Emily Taylor

The case of a Saudi blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes has been referred to the Supreme Court by the king’s office, the BBC learns.
BBC News – Middle East

New US trade and travel rules covering Cuba have come into effect, allowing the use of credit cards and ending a ban on Cuban cigars.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

Five people suspected of plotting to kill Belgian police officers are charged after raids across the country that saw two suspects shot dead.
BBC News – Europe

There is “heightened concern” about the risk to Jewish communities in the UK and police officers following the terror attacks in France, police warn.
BBC News – UK

David Cameron and Barack Obama say the UK and US are to work more closely to combat “violent extremism”, sharing expertise on tackling threats.
BBC News – US & Canada

Zinder in Niger is the latest city to see protests against French magazine Charlie Hebdo after it published a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad.
BBC News – Africa

HOUSTON – After a long, five-day hiatus, Thunder fans finally get to see their squad back in action.  
Oklahoma City Thunder

New pensioner bonds paying an annual interest rate of up to 4% are now on sale but high demand has led to some website problems.
BBC News – Business

Five Yemeni men held at the US jail in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for more than a dozen years are transferred to Oman and Estonia, US officials say.
BBC News – Middle East

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos says his government is for the first time prepared to begin talks on a bilateral ceasefire with Farc rebels.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

French President Francois Hollande insists satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo will grow stronger after the new edition sold out in hours.
BBC News – Europe

Retail giant H&M and service station operator Welcome Break are among 37 firms “named and shamed” for failing to pay the minimum wage.
BBC News – UK

The FBI has arrested an Ohio man for allegedly planning to bomb the US Capitol in an Islamic State-inspired attack, according to court documents.
BBC News – US & Canada

Satellite images of Nigerian towns attacked by Boko Haram earlier this month show widespread destruction and suggest a high death toll, Amnesty International says.
BBC News – Africa

OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan.
Oklahoma City Thunder

The World Bank has cut its global growth forecast, warning the US alone cannot drive an economic recovery.
BBC News – Business

A court in Egypt overturns former President Hosni Mubarak’s embezzlement conviction and orders a retrial, paving the way for his release.
BBC News – Middle East

Relatives of the 43 Mexican students who went missing on 26 September in Guerrero state clash with police as they try to enter an army base.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls says Islamist gunmen who murdered 17 people in Paris wanted to kill the “spirit of France” – but have failed.
BBC News – Europe

The inflation rate dropped sharply to 0.5% in December, its joint lowest on record, as petrol prices fell.
BBC News – UK