Met Office issues ‘risk to life’ weather warning as snow to blanket UK

The Met Office has issued a “risk to life” weather warning as snow is set to blanket the UK, with blizzards set to hit some areas.

Weather alerts in parts of Scotland have been upgraded from yellow to amber by the forecaster, while yellow warnings are in place elsewhere as people face a wintry start to the new year.

Up to 40cm of snow could hit some places in Scotland, while winds could lead to temporary blizzard conditions, bringing possible travel chaos, power cuts and “the potential risk to life and property”, according to the weather service.

The upgraded warnings cover parts of the Highlands and northeast Scotland, with frequent and prolonged heavy snow showers expected between noon on Friday and noon on Saturday.

Forecasters said some delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely, as are power cuts and disruption on the roads, while some rural communities could become cut off.

Snow and ice are forecast across much of the UK for the start of the new year, according to the Met Office, with temperatures on New Year’s Day not expected to climb above 5C in Belfast, 7C in London, 6C in Manchester, 3C in Edinburgh and 8C in Cardiff.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also warned of a potential surge in deaths, as it issued more severe warnings across England for the cold snap.

The UKHSA previously issued amber cold health alerts in the North East and North West of England. And now yellow alerts have been upgraded to amber in the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London. These warnings are in place until 10am on 6 January.

The agency warned it means the weather is “likely” to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including a “rise in deaths” among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.

Weather warnings are already in force on 1 January in Scotland, with a yellow warning of snow and ice covering the northern part of the country. The Met Office predicts 2-5cm could be lying by Thursday evening, with 10cm accumulating by Friday morning, while up to 20cm could build up above 200 metres.

The warning is in force until midnight on Friday, and at the weekend it extends further south, covering the area down to Perth and southerly parts of Argyll and Bute until midnight on Sunday.

Meanwhile, on Friday, a yellow warning for snow and ice was issued across large parts of England and Wales between midnight and noon, including Chester and Greater Manchester down to London and Kent. Up to 5cm of snow could blanket some areas, especially on higher ground in parts of North Wales and northwest England.

Separate yellow warnings are in place for Northern Ireland between midnight and 10am on Friday.

Then, on Saturday, there is another snow and ice warning for northern Scotland, which lasts from midnight Friday until midnight Sunday.

Meanwhile, a snow and ice warning covering parts of northeast England comes into force from midnight Friday until midnight Saturday.

People have been urged to prepare for longer journey times by road, and on bus and train services. The forecaster has also warned of injuries due to slips and falls on icy surfaces, which will develop quickly as sleet and snow clears.

A Met Office spokeswoman said: “This warning highlights the risk of disruptive snow showers and icy surfaces, particularly in northern and eastern areas, with impacts on travel and potential hazards for the public.

“We expect this cold spell to persist into the weekend and on into next week, with further warnings possible as temperatures remain well below average and snow showers continue in places.”

Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, said: “The weather is forecast to be very cold across England over the coming few days.

“Low temperatures like these can have serious impacts on the health of some people, particularly older people and those with serious health conditions. Exposure to cold can lead to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.

“It is therefore really important, as the colder weather sets in, to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.”

Reeves’ stealth taxes ‘hammer’ workers while pensioners ‘better off’

Rachel Reeves’ decision to drag millions more people into paying higher rates of tax will “hammer” workers, while pensioners and those on benefits will see their incomes increase, a new analysis has found.

In the Budget, the chancellor controversially froze the income tax and national insurance thresholds until 2031, meaning more staff will be pushed into paying higher taxes as their wages increase through inflation.

At the time, she said she was “asking everyone to make a contribution” to fund public services and investment amid a faltering economy.

A new analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) think tank has found that an employee currently earning £50,000 would be £505 worse off in real terms by 2030-31, despite a forecast that their salary will increase by more than £6,000.

But there was a “sunnier” picture for pensioners and those on the standard universal credit, it said.

Pensioners would be at least £306 better off in real terms, thanks to the “triple lock”, which guarantees increases at least in line with inflation, earnings or 2.5 per cent.

