thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Harry Styles Reveals Details Of Terrifying Knifepoint Mugging

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Harry Styles has opened up about his recent knifepoint mugging, revealing he threw himself in front of two cars to escape his attackers.
The former One Direction singer was set upon by a group of men near his north London home during a late night walk on Valentine’s Day, when they demanded he hand over his phone.
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Appearing on Howard Stern’s Sirius XM radio show in the US, Harry detailed the incident for the first time, saying: “I thought, ‘I’m about to get robbed’. The guys are like ‘Hey, can we talk to you for a minute?’ and there is nobody around.
Harry Styles EMPICS Entertainment
“My heart’s pounding, so I’m like ‘Sure’. He’s like ‘Do you smoke weed? And I say ‘No’. And he’s like ‘Do you want some weed?’ I said ‘No’.
“And he said ‘What have you got on you’. And they all kind of gathered around me, and I said ‘I haven’t got anything’. And he’s like, ‘Stop f****** around’.”
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He added: “I would like to clarify there was more than one guy. There was a bunch of guys.” He joked: “There were 87 guys!
“I had some cash in my pocket, so I said ‘Have got some cash’, and I pull out some cash and he takes it from me. And I had my headphone jack sticking into my pocket and he’s like, ‘What’s that plugged into?’
“I was like ‘For god’s sake, it’s my phone’. So I pull out my phone and I’m thinking, OK this is really annoying, but I’ll wipe it and get a new phone, and kind of, whatever – not worth fighting over.
“And then the guy’s like ‘Unlock your phone’. The other guy pulls his shirt up and he’s got a knife sticking in his pants and I was like – shit.
“I just said ‘I’m sorry mate, I can’t. I can’t unlock my phone’.
“And the guy’s like ‘You’ve got 10 seconds to unlock your phone’ and he starts counting them down and I’m like ‘F***, am I going to unlock my phone? Am I going to give him my phone?’”
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Harry said he tried to hand over the handset, but the mugger said he wanted it to be unlocked.
He added: “I was like, ‘I can’t’ and there’s like a little pond behind them near where I live, and I thought I’d throw it in the pond and be like, neither of us can have it. Then I thought, I don’t want to piss them off.
“Then the lights changed, and two cars were coming, and I felt an opportunity to sprint and run, and I just run into the road and try to stop a car, and obviously a mad man runs into the road and tries to get in your car you won’t let them into your car, so they don’t let me in, and I try to get another car, they don’t let me in.
“Then I just turned and ran back towards the little village area near where I live.
“So I just sprinted, but usually when I’m out walking I’m wearing running stuff, and this was the one time I was wearing like corduroy flairs and shoes, I was like, ’I’m going to have to f****** sprint all the way down this hill.
“I just sprinted and I guess because they had cash they ended up turning around.”
Harry appeared at the Brit Awards the day after he was mugged SIPA USA/PA Images
Asked if it made him feel unsafe walking around, Harry said: “I went walking around the next day for that reason.
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“I just didn’t want it to stop me walking. I walk a lot of nights when I’m home and I really like it.
“I feel it’s something I really enjoy, so I went and had some friends with me the next time, but I’ve been going since and I have a night guard who comes to my house.”
After the incident was reported to the police, they confirmed Harry was “not injured” in the attack.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--How To Stop Touching Your Face

How To Stop Touching Your Face

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As the coronavirus outbreak nears pandemic levels, experts have been sharing the same advice for individuals looking to protect themselves from contracting COVID-19: Wash your hands and don’t touch your face.
While the former is simple enough, the latter poses more of a challenge. Basically, it’s pretty damn hard to stop touching your face.
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After a day of effort, I’m sad to report that the odds of me not constantly touching my face going forward are extremely low. — McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) February 28, 2020
I have touched my face more tonight than I have in my entire life. My face skin CRIES OUT to be touched. It’s like The Telltale Face over here. — Paul F. Tompkins (@PFTompkins) March 2, 2020
CDC: don’t touch your face
Me:
pic.twitter.com/rWByMxsDJ8 — Brooke Rogers 🌻 (@bkerogers) February 28, 2020
A small 2015 study highlighted the frightening frequency of hand-to-face contact in individuals. Researchers filmed 26 medical students at a lecture and counted how many times they touched their faces. On average, each of the students touched their face 23 times in one hour ― with 44% fo those contacts involving a mucous membrane like the mouth, nose or eyes.
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Touching your face, especially around your mucous membranes, makes it much easier for viruses and bacteria to enter your body, infect you and turn you into a host to further spread disease.
“It also causes acne, so break the habit for beauty. And someone touching their face incessantly appears less confident, attentive, and present than someone who is not,” said Sanam Hafeez, a psychologist in New York.
To help people cut back on their face-touching, HuffPost spoke to Hafeez and other experts to identify some techniques that may help with the seemingly impossible task.
PeopleImages via Getty Images Experts say there are habit-breaking ways to stop touching your face for good.
Keep Track Of Your Face-Touching Habits
The first step to breaking or altering a habit is to develop a strong awareness of when and why you engage in this behaviour. For something like nail-biting or face-touching, it can be an impulsive thing done out of boredom, anxiety or a sensory need.
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“Most people touch their faces mindlessly,” explained Paul Hokemeyer, a New York-based psychotherapist and author of “Fragile Power.” “They rub their eyes or grab their lips when they’re confused. They bite their fingernails when they’re nervous. The central feature of these actions is that they occur below the level of our conscious mind and evolve from the most primitive part of our biology known as the limbic system.”
Try to become hyperaware of your habits and identify your triggers in order to insert a hard stop between the motivation and the action.
“It is key to spend a day noting time and place for your touching your face,” said Paul DePompo, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Institute of Southern California. “This may be when you are reading, driving, zoning out, under stress, etc.”
Try To Touch Something Else
“Free hands can be roaming hands,” Hafeez noted. “Because we tend to touch our faces when we’re doing things like reading or watching TV, we should try to occupy our hands with something else when we’re engaging in these activities.”
The best way to break a habit is to replace it with something incompatible, said Denise Cummins, a cognitive scientist who researches thinking and decision-making.
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“If you typically lean your face on your hand, try to develop the habit of holding something in your hand ― such as a ‘worry ball’ ― or crossing your hands over your forearms,” Cummins said. “These actions are incompatible with leaning your face on your hand.”
Substitute one soothing behaviour (touching your face) with another (squeezing a stress ball). DePompo recommended placing fidget spinners, small plush toys, and other “squeezy” objects in the places where you do the most face-touching, like your car, nightstand, bathroom sink and desk. Be sure to regularly and properly disinfect these objects as well.
Maskot via Getty Images Take note of your habits and triggers is a key step.
Make It Uncomfortable
Another way to break the habit of touching your face is to make it uncomfortable. “If you tend to lean your face on your hand when you’re reading things on your computer, try wearing wool or nubby fingerless gloves that feel unpleasant when held against the delicate skin on your face,” Cummins suggested.
Although gloves can become contaminated over time and should be washed, researchers believe viruses don’t live as long on soft materials, compared to hard surfaces.
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Wearing glasses is a way to create a barrier between your eyes and your hands. And it tends to be less comfortable to lean on your face when you’re wearing glasses. At least one study has shown that women are less likely to touch their faces when wearing makeup as well. If nail-biting is your issue, consider using a bad-tasting polish to make yourself stop.
Put Up Reminders
It’s easy to forget that you’re trying to kick a habit as you go through your day, but setting little reminders may help boost your awareness and efforts.
“Cognitive-behavioural techniques such as a post-it on your computer screen saying ‘DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE’ and having colleagues remind and even penalise each other is another way to reduce face touching,” Hafeez said. You can also set periodic phone alarms or calendar alerts.
Practice Mindfulness
Face-touching is often a nervous habit related to anxiety.
“When we’re anxious, we tend to touch ourselves to soothe ourselves. We put our hands on our face, run our hands through our hair, cross our arms, and so on,” Cummins noted.
Practicing mindfulness habits like intentional breathing and meditation can help you cut down on these behaviours and manage anxiety in general. Cummins is a proponent of “vagal breathing,” an exercise which can stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain stem down the abdomen.
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“The vagal system facilitates the body’s rest, repair and digest functions,” she said. “You can stimulate the vagus nerve using this technique: Make sure your torso is straight and open ― no slouching ― so that you can breathe deeply into your abdomen. Breathe in through your nose for four to five seconds, allowing your belly to expand while your chest remains quiet, then exhale for four to five seconds, allowing your belly to relax.”
This exercise can help reduce stress responses and increase higher level thinking and emotion regulation, thus reducing the emotional triggers that cause many people to frequently touch their faces.
Use Rewards Or Punishments
If you need a higher level of intervention, rewards and punishments can incentivise you to take control of your face-touching habits.
“One main way to reverse the habit and make you more aware and accountable is the ‘hand-stretch,’” DePompo explained. “Once you catch yourself face-touching, the rule would be you extend all the fingers of that hand for no less than 2 and a half to three minutes. It will be uncomfortable but not harmful. This will train you to be VERY aware of your hands and will in a short time keep your hands at bay.”
Hokemeyer suggested giving yourself immediate rewards for incremental changes you successfully implement.
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“Allow yourself to binge on a television show, eat a bowl of popcorn or buy a new shade of fingernail polish,” he said. “Nothing brings change to old behaviours like new rewards.”
He also touted the value of accountability buddies like a friend, colleague or partner. “Ask them to bring your face-touching behaviours to your attention when you do it,” he said.
Still, you don’t want to let it harm your relationship with that person. “Certainly the best way to do this is with a degree of humour and lightheartedness,” Hokemeyer added.
mihailomilovanovic via Getty Images Don't expect to be able to quit cold turkey.
Be Realistic About Your Goal
Don’t be hard on yourself if you still continue to touch your face during the day.
“It took years to form so expecting to quit cold turkey is not only impractical, it sets us up for failure,” Hafeez said. “Expect to reduce it over time. If you touch your face five times an hour, make it two or three ... until it becomes two to three times a day.”
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Hokemeyer highlighted the importance of making incremental shifts, rather than quick, radical behavioural changes.
“You’ll need to honour the fact that changing a habit takes time and practice. You’ll be amazed and hopefully amused at how deeply embedded and persistent these reactions are in your psyche,” he said. “You’ll also find that changing can be exhausting and frustrating. So easy does it. These behaviours didn’t evolve over night and they won’t be changed overnight either.”
Focus On What You Can Control More Easily
Because changing your face-touching habits requires time and effort, it’s important to also focus on the protective measures you can easily take today.
“I think it’s probably more important to keep your hands clean than to stop touching your face,” said Brad Stulberg, a performance coach and researcher. “It’s much easier to remember to wash your hands since you can pair that with certain daily activities ― like going to the bathroom and eating, which most people do a few times a day. If your hands are clean, then touching your face isn’t such a big deal.”
He also emphasised other healthy behaviours that will benefit individuals and their communities amid a global health crisis. These include getting a flu shot, exercising, eating healthy foods, not smoking and getting seven to nine hours of sleep at night.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Prince Andrew Reportedly Let Women Sit On Buckingham Palace Throne

