Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 22 Jan 2015

1. QUANTITATIVE EASING FOR THE EUROZONE

The European Central Bank has announced a programme of quantitative easing, which will see it purchase €60bn of government bonds per month until the end of September 2016. The move is designed to stimulate the eurozone economy and prevent it from falling into a deflation. ECB president Mario Draghi said the programme would begin in March.

Quantitative easing in the eurozone - how does it work?

2. BUS STOP SHELLING KILLS 13 IN UKRAINE

At least 13 people have been killed by a shell which struck a trollybus in the rebel-held city of Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, local authorities say. The victims are said to have included bus passengers and people in a passing car. Both dies have blamed each other. The attack came after Ukrainian forces lost control of Donetsk airport on Wednesday.

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3. PRINCE ANDREW TO APPEAR IN PUBLIC

Prince Andrew today makes his first public appearance since a woman claimed she had been forced to have sex with him when underage. The Duke, who strenuously denies the claims, will host a reception for business people at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, later this evening.

Prince Andrew: underage sex claims to be struck off the record

4. PAGE 3 RETURNS: TOPLESS MODEL IN SUN

This week, following the lead of The Times, newspapers reported The Sun had dropped its long-running Page 3 feature. Not so, it would seem: today’s issue shows Nicole, 22, from Bournemouth, topless. Apologising to news outlets who assumed The Times was right, the paper says it had a “mammary lapse”.

Page 3: topless models make a rapid return to The Sun

5. PREMIER LEAGUE DOMINATES RICH LIST

The UK’s Premier League dominates this year’s football rich list - though Spanish side Real Madrid are at the top of the chart. All 20 clubs are in the top 40 of the list, which ranks teams by income and is compiled by business advisory firm Deloitte. The combined revenue for PL clubs rose 14% to £5.2bn.

Man United second in rich list despite worst season for years

6. EX-HOME SECRETARY LEON BRITTAN DIES

Former home secretary Leon Brittan has died of cancer aged 75 his family have announced. Brittan was home secretary from 1983 to 1986 and also served as chief secretary to the Treasury and trade and industry secretary under Margaret Thatcher. He stood down as an MP in 1988 and held senior roles in Europe, where he was a vice-president of the European commission.

Leon Brittan: former Home Secretary dies aged 75

7. CIGARETTE PACKET VOTE BEFORE ELECTION

MPs will vote on plans to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes before the general election, public health minister Jane Ellison has announced. The law could come into force as soon as next year if Parliament passes the legislation before the end of March. The plan, which would see branding replaced by health warnings, has cross-party support.

Plain cigarette packaging laws to go through before May

8. MICROSOFT SHOWS OFF NEW 3D GLASSES

Tech giant Microsoft has demonstrated a new technology it calls HoloLens. These glasses allow 3D holograms to be overlayed on the real world. Users can then interact with them. The company also revealed its latest operating system, Windows 10, and said it will be free for existing Windows users.

Microsoft launches Windows 10 - and it's free to current users

9. CRIME FALLS 11%, BUT SEX OFFENCES RISE

The number of recorded crimes in England and Wales fell by 11% in the year to September 2014, according to new figures. However, there was a 22% rise in the number of sexual offences, with 24,000 rapes and almost 49,000 in total. The increase was put down to changes in the way police record offences and a greater willingness of victims to come forward than before.

10. BRIEFING: WILL DEFLATION HIT THE UK?

"Deflationary contagion" is in the air, and falling prices are not necessarily a cause for celebration. As inflation falls ever closer to zero in Britain, economists are divided about the dangers of deflation, and what can be done to keep us out of it.

Deflation: UK prices are now falling, but is that a bad thing?