For someone on out-of-work benefits, that figure would be £290 because of increases to the standard rate of universal credit, the CPS said in its analysis, which used Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) inflation and wage growth forecasts.

Many workers “will be worse off by 2030 than they are today, in contrast to those who receive their income from the state, whether via a pension or benefits”.

Daniel Herring, CPS head of economic and fiscal policy, said: “Labour’s tax policy is quietly hammering workers while protecting pensioners and benefit recipients.

“Freezing the personal allowance for income tax will hit everyone, but it’s those who are dragged into higher tax bands who will really suffer, to the point where a worker on £50,000 today is set to actually be poorer in five years’ time, despite getting pay rises.

“Meanwhile, the state pension and universal credit will both be worth more in real terms.

“This is fiscal drag in action, raising taxes for millions of workers through the back door.”

Ms Reeves’ freeze in personal tax thresholds is expected to raise around £23bn for the Exchequer in 2030-31.

A Treasury spokesperson said: “In the budget we increased the national living wage and national minimum wage and took £150 off people’s energy bills, extended the freeze on prescription fees, fuel duty and froze rail fares for the first time in 30 years.

“The fair and necessary decisions we made at the Budget mean we can deliver on the country’s priorities – cut waiting lists, cut debt and borrowing and cut the cost of living.”

A wicked new twist sets The Traitors off with the perfect rug-pull

What makes The Traitors so fiendishly compelling? Is it the emotional betrayals? The schadenfreude? The Machiavellian skulduggery? It has all that, and some. But for all its diabolical genius, there’s the risk of it going stale. Plus, how do you top a recent celeb edition that had everything? Celia Imrie farting! Tom Daley learning the word “flabbergasted”! Alan Carr murdering his friend Paloma Faith with a poisoned lily!

Not helping matters for the arrival of this fourth series is the fact we haven’t actually had time to miss it. Barely eight weeks since Carr’s triumph, and here we are again for the common-or-garden edition. Familiarity breeds contempt and all that. Still, Claudia Winkleman and the producers clearly know they need something fresh. So before we even get to the usual palaver – that same steam train arrival, that same amazement at the castle accommodation – Winkleman unveils a devilish twist: a secret fourth Traitor. How I laughed when the chosen three discover there’s another one in their midst, and they’re suddenly reduced to mere middle-management, only permitted to eliminate Faithfuls from a shortlist handed down by their faceless overlord. Even murderous treachery has a chain of command now. “It’s supremely annoying and frustrating,” moans Hugo, the 51-year-old barrister and one of the selected three. “The whole point of being a Traitor is having perfect information and now there is someone above us in the chain.”

It’s a clever idea. But, of course, The Traitors is only as good as its cast. In this opening instalment, we meet the two other Traitors: the impeccably dressed Stephen, a 32-year-old cyber security consultant from the Isle of Lewis, and head of communications Rachel, 42, who “can’t wait to murder people”. Among the 18 Faithfuls – a crime writer here, a ghost-hunting builder there – a few stand out. Most notably, Amanda, a retired detective presumably in her element. What a rug-pull it would be if she turned out to be the secret Traitor, having spent the series dispensing crime-solving wisdom purely to throw everyone off the scent. Surely the producers have thought about that?

Then there’s sales exec Ross and nursery teacher Netty, who have history: friends of friends some 15 years ago who apparently haven’t clapped eyes on each other since. How that dynamic plays out could be fascinating. Will it help or hinder? How far does old loyalty stretch when there’s money on the table?

I’ve always found the tasks to be filler, really – an admission that it’s not quite enough to just stick people in a castle and watch them scheme, spiral and slowly lose their minds. Tonight’s effort at least yields a comic moment: when one team, attempting to tow a coffin to shore, finally clock their boat is anchored to the thing. It’s the sort of slapstick you couldn’t script.