“He took her to Buckingham Palace twice, and on one occasion she sat on the Queen’s throne,” the anonymous source said, adding that Bourret reportedly “spotted a bowl she liked and asked Andrew if she could steal it and post it to her mum. She claims that he let her, and her mum loved it!”
Buckingham Palace and a rep for Bourret have not responded to HuffPost’s requests for comment.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Love Island's Maura Higgins And Curtis Pritchard Announce Split

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They were one of the more unlikely couples to emerge from last year’s Love Island, but Maura Higgins and Curtis Pritchard have announced they’ve split.
Maura told her followers on Instagram that they’d called time on their relationship seven months after meeting on the ITV2 reality show.
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She said they had “tried to make it work but it wasn’t to be”.
Curtis Pritchard and Maura Higgins SIPA USA/PA Images
Posting on her Stories, she wrote: “Curtis and I have made the decision to separate.
“We enjoyed a great experience from our time in the villa and want to thank everyone for supporting our relationship.
“There is no easy way to get through a break-up and no bad feeling on either side.
“We tried to make it work but it wasn’t to be and I wish Curtis nothing but the best for the future.”
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Curtis and Maura came fourth in the summer final of the ITV2 dating show, which was won by Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea.
Runners up Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury are now the only couple still together from the fifth series of Love Island.
Maura and Curtis memorably got together after the ballroom dancer split from Amy Hart, with his former flame leaving the villa unable to watch his romance with Maura blossom.
The pair finished fourth on last year's Love Island Matt Frost/ITV/Shutterstock
Since leaving the villa, Maura and Curtis had teamed up to present red carpet coverage of January’s National Television Awards, while Maura has fronted segments on ITV’s This Morning and also competed on Dancing On Ice.
Curtis is about to embark on a nationwide dance tour with his brother, Strictly Come Dancing professional AJ Pritchard.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--No, 38% Of Americans Probably Didn't Stop Drinking Corona Because Of Coronavirus

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A buzzy statistic about Americans ditching Corona beer for fear of coronavirus doesn’t quite hold up under sober analysis.
On Friday morning, CNN tweeted that “38% of Americans wouldn’t buy Corona beer ‘under any circumstances’ because of the coronavirus” – a claim that promptly went, well, viral. The poll, conducted by 5W Public Relations, was covered in multiple media outlets.
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Many Twitter users seemed delighted for an excuse to poke fun at the rest of the country for jumping to such a dubious presumption (the beer, of course, is in no way related to the virus). But the poll and the reaction to it present their own lessons in drawing tenuous conclusions.
“Clearly, a lot of Americans already think that their fellow citizens are stupid,” Yascha Mounk wrote at The Atlantic. “The real reason a fake finding could have spread so far so quickly is that it confirmed prejudices about the world that many have held all along.”
It’s certainly true that Corona beer has drawn a wave of negative associations based on the unfortunate coincidence of its name in a way that could plausibly shift consumer behaviour. But what we know about the survey driving the story falls far short of backing up the more far-reaching claims.
The press release touting the poll offers little detail on what, exactly, people were asked, and 5W Public Relations has not been immediately forthcoming in answering additional questions. The firm provided a list of the questions it asked to Mounk and to the conservative site The Dispatch but refused to provide exact results for each question. 5WPR did not respond to HuffPost’s requests to provide a list of the survey’s questions, answer choices and results.
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Here are the questions that were asked, according to The Dispatch’s Declan Garvey, combined with the results 5WPR chose to include in its press release:
Are you a beer drinker?
Are you a Corona drinker?
Is Corona related to the coronavirus? (16% of beer-drinkers were “confused” about this.)
In light of the coronavirus, do you plan to stop drinking Corona? (4% who “usually drink Corona” said they planned to stop.)
Would you buy Corona in a store?
Would you order a Corona in a restaurant/bar/public venue? (14% who “usually drink Corona” said they would not.)
Would you buy Corona under any circumstances now? (38% of “beer-drinking Americans” said they would not.)
There are any number of ways a careful market researcher might attempt to tease out how, if at all, coronavirus has affected perceptions of the beer. This isn’t one of them. Instead, these questions manage to fail simultaneously in two different directions. On one hand, some of the phrasing (“In light of the coronavirus...”) implies a queasy connection between the virus and the beer that people might not have considered until they were polled.
Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
On the other hand, the final three questions ― including the one responsible for that startling 38% statistic ― don’t explicitly mention coronavirus as a motivation at all. In other words, drinkers who said they wouldn’t buy Corona might simply have meant that they prefer to order a different brand of beer.
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The much less eye-catching but entirely more plausible statistic is that, even “in light of the coronavirus,” just 4% of Americans who “usually drink Corona” say they “plan to stop” drinking it. Even here, the framing of the question is sloppy: If respondents “plan to stop,” doesn’t that imply they haven’t given it up yet?
Beyond the lack of clarity on the questionnaire, the press release is also somewhat vague about how the poll was conducted. According to 5WPR, it was run “via phone” and surveyed “737 American beer drinkers over the age of 21 on February 25 & 26, 2020.” Nothing about that description raises immediate red flags, and it’s a generally acceptable sample size for a national survey. But it falls short of answering a number of basic methodological questions, including whether the poll used live interviewers or robocalls, how it identified respondents and how it was weighted. Because of that lack of detail, we also don’t know what share of its sample “usually” drinks Corona and whether that subgroup is large enough to examine on its own.
There is some additional data on Corona beer beyond the 5WPR release. The polling firm YouGov, which tracks consumer sentiment on a variety of brands, shows Corona experiencing a pretty clear uptick in negative “buzz,” meaning that people who’ve heard of the brand are more likely to say they’ve heard something bad about it recently. That’s not surprising, especially considering a previous (and similarly overhyped) wave of stories about a small uptick in the number of people searching for the term “corona beer virus” on Google. Stories based on the latest survey are likely to lend themselves to another wave of negative buzz.
YouGov BrandIndex Poll On Corona Beer YouGov
YouGov’s polling also finds that “purchase intent,” which they define as the share of people who say Corona is the brand of beer they’re most likely to buy, has fallen to its lowest point in two years. But, as YouGov notes, Corona’s product “is closely associated with beach holidays [and] does see substantial seasonal fluctuation.” Looking at the chart suggests that the brand’s recent drop on this metric is only slightly more dramatic than the previous ups and downs it’s seen in years past. (A spokesperson for brewer Constellation Brands told CNN that Corona sales “remain very strong.”)
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YouGov BrandIndex Poll On Corona Beer YouGov
In interpreting all this data, it’s also worth asking a few more questions about what it would actually mean if someone said they’d stopped drinking Corona because of coronavirus. It might mean that a person mistakenly believes that the beer would made them sick. But it could also encompass other rationales ― for instance, “the name reminds me of something unpleasant I’d rather not think about,” or “ordering one at the bar feels like asking to be the setup for a joke.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Why Is Super Tuesday Such A Big Deal For The 2020 US Election?

