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Temperatures could hit 14C by the middle of the week after a period of persistent gloom.

The Met Office said people could see sunshine return as soon as Monday in some parts of the country.

It will come as a relief after an “anticyclonic gloom” brought dull skies and bitter weather to much of the country.

The weekend arrived with warnings of sleet, snow and rare freezing rain in parts of England.

Parts of the UK could continue to see snowfall throughout Sunday evening and into Monday – but then things are starting to look up.

The predicted temperatures of 14C by mid-week are well above February’s average, with 6C the usual monthly average in Scotland and 9C in southern England.

This will be a “noticeable shift” after the last fortnight, which was below average, Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said.

Don’t expect the temperatures to break records, though. February’s highest temperature was 21.2C recorded in 2019 in Kew Gardens, Mr Vautrey added.

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What’s an anticylonic gloom?

An anticylonic gloom happens when “high pressure traps a layer of moisture near to the Earth’s surface”, Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon explains. “That brings a prolonged period of dull and cloudy weather, but with pockets of mist and fog as well.”

Weather producer Jo Robinson says anticyclones typically result in stable, fine weather, often with sunny skies in summer.

Sometimes in autumn and winter, when the sun isn’t as strong, moisture can get trapped in the anticyclone as winds are light.

This brings a layer of cloud near the surface, along with some fog and drizzle.

The cloud can often thicken overnight too as moisture condenses.

It often leads to higher levels of pollution as aerosols also become trapped.

However, some areas could go 10 days without any sunshine, which is “near record-breaking”, Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said.

If Lyneham in Wiltshire remains cloudy on Sunday, it will equal the site’s February record for consecutive days without any sunshine.

More western areas are likely to see some rain during the week, while eastern areas are forecast to stay drier.

Rain and potentially snow are expected in some places, particularly around East Anglia and Lincolnshire over the weekend, and into Scotland towards the beginning of next week.

Mr Morgan said: “We’ve basically got this battleground taking place over this weekend between cold air across Scandinavia and Central Europe, which is affecting eastern parts of the UK, but towards the west is a little bit milder.

“The Atlantic is trying to shift that cold air out of the way, pushing from west to east across the UK, but it’s a very slow process and it will take until the middle of the coming week for conditions to turn much milder nationwide.”

He explained the gloom “dominating” the UK over the last two weeks has been caused by a “large anticyclone”, or high-pressure system, which has been sitting over Scandinavia, bringing cold wind from the east.

“Those cold conditions have picked up a lot of moisture across the Baltic and North seas, and those moist conditions have led to a lot of clouds,” he added.

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British journalist Charlotte Peet missing in Brazil

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Father 'very concerned' as British journalist Charlotte Peet missing in Brazil

A British journalist has gone missing in Brazil, according to an association of foreign correspondents in the country, which is calling for authorities to step up the search.

Charlotte Alice Peet, 32, told a friend she was in Sao Paulo on 8 February but was planning to go to Rio de Janeiro before she disappeared.

Days later her family contacted the friend saying they had lost contact with the journalist.

She has worked as a foreign correspondent in Brazil, for organisations including broadcaster Al Jazeera and The Times newspaper, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Charlotte Peet works as a freelance correspondent.
Image:
Charlotte Peet works as a freelance correspondent

The ACIE, the association of foreign press correspondents in Brazil, has issued a statement expressing concern about her disappearance, and to express sympathy for her family and friends.

It said the case was initially registered with police in Rio on Monday but referred to Sao Paulo, the last place she was known to have been before disappearing.

The Sao Paulo Public Security Secretariat said that the state department of homicide and protection of the person would assist in the case, according to the statement.

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Charlotte worked in Rio more than two years ago as a freelance correspondent, then went back to London before returning to Brazil in November last year.

She is said to have contacted a friend in Rio on WhatsApp saying she needed a place to stay but was told the friend could not host her.

Ms Peet’s family have provided information about her flight to Brazil and a photo of her passport to help with the search.

“The ACIE and its board of directors call on the competent authorities to intensify the search in order to find the British journalist as soon as possible,” a statement on behalf of its president Edmar Figueiredo and its board of directors said.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has been reported as missing in Brazil and are in contact with the local authorities.”

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Driver killed ‘showboating’ e-bike rider to ‘teach him a lesson’

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Driver killed 'showboating' e-bike rider to 'teach him a lesson'

A driver who tailed and deliberately rammed his car into an e-bike rider to “teach him a lesson” for pulling a “wheelie” in front of his car has been convicted of murder.