But can this series match the highs of what’s come before? Will we get another Wilfred, cold-bloodedly recruiting Kieran only to sacrifice him? Another Harry, delivering that devastating firepit confession that left poor Mollie in tears after she’d scribbled his name off her chalkboard? While it’s a shame we didn’t get a breather between celebrities stabbing each other in the back and watching civilians do the same, the ingredients are certainly there for the fourth series – the secret Traitor twist has real mischief, and Winkleman remains the perfect mistress of ceremonies for this theatre of cruelty. It’s already gloriously twisted enough to have me hooked. There goes my next few weeks.

Tributes paid to animal welfare activist Sarah Fisher who died aged 61

Animal welfare campaigner Sarah Fisher, partner of Ted Lasso actor Anthony Head, has been remembered as “extraordinary” and “compassionate” following her death at 61.

Her daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head, described the loss as “immensely shocking” in a statement.

The tribute was shared on the social media page for Tilley Farm, a 90-acre Somerset property which Ms Fisher ran.

She died last week, according to reports.

Her daughters said: “We are so sorry to have to share the news that our extraordinary, kind and talented mother, Sarah, passed away recently. It is immensely shocking to us all, and came with very little warning.

“No words could ever express all that she encompassed, or begin to describe the crater her absence has left. We know how profoundly she has impacted the lives of so many, and we couldn’t be more proud of the legacy she is leaving behind.

“We only wish she’d had more time to share her knowledge and brilliance with us, and the world. Our grief knows no bounds, nor did the reaches of her incredibly unique and irreplaceable spirit.

“We know how much she treasured the relationships she had with all of her friends, colleagues and collaborators, many of whom she stayed in contact with here, and we thank you all for being a part of her enriched life.”

Fisher was an ambassador for Battersea Dogs And Cats Home and patron of Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary.

Peter Laurie, chief executive at Battersea, said: “We’re truly sorry to lose our beloved friend and ambassador, Sarah Fisher, and send our deepest sympathies to Sarah’s partner Anthony and her family and friends.

“A devoted supporter for many years, Sarah, alongside her partner Anthony Head, gave so much to our charity, fostering dogs, using her canine behaviour expertise to train our staff and volunteers, and attending many of our events and fundraisers. She will be dearly missed by all of us at Battersea.”

Founder of Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary, Pauline Leeson, paid tribute in a post to their website and said: “It came as a shock to hear that the wonderful Sarah Fisher, patron of Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary and advocate for all animals had passed away, and our hearts go out to Anthony, Daisy and family.

“Sarah was always a voice for those dear souls who have no voice, and was the most genuine, caring and compassionate human being.

“Sarah will be a huge loss to the animal kingdom she worked so tirelessly for, helping so very many animals of all species to find their way to cope and be happy in this changing world.

“We at Holly Hedge are so proud to have known Sarah. Her memory will live on in all the good work and positive change she has made to their lives.

“RIP Sarah, you will never be forgotten, and will be remembered with much love for all her outstanding work.”

In the end, Stranger Things lost its way in a maze of sci-fi bunkum

“Something is coming,” a young boy whispers to his assembled friends. “Something hungry for blood.” It’s 1983 – or 2016 – and you’re in Hawkins, Indiana – or on your sofa – playing Dungeons & Dragons… or watching Netflix’s Stranger Things. Over the decade since we first encountered the youthful protagonists, the show, created by the Duffer Brothers, has become an international sensation, launching careers and spawning an empire of video games, novelisations, podcasts and a stage play. Now, it ends where it began, with one last roll of the dice for our intrepid players.

With the entire world imperilled by the conquest of Vecna (Jamie Campbell-Bower), the gang execute their final, desperate plan. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) will head into the Abyss, team up with Max (Sadie Sink) and attempt to inveigle Vecna’s vessels – the kidnapped children, including Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) – out of his psychic prison. If they can do this, they might be able to set up a final showdown with Upside Down’s dark overlord – one where El will need all the help she can get. “One last fight,” Mike tells his compadres, “and this whole nightmare, it’ll be over.” And so off they trot, on a patience-testing feature-length finale that will take them into the belly of the beast – and viewers into the bowels of befuddlement.

