Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 29 Jan 2015

1. EBOLA IS MUTATING, SCIENTISTS WARN

A French team are warning that the Ebola virus in Guinea has mutated. Researchers at the Institut Pasteur are trying to find out if it could have become more contagious as a result. More than 22,000 are believed to be infected with the virus across west Africa. More cases with no symptoms are being reported.

Ebola virus mutation may be more contagious

2. EARTHQUAKE HITS EAST MIDLANDS

An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 hit the East Midlands late last night. There were reports of building shaking across Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire just after 10.25pm. The epicentre was beneath the village of Cottesmore, Rutland. A quake hit Hampshire on Tuesday.

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3. SCHOOL LEAGUE TABLES CRITICISED

Some headteachers have described the new school league tables, released today, as a "nonsense" after changes to the ranking system. Some qualifications, such as International GCSEs, favoured by many independent schools, are no longer recognised, while the tables only take a pupil's first attempt at an exam into account. Among those affected are Eton and Harrow.

School league tables called a 'nonsense' after change in rules

4. MURRAY INTO FINAL OF AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Andy Murray is into his fourth Australian Open final, recovering from a set down to beat seventh seed Tomas Berdych in their semi-final. After losing the first set on a tie-break Murray won the second to love and maintained his authority to win 6-7, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5. It will be his first Grand Slam final since winning Wimbeldon in 2013.

Did Kim Sears swear at Andy Murray's rival Berdych?

5. CASTRO: CUBA WANTS GUANTANAMO BACK

Cuban president Raul Castro has asked the US to return the Guantanamo Bay military base before it will agree to normal relations. Last month, Barack Obama said the two countries had negotiated a thawing of their diplomatic freeze. Castro has also demanded the lifting of a US trade embargo.

6. MALAYSIA DECLARES MH370 AN 'ACCIDENT'

Almost 11 months after Malaysian Airline flight MH370 disappeared the government of Malaysia has officially declared it an accident and says that there were no survivors. No trace has been seen of the plane since it vanished on 8 March last year. Officials said the search would continue but all 239 people onboard are now presumed dead.

What happened to the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

7. MANCHESTER AIRPORT CLOSED BY SNOW

Manchester Airport has reopened after heavy snow across the North forced it to shut down this morning. Hundreds of schools in northern England and Scotland were closed and there was widespread disruption on roads. There were also delays and cancellations at Newcastle and Inverness airports. Conditions have begun to improve in much of the country.

8. STAR WARS FIGURE SELLS FOR £18,000

A toy which cost £1.50 when it was produced in 1980 has sold at auction to an anonymous bidder for £18,000. The figure of Star Wars character Boba Fett was bought in 1990 for £50 by lifelong fan Craig Stevens, who sold it reluctantly to help him buy a new house. It is still in its original packaging.

9. DIPPY THE DINOSAUR RETIRES FROM MUSEUM

A life-sized cast of a diplodocus skeleton which has greeted visitors to the Natural History Museum in London for 35 years is to be ‘retired’. Known affectionately as ‘Dippy’, the cast is deemed old-fashioned and will be replaced with a real skeleton of a blue whale diving, suspended from the ceiling, in 2017.

Dippy: why is the Natural History Museum hiding its diplodocus?

10. BRIEFING: HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE

Research published after the 2010 general election suggested that up to 15 per cent of eligible voters, around six million people, were not registered to vote - and half of them believed that they were. Now is the time to ensure that you don't lose your right to vote.

How to register to vote in the EU referendum before tonight's deadline