thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--Preston Added To Areas Under Local Lockdown In North-West

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Households in Preston will be banned from mixing indoors or in gardens from midnight, while restrictions already imposed on other areas will remain in place.
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Measures banning mixing between households were due for review on Thursday, a week after they were brought in for residents in Greater Manchester, parts of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire, as well as Leicester.
The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed on Friday evening that current rules on gatherings in those areas would not be lifted and that Preston would become the latest place to be included in a ban on households gathering in homes and gardens.
Local leaders in Preston warned on Thursday that it could face a government intervention amid rising infection rates.
There were 61 new cases in Preston in the seven days to August 4, which is the equivalent of 42.6 cases per 100,000 people – up from 21.7 per 100,000 in the previous seven days.
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At the request of the local authority, Preston will now be added to a watch list as an “area of intervention”.
The government said guidance will make clear that people should not be gathering with other households anywhere indoors.
The restrictions on gatherings will be reviewed again next week, with any changes to be announced by Friday August 14.
UPDATE: Government has declared Preston as an ‘area of intervention’ following a spike of coronavirus cases in the city. The announcement means the city will be subject to additional measures seen elsewhere in the county, as of midnight 7 August. https://t.co/FfJzk4PFFy (1/4) pic.twitter.com/rzjAzL8mim — Preston City Council (@prestoncouncil) August 7, 2020
Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “The past week has been difficult for many people in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and east Lancashire, and I thank everyone in these areas for their patience and willingness to follow the rules.
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“Yesterday I chaired a meeting of the Local Action Gold Committee, and unfortunately the data does not yet show a decrease in the transmission of this terrible virus.
“It means we must keep the current restrictions in place to allow more time for the impact of this ban on indoor gatherings to be felt, and make sure local residents and their loved ones are protected.
“At the request of the local area, we are also extending these restrictions to Preston.
“We are constantly examining the data on the prevalence of the virus in these areas, and we will review the measures again next week.
“As we continue to see rising rates of the virus across Europe, it is vital we take every precaution to protect our country.
“I urge everyone in these areas to follow the rules, get yourself a free test as soon as you get any symptoms, and isolate if NHS Test and Trace tells you to.”
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But Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Munira Wilson said the failure to set up a comprehensive test and trace programme was leaving local councils “blindfolded” while trying to stop the spread of the virus.
She added: “The government must act now to reassure people in the Preston area that they are managing this serious outbreak.
“This is difficult when the prime minister has yet again brought in a regional lockdown without a press conference or any parliamentary scrutiny.
“Ministers have utterly failed to make sure we have a comprehensive test, trace and isolate system in place.
“This has left local authorities blindfolded whilst having to try and stop the spread of coronavirus in their communities.”
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Adrian Phillips, chief executive at Preston City Council, said that while some wards have recorded a higher level of cases, it remains a “city-wide issue”.
He added: “The number of cases in Preston have increased rapidly in recent days leading to Government categorising the city as an area of intervention.
“It is also alarming to see that the under-30s are contracting it at a significant rate.”
Preston’s new restrictions mean that from midnight on Friday, residents cannot have others in their homes and gardens, cannot visit other people’s homes or gardens, even if they are in an unaffected area, and are not permitted to mix with other households in indoor venues.
Social bubbles are exempt from the restrictions, and residents can meet in groups of up to six – or more than six if exclusively from two households – in outdoor areas such as parks and beer gardens.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--Brits Warned To Avoid Packed Beaches As Heatwave Prompts Rush To The Coast

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Brighton beach is packed as the south of England basks in a summer heatwave. Mike Hewitt via Getty Images
Thousands of people flocked to the UK’s beaches on Friday as the country basked in a heatwave set to continue into the weekend.
In Brighton, Bournemouth and Southend in southern England, pictures showed hundreds packed on the sand despite warnings that social distancing guidelines should be respected.
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Temperatures were expected to rise to 37C in London and the south-east on Friday, the second day of a heatwave expected to last until at least Sunday.
By midday, the Coastguard said it had responded to dozens of calls and has urged the public to stay safe on the beach.
As of Friday afternoon, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s beach check app showed 19 of its 24 beaches under red alert, warning people to avoid the areas as safe social distancing is not possible.
The remaining beaches were under amber, meaning they were congested and beachgoers should “stay alert”.
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Studies have shown that the vast majority of Covid-19 transmissions occurred indoors, while outdoor transmission was scarce.
A study of 318 outbreaks in China found transmission happened outdoors in only one, involving just two cases. Most occurred in home or public transport.
HM Coastguard said about 70 call-outs had been made across the UK by midday on Friday, which is “above average for this time of year”.
Matt Leat, head of infrastructure and technology lead at HM Coastguard, said: “The coast is very busy today and that’s grown across the morning and will continue to grow as the day goes on.
“Looking back to last Friday [July 31], we are going to hit that many number of call-outs potentially today and this weekend.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--Wayne Fontana, Former Singer In The Mindbenders, Has Died Aged 74

British singer Wayne Fontana has died, at the age of 74.
A statement from Wayne’s management company confirmed that he had died on Thursday afternoon at a hospital in Stockport.
They said: “Chimes Int’l on behalf of the family of Wayne Fontana regret to announce he passed away this afternoon at Steppinghill Hospital, Stockport. His long-term partner was by his side.”
In their statement, Chimes International also stated that Wayne’s family had asked “for privacy at this time”.
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Wayne Fontana (far left) with his former band The Mindbenders in the 1960s GAB Archive via Getty Images
Born Glyn Geoffrey Ellis in 1945, the musician took on his stage name after being inspired by Elvis Presley’s drummer, DJ Fontana.
Wayne rose to fame in the 1960s, as the lead singer of Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders, having chart hits with songs like Game Of Love – which peaked at number one in the US, during what was dubbed the British Invasion – and Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, a cover of a song by American R&B singer Major Lance.
After leaving the band in 1965, Wayne went on to enjoy brief success as a solo artist, releasing tracks including Come On Home and Pamela Pamela, which both reached the top 20 in the UK.
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Subsequent single Gina reached number one in Belgium.
Wayne pictured in 1973 Michael Putland via Getty Images
In later years, Wayne experienced legal troubles, and was sentenced to 11 months in prison after admitting to setting fire to a debt collector’s car in 2007.
He appeared in court dressed as the Lady of Justice, which included a crown, cape and dark glasses.
Wayne Fontana in 2008 Robin Little via Getty Images
Among those to pay tribute was Radio 2 DJ Tony Blackburn, who presents the show Sounds Of The 60s.
“So sorry to hear about the passing of great 60′s icon Wayne Fontana yesterday,” he tweeted on Friday. “He was a lovely guy and gave us some great songs.”
So sorry to hear about the passing of great 60's icon Wayne Fontana yesterday.He was a lovely guy and gave us some great https://t.co/BF3e2O110t Sounds Of The Sixties has been recorded already for tomorrow we will do a tribute on Saturday week's show. R.I.P. Wayne — Tony Blackburn (@tonyblackburn) August 7, 2020
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Fellow musician Peter Noone wrote on Facebook: “Wayne Wayne don’t go away.
“After 59 years of friendship, laughter, tears, jail cells and lost brain bells [sic], we have handed over our lovely lead singer Wayne Fontana to the big band in ROCK AND ROLL HEAVEN.”
Listen to Game Of Love by The Mindbenders below:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--Reese Witherspoon Started A Meme About 2020 Moods And It's Way Too Real

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We were all so clueless in January.
Reese Witherspoon sparked a celebrity social media challenge earlier this week when she posted a mood calendar of how her year’s going so far (and how it’s forecasted to continue).
Using photos of her past on-screen characters, she perfectly captured the living dumpster fire of 2020.
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Starting out the year as the bubbly Elle Woods from Legally Blonde, she devolves into the hardy Cheryl Strayed, her character from Wild, for June through September:
Reese’s challenge prompted a sea of laughing-crying eyes emojis from other celebs who jumped aboard the pandemic-era trend, including Mindy Kaling, Kerry Washington, Drew Barrymore, Mark Ruffalo and more.
The calendars typically followed the formula of a sprightly January and concerned March before moving on to a grim April through September. The calendars end there. Who knows what’s next?
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Whatever happens, remember to stay positive, stay in touch with friends and family and stay active.
Because, in the iconic words of Elle Woods: “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--Affordable Homes Or New Playgrounds – Choices Councils Could Now Have To Make

