thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Miley Cyrus Pays Homage To Wrecking Ball Video During VMAs Performance

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Miley Cyrus treated fans to a bit of a throwback with her performance at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, paying homage to one of her most iconic music video moments.
During the show, Miley performed a stripped-back rendition of her latest single Midnight Sky, shrouded in red and blue light.
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Towards the end of the performance, Miley was seen climbing a white staircase, with a giant disco ball at the top.
The singer then tore off the lower half of her dress and mounted the disco ball, recreating the infamous scene from her Wrecking Ball music video.
Miley Cyrus rides a disco ball on stage at the VMAs SIPA USA/PA Images
The VMAs was, of course, where Miley made headlines back in 2013, putting on a provocative performance of her song We Can’t Stop featuring giant teddy bears, a cameo appearance from Robin Thicke and one infamous foam finger.
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Shortly after that year’s ceremony, Miley debuted her controversial Wrecking Ball music video.
Directed by Terry Richardson, the clip saw Miley riding a wrecking ball while naked, as well as licking a sledgehammer.
Miley in the Wrecking Ball music video Vevo
The year after its release, Wrecking Ball was awarded Video Of The Year at the VMAs.
Midnight Sky was released earlier this month, with the lyrics appearing to reference Miley’s split from ex-husband Liam Hemsworth, and subsequent relationships with Kaitlynn Carter and Cody Simpson.
Lady Gaga was the big winner at this year’s VMAs, while The Weeknd was awarded the coveted Video Of The Year prize.
Both stars performed during the show, with Gaga also sharing the stage with Ariana Grande, giving their chart-topping duet Rain On Me its first live outing, while both artists wore face coverings.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Labour Calls For Mortgage Payer Help To Avoid ‘Winter Of Repossessions’

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Homeowners face a winter of repossessions unless the government takes urgent action to support people struggling with mortgages amid the coronavirus job losses, Labour has warned.
Unveiling a new plan to help those fearing the loss of their home, shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds called for a three-month extension of the current “mortgage holiday” that is due to finish at the end of October.
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Dodds called on her counterpart Rishi Sunak to follow the example of the last Labour government and immediately cut the waiting period for a mortgage interest support scheme that has been watered down by the Tories.
A ban on repossessions of homes by lenders, due to end on October 31, should also be extended, she said.
The government caved to pressure earlier this month to extend its ban on evictions of renters by an extra month, but there are similar fears that those who own their own home could lose it as the recession bites deeper.
With more than 700,000 jobs lost since March, and many millions more estimated to be at risk, experts have warned that the withdrawal of furlough support and a raft of schemes to help mortgage payers could lead to a “cliff edge” of misery by November.
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Under current government plans, homeowners who lose their jobs and need help to cover the cost of interest payments will need to wait nine months before they can access the relevant government scheme.
Dodds told HuffPost UK that Sunak should follow the example of Gordon Brown’s government, which took decisive action in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to ensure that families who had lost their jobs did not also lose their homes.
She called on the government to immediately reduce the waiting period for the Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) scheme from its current 39 weeks to 13 weeks, as the Labour government did at the height of the global financial crisis.
“With the health crisis still not under control, and the jobs crisis worsening by the day, we are looking at a huge spike in unemployment this autumn thanks to the Government’s one-size-fits-all withdrawal of support,” she said.
“If that happens, thousands of families will be concerned about keeping up with mortgage repayments and fearful of losing their homes.
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“The Government needs to act now to ensure people have the support they need to keep their homes. We need swift and decisive action to prevent a winter of repossessions.”
In 2009, the then Labour Government increased the loan cap to £200,000 for new working age claims, to enable more people to claim support faster at the height of the global financial crisis.
The last Tory government changed the SMI from a grant to an interest-bearing loan from April 2018.
Dodds said the Treasury should also ask the statutory Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) to urgently review the structure of SMI support to make sure it is targeted on those who need it most.
She said the watchdog should look in particular looking at whether the cap of £200,000, which has been in place since 2009, is still appropriate given that house prices have risen by more than 50% since then. It should also review whether the payment should be turned back into a grant rather than an interest bearing loan.
On March 17th 2020, the government announced the availability of a three-month mortgage holiday as part of its package of support for individuals, businesses and the economy.
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On May 22nd 2020, the Government announced that it would extend by a further three months the mortgage holiday option, until October 31st. It also announced an extension of the ban on repossessions to the same date.
Property repossessions plunged 93% this summer after homeowners rushed to use mortgage holidays and banks were banned from seizing the houses of coronavirus-hit customers.
But the ‘holiday’ scheme is still set to cease at the end of this October.
A Treasury spokesperson said: “Mortgage payment holidays are providing vital help for hundreds of thousands of people struggling with their finances due to coronavirus.
“We keep all policies under constant review.”
The government insists that consumers that are worried about the longer-term impact on their finances should talk to their lender about options to gradually and affordably get back on track.
The Financial Conduct Authority have published a draft guidance consultation this week suggesting that lenders should move to more individualistic forms of forbearance after customers have had two holidays.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Lady Gaga And Ariana Grande Slay VMAs With Performance In Face Masks

