10 things you need to know today: september 20, 2015
- Select a language for the TTS:
- UK English Female
- UK English Male
- US English Female
- US English Male
- Australian Female
- Australian Male
- Language selected: (auto detect) - EN

Play all audios:

1. POPE FRANCIS URGES U.S., CUBA TO FURTHER NORMALIZE RELATIONS Speaking to a crowd in Havana on Saturday, Pope Francis lauded U.S-Cuba diplomatic ties and pushed Presidents Obama and Castro
to go even further. "I urge political leaders to persevere on this path and to develop all its possibilities as a proof of the high service which they are called to carry out on behalf
of the peace and well-being of their peoples, of all America, and as an example of reconciliation for the entire world," he said. The U.S. still has a trade embargo against Cuba. The
Associated Press 2. DONALD TRUMP: 'I LOVE THE MUSLIMS' Republican frontrunner Donald Trump addressed an Iowa high school Saturday night, two days after catching bipartisan
criticism for failing to correct a town hall supporter who said President Obama is Muslim, and asked Trump when the U.S. could "get rid" of Muslims. When a student asked if the
real estate mogul would consider putting a Muslim person on his ticket or in his Cabinet, Trump said, "Oh, absolutely. No problem with that." And he told CNN afterward, "I
love the Muslims. I think they're great people." SUBSCRIBE TO THE WEEK Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives. SUBSCRIBE
& SAVE SIGN UP FOR THE WEEK'S FREE NEWSLETTERS From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. From our
morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. CNN 3. PROMINENT DEMOCRATIC DONORS SIGN PETITION URGING JOE BIDEN TO RUN
FOR PRESIDENT Democratic fundraisers started circulating a petition Friday to urge Vice President Joe Biden to run for president. "In our opinion, the next president must be Joe
Biden," the letter read. "If he announces he's running, we're all in. _The Wall Street Journal_ reports sources saying he is more likely than not to enter the race, and
aides are apparently debating the timing of an announcement. Reuters The Wall Street Journal 4. BLACK LIVES MATTER WON'T ENDORSE A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE The Black Lives Matter movement
doesn't plan to endorse a presidential candidate. The network first gained widespread attention after protesting the 2014 fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black man
in Ferguson, Missouri. "What we've seen is an attempt by mainstream politics and politicians to co-opt movements that galvanize people in order for them to move closer to their own
goals and objectives," founder Alicia Garza said, adding that the group will continue protesting presidential candidates. The Associated Press 5. CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES HAVE DESTROYED
MORE THAN 1,000 HOMES Two California wildfires that have been burning for more than a week have destroyed more than 1,000 homes. The fires, one in Amador and Calaveras counties and the other
in Lake County, are still threatening more buildings in one of the state's worst wildfire seasons. "You've got some high temps, high winds that could stir up those ash piles
and those ember piles," said a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection official. "We have to do that mop-up to be sure this fire goes to bed." The Associated
Press 6. GREECE VOTES IN SNAP ELECTION MONTHS AFTER BAILOUT DEAL NEGOTIATION Greece voters are taking to the polls Sunday to decide whether Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will stay in power,
less than a year after he was initially elected. His Syriza party lost a majority in parliament in August following a polarizing bailout deal between the debt-saddled nation and its
international creditors. Tsipras' main opponent is New Democracy leader Vangelis Meimarakis. Exit polls are expected to come in around 12 p.m. ET. BBC News The Guardian 7. JOHN KERRY
WILL BE FLEXIBLE ON TIMING OF SYRIA LEADER'S EXIT U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must step down, urging Russia to help
persuade him. "We're not being doctrinaire about the specific date or time," he added. "Right now, Assad has refused to have a serious discussion, and Russia has refused
to help bring him to the table in order to do that." Five years of conflict in Syria has led to millions of refugees fleeing and struggling to find European countries who will take them
in. The Washington Post 8. BEST-SELLING NOVELIST JACKIE COLLINS DIES AT 77 Best-selling British-born novelist Jackie Collins died of breast cancer Saturday at age 77. Collins wrote 32
books, all of which appeared on _The New York Times_ bestsellers list and together sold more than 500 million copies. She was best known for writing about the sex lives of rich and famous
characters, with her most successful work being _Hollywood Wives_, a 1983 novel that was optioned into a popular ABC miniseries. The New York Times USA Today 9. SÁBADO GIGANTE ENDS AFTER
RECORD 53-YEAR RUN Univision's _Sabádo Gigante_, TV's longest running variety show, signed off for the last time Saturday night after a 53-year run. "Through all these years,
_Sábado Gigante_ has been another member of the Hispanic family, one that has grown and evolved," said host Mario Kreutzberger, who goes by Don Francisco on-air. Celebrites including
Shakira, Enrique Yglesias, and Juanes were on hand to pay tribute to the Spanish-language staple. Miami Herald 10. ANDY SAMBERG TO HOST 67TH PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS _Saturday Night Live_
alumnus Andy Samberg is set to host the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday night in Los Angeles. The ceremony marks the last chance at recognition for favorites like _Mad Men_ and _Parks
and Recreation,_ while welcoming popular newcomers like _Better Call Saul_ and _Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt_. _Game of Thrones_ leads the pack with 24 nominations. Catch the broadcast at 8
p.m. ET on Fox. Emmy Awards Entertainment Weekly Explore More Daily briefing