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Proposed reforms to planning rules could force councils to choose between affordable housing and supporting an area’s infrastructure and community spaces.
On Thursday morning the government unveiled its Planning for the Future white paper, an 80-page document detailing radical changes to the way developers apply for planning permission.
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The consultation refers repeatedly to maintaining current levels of affordable housing – or improving them – and “beautiful and sustainable new homes and places”.
But changing the way developers are made to adhere to affordable housing guidelines could see the number of affordable homes plummet, and could also hit the infrastructure and environmental sustainability of the communities faced with new developments.
New rules could mean councils have the option of reducing council tax bills for existing residents instead of investing in affordable homes, further segregating communities.
What’s changing?
The warnings stem from the proposed eradication of Section 106 agreements, which are currently used to make developers build a certain amount of social homes on a site.
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The government’s own document on the reforms highlights the fact that in 2018/19 Section 106 agreements were worth a total of £7bn, of which £4.7bn was in the form of affordable housing contributions – supporting the delivery of 30,000 affordable homes.
Instead of Section 106, the government wants to encourage councils to introduce an Infrastructure Levy, which would not be negotiated in the same way as a Section 106 agreement would be. Instead, the levy would be charged by the local planning authority as a fixed proportion of the development value above a certain threshold. The level of this threshold is not set out in the consultation.
What’s the problem with that?
Paul Smith, housing chief at Bristol City Council, said: “While the document talks about a system that delivers more affordable housing, it’s not actually clear what the mechanism will be for doing that.
“There’s a real concern that we will just see the planning system, which is already quite restricted in its ability to deliver affordable housing, become even more so if these reforms are implemented as they currently are.
“We’ve got 13,000 households on our waiting list. We’ve got 600 families in temporary accommodation. We’ve got 250 people living in hotels, and we’ve got 1,100 people in supported housing. We’ve got an incredible need for more social housing in the city, and these proposals will make it much more difficult to deliver that through the planning system.”
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With the replacement of Section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy – the latter of which cannot currently be spent on affordable housing and is usually used to enhancing provisions for the community – there are concerns that an Infrastructure Levy could force councils into having to choose between building affordable housing, and making improvements to infrastructure and public space such as parks and roads.
Smith explained: “At the moment you can’t use infrastructure funding for affordable housing – it has to be for other improvements, which might be things like community facilities, environmental improvements and contributions towards schools.
“These are all things that affordable housing would then have to compete with [if they came out of the same pot], and that’s a big worry. With the Section 106 agreements that wasn’t the case.
“That current infrastructure funding is often used in consultation with local residents because it’s supposed to be about mitigating the impact of a development in an area, and so we use it for things like new crossings, parks, cycle paths and planting trees.
“Those will now be pitched directly against providing affordable housing within schemes. In some areas what you could see people saying is: ‘Well, we don’t want affordable housing – we want our town green or roads improved.’
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“Instead of affordable housing being sort of privileged within the system, which it is partially at the moment, it will be pitched against these other improvements that people want to see in their communities.”
Later in the white paper, the government suggests: “We could also increase local authority flexibility, allowing them to spend receipts on their policy priorities, once core infrastructure obligations have been met. [...] This could include [...] reducing council tax.”
Reducing council tax is typically seen as a vote-winner for local authorities. HuffPost UK spoke to one senior planner who feared that pitting this against the provision of affordable homes for those on the waiting list could present a conflict of interest for councils and be “the opposite of sustainable development”.
Who’s at the sharp end of all this?
Some third sector organisations have already warned that the proposed reforms could lead to an “extinction” of badly-needed social housing, with fears that the change to regulations could prompt “slum” conditions in new development.
Tory MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who represents the Cotswolds, said he was concerned about the quality of new homes which could be built under the proposals.
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The veteran MP, treasurer of the backbench Conservative 1922 Committee, told BBC Radio 4’s World At One on Thursday: “We do need some reform, but as people who have tried this before have found, if you are not careful it does have knock-on effects.
“Whilst I’m all in favour of building more houses, they need to be good-quality houses, we have got to be really sure that we are not building slums of tomorrow by building today at low quality.”
He said the “devil is always in the detail” and added that he had concerns about “how much local democratic control there is going to be”.
More than a million people in the UK are on a waiting list for social homes, and could be facing an increasingly hopeless situation if Section 106 requirements are removed.
Incidentally, a separate, smaller consultation – also launched by the government on Thursday morning – suggested raising the threshold below which a developer can get away without delivering affordable homes. Currently the limit for a development with no affordable housing is 10 homes: the government could raise that to 50, a change that could see thousands of affordable properties lost every year.
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While the Planning for the Future document refers a number of times to the importance of affordable housing, the second consultation simultaneously points towards slashing requirements for developers – particularly impacting new builds in overcrowded cities.
Diarmaid Ward, Islington Council’s executive member for housing and development told HuffPost UK: “This is a government that’s obsessed with the idea that if you leave everything to the free market then everything will be fine and it’s just not true.
“The government’s plans are basically just a developer’s charter. You can build anything you want anywhere, and you can entirely shirk your responsibility to build genuinely affordable homes.
“The government are obsessed with this idea that enough houses get built it will bring prices down and suddenly everyone will have somewhere to live – but it simply isn’t true.”
What does the government say?
Amid the criticism of the new development plans, the PM insisted his planning reforms will see more social housing built.
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During a visit to a housing development in Warrington, he told reporters: “What we’re doing is simplifying the process so you actually get much more affordable housing.
“This solution gives them [builders] a much simpler infrastructure levy that enables them to go ahead and build a much bigger chunk of affordable housing and help people onto the property ladder.
“So I think it’s going to have the reverse effect and enable us to build more homes for lots of different types of tenure, whether that’s social rent, whether it’s part-buy part-rent, all kinds of things that will help people onto the property ladder.”
But critics of the plan have also pointed out that the reforms are concentrated on the planning system, which may not in fact be where the delays and bureaucracy associated with new housing developments are really concentrated.
Ward said: “I think fundamentally the government don’t understand what the problem is, because 90% of planning applications are approved. There’s definitely a problem with developers sitting on land once planning permission has been granted.
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“If you look at the reality of house building in the UK, the last time we built 300,000 homes in a year was in the 1970s and at that stage councils built 40% of them.
“So if the government really wants cut the red tape around building then let’s cut the red tape around social housing. Let’s have a properly-funded national building programme.”
A spokesperson for MHCLG did not comment on the potential implications of affordable housing funding competing with infrastructure and community improvements, but claimed: “Our proposals will introduce a simpler levy that ensures developers deliver at least as much – if not more – affordable housing.
“We will speed up the process for building affordable housing and local infrastructure, as over 80% of councils agree the current system of developer contributions causes delay.
“To speed up construction where development has been approved, we propose making clear in the revised National Planning Policy Framework that the masterplans and design codes for sites prepared for substantial development should include a variety of development types from different builders which allow more phases to come forward together.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--Gogglebox's Lee Reunites With Boyfriend Of 26 Years After Coronavirus Lockdown Kept Them Apart

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Gogglebox star Lee Riley has been reunited with his boyfriend of 26 years, after the two were separated for a number of months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
During lockdown, Lee moved in with his Gogglebox co-star Jenny Newby’s caravan, so the two could continue to film together, while his partner Steve stayed in Cyprus.
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However, with Gogglebox filming now over, and travel restrictions having been eased, Lee has been spending time with his boyfriend in Cyprus, with the two celebrating their reunion with a heartwarming Instagram post.
Sharing a picture of himself and Lee – looking even more tanned than usual we have to say – enjoying a date night, Steve wrote: “Had the best time with the love of my life in our favourite restaurant love you to the moon and back Lee Gogglebox.”
Months earlier, Steve had posted a picture of himself and Lee in what he described as their “last snap together before lockdown”, writing: “Hope you can get out of England soon and come home... it’s been far too long #MissYou #LoveYou”
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Close friends Lee and Jenny have been a part of Gogglebox since 2014, and are responsible for some of the show’s most memorable moments, not least when he accidentally ate a face mask after confusing it for a dip.
In the last series alone, they provided some laugh-out-loud moments, including Lee’s unfortunate wardrobe malfunction during a Joe Wicks workout and when he sparked a surprising amount of debate on social media over the way he enjoys his toast.
For those missing their Gogglebox fix after the most recent celebrity run came to an end, the 16th (yes, 16th!) series of the hit Channel 4 show will begin airing in September.
So enjoy that Cyprus sun while you can, Lee, because we’ll be needing you back in Jenny’s caravan by then...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--Diane Abbott Calls For Publication Of Full Labour WhatsApp Logs Over Racism Claims

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Diane Abbott has called for the leaked Labour report that sparked allegations of anti-Black racism to be published in full.
It comes after The Guardian on Friday revealed that party staff members named in the report had told an inquiry the document misused private messages, portraying them as racist and sexist – something which they deny.
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The Hackney MP tweeted in response: “Officials at the very top of @UKabour said stuff like ‘Abbott is truly repulsive’, ‘Abbott literally makes me sick’ and conspired with media against me. Now claiming remarks taken out of context. So let’s have full publication of all communications #LabourLeaks”.
Officials at the very top of @UKLabour said stuff like “Abbott is truly repulsive” “Abbott literally makes me sick” and conspired with media against me. Now claiming remarks taken out of context. So let’s have full publication of all communications #LabourLeaks — Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) August 7, 2020
It has also been confirmed that officials accused in the report of insulting pro-Corbyn colleagues in WhatsApp chats are seeking damages from the party for misuse of data and libel, among other complaints.
The 860-page report was leaked in April, while Jeremy Corbyn was leader of the Labour Party, and was to be part of the party’s submission to an ongoing investigation by the Equality and Human Rights
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The document, which contained private WhatsApp conversations, includes claims of a “litany of mistakes, deficiencies, and missed opportunities” to adequately address anti-Semitism within the party.
However, contents of the report also fuelled concerns of Afriphobia, or anti-Black racism, in the party.
Party officials used a number of insults in private conversations to describe senior Black MPs and officials including Diane Abbott, Dawn Butler and Clive Lewis.
New Labour leader Keir Starmer set up an inquiry led by Martin Forde QC to investigate the contents of the report and how it was leaked.
In June, HuffPost UK revealed that scores of Black voters were leaving the Labour as a result of these concerns about racism in the party – and Abbott’s treatment specifically.
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Fo example, Naz Hamdi said she “feels no desire” to vote Labour in another election. This is owing, in part, to what she describes as poor treatment of Abbott.
“I think Diane has been treated appallingly during her time as MP,” she said. “It has been constant character assassination. [...] Her colleagues should’ve done a better job in safeguarding her, but instead they were doing everything they could to undermine her.”
Diane Abbott. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS via Getty Images
Labour told HuffPost UK at the time that it was “committed to challenging and campaigning against racism, within the party and the country”.
“The content and the release of the report into the public domain raise a number of matters of serious concern,” said a spokesperson. “That is why Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner swiftly launched an urgent independent investigation into this matter.
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“The National Executive Committee agreed the terms of reference for the independent investigation into the contents, circumstances and release of this internal report, and appointed Martin Forde QC to lead the investigation. It would not be appropriate to comment further until the independent investigation has concluded.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Radio 1Xtra Presenter Sideman Quits Over BBC's Use Of N-Word

BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Sideman has quit his show over the use of a racial slur in a news report. Mark R. Milan via Getty Images
Radio 1Xtra presenter Sideman has quit the BBC “effective immediately” over the use of the N-word in a news report.
The DJ, whose real name is David Whitely, said the “action and the defence of the action feels like a slap in the face of our community”.
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In a video posted on his Instagram account, he said: “This is an error in judgment where I can’t just smile with you through the process and act like everything is OK.
“I’m happy working with organisations until we all get it right, but this feels like more than getting it wrong.
“The action and the defence of the action feels like a slap in the face to our community.”
He added he is quitting the BBC “effective immediately”.
“With no apology I just don’t feel comfortable being aligned with the organisation,” he said.
“Money and opportunity doesn’t outweigh the dissatisfaction I feel in this situation. This is wild to me, especially in the current social climate and I can’t make any sense of it, no matter how much I think about it, so I think it’s time that I left.”
A spokesperson for Radio 1xrta said: “Sideman is an incredibly talented DJ. Obviously we are disappointed that he has taken this decision.
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“We absolutely wish him well for the future. The door is always open for future projects.”
On Thursday the BBC said it had received almost 19,000 complaints in the days after a reporter used the racial slur while covering a racist attack in Bristol.
The segment saw Fiona Lamdin reporting on two men who had driven a car into another man before running off and shouting racist abuse at him.
In the segment, Fiona Lamdin said: “Just to warn you, you are about to hear highly offensive language. Because as the man ran away they hurled racial abuse, calling him a n*****.”
Earlier this week, the BBC responded to the controversy, but notably did not apologise for featuring the N-word in the broadcast.
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In a statement on their complaints website, the BBC said it “accepted that this has caused offence”, but claimed the use of the word was “editorially justified given the context”.
“The decision to use the word was not taken lightly and without considerable detailed thought: we were aware that it would cause offence,” it said.
“But, in this specific context we felt the need to explain, and report, not just the injuries but, given their alleged extreme nature, the words alleged to have been used - a position which, as we have said, was supported by the family and the victim.
“These are difficult judgements but the context is very important in this particular case. We believe we gave adequate warnings that upsetting images and language would be used and we will continue to pursue this story.”
BBC guidance states “the strongest language” must not be shown before the watershed at 9pm, but the N-word itself is generally deemed too offensive to be aired at any time.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Trump Can't Stop Defamation Suit By His Rape Accuser, State Justice Rules

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President Donald Trump doesn’t have the grounds to stop a defamation lawsuit filed by a woman who accused him of raping her, a New York state justice ruled Thursday.
That decision is a big win for E. Jean Carroll, a magazine columnist who wrote last year that Trump raped her in a New York department store in the mid-1990s. Last November, she sued the president for defamation after he accused her of lying about the incident and sought to collect a DNA sample from him.
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Trump’s legal team asked the New York Supreme Court to put the case on hold and argued that a sitting president is immune to any civil lawsuits in state court. But state Justice Verna Saunders rejected that argument, citing a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Trump couldn’t refuse a subpoena for his tax returns on the basis of holding presidential office.
That finding is “applicable to all state court proceedings in which a sitting President is involved, including those involving his or her unofficial/personal conduct,” Saunders wrote in her decision.
Carroll tweeted that she was excited to move forward with her case, which will also allow her to continue seeking Trump’s DNA. She says that she kept the dress she had on when Trump allegedly raped her and that genetic material a lab found on the dress may match his.
WE MOVE FORWARD!! Judge Verna L. Saunders has DENIED Trump's assertion of absolute immunity! My attorneys, @kaplanrobbie, @JoshuaMatz8 & Matthew Craig are chomping at the bit to begin DISCOVERY!
(This is the 2nd great ruling by a Black Woman today!)https://t.co/6yrP9BKBs2 — E. Jean Carroll (@ejeancarroll) August 6, 2020
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Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said she looks forward to proceeding with the lawsuit, which can now play out in the final months of Trump’s reelection campaign.
“We are now eager to move forward with discovery so that we can prove that Donald Trump defamed E. Jean Carroll when he lied about her in connection with her brave decision to tell the truth about the fact that Donald Trump had sexually assaulted her,” she said in a statement.
After Carroll published her allegations in a memoir last summer, Trump aggressively denied having ever met her, despite a photo of the two of them existing. He has repeatedly accused her of lying and suggested she was working as an agent for the Democratic Party to sabotage his reelection bid — a suggestion Carroll has denied.
Carroll said Elle Magazine, where she worked as a columnist for many years, fired her after Trump began attacking her. The magazine denied the two events were connected.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--In Pictures: Europe Swelters Through Heatwave Amid Pandemic

Scorching temperatures were felt across Britain and Europe once again, following a Friday that saw the hottest August in 17 years.
The Met Office said temperatures had already reached 34.5C at in Kent early on Saturday afternoon, adding there was a chance it could reach up to 36C in the south east later in the day.
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On Friday thousands flocked to the UK’s beaches including in Brighton, Bournemouth and Southend, with pictures showing hundreds of people packed on the sand despite warnings that social distancing guidelines should be respected.
Temperatures are expected to remain high until the middle of next week, but the Met Office has warned thunderstorms could be on the way for Monday and Tuesday.
People enjoy the sunny weather at The Serpentine in Hyde Park. REUTERS
On Saturday it issued a level three heat-level warning for the south and south east, meaning the public should look out particularly for the elderly, children and people in poor health.
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Ishani Kar-Purkayastha, a public health consultant at Public Health England (PHE), said: “This summer, many of us are spending more time at home due to Covid-19.
“A lot of homes can overheat, so it’s important we continue to check on older people and those with underlying health conditions, particularly if they’re living alone and may be socially isolated.”
A man wearing a face mask carrying chairs at Rincon Sol beach of Torremolinos in Malaga during a hot summer day. SOPA Images via Getty Images
Studies have shown that the vast majority of Covid-19 transmissions occurred indoors, while outdoor transmission was scarce.
The current record maximum temperature for the UK is 38.7C, set last year on July 25 in Cambridge Botanic Garden.
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The record for the hottest August day is 38.5C, set at Faversham on August 10 2003.
People wear protective face masks as they cycle along the seafront past the beach huts in Bournemouth. REUTERS
Experts have warned record-breaking summers will “absolutely” keep happening unless we take “drastic” action against climate change.
Michael Byrne, lecturer in earth and environmental sciences at the University of St Andrews, said two near-record temperatures so closely spaced is “unusual”.
People cool off walking on the 'miroir d'eau' ('water mirror') in Bordeaux, southwestern France. MEHDI FEDOUACH via Getty Images
He told the PA news agency: “But it’s not surprising given climate change is happening and accelerating.
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“Breaking temperature records year-on-year will absolutely keep happening, unless we take drastic action against climate change that’s a certainty.
“We think in 50-100 years we’ll see 2-3C of surface warming, with more over land and over the Arctic, which will present huge challenges and implications for people’s health.
“Parts of the Middle East won’t be habitable, which I find quite terrifying,” he added.
People shield themselves from the sun as they walk through Greenwich Park. REUTERS
The 10 hottest years in the UK all occurred since 2002, according to the Met Office.
Ilan Kelman, professor of disasters and health at University College London, said rising temperatures will make it “highly dangerous” for people to be outside.
He said: “These temperatures are unfortunately in line with the expectations for heat under climate change, which is one of the most concerning health impacts.”
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People sunbathe by Hampstead Heath ponds as the temperature soars in London. TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images
“Without stopping human-caused climate change, these levels of summer heat and humidity will become regular, making it highly dangerous for us to be outdoors and even indoors without continual cooling.
“Air pollution can also worsen under heat with its knock-on health effects, such as for cancer and asthma.”
A woman drinks water as she sits on a bench during a heatwave, in Brussels, Belgium. REUTERS/Yves Herman
Elderly people are considered the most vulnerable to hot weather, and have been advised to try to stay indoors during the afternoon and to take a bottle of water when they are out.
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Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “We want older people to continue to enjoy the warm weather but, if it becomes uncomfortably hot, we advise some sensible precautions, particularly for anyone who has breathing problems or a heart condition.
“It’s a good idea to remain indoors during the worst of the heat during the day. It’s also advised to wear thin, light clothing, drink plenty of fluids and to eat normally, but perhaps more cold food than usual, particularly salads and fruit which contain a lot of water and help us stay hydrated.
“We know that extreme heat can aggravate lung and heart conditions so our advice is to take care and if you are breathless, even after you have rested, to seek medical advice.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Hundreds Join Protest Against Police Brutality In Tottenham

