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Former Eastenders actress Kara Tointon has been crowned as this year’s winner of Strictly Come Dancing.
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Forecasters have predicted cold conditions across much of the UK Severe weather warnings are in place for many parts of the UK, as snow and freezing temperatures bring more travel chaos.
Hundreds of drivers spent much of the night stuck on the M6 in Greater Manchester after a lorry jack-knifed.
The arctic conditions threaten further disruption on the roads, railways and airports on the last weekend before Christmas.
British Airways cancelled all flights out of Heathrow between 1000 GMT and 1700 GMT.
All passengers on BA flights were advised not to travel to the airport on Saturday, the airline said.
Problems were reported on several motorways overnight, including the M61, M58 and M57, as 20cm of snow fell in north-west England.
Commuter Stephen Derbyshire, who was stranded on the M6 for five hours, told BBC Radio 5 live: “It is absolute mayhem.”
The M6 and M61 reopened at around 0700 GMT after junctions 22-27 and 6-8 respectively had been closed.
Police have advised people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Easyjet cancelled all flights in and out of Gatwick Airport until 1000 GMT and expects further cancellations and delays throughout the day.
WEATHER AND TRAVEL INFO
Get the latest on travel problems and school closures via your local website Check if snow is forecast in your area at BBC Weather Details of motorway and local road closures and public transport disruption are available at BBC Travel News For advice on handling difficult driving conditions, see the Highways Agency website For information about severe weather warnings, see the Met Office website For information about staying healthy in the cold weather, see the NHS Winter Health website
A Gatwick spokesman said flights to Amsterdam, Geneva, Munich and Copenhagen had all been disrupted.
In Cardiff, staff who work at University Hospital Wales are being urged to contact their wards to see if they are able to help over the weekend because the weather has hit staffing levels.
Heavy snow is forecast in Northern Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England.
Overnight, temperatures fell as low as minus 13C in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, and minus 11C at Gatwick.
Up to 10cm of snow is expected later across southern England and Wales.
BBC weather forecaster Daniel Corbett said: “South-west England and the southern counties of of England will bear the brunt of this storm.”
In Northern Ireland, where conditions on Friday were said to be the worst in 25 years, the situation is expected to improve slightly with only a few snow showers expected.
Other problems caused by the weather include:
Bristol Airport was closed for snow clearance but Belfast International airport reopened at 0030 GMT, although delays are expectedRail operators Southern, Southeastern and South West Trains cancelled some services on SaturdayA number of weekend football fixtures have been cancelled and the National Hunt meeting at Haydock was abandonedA cannabis factory in Leicester has been exposed by the wintry weather because heat lamps inside melted the snow on its roofAn urgent appeal is being made for blood donors, particularly those who are O negative, as stocks are running lowCompanies have warned of a backlog of deliveries which may not reach customers before ChristmasTransport secretary Philip Hammond says distributors of heating oil are hoping to clear their delivery backlog in the next few days, following fears it may need to be rationed
Heavy snowfall during the past few weeks has caused huge disruption, especially in Scotland and north-east England.
On Friday, at least 800 schools in Wales, 500 in Scotland and 700 in Northern Ireland closed.
New Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown has insisted Scotland is “very well prepared” and the authorities are doing all they can to keep trunk roads open.
Mr Brown’ s predecessor Stewart Stevenson resigned after his department was criticised for its handling of the problems caused by the previous bout of severe weather.
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More than 30 people – mostly women and children – are feared dead after a boat capsizes on a river in north-eastern Bangladesh, officials say.
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The bad weather leads to another day of disruption across Northern Ireland, with snow falling again on Saturday evening.
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Matt Baker is the favourite to win ahead of Kara Tointon and Pamela Stephenson. The three Strictly Come Dancing finalists are preparing to battle it out to be crowned this year’s winner.
Countryfile presenter Matt Baker is the favourite to take the glitterball trophy ahead of former EastEnder Kara Tointon and psychologist Pamela Stephenson.
Baker said on Friday an ambulance could be needed if his athletic final routine goes wrong.
The programme starts on BBC One at 1900 GMT, with the results show at 2105 GMT.
