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The Syrian opposition is running many local councils, particularly in the north of the country. They face urgent challenges, such as providing food, and are counting on increased international assistance to help them function.

Anat Admati, finance professor at Stanford and co-author of a new book on American banks, argues that banks carry too much debt and have too little equity. Government support allows them to hide their risky behavior, distorting the economy as a whole, she says.

A Cypriot banking crisis has the potential to disrupt global financial systems, which are still trying to recover from the crisis of 2008-2009. The proposed tax on deposits in Cyprus could shake the trust in banks in Europe, and that could end up threatening the tenuous U.S. economic recovery.

On the political far left and right, some believe that large banks still pose a threat to taxpayers. These banks are so big, they argue, that the government will step in with support if needed. Still, the more mainstream view in Washington is that the Dodd-Frank reforms are sufficient to handle the problem.

When the Defense of Marriage Act passed in 1996, it had strong bipartisan support. All of the 15 sitting Democrats who voted for it are now against it. But so far, Sen. Rob Portman is the only current Republican Senator to change his mind.

The new pope is known for his appeal to the common man, but appears to hold many of the same conservative views as his predecessor.

Pope Francis is the first pope from the New World. For Latin America in particular — home to 43 percent of all Catholics — this is a momentous occasion.

While "opponents will shout austerity," the Republican lawmaker says his plan would still let federal spending grow. It just wouldn't grow as quickly as now projected, he says, and would come into balance if the economy continues to expand and boosts federal revenue.

Amancio Ortega has just bumped Warren Buffett off his No. 3 spot on Forbes' list of billionaires. The Spanish entrepreneur's clothing chain has become highly popular around the world, but do you know the man behind the label?

Ride was a Ph.D. candidate at Stanford when she answered an ad to become a NASA astronaut. She became the first American woman in space when she blasted off in the space shuttle Challenger in 1983.