The race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination has reached arguably it’s most significant moment: Super Tuesday.
It represents elections in 14 US states, as well as an overseas territory and Democrats who live outside the country, where the candidate to go head-to-head with Donald Trump in November could emerge.
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What happens on Super Tuesday?
The magic number to win the Democratic Party’s nomination for president is 1,991 delegates, with each state having a set number of delegates to award candidates.
About 1,357 delegates, or nearly one-third of the total number, are up for grabs on Super Tuesday, making it the biggest day of the state-by-state contests that mark primary season. The US’s two most populous states, California and Texas, are among those going to the polls.
The delegates will vote for the selected candidate at July’s Democratic National Convention, when the nominee is officially selected. But it could get messy if no candidate has a majority by then.
Who is running for president against Trump?
The field of candidates at this stage was set to be the largest in recent memory, but has been whittled down after Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar dropped out in the last two days as so-called moderates tried to coalesce their support around Joe Biden, the former vice president who enjoyed a resounding victory in Saturday’s South Carolina primary.
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They appear to be attempting a takedown of Bernie Sanders, the independent ‘democratic socialist’ from Vermont and frontrunner who has shaken the Democratic establishment with his grassroots-powered campaign.
Billionaire former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg makes his first appearance on primary ballots in Super Tuesday states, where he has bet hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money to boost his campaign. Biden’s resurgence could stunt his efforts, however.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has fallen well behind Sanders as the left-wing candidate of choice, remains in the race, as does the Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, despite polling well behind the recent drop-outs.
A state-by-state breakdown
The biggest prize: California (415 delegates)
The second biggest prize: Texas (228)
The South: Alabama (52), Arkansas (31), North Carolina (110), Tennessee (64)
The Newly Democrat states: Colorado (67), Virginia (99)
The home turf for candidates: Maine (24), Massachusetts (91), Minnesota (75), Oklahoma (37), Vermont (16)
The surprisingly liberal state: Utah (29)
The wild cards: American Samoa (6), Democrats Abroad (13)
Can Bernie Sanders regain momentum?
Sanders, who says he seeks nothing less than a political revolution, won New Hampshire and Nevada, finished a close second in Iowa to Buttigieg and well behind Biden in South Carolina.
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With his signature promise of government-run universal healthcare, Sanders has again proven to be a fundraising powerhouse, leading the field in total campaign contributions.
Super Tuesday represents Sanders’ biggest chance to prove he can substantially expand the electorate beyond traditional Democratic voters, and are vital as after Tuesday the terrain shifts to states that are not as favourable to him.
Sanders needs as many delegates as possible because his opponents argue the convention itself should decide the nominee should no one secure a clear majority.
Are moderates rallying around Joe Biden?
Biden dramatically under-performed in Iowa and New Hampshire, part of a collapse among white voters that allowed Sanders to vault into the lead. But he regained his footing in South Carolina, propelled by the overwhelming support of black voters.
Biden’s campaign hopes that allows him to vastly overperform his polls for Super Tuesday and consolidate the splintered anti-Sanders factions in the Democratic Party, with the supporters of Buttigieg and Klobuchar most likely to break to him.
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The hope in the former vice president’s camp is that it becomes effectively a two-person race after Tuesday, which may give him an advantage in upcoming states like Florida, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
Which candidates can stay viable?
Another key figure is 15%. That is the share of votes a candidate has to get or they won’t be eligible to receive delegates in most places.
With five Democrats left in the race, there is a real threat that only one or two will actually grab delegates, with the rest splitting the remaining vote in the low teens.
The risks of that diminished with the exits of Buttigieg and Klobuchar, but they did not go away.
That would be a dream scenario for Sanders, who in some states could grab a far greater proportion of available delegates than his vote share would represent.
Some polls have shown it as a distinct possibility in delegate-rich California.
Does Michael Bloomberg’s big bet pay off?
Bloomberg is a billionaire, and rather than competing in the first four primary states, he decided to spend a huge sum of money on advertisements and campaign organisations in the 14 states voting on Tuesday, as well as on other ones voting in the coming weeks.
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But since he first appeared on the debate stage, his polls plummeted and now he runs the risk of falling into the sub-15% zone in a number of states.
Even if he does not, will Bloomberg’s ultimate impact be to fragment the anti-Sanders vote further and help pave the way for the politician he says he got in the race to stop?
How does the California count affect the race?
California is different. It is the biggest prize on the board Tuesday with more than 400 delegates at stake.
But California has an unusual voting system that counts all ballots cast Tuesday, even if they were only put in a mailbox that day. It can take weeks to count the entire vote.
That could help or hurt Sanders. His campaign has been investing heavily in the state, trying to encourage his supporters to send in early ballots.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Coronavirus Expert Instantly Contradicts Trump On 'Quick' Vaccine — Again

Donald Trump promised on Monday that “very exciting things are happening rapidly” on the coronavirus front, including a possible “quick” vaccine. But that hope was instantly dashed by the top health expert on his Covid-19 task force, who said a vaccine might be ready in 18 months.
Trump appeared to confuse when a vaccine could be tested with when it could be safely used by Americans.
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Trump’s specifics on the battle against coronavirus were vague, but he promised they would undoubtedly be “very successful.” He made his remarks as he met in the Oval Office with task force members and 10 pharmaceutical company executives.
Trump also vowed that “we will continue to do exactly what we’ve been doing,” even though the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been sharply criticised over its flawed, limited tests for the disease.
As for a vaccine, Trump said, “I’ve heard very quick numbers, that of months. And I’ve heard pretty much a year would be an outside number. So I think that’s not a bad range. But ... you’re talking about three to four months in a couple of cases, a year in other cases.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, instantly corrected Trump: “Let me make sure you get the ... information.” A vaccine could be ready “at the earliest [in] a year to a year-and-a-half, no matter how fast you go,” said Fauci, noting: “Like I’ve been telling you, Mr. President.”
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Fauci also corrected Trump after his first news conference on the coronavirus last Wednesday, when the president insisted a vaccine was “very close.” Fauci later said a coronavirus vaccine could take up to two years.
The president underscored at the meeting that one company was talking about a vaccine in “two months.” But Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar pointed out to him that a vaccine could be ready to begin testing in two months. Vaccines go through three stages of testing before they’re available to the public much later.
Leonard Schleifer, the CEO of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, explained to Trump that a faulty vaccine can make a disease worse. “You don’t want to rush and treat a million people and find out you’re making 900,000 of them worse,” he said. Trump responded: “Good idea.”
Executives also had to explain to a stumped Trump that a typical flu vaccine won’t work against the new coronavirus.
The president appeared a bit foggy about vaccines in general. Schleifer explained about antibodies.
TRUMP asks a pharmaceutical CEO: "This would be a combination of a vaccine and also it will -- put it in a different way -- make you better, quicker?" pic.twitter.com/N7Wti1UByC — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 2, 2020
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Critics on Twitter were stunned that Trump boasted about “exciting things” concerning the coronavirus, given the rapidly mounting number of cases in the nation (102 as of Monday evening) and the death count (six people in Washington state).
Exciting things like what? Intubating and ventilating assisted living residents? https://t.co/VFgntLYfL2 — Andrea R MD (@AndreaR9Md) March 2, 2020
Here we go again with the word salad nonsense and filler that doesn't indicate that Trump knows what's going on.
Cases are up.
Deaths are up.
None of that is exciting. It's not a game show. It's life and death, and his choices/statements have dire consequences. — lawhawk (@lawhawk) March 2, 2020
Trump, soon as the experts leave: “So we’ll just go with the flu vaccine.” https://t.co/TZd9PliSBA — Richard Marx (@richardmarx) March 3, 2020
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This is scaryyyy pic.twitter.com/dmXMJmiyta — Nanette M Alders (@nanettema) March 2, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--At 61, I Am Coming To Terms With The Possibility That I Will Always Be Single

HuffPost UK Courtesy of the author
When I walked down the aisle on 2 May 1987, to share, ’I do’s with the man I had met seven months earlier, I anticipated that we would be spending a long lifetime together.
We had met when I was 28 and he was 36, introduced by a mutual friend during the intermission of a lecture by spiritual leader Ram Dass. Our marriage would be what I call paradoxical, with its share of love and its own major dysfunctions that I shudder to think I allowed for the time we were together.
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He grew up in a family with an alcoholic-rageaholic father, and a mother with depression and anxiety. His parents divorced and not amicably. He was expected to take sides.
The dynamic in my marriage fell into the category of chosen allegiances. If I wasn’t “siding” with my husband against anyone who disagreed with him, I was not being loyal. I felt as if I was always being tested and found wanting. I thought I could heal the emotional wounds that he carried, but I realised that it needed to be an inside job. His pain spilled over into our home.
In my marriage, love and abuse lay side by side. It was primarily emotional, with two incidents that were physical. Both times he expressed remorse, but I wondered when it might happen again. I was embarrassed to be in such a situation, since as a therapist I would have advised clients to leave.
In 1992, he was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and I became his caregiver, citing the “in sickness and health” part of our marriage vows. My hope was that as a result of his needing my assistance with his ADLs (activities of daily living), he would magically become kinder and more patient. That same year we adopted our son, then 5.
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What I discovered, to my disappointment, was that even with my mad skills as a professional therapist, I was at a loss to facilitate a healthy relationship between Michael and myself. A month after we adopted him, I had an ectopic pregnancy. A few months after that, we lost our home to the raging winds and rising waters of Hurricane Andrew in Homestead, Florida. It could have heralded the end of the marriage, but we pulled together.
Michael took his last breath on 21 December 1998, and since then I have had short-term relationships, lovers and friends with benefits. I have not been in a committed relationship since my husband died nearly 21 years ago. I call myself “incidentally poly,” since it is not my consciously chosen lifestyle, but I have had several simultaneous connections.
I have done the internet dating thing off and on for years, being both delighted and disappointed. I had a catfishing experience a year or so ago, and I met one man who became a pivotal person in my life, but we knew we weren’t soulmate material. We talk a few times a year now.
My son has told me that I will never find a man with the qualities I am looking for and that I need to be with a woman. I tell him that I haven’t even met a woman I could see myself with, although I would welcome her if she does arrive.
I have another long-divorced friend who says it would take someone exceptional to take her out of her single life. While I love being single with the freedom to create my own life, I simultaneously miss the companionship of a partner. I have amazing friends who meet some of my needs. I wish I could create a composite person comprised of all the wonderful qualities of those I know.
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I have done all the things relationship coaches advise, such as feng shui-ing my home, designing a vision board, making “the list” of qualities I desire in a partner, cleaning out a dresser drawer, acting as I would if I were in a relationship, journaling about it, being the kind of person I want to attract, loving myself as I want to be loved.
I have held wedding ceremonies in which I have ‘married’ myself. I take myself on dates. I have no fear of going anywhere alone. Movies, dinner, concerts, walks in the park – all things I would love to do while holding hands with a significant other. I have written cards and poems to give to this person.
I have wistfully gazed at couples who are all mushy-gushy with each other and desire that. I have also heard stories about the vitriol and violence in relationships and sigh with relief that I am a party of one. It is so much less complicated when I am the only one who needs to make decisions that affect my life, the only one to get out the door on time, the only one whose cleanliness standards I meet, without expectations of someone else meeting mine.
When I officiate at a wedding as an interfaith minister or attend one as a guest, without a ‘plus one’ at my side or on the dance floor, a sense of wistfulness overcomes me at times. I toggle back and forth on the daily.
I have worked with a few coaches who have assisted me in peeling off the layers and getting to know myself better, but have not yet attracted the love of my life. I used to believe that in order to be in love, people had to carry little baggage (or at least have it fit in the overhead compartment), have financial independence, be healthy and low maintenance with minimal drama, have it all sewn up in a nice, neat little package. Yet there are folks like me who have done the work to be relationship-ready, and who are still a solo act. And there are those who meet few or none of the criteria listed above who have devoted partners.
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I know I am the real deal, the whole package, good relationship material, despite my wounds and fears of attracting the same dynamics as the undesirable ones in my marriage. Friends attempt to assure me that I won’t, since I have grown dramatically in the two decades since Michael died.
A part of me died that day, too. The part that was, as he so eloquently put it, “an emotional contortionist who would bend over backward to please people, a deer caught in the headlights when it came to making a decision and was always looking over my shoulder to see if the propriety police were watching.” She is long gone, replaced by the resilient thriver who gazes back at me from the mirror and lives a rich, fully, juicy life.
I ask myself, as do many of my single friends in their 50s and beyond, what if I am never in a full-out committed relationship?
I have just turned 61 and imagine I have another 20 some years left. What if I remain single for those decades? I am accepting that possibility as I might embrace an unpartnered life.
What would that look like, I ponder? Will I be one of those eccentric older women who lives an unconventional existence? I already do, according to my son. His “weird hippie mom” whose effusiveness, color and pizazz, highlighted by purple hair, sometimes embarrasses him as much as it did when he was a teen. Will I be satisfied to have needs met in a patchwork style, with affection, attention, sex, and companionship arriving sporadically? Can I refrain from judging myself for being alone, since it seems no one else in my life casts disapproval on my single status?
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I sometimes ask my intended, “Is this the day you will show up?” Am I hiding in plain sight despite feeling transparently, nakedly visible? People keep telling me that when I surrender attachment to outcome, this person will indeed knock on the door to my heart.
In the meantime, keeping my heart open to myself is essential. I am always and forever, the love of my life.
This article first appeared on HuffPost US Personal.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-02--Coronavirus Panic Buying Leaves Chronically Ill People Without Hand Sanitiser

