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Russian eCommerce is Reaching a Tipping Point Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Maëlle Gavet, CEO of Russian ecommerce giant Ozon. It's been a long time coming. So far Russia has been a Cinderella market for... Keep reading → Share the news on Twitter » More headlines: You Are Who You Say You Are - Building a Brand Identity Part I Samsung Rex Offers Emerging World Opportunity Finish Helps Manage Deadlines and Tasks More top stories on The Next Web » By the way - did you see our neat online class on The Art of Storytelling?  That's all for now. Best, TNW Team    Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Forward to a friend | Read this email on your browser Unsubscribe | Update subscription preferences Copyright © 2013 The Next Web

Cheat Sheet - Jodi Arias’s Baffling Defense Strategy

February 17, 2013 ON THE STAND 1. Jodi Arias's Baffling Defense Strategy On trial for murdering her boyfriend, Jodi Arias has spent six days on the stand discussing their sex life in graphic detail. The Daily Beast's Christine Pelisek on why the strategy is likely to backfire. Read it at The Daily Beast NEXT STOP: CONGRESS? 2. Mark Sanford's Forgiveness Tour He strayed with his soul mate and now wants back into politics. The Daily Beast's Michelle Cottle on how the ex-governor is seeking absolution. Read it at The Daily Beast OOPS 3. White House Immigration Plan Leaks The White House is proposing an immigration plan that would allow illegal immigrants to become U.S. citizens within eight years, according to a draft version of the plan leaked to USA Today on Saturday. The White House did not directly comment on the report, but instead released a statement on Saturday saying the president "has made clear the principles upon which any commonsense immigration reform effort should be based." According to USA Today, illegal immigrants could apply for a new visa called the "Lawful Prospective Immigrant" visa, and if approved, they could also apply for the same provisional legal status for their spouse or children living outside the country. There is also tighter security proposed: employers will be required to check the legal status of new hires within four years. Read it at USA Today VIVA IL PAPA! 4. Pope Mobbed at Vatican Appearance Say a little prayer for him. Pope Benedict XVI asked Catholics to pray for both him and his successor at his penultimate address at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on Sunday. The crowd, which numbered more than 50,000 people, chanted "long live the pope!" as the pope pleaded in Spanish for Catholics to "continue praying for me and the next pope." He will not speak again until next Sunday. Meanwhile, oddsmakers are banking on the pope being from the developing world, with Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana currently coming in at 5-2 odds. Archbishop Angelo Scola from Italy has 7-2 odds, and Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet is currently standing at 5-1. Read it at Reuters DISCOVERY 5. Bloody Bat Found at Pistorius's Home A bloodied cricket bat was found at Oscar Pistorius's home, with South African media reporting on Sunday that the Olympic athlete may have used it to attack girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp before shooting her to death. According to South Africa's City Press, police believe Pistorius may have used the bat to break down the bathroom door where Steenkamp was hiding or that she used it to defend herself from Pistorius. Steenkamp reportedly suffered from a fractured skull in addition to the bullet wounds to the head, arm, hand and hip. Although Pistorius's family has insisted he mistakenly thought Steenkamp was an intruder, a source told the City Press that "it was clear that both of them slept in the bed." Read it at City Press DEADLY Iraq Car Bombing Kills 37 Multiple blasts within minutes in Baghdad. ABDUCTION 7 Foreigners Kidnapped in Nigeria At a Lebanese construction company. PROMISE NY Could Ease Abortion Limits Will allow late-term procedure when health is at risk. LIFE IS BUT A DREAM Beyoncé: I Want Another Baby Blue Ivy appears in HBO documentary. ABOUT A BOY Hugh Grant Welcomes Son Announces birth on Twitter. GET The Cheat Sheet A speedy, smart summary of news and must-reads from across the Web. You'll love the featured original stories on politics, entertainment, and more from The Daily Beast's diverse group of contributors. GET Culture Beast Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. When 'Downton' Met 'Girls' It's posh vs presh as the ladies from Sunday night's hottest TV shows—Downton Abbey and Girls—face off. What does the Dowager Countess think of Hannah Horvath? Would Lady Edith really take advice from Shoshanna? See how this meeting of Downton and downtown ends up. More Videos 'It Came From the Sky!' by Michael Daly When God Talks Back by TM Luhrmann Shoshanna No More by Janice Kaplan

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