Liam Jones, 22, suffered serious chest and abdominal injuries and died at the scene after Abdirahman Ibrahim drove into the back of his electric bike twice in Sheldon, Birmingham.

West Midlands Police said Ibrahim, 21, initially struck Mr Jones and then sped up to hit him again, causing the cyclist to come off his bike and collide with a concrete bollard.

Ibrahim was convicted of murder on Monday following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

His brother, Abdullahi Ibrahim, 21, was a passenger in the Seat Leon and previously pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.

The siblings will be sentenced on 26 March.

Abdullahi Ibrahim. Pic: West Midlands Police
Image:
Abdullahi Ibrahim. Pic: West Midlands Police

The court heard how they first came across Mr Jones and a friend when they were riding their bikes shortly before midnight on Coventry Road on 1 August 2023.

Ibrahim was initially travelling in the opposite direction, but then turned at a roundabout and started to follow the bike riders.

CCTV footage showed the car close to Mr Jones, who performed a “stand-up wheelie” in front of the vehicle.

A pursuit then began, which ended with Ibrahim mowing Mr Jones down in Moat Lane.

Liam Jones. Pic: West Midlands Police
Image:
Liam Jones. Pic: West Midlands Police

Ibrahim then fled the scene and parked his car in Golden Hillock Road, Sparkbrook, while his brother called for a taxi to take them home.

West Midlands Police said during their journey the pair “casually stopped off at a shop in Coventry Road”.

The force said the brothers then split up, with Abdullahi Ibrahim returning to the car, which was later found parked in Hingeston Street, near the Jewellery Quarter.

He returned home in a taxi at just before 3am.

By this point, West Midlands Police said officers had already identified the vehicle involved and went to the brothers’ then home address in Yardley.

When officers arrived, Abdirahman Ibrahim was said to have told a number of lies about where his car was.

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Detective Inspector Nick Barnes said: “Abdirahman Ibrahim was intent on causing harm to Liam. He could have turned off at any point, but he followed the riders and wanted to be in control.

“This was not a case of racing gone wrong as had been claimed by Ibrahim, but of him menacingly pursuing Liam and his friend.

“We believe he was angered by Liam’s showboating and wanted to teach him a lesson. He knew what he had done and did nothing to help, instead driving off.

“Tragically, Liam lost his life and Ibrahim will now spend many years of his own young life in prison.

“Ibrahim’s brother may have felt a sense of loyalty, but by trying to help his sibling he is now also a convicted criminal.

“We know Liam’s death caused a lot of concern within the community and our detectives have worked tirelessly – reviewing hours upon hours of CCTV footage and phone records – to ensure we achieved these convictions.

“While nothing will ever bring Liam back, we hope knowing those involved have been caught and are being punished will provide some solace to his family and friends.”

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Emma Raducanu visibly distressed after being approached by man displaying ‘fixated behaviour’ at Dubai Tennis Championships

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Emma Raducanu posts update after becoming visibly upset during tennis match

Emma Raducanu was visibly upset during a match at the Dubai Tennis Championships – after being approached by a man displaying “fixated behaviour”.

The 22-year-old was in tears as she went to the umpire’s chair after the second game of her rain-delayed second-round match on Tuesday and went on to lose 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to 14th seed Karolina Muchova.

The man was subsequently removed from the tennis court by security.

Concerning the incident, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) statement said: “On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour.

“This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected.

“He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.

“Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events.

Emma Raduanu previously had a stalker and was 'constantly looking over her shoulder'.  Pic: AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Image:
Emma Raduanu previously had a stalker and was ‘constantly looking over her shoulder’. Pic: AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

The WTA added it was “actively working” with Raducanu to ensure her well-being and will provide any “necessary support”.

In 2022, a 35-year-old man was handed a five-year restraining order – after a court heard Raducanu was “constantly looking over her shoulder” and no longer felt “safe in her own home”.

Amrit Magar had walked 23 miles to Emma’s home and had stolen her father’s shoe as a souvenir.

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Bromley Magistrates’ Court heard how Magar went to Raducanu’s home on three separate occasions, loitered outside, left unwanted gifts and cards, and stole property from their porch.

The court also heard from Raducanu through a victim impact statement read by prosecutors – which said that her parents were “reluctant” to let her go out on her own.

The restraining order, handed to Magar by District Judge Sushil Kumar, bans him from contacting Raducanu and her parents.

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