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A coronavirus-fuelled run on hand sanitiser is leaving those who rely on the product due to compromised immune systems fearful for their health.
The disease, which has spread from Wuhan in China to countries across the world with nearly 90,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,000 deaths globally, can be spread via small droplets from the nose or mouth as people cough or exhale.
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Thorough hand-washing is the primary advice from Public Health England (PHE) to thwart the virus, though alcohol-based hand sanitisers that contain at least 60% alcohol are recommended if soap and water aren’t available.
The advice has seen a sharp spike in the sale of hand sanitisers, with many shops left with bare shelves and some opting to ration sales.
Empty shelves where hand sanitiser gels have sold out in a high street pharmacy in London JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images
But for those who rely on the product for everyday use while out and about, the matter is causing concern.
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Kirsty Jeffery’s mother has been in kidney failure since September last year and uses hand sanitiser on a daily basis to protect herself.
The 57-year-old is taking six types of immunosuppressant medication similar to chemotherapy a day to prevent her immune system from attacking her kidneys. Because her immune system is now so weak, she has felt unable to attend her part-time job as an insurance clerk due to the coronavirus risk.
Now due to stockpiling, neither mother nor daughter have been able to buy any hand sanitiser at either high street pharmacies or independent stores.
Kirsty told HuffPost UK: “It’s something so trivial and she feels she can’t leave the house because of it, it’s awful. It’s this sense of panic-buying when health advisors have just said ‘wash your hands, regularly.’
“There’s just no need for it. You don’t need it. Just wash your hands. It’s like when people panic-buy bread and milk, it’s going to be there in a couple of days. There’s no need for it.
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“I remember when there were petrol shortages about four or five years ago, everyone was panic-buying petrol when there was just no need to. I can’t get into the mentality of a panic-buyer’s mind.”
Kirsty, 35, is so concerned she is considering asking her own employers if she can offer a large bottle of hand-sanitiser in her office to her mother.
She added: “People online have piped up ‘How dare you have a go at people trying to look after their health’, no, you’ve missed the point, you don’t need it. My mum is suffering and she can’t leave the house because of this.
“Something needs to come from the government. I think the government has been too silent about this.”
Others have also revealed how the shortage has affected them. One Twitter user wrote: “I’m really quite cross. I’ve been using hand sanitiser for 10yrs because a simple cough/cold can wipe me out for weeks, or end up in hospital with a life threatening adrenal crisis. I’ve got numerous problems with my health & I’m immunosuppressed.
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“This is the 1st time I’ve not been able to pick some up with my shopping so my neighbour went looking for some & tried 8 shops. They’re all out! Perfectly healthy people mass buying it have put me at risk.”
1/2 I’m really quite cross. I’ve been using hand sanitiser for 10yrs because a simple cough/ cold can wipe me out for weeks, or end up in hospital with a life threatening adrenal crisis. I’ve got numerous problems with my health & im immuosuppressed. This is the 1st time I’ve not — Cortisol Chaos (@CortisolChaos) March 1, 2020
2/2 been able to pick some up with my shopping so my neighbour went looking for some & tried 8 shops. They’re all out!Perfectly healthy people mass buying it have put me at risk😠 In the end she found this. it’ll have to do for now. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/LCVso0F0oG — Cortisol Chaos (@CortisolChaos) March 1, 2020
Others have shared similar experiences and complained that some retailers are over-charging for the stock they do have.
While PHE stresses there is “no need” to bulk buy the item in light of current events, and that maintaining careful handwashing habits with soap and water is adequate, it was unable to offer advice for immunosuppressed individuals who rely on the product for everyday use – referring HuffPost UK to the Department of Health and Social Care.
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Confusingly, that body referred the matter back to PHE. It also recommended we ask the NHS, which had yet to comment at the time of publication.
Just went into my local Boots to get hand sanitiser gel (it ain't easy out here). The sales assistant had to ration them out. I asked for an extra one to give to an elderly relative (answer: nope). Everybody is desperate for one. Sign of the times! 😬#coronavirus — Samantha (@Afrinaturality) March 2, 2020
Went to get hand sanitiser this morning in boots because I’ve a compromised immune system and have noticed an insane amount of ill unhygienic people around and they’re completely sold out, this Coronavirus shit really has everyone panicked af I’m screaming — fuck FF/FG (@MisguidedGay) February 28, 2020
Partner, whose immune system is compromised, went to buy some hand sanitiser. Supermarket sold out. Local chemist charging £6.00 for a small bottle! #COVID2019 #coronavirus — Paul Kleiman 🇪🇺 (@DrPaulKleiman) February 29, 2020
After first case of #coronavirus in Wales confirmed, Boots store in Cardiff has signs in the window telling customers they’re out of hand sanitiser. pic.twitter.com/7qrKVnC34z — Gemma Dunstan (@GemmaDunstan) February 29, 2020
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Initial symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, tightness of the chest, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
More severe cases can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, sepsis and septic shock, which can lead to death.
There are no specific treatments or vaccines for a new coronavirus but symptoms can be treated.
The UK government says based on current evidence most cases appear to be mild and those who have died in Wuhan appear to have had pre-existing health conditions. It acknowledges that those who are immunosuppressed are particularly vulnerable to the virus.
The World Health Organisation has said about four in five people who contract the virus get mild symptoms and recover.
But it added older people or patients with pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes are more at risk of developing serious illness.
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Meanwhile, global hygiene business Rentokil has said it has enough hand sanitiser to meet “strong” demand sparked by the coronavirus, but that stocks of its products may only last for the next few months.
The business said that it is closely monitoring the situation, as it hopes the Chinese factories that supply it can get up and running again before the supplies run out. Many Chinese factories are still shut, after they were initially meant to close for only 10 days in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
It said it also buys products manufactured in the UK and Malaysia, where factories remain open.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Tommy Robinson 'Arrested Over Assault At Center Parcs Pool'

Former leader and founder of the English Defence League Tommy Robinson ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson has been charged with common assault following an alleged assault at Center Parcs in Bedfordshire.
Bedfordshire Police said the 37-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, of Bedford, was due to appear at Luton Magistrates’ Court on April 2 and had been released on bail.
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He was arrested on Sunday at about 1.10pm after officers were called to Center Parcs in Woburn Forest over an altercation between two men – reportedly in the pool area.
One man sustained an injury to his face and received first aid at the scene.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--The Brit Awards 2000 Were The Most Iconic (And Chaotic) Ever