This final season of Stranger Things, arriving after a three-year hiatus, has felt burdened with a lot of responsibilities. The actors have (largely) moved on to other projects and aged out of their roles, and it’s clear that the protracted story needed wrapping up. But the show is still Netflix’s most important original IP, and its conclusion a chance to distract from a disappointing year (creatively). Yet the final season has received a mixed response, as the tangle of narrative threads starts to obscure the show’s famously zingy chemistry. “We’re like Dorothy in Oz,” Max laments, “except there’s no Yellow Brick Road.” And even with the end in sight, the show is perilously confusing. What exactly is the Upside Down? How does the Abyss function? Why is Vecna using these stolen children? What is the relationship between Henry Creel, the Mind Flayer, Dr Brenner and Eleven? And why did the show cast Linda Hamilton and then only give her about five minutes of screen time?

The plot of this series has left me – like many of the show’s fans, according to the internet – baffled. But then again, the great success of Stranger Things has always been its casting, not its writing. Winona Ryder’s Joyce was a superb anchor for the show’s emotions, yet she has been sidelined this season, with the writers apparently unsure how to integrate her into a more action-based narrative. David Harbour, similarly, was an inspired booking: gruff, broken, but ultimately likeable. And in its young cast, Netflix has picked a few stars: Finn Wolfhard has grown into a charismatic screen presence, Dustin Matarazzo has natural comic timing, and Sink is now a legitimate dramatic actor. (It is hard to avoid the feeling that Netflix is grooming its new young star, Fisher, for a possible spin-off.) In Joe Keery and Maya Hawke (Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley, respectively), it unearthed two plausible A-listers, and perhaps the best piece of later casting was Campbell-Bower – best known for turns in Sweeney Todd and Harry Potter – in the dual role of Vecna and Creel. His performance, in particular, elevates this finale.

It feels a shame, then, that this fifth and final season has deviated so far from the show’s established character work, and become just another CGI rock’em sock’em adventure. From normal kids, they’ve become “interdimensional space travellers”. Dustin has gone from a smart lad to a literal astrophysicist; Nancy, from a surprisingly tough prom queen to an Ellen Ripley-esque badass. Some of this is character development, but much of it is a consequence of the stakes being raised higher and higher, the threat becoming greater and greater. “They had a lot more to overcome than just puberty,” Hopper tells Joyce. No s***. They’re now action heroes who can take on kaijus and make the United States military look like Darth Vader’s stormtroopers.

In the end, the Duffer Brothers just about manage to right the ship in the final act. There’s a degree of fan service to this (Will’s coming out scene, in the penultimate episode, was a particularly clunky moment where the discourse seemed to collide with the narrative), but it ensures that each of our central characters – El, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, Robin, Joyce and Hop – are given a send-off that rounds out their arc. This helps to offset the show’s Upside Down denouement, which is interminable, anticlimactic and so confusing that it’s hard not to give up on the exposition.

Wormholes, parallel worlds, hive minds, dimensions, portals and rifts. Don’t let all this pseudoscientific guff distract from the fact that Stranger Things is, in the end, a show about growing up in a boring town in the middle of nowhere. Matt and Ross Duffer – inspired by The Goonies and ET – have created a coming-of-age saga for the present day. It might have lost its way in a maze of sci-fi bunkum, but it will still influence a generation of viewers in much the same way that, a couple of decades ago, the works of Steven Spielberg inspired two young brothers.

Five perfect family getaways in Catalonia’s green heart

Looking for a family holiday that combines adventure, nature, and a touch of culture? Catalonia’s green heart is bursting with possibilities, from mountain valleys where flaming torches light up midsummer skies to tranquil wetlands teeming with wildlife. Whether your crew prefers gentle hikes, ancient ruins or ski slopes and riverside trails, this corner of northern Spain offers unforgettable experiences for every age and season. Here are five destinations that prove The Pyrenees of Catalonia might just be Europe’s ultimate family playground.

