coldest December for 100 years

From the Mail Online:

• Overnight lows of -15C in Scotland and -13C in England
• Experts say cold snap is 'once in a lifetime'

Slight thaw this weekend but a return to snow predicted for next week

The Army was called in today to help clear away ice and snow as Britain headed towards its coldest December for 100 years.

fuel runs out at petrol stations in Scotland and East Anglia

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1336705/UK-big-freeze-Army-standby-coldest-December-100-years.html#ixzz17mCgqlI4

UK-based Taliban

From the Guardian:

British-based men of Afghan origin are spending months at a time inAfghanistan fighting Nato forces before returning to the UK, the Guardian has learned. They also send money to the Taliban.

A Taliban fighter in Dhani-Ghorri in northern Afghanistan last month told the Guardian he lived most of the time in east London, but came to Afghanistan for three months of the year for combat. More here