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

1. HAGEL CONFIRMED AFTER BITTER SENATE FIGHT

Among his daunting challenges as defense secretary: dealing with $46 billion in budget cuts set to kick in on Friday.

2. BENEDICT'S FINAL ACT AS POPE NEARS

He holds his last public general audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday before retiring the next day.

3. U.S. LIKELY TO BLOW PAST ECONOMIC DEADLINE

It's hardly the rosy scenario Obama promised as he ran for re-election, AP's Julie Pace says.

4. WHO'S TO BLAME IN A DEADLY HOT AIR BALLOON CRASH

Some Egyptians said safety standards had declined amid political turmoil, others said the pilot may bear responsibility.

5. WHY OFFICIALS SUSPECT MISSING BOATERS ARE A HOAX

The Coast Guard says there is no sign of the vessel off the California coast and no one has reported a family of four missing.

6. WHEN TEAMWORK DOESN'T WORK

Lamar McKay, president of BP America at the time of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, insists that managing the hazards of deep water drilling are a "team effort."

7. FIRST LADY TOO RISQUE FOR IRAN

Iranian state media runs altered images of U.S. first lady Michelle Obama's Oscars appearance, making her sleeveless, scoop neck gown less revealing.

8. WELL, THERE ARE FEWER ICEBERGS NOW...

An Australian billionaire is getting ready to build a new version of the Titanic that could set sail in late 2016.

9. A REAL BUZZ KILL

In class-action suits, beer lovers accuse Anheuser-Busch of watering down its Budweiser, Michelob and other brands.

10. A BLIZZARD ON LOOP FEED IN MIDWEST

At least three deaths are blamed on the blizzard, the second in as many weeks. Conditions are so bad that snowplows slide into ditches.

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