As the cold snap bites, southern England could get four inches of snow this weekend (after areas including County Durham, above, got a covering today). We have the latest weather warnings – and the fallout from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix show.
Evening briefing: Today’s essential headlines
UK weather | Nearly four inches of snow could fall in southern England within days – potentially causing travel chaos. Britain will see at least seven days of Arctic weather, in which temperatures could plummet to as low as -10C, with wintry downpours and “freezing fog”. The Met Office today issued a yellow snow and ice warning for London and south-east England on Sunday and Monday after identical warnings in other parts of the country. See the latest forecast and pictures of parts of Britain covered in snow. As temperatures drop, energy bills are rising. These are nine ways to keep warm at home without turning up your heating.
Politics | Reform UK ‘polling at almost half of Tory vote share’
Reform is polling at almost half of the Conservative vote share, a poll published on Friday has suggested.The Conservatives are down one percentage point to 20 per cent in the latest survey carried out by People Polling, a firm founded in recent months by academic and pollster Matthew Goodwin.
Reform, led by Richard Tice, are on nine per cent and have increased their share of the vote.
Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour has increased its lead by one percentage point, polling at 47 per cent. The Tories fell to a low of 14 per cent in People Polling data on October 21 as Liz Truss’s government rapidly collapsed.
But Friday’s polling suggests there is a growing threat on the Right for Mr Sunak amid fears of an exodus to Reform, as well as appearing to confirm any “honeymoon period” enjoyed by the Prime Minister is over.
‘We blew it’ | Kwarteng on how he and Truss ‘got carried away’
Liz Truss’s short-lived government “blew it” during its time in charge of the country, her former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has said.Mr Kwarteng said Ms Truss’s seven weeks in Downing Street, which culminated in her loss of complete political authority and resignation, saw her top team get “carried away”.
Reflecting on the sweeping tax cuts and economic reforms he unveiled as part of the mini-Budget, Mr Kwarteng told the Financial Times: “It was very exciting, you felt you were part of a project.”
Happy birthday (again) | South Koreans to be a year younger
South Koreans will become a year or two younger after the country passed laws to scrap its traditional method for counting ages.Koreans are deemed to be a year old when born and a year is added every January 1. This is the age most commonly cited in everyday life.
A separate system also exists for conscription purposes or calculating the legal age to drink alcohol and smoke, in which a person’s age is calculated from zero at birth and a year is added on January 1.
For medical and legal documents, however, since the early 1960s South Korea has also used the international norm of calculating from zero at birth and adding a year on every birthday.
Teetotal Generation Z | UK’s first alcohol-free off-licence opens
Christmas is traditionally the season of excess – but younger party-goers are eschewing the hedonism of their older peers. Rather than having painkillers at the ready, young people are more likely to opt for a sober night and skip the hangover.Now, the first permanent alcohol-free off licence and tasting room has opened in London to cater to an increasingly teetotal Generation Z.
Amid a wave of public sector strikes, anger is brewing. The Telegraph can reveal that police chiefs have refused a request from the ambulance service for support during NHS walkouts, with rising disquiet over pay. Crime editor Martin Evans understands that, as well as a lack of extra resources, there is simmering anger within policing over public sector strikes, with officers fearful that industrial action elsewhere will increase their workload. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today said he would look at “all options” when asked about laws to stop emergency service walkouts. Finding the silver lining, personal finance editor Sam Brodbeck identifies why strikes might actually provide some relief.
Sussexes recorded over 15 hours of video diaries
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recorded more than 15 hours of personal footage for their Netflix documentary series, it has been revealed. Prince Harry said he thought it was a “really sensible” thing to do, when it was suggested to him by a friend to document the couple’s split from the Royal family. The cache of clips formed a key part of the programme, which premiered on the streaming service yesterday. As the world’s media reacted to the first three episodes, the Sussexes were accused of auctioning off their “dirty laundry” to the highest bidder and “undying vacuousness” and greed. See how the world reacted. Simon Finch, the award-winning filmmaker, dissects the show for us – explaining why it is disjointed, misleading and frustrating. And Guy Kelly has picked eight odd moments (that you probably missed).
The Netflix show added to concerns the Sussexes are “trashing” the Royal family, according to a Tory MP who plans to bring forward legislation that could eventually strip the couple of their titles. Backbencher Bob Seely suggested trying to downgrade their status because it has now become “a political issue”. Read how his proposal could work.
The Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was once home to 70,000 people and known for both salt-mining and its sparkling wine industry. Since the summer, the town has instead often seen hundreds killed or wounded each day in intense shelling and bloody frontal attacks, in fighting reminiscent of the First World War. In his dispatch from the country, Ben Farmer goes inside the strange and senseless death trap draining Ukraine’s tired army. Meanwhile, Russian president Vladimir Putin admitted there have been problems sourcing clothes for his troops.
How to have yourself a savvy little Christmas | Soaring inflation, food shortages, a month of widespread industrial action and Christmas postal delays – they all loom and could add up to a winter of discontent. But never fear – our four experts’ top tips will soon put sparkle back into the festive season. From gifts to garnishes, they offer easy ways to beat this year’s so-called Strikemas with 10 hacks for you to follow at home.
Cremant or cava – how cool is your fizz of choice? | At every festive social function, from work events to carol concerts to dinner parties, a glass of something sparkling will be thrust into your hand. The question is what, exactly, and whether it is a £5.99 or £100-a-pop option. Being offered a glass of “fizz” could mean anything. A choice of sparkling wine can tell you almost everything you need to know about someone. Ed Cumming has a guide to the code.
A joint effort of several authors who do find that nobody can keep standing at the side and that “Everyone" must care about what is going on in today’s world.
We are a bunch of people who do not mind that somebody has a totally different idea but is willing to share the ideas with others and to be Active and willing to let others understand how "today’s decisions will influence the future”. Therefore we would love to see many others to "Act today".
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Some View on the World 