President Obama used the term “Polish death camp” in a speech Tuesday honoring Polish resistance hero Jan Karski at a ceremony awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom, setting off a firestorm of angry retort from Polish dignitaries abroard. A White House spokesman said the president "misspoke." Polish officials have long been trying to get foreigners to stop using that particular phrase when referring to Auschwitz and other Holocaust death camps, since they were created by the Germans in Nazi-occupied Poland. News of the slip caused a furor in Poland, and many are calling for Obama to apologize to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The White House continued: “The president was referring to Nazi death camps operated in Poland. The president has demonstrated in word and deed his rock-solid commitment to our close alliance with Poland.”

Iran has confirmed a massive cyberattack by a data-collecting virus called Flame, with officials warning that the attack may potentially be more deleterious than the 2010 Stuxnet virus, which destroyed materials used for its nuclear program. Flame, which Iranian cyber experts say has likely been active for the past six months, doesn’t destroy data but rather mines it from a variety of sources—resulting in a data loss. Israel, which has previously been targeted by hackers, hinted at its involvement in the attack. Given the threat of Iran’s nuclear program, “it’s reasonable that [anyone] will take various steps, including these, to harm it,” said Moshe Yaalon, Israel’s vice prime minister and strategic affairs minister, on Tuesday.

The Obama administration said Tuesday that it won’t arm Syrian rebels because little is known about the resistance forces trying to topple Bashar al-Assad’s regime as Mitt Romney said the White House’s approach was a “policy for paralysis” in the region. Jay Carney, the president’s press secretary, said, “The nature and shape of and the membership of the opposition forces is something that we and our partners are assessing,” adding that sending more weapons to the war-torn region could make the situation spin into chaos. Meanwhile, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee criticized President Obama for not sending weapons, saying the U.S. should help to organize and arm opposition groups, though he didn’t give a specific plan.

Mitt Romney scored a big win in the Texas primary Tuesday night, officially locking down the Republican nomination. The candidate's nomination will be certified at the GOP national convention in August. Before the Texas primary, he had 1,086 convention delegates, but with the win Romney surpassed the 1,144 delegates required to get the nomination. His win was not unexpected, since he was the only major candidate still campaigning there. Romney’s political director said, “That goal is accomplished, but there’s a much bigger goal to be accomplished and that’s winning the presidency.”

Dissident Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng, who recently arrived in the U.S. for a fellowship at New York University, issued a stern challenge to his home nation in Wednesday’s New York Times op-ed section. Chen wrote of a growing need for fair laws to be instituted across China’s legal system, citing his own case as his prime example. He writes, “China does not lack laws, but the rule of law.” Chen claims that he was put into illegal confinement and then forced through a farcical trial where he was provided no defense attorney. “The issue of lawlessness may be the greatest challenge facing the new leaders” of China, Chen claims. “The fundamental question the Chinese government must face is lawlessness … those who handled my case were able to openly flout the nation’s laws in many ways for many years.”

While Pope Benedict XVI is said to be pained by the leak scandal plaguing the Vatican right now, a spokesman for the Holy See said the pope isn't concerned or afraid about the results of an ongoing to probe to get to the bottom of what happened. Benedict, according to the spokesman, is encouraging investigators to widen the investigation and get to the truth about what happened. The Vatileaks scandal—as the Italian press has dubbed it—has been hanging over the Vatican for months since an Italian journalist obtained letters from a former Vatican administrator and published them. Paolo Gabriele, the pope's butler, was detained for questioning and has pledged full cooperation.

First female Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was honored Tuesday by Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor, for her efforts to bring peace to the Middle East and Africa, reduce the spread of nuclear weapons, and for her role as a longtime champion of democracy and human rights. Albright was one of 13 honored, including cultural icon and musician Bob Dylan, public servant John Doar, author Toni Morrison and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. Jan Karski, the former Polish officer and Nazi prisoner who escaped to provide first-hand accounts of the Holocaust to Western allies, was honored posthumously.

