Natalee Holloway suspect Joran van der Sloot admits killing woman in Peru

Joran van der Sloot pleaded guilty to murder Wednesday in the 2010 killing of a 21-year-old Peruvian woman.

Full story here.

If you'd like to read something other than politics ...

Humans And Machines: Beyond Touch(3) (5)

Computer chips and technology are invading all sorts of previously dumb devices. Phones are now smart. Cars are becoming connected computers on wheels. Call it the computerization of everything. But how we interact with these machines is bound to evolve.

latin america

Pope To Visit Cuba To Endorse Church's Growing Role(6) (1)

The 84-year-old pontiff's upcoming trip will be a strong show of support for the country's Catholic leaders, who are among the leading voices for change in Cuba. The visit comes 14 years after Pope John Paul II's historic trip to Havana, when he urged Cuba to open to the world, and for the world to open to Cuba.

africa

Nigeria Rattled By Strikes, Sectarian Violence(0) (0)

Nigeria has abundant oil, but when the government recently lifted fuel subsidies, it touched off nationwide strikes as prices soared. The country also faces the threat of worsening sectarian fighting.

business

Twinkies Trouble: Hostess Files For Chapter 11(17) (2)

The maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread is seeking bankruptcy protection blames its financial state on pension and medical benefits obligations, increased competition and tough economic conditions.

the two-way

Pentagon Disgusted, Marines Investigating Disturbing Video(2) (0)

It appears to show four U.S. Marines urinating on the bodies of three dead men in Afghanistan, but has not yet been verified. Regardless, "it's hideous. It turned my stomach," says Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby.

law

12 Amish Plead Not Guilty In Hair-Cutting Attacks(0) (0)

The members of a breakaway group in Ohio are accused of attacking fellow Amish in a feud over church discipline. The judge refused to release the suspected ringleader and his son on bond.

national security

Guantanamo At 10: U.S. Weighs Future Of Detainees(83) (12)

It's been a decade since prisoners were first sent to Guantanamo Bay. The U.S. now must decide whether to release some of those initial detainees as part of a goodwill gesture to kick-start peace talks with the Taliban.

Ready, fire, aim!

Some items from CSM to consider for your reading pleasure

1. How Nicolas Steno changed the way we see the world, literally
2. Nicolas Steno: The saint who undermined creationism
3. 7.3 quake hits Indonesia again, but this time residents are better prepared
4. Ron Paul: How badly does GOP need his voters?
5. Iran keeps issuing threats, US keeps saving Iranian sailors
6. Van der Sloot apologizes in court for murder of Peruvian woman (+video)
7. US ends longest lull in drone strikes over Pakistan. Why now?
8. How 'dangerous' is Ron Paul to the Republican platform?
9. New Hampshire primary results: Is Jon Huntsman toast? (+video)
10. Did Haley Barbour's pardon spree go too far?

Photo-ops don't mean much to CEOs

REVOLT!… CEO’s Blow Off Obama’s Big Jobs Summit & Photo-Op

Posted by Jim Hoft on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 4:33 PM

Poor Joe Biden sat all alone!
The CEO’s had better things to do.

When Barack Obama invited several CEO’s to his Wednesday jobs summit discussion and photo-op he didn’t expect this…
They blew him off.
No thank you, Mr. President.
The Politico reported:

Dozens of journalists packed into the East Room at the White House today for the president’s remarks on “in-sourcing,” at least 60 of them lining the press risers and walls.

But what many couldn’t see in press coverage of the event — held with roughly 120 executives to discuss bringing jobs back to America from overseas — were the dozens of empty seats in the audience.

At one point during Obama’s speech, Vice President Joe Biden strolled to the empty section and sat in a row by himself, listening.

A White House spokeswoman, asked about the 49 empty chairs, said some invitees didn’t show up.

“Like with many of these events here at the White House, we invited representatives from outside groups, businesses and community leaders involved in this issue to attend, and unfortunately some folks invited were not able to attend at the last minute,” spokeswoman Amy Brundage said.P