AP 2010-10-23（在线收听）

1. A federal judge has denied a government request to delay her order, halting the military from enforcing its ban on openly gay troops. The judge issued her ruling Tuesday, saying the government had not proven that her order would harm troops or impede efforts to implement new regulations to deal with openly gay troops.

2. The wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is asking Anita Hill to consider apologizing for accusing the justice of sexually harassing her. The request comes 19 years after Hill made the accusation during Clarence Thomas' confirmation hearing. Virginia Thomas calls the request “an olive branch.” Hill calls the request “inappropriate.”

3. Former British Prime Minister Marguerite Thatcher is in the hospital because of a recent bout of flu. Thatcher represented the UK from 1979 to 1990. She also had to skip a reception last week honoring her 85th birthday because of the flu.

4. The Spanish parliament will vote today to toughen its anti-smoking law. This new legislation aims to ban smoking in all bars, restaurants, schools and parks. More than 30% of the Spanish population smokes.