France's president is sworn in, News Corp's Rebekah Brooks will be charged, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion
1. HOLLANDE SWORN IN AS FRENCH PRESIDENT
Francois Hollande was sworn in as France's new president on Tuesday, amid fresh concerns over European debt. The country's first Socialist president since 1995, Hollande has criticized the austerity measures built into bailout plans for flailing countries like Greece and Ireland. At his inauguration, he stressed the importance of stimulating economic growth. After his swearing in, Hollande will head to Berlin to meet with German chancellor Angela Merkel, a vocal advocate of fiscal restraint who is also known for having a close partnership with Hollande's conservative predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy. [CNN]
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2. NEWS CORP'S BROOKS TO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES
Prosecutors say that Rebekah Brooks, a key aide to Rupert Murdoch and the former head of News International (a subsidiary of Murdoch's News Corp.), will be charged with three counts of "conspiracy to pervert the course of justice" in relation to the phone-hacking scandal that has rocked Murdoch's media empire. Brooks' husband Charlie, as well as her former personal assistant, her chauffeur, and two others will also be charged. [Los Angeles Times]
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3. EX-EMPLOYEES SAY JPMORGAN IGNORED SIGNS
In the wake of a stunning $2 billion trading loss, former JPMorgan employees say the bank ignored concerns they had expressed about trades being made that were too complex and risky. The former employees spoke to The New York Times on the condition of anonymity because of the nature of the investigations into the trading losses. [New York Times]
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4. POLLS: OBAMA HURT BY SUPPORTING GAY MARRIAGE
According to a new CBS News/New York Times poll, 1 in 4 registered voters are less likely to vote for President Obama because he issued his support for same-sex marriage. Sixteen percent say they are now more likely to support the president, while 58 percent say it won't affect their vote. [CBS News]
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5. PALESTINIAN PRISONERS END HUNGER STRIKE
Crowds took to the streets in Gaza to celebrate Monday, after Israeli and Palestinian officials reached an agreement to end a 77-day-long hunger strike among Palestinian prisoners. Under the deal, Israel agreed to ease conditions for some Palestinian prisoners. Some prisoners may still continue their protest unless they are released. [CNN]
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6. IRAN EXECUTES CONVICTED SPY
Iran has executed Majid Jamali Fashi, a man convicted of conspiring with Israel to kill one of Iran's nuclear scientists. Several Iranian nuclear scientists have been mysteriously killed in recent years. Israel has claimed that terrorists are behind the killings, while Iran has blamed Israel and the United States. [CNN]
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7. FACEBOOK RAISES IPO PRICE
In response to demand, the social networking giant has raised the target price of its stock for its upcoming IPO. Earlier this month, Facebook set a range from $28 to $35 a share, but it's now raising the target range to $34 to $38. That gives Facebook a value as high as $104 billion. Facebook's IPO roadshow to pitch investors started last week; shares are set to begin trading Friday. [Reuters]
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8. SIX SURVIVE NEPAL PLANE CRASH
Six people survived the plane crash in Nepal on Monday that left 15 dead. The survivors include two Danish trekkers, two Indian children, a Nepali air hostess, and an Indian man who is said to be in critical condition with head injuries. The deadly crash was the second in less than two years for local air carrier Agni Air. [Pakistan Daily Times]
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9. HOWARD STERN MAKES HIS TALENT DEBUT
Howard Stern made his debut as a judge on America's Got Talent Monday night. Critics are saying that on primetime the notorious shock-jock comes across as a "sweet old man" and "beloved uncle." [Washington Post]
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10. STUDY FINDS 1 IN 3 ARE SLEEPWALKERS
A new study finds that sleepwalking is more prevalent than previously thought, with 30 percent of participants reporting to have sleepwalked at some point in their lives and 3.6 percent saying they have done so in the last year. Sleeping pills, antidepressants, and certain psychiatric disorders can increase the likelihood of sleepwalking. [Washington Post]
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