HuffPost UK
Over the last four decades, the Brit Awards have gifted us countless pop culture moments, from stunning performances to unscheduled chaotic scenes.
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But when it comes to Brits mayhem, one ceremony stands out head and shoulders above the others – and that just happens to be the first one of the new millennium.
In the year 2000, the awards show really brought it, making headlines for amazing performances, some awkward on-stage exchanges and yes, even a stage invasion.
On the 20th anniversary of the occasion, we’re taking a look back at the big night, and what made it one of the most iconic Brit Awards there has ever been...
Let’s start with the red carpet, where looks included this...
Denise Van Outen Michael Crabtree - PA Images via Getty Images
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This...
Carol Vorderman Richard Young/Shutterstock
And indeed this...
Caprice PA
Our favourite outfit on the night was probably Kylie Minogue’s, just a few months before she’d return to the top of the charts with Spinning Around
Kylie Minogue JM Enternational/Shutterstock
And while we’d love to say Norman Cook and Zoe Ball were the hottest couple on the red carpet...
Zoe Ball and her then-husband Norman Cook, aka. Fatboy Slim Richard Young/Shutterstock
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...That honour realistically has to go to these two
Dale Winton and Kate Thornton Michael Crabtree - PA Images via Getty Images
The whole night was hosted by Davina McCall, again just a few months before she’d begin the biggest presenting gig of her career, hosting Big Brother
Davina McCall opens the 2000 Brit Awards JM Enternational/Shutterstock
The night opened with this live collaboration between Five (or should that be 5ive?) and Queen
Ricky Martin also took to the stage as he celebrated a huge year (see if you can clock Carmit from the Pussycat Dolls as one of his backing dancers, too)
But the biggest performance of the night came from a certain Mrs Horner (née Halliwell)
Geri Halliwell puts on a show at the Brit Awards in 2000 Fiona Hanson - PA Images via Getty Images
She made headlines when she emerged from between a giant pair of inflatable legs
Absolutely incredible stuff JMEnternational via Getty Images
Meanwhile, her old Spice Girls bandmates ended up winning the Outstanding Contribution To Music title
The second incarnation of the Spice Girls Fiona Hanson - PA Images via Getty Images
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They marked the occasion with a special performance of their hits
(How unfortunate that Geri ended up stealing all of the headlines)
What a performance Richard Young/Shutterstock
Among the big winners on the night was Robbie Williams, who won Best British Single and Best British Video for She’s The One
Robbie is still the artist with the most Brit Awards to his name JM Enternational/Shutterstock
His acceptance speech also saw him taking a pop at Liam Gallagher, which provided a huge talking point
But that wasn’t the only kerfuffle on stage, with Ronnie Wood getting into a scrap with stage invader Brandon Block, after his mates somehow convinced him that he’d won an award (we think alcohol might have been involved, but we can’t be sure)
Travis and Macy Gray were the other big winners of the night, each scooping two awards
Macy Gray was awarded International Female and International Breakthrough JM Enternational/Shutterstock
Elsewhere, Tom Jones was awarded Best British Male, beating Sting, David Bowie, Van Morrison and Ian Brown
While Best British Female went to Beth Orton (remember her?) over Gabrielle, Melanie C, Geri Halliwell and Beverley Knight
Beth Orton accepts her award for Best British Female Fiona Hanson - PA Images via Getty Images
Other winners included Steps for British Live Act…
Varying levels of formal wear among the five members of Steps JM Enternational/Shutterstock
...and Five for Best British Pop Act
It was a big night for Five, who opened the show and later won Best British Pop Act Shutterstock
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Oh, and Will Smith performed, wearing this, of all things...
Will Smith performing Will 2K at the Brits JM Enternational/Shutterstock
...which somehow then transitioned into this
Remember Will Smith's rap career? Richard Young/Shutterstock
And if you want to know just how “turn of the millennium” the presenters on the night were, here’s the SM:tv team making a Wonky Donkey joke…
...and Ali G presenting an award to Macy Gray
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Before we go, shall we just have another watch of that Geri performance?
Just excellent.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--9 Statement Cushions To Liven Up Your Living Room

The Spoils
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change.
Statement cushions have long been loved for sofas, beds and armchairs – not least because of the comfort factor.
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Clashing prints, gold lining, jewel tones and bold colours can also give your humble abode a refresh or add a touch of style with ease.
Not sure where to look? No problem, we’ve got you covered with the crème de la crème of weird, wonderful and utterly gorgeous designs.
HuffPost UK Velvet Cushion Cover, H&M
Walk on the wild side with this emerald green cushion cover that has a gold tiger motif. The only downside is you’ll have to buy the actual cushion separately.
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HuffPost UK Rockett St George Red Hot Lips Beaded Cushion, Liberty London
A red lip never goes out of style, which is why this beaded style from Rockett St George is worth the investment. It’ll stand out on a plain-coloured sofa, that’s for sure.
HuffPost UK Quirky Navy Velvet Eye Cushion with Exposed Gold Zip, Etsy
Quirky Navy Velvet Eye Cushion with Gold Zip, Etsy, £45 Ever feel like you’re being watched? If your sofa is looking a little tired, or you’ve grown bored of seeing the same decor everyday, give the room an update with this bold, navy blue velvet cushion. Buy it now.
HuffPost UK Seletti Labyrinth Cushion Cove, Selfridges
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Optical illusions don’t have to be limited to art on the wall – you can have fun with your soft furnishings, too. We can’t get enough of this labyrinth design with a cute chick as the minotaur in its maze.
The Spoils Amor Embroidered Cushion, Trouva
Wear you heart on your sleeve – or better yet, your sofa – with this turquoise embroidery. It’s the perfect finishing touch.
HuffPost UK Sanderson Jackfruit Cushion, John Lewis
If you’re a fan of foliage, but lack the room to nurture an actual plant, opt for a cushion instead.
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HuffPost UK Gibson by Vintage Cushions, Wolf & Badger
Throw it back to the flower power era with this retro-inspired vintage cushion for an explosion of colour. We’re all here for a clashing print.
HuffPost UK House Of Hackney Velvet Mey Meh Cushion, Harrods
Velvet, fringing and a maximalist print, what more could you want? Inspired by the Moroccan souks, it’ll add a touch of luxury to lounging around on the sofa.
The Spoils Face Mask Cushion Paris Essex, Trouva
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--8 Ways Sex Is Different For People With Anxiety

For those with an anxiety disorder, certain parts of daily life can be more challenging — and that includes sex.
Anxiety (and some of the medications used to treat the condition) can lower a person’s sex drive, make it more difficult to orgasm or hinder the ability to maintain an erection. Those who have experienced sexual trauma or were raised to believe sex is shameful may deal with anxiety specifically about physical intimacy.
We asked people living with anxiety to share the ways the mental health condition impacts their sex life. Here’s what they told us.
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1. I’m stuck in my head, rather than being in the moment.
“My anxiety makes it almost impossible for me to let go and enjoy the actual act of sex. Even though I love my partner dearly, it can become awkward when my body is tense and I am completely lost in the anxiety attack of worry and overthinking in my head.” — Shelby Goodrich Eckard
2. I have a tough time connecting with my partner.
“I find it difficult to get comfortable with someone and I find it difficult to connect. In order to open myself up to someone on that deep, intimate level that leads to great sex, I really need to connect with that person.” — Erica Gordon
3. I’m hypercritical about how it’s going.
“The last time I had sex with a man I really liked but hadn’t known for too long, it was extremely awkward. In the middle of us making out, I stopped and asked, ‘Are you okay?’ He immediately snapped. ‘What? I’m going too slow for you? You just want to rush into the sex?’ he said. I was instantly flustered and so embarrassed. My anxiety stopped me in the middle of us making out because I was a nervous wreck. I felt like I was moving too slow for him. So I wanted to know if he was good. If only he knew that I love romantic and slow gestures towards making love. I hate rushing into sex. I hate missing out on the foreplay. I hate not getting kissed.” — Charlie G.
Elena Tan/EyeEm via Getty Images When you're anxious, it can be more difficult to fully enjoy sex.
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4. I find it difficult to get turned on in the first place.
“It’s not easy for a man I’m dating (even if that man is my long-term partner) to get me in the ‘mood’ to have sex. Because I’m so in my head all the time, stressed out, on edge or feeling anxious, my man has to put more effort in to ‘seduce’ me or ‘turn me on’ than he otherwise would have to with a woman who does not struggle with anxious thoughts.” — Gordon
5. I sometimes have a couple of drinks to quiet my mind.
“Although I rarely drink alcohol, I often find myself wanting to drink before sex. It’s so difficult for me, as a person with chronic anxiety, to lower my inhibitions enough to enjoy sex. Alcohol does help with this problem and helps loosen me up, which is why, even though I never crave alcohol in any other setting and I don’t even really enjoy drinking, a sexual setting is the one scenario where I actually would prefer having a couple of drinks first.” — Gordon
6. I fixate on how I look.
“My anxiety and my body image issues seem to be codependent partners in crime. My anxiety goes into hyperfixation on how I’ll look naked, how my body has changed with age, what my partner will view me like, etc. It has at times completely ruined the moment and led to intimacy issues with my partner. It’s hard to explain anxiety when you can’t even understand it yourself, sometimes.” — Goodrich Eckard
7. I ruminate about how sex could affect things with my partner going forward.
“As a person with anxiety, you just never know when the time is right. I’m with a guy I really like and wouldn’t mind having sex with. Everything is going fine. And then boom, just when things start to head that direction, the jilting thoughts race in: Does this guy really like me? Is he just using me for sex? Or does he actually want to get to know me and also just so happens to want to have sex right now? We’re two consenting adults, we don’t need to wait 90 days to have sex, right? But if I have sex with him right now, will he still like me tomorrow or lose interest or will he only call me now only for sex because he’s gotten what he wants from me already?” — Charlie G.
8. I get overwhelmed when sex is another thing on my schedule.
“As a busy mom with kids, sex oftentimes has to be planned. If you have anxiety, you know plans can be a minefield. The overthinking, over-worrying and constant pressure we put on ourselves completely zap the desire to perform the actual act.” — Goodrich Eckard
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Responses have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-02--Home Working To Be Key Plank Of Boris Johnson's ‘Battleplan’ To Combat Coronavirus

