10 things to know for Wednesday, Oct. 24

By The Associated Press
Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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

1. CANDIDATES DEMONSTRATING URGENCY OF CAMPAIGN’S FINAL STRETCH
  In the busiest single day of his re-election campaign, the president will cover 5,300 miles as Romney paints a bid on the upswing. PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

2. HIGH STAKES FOR MICROSOFT AS IT UNVEILS WINDOWS 8
The dramatic overhaul of the operating system may prove that the largest software maker can still compete or reinforce perceptions that it is falling behind. MICROSOFT-BALLMER’S LAST STAND

3. JORDANIAN MONARCH SEEKS TO STEER NATION THROUGH TURBULENCE
  King Abdullah has managed to fend off domestic challenges for 22 months, but growing opposition and a foiled al-Qaida plot mean things are heating up. JORDAN-MIDEAST TURMOIL-ANALYSIS

4. IT’S OPENING DAY FOR NATION’S FASTEST ROAD
Final stretch of Texas Highway 130 will allow motorists to drive at 85 mph. TEXAS-SPEED LIMIT

5. JAMAICA BRACES FOR A NASTY STORM
Tropical Storm Sandy is expected to be a hurricane when it hits the island nation Wednesday. TROPICAL WEATHER

6.  COMPARING THE IPAD MINI WITH ITS RIVALS
The device, with many of the same features as a regular iPad, has a bigger screen but costs more than a Nook or a Kindle Fire. APPLE-IPAD MINI

7.  GOOGLE IS GETTING EVEN CLOSER WITH TREKKER
The backpack-sized device will outdo Street View and Trike to sneak into smaller places such as the hidden spots of the Grand Canyon. GOOGLE-GRAND CANYON

8. WHY OBAMA WANTS WALL STREET TO ALTER PAY INCENTIVES
  President says financial regulation overhaul doesn’t provide enough means to hold risk takers accountable. OBAMA-WALL STREET

9. WHAT NORTH KOREANS FIND IN “GONE WITH THE WIND”
The American cultural touchstone has something for everyone in this totalitarian bastion: tortured love, civil war, ruin and starvation. NKOREA-SEEKING SCARLETT

10. HOW THE WORLD SERIES FOES MATCH UP
It’s the power-packed Tigers against the never-say-die Giants. WORLD SERIES