Donald Trump is beginning to sound like a full-blown conspiracy theorist, pushing his birtherism on CNBC Tuesday morning. Later, he called in to CNN only to be told by Wolf Blitzer that he‘s “beginning to sound a little ridiculous.’ No one wants to hear it anymore, yet Trump can’t give it up. “You are, Wolf. Let me tell you something, I think you sound ridiculous, and if you’d ask me a question and let me answer it.” So Blitzer humored Trump and asked, “Did the conspiracy start in 1961 where the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and the Advertiser contemporaneously published announcements that he was born in Hawaii?” And then Trump replied: “Many people put those announcements in because they want to get the benefit of getting so-called born in this country. Many people did it. It was something done by many people even though they weren’t born in the country. You know it and I know it.”

Game, set, match…Virginie Razzano? Tennis fans around the world were scratching their heads on Tuesday as French Open favorite Serena Williams crashed out of the year’s second big tournament with a first-round loss to the Frenchwoman, 4–6, 7–6 (5), 6–3. The loss was the first time Williams, a 13-time major champion, had suffered defeat in the first round of a grand slam in 47 appearances, dating back to 1998. World No. 111 Razzano became just the fourth player ranked outside the top 100 to beat Williams on the pro circuit. Williams led the second-set tiebreak 5–1 before losing six straight points, and could not dig herself out of a 5–0 hole in the deciding set. “You know, that’s life,” she told the press in Paris after her exit.

Doc Watson, a blind Grammy-winning folk musician, has died after recently undergoing abdominal surgery following a fall at his North Carolina home. The 89-year-old Watson, who was known for his singing and being a master flatpicker, could play his acoustic guitar at such a high speed that it intimidated other musicians. Watson received a National Medal of the Arts in 1997 and eight Grammys throughout his career. However, he was perhaps best known for Merlefest, a yearly concert in Wilkesboro, N.C., named after his son who died in a tractor accident in 1985.

Dharun Ravi will begin serving his 30-day jail term on Thursday. The former Rutgers University student was convicted of using a webcam to spy on Tyler Clementi, his roommate at the New Jersey school, during a sexual encounter with another man. Clementi killed himself days after the incident. Ravi may end up serving as little as 20 days. In a statement, Ravi offered his first apology for the turn of events. “My behavior and actions, which at no time were motivated by hate, bigotry, prejudice, or desire to hurt, humiliate or embarrass anyone, were nonetheless the wrong choices and decisions. I apologize to everyone affected by those choices,” he said.

Scientists in California said on Monday that bluefin tuna had been found to contain radioactivity—carried 6,000 miles from Japan where radioactivity leaked into the waters after its nuclear crisis. “We were frankly kind of startled,” said Nicholas Fisher, one of the researchers in the National Academies of Science who reported the findings. The levels of radioactive cesium were 10 times higher than the amount in tuna off the California coast in recent years—although the levels are still well below the safe-to-eat levels set by the U.S. and Japan. One of the largest and fastest fish in the Pacific, Pacific bluefin tuna can grow to 10 feet and weigh more than 1,000 pounds. They spawn off the coast of Japan and swim at a breakneck pace to the California coast.

Warm temperatures contributed to blood boiling over this Memorial Day weekend in Chicago, where 10 people were reported dead between Friday and Monday. More than 40 shootings occurred in the city during the long weekend, with shooting rates up nearly 14 percent since the same period in 2011. The increasing violence comes at a time when Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who is scheduled to address the murder spree on Tuesday, has touted his efforts to fight gang crimes and clean up some of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods. 

Since taking office more than three years ago, President Obama has gone from “ending torture” at Guantánamo Bay to having “no qualms” about killing American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, writes Newsweek’s Daniel Klaidman. According to Klaidman’s new book, Kill or Capture: The War on Terror and the Soul of the Obama Presidency, Obama was at first reluctant to use of the “signature” drone strikes in Pakistan—especially, one source said, the idea of “kill ’em and sort it out later.” But over time Obama has become more and more accepting of the tactic, and this spring used the signature strikes in Yemen. Angst has prevailed in the Obama administration over the targeted killings, with the State Department’s Harold Koh wondering, “How did I go from a law professor to someone involved in killing?”

Extended federal unemployment benefits are soon to start running out, despite the decision by Congress to renew the program. The federal benefit extensions supported unemployment payments for up to 99 weeks to help the unemployed until the job market improved. When the program expired in February, Congress renewed it but reduced the number of weeks payments could be sent and made it hard for states to get the maximum amount of aid. Since then, 23 states have lost months of benefits and roughly 500,000 people are expected to lose their jobless benefits prematurely this year, including 70,000 in the next month alone.