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It’s fair to say that this year’s VMAs really belonged to Lady Gaga.
Not only did she scoop the most awards during the ceremony – including a new gong called the Tricon Award, seemingly created in her honour – she also gave the stand-out performance of the night.
And she did it all while wearing a mask.
Gaga’s much-hyped performance was her first time on the VMAs stage in seven years, and marked the live debut of songs from her chart-topping album Chromatica, which was released during lockdown.
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In what will come as no shock to anyone who’s followed the always-outrageous star’s career, she pulled out all the stops for her performance, which featured two costume changes, a fireman’s pole and, naturally, a piano shaped like a brain.
💗@LADYGAGA AND @ARIANAGRANDE JUST TOOK US TO CHROMATICA AT THE #VMAs 💗
You need to watch this performance right now ⚔ WHAT AN ICONIC DUO! 🌧 pic.twitter.com/TcjY1Wdz0F — Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 31, 2020
The performance opened with a blast of the instrumental track Chromatica II before transitioning into album cut 911, a fan-favourite moment from her latest release.
Decked in a light-up face covering, she was then joined on stage by Ariana Grande – also sporting a face mask – to perform their number one single Rain On Me, while serving choreography from the song’s iconic music video.
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Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga on stage at the VMAs Kevin Winter/MTV VMAs 2020 via Getty Images
Finally, Gaga slowed things down for an acoustic version of Stupid Love, telling viewers while seated at a brain-shaped piano: “I want your love… I want it all night, every day. But I want you to love yourself. Tonight and every night. Celebrate yourself. Love who you are.
“Be kind, mask up! Be brave. And braver all the time. One, two… make it stupid.”
Lady Gaga on her brain-shaped piano Kevin Winter/MTV VMAs 2020 via Getty Images
Gaga’s wins at this year’s VMAs included Song Of The Year and Best Collaboration for Rain On Me, as well as Artist Of The Year.
Other performers on the night included The Weeknd, who also scooped the top prize of Video Of The Year, and Miley Cyrus, who paid homage to her Wrecking Ball music video with a stunt involving a disco ball.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Black Panther Director Ryan Coogler Pens Emotional Tribute To Chadwick Boseman

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Black Panther director and co-writer Ryan Coogler wrote a lengthy, emotional tribute to the film’s star, Chadwick Boseman, on Sunday, after the actor died of a private struggle with colon cancer.
Chadwick died at his home in Los Angeles on Friday, at the age of 43.
His family revealed that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, but the actor never spoke publicly about his diagnosis during his rise to fame in Hollywood ― including to Ryan, who worked closely with him on Black Panther.
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Ryan Coogler and Chadwick Boseman at the European premiere of Black Panther in 2018 Samir Hussein via Getty Images
“After his family released their statement, I realised that he was living with his illness the entire time I knew him,” the director wrote.
“Because he was a caretaker, a leader and a man of faith, dignity and pride, he shielded his collaborators from his suffering.
“He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was. He was an epic firework display. I will tell stories about being there for some of the brilliant sparks till the end of my days.”
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Marvel Studios’ "Black Panther" Director Ryan Coogler’s full statement on the legacy of Chadwick Boseman: https://t.co/OLI4lgXtaK — Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) August 30, 2020
Throughout his career, Chadwick played iconic Black leaders such as baseball player Jackie Robinson, singer James Brown and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, before snagging the role of King T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War and the $1.35 billion-grossing Marvel film, Black Panther.
Ryan recalled being impressed with the actor’s decision that T’Challa’s native tongue be the South African language Xhosa ― in which the actor learned his lines immediately.
The director also recalled first meeting Chadwick when the actor sneaked in to talk with him during Coogler’s press junket for Creed.
“He was calm. Assured. Constantly studying,” Ryan said. “But also kind, comforting, had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that [had] seen much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time.”
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The two were expected to reunite for a sequel to Black Panther, to which Ryan Coogler also referred in his statement.
“I haven’t grieved a loss this acute before,” he said. “I spent the last year preparing, imagining and writing words for him to say, that we weren’t destined to see.
“It leaves me broken knowing that I won’t be able to watch another close-up of him in the monitor again or walk up to him and ask for another take.”
Chadwick Boseman at the SAG Awards in 2019 Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images
Chadwick’s unexpected death shattered the world as fans, public figures, celebrities and institutions mourned the loss of a real-life superhero.
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The actor was remembered by many for his on-screen talent, his big heart and his ability to inspire those around him ― including the current generation of Black children who saw themselves in T’Challa and the people of Wakanda.
“In African cultures we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda,” Ryan said.
“But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again.”
Read Coogler’s full statement here.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Adele Raises Eyebrows With Instagram Post In Honour Of Notting Hill Carnival

Adele has caused quite the stir on social media, with a photo she uploaded to her Instagram page to commemorate what would have been the weekend of Notting Hill Carnival.
While the annual event has gone virtual this year due to coronavirus restrictions, the chart-topping singer revealed on social media that she was celebrating from home in her own way.
“Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London,” she wrote, posting the flag emojis representing both the UK and Jamaica.
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However, it was Adele’s outfit – which included a Jamaican flag-print bikini, a gold chain and Bantu knots – that really got people talking.
Adele’s name began trending on Twitter soon after the photo was first posted, with many pointing out the outfit could be considered cultural appropriation...
If 2020 couldn't get anymore bizarre, Adele is giving us Bantu knots and cultural appropriation that nobody asked for.
This officially marks all of the top white women in pop as problematic.
Hate to see it. pic.twitter.com/N9CqPqh7GX — Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) August 30, 2020
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i’m not upset about her wearing the jamaican flag (because i’m not jamaican, so i don’t have a say on that) i’m upset about adele wearing the bantu knots in her head. it’s cultural appropriation and it’s not cute. pic.twitter.com/4VpgIwQTJ6 — Tiffany🐝 BLM (@dcddylcssons) August 31, 2020
Now Adele.... — Wanna (@WannasWorld) August 30, 2020
The carnival feathers, the Bantu knots, the Jamaica bikini top. Its giving appropriation. — Wanna (@WannasWorld) August 30, 2020
Ummmm why did i just see ms adele in sum bantu knots, not my fav culturally appropriating pic.twitter.com/gEIJ6oXCRM — