10 Things to Know for Today
By The Associated Press, Associated Press
Jan 29, 2015 5:20 AM CST
FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 file photo, Israeli politicians Isaac Herzog, right, and Tzipi Livni listen during a tour along the Israel and Gaza Strip border. When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved his unwieldy coalition and called new elections last month, he appeared to be a lock...   (Associated Press)

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. TOKYO STUDYING NEW MESSAGE ALLEGEDLY FROM HOSTAGE

The audio recording, purportedly in Kenji Goto's voice, extends the deadline for Jordan's release of an Iraqi prisoner linked to a terror attack and says failure to do so will result in the Jordanian pilot's death.

2. DE BLASIO'S SIGN-LANGUAGE INTERPRETER GETS BLIZZARD OF ATTENTION

The 38-year-old deaf man used big gestures and full-body movements to interpret the mayor's briefings on the snow storm, becoming a buzzing character on social media.

3. PROSECUTORS TO LAY CASE AGAINST AARON HERNANDEZ

Opening statements are set to begin in the murder trial of the former New England Patriots star player.

4. STUDY: INSURERS USE DRUG COSTS TO DISCRIMINATE

Some insurance companies are charging the sickest patients more money for their medicines to discourage them from enrolling.

5. HOW THE IVY LEAGUE WANTS TO DIVERSIFY ITS CHINESE ACADEMIC BODY

The academic powerhouses are trying to recruit from all economic backgrounds in China which accounts for a third of all foreign students coming to the U.S.

6. CENTER-LEFT ALLIANCE CHALLENGES NETANYAHU'S LEAD

A strong showing by "The Zionist Camp" coalition is now ahead of the prime minister's Likud party in the polls.

7. WHAT GOP IS DEMANDING OF ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE

Republican senators at Loretta Lynch's confirmation hearing repeatedly seek assurances that she would do things differently than the current occupant of the job, Eric Holder.

8. RAUL CASTRO PUTS BRAKES ON CLOSER US-CUBA TIES

The Cuban president says normal relations depend on a series of American concessions — including the return of the U.S. base at Guantanamo — that appear highly unlikely anytime soon.

9. 'FRIENDSHIP 9' CIVIL RIGHTS ICONS CLEARED

A judge tosses the convictions of the nine men who integrated a whites-only lunch counter in Rock Hill, S.C., in 1961.

10. WHO'S GOOD BET TO WIN SUPER BOWL

New England will down Seattle 27-24 in overtime, predicts Barry Wilner, the AP's pro football writer.

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