What we’re watching Friday

Health care reform
President Barack Obama meets with CEOs in the health insurance industry at the White House Friday to discuss his plan allowing insurance companies to provide coverage for a year for policies that don’t meet new guidelines for plans, stipulated under the Affordable Care Act.

Typhoon recovery
A top Philippine civil defense official told The Associated Press that the death toll has risen to 3,621. Survivors in the worst hit areas still complain that aid and assistance has been uneven and slow to reach those in need. U.S. military helicopters begin delivering food and water and medical supplies to remote areas.

Japan’s climate change set backs
The Japanese Cabinet sharply scales back target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. A top government spokesman says the new target accounts for the country’s idle nuclear reactors after the Fukushima accident in March 2011.

Reports of CIA surveillance of money tranfers
The New York Times reports Friday that the CIA has been secretly collecting bulk records on international money transfers. Officials, under the condition of anonymity, told The New York Times that the surveillance was authorized under certain provisions of the Patriot Act.

China says some couples can have two children
Communist Party leaders announced the easing of the China’s one-child policy; couples will now be allowed to have two children, if one of the parents is an only child. Leaders also announced the abolition of labor camps, as “part of efforts to improve human rights and judicial practices.”