A mob of several hundred people attacked the Cairo campaign headquarters of Egyptian presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq on Monday. They broke windows, destroyed campaign posters, and set the building on fire, according to witnesses. Shafiq took second in last week’s round of voting and he will be running against the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi during the runoff election in June. Shafiq served as Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister, and there is fear that his presidency would be an extension of the Mubarak regime.

A man suspected of robbery who had been in a 15-hour standoff with police reportedly died early Tuesday when he fell from the crane after holing himself up in its cab. Television footage showed the man dangling from the crane—150 feet about the ground—at Dallas’s Southern Methodist University before he fell. Dallas television stations reported the man had died, although it has not yet been confirmed  by authorities.

The famous New York law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf filed for bankruptcy Monday night—the largest law firm to collapse in U.S. history. The firm, which dealt in corporate law, at its peak employed 2,500 people, including 1,400 lawyers in 26 offices around in the world. Dewey’s roots go back more than a century, but the firm was officially created in 2007 when Dewey Ballantine and LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae merged to form one of the largest law firms with a powerful global business. But since then the firm had disappointing profits and had to slash partners’ salaries—causing a mass exodus of talent, destroying the firm. The firm currently has $315 million in liabilities, of which $225 million is owed to banks.

Samsung launched the Galaxy S3 smartphone in 28 European and Middle Eastern countries on Tuesday—the company’s latest effort to topple the iPhone. The South Korea–based company managed to overtake Apple in sales in the first quarter of 2012, but Apple is expected to release a new iPhone in the third quarter of this year. The Galaxy S3, which runs on the Android operating system, can track users’ eye movements to keep the screen from dimming while in use. Samsung said it will release the system via 296 carriers in 145 countries by July.

If all goes according to plan, Mitt Romney will clinch the Republican nomination on Tuesday night after the Texas primary. With 155 delegates at stake and Romney as the last man standing in the race, a victory will propel Romney well past the magic number of 1,144—the amount he needs to officially capture the nomination in Tampa in August. Although the contest has the second-largest haul of delegates in the primary contest—and the largest amount at stake so far—the state’s all-but-certain win for Romney has led voters there to be more focused on six primary races, including a U.S. senate race that has brought out heavy-hitters such as Rick Santorum and Sarah Palin to campaign.

Mitt Romney will meet with former Newt Gingrich–backer Sheldon Adelson while campaigning in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Adelson, a billionaire casino tycoon, is expected to support Mitt now that Newt is out of the running. While in Vegas, Romney will also be appearing at a fundraiser with Donald Trump. The Obama campaign has implored Mitt to stand up to this wealthy supporter, who relentlessly insists that the president was born in Kenya. 

The Obama campaign may not be willing to return Bill Maher’s $1 million donation, or to agree with the argument that the entertainer is just as incendiary as Rush Limbaugh, but the president will not be appearing with the controversial comedian on the campaign trail. The head of a pro-Obama super PAC pointed out, on MSNBC Tuesday, that, unlike Mitt Romney’s appearances with Donald Trump, he “wouldn’t expect” to see the president and Maher on stage together. “Mitt Romney is choosing to actually stand next to this guy who espouses some of the most hateful theories in Republican politics right now,” Priorities USA chief Bill Burton said. “It’s not even conservatism. It’s this fringe ideology.”

Al Qaeda’s second-highest leader in Afghanistan was killed by airstrikes carried out by NATO, the coalition confirmed on Tuesday. According to NATO, Sakhr al-Taifi was responsible for commanding foreign insurgents in Afghanistan and has also been credited with directing attacks against NATO and Afghan forces. The deadly strike occurred Sunday in the eastern Kunar province. Coalition forces said a follow-up assessment showed that no civilians were harmed. Meanwhile in Pakistan—where most of al Qaeda is thought to be located—two would-be suicide bombers were killed when their vehicle exploded prematurely. The explosion, which occurred on the main highway between Jalalabad city and Torkham in the eastern Nangarhar province, also reportedly injured three others.

