* Italy’s borrowing costs cross key threshold, near levels that have forced others to seek bailouts. * Greece's Papandreou to step down today; successor not yet named. * Timeline of warnings since 1979 that Iran will soon be at the brink of nuclear capability. * Criminal charges are possible for Penn
* U.S. to study—not speak about—the UN's report on Iran's continuing nuclear efforts. * Berlusconi says he'll soon resign and will not run for reelection. * Quotes from Berlusconi in a brief assessment of his genius. * Slideshow of Berlusconi's most embarrassing moments.
* Berlusconi wins budget vote, but seems to lose majority in Italy's lower house of parliament. * Six biggest American publishers refuse titles for launch of Amazon's lending library. * Interview from 1994 has Fidel Castro talking cigars. * "Shooter's sandwich" has two steaks, one loaf
* Sarkozy overheard calling Netanyahu a liar to Obama; Obama says Netanyahu on a daily basis is no fun. * Barak dismisses talk of strike against Iran. * Berlusconi remains defiant; lacking support, he may win today's vote if the center-left abstains. * GOP activists expect candor from Cain; Cain schedules
* If you want to see Italy on the road to ruin, there's no shortage of signposts. * Italy placed under special IMF preventive regime for fear of collapse, due to credibility issues. * Thousands donate to pay massive tax bill served on Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. * Amazon in China changes
* International Atomic Energy Agency to say Iran now has the ability to produce a workable nuclear weapon. * Cole: Netanyahu and Barak are bluffing about bombing Iran; Obama won't green-light Israeli adventurism. * Related: David Remnick, in a nuanced assessment, not so sure (at least about the first part)
* Andy Rooney dies at age 92. * Dryboarding scandal at Gitmo demands investigation that suicides were in fact torture. * It's Bank Transfer Day, and 650,000 have switched to credit unions since September. * Absorbing profile of how Tim DeChristopher became a martyr for the environmental movement. * They don’t
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* American students steadily improving in math, but still disappoint in reading. * Amusing take on the "to" in "When it comes time to saving the Constitution..." * Study: Walking through a door makes people forget more quickly. * Round-up of witty comebacks. * Six years later, post-divorce, groom
* Eleventh Tibetan since March self-immolates to protest Chinese rule: Qiu Xiang/Palden Choetso, 35. * Month-old baby with university degree receives salary from Nigerian government. * Summary of this week's collapse of the Euro's “comprehensive package." * Marine Le Pen, dogged by French reporters, has an