Hundreds of people have joined a protest against police brutality in Tottenham, almost exactly nine years on from the police killing of Mark Duggan.
Organised by youth organisation the 4Front Project, a crowd gathered outside the police station to put forward a list of demands calling for an end to the over-policing of Black communities.
Pictures and video from the scene show hundreds of people in the street in support of the demonstration, many of them holding Black Lives Matter signs and banners.
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Made it up to Tottenham for the demo against police brutality and racism. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/a66VEJrzTQ — Daniel Randall (@therubykid) August 8, 2020
The protest comes in the immediate wake of accusations of police brutality during what has been termed by campaigners as a ‘raid’ on the 4Front Project’s office in north west London on Friday afternoon.
Four people aged between 14 and 25 were arrested at around 2pm but all were later released, the Met has confirmed.
According to 4Front’s director Temi Mwale – who was recently named an influential activist in British Vogue’s September issue – the situation on Friday escalated when campaigning staff asked why a 14-year-old boy was being arrested and for more information to pass on to his parents. Officers refused to engage, Mwale said.
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Some photos from today's #BlackLivesMatter protest in Tottenham. More to follow at https://t.co/oX3OuAPObm pic.twitter.com/C5zDiPbLL7 — London News Journal (@journal_london) August 8, 2020
A police vehicle left the 4Front Project office and a group of 30 to 40 people followed on foot to Coldindale Police Station, where they remained. All four were later released.
Colindale police posted on Twitter: “A youth on the Grahame Park estate was arrested today for being in possession of drugs. A youth project based on the estate took it upon themselves to try to obstruct police carrying out routine duty. Hence the ill feelings from young people towards usat [sic] Colindale Police station.” A Met spokesperson later issued a statement saying that a 14-year-old male had been arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis, while two men aged 23 and 25 were arrested for obstructing a constable. A 19-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. It comes after the 4Front Project last month commenced legal action against the Met over “unfair” treatment of members of its team.
Tottenham: protest against police violence and commemoration of the ninth anniversary of armed police killing Mark Duggan #news #London #markduggan pic.twitter.com/JGGvyxIPXj — David Matthews (@out_filming) August 8, 2020
The protest on Saturday has been organised to mark the ninth anniversary of the 2011 riots, which were sparked by the death of Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by a police officer in Tottenham on August 4, 2011.
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As well as demanding an end to the over-policing of Black communities the demonstrators’ list of demands – shared widely on Twitter ahead of the protest, includes stopping the use of excessive force, tasers and Section 60 searches.
Musician and community organiser Jermain Jackman told HuffPost UK on Friday evening ahead of the protest: “When that white police officer put his knee on George Floyd’s neck it reminded us all of the times we, Black Brits have had system’s knee on our neck. Whether it’s the disproportionate impact of Covid on Black people or the amount of times Black people have been stopped, searched and harassed by the police.
“I’m joining tomorrows protest with hundreds of other voices to say enough is enough. When I think about the historical injustices where the Met especially have got off scot-free or their lack of accountability and transparency… nothing has changed at all.
“Some of the recent images and videos we’ve seen of the police’s interactions with our community, you would think it’s the 70′s or 80′s. On top of that, you have Cressida Dick, the Met Police commissioner, saying that the Met Police isnt institutionally racist. Those were the same comments made by Met commissioners before Scarmen and McPherson Reports [following the Brixton riots and police investigation into Stephen Lawrence’s death].”
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He added: “All of this, [combined] with the fact that 22,000 young Black men were stopped and searched [during the Covid-19 lockdown period]... makes me believe that we are on course to see London burn once again. Enough is enough. Stop the racism, police violence and reform the Met police to increase accountability and transparency.”
Adam Pugh, an ex-police officer and anti-racism campaigner, described the significance of the protests.
“This protest is so important in light of recent events in America with the killing of George Floyd and the spotlight on deaths in police custody and police violence here in the UK,” he told HuffPost UK.
“Part of the reason that the killing of George Floyd sparked international protests was the brutal and violent manner in which a police officer knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. It is worth mentioning that as police officers are not routinely armed in the UK, a large percentage of the 1750 deaths in police contact here in the UK (since 1990) are of this same brutal nature.
“This heavy handed, excessive and brutal policing particularly against Black communities and the growing number of people being killed at the hands of the police is exactly why this protest is taking place and why it is so important.”
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A badge is not a license to kill, peaceful protest at Tottenham police station today, @pritipatel @ukhomeoffice @BorisJohnson are you guys getting the message as yet, if not, the peaceful protest will continue, #NoJusticeNoPeace #ReneTrevor pic.twitter.com/aHjxSM5SHh — Trevor-Rene'. (@ReneTrevor) August 8, 2020
“After the uprisings that followed Mark Duggan’s killing in the summer of 2011, senior politicians came out to quote Martin Luther Kings Jr speech where he famously said “a riot is the language of the unheard.” and promised that lessons would be learned and the cries of so many young people who felt unheard would be listened to,” Pugh continued.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Thousands Of NHS Workers Prepare To March For Pay Rise

Thousands of NHS workers are gathering on the streets in towns and cities across the UK to demand a pay rise following the peak of the coronavirus crisis.
Health service staff were excluded from the wage increase for around 900,000 public sector workers announced a couple of weeks ago because they are in the final year of a three-year pay deal.
Instead they are due a pay rise next April, but unions want the government to show its appreciation for NHS staff by bringing it forward to this year.
More than 500 health workers have died so far following exposure to coronavirus.
Now they will be staging socially-distanced protests to demand the government recognises their role in the Covid-19 fight through higher wages.
Protesters have been gathering in St James’ Park in London since 11am, and plan to march along Whitehall to Downing Street and end with a rally in Parliament Square.
Another 30 demonstrations have been organised in towns and cities across the country – including, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield.
Unite national officer for health, Jackie Williams, said: “In a decade of Tory austerity, NHS staff has seen their pay cut by 20% in real terms – and no amount of Thursday evening clapping and warm ministerial words can compensate for this dramatic loss in income.”
A recent survey by Unison suggested more than two-thirds (69%) of people think all NHS employees should be awarded a rise this year.
Claudia Webbe, Labour MP for Leicester East, said: “This crisis has shown that the people who really matter and keep our society ticking are not billionaires and the super-rich, but nurses, carers, cleaners, checkout attendants and many more essential frontline workers.”
She added: “We can no longer live in a society where health workers are underpaid, frontline workers are undervalued or our NHS is starved of funding.”
The Met Police said it had a policing strategy in place to cover the protests, adding: “We are aware that a number of people may wish to demonstrate this weekend – we would always ask them to engage with us.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Robin Williams' Final Days To Be Explored In New Documentary, Robin's Wish

The first trailer for a new documentary looking back on Robin Williams’ final days has been unveiled.
Robin’s Wish features interviews with those who knew the Oscar-winning actor, including his widow Susan Schneider Williams, as well as medical experts offering commentary on Lewy Body Dementia, the illness he had unknowingly been living with prior to his death by suicide in 2014.
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A description of the documentary reads: “Robin’s Wish tells the powerful true story of actor/comedian Robin Williams’ final days.
“For the first time, Robin’s fight against a deadly neurodegenerative disorder, known as Lewy Body Dementia, is shown in stunning detail.
“Through a gripping journalistic lens, this incredible story sheds an entirely new light on the tragedy, beauty and power behind the mind of one of the greatest entertainers of all time.”
Robin Williams PA Archive/PA Images
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Robin’s wife Susan Schneider Williams said: “During the last year of his life, Robin was confronted with anxiety, paranoia, insomnia, scary altered realities and a roller coaster of hope and despair. With our medical team’s care, we chased a relentless parade of symptoms but with very little gain.
“It wasn’t until after Robin’s passing, in autopsy, that the source of his terror was revealed: he had diffuse Lewy body disease. It was one of the worst cases medical professionals had seen.”
Susan Schneider Williams and Robin Williams in 2012 Paul Zimmerman via Getty Images
Susan also explained that the documentary’s title was inspired by the late star’s aspiration to make people “less afraid”.
“We had been discussing what we wanted our legacies to be in life; when it was our time to go, how we wanted to have made people feel,” she recalled. “Without missing a beat, Robin said, ‘I want to help people be less afraid’.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Children's Author Dies After Being Shot Outside Hampshire Home

A “kind-hearted” children’s author and parish councillor who was shot during a daytime attack at his home has died, local leaders have said.
Detectives continue to investigate the shooting of the man, whose suspected attacker died in a police chase after trying to flee on a motorcycle.
The victim, named locally as James Nash, 42, suffered serious head injuries in the attack in the leafy Hampshire village of Upper Enham on Wednesday afternoon.
But on Friday evening, Phil North, leader of Test Valley Borough Council, said that Nash had died of his injuries.
Posting on Facebook, he said: “It has been confirmed this evening that the victim of the Upper Enham shooting on Wednesday, local resident James Nash, has now sadly died.
“This is such devastating news, not just for his family and friends who will obviously miss him terribly, but for the whole community of Enham Alamein where he was a public representative.
“He was such a kind-hearted individual and a proactive parish councillor who cared deeply for his community.”
North West Hampshire Tory MP Kit Malthouse described it as “tragic and profoundly sad news”.
“James’s family will be devastated and they are in all our thoughts tonight,” he said in a post on Facebook.
“I know that Hampshire Police are working flat out to try and understand what could have sparked this appalling chain of events, and I am grateful for their sensitive and professional handling of this deeply distressing situation.
“James will be deeply missed by his community and the terrible manner of his death will be seared in the memory of everyone in the area. May he rest in peace.”
Online council records gave Nash’s address as Holly Tree Cottage in MacCallum Road, where the attack took place at around 3pm.
Nash served as the vice chairman of Enham Alamein Parish Council, and a 40-year-old woman was also assaulted during the incident and suffered minor injuries, said Hampshire Police.
North added: “As a talented children’s author and illustrator, I was extremely touched last year when one of the dedications in his latest book was to my newborn daughter, Eleanor-Ivy Mae.
“We will always treasure our copy.
“My thoughts tonight though are with James’ family and friends and the people of Enham Alamein.”
North earlier sought to reassure residents of the area, telling them officers were “confident” that the deceased rider, 34, was the attacker involved in the “horrific shooting”.
Police have said, that while investigations are at an early stage, they “do not believe there are any outstanding suspects in this investigation”.
The suspect – named in reports as Alex Sartain – is believed to have initially fled the scene on foot before trying to get away on a motorbike, but then he fatally crashed on an A-road about three miles away from the shooting site after officers gave chase.
He died at the scene and his next of kin have been notified as formal identification takes place, said the force.
Hampshire Police said officers “also attended an address in Enham Alamein as part of this investigation”.
A statement added: “Officers were called to an address in MacCallum Road, Upper Enham, at 3.01pm on Wednesday August 5, following a report of an assault on a man.
“The man had been shot and sustained serious head injuries.
“Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances of these incidents.
“While inquiries into the incident in Upper Enham are at an early stage, detectives do not believe there are any outstanding suspects in this investigation.”
A Hampshire Constabulary spokeswoman said the force has made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Twins Vibing To Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight Go Viral For Their Reaction

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Almost 40 years after Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight charted on both sides of the Atlantic, 20-something twins Tim and Fred Williams are winning the internet with their reaction to it.
The YouTube stars, whose channel is called TwinsthenewTrend, host a series dubbed First Time Hearing to learn about hit music of yore.
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In their initial listen to Phil Collins’ 1981 hit, the two vibe along somewhat enthusiastically until the singer-songwriter’s drum solo – and that’s when it gets really fun.
These 2 teens listening to In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins for the first time is absolute gold pic.twitter.com/L3QhbKf0hV — Dakota Fuqua (@DakotaFuqua77) August 7, 2020
It’s as if an ancient relic has just spoken to them from a pop history tomb.
The brothers – from Gary, India – actually posted the video late last month but it’s rapidly making the rounds now.
Here’s their full reaction video:
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And people on Twitter are loving the pair’s enthusiasm...
The joy in knowing that beat was gonna drop & waiting for their reactions is pure poetry. https://t.co/eo2I36XYW4 — Kelly Wickham Hurst (@mochamomma) August 7, 2020
That moment they knew Phil Collins is the man. pic.twitter.com/Xx4081HhAP — Wiggles (@WigglesDJ) August 7, 2020
Since Phil Collins is trending, w/ the awesome video of teenagers hearing ‘In The Air Tonight’ for the first time, here’s a snippet of him doing it live.
Still remember where I was when I heard it for the first time...❤pic.twitter.com/DxYyKVraJ9 — 🐝 He knew... (@4Pete2020) August 7, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Coleen Nolan Considering Elective Mastectomy Procedure After Sisters' Cancer Diagnoses

Coleen Nolan has said she is considering an elective double mastectomy operation, following the news that two of her sisters have been diagnosed with cancer.
Last week, it was reported that Coleen’s sister and bandmate Linda Nolan is undergoing treatment for liver cancer, while Anne Nolan has stage three breast cancer.
The singers’ late sister, Bernie Nolan, also had breast cancer, and died in 2013 at the age of 52.
Speaking to The Mirror, the Loose Women presenter said that the disease could be the result of a “rogue gene” from their father’s side of the family, sharing that she is considering surgery to minimise her own chances of developing the disease.
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Linda and Anne doing a Walk the Walk Moonwalk charity walk with a T-shirt showing their sister Bernie Paul Brown/Shutterstock
“Seeing what Anne and Linda are going through has made me think a lot about having a mastectomy,” she explained. “I’ve been lying in bed at night, looking down at my breasts and thinking, ‘Am I just walking around with two timebombs here?’.
“If that’s a possibility, maybe I need to get rid of them.”
Coleen continued: “My kids definitely think I should investigate surgery. They’re absolutely terrified because they’ve seen cancer ravage our family.”
Coleen Nolan Carla Speight via Getty Images
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Both Anne and Linda are undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy, with Anne finishing hers first on 11 September.
She has been told she will have either a mastectomy or lumpectomy, most likely followed by radiotherapy.
Linda faces living with cancer for the rest of her life, but she has been told if she responds to treatment, she could have a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years.
She said: “By that time I’ll be an old woman. I’ll be 75 in 15 years, and I would’ve had a great life. So that’s why I’m again, for the third time, going to give it everything I’ve got.”
After a breast cancer scare in 2009, while she was competing on Dancing On Ice, Coleen said she now sees a specialist every year to check for abnormalities.
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They’ve beaten it before - they can beat it again ❤ Coleen’s brave sisters Linda and Anne sadly reveal they both have cancer again In tomorrows papers, here is a preview below. Please keep them in your thoughts and well wishes X https://t.co/AHAVAnWJtC — Coleen Nolan The Nolans Go Cruising Tues Quest Red (@NolanColeen) August 2, 2020
Coleen, Anne, Linda and Bernie originally rose to fame as members of the family band The Nolans, which also originally featured their sisters Maureen and Denise.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Here's Where You Need To Wear A Mask In England As Rules Change

New face mask rules come into force on August 8. SIPA USA/PA Images
New rules on face coverings have come into force in England, extending the number of places they need to be worn.
The changes were announced by the prime minister at a press conference on July 31, and came into force on Saturday, August 8.
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Masks have been mandatory in shops for several weeks, and on public transport since mid-June – but the list has now been extended to include other venues that have recently reopened as Covid-19 restrictions have lifted.
Face coverings now must be worn in museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship by all members of the public, with the exception of children under 11 and people with illnesses or disabilities that prevent them from comfortable wearing a mask.
Announcing the changes at the end of July, Boris Johnson said: “We will also extend the requirement to wear a face covering to other indoor settings where you are likely to come into contact with people you do not normally meet, such as museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship.
“We now recommend face coverings are worn in these settings, and this will become enforceable in law from August 8.”
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The PM added: “Most people in this country are following the rules and doing their best to control the virus.
“But we must keep our discipline and our focus and we cannot be complacent.
“I have asked the home secretary to work with the police and others to ensure the rules which are already in place are properly enforced.”
He said this would mean “a greater police presence to ensure face coverings are being worn where this is required”.
Where do I need to wear a mask?
The full list of places you now have to wear a face covering now includes:
Public transport (aeroplanes, trains, trams and buses)
Transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals)
Shops and supermarkets (places which offer goods or services for retail sale or hire)
Shopping centres (malls and indoor markets)
Auction houses
Premises providing professional, legal or financial services (post offices, banks, building societies, high-street solicitors and accountants, credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses)
Premises providing personal care and beauty treatments (hair salons, barbers, nail salons, massage centres, tattoo and piercing parlours)
Premises providing veterinary services
Visitor attractions and entertainment venues (museums, galleries, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, cultural and heritage sites, aquariums, indoor zoos and visitor farms, bingo halls, amusement arcades, adventure activity centres, funfairs, theme parks)
Libraries and public reading rooms
Places of worship
Funeral service providers (funeral homes, crematoria and burial ground chapels)
Community centres, youth centres and social clubs
Public areas in hotels and hostels
Storage and distribution facilities
What are the exceptions?
According to the government’s website, face coverings do not need to be worn if a person fits into any of the following criteria:
Children under the age of 11 (Public Health England do not recommended face coverings for children under the age of 3 for health and safety reasons)
People who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
Employees of indoor settings (or people acting on their behalf, such as someone leading part of a prayer service) or transport workers (see section 6) - although employers may consider their use where appropriate and where other mitigations are not in place, in line with Covid-19 Secure guidelines
Police officers and other emergency workers, given that this may interfere with their ability to serve the public
Where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
If you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate
To avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to yourself or others - including if it would negatively impact on your ability to exercise or participate in a strenuous activity
Some day-to-day interactions or activities can also be complicated by wearing a mask. Therefore, the government has also published a list of reasonable scenarios where a face covering can be temporarily removed:
If asked to do so in a bank, building society, or post office for identification
If asked to do so by shop staff or relevant employees for identification, for assessing health recommendations (e.g. by a pharmacist), or for age identification purposes including when buying age restricted products such as alcohol
If required in order to receive treatment or services, for example when getting a haircut
in order to take medication
in order to take medication If you are delivering a sermon or prayer in a place or worship
If you are the persons getting married in a relevant place
If you are undertaking exercise or an activity and it would negatively impact your ability to do so


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Paddy McGuinness' Revealing Interview On The One Show Leaves Alex Jones Speechless