A doctor said on Tuesday that they are investigating whether the drug commonly known as bath salts played a role in the face-eating attack in Miami over the weekend. The attacker has been identified as Rudy Eugene, 31, and according to court filings, he had no income and his assets included $2 cash and a $50 cellphone. Eugene was shot and killed by a police officer after he was apparently caught, naked, trying to eat the face of another naked man on a busy Miami highway. The victim is recovering in the hospital, most of his skin gone, his eyes gouged and his nose bitten. Police originally theorized that “cocaine psychosis” could have played a role in the attack, but an emergency room doctor said the attack could have been caused by bath salts, an LSD-like drug popular in the South, especially Florida.

New Mexico is experiencing its version of last summer’s destructive wildfire in Arizona. Two blazes sparked by lightning in southwestern New Mexico on Saturday merged in a wildfire that is now close to becoming the largest in state history, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The flames had engulfed roughly 152,000 acres by Tuesday, 5,000 acres short of breaking the state record. More than 1,100 firefighters are battling the blaze, though low humidity and high winds have hampered their efforts.

Boxer Paul Williams has been left paralyzed after a motorcycle accident near Atlanta this weekend, his manager confirmed Monday. Williams, 30, has no feeling below his waist, said the fighter’s manager, George Peterson. Peterson said the accident occurred on Sunday morning when Williams swerved to avoid making contact with a vehicle and lost control of the motorcycle. He was estimated to be going about 75 miles per hour. Williams had been in Marietta, Ga., for his brother’s wedding, and the accident occurred on the way home from the bachelor party. Williams is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday to stabilize his spinal column. Peterson said that “in terms of [Williams] walking again ... that will never happen,” but the fighter does have full use of his upper body.

What’s worse than your stock tumbling after going public? Your stock tumbling some more. Facebook shares slid another 5 percent Tuesday, dropping the social network’s value about 21 percent since going public on May 18. The stock closed at $28.84 for the day, down from an IPO of $42. As for Zuckerberg’s personal life, things couldn’t be better. He’s just off a honeymoon in Rome with his Facebook-official wife, Priscilla Chan, and the two made a surprise—and accidental—cameo in a Chinese documentary.

Despite tensions with Burmese President Thein Sein, Democratic leader and activist Aung Sung Suu Kyi is making major strides in her new parliamentary role. The long-time political prisoner arrived in Thailand on Tuesday night—her first trip away from Burma in 24 years—where she is scheduled to meet with migrant workers, Burmese war refugees, and leaders at the World Economic Forum on East Asia. She’ll return to Burma before traveling to Europe in mid-June to formally accept the Nobel Peace Prize she was awarded 21 years ago.

Scott Walker, the embattled Wisconsin governor who faces a recall election next week, raised $5 million in April, according to campaign records released Tuesday. That brings the governor’s total to $20 million raised since the beginning of 2012. His supporters have ramped up the donations since the beginning of the year as the election has loomed large over him. He is just the third governor in Wisconsin’s history to face a recall. A large chunk of the donations, the report showed, have come from out of state. Despite the large sums raised, Walker’s campaign has only about $1.6 million left in the bank. Tom Barrett, Walker’s Democratic foe, has raised far less in total compared with the governor, though Barrett’s campaign reports $1.5 million on hand, just short of Walker’s final-week war chest.

Kofi Annan began negotiations in Syria on Monday in an effort to save his peace plan, while Russia, one of Syria’s allies, said the government should take most of the blame for the violence in Houla. The United Nations envoy will meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday, in a trip that was planned before the violent massacre took place on Friday. “I urge the government to take bold steps to signal that it is serious in its intention to resolve this crisis peacefully, and for everyone involved to help create the right context for a credible political process,” Annan said. Separately, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, claimed that he has prepared military options for the crisis in Syria. Meanwhile Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Britain, and Italy all announced Tuesday that they would expel all Syrian diplomats immediately, a move coordinated with the U.S.’s hardline action.

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit northern Italy early Tuesday morning, killing at least 15 people and injuring another 200. The quake is the second to hit the region in nine days, after 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck on May 20 and left seven people dead and destroyed hundreds of buildings. Tuesday’s earthquake caused many more buildings damaged by the May 20 earthquake to collapse. Thousands of people were already sleeping in tents after their homes were destroyed, and Tuesday’s quake sent even more panic across the region.