Located also in Catalan Pyrenees west, near the border with France, Catalonia’s wonderful all-rounder really does have something for the whole family. In terms of culture, it’s a place rich with traditions and history. Kids of all ages will be entranced by the annual summer solstice Fallas festivals, which involve young men carrying flaming torches from high in the mountains down to their villages where they light bonfires and take part in traditional dances late into the night. Even the most heritage-resistant will surely be converted by Vall de Boí’s unmatched collection of astonishingly preserved Romanesque churches, with their evocative towers, atmospheric interiors, and beautiful settings. The area is blessed with trails that will suit the youngest of hikers, like the routes at Salencar de Barruera where you walk along the river following a paved path from a playground to the Salencar wetlands.

Located just west of Andorra near the border with France, the Valls d’Àneu was the first inland part of Catalonia to receive the DTF family tourism certification, and it’s easy to see why. All valleys and peaks, glacial lakes and seemingly endless meadows, it feels like an unspoilt Eden that’s waiting to be explored all year round. In winter, the Espot ski station is a family favourite, with its dedicated beginners area with magic carpets and a drag lift, and its large number of green and blue slopes. Throughout the rest of the year, families flock to one of the region’s great areas of natural splendour: Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, which features more than 200 lakes with breathtaking alpine backdrops, many of them easily accessible on flat family walkways.

A few miles inland from Cadaqués in the Mediterranean, the gorgeous seaside town famous for its postcard-perfect whitewashed architecture, lies one of Catalonia’s big draws for nature-loving families: the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park. A 47km² wetland wonderland, its varied eco-systems are home to an astonishing range of birds and animals from bitterns and marsh harriers to otters and polecats. Parents to budding history buffs are also well-served in the area, which is home to both the Citadel of Roses – a fascinating journey through time that includes Hellenistic ruins, Visigoth-era buildings and Romanesque monasteries – and the archaeological site of Empúries with its reconstructed forum. It also benefits from being one of Catalonia’s culinary hotspots with its highly regarded seafood and excellent wines for deserving mums and dads.

Situated in the west of the Catalan Pyrenees, Pirineus, Noguera Palleresa is a stunning high peak destination that offers a vast range of family-friendly activities. In the snowy season, head to the celebrated Port Ainé ski resort, which has something to suit children of all ages from sledding play areas to treetop adventure parks. In summer, beat a path to the Alt Pirineu Natural Park which has abundant paths ideal for reluctant hikers, many of them with great views of the Pica d’Estats, which at 3143m is the highest mountain in Catalonia. Lovers of adventure sports should head to Sort on the Noguera Pallaresa river, which is the region’s top spot for whitewater rafting with gentle open kayaking for littler kids and thrilling canyoning for teenagers.

The Vall de Camprodon, located in Girona province just North of the town of Ripoll, is famous for its art nouveau architecture. One of the main draws of the Vall de Camprodon is the Ter and Freser Headwaters Natural Park, with its lush valleys and thrilling backdrop of high peaks. It’s a must-visit for aspiring bird-watchers, who if they’re lucky might see Griffon vultures, golden eagles, and Eurasian eagle-owls. Little kids will love the Camprodon Valley Tourist Train, which takes passengers on a 45 minute tour of Camprodon, allowing them to explore the valley and see incredible views of the Pont Nou without too much walking. And everyone will adore the food, particularly the local specialty biscuits, which they’ve been making since the 19th Century.

Plan your sustainable trip to the Catalan Pyrenees at visitpirineus.com/en

Sadiq Khan brands Trump a bully and vows to stand up to his ‘hatred’

The mayor of London has branded Donald Trump a “bully” for his long-running campaign against him just weeks after the US President called him “horrible, vicious, disgusting”.

Sir Sadiq Khan also accused Mr Trump of hurling “bile” at the UK, after he claimed the Muslim politician was successful because there were “so many” immigrants in the city.

Sir Sadiq, who also claimed President Trump was “obsessed” with him, said that he learned when he was nine years old that “the best way to deal with a bully, whether it’s in the playground or in the White House, is to stand up to them. You don’t get more respect from a bully by cowering”.

“And when somebody attacks my city, our citizens, our values, our way of life — when somebody makes certain generalisations about the followers of one faith — I think it’s incumbent to stand up to them,” he said in an interview with Politico.

