Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 4 Feb 2012

1. VIOLENCE AHEAD OF UN SYRIA VOTE

Activists say more than 200 people have been killed by Syrian forces in the city of Homs, as the UN security council prepares to vote on a draft resolution calling for President Bashar al-Assad to resign. Residents say houses have been shelled in Homs as families sit inside.

2. BRITAIN BRACES FOR SNOW

Much of England and Wales is expecting heavy snow later, bringing disruption to roads and rail. Up to 10cm (4 inches) could fall in some areas. Race meetings and several football matches have been cancelled. A temperature of -10.6C was recorded in Chesham, Buckinghamshire on Saturday morning.

3. ANONYMOUS HACK FBI TELEPHONECALL

Protestors from the ’hacktivists’ group Anonymous have successfully intercepted a conference call between the FBI and Scotland Yard. Anonymous has released a recording of the call in which the FBI discussed the options for taking legal action against hackers.

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4. POTTER STAR DRUNK ON SET

Actor Daniel Radcliffe says he was sometimes drunk while filming Harry Potter and has admitted losing control of his alcohol intake in the past. “I went into work still drunk, but I never drank at work,” he told Heat magazine. “I can point to many scenes where I'm just gone. Dead behind the eyes."

5. ‘KEEP IT UP’ OBAMA TELLS CONGRESS

Barack Obama has urged Congress to “keep the recovery going” as the US unemployment rate fell to its lowest level for three years. News that the jobless rate had fallen to 8.3pc from 8.5pc led to the FTSE 100 reaching a seven-month high, closing up 1.8pc at 5901.91 on Friday.

6. OSBORNE SPENT TAX ON NO. 11

Chancellor George Osborne has spent more than £30,000 of taxpayers’ money on a makeover of 11 Downing Street and his flat next door, The Daily Telegraph reports. The revelations, obtained after a Freedom of Information Act request, have led to Osborne being condemned by opposition MPs.

7. MANNING WILL FACE COURT MARTIAL

Wikileaks suspect Bradley Manning will face a court martial, the US Army has confirmed. Manning, accused of leaking US government cables, faces a total of 22 counts, including aiding the enemy, and could be imprisoned for life if convicted of that charge.

8. TERRY MIGHT QUIT ENGLAND

John Terry is reportedly considering retiring from international football after being stripped of the captaincy by the FA yesterday. Manager Fabio Capello is said to have opposed the FA’s decision. Rio Ferdinand has ruled himself out of replacing Terry as captain.

9. MORMOM ROMNEY EYES NEVADA WIN

Mitt Romney, expected to comfortably win today’s caucuses in Nevada, has been described as “Obama lite”, and “against the American ideal” by his opponent Newt Ginrich. Romney won the Nevada caucus in 2008, thanks in part to the large Mormon population.

10. ARMSTRONG INVESTIGATION DROPPED

Cyclist Lance Armstrong is in the clear as the two-year doping investigation by federal prosecutors is dropped. The seven-times Tour de France winner, who has always strenuously denied doping, will not face charges over allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs.