A spell of snowfall could cause some travel disruption

A six-hour weather warning for snowfall has been issued by the Met Office. The warning covers parts of Cambridgeshire and runs from 10am to 4pm on Sunday (February 15).

The Met Office say that eastward-moving rain on Sunday morning is likely to turn to sleet and snow. Slushy accumulations of a cm or so are likely, with a chance of 2-4 cm should snow turn briefly heavier, this is more likely for the Lincolnshire Wolds and parts of Norfolk and Suffolk.

The show should turn back to rain before clearing late afternoon. Any lying snow is forecast to melt relatively quickly. Snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous.

The warning covers parts of Cambridgeshire, including Soham, Ely, Wisbech and March. Also affected is Lincolnshire, Rutland, part of Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

The Met Office’s East of England weather forecast for Sunday says: “A spell of sleet or snow is possible for a time in the morning before turning to rain from the west. Spells of heavy rain are becoming widespread for a time during the afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.”

Turning to Sunday evening, they add: “Rain soon clearing the east to leave a mostly dry night with some clear spells. Perhaps some isolated heavy showers towards dawn. Minimum temperature 3 °C.”

Jango is a 12-year-old female Kelpie who was admitted to RSPCA York Animal Home on January 9 after her owner was not meeting her needs.

She is neutered and described as a sweet, super-friendly ‘older lady’ who was in “quite a poor state” when she was rescued by an RSPCA inspector and taken to the centre on Landing Lane in York.

RSPCA York is looking for a new home for Jango, a Kelpie. Photo: RSPCA York

Always keen to say hello, she loves nothing more than curling up on the sofa and enjoying plenty of snuggles.

Ruth McCabe, aninal centre manager, said: “Jango is one of the sweetest, most gentle dogs you will ever meet. She has been through so much, yet she remains incredibly loving and trusting of people. We would love for her to find a home where she can spend her twilight years knowing she is truly loved and cared for.”

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She enjoys going out and walks well on a lead, but does not need a lot of exercise, preferring instead a couple of shorter strolls throughout the day.

More than anything, Jango would love a cosy home where she can relax and soak up all the love and attention she deserves.

Jango requires a special diet as she has very early stage kidney disease which is being successfully managed through diet alone and she does not require any medication.

She is otherwise well and has a lot of love to give.

Jango has previously lived with other dogs and could share her new home with a compatible dog of a similar age.

She can feel a little worried around younger, bouncy dogs, so would prefer a calm, older companion if she were to live with another dog.

She would be suitable to live with children aged 10 years and over.

For more information about Jango, visit www.rspca-yorkhome.org.uk/adopt-an-animal/jango/ or email reception@rspca-yorkhome.org.uk

The northbound carriageway is shut in Lancashire

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The M6 motorway in Lancashire is closed following a serious crash tonight (Sunday, February 15 into Monday, February 16).

The northbound carriageway is shut to traffic between Junction 32 and Junction 33.

The closure was first reported at around 11.40pm, with some motorists caught within the shut stretch of road.

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The crash involves two cars and all emergency services are at the scene.

A National Highways spokesperson said: “The M6 in Lancashire is closed northbound between J32 (M55) and J33 (Galgate) due to a serious collision involving two cars.

“Emergency services are in attendance. Thanks for your patience if you’re caught within the closure.”

Inrix, the traffic data company, said: “M6 Northbound closed due to serious accident, two cars involved from J32 M55 (Broughton Interchange) to J33 A6 Preston Lancaster Road (Lancaster South / Garstang).”

Elsewhere on the north west road network tonight, the M66 is shut in Greater Manchester following a serious four-vehicle crash.

The following diversion route is in place: M6 north traffic is advised to follow the hollow circle diversion symbol:

• Exit M6 J32 onto M55
• Follow M55 to J1
• Exit the M1 and take the third exit on to the A6
• Follow the A6 through Broughton, Barton, Bilsborrow and Garstang
• Rejoin the M6 at J33

M55 eastbound traffic intending to join the M6 northbound is also advised to follow the hollow circle diversion symbol:

• Exit the M55 eastbound at J1 (Broughton)
• Take the first exit at the roundabout onto the A6 northbound towards Garstang
• Follow the A6 northbound through Broughton, Barton, Bilsborrow and Garstang to then re-join the M6 northbound at J33

Scotland has endured yet another weekend of tumultuous weather and it looks like it’s not stopping anytime soon.

The Met Office has issued a new yellow weather warning for ice across parts of the UK. A string of snow and ice warnings expired over the weekend, but a new ice alert has been dished out covering eastern Scotland.

North-east England is also affected. The warning came into effect at 8pm on Sunday, February 15 and will finish at 10am on Monday, February 16.

In the warning area, ice forming on untreated surfaces could lead to difficult travelling conditions, the Met Office said.

The warning said: “Following a spell of rain and some hill snow during Sunday afternoon, temperatures will fall below freezing as skies clear from the west through the evening and overnight, leading to ice forming on untreated surfaces.”

Several regions and local authorities are affected including Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross and Stirling. In the Grampian area, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray will find themselves under alert.

The Highlands will be impacted, as will East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, the Borders, and West Lothian. The yellow warning will also cover North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire.

It comes as a Scots road closed tonight due to adverse weather conditions which have seen “several vehicles” crash and others become stuck in heavy snow.

The A93 between Glenshee and Braemar has been plagued by travel chaos, with multiple cars reportedly stuck and several accidents having taken place on the 90-mile scenic road running from Perth to Aberdeen.

All drivers planning to go south via the Glenshee Ski Centre on the A93 Old Military Road, situated in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands, have been advised to steer clear due to an incident.

It is unclear how many people are involved or if there have been any injuries. Worsening winter weather is making the road “unpassable,” with traffic diverted to Braemar. The road and snow gate have closed.

Traffic Scotland has been updating motorists about the developing situation. Camera footage taken from the scene shows Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are in attendance, with cars and vans having come to a complete stop.

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Elsewhere, the Environment Agency urged the public to remain vigilant amid the flood risk. There were 72 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 191 flood alerts, where flooding is possible, across England on Sunday.

Jonathan Day, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said more than 24,000 homes and business have been protected but about 330 have been flooded.

Next week will bring unsettled and blustery conditions with showers across the whole of the country, which will ease into Tuesday, then another weather system will arrive on Wednesday bringing more unsettled weather. Thursday is expected to be drier.

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The independent venue said it had decided to call off the show after reviewing information and considering the potential impact on the venue and wider community

A Welsh music venue has cancelled a planned booking after a number of complaints. Jacs in Aberdare has cancelled a gig which was due to be played at the venue on February 26 by Michale Graves who previously fronted American punk band Misfits.

The independent venue said it had decided to call off the show after reviewing information and considering the potential impact on the venue and wider community.

Mr Graves has previously drawn controversy for his political views. He testified on behalf of five members of the Proud Boys involved in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. Proud Boys has a reputation for promoting white supremacy.

In a statement on Sunday the venue said: “After careful consideration we have taken the decision to cancel the upcoming Michale Graves show at Jacs Aberdare. This has not been a decision made lightly.

“We have listened to the concerns raised, reviewed the information available to us, and reflected on our responsibility as a local, independent venue within our community. In light of everything considered, we believe cancelling the event is the right course of action.”

Mr Graves has previously spoken about his gigs being cancelled and venues hosting gigs for his Europe tour have been criticised. A councillor in Worcester said he would boycott a local venue if it went ahead with hosting Mr Graves’ gig on Thursday.

On Sunday Jacs said it isn’t a political organisation and doesn’t align itself with any political movement or ideology, stating its focus “has always been, and remains, live music”.

Jacs said the venue had been hired by an independent promoter who organised and marketed the event. Tickets were sold directly by the promoter, not by the venue, Jacs said. More than 150 tickets had been purchased for the gig.

The statement said concerns about the show were raised earlier this week by BBC Wales and a former MP. It added that a significant number of messages had been received from members of the public, many expressed “politely and thoughtfully”, but that the situation escalated online.

According to the venue, it and its owner were subject to strong criticism and serious accusations, and a protest was being organised outside the venue on the night of the show.

“As a small, independent venue operating within a close-knit community, we have a responsibility to ensure that events can take place in a safe, positive and welcoming environment for everyone,” the statement reads.

“After weighing everything carefully — including the strength of feeling expressed and the potential for disruption — we concluded that proceeding with the show would not serve the best interests of the venue, our customers or the wider community. Cancelling the event is, in our view, the most responsible step in the circumstances.”

Four years ago Mr Graves said multiple venues had cancelled his gigs during a tour of the US. He claimed this was because he is “an outspoken conservative”.

In a statement on Saturday Mr Graves said he had become aware of “an aggressive online campaign”. He said he respects differing opinions and the choice not to attend his performances but said he believed venues and staff were being put under pressure.

“Over the past days I’ve become aware of an aggressive online campaign of organisations and individuals focused on my upcoming shows in Europe,” he said. “I respect that people may hold different opinions or choose not to attend these shows.

“I am very concerned that venues, staff members, and people simply doing their jobs are now being placed under significant pressure and distress and in some instances being threatened to simply show up at their job. I want to be very clear: my shows are about music, community, and shared passion.

“I do not promote violence, hatred, or harm, and those who have attended my performances know that my focus has always been bringing people together through music. All are welcome. The live music scene should remain a safe and inclusive space for everyone — artists, fans, venue staff, and local communities alike.

“No one should feel unsafe or intimidated for participating in or supporting live music events. If my music is not for you, I fully respect your choice not to attend.

“However, I respectfully ask that disagreements remain peaceful and that the hardworking people behind these venues are treated with respect. I look forward to performing for those who wish to be there and sharing music in a positive, safe and respectful environment.”

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The Nineties are back in fashion. As confirmation, here is Yellowjackets (now airing on ITV1 after debuting on Sky Atlantic in 2021), a drama that begins in 1996 and stars Juliette Lewis and Christina Ricci, two actresses as synonymous with the decade as bootcut jeans.

It is a deliciously dark thriller, featuring Ricci with a bubble perm that makes her look like one of the Golden Girls. But the black comedy is woven into a story of genuine horror. A plane carrying a girls’ football team crashes in the wilderness. What follows is a fight for survival. In the words of one who made it out: “A bunch of my friends died, and the rest of us starved and scavenged and prayed for 19 months until they finally found us.” And that is putting quite a gloss on things.

There are shades of Lord of the Flies and Lost here, but the most direct comparison is with Alive, which told the true story of a Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashed in the Andes. You may remember what happened there: the survivors decided to eat the flesh of their dead friends. In Yellowjackets, they do not wait for their friends to die, but hasten things along. Sugar and spice and all things nice, eh?

Nicholas Danby, 66, of Castle Court, Helmsley, pleaded guilty to speeding in a 40 mph zone on the A61 north of Harrogate. He was banned from driving for six months, fined £146 and ordered to pay £90 prosecution costs and a £40 statutory surcharge.

Louis Powell, 21, of Carrs Meadow, Escrick, pleaded guilty to speeding in a 30 mph zone in Escrick.  He was banned from driving for six months, fined £261 and ordered to pay £90 prosecution costs and a £104 statutory surcharge.

Lauris Ivbulis, 22, of Old Road, Kirkbymoorside, pleaded guilty to tell police who was driving her car when they allegedly committed a driving offence. She was banned from driving for six months, fined £480 and ordered to pay £90 prosecution costs and a £192 statutory surcharge.

Mathew Taylor, 32, of Marquis Court, off Boroughbridge Road, York, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on Beckfield Lane, Acomb, and was banned from driving for six months, fined £120 and ordered to pay £90 prosecution costs and a £48 statutory surcharge.

Sabin Buzatu, 31, of North Marine Road, Scarborough, was convicted in his absence of failure to tell police who was driving his car when they allegedly committed a driving offence.  Buzatu was banned from driving for six months, fined £660 and ordered to pay £90 prosecution costs and a £264 statutory surcharge.

All cases were heard at Harrogate Magistrates court.

Domestic violence that does not result in ‘broken bones or open wounds’ is now legal in Afghanistan under the Taliban’s new laws – while ‘obscene’ cases carry a maximum of just 15 days in prison

Afghanistan has ‘legalised’ domestic violence in a terrifying crackdown on women’s rights.

A new 90-page penal code introduced by the Taliban allows husbands to physically punish their wives and children – as long as the abuse does not result in “broken bones or open wounds”.

Under the new laws, a husband faces a maximum of just 15 days in prison in cases of “obscene force”, such as visible fractures or injuries. Convictions will be sought only if the wife can successfully prove the abuse in court.

A married woman can also now be jailed for up to three months if she visits her relatives without her husband’s explicit permission.

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The law uses language effectively treating wives as the “property” or “slaves” of their husbands, and strips away vital protections, such as the 2009 law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW), which was introduced during the previous US-backed regime.

Campaigners from exiled Afghan human rights group Rawadari, who obtained a copy of the Taliban’s new penal code, warned in a statement that it would legitimise the “abuse, maltreatment, and punishment” of women and children – and expose them to “continued domestic violence”.

Its new limits on women’s rights to see their families also removes one of the few protections available in a country where there are few “formal and legal remedies”, they added.

Rawadari demanded the “immediate halt of the implementation of the criminal procedure code” by the Taliban courts, and called for the international community, the United Nations, and “other relevant international bodies” to “utilise all legal instruments” to prevent it coming into force.

The Taliban have placed draconian limits on the rights of women and girls since regaining power in 2021, including removing females from school past the age of 12, and bans from parks, public spaces, and businesses.

Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “The implications of this latest code for women and girls is simply terrifying. The Taliban however have understood, and understood correctly, that no one will stop them.

“Will the international community prove them wrong? And if so when?”

The Taliban’s new legal framework also signals further persecution of the nation’s many religious minorities, describing those who do not conform to the followers of the Hanafi school of thought as “heretics”.

Approximately 15% of Afghanistan’s 42 million population are not Hanafi Muslims, including Jafari Shias, Ismailis, and followers of other Islamic sects such as Ahl-e-Hadith, as well as non-Muslims like Sikhs and Hindus.

Weather maps show sustained heavy snow for 16 cities around the UK later this month when Arctic air moves southwards and mixes with low pressure systems from the Atlantic

Brits are set to be hit by a brutal 78 hours of snow with 16 cities in the firing line for another Arctic blast later this month.

Fresh projections from the ECMWF weather model show the freezing air plunging south from Scandinavia while low pressure stalls close to the country – a pattern capable of producing repeated waves of snow rather than a single passing storm.

And the maps from WXCharts indicate the sustained snow arriving at around 6pm on February 26, and continuing over the coming days. Some regions are likely to see on-and-off snowfall for several days, raising the risk of icy roads, hazardous driving and travel disruption, particularly across northern areas.

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The first showers are expected to reach Scotland on the evening of February 26 with a stronger band pushing south the following and turning to snow across colder northern areas and higher ground.

Wintry showers then continue through February 28 and until midnight the following day as cold air remains in place, leaving northern regions most exposed.

Southern England stays closer to milder Atlantic air with rain or sleet more likely, though brief overnight wintry bursts cannot be ruled out. The maps show snow finally leaving the UK at around.

The weather pattern shown on the maps resembles a cold northerly setup, with low pressure lingering near the UK while Arctic air feeds southwards instead of a single storm passing through.

Higher ground in Scotland are most likely to see the deepest accumulations, while lower-lying towns may experience temporary coverings followed by icy conditions. And so there are 16 locations which are in danger of seeing plenty of snowfall.

A prediction from the Met Office of the period from February 20 to March 1 suggests plenty of wet weather “with snow probable at times”.

It reads: “Showers or longer spells of rain, as well as occasional strong winds, are most likely at first as Atlantic low pressure systems dominate in the vicinity of the UK. Some heavy rain is likely in places, with some snow probable at times, mainly on high ground in the north.

“Temperatures varying from around, or a little above, average especially in the south to cold at times, mainly in the north. Although unsettled weather is likely to dominate at first, there will be some drier interludes between weather systems. These drier interludes will become increasingly likely and perhaps more prolonged through the period.”

Areas in the snow danger zone

Scotland

• Glasgow
• Edinburgh
• Aberdeen
• Dundee
• Inverness

Northern England

• Newcastle
• Carlisle
• Durham
• Leeds
• Sheffield
• Manchester

Fringe risk areas

• Liverpool
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Nottingham
• Birmingham
• Belfast