He also joked that he thought Mr Trump would switch his focus to Zohran Mamdani when he was elected mayor of New York.

In the run-up to the vote, Mr Trump branded him a “communist” while Mr Mamdani suggested the president was a fascist.

Yet in an extraordinary meeting in the Oval Office, the two men appeared to laugh off the insults and develop a form of rapport.

Sir Sadiq joked: “When you look at the animus, hatred and bile coming from President Trump towards me. I sort of assumed when Zohran was elected, President Trump would be two-timing me and spending time targeting Zohran.”

But he suggested that their first meeting was a form of “tactical diplomacy” rather than a genuine meeting of minds.

When it came to Trump’s criticism of immigration in the UK, he described his comments as “bile not just towards me, but.. sweeping generalisations about the country in terms of the immigration policy and how elections are fought and won.”

He added: “I genuinely think he’s obsessed. And there have been many periods where he’s said horrible things and I’ve not responded because I’m just too busy to get involved in tittle-tattle, and this pathetic name-calling.”

Last month, Mr Trumpreignited his long-running feud with Sir Sadiq, saying of the city’s first Muslim mayor, whose parents came from Pakistan: “He gets elected because so many people have come in [to the UK]. They vote for him now.”

He also called him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor” and said he has done a “terrible job”.

With Labour on course to suffer heavy losses in elections in Wales, Scotland and English councils in May, Sir Sadiq suggested his party could learn from his success in London, saying: “I’m quite happy to lead, and they follow.”

But he insisted he did not want to become Labour leader, amid increasing speculation over Keir Starmer’s future. “No, no, no, no. I’ve no intentions, no plans, nor would I want to be the leader of the Labour Party or indeed the prime minister,” he said.

‘10 minutes exercise can turn off genes linked to bowel cancer growth’

Just 10 minutes of exercise each day can halt bowel cancer growth and speed up DNA damage repair, a study has found.

Researchers from Newcastle University found that a short bout of exercise can trigger a rapid molecular change in the blood.

The study said that physical activity protects against bowel cancer progression, but the “underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear”.

They collected blood samples from 30 overweight or obese, but otherwise healthy, men before and immediately after a 10-12 minute exercise session, in this case in the form of a cycling test.

They then exposed bowel cancer cells to pre or post-exercise blood serum.

Acute exercise increased the concentration of 13 proteins in serum, they found.

Many of these are linked to reducing inflammation, improving blood vessel function, and metabolism.

When these exercise-induced molecules were applied to bowel cancer cells in the lab, researchers found the activity of 1,364 genes was altered, including those involved in DNA repair, energy production, and cancer cell growth.

Writing in the International Journal of Cancer, the research team said their finding offers a “potential mechanistic explanation for the protective effects of exercise against” bowel cancer.

Dr Sam Orange, senior lecturer in clinical exercise physiology at Newcastle University who led the study, said: “What’s remarkable is that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it sends powerful signals through the bloodstream that can directly influence thousands of genes in cancer cells.

“It’s an exciting insight because it opens the door to find ways that mimic or augment the biological effects of exercise, potentially improving cancer treatment and, crucially, patient outcomes.

“In the future, these insights could lead to new therapies that imitate the beneficial effects of exercise on how cells repair damaged DNA and use fuel for energy.

“These results suggest that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it may also create a more hostile environment for cancer cells to grow.

“Even a single workout can make a difference. One bout of exercise, lasting just 10 minutes, sends powerful signals to the body.

“It’s a reminder that every step, every session, counts when it comes to doing your best to protect your health.”

Genevieve Edwards, chief executive at the charity Bowel Cancer UK, said: “Extensive research shows that people who are more physically active have a lower risk of bowel cancer as well as many other cancers.

“We should be aiming for at least 150 minutes of activity each week, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming.

“Other changes you can make to help reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer include eating plenty of fibre from whole grains, pulses, fruits, and vegetables, avoiding processed meat and limiting red meat, being a healthy body weight, stopping smoking and cutting down on alcohol.

“Making lifestyle changes can be a challenge, but we believe it’s worth the effort.”