Top News Stories –
Islamic State terrorists execute Japanese hostage –
Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe has called the footage of Islamic State hostage Kenji Goto apparently holding a photograph showing the body of fellow captive Haruna Yukawa “outrageous and unacceptable”. On January 20th 2015 Islamic State said it would kill the two men unless Japan paid a ransom of $200m (£130m) within 72 hours.
Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe
Where are the richest 1% in the world? –
According to Credit Suisse anyone who has assets worth over $798,000 (£530,000) is one of 1% of the richest people in the world. 18 million of the top 47 million richest people are in the US, 3.5m in France, 2.9m in the UK and 2.8m in Germany. Ten percent of Swiss residents, a total of 800,000, are in the top 1%.
50 years since the death of Winston Churchill –
Sir Winston Churchill, prime minister of England through World War II died 50 years ago today. He was Conservative prime minister from 10 May 1940 – 26 July 1945 and again in 26 October 1951 – 6 April 1955.
Winston Churchill
FA Cup upsets return –
In England and Wales the fourth round of the FA Cup sees some of the most surprising results for many years. Premier League leaders Chelsea are beaten on their own ground 4-2 by Bradford City after leading the League One team 2-0. Manchester City who are second in the Premier League also lose at home to Championship side Middlesborough. This followed Cambridge United holding on for a 0-0 draw against Manchester United yesterday.
Jose Mourinho
List of the day –
Increase in wealth of richest 10 billionaires (ranked 2013) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billionaire | Wealth in 2013 ($bn) | Wealth in 2014 ($bn) | Increase | Nationality |
| SOURCE: OXFAM, FORBES | ||||
 Warren Buffett |
53.5 | 58.2 | 9% | US |
 Michael Bloomberg |
27.0 | 33.0 | 22% | US |
 Carl Icahn |
20.0 | 24.5 | 23% | US |
 Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud |
20.0 | 20.4 | 2% | Saudi Arabia |
 George Soros |
19.2 | 23.0 | 20% | US |
| Joseph Safra | 15.9 | 16.0 | 1% | Brazil |
 Luis Carlos Sarmiento |
13.9 | 14.2 | 2% | Colombia |
 Mikhail Prokhorov |
13.0 | 10.9 | -16% | Russia |
 Alexey Mordashov |
12.8 | 10.5 | -18% | Russia |
| Abigail Johnson | 12.7 | 17.3 | 36% | US |
Top Twitter Trends –
Other News Stories –
- Armed conflicts and attacks
- War in Donbass:
- A rocket attack on an open-air market in Mariupol, Ukraine, leaves at least 27 people killed and more than 90 injured. The pro-Russian rebel leader, Alexander Zakharchenko, announces an offensive on Mariupol. (AP via ABC News)(Al Jazeera) (Reuters)
- Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant:
- The Islamic State kills eight Lebanese soldiers in the northeastern Lebanese village of Ras Baalbek. (AP)
- Japan states that it is seeking to verify a video that claims the killing of Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa by Islamic State militants. (BBC)
- Business and economy
- Subsequent to the January 15 announcement that Target Canada would close all 133 stores, they announce the layoff of 17,000 employees. (CBC)
- Health
- The measles outbreak at Disneyland (Anaheim), which originated on December 28, 2014 (patient zero being an unvaccinated California woman who apparently transmitted the virus through airports and the theme park), but was unreported until January 7, spreads from California to six other states, including Nebraska, and Mexico. It now involves at least eighty-five cases. (AJC) (CBS)
- Politics and elections
- Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front party wins the Zambian presidential election. (ABC News)
- Sports
- Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson sets a National Basketball Association record for most points in a single quarter with 37. He also sets a league record for most three-pointers in a quarter, with nine. (Sports Illustrated)
- Rob Manfred succeeds Bud Selig as Commissioner of Major League Baseball. (MLB.com)
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