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Millions of workers are set to be advised to work from home as part of Boris Johnson’s ‘battleplan’ to tackle the spread of coronavirus.
The strategy of ‘social distancing’, aimed at delaying the peak of the outbreak until the summer months, will be part of a raft of measures spelled out for the first time by the prime minister in a press conference in Downing Street.
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Emergency legislation to ban public events like major sports matches and enforce ‘no-go zones’ in some areas will also be outlined.
Johnson will be accompanied by the UK’s leading officials dealing with the crisis, chief medical officer professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
In a separate move, chancellor Rishi Sunak also signalled he is preparing to use the coming Budget to support businesses hit by the spread of the virus.
The fresh government moves came as the number of identified UK cases of the disease rose to 39. There were four new cases reported on Monday, all of whom had travelled from Italy, the site of Europe’s biggest outbreak.
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The new ‘battleplan’, also agreed by the Scottish and Welsh governments and the Northern Ireland executive, is expected to include emergency measures to draft in retired GPs and relaxation of rules around staff to pupil ratios in education and childcare settings.
Under the ‘social distancing’ approach, as the virus outbreak increases over the next couple of months, workers who can do their jobs from home will be advised to do so and others will be told to avoid all ‘unnecessary’ travel.
Volunteers are also to be urged to help out in NHS hospitals to cope with the increased workload.
New legislation - to possibly halt major public events and restrict movement of individuals - will only be introduced towards the end of the month, when advisers expect the Covid-19 outbreak to start to move into its next phase. The legislation will be ‘sunsetted’ to make clear it will expire once the crisis abates.
The PM, who on Monday chaired government’s emergency COBR committee on the coronavirus outbreak, will launch a major public information campaign later this week.
Boris Johnson meets with staff in a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale. HENRY NICHOLLS via Getty Images
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Other measures include every government department having a minister designated to deal with the crisis and a “war room” set up in the Cabinet Office, bringing together communications experts and scientists from across government and the NHS.
Johnson said: “It is highly likely coronavirus will spread more widely in the coming days and weeks, which is why we’re making every possible preparation.
“We have agreed a plan, which I will set out in detail today, so if the virus should spread, we are ready to take necessary steps to contain it and protect the most vulnerable.”
The Treasury and Bank of England are also ready to step in to help firms and markets amid warnings that coronavirus could inflict the biggest shock to the global economy since the 2008 financial crisis.
Sunak said: “The whole of government is working closely together to tackle the spread of COVID-19.
“We understand that people across the country are worried, but I assure you that we are taking firm action to support your families, your businesses and the public services on which you rely.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--One Of These Missguided Ads Was Banned For 'Objectifying Women'. The Other Is Allowed To Stay

Missguided The banned ad (left) and allowed ad (right)
Two adverts for the clothing brand Missguided have been investigated by regulators – one was banned, while the other was deemed acceptable.
The banned advert shows a model wearing a blazer without a top underneath, with no bra and sheer tights. The regulators, from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), ruled that it “objectified women”.
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“We considered she [the model] would be seen as being in a state of undress and that the focus was on her chest area and lower abdomen rather than the clothing being advertised,” the ASA said of the ad, which was displayed on a train platform in November.
The regulators, who received complaints from the public about the ad, also commented on the model’s pose, noting that her “her head was tilted back, with her mouth slightly open, and her leg was bent and raised”.
“We considered that the sexually suggestive styling and pose would be seen as presenting women as sexual objects,” they said. “Because the ad objectified women, we concluded that [the ad] was likely to cause serious offence.”
Missguided The banned Misguided ad.
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The ASA also received complaints about a second Missguided poster featuring the same model – this time wearing a pink wrap mini-dress. The ad appeared on the London Underground and a member of the public questioned whether it was “appropriate for display where it could be seen by children”.
However, the ASA decided the ad was “no more than mildly sexual” – with a focus on clothes, rather than the model’s body – and therefore decided not to ban the ad.
This isn’t the first time Missguided has found itself in hot water over the styling of its models. Last year, an advert for the brand’s swimwear that aired during Love Island was banned after the ASA ruled it “invited viewers to view the women as sexual objects”.
Commenting on the latest rulings, Missguided said it “strongly contested” that either ad overly sexualised and objectified women. The brand told ASA it is committed to “promoting and encouraging female empowerment” and argued that it “designed and promoted collections that enabled their customers to stand out from the crowd in memorable outfits and poses”.
Missguided said the age of the model made it clear that the target audience for both ads was young adult women, not children, adding: “The message behind the ads and the target audience had been misunderstood.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--'Irresponsible' Face Mask Ads Banned For 'Exploiting' Coronavirus Fears

Do face masks protect against coronavirus?
Face masks may help to a degree in some situations, but just because you’re wearing one, it doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
The most in-demand masks are N95 respirators, often worn by workers in construction and healthcare. While they might be effective at preventing contact with contaminated liquid, they won’t hold back all small particles in the air from coughs or sneezes, and so aren’t effective protection from Covid-19.
Healthcare professionals are trained specifically in how to wear masks, but if a member of the general public wears one incorrectly, they risk trapping particles they’re trying to keep outside of the mask, inside the mask.
Therefore, wearing one could actually increase your risk of contracting the virus, infection prevention specialist Eli Perencevich told Forbes: “[It’s] tricky because it can create a false sense of security. If you don’t wash your hands before you take off the mask and after you take off your mask, you could increase your risk.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Meghan Markle Was 'Too Good To Be True', Says Dame Hilary Mantel

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She was heralded as the symbol of a new, modern era for the royals, but the same narrative meant Meghan Markle was primed for a fall, according to Dame Hilary Mantel.
In a new interview, the Booker Prize-winning author says the Duchess of Sussex was “too good to be true” and subjected to “abominable racism”.
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“I think that Meghan was too good to be true. She was a smiling face in a dull institution, she cheered the nation up no end, or at least men and women of goodwill,” Mantel told Harper’s Bazaar.
“I do think abominable racism has been involved. People who say that’s got nothing to do with it – well, they need to check their privilege!’”
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Referring to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step back as senior members of the royal family, she added: “I’m pleased that it’s the marriage that’s surviving and the connection with the monarchy that has to go, because I think almost all of us would have bet that if she left, she’d have to leave alone. Though, none of us know the details of how this is going to work out.”
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Harry and Meghan officially ended their royal duties on 31 March, when they stopped representing the Queen and became financially independent. The couple will split their time living between North America and the UK and will cease to use Sussex Royal as a brand, the BBC reported.
Mantle’s comments on the racism faced by the Duchess echo the views of several prominent Black commentators and campaigners who spoke to HuffPost UK after the couple announced they would be stepping back.
“I’m pleased that it’s the marriage that’s surviving and the connection with the monarchy that has to go.” - Hilary Mantel
Mantel was speaking to Harper’s Bazaar to celebrate the publication of the final instalment of her bestselling Tudor trilogy, which started with 2009′s Wolf Hall.
She said she handled the pressure of writing the third instalment, titled The Mirror and the Light, by “keeping my eye on the content of the book, and asking: ‘Does that succeed with readers?’”
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The book has already been named on the 16-strong long list of the Women’s Prize For Fiction. In 2012, Mantel won both the Man Booker and Costa prizes for the second book in the trilogy, Bring Up The Bodies.
“The whole issue of prizes, bestseller lists and so on is out of my hands. When you’re actually writing day by day, I don’t find any of that matters,” she told Harper’s.
It’s not the first time that Mantel has commented on royal women and the media. In a 2013 speech at the British Museum, she said the Duchess of Cambridge was forced to present herself as a personality-free “shop window mannequin” whose sole purpose was to deliver an heir to the throne.
“It may be that the whole phenomenon of monarchy is irrational, but that doesn’t mean that when we look at it we should behave like spectators at Bedlam,” she added. “Cheerful curiosity can easily become cruelty.”
In an interview with the BBC, Mantel suggested today’s royals are “perceived as public property in the same way that Tudor women were perceived”.
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“I hesitate to call her a victim,” the novelist said of Markle. “But I think there has been an element of racism in the invective against her.
“I think it’s more deeply embedded in people’s consciousness that any of us are willing to admit.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--How Boris Johnson’s Expert Advisers On Coronavirus Won The Day