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Paddy McGuinness left Alex Jones speechless after what turned out to be a revealing (literally!) appearance on The One Show.
On Friday night, Paddy spoke via video-link to Alex and co-presenter Gethin Jones about the forthcoming new series of Top Gear, which he began filming in June.
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As the show came to an end, Paddy told the presenting pair to “have a good ’un”, before standing up to reveal to them that he’d actually been doing the whole interview in his underwear.
As Gethin was heard laughing, Alex said simply “aw… see?”, before telling viewers to have a good weekend.
Well, @PaddyMcGuinness - that is one way to exit the show! 😱 😂#TheOneShow pic.twitter.com/KvTDafHVme — BBC The One Show (@BBCTheOneShow) August 7, 2020
Joking about the moment on Twitter later that evening, he commented: “To be fair it’s hot in our house.”
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To be fair it’s hot in our house. 😅 #theoneshow https://t.co/cfmkgjDYT5 — Paddy McGuinness (@PaddyMcGuinness) August 7, 2020
Since social distancing measures were introduced, the majority of TV interviews have had to be done over video-link, which has led to a number of similar – though probably less deliberate – moments to Paddy’s.
Back in April, US news anchor Will Reeve suffered a wardrobe faux pas when he was caught conducting an interview in a suit jacket and some very short shorts.
This was topped just days later, though, when a semi-naked woman was spotted in the background of one Spanish presenter’s home broadcast – and viewers quickly noticed that it wasn’t his girlfriend.
Then, of course, there was the moment last month when Sky News foreign affairs editor Deborah Haynes had her segment interrupted by her son asking if he could “have two biscuits” – the same day a similar incident took place on BBC News.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--'I Don't Care': Trump Responds To Intel That Russia Is Working To Get Him Elected Again

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Donald Trump shrugged off the latest intelligence warning Friday that Russia is “denigrating” presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to get Trump elected again.
“I don’t care what anybody says,” Trump responded to the new information.
The Kremlin is using a “range of measures” to “denigrate” and “undermine” Biden as Russian officials manoeuvre again to interfere in the U.S. presidential election, William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Centre, said in a statement released Friday. “Kremlin-linked actors are also seeking to boost Trump’s candidacy on social media and Russian television,” the statement added.
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When asked by a reporter about Evanina’s statement at his Bedminster golf resort in New Jersey, Trump responded: “I think that the last person Russia wants to see in office is Donald Trump, because nobody’s been tougher on Russia – ever.”
“I don’t care what anybody says,” he added. “Nobody with any common sense would say... look at what we’re doing with our military... look at all of the things we’ve done with NATO, where I’ve raised $130bn a year from countries that were delinquent and now they’re paying all of this money... that’s all money to protect against Russia.”
Trump hasn’t “raised” any money at NATO. Countries in NATO also aren’t “delinquent” — nations are encouraged to contribute 2% of their GDP.
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"I don't care what anybody says" -- Trump dismisses the intelligence community's announcement today that Russia is once again helping him pic.twitter.com/dCHTbJctN6 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 8, 2020
Trump’s refusal to complain to or punish Russia for anti-American actions continues to confound observers. Trump has said he believes Russian president Vladimir Putin’s denials that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, even though the U.S. intelligence community has concluded that it did so in a “sweeping and systematic fashion” to sway the vote in Trump’s favour.
The president has also recently failed to take any action to punish Russia following revelations that the country was paying bounties to Taliban-linked militia members to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan. He failed to even raise the issue in a recent conversation with Putin.
Evanina’s statement Friday also noted that China does not want “unpredictable” Trump reelected. But actions Evanina cited concerning China regarded officials “harshly” criticising the president’s statements on TikTok and Hong Kong, and didn’t mention any subterfuge.
US officials more thoroughly briefed on the intelligence were told that Russia is a far graver threat to the election, The New York Times reported. China seeks to gain influence in American politics but has yet to take more decisive action.
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As part of the Russian campaign to aid Trump, snippets of leaked Biden phone calls are being characterised by Derkach as as an attempt by the former vice president to block investigations into corruption at a Ukrainian energy company, where his son held a board position.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Friends Star Jennifer Aniston Addresses Second Delay To Reunion Special

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Jennifer Aniston has spoken about after the upcoming Friends reunion special was postponed for the second time due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that all six of the original cast members would be getting back together to film an unscripted look back at the classic sitcom.
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This was originally supposed to launch in May, to coincide with the debut of the streaming service HBO Max, where US viewers can watch every episode of Friends.
However, these plans were put on ice as a result of coronavirus restrictions.
The cast of Friends pictured at the height of the show's popularity NBC via Getty Images
And while David Schwimmer recently expressed his hopes that filming could take place in August, it’s since been reported by Variety that this will no longer be the case, and that a new recording date is yet to be determined.
Jennifer Aniston has now addressed the delay, assuring fans that she thinks the special will be worth the wait.
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“Unfortunately it’s very sad that we had to move it again,” she told Deadline. “It was, ‘How do we do this with live audiences?’
“This is not a safe time. Period. That’s the bottom line. It’s not a safe time to do it.”
She continued: “You know what? This has also given us more time to make it even more exciting and more fun than it would have been. So I choose to see it as the glass is half-full that it got postponed.
“Look, we’re not going anywhere. You’re never going to get rid of Friends, sorry. You’re stuck with us for life guys.”
Jennifer Aniston Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
The unscripted special will see the show’s cast returning to the soundstage on which Friends was filmed, reflecting on the sitcom’s global impact and best moments.
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It will be directed by Ben Winston, best known for his work alongside James Corden on The Late, Late Show.
Friends is currently airing on Comedy Central in the UK, as well as streaming on Netflix, following its debut on the streaming platform in 2018, gaining the classic sitcom a new generation of fans.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--Elderly Woman Threatened With Deportation Gains Support Of Black Lives Matter Protesters

Gurmit Kaur at a Black Lives Matter protest in Smethwick. Migrant Voice
Thousands of supporters have rallied around a 75-year-old widow in the West Midlands who could face deportation to a country where she has no family or connections.
The case of Gurmit Kaur Sahota struck a chord after she was seen giving out fruit to Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters in Smethwick during a demonstration in July.
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Her campaign has in turn been picked up by BLM supporters on social media. An online petition has gained 55,000 signatures in six days and there has been widespread support on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
Charity Migrant Voice has also launched a campaign urging the Home Office to grant Kaur leave to remain in the UK.
The Home Office has said she could be forcibly removed from the UK and sent to India.
Since Kaur arrived in the West Midlands in 2009, the local Sikh community has adopted her as their own and she regularly volunteers at the local temple Gurdwara Baba Sang Ji.
Gurmit Kaur helping at her local Sikh temple, Gudwara Baba Sang Ji. Migrant Voice
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Speaking through a translator, Kaur told HuffPost UK: “I’m from a village called Nangal Majja near Phagwara in Punjab, India. But after my husband passed away in 1996 I had no family left in India.
“So I was invited by my family to come to the UK to attend a wedding. I was living on my deceased husband’s savings, which have now run out.”
Kaur arrived in the UK on July 15, 2009, with a multi visit visa that was valid until June 2010. She then applied for settled status – indefinite leave to remain – but this was refused in June 2010.
Kaur has two brothers and grown-up children in the UK.
“I’m getting older, my community want to help me stay here and support me, this is why they are rallying behind me and I’m deeply touched by this campaign,” she said.
Prior to the fresh threat to deport her, she had heard nothing from the Home Office since 2013.
A spokesperson from the Home Office told HuffPost UK: “We have recently written to Ms Sahota explaining how she can apply to remain in the country legally and we urge her to do so.”
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The Home Office insists it is “wrong to claim we have been pursuing her deportation” – but Kaur’s case worker, Salman Mirza, said the government’s approach had been “threatening’”.
The letter sent to Gurmit Kaur by contractors for the UK Border Agency. I Am Birmingham
In a letter seen by HuffPost UK, Capita Business Services – a private firm contracted to carry out casework on behalf of the UK Border Agency – wrote: “If you fail to respond we will have to refer your case to the UK Border Agency to consider taking further action to secure your removal from the United Kingdom.”
One local supporter, Xi’an Loves, told HuffPost UK there was a need to recognise the “covert and often swept under the carpet” racism in the UK.
Xi'an Loves (left), Gurmit Kaur (middle), Anju Bogle (right). Migrant Voice
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Loves said: “I’m of Jamaican and Panjabi Sikh heritage, so when I look at Gurmit, I view her as a family member.
“Although Gurmit is not directly from the Windrush generation, it is evident the impact it has had on people.
“People who are campaigning to stay in the UK after living here for many years go through this stress to then be told to go back to a place where they have nobody.”
Salman Mirza, her caseworker, standing next to Gurmit Kaur. Migrant Voice
Mirza, who is part of Migrant Voices and is representing Kaur legally, told HuffPost UK the case “puts a human face to the whole immigration debate”.
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“There has been a strong youth presence in the campaign within Sandwell and Smethwick,” he said, resulting in an “unprecedented” amount of support.
Community project Brushstrokes, the local Sikh temple and a number of local leaders have also given the campaign their support. Local Labour MP John Spellar has vowed to raise her case with the Home Office.
Nazek Ramadan, director of Migrant Voice, said: “We’re standing with Gurmit Kaur because, like so many undocumented migrants in the UK, this country is her home and she’s a deeply valued member of her community.
“We urge the Home Office to regularise her status, and that of all undocumented migrants in the UK, so she and thousands like her can live without fear of being detained and deported, and protect themselves and their families, especially during this pandemic.”
It is unclear how the government plans to tackle the hostile environment policy after pledging a more “people first” approach to immigration.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--No Date For Home Office's Refugee Resettlement Scheme To Be Resumed Despite Record Channel Crossings

