Afternoon Report: August 20, 2012

August 20, 2012

Afternoon Report: August 20, 2012

A digest of what’s making news right now:

DEVELOPING - Phyllis Diller dead at 95: TMZ reports the acress and comedienne died surrounded by her family in Los Angeles Monday morning. (TMZ)

Seven dead in Turkey bomb blast: No one has yet stepped forward to claim responsibility for the explosion in the city of Gazlantep. (Sky News)

Senate candidate apologizes for rape comment: Rep. Akin said in a radio interview he meant to describe “forcible rape” during TV interview. (Associated Press)

“Top Gun” director had brain cancer before suicide: ABC News broke the story that Tony Scott, who died after jumping from a bridge, had brain cancer. (ABC News)

Alleged cop killers linked to anarchists: Seven suspects connected to the shooting deaths of two Louisiana deputies were involved in a sovereign citizen movement. (ABC News)

Conzoleezza Rice one of two women admitted to Augusta: Marks the first time the Georgia club has admitted members who were not men. (Reuters)

Mali’s Islamist warlord declares war on the west: Omar Ould Hamaha has vowed to launch a holy war against France, Great Britain and the United States. (Channel 4)

Apple’s market value rivals Microsoft’s 1999 value: Apple has now become the most-valuable company of all time. (Bloomberg)

Journalists applaud evolution by Myanmar on censorship: The country’s decision to abolish censorship for private publications is lauded as a move toward media freedom. (New York Times)

Top activist for Black Panthers worked for FBI: A man who gave the activist group its first firearms was an FBI informant, according to a bureau agent. (Center for Investigative Reporting)

Catch up with this morning’s digest, and follow the latest news as it happens on Twitter.