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Reasonable doubt
Sober, reassuring, nuanced. When the chief medical officer (CMO) and chief scientific adviser flanked Boris Johnson at Number 10 today, they did an impressive job of calmly and professionally setting out the factual framework behind the government’s coronavirus strategy. This may be a Vote Leave Downing Street running a Vote Leave administration, but it turned out this country hasn’t ‘had enough of experts’ after all.
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CMO Chris Whitty is a doctor and epidemiologist by training and in many ways perfectly suited to the task of combating the viral outbreak. Chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance is another doctor and clinical pharmacologist who said only last summer that his role is to ‘speak scientific truth to power’. And so far it looks like the PM is listening.
The 26-page “action plan” was caveated and cautious throughout, just like the two experts themselves, and provided a welcome contrast to the overheated rhetoric that often passes for much political debate in parliament. When asked to give simple answers they replied with complexity, trying to be as transparent as possible while stressing the uncertainty of some aspects of dealing with Covid-19.
Facts were laid out: children are least likely to fall ill, pregnant women were so far not seen as more at risk than others, those over 80 and with underlying health conditions are most at risk. But projections of the overall death rates were absent. Dominic Cummings, who hovered at the back of the room, famously likes science. Maybe here was one area of government policy where civil servants were utterly trusted?
During the press conference Whitty pointed out that he didn’t want to make even a central projection (beloved of economists during Budgets) because the range of outcomes was so wide. Yes, the outbreak could theoretically hit 80% of the population but the figure was ‘probably a lot lower’, he said. The mortality rate of 1% could well be lower than estimates from China suggested. There was no need to panic or exaggerate, was the message.
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In fact what was most striking today was the way the experts, fully backed by the PM, played down a lot of the worst-case scenario options. Closing schools is an emergency option but there are doubts about whether the disruption caused would be justified by the impact on stopping the disease, not least as young children are very low risk. Reason, aided by the right reassuring tone, ruled the day.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance speaking during a press conference on the government's coronavirus action plan. PA
Similarly, banning mass events like football matches and concerts is on the table, but may well be pointless. The risk of transmission seems just as high if football fans watch matches in a pub (where sustained close physical contact occurs) than if they are part of a crowd of 70,000 people (of which only a doughnut of around 12 people may contact them).
And on foreign travel, the advice was there’s no point cancelling foreign holidays booked for this summer as by that stage the virus may be so widespread that the issue is academic. “Once the epidemic is everywhere, then actually restricting travel makes no difference at all,” Vallance said, wonderfully matter-of-factly. Stockpiling food and medicines was also frowned on.
The caution even rubbed off on Johnson, who is normally as bouncy as a Great English Sheepdog in grabbing a populist headline. When asked about the idea of deploying the Army, he stressed there would be ‘backfill’ to replace any police shortages due to coronavirus, but this would be limited (nuclear power stations at most). The idea of ‘troops on the streets’ was not encouraged.
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That’s not to say that the impact of an established outbreak will be small. The tentative plans for cancelling non-urgent NHS treatment and focusing police activity on serious crime and public order would affect lots of people. “Everyone will face increased pressures at work,” the action plan warns. It’s not often a government paper talks about ‘everyone’ like that.
There were areas where the document was perhaps too light on detail. It was difficult to see exactly how the NHS would find the beds and staff for the peak of the crisis, especially as retired GPs and nurses who could be drafted back are likely to be more at risk given their age.
Discharging patients quicker from hospital could be undermined by the fact that community nurse numbers have been hit during austerity. Johnson was also remarkably vague when asked whether all workers could get statutory sickness pay if forced to stay at home, and even health secretary Matt Hancock (who has had a good war so far) couldn’t give any guarantees.
Overall though, the press conference and its accompanying document worked for the government. A Cabinet minister (Hancock) was allowed on the Today programme and Channel 4 News (both on the No.10 banned list) and the world didn’t fall apart. It’s almost as if openness and scrutiny can help politicians. Spooky thought. Has it taken a highly abnormal threat to force the government to get back to normal?
The whole day was indeed a sharp contrast to the undercurrent of distrust of civil servants and obsession with removing any perceived hindrance to the centralising power of Cummings (though the BuzzFeed scoop today, about the ousting of a special adviser who dared stand up to him, suggested this is a war of attrition without end).
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There was one moment during the press conference however when there was a flicker of distance between the prime minister and his experts. Asked if he was shaking hands with No.10 visitors, Johnson couldn’t resist saying: “I was at a hospital the other night where I think there were coronavirus patients and I was shaking hands with everybody, you will be pleased to know, and I continue to shake hands.” No.10 later clarified that the PM hadn’t actually been shaking hands with coronavirus patients.
“People must make up their own minds but I think the scientific evidence is... “ Johnson said. Quick as a flash, Vallance interrupted to say “Wash your hands”. And when the PM blithely said “I’m shaking hands continually”, I’m sure I detected a tiny raise of an eyebrow from chief medical officer Whitty. Like London Mayor Sadiq Khan, many doctors and scientists advise against hand shaking in a bid to delay the spread of the disease as much as possible.
Still, the PM for once eschewed the chance to tubthump about the Blitz spirit and other wartime metaphors. In fact it was Whitty who came up with one of the best lines today. He declared that the outbreak of the virus was one thing, but often the “response of the British public to disasters and emergencies is extraordinary outbreaks of altruism”. Johnson looked on admiringly. Those pesky experts, they even sound like human beings, dammit.
Quote Of The Day
“I want to stress that for the vast majority of the people of this country, we should be going about our business as usual.”
Boris Johnson on coronavirus risk in the UK
Tuesday Cheat Sheet
Priti Patel emailed Home Office staff to say she regrets the resignation of her former top civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam amid bullying allegations against her. The joint message from Patel and her new acting permanent secretary said they “deeply cared” about the “wellbeing” of civil servants and valued their professionalism.
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Matt Hancock told MPs that the government may review the rule saying workers need a sick note from a GP if they need to take sick leave for more than seven days.
Boris Johnson confirmed that he would be taking two weeks’ paternity leave once his partner Carrie Symonds gives birth this summer.
Keir Starmer’s latest leadership campaign donations were published by parliament, showing a £100,000 gift from a former housing lawyer. But other spending remains as yet unaccounted for and Rebecca Long-Bailey supporter Jon Trickett hit out at the ‘undemocratic’ lack of transparency.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan launched his re-election campaign with a challenge to Boris Johnson to allow rent controls if he wins another term in office at City Hall.
What I’m Reading
Why China Seems To Be Turning A Corner On Coronavirus - Vox
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Queen Wears Gloves At Buckingham Palace Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Queen Elizabeth wears gloves as she awards the CBE to Anne Craig, known professionally as actress Wendy Craig. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Queen opted to wear long white gloves as she carried out an investiture at Buckingham Palace.
The palace declined to confirm whether the 93-year-old monarch was taking the precaution because of the coronavirus outbreak.
But the number of people diagnosed with Covid-19 in the UK has risen to 51, and the head of the World Health Organisation has advised people over the age of 60 to avoid crowded areas.
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A palace spokesman said: “It is not unusual for the Queen to wear gloves on a public engagement.”
It is believed it could be the first time the monarch has done so at a palace investiture. She has not been pictured wearing gloves at a ballroom investiture in the last decade.
She wore gloves for the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969, but that was a high-profile, televised, open-air ceremony for her eldest son at Caernarfon Castle.
Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said: “The Queen doesn’t wear gloves at investitures, but it’s a sensible precaution.
“She’s six or so weeks away from her 94th birthday and she’s at an age when she’s susceptible to such a virus.
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“The other alternative would have been to have cancelled the investiture but the Queen is a ‘business-as-usual-monarch’.”
The death rate for people infected with coronavirus is “significantly ramped up” among people over the age of 80, England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty has said.
Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales shook hands, without gloves, as he gave out honours at the Royal College of Music’s annual awards ceremony in London, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge went bare-handed as they arrived for an official tour of Ireland.
A royal source said the Queen would be following any advice from the government.
The head of state usually hands out the honours without gloves, as she carries out the fiddly task of fastening the awards to a hook on the recipients’ lapels.
The oversized gloves, which stretched past the Queen’s wrist, appeared much longer than the ones she usually wears when out and about meeting the public on official engagements.
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The Queen is a fan of black or white gloves, but the end of the accessory is usually tucked into the sleeve of her coat or jacket.
Each investiture, held in the palace ballroom, is attended by more than 60 people, receiving a range of accolades, from MBEs to knighthoods and damehoods, plus their guests.
The Queen greets each recipient in turn on the low red dais and shakes their hand.
Around the world, people are rejecting handshakes and refusing kisses in an attempt to reduce the spread of the disease.
And a video has been widely shared showing people in China tapping their feet against one another – dubbed the “Wuhan Shake” – as a hands-free greeting.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will continue to shake hands with people despite the outbreak of coronavirus.
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PMs usually have an audience with the Queen each Wednesday, where they typically shake the monarch’s hand.
It is not yet known whether the coronavirus will end up impacting upon key events in the royal calendar, such as sporting gatherings like Royal Ascot or the Queen’s garden parties.
More than 8,000 guests at a time mingle on the lawns of Buckingham Palace in London or at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
The monarch welcomes over 30,000 people to garden parties every year.
Although the event is outdoors, guests queue in tea tents and take their seats in nearby chairs, with around 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake consumed at each party.
According to protocol, the Queen and fellow royals are introduced to selected guests as they make their way down the divided lanes of people, among the crowds.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Priti Patel 'Regrets' Resignation Of Top Civil Servant Amid Bullying Claims

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Priti Patel has said she “regrets” the decision of the most senior civil servant at the Home Office to quit as the home secretary is engulfed in accusations of bullying.
Sir Philip Rutnam dramatically announced at the weekend that he was standing down as permanent secretary, claiming constructive dismissal and accusing Patel of bullying her subordinates.
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The BBC reported that in a joint email to staff written with Sir Philip’s interim successor Shona Dunn, Patel insisted they cared about the wellbeing of all employees.
They expressed their gratitude to the staff for their continuing hard work and “commitment to deliver the government’s priorities”.
“We both deeply value the work that every person in this department does and care about the well-being of all our staff. It is therefore a time for us all to come together as one team,“ they wrote.
“We also recognise the importance of candour, confidentiality and courtesy in building trust and confidence between ministers and civil servants.
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“Both of us are fully committed to making sure the professionalism you would expect to support this is upheld.”
Sir Philip Rutnam and Home Secretary Priti Patel. PA
They added: “We both regret Sir Philip’s decision to resign. He had a long and dedicated career of public service for which we thank him.”
The email comes after Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove announced on Monday that there was to be an inquiry into allegations Patel had broken the ministerial code.
Boris Johnson has expressed his full confidence in Patel, who he promoted to one of the great offices of state after she had previously been sacked from the Cabinet by Theresa May.
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However, some Tory MPs have questioned how much longer she can carry on in the job, while Labour has complained the inquiry into her conduct – to be carried out by the Cabinet Office – is not fully independent.
In his televised resignation statement, Sir Philip accused Patel of orchestrating a “vicious” campaign against him, of lying about her involvement in it and of creating a climate of fear in her department.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Trans Woman Announces Resignation From The Guardian In Packed Staff Meeting Amid Transphobia Row

