Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 5 Feb 2012

1. SNOW AND ICE DISRUPT BRITAIN

Heavy snow is causing disruption in many parts of Britain. Heathrow Airport cancelled up to a third of its flights for Sunday before the snow began falling. Britain’s roads have been disrupted, including on the M40 where 100 vehicles were stranded. Up to 15cm (6in) has fallen in some areas.

2. UN SYRIA VETOES ‘SHAMEFUL’

Russia and China have been condemned for vetoing the UN resolution calling on President Bashar al-Assad to step down. America described the vetoes as "shameful" and said of the vetoing members “any further bloodshed that flows will be on their hands," Russia and China said the proposed draft was "unbalanced".

3. WALLACE HURT BY MILIBAND COMPARISON

Staff at the company behind Wallace and Gromit are concerned that the comparisons between Wallace and Labour leader Ed Miliband could damage the standing of their animated plasticine character. Cartoonists for The Times have portrayed Miliband as the hapless inventor on eight occasions.

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4. INDIA REJECTS UK AID

India’s Finance Minister said his country “does not require” British aid, and described it as “peanuts”. Pranab Mukherjee says India should “voluntarily” give-up the aid. Britain is the largest bilateral donor to India, paying around £280 million a year, almost three-quarters of the money it receives.

5. 5,000 HEAD TEACHERS ‘BELOW STANDARD’

The head teachers of over 5,000 schools are below standard and responsible for the “national disaster” of thousands of teachers quitting soon after qualifying, the new chief schools inspector tells The Sunday Times. Sir Michael Wilshaw called for “less tolerance of poor leadership” and a “no-excuses culture”.

6. MILIBAND: THREE MONTHS TO SAVE NHS

Britain has three months to save the NHS, Ed Miliband writes in The Observer. With the controversial NHS reform bill due to return to the Lords this week, he wrote: “Now is the time for people of all parties and of none, the professions, the patients and now peers in the House of Lords to work together.”

7. ROMNEY TO WIN IN NEVADA

Mitt Romney declared victory in the Nevada Republican caucuses after polling 42% with nearly half the votes counted. At the same stage, Newt Ginrich had around 26% of the vote. Ginrich has kept an uncharacteristic low profile in Nevada, raising questions over his campaigning future.

8. HUHNE COULD BE EXPELLED

Chris Huhne could be expelled from parliament if he is found guilty of perverting the course of justice. Conservative and Labour supporters in his constituency may demand a by-election if he is jailed. Under parliamentary rules, MPs are allowed to stay in their posts if their sentence is up to 12 months.

9. TORY MPS REVOLT ON WIND FARMS

More than 100 Conservative backbench MPs have written to the PM demanding dramatic cuts to the £400 million-a-year subsidies paid to the “inefficient” onshore wind turbine industry. They have also demanded a tightening of planning laws so residents have a better chance of preventing new wind farms.

10. CASTRO LAUNCHES HIS MEMOIRS

The former Cuban President Fidel Castro has made a rare public appearance to launch his memoirs. Castro was casually dressed at the event for his near 1,000-page book, Guerrilla of Time. The six-hour book launch was the first time he has been seen in public since April 2011.