Temperatures plunge to -16C (3.2F) at Holbeach in Lincolnshire overnight, making it the coldest night of the winter so far.

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Temperatures plunge to winter low

The UK is braced for its coldest night yet this winter as temperatures in some parts of England could reach as low as -15C.

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UK temperatures set to reach -15C

The busy streets of Morocco’s capital city are not immune to the common signs of poverty that one would expect in the urban centers of developing nations. Beggars are never far from view in Rabat, whether young children, veiled mothers with babies still too small to walk, or displaced sub-Saharans trying to migrate “elsewhere.” High rates of unemployment, social problems (such as lack of options for divorced women), and the lack of an organized and stable welfare sector contribute to the prevalence of begging on the streets of Morocco. As a resident of Rabat, I continually recognized familiar faces on the downtown streets. And yet, in the winter of 2011, I first encountered a strange man who captured my attention: he goes by the name of “Si Ahmed.”

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Beggar? Activist? Artist? The Intriguing Case of Morocco’s “Street Cartoonist,” Si Ahmed

PASADENA, Calif. — Hosting the Golden Globe Awards has become his “extreme sport,” Ricky Gervais said Friday, a couple of days before his third crack at the annual trophy show on NBC. Appearing at Winter TV Press Tour 2012, Gervais insisted that he “stands by . . . every joke I did last year, and I don’t care what people think” of his performance as host of the 2011 Globes. Read full article > >

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Ricky Gervais ready to rumble as host of Golden Globes 2012

Decisions on the future of Fox dino drama “Terra Nova,” doc drama “House,” paranormal drama “Fringe,” sitcom “I Hate My Teenage Daughter” and even “X Factor” host Steve Jones are just around the corner, Fox programming chief Kevin Reilly came to Winter TV Press Tour 2012 on Sunday to reveal. On the bright side, Reilly screwed up his courage to announce the end of animated comedy “Allen Gregory.” Read full article > >

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TV Column: Future of Fox programming; Kiefer Sutherland; JJ Abrams on ‘Alcatraz’

After the first day of Winter TV Press Tour 2012, PBS released a behind-the-scenes video of the cast of “Downton Abbey,” which returns for its second season in the U.S. on Sunday: Read full article > >

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‘Downton Abbey’ cast talks U.S. reaction to the series (Video)

After the first day of Winter TV Press Tour 2012, PBS released a behind-the-scenes video of the cast of “Downton Abbey,” which returns for its second season in the U.S. on Sunday: Read full article > >

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‘Downton Abbey’ cast talks U.S. reaction to the series (Video)

PASADENA, Calif. — If GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney thinks you can sell ads on “Masterpiece Theatre” or “Sesame Street” and not wind up with “Masterpiece Pawn Stars,” he’s got a lot to learn about the TV industry. So said PBS CEO Paula Kerger on Wednesday, in the nicest way possible, at Winter TV Press Tour 2012. Read full article > >

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TV Column: Bert and Ernie, meet ‘American Pickers’

Energy companies are being urged by the charity Save the Children to do more to help British families struggling to heat their homes this winter.

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Fuel help urged for poor families

The number of patients going online for health information this winter has risen by more than half, the Department of Health says.

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Surge in winter NHS web searches

Two wards at Wrexham Maelor Hospital are closed to new admissions after an outbreak of norovirus, the winter vomiting bug.

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Hospital wards hit by norovirus

On a farm on the outskirts of Frederick, Kelly Rausch and Adam Finkelstein crack open a wooden beehive whose design dates to the 19th century. Inside, they point out a superbee they have made for the 21st century. In two months, the carefully bred queen bee has built a large, productive colony that knows how to cluster against the cold and fill the winter larder with honey. Read full article > >

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In search of a better bee

Baby Jesus is keeping strange company. For the better part of 50 years, a creche and a Christmas tree were the only holiday displays on the Loudoun County Courthouse grounds. Then came the mannequin Luke Skywalker and signs celebrating the winter solstice. This month, a skeleton Santa Claus was mounted on a cross, intended by its creator to portray society’s obsession with consumerism. A pine stands adorned with tinsel — and atheist testimonials. (“I can be moral without religion,” one declares.) Read full article > >

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In Leesburg, holiday displays bring controversy and change

Baby Jesus is keeping strange company. For the better part of 50 years, a creche and a Christmas tree were the only holiday displays on the Loudoun County Courthouse grounds. Then came the mannequin Luke Skywalker and signs celebrating the winter solstice. This month, a skeleton Santa Claus was mounted on a cross, intended by its creator to portray society’s obsession with consumerism. A pine stands adorned with tinsel — and atheist testimonials. (“I can be moral without religion,” one declares.) Read full article > >

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In Leesburg, holiday displays bring controversy and change

The Minister for Social Development has said he is “appalled” at Westminster’s decision to cut the winter fuel payment.

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McCausland ‘appalled’ by fuel cut