The main entrance of The Guardian newspaper office in York Way PA
A deepening row about The Guardian’s coverage of trans rights issues saw a trans woman dramatically announce her resignation in front of colleagues on Tuesday, HuffPost UK understands.
It is the third resignation from the paper’s UK office in months over the issue.
The worker confirmed to HuffPost UK she had handed in her notice a few weeks earlier, but chose to speak out in the busy news meeting on Tuesday over what she called “the straw that broke the camel’s back”.
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The events came hours after The Guardian published a column by Suzanne Moore entitled: “Women must have the right to organise. We will not be silenced.”
Moore’s column was written in response to the last-minute cancellation of Selina Todd’s expected address at Exeter College, after Todd was accused of transphobia – which she strongly denies.
Todd tweeted that the decision to no-platform her was “because of my connection with Woman’s Place UK”.
The group was set up in September 2017 “to ensure women’s voices would be heard in the consultation on proposals to change the Gender Recognition Act”, according to its website.
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Its opposition to trans women being legally allowed to self-ID and access women-only spaces has led critics – including the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights – to accuse it of transphobia.
The campaign named it among a list of “transphobic organisations” in its 12-point plan calling for sex-based campaigners to be expelled from the party. Guardian columnist Owen Jones described Labour leadership contender Rebecca Long-Bailey as a “hero” for backing the group’s pledges.
In a subsequent blog post, Todd, a professor of modern history at the University of Oxford, said she was “shocked” by the move to disinvite her, adding: “The organisers say this is because of pressure from trans activists and [activist group] Feminist Fightback. I refute the allegation that I am transphobic.”
The Guardian’s approach to covering trans rights issues has been the subject of internal battles. In 2018, three of the paper’s US staff publicly criticised the decision to run an editorial that they said “promoted transphobic viewpoints”.
Last year, BuzzFeed reported the Guardian had lost two trans employees over its coverage of the issue, with one accusing the newspaper in an email to staff of being “an incredibly transphobic organisation”.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Exclusive: Tory MP Paul Bristow Quits Private Lobbying Firm And Hands Directorship To...His Own Wife

Conservative MP for Peterborough Paul Bristow Joe Giddens - PA Images via Getty Images
A new Tory MP who founded a tech and healthcare lobbying firm prior to his election in December has been criticised by transparency campaigners after handing the business over to his wife.
Paul Bristow, who was elected to represent Peterborough last year, set up PB Consulting in 2010.
The multi-million-pound business specialises in helping private tech and healthcare companies influence law-makers and boasts a string of US-based clients.
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On January 9, Bristow transferred the company to his wife Sara Petela, with whom he shares a home and who is on maternity leave.
Parliament’s code of conduct states that MPs cannot “act as a paid advocate” and must “consider whether they have a conflict of interest”.
When approached by HuffPost UK, Bristow said that Petela acting as director was part of “temporary arrangements” that will be “replaced in due course”.
He insists he took “immediate steps” to step down from the firm and no longer has shares, but critics say there is a conflict of interest as the MP could still personally benefit from what is now his wife’s company.
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But Tamasin Cave, of the transparency campaign Spinwatch, said the move highlights gaping flaws in the system.
She said: “Paul Bristow says he’s ditched his interest in his lobbying firm but [could] still benefit through his wife’s involvement, which seems like a sleight of hand.
“His case highlights the problem in this country: there is no public scrutiny of who is influencing whom and about what.”
She pointed out that PB Consulting had acted for “some huge American healthcare firms”.
The lobbying register shows that, in the last quarter, PB Consulting’s clients have included: Cerner – a large American firm looking to expand its reach in the UK
Medtronic – a US health technology company
Johnson & Johnson – an American multi-national corporation founded developing medical devices, pharmaceutical and consumer goods
Advamed – a US health tech trade body
Health tech trade bodies, including the Association of British Healthcare Industries and the Medical Technology Group
Bayer – one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world
PB Consulting is currently lobbying three separate all party parliamentary groups (APPGs) of MPs, which are exploring issues around obesity, women’s health and vascular disease.
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It comes as the UK enters trade talks with the EU and the US, with the legislative landscape post-Brexit expected to include sweeping changes to contracting for public services and regulation.
Justin Madders, Labour’s shadow health minister, said there were “questions that need to be answered” by Bristow.
“If these allegations are true, then he could potentially have benefited from lobbying on behalf of private healthcare companies, which I am sure many members of the public would find appalling.
“Bristow should urgently clarify his position and be more transparent with his interests.”
Bristow told HuffPost UK he has no role in the company any longer and he has been as transparent as possible.
He said: “When I was elected, I took immediate steps to remove myself from ownership of PB Consulting.
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“I’ve had no role in the company since the election, nor any involvement in its work or business. As of January 9, 2020, all my interests in PB Consulting have been divested to my partner, Sara Petela, who has been a member of the company’s leadership team for several years.
“These are temporary arrangements only and will be replaced in due course. She also continues to be on maternity leave.
“The temporary arrangements have been declared and I have gone out of my way to be transparent about them, as Hansard shows.”
Dan Jones, managing director of PB Consulting, added: “Mr Bristow has no involvement with PB Consulting and hasn’t done since his election in December.
“Sara Petela, Mr Bristow’s wife, is currently the owner of PB Consulting. Sara has worked for PB Consulting for over five years in a senior role, and is currently on maternity leave and has been since last November.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--The “Wuhan Shake” Is The New Way To Greet People Without Spreading Coronavirus

The “Wuhan Shake” Is The New Way To Greet People Without Spreading Coronavirus
A video of three men using their feet to greet one another instead of shaking hands has gone viral as the world tries to deter the spread of the Coronavirus Covid-19. The chief medical officer in England has said the virus may be fatal for around 1% of those who contract it, and human contact is one of the ways the virus spreads.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Seoul Mayor Calls For Murder Charges Against Coronavirus Church

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Seoul’s mayor is calling for murder charges against the leaders of a Christian sect that has been linked to the majority of South Korea’s new coronavirus cases.
Mayor Park Won-soon accused leaders of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus of putting lives at risk by failing to initially cooperate with authorities’ efforts to stop the fast-spreading illness officially known as Covid-19.
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The mayor is asking Seoul’s central district prosecutor’s office to launch an investigation into key Shincheonji leaders on charges of homicide by wilful negligence and violating the country’s infectious disease control laws. The prosecutor’s office is currently reviewing the mayor’s criminal complaint, Reuters reported.
“The prosecutors need to carry out a rigorous investigation and make sure it leads to a strict punishment on the Shincheonji leadership that is at the centre of this crisis,” Park said in a statement, according to a translation by NBC.
At least 60% of South Korea’s over 4,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus’ branch in the city of Daegu, the New York Times reports.
Local politicians have accused Shincheonji leaders of missteps during the early days of the disease’s spread ― claiming the church failed to provide authorities with a full and accurate list of its members and buildings.
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Lee Man-hee, leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, bows during a press conference at a facility of the church in Gapyeong on March 2, 2020. - via Getty Images
Shincheonji’s 88-year-old spiritual head Lee Man-hee knelt, bowed and apologised to South Koreans during a press conference on Monday, calling the virus’s spread a “great calamity.” He said he regretted that so many patients were tied to his church, but denied that its leaders’ actions contributed to the disease’s spread.
“We did our best but were not able to stop the spread of the virus,” Lee said, according to Reuters.
Lee founded the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in 1984. It now claims a global membership of around 245,000, according to The Wall Street Journal. Followers consider Lee to be a prophet promised in the Bible and a descendant of Korea’s ancient kings. Some members believe he is immortal.
A man wearing a mask walks past a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus amid a rise in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 in Daegu, South Korea, March 2, 2020. Kim Kyung Hoon / Reuters
At the church’s services, members sit shoulder-to-shoulder on the floor in tight rows. (The church has said this seating arrangement stems from a desire to maximise attendance). Former members report being pressured to attend services even when sick. The church also places a priority on recruiting newcomers, sending proselytisers to busy street corners, university campuses, and to more mainstream Christian churches.
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Traditional South Korean Christian denominations consider Shincheonji to be a cult and are wary of its proselytising tactics, The New York Times reported. Shincheonji, on the other hand, has claimed it is being unfairly persecuted by mainstream Christian churches.
In a message sent to church members last week, Lee blamed the spread of Covid-19 on “the evil who got jealous of Shincheonji’s rapid growth,” The New York Times reported.
Lee Man-hee (center), leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, apologized for the spread of the disease. - via Getty Images
A 61-year-old Shincheonji member is believed to be a link in many of the Covid-19 cases. She attended two church services in February while feeling sick, The Wall Street Journal reported, and later tested positive for the virus. At least 1,000 church members attended one of those two services, according to The New York Times.
As news of the woman’s case spread, social media messages from a Shincheonji leader instructed members to deny that they belonged to the church if officials asked, The New York Times reported. The church later said that those messages did not reflect official policy.
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The religious group has closed and disinfected its facilities, according to CNN.
Shincheonji gave authorities an initial list of 210,000 members last week, but civic groups and local politicians claimed the list was not exhaustive and contained inaccuracies. The church has since submitted an additional list of 65,000 recruits.
South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear sanitize inside the facility of a city hall after the rapid rise in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease of (COVID-19) in Daegu, southeast of the capital Seoul, South Korea, March 2. Kim Kyung Hoon / Reuters
Kim Si-mon, the church’s spokesman, said that its members have faced discrimination since the outbreak began.
“Many church members were afraid to come out and reveal their church members, given the overwhelming blaming coming from politicians and news media that called Shincheonji the originator of the virus outbreak,” Kim told The New York Times.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Donald Trump's Latest Twitter Typo Is A Real 'Chocker'

You're such an idiot.. "Chocker"
Rule #1 when it comes to talking shit about someone else, make sure you spell your insults correctly.
Just a side note. When you're president of The United States of America, you should be better than this. We deserve better than you.