Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Friday, Jan. 23, 2015. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. CLOCK TICKING ON JAPANESE HOSTAGES
Militants affiliated with the Islamic State group post an online warning that the “countdown has begun” for the group to kill the pair if demands for ransom haven’t been met.
2. NEW MONARCH TO CONTINUE IN SAME VEIN
New Saudi King Salman promises to continue policies of predecessors in televised speech; he has effectively been running the Sunni kingdom for the last year.
3. OBAMA’S TELLING HIT LIST
The veto threats the president’s issued over the last three weeks are a microcosm of American politics, representing the roiling issues of the day.
4. FEDS ASKED TO PROBE PRISON DEATH
New York City has asked federal prosecutors to investigate the 2013 death of a mentally ill Rikers Island inmate who sexually mutilated himself after being locked alone without medication.
5. THAI POLITICS ROILING AGAIN
Thailand’s legislature impeaches former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for her role in overseeing a government rice subsidy program that lost billions of dollars.
6. HOW ECB’S NEW STIMULUS CAN WORK
AP’s Paul Wiseman says the central bank’s plan to resuscitate Europe’s economy hinges on whether people, governments and companies accelerate the intervention.
7. WHY SNOWBOARDING IS FADING IN POPULARITY
Aging athletes, new skis and a lack of snow are ganging up on the sport, which has seen a marked drop in participation over the last decade.
8. ‘MAGIC’ YARMULKE AIMS TO PROTECT JEWS FROM ATTACKS
An Israeli barber has fashioned a Jewish skullcap out of hair, designed to allow religious Jews in Europe to cover their heads without attracting unwanted attention from anti-Semites.
9. SETH ROGEN RESPONDS TO ‘SNIPER’ COMMENTS
The actor tells AP that the tweets he sent about the movie “American Sniper” were not meant to have political implications.
10. WHO’S OUT AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN
For the first time since 2003, Roger Federer won’t be featured in the tennis major’s semifinals after losing to Italy’s Andreas Seppi in the third round.
