 percent in April, far worse than forecast
LONDON — Industrial production in Britain plunged by 1.7 percent in April, far worse than expected and partly due to disruptions caused by the extra public holiday for the Royal Wedding, according to official figures published Friday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)