10 things to know for today

Your daily look at late-breaking news, coming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. NRA, GIFFORDS HUSBAND TO DEBATE GUNS

A Senate committee is holding Congress’ first hearing on gun control since the Newtown, Conn., school shootings.

2. BOEING 787 BATTERIES HAD TROUBLE BEFORE

The National Transportation Safety Board asked Boeing Co. for a history of the lithium-ion batteries after a Japan airline said it replaced them multiple times.

3. WHAT CAUSED THE BRAZIL NIGHTCLUB FIRE

Flammable foam on the ceiling, just one exit and no sprinkler systems helped fuel the blaze that killed more than 230 people.

4. JUDGE OKS RECORD $4 BILLION PENALTY FOR GULF SPILL

Oil giant BP PLC pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in the deaths of 11 rig workers.

5. ANOTHER KOREAN ROCKET LAUNCH

South Korea said it successfully put a satellite in space weeks after arch-rival North Korea surprised the world with its own launch.

6. ‘SYRIA IS BEING DESTROYED BIT BY BIT’

International envoy Lakhdar Brahimi called for international help with a compromise as the U.N. chief asked for up to $1.5 billion in refugee aid.

7. JOHN KERRY BREEZES TO CONFIRMATION AS SECRETARY OF STATE

Even Republicans praise him as Clinton’s ideal successor.

8. WHY NEW ORLEANS POLICE ARE NERVOUS

The city has to be secure for 150,000 Super Bowl visitors and the thousands of revelers flooding in to celebrate Mardi Gras.

9. WHAT’S NEW ABOUT THE NEW BLACKBERRY

The BlackBerry 10 debuting today is faster, and lets users keep their work and personal identities separate on the same phone.

10. A-ROD SNARED IN DOPING SCANDAL

A Miami newspaper says records show the three-time AL MVP used a now-defunct clinic to buy performance-enhancing drugs.