A Border Force vessel brings a group of men thought to be migrants into Dover, Kent. Gareth Fuller - PA Images via Getty Images
Thousands of refugees have been denied access to the UK throughout the course of the coronavirus crisis, with the Home Office providing no concrete date for when its flagship resettlement programme will resume.
It was reported on Friday morning that home secretary Priti Patel had ordered officials to draw up plans for Royal Navy patrols to be deployed in the English Channel, after a record-breaking 235 migrant crossings took place on Thursday. On Friday, the Home Office said a further 130 migrants arrived in the UK.
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But as the government allegedly begins preparations to make it even harder for migrants to cross the Channel, refugee groups are raising awareness of the fact that the official resettlement scheme has been closed since March 30 – giving refugees no safe or legal route into the UK.
Stephen Hale, chief executive of Refugee Action, told HuffPost UK: “The UK’s refugee resettlement scheme has been frozen since March 2020, and there have been no arrivals through that scheme as a result since.
“At the moment nobody is making a safe or legal journey through refugee resettlement, and the government needs to get the programme up and running as soon as possible.
“We want to find ways for people to make safe, legal journeys and settle, which was previously a primary means of enabling people who are refugees to come to the UK and rebuild their lives.”
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The resettlement scheme was announced in September 2015 by then-prime minister David Cameron, in response to a national and international outcry over the global refugee crisis.
The government pledged to welcome a total of 20,000 people who had escaped the war in Syria over a period of five years, with around 5,000 people arriving into the UK and settling into some 200 local authority areas each year since.
With the scheme having been paused since March, and close to six months of inaction, it is thought that close to 2,500 people who would have been granted refugee status have been left in precarious living situations.
There is a second system of arrival into the UK for refugees, of family reunion, but Hale described the process as “highly dysfunctional” and explained that many people who would have a reasonable claim to this method of claiming refugee status have still been forced to attempt their own dangerous route into the country. Difficult to navigate in normal times, Covid-19 has also further disrupted this alternative system.
Furthermore, Cameron’s five-year commitment is soon set to come to an end – and there has thus far been no assurances that it will continue from 2021 onwards, even as the refugee crisis continues to escalate.
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That risks plunging local authorities – who typically sign up for long-term commitments to housing refugees – into significant uncertainty, and could prevent them from being able to welcome new families in the years to come.
Hale added: “If the UK wants to hold its head up and say that it is contributing to responding to a global refugee crisis, if the government wants to say ‘we don’t want people to make dangerous journeys’, they then have to explain how the UK is enabling refugees to come safely and legally to the country.
“Essentially, because that’s not happening, the government’s only policy and only message is ‘people shouldn’t be coming’.
“There’s no earthly reason why those programmes can’t be restarted. We totally understand why they were suspended in March, but the absolutely could and should be restarted by the home secretary in September 2020.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The UK resettles more refugees than any other country in Europe and are in the top five countries worldwide.
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“Since 2015, we have resettled more than 25,000 refugees and are proud of our ambitious commitments and achievements.
“Due to the unprecedented pandemic, the UK along with many other countries are currently unable to resettle any refugees but we expect arrivals to resume as soon as conditions allow.”
The number of refugees arriving into the UK via small boat crossings has increased in recent weeks – boosted by a lack of opportunities on freight lorries as a result of Covid-19.
Dr Scott Edwards, a research fellow at the University of Bristol with a focus on transnational organised crime at sea, explained: “Recently because of the Covid situation we have seen this shift to the small boat crossings being chosen more than the road freight routes.
“You had this massive downturn in global trade where lots of businesses weren’t ordering new products and because of that we started to see a downturn in freight and shipping more generally. It’s had a huge impact on the Dover-Calais route, in April they reduced the sailing schedule as there was an unprecedented freight volume reduction.
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“And then what is moving along the more traditional routes, with people getting into lorries and that sort of thing, there is a lot more restriction – less lorries are allowed to congregate in a certain area and can’t wait in their usual zones any more.
“There’s also been a tightening of port security, which has come about because of Covid but was already kind of in motion as a result of Brexit. Essentially, over the past few months, there have been a lot fewer opportunities on the more established routes.”
There is also a possibility that crossing the Channel in a small vessel has become easier as huge shipping containers travel less often – leaving the passage slightly clearer.
A drop in road freight and an emptier shipping route is an opportunity that has been exploited by criminal smuggling gangs, Edwards explained.
“If we look at these criminal gangs as well organised operations, as I think we should, you see this massive adaptability,” he said. “Those criminal organisations that have the resources to adapt are able to move away from lorry freight routes and offer small boats instead.”
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But even if the rates of freight pick up as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, Brexit is still likely to impact the tradition lorry routes – with more people forced to resort to dangerous sea crossings.
Edwards said: “A kind of uncertainty about how accessible those freight routes will be is still something that will overhang even post-Covid because of more stringent controls at ports.
“People still don’t know what form Brexit is going to take, which creates uncertainty that could make small boats seem like the preferable choice.
“At least there’s a degree of certainty there. In the past they’ve kind of been perceived as more successful, even though they have that extra element of risk or danger to them.”
Meanwhile refugees in Calais and Dunkirk face increasingly dangerous and overcrowded conditions in the camps, a situation exacerbated by the sudden drop in aid sparked by the Covid-19 crisis.
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David Wilson, a spokesperson for Care4Calais, explained that at the start of the crisis many of the aid organisations who usually provide relief to refugees living in the camps left the area – placing an intense pressure on the remaining volunteers.
He said: “The situation is the worst it’s been since the Calais ‘jungle’ was demolished in 2016. The people living there are refugees fleeing some of the most dangerous, violent places in the world.
“They’re facing violent evictions, where the police are using tear gas and taking all of their possessions. They are left with nothing, no change of clothes, no tent to sleep in.
“All the harassment they face does is make their already really tough lives a little bit worse. For a lot of them, that [forced evictions] is the fact that tips the balance that makes them think ‘well I’m going to take on the dangerous crossing of the Channel.’
“And then into that mix are the smuggling gangs who, as a result of UK and French government tactics, and because of Covid-19, have stepped up their activities as well.”
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Amid reports of the Navy being sent into the Channel to turn boats around and the ongoing practice of camps being broken up, Wilson explained that the authorities appeared to be going round in circles when it comes to effective policy-making.
He continued: “The Home Office don’t seem to have any clue of how to deal with this. They’re just trying the same things they’ve been trying for years, and they don’t work. It doesn’t fundamentally change the situation.
“What we need in terms of policy is a safe and legal process by which refugees in Calais can make an asylum claim.
“If they had that it would mean that they wouldn’t risk getting on a boat or a lorry because they don’t need to, they could have their case fairly heard.
“And and that would obliterate the market for people smugglers, as well as it give the UK control of our borders because we would know exactly who was in the country where they were and what the status and merits of their claim are.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--As Dirty Dancing Gets A Sequel, 11 Times The Follow-Up Film Was Better Than The Original

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The old saying goes that a sequel is never as good as the original, and over the years, plenty of films have proved this to be the case.
Fortunately for the makers of the upcoming Avatar sequel – which finally has a trailer after over a decade of waiting – there are always exceptions to every rule.
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Let’s hope for James Cameron’s sake his new sequels can follow in the footsteps of these celebrated follow-ups, rather than the countless “part two” films that wound up in bargain bins the world over...
Addams Family Values
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We don’t use terms like “perfection” lightly, but if there were ever a perfect family comedy then Addams Family Values might well be it. The fact it’s actually a sequel to a less-revered live-action version of the classic cartoon is even more impressive.
Obviously all of the cast members playing the creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky and, indeed, altogether ooky family shine as brightly as their dark surroundings will allow (special shout-out to Anjelica Huston serving true macabre glamour as Morticia). But Addams Family Values really belongs to new addition Joan Cusack, who stars as Uncle Fester’s love interest Debbie.
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Toy Story 3
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Who’d have guessed that an animated buddy comedy about a toy cowboy and a plastic astronaut would have sparked one of the most lucrative film sagas of recent times?
And while Toy Story 2 – released four years after the original – kicked things up several notches, it was the third instalment in the series that people really went wild for. Toy Story 3 served up adorable new characters, scooped an impressive Best Picture nomination at the Oscars and, crucially, delivered not one but two ugly-cry moments.
Paddington 2
Warner Bros/Moviestore/Shutterstock
Even though the original Paddington film was well-received when it first hit cinemas in 2014 – featuring a CGI version of the classic character interacting with live-action actors – few could predict just how beloved its sequel would go on to become.
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Not only was it nominated for Outstanding British Film at the Baftas, it’s also one of the few movies with a perfect score on review site Rotten Tomatoes. With 238 positive reviews, it’s also the highest-rated film on the entire website. Take that, Citizen Kane.
The Dark Knight
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Like many, we were sold on The Dark Knight from the moment we saw its infamous viral marketing campaign (back in the day when viral marketing campaigns were actually still new and exciting).
We could probably talk all day about how this film is a level up on Batman Begins, from Christopher Nolan’s direction, to the incredible costumes and special effects. But let’s be honest, this film is all about Heath Ledger, who earned a posthumous Academy Award for his unforgettable portrayal of the Joker.
Aliens
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Although the original Alien divided critics upon its original release in 1979, the film quickly garnered a loyal following, and by the mid-1980s, was revered among fans of sci-fi.
Putting out a sequel was therefore always going to be a bit of a risk, but fortunately 1986′s Aliens more than lived up to its predecessor. It earned Sigourney Weaver a game-changing Oscar nomination as the star of a sci-fi film. It has also been named the Best Sequel Of All Time by Empire magazine.
Mad Max: Fury Road
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Listen, we get it, Fury Road was billed as a “revisiting” of the original Mad Max trilogy, rather than a straight-up sequel or a traditional reboot.
Still, the film was so well-received – check that 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes if you don’t believe us, not to mention its six Oscar wins – we felt we couldn’t leave it off this list. Plus, who would pass up the opportunity to see Charlize Theron in all her buzzed glory again?
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Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
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Star Wars has so many different instalments, and a fan community that stretches far and wide, that it would be literally impossible to decide which of the numerous sequels is the superior one.
So while we’d struggle to pinpoint which of film is the best, we’ve gone with The Empire Strikes Back for the simple reason it contains arguably the most iconic moment in Star Wars history, when Darth Vader’s true identity is revealed.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
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He said “I’ll be back”, and apparently he meant it, although it did take seven years.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day was hailed as even better than the original film by many critics, who were wowed by the advanced special effects (which went on to win one of the film’s four Academy Awards).
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The success of Terminator 2 led to a number of additional spin-offs and sequels, although none of these have quite been able to match the original two films.
Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame Marvel/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
Essentially the sequel to around 100 other films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame was much-awaited when it hit cinemas in 2019, wrapping up stories that began in the Iron Man, Thor and Captain America film series.
Fortunately, the majority of cinema-goers felt the ambitious project was worth the wait, with Avengers: Endgame landing rave reviews and becoming the highest-grossing film of all time (that’s second-highest, when adjusted for inflation).
The Godfather Part II
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The first sequel to ever win Best Picture at the Academy Awards (the only other being Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King), Godfather II is so revered it was added to the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress due to its cultural significance, alongside the original Godfather film.
The same can not be said for the follow-up, Godfather III.
Skyfall
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Although Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace proved popular, many 007 fans still breathed a sigh of relief when Skyfall was released, as they felt it was more in keeping with the James Bond franchise than Daniel Craig’s first two outings.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--How To Figure Out Your Sexual Fantasy, According To Sex Therapists

