'10 Things to Know' for Thursday

[May 03, 2012]  (AP) -- Late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories of interest:

1. U.S. confirms blind activist wants to leave China

Already angered that the US embassy harbored Chen Guangcheng, it's unclear whether Beijing would be willing to negotiate further over his fate.

2. Economists see steady job gains for the rest of 2012

AP survey of leading economists predicts hiring will be strong enough to push unemployment below 8 percent by Election Day.

3. Bin Laden's writings to be released

Some of the al-Qaida leader's personal writings seized from his compound in Pakistan will be released online at 9 a.m. by a terrorism center at West Point.

4. Obama administration warns of havoc if health care overhaul is thrown out

Papers filed with the Supreme Court predict "extraordinary disruption" to Medicare's payment systems, which handle 100 million claims every month.

5. Activists: Syrian forces raid university; four killed

Security forces use deadly force at dorms at a northwestern university to break up anti-government protests there.

6. High drama in the John Edwards corruption trial

Another ex-aide testifies at 9 a.m. following an emotional day that saw Edwards' daughter flee the courtroom in tears and testimony of Elizabeth Edwards' breakdown when she learned of her husband's affair.

7. Norway killer back in court

Trial of Anders Behring Breivik resumes with witnesses recounting how the confessed killer managed to get to the island where he massacred 69 people.

8. Luring the swallows back to Capistrano

California's Mission San Juan Capistrano is blasting bird mating calls through speakers in a last-ditch effort to revive a springtime migration that has all but vanished.

9. "The Scream" heard around the world

Edvard Munch's iconic image of a man holding his head screaming becomes the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction -- fetching $119.9 million.

10. Angels ace doesn't allow a hit

Jered Weaver's no-hitter in a 9-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins is the second in the majors in less than two weeks.

[Associated Press]

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