Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 15 Jan 2016

1. Yellow alerts as snow sweeps across Britain

Severe weather alerts are in force today as snow, ice and gales sweep across the UK. The Met Office has issued yellow 'be aware' alerts for all of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales - and in England for the South East, the Midlands, Yorkshire, Humber and the North East. In East Anglia there could be as much as 2cm of snow.

2. Major Tim Peake makes first British space walk

British astronaut Tim Peake has undertaken his first space walk, helping to repair a broken power unit and installing cables outside the International Space Station with colleague Tim Kopra. Peake said he had been looking forward to the experience long before he joined the crew of the ISS on 15 December for a six-month scientific mission.

3. Osborne: EU vote is 'once-in-a-lifetime decision'

George Osborne said last night the in-out referendum on Britain's EU membership, to be held by the end of 2017, would be a "once-in-a-lifetime decision" and it would be "unrealistic" to think the poll might be repeated. Describing himself as a Eurosceptic, the Chancellor said he was "optimistic" about David Cameron's reforms.

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4. Lord Janner abuse case dropped

Criminal proceedings against the late Labour peer Lord Janner have been dropped in the wake of his death. A 'trial of the facts' had been due to take place in April but has been shelved after the 87-year-old, who had been declared unfit for trial, died in December. Families of his alleged victims say they are "devastated" by the decision.

5. Anglican church avoids split over gay rights

The worldwide Anglican communion has avoided a damaging schism by granting concessions to those opposed to marriage equality for gay people. The church agreed to impose sanctions on a liberal US branch and issue a statement in support of the "traditional doctrine" of marriage, which it defines as between a man and a woman.

Anglican church avoids split over gay rights

6. Trump challenges Cruz over Canadian birth

Donald Trump, still the frontrunner to be the Republican candidate for the White House this year, has challenged the legitimacy of his rival, Ted Cruz. Trump, who has previously questioned whether Barack Obama was born in the US despite the President producing his birth certificate, said Cruz was born in Canada.

Trump travel ban: Judge expands definition of relatives

7. First Ebola case in Sierra Leone since November

Hopes that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa was finally over have been dealt a blow after a new case of the disease was diagnosed in Sierra Leone, hours after neighbouring Liberia was officially declared free of the deadly virus by the World Health Organization. The new case in Sierra Leone is the first in the country since November.

Ebola: new case confirmed in Sierra Leone

8. George W Bush most edited on Wikipedia

The Wikipedia entry for former US president George W Bush is the most edited page on the online encyclopaedia's English site and has been altered almost 46,000 times. Wikipedia marked its 15th anniversary by publishing a list of its most edited pages. Michael Jackson, Jesus, Barack Obama, Adolf Hitler, Britney Spears and the Catholic Church all made the top 15.

9. First January Atlantic hurricane sine 1938 forms

A hurricane has formed far out in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time since 1938. The ocean is only three or four degrees Fahrenheit warmer than normal for the time of year, barely warm enough for a hurricane to form. Residents of the mid-Atlantic Portuguese Azores islands are braced for 100mph winds and 60ft-high waves.

Alex is first January hurricane to form in the Atlantic since 1938

10. Briefing: what next for the gold price?

The gold price rebounded in late trading yesterday after a modest two-day fall, and appears to have carved out a new trading range a little below $1,100. It had surged to a peak above $1,112 an ounce last week as markets fell sharply around the world, but fell back close to $1,080 in the wake of an equities recovery, which limited the "safe-haven" demand that had prompted a bout of gold-buying. Now, however, opinion is divided as to its next move.

Gold price waits for rates clues from Jackson Hole