Maybe a sexual partner once asked you what your fantasy is and you didn’t know what to say. Or perhaps you want to get in touch with your erotic side. Whatever’s driving your questions, don’t be discouraged that you’re not entirely sure what turns you on.
“Keep in mind, fantasies come in all different stripes,” New York City sex therapist Ian Kerner, the author of “She Comes First,” told HuffPost. “Some of my patients have kinky fantasies, some have sensual fantasies, some fantasise about sex with others, some fantasise about sexual situations with their current partners.”
Common fantasies include role-playing, power dynamics like dominance and submission, threesomes or group sex, “forced” sex, voyeurism and (if you identify as straight) having sex with someone of the same gender ― just to name a few.
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CSA Images via Getty Images Not everyone can easily pinpoint their erotic fantasies, and that's OK.
It’s worth noting that not everyone is interested in acting out the sexual fantasies in their head. Many people have fantasies about having sex in a public place, for instance, but they aren’t necessarily interested in doing that in real life.
“A fantasy is first and foremost a ‘thought,’ which means it doesn’t have to become an actual thing you do, and most of my patients don’t actually want their fantasies to come true,” Kerner said. “They just want to enjoy them in the comfort of their own erotic imagination or share them with a partner.”
If you want to tap into your fantasies, start by thinking back to your early sex-related memories. Ask yourself what you thought sex was at that time and what about it seemed appealing to you.
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“Your actual experiences with sex might also contain clues about what turns you on,” sex therapist Vanessa Marin, creator of the online course Rediscovering Desire, wrote for Bustle. “What are your top five sexual experiences? Is there anything that most of them have in common? Or is there anything that really stands out?”
“This might seem obvious, but so few people actually do this,” she told HuffPost.
Then, think about the sex scenes in TV shows, movies, books or porn that stand out or excite you. What do you think about when you masturbate? Are there any recurring themes?
Kerner said many of his patients will tell him that they don’t think they have any fantasies, “but once we start talking about the porn they like to watch or the erotica they like to read, or even the peak experiences they can recall, it becomes clear there are consistent erotic themes bubbling beneath the surface.”
“Start with reading some erotica, watching some sexy movies, listening to an erotica podcast or watching some ethical porn.” - Ian Kerner, a sex therapist
Take a little time to cultivate and play around in your erotic imagination and see what comes up.
“Don’t worry about having to plumb your inner depths,” Kerner said. “Start with reading some erotica, watching some sexy movies, listening to an erotica podcast or watching some ethical porn. And just spend time noticing what turns you on.”
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And if nothing in particular jumps out at you or you find that your fantasies are pretty vanilla, that’s OK, too.
“Plenty of people are happily satisfied having sex without a fantasy element,” Marin wrote for Bustle. “Or you may have fantasies that are simple and straightforward, and not very intense. For example, you might occasionally daydream about having sex in reverse cowgirl, but not feel that passionately about it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you if you don’t find yourself fantasising about sex on a regular basis.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--The Stages Of Getting Ready For A Night Out As A Parent (Even In A Pandemic)

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It’s tough, getting ready to go out when you’re a parent. You’re so desperate for your “night off” to begin, it can be tempting to pour yourself a gin at 9am – even though you’re not meeting until at least 8pm, because nobody can get away until after baby bedtime.
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What used to be a relatively simple process before you had kids – shower, shave, makeup, dress, go – somehow becomes a fine art. It’s a meticulously planned out, multi-tasking effort that takes only the most experienced of us to get right.
So, you’re going out on Saturday night? In the midst of a pandemic, things are a little different – there’s a lack of dancing, for sure – but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a BNO (that’s Big Night Out, if you didn’t know already).
Whether you’re going round a mate’s garden for drinks, or heading to your local pub, you still want to get glammed up – especially after spending months in your lockdown pyjamas (just me?).
Here’s the reality of getting ready to go out when you’re a parent.
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5.40am
“Mummy, wake up! I had a scary dream about a chicken.” You look at the clock and groan: it’s not even 6am. How are you going to stay out until midnight (or beyond) when you’ve been up since the crack of dawn?
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9am
You’ve been up long enough to tidy the kitchen and make several rounds of breakfast. You start thinking about that first drink. Trouble is, it’s 12 hours away and you’ve got a two hour round-trip, ferrying one child to gymnastics and back again, to get through first... and a playdate. But here’s where step one of BNO prep commences: painting your nails. You only manage a first coat before you have to get the kids in the car.
Still, it’s the only time it has any chance to dry, because your hands are on the steering wheel and blissfully child-free.
11.30am
You’ve dropped one child off at gymnastics and made it home again, giving you one whole hour before you have to do the exact same trip, in reverse. The multi-tasking skills you’ve learned as a parent kick in.
You sit your remaining child(ren) in front of CBeebies, armed with a peanut butter and marmite sandwich (kids are weird) and dash upstairs. It’s time for a hair wash. After, you slather on a face mask, which must stay on for 10 minutes, so you’ve got enough time to shave under your arms, and maybe a leg, too.
By the time you’re done, it’s 12.30pm: gymnastics pick-up. Paint another coat on your nails, get back in the car.
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1.30pm
You’re home from gymnastics, time to give the exhausted child lunch, and the child who’s been helplessly ferried back and forth (without actually doing any gymnastics), a second lunch. By the time you’ve finished answering requests for snacks and drinks, it’s 1.45pm – just enough of a window to dash upstairs and shave the other leg before a 2pm playdate begins.
2pm
Over the next two hours, the house is wrecked, your stress levels rise, the remaining snacks you had in the cupboards are eaten, and your nails are smudged. Accept this as an inevitability. Do not try to fight it. There’s beauty in surrender.
4pm
There is light at the end of the tunnel... once the playmate goes home. Won’t the other parent please come and pick them up? Please?
Kyryl Gorlov via Getty Images
5pm
The child’s parent finally comes at 4.30pm, and stays for half an hour, chatting. They ignore your hints about needing to get ready to “go out”, because they simply don’t understand what you mean. Is it even possible to have a night out in a pandemic, they’re thinking.
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Once they’ve gone, you whack the oven on, tell both kids it’s time to “sit down and watch a film”, and run upstairs to do your hair. You leave your curlers heating up while you race downstairs to put a turkey dinosaur and potato waffle in the oven. The other child wants something different (of course), so you bung some pasta in to boil, run back upstairs and curl half your hair before having to go and break up a squabble – the first child has now decided that they, too, want a turkey dinosaur. Swear under your breath and repeat the process.
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5.30pm
Miracle of miracles: your hair is curled and you have half an hour to do your makeup and get dressed. Both kids are quietly eating dinner, and you’re only interrupted two – maybe three – more times to get them a variety of different desserts. On the third trip downstairs, you pour yourself a pre-BNO gin.
You overhear one child saying to the other, “Mummy’s having a 5 o’clock gin”, and some associated giggling. You decide you do not care, because you deserve this.
6pm
You hand your children to the other parent, grandparent or babysitter with a high five and leave the house, smiling at everyone you see on the street.
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You’re free. You forget you ever had children (for an hour, max, until you get the urge to check to see how bedtime is going). You meet the ones who managed to escape as early as you did, and wait for the others who are doing bedtime first. You drink, chat, relax, laugh, gossip and swap stories about your children with your other, similarly-giddy, parent pals. You don’t care that you’re two metres apart in someone’s garden – you dance anyway.
You’ve earned this time off, and you tell each other so, repeatedly. “We deserve this!” you tell one another, clinking glasses from a distance.
Midnight


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-08--These Are The Coffee Chains Allowing Reusable Cups Again

“Therefore, reusable cups that have not been cleaned and have the virus on their surfaces pose a potential route of transmission for respiratory infections if the cup comes into contact with the coffee machine.”
But Starbucks says it has trained staff to use renewables safely, with no contact between the cup and the barista.
A video on the company’s website shows how this works: customers will be asked to place their personal cup into a tray or larger mug, which will be used to transport the cup, without staff touching it.
Baristas will make your coffee and pour it into your cup, within the larger carrying vessel, before passing it back to you.