Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. PAKISTAN SCHOOL ATTACK KILLS MORE THAN 125
The Taliban claim responsibility for storming a military-run school in the troubled region of Peshawar in one of its bloodiest operations in recent times. Most of the dead are children who were attending class.
2. AUSTRALIA MOURNS SYDNEY VICTIMS
The nation’s prime minister joins mourners at the city’s business district where two people died after an Iranian-born gunman took 17 hostage in a cafe for 16 hours.
3. SYDNEY GUNMAN SAW HIMSELF AS A MARTYR
The self-styled Muslim cleric who sought asylum in Australia two decades ago likened the country’s military contingent in Afghanistan to “Hitler’s soldiers.”
4. RUSSIAN CURRENCY SLIDES TO HISTORIC LOWS DESPITE RATE HIKE
Moscow’s Central Bank has so far failed in stemming the ruble’s decline even after boosting the country’s interest rate by 6.5% overnight.
5. SUSPECT NOT APPREHENDED YET AFTER SHOOTING RAMPAGE IN PENNSYLVANIA
Authorities say Bradley William Stone, 35, was in a custody fight with his ex-wife before he killed her and 5 members of her family.
6. HOW AP COVERED ROMANIA’S REVOLUTION 25 YEARS AGO
Associated Press correspondent John Daniszewski reported on the chaos of the overthrow of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and escaped death after being shot three times.
7. WHY OBAMA MAY BE SETTING A JUDICIAL RECORD
The Democrats are no longer facing GOP blocking tactics. They are now on track to confirm up to 88 federal judges–the highest annual tally for any president in the past 20 years.
8. CHICAGO POLICE STUMPED BY ‘CRASH-AND-GRAB’ BURGLARIES
At least a dozen times since September, thieves have slammed vehicles into stores and taken whatever they could with the speed of a NASCAR pit crew.
9. BILL COSBY’S WIFE DEFENDS HIM AS ‘KIND,’ ‘GENEROUS’
Camille Cosby also suggests that the embattled comedian rather than his female accusers is the real victim.
10. WHO’S THE NEW GLOBAL PLAYER IN SPORTS ARENAS
Qatar, a rich yet tiny Gulf emirate, is investing its massive wealth to host the 2022 World Cup, buy world-class teams and put its national airline on Barcelona’s jerseys.
