Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 15 Jan 2015

1. IMAGES SHOW BOKO HARAM DESTRUCTION

Satellite images of the towns in northern Nigeria attacked by Boko haram insurgents last week appear to show that large areas have been destroyed. Amnesty says the pictures show that around 3,700 structures in Baga and Doron Baga have been damaged or destroyed. The Nigerian government puts the death toll at 150, but others say 2,000 have been killed.

Boko Haram: satellite images reveal extent of massacre

2. OSCAR NOMINATIONS: BRIT HOPES HIGH

British hopes at this years Oscars are high after the nominations for this year's awards. The Theory of Everything and The Imitation Game were nominated for best picture. Felicity Jones, Rosamund Pike, Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne are up for the main acting awards. Birdman and Grand Budapest Hotel lead the race with nine citations each.

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Oscar nominations 2015: can Brits win big at Academy Awards?

3. 'ARSON ATTACK' ON COUNCIL OFFICES

Council offices in south Oxfordshire have been gutted by fire in a suspected arson attack. The blaze began shortly after 3am after reports of a car driving into the building. Firefighters were called to two other fires in the area and a man has been arrested. South Oxfordshire and Vale of White House district councils say services could be affected.

4. TEACHER’S SENTENCE TO BE REVIEWED

The attorney-general is to look at the case of religious studies teacher Stuart Kerner, 44, who yesterday received a suspended sentence of 18 months for twice having sex with a 16-year-old pupil. There have been complaints the sentence was “unduly lenient”. The judge claimed the girl had “groomed” Kerner.

5. FBI FOIL I.S-INSPIRED ‘PLOT’ TO BOMB CAPITOL

The FBI says it has foiled a plot to blow up the US Capitol building in Washington, arresting a 20-year-old convert to Islam in Ohio. Christopher Cornell was spotted after he tweeted support for Sunni fundamentalists Islamic State - and is alleged to have been inspired by the group to plan an attack.

How serious was lone-wolf plot to attack the US Capitol?

6. SCOTLAND: FEARS FOR JOBS AS OIL SLUMPS

The Scottish government has pledged to try to preserve crucial jobs in offshore oil extraction as leading energy expert Robert Plummer warns that North Sea oil fields may have to be shut down if the price of oil falls by even just a few more dollars. Oil prices have slumped by 60% over the past six months.

Oil price posts two-year highs - but how long can it last?

7. INACTIVITY 'KILLS MORE THAN OBESITY'

A study carried out over 12 years on more than 300,000 people by University of Cambridge scientists suggests that inactivity kills twice as many people as obesity. The researcher say everybody should do at least 12 minutes of brisk walking a day. Obese people who take exercise fared better than those who didn’t.

Lack of exercise 'twice as deadly as obesity'

8. COMIC AL MURRAY TO STAND AGAINST FARAGE

Comedian Al Murray is to stand for election as his character The Pub Landlord, a parody of jingoistic insularity, against Ukip’s Nigel Farage. Admitting he had “no idea where South Thanet” is, Murray said: “It seems to me that the UK is ready for a bloke waving a pint around, offering commonsense solutions.”

Election 2015: Nick Robinson, one man who’d welcome a second election

9. CLIMBERS REACH TOP OF YOSEMITE PEAK

Two climbers have become the first people to scale the sheer face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without using artificial aids to speed their progress. It took Kevin Jorgeson, 30, and Tommy Caldwell, 36, more than two weeks to ‘free-climb’ the smooth rock face, only using ropes to prevent falling.

El Capitan: duo complete one of world's toughest free climbs

10. BRIEFING: CHINA'S NEW ONLINE CRACKDOWN

China is trying to end the anonymity of social media users in a bid to stop the spread of terrorism, pornography and "rumours" on the internet. The country's Cyberspace Administration says it will now "comprehensively" implement the rule and "beef up" oversight to punish violators.

Why China is trying to ban anonymity on social media