The presenter also paid tribute to his dancing partner Aliona Vilani, who has followed him around the country while he films Countryfile.
“We’ve trained from here to the Outer Hebrides in the most ridiculous situations,” he said.
“It has been an incredible challenge for us. We have come up against an enormous amount. We’ve trained in barns, in community halls, in tiny little car parks – everywhere to make it happen every Saturday.”
Stephenson, who described herself as “chronologically advanced” and is the oldest contestant to ever reach the final, said she was proud of her performances which have seen the judges give her perfect scores twice.
“It’s perfectly possible to be athletic and enjoy dancing at this age but I suppose I was one of the people who thought that couldn’t happen and I’m very glad to be proving it wrong,” she said.
For their final performances, Baker and Vilani will be performing to the Bodyrockers hit I Like The Way You Move, while Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev will dance to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now and Stephenson and partner James Jordan are entering the floor to (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.
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Some hospitals are appealing to off-duty staff to work if they can
Drivers are being warned to stay off the roads after thick snowfall in Wales freezes as temperatures plunge.
Many motorists seemed to heed warnings on Saturday to travel only if necesary as up to 20cm (8in) fell in some areas.
But breakdown services said Wales was still one of their busiest areas, with abandoned cars adding to disruption.
There were widespread icy roads as forecasters predicted temperatures as low as minus 10C (14F) overnight.
Major routes in Wales were open on Saturday but stretches of the M4 remained treacherous throughout the day and the A470 near Merthyr Tyffil was all but impassable earlier.
The assembly goverment has invoked its 24-hour “snow desk”, but says it has enough road salt with more stock due in a week.
The snowfall led a number of health officials to ask drivers with 4×4 vehicles to help take health workers in after many were stuck at home.
This car overturned on Penglice hill in Aberystwyth The University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, Univerrsity Hospital Llandough, Royal Glamorgan at Llantrisant, Prince Charles in Merthyr and Ysbyty Gwynedd Bangor all asked off-duty staff to come in if possible to relieve colleagues.
On one floor of Nevill Hall hospital in Abergavenny, at least seven workers stayed overnight.
The Loughor and Rhossili coastguard rescue teams took seven key medical staff, including two midwives, to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, and a duty doctor from Aberystwyth was taken to Dolgellau Hospital.
Bus company First Cymru cancelled many services across south and west Wales, and National Express services from Swansea were also suspended.
The A487 between Aberaeron and Aberystwyth was closed to all vehicles, there was a foot of snow on the A44 from Aberystwyth and Llangurig, and the A484 from Cardigan to Newcastle Emlyn was described as passable only in 4×4 vehicles and with extreme care.
Sporting fixtures have fallen victim, with Monday’s fixture at the Ffos Las racecourse in Carmarthenshire already called off.
The Cardiff City Championship home game against Burnley was off, but the Swansea City away game against Sheffield United went ahead, although the visitors lost 1-0.
Gated parks and cemeteries in Cardiff closed on Saturday although city centre Winter Wonderland near the City Hall reopened at midday.
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Blackburn confirm Phil Jones needs an operation on a serious knee injury, while Jason Roberts and Chris Samba also pick up knocks.
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A South Lanarkshire community is turned into a nativity scene, complete with new street names and a parade of camels.
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Activists have urged President Obama to deliver on the repeal of ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ The US Senate has taken a key step towards allowing gay people to serve openly in the military.
Senators decided by 63-33 to advance a bill overturning the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for a final vote, which is expected soon.
Repeal is now said to be certain as the House of Representatives has already backed it. President Barack Obama, who supports the repeal, welcomed the vote.
Opponents argue that the change will damage troop morale at a time of war.
More than 13,000 service members have been dismissed under the 1993 law forbidding gay people in the military from acknowledging their sexual orientation.
Saturday’s procedural move precludes delaying tactics under Senate rules, clearing the way for a final vote.
Afterwards, President Obama said ending the ban would mean that “thousands of patriotic Americans” will not be forced to leave the military “because they happen to be gay”.
The repeal, if enacted, is to take effect after a 60-day period allowing the defence department to consider how to implement the new policy.
Aubrey Sarvis, head of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocacy group, said after the Senate vote: “Until the president signs the bill, until there is certification, and until the 60-day Congressional period is over, no-one should be investigated or discharged under this discriminatory law.”
Mr Obama has made overturning “don’t ask, don’t tell” a key part of his agenda since taking office in 2009.
Earlier this month, a Pentagon report said that allowing openly gay troops would have little impact on the cohesion of US forces fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Democrats, who still control both house of Congress, have said they want to approve the repeal before the start of a new Congress in January.
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Scotland has been hit by heavy snow The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for heavy snow – up to 6in – in many places across the north of Scotland and the islands.
It warned of further heavy snow falls in Orkney and Shetland, the Highlands and Outer Hebrides, and Grampian.
Forecasters warned of overnight temperatures dropping as low as -15C.
Strong winds will cause the snow to drift in some areas and ice could be a problem, with temperatures struggling to get above freezing on Saturday.
Northern Constabulary warned drivers to exercise extra caution and consider postponing journeys until weather conditions improve.
The SPL matches between Aberdeen and Motherwell at Pittodrie and between St Johnstone and Dundee United on Saturday have already been called off.
And Stornoway’s charity Santa fun run has been cancelled because of the wintry conditions.
However, snow sports centres have taken advantage of the conditions. Glenshee and Cairngorm Mountain have opened to skiers and snowboarders and the Nevis Range is expected to open on Saturday.
The weather conditions have already caused widespread disruptions in the north of Scotland.
Northern Constabulary said driving conditions were atrocious in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross on Thursday night and several people had to be rescued near Halkirk in Caithness on Friday.
About 500 schools in the north, north east, Western Isles and Northern Isles were closed on Friday because of the weather.
BBC Scotland senior forecaster Gail McGrane said the cold weather was likely to continue through the weekend and into next week.
She said: “As we go into the weekend it will be eastern areas which are most at risk of further snow showers with some pushing through the central belt, although much of western Scotland will be dry and sunny but still bitterly cold.”
The Scottish government has secured further relaxations of the enforcement of EU drivers’ hours rules to help ensure deliveries get to stores, supermarkets and petrol stations across Scotland.
On Friday transport minister Keith Brown visited gritting crews at the BEAR Scotland/Aberdeen City Council shared depot on the West Tullos industrial estate to see first hand the multi-agency response to keep the north-east and Highlands and Islands moving in the face of severe winter weather.
He said: “Everything that can be done is being done and we are working around the clock to deal with the challenges presented by the extreme weather currently being experienced in the north east and north of Scotland.
“A quarter of all Scotland’s trunk road vehicles have been deployed in the north-east over the last 24 hours. This includes bringing in additional equipment from Perth and Dundee to help the most affected areas.”
He said that an extra 1,000 tonnes of salt were being released from the strategic salt stock immediately for Aberdeenshire Council, and a further 1,000 tonnes would be made available over the holiday period as required.
Mr Brown added: “While all public agencies are working round the clock and we recognise the high level of collaboration involved, the fact is the conditions we face are atrocious and present real challenges for motorists. It is vital that people across the north of Scotland and the islands pay heed to police advice – travel only as advised.”
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Retailers were hoping the severe cold weather would not deter shoppers on the last weekend before Christmas.
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Nigel Evans has told a Sunday newspaper why he has decided to be open about his sexuality A Conservative MP is to end the “open secret” of his sexuality by attending the launch of a support group for gay politicians, says his agent.
Ribble Valley MP and Deputy Commons Speaker Nigel Evans, 53, has won praise from gay MPs from other parties for his decision to back the group ParliOut.
Swansea-born, he stood twice in Welsh seats before landing the Lancashire constituency he has held since 1992.
Rhondda MP Chris Bryant, who is also gay, welcomed the decision.
Mr Bryant, who sits on the board of ParliOut, tweeted: “Glad to see Nigel Evans is ‘coming out’. An open secret in Parliament for years”.
Gay rights charity Stonewall, which helped set up ParliOut, has welcomed Mr Evans’ decision.
Mr Evans’s agent said the MP had given an interview to a Sunday newspaper to explain why he was being open about his personal life.
It means the number of openly gay MPs in the Commons is 22, with more than half Tories.
Mr Evans grew up in Swansea, graduating in politics from the city’s University College and joined the Conservatives when he was 17.
A member of the former West Glamorgan County Council from 1985-1991, he unsuccessfully stood for Parliament in Swansea West in 1987, Pontypridd in 1989 and Ribble Valley in 1991. He won Ribble Valley in the general election the following year.
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A chilly theme to most of the front page headlines
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Hundreds of motorists were stranded on the M6 in Lancashire after a lorry jack-knifed in the snowy conditions.
The accident happened at about 0030 and tailbacks are affecting drivers on the M61 and M62.
There are no reports of serious injuries, but Lancashire Police say a major incident plan has been put in place.
Motorists are being advised not to travel and police say it could take several more hours to clear the roads.
Northbound traffic between junctions 26 and 27 is said to be moving, but the three lanes remained blocked until shortly after 0500 GMT.
The incident caused delays of up to 90 minutes on the northbound stretch of the M61.
One motorist, Stephen Derbyshire, told BBC Five Live he was stuck in his vehicle on the M6 with a pregnant colleague.
“What is particularly frustrating is the lack of information here, and we’ve only seen emergency vehicles pass us twice within the last three-and-a-half hours.”
He added: “Luckily my pregnant colleague is coping fairly well with it but there hasn’t actually been that much snow, I mean I would say there’s four, five inches of snow and it shouldn’t really cause this amount of mayhem.”
Police say there have been a number of other collisions, but they were not believed to be serious.
The North West of England has been badly hit by snow with reports of up to 10in falling in places.
In Chesham in Buckinghamshire temperatures dropped to -13C overnight.
At Gatwick, where EasyJet have cancelled all flights until at least 1000 GMT, the temperature fell to -11C. Bristol Airport will be closed until at least 0700 GMT.
On Friday nearly a quarter of all train services were subject to delays with similar problems expected during Saturday with operators in the south, including Southeastern and Southern Railway, running reduced services.
Severe weather warnings of heavy snow and widespread icy roads are in place for London and the South East, the South West, the Midlands, the North West and Yorkshire and Humber.
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Tensions have risen over planned military exercises on Yeonpyeong island An unofficial US envoy visiting North Korea has warned that the situation on the peninsula is a “tinderbox”.
The envoy, Bill Richardson, made the comments after talks with officials in Pyongyang, whom he asked to exercise “extreme restraint”.
He said he had urged them to let South Korea go ahead with planned live-firing exercises on an island which was shelled by the North last month.
Pyongyang has been threatening to strike back if the drill goes ahead.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is visiting Pyongyang in a private capacity, but he has in the past acted as a go-between with North Korea – with whom the US has no formal diplomatic ties.
He told CNN he had made “a little headway” in his talks with North Korean officials.
“I am urging them extreme restraint… Let’s cool things down. No response. Let the exercises take place,” he said.
“My sense from the North Koreans is they are trying to find ways to tamp this down. Maybe that will continue today, that’s my hope,” he said.
He suggested that the two sides consider holding a summit to seek ways of avoiding future confrontation.
“Right now this is a tinderbox. What we need to do right now is not just tamp things down, but look at steps that can be taken by the North Koreans, especially such as perhaps allowing the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to come in and look at the nuclear arsenal.”
North Korea has warned it will launch “unpredictable self-defensive strikes” if the exercises go ahead on the island of Yeonpyeong, which lies close to the disputed inter-Korean western maritime border.
The South has said it is planning to hold the drill some time between Saturday and Tuesday, with the exact date depending on the weather.
Four South Koreans – two marines and two civilians – died in the 23 November attack on the island.
China has warned that any new clash between the North and South could shake regional stability, and it has urged both governments to avoid moves that could stoke tensions.
But the statement by Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu neither directly criticised Seoul’s plans to stage the exercises, nor Pyongyang’s threat to retaliate.
“The situation on the Korean peninsula is now particularly complex and sensitive, and China is highly concerned,” Jiang said.
“China resolutely opposes, without the least ambiguity, any actions that could lead to a deterioration and escalation in the situation and wreck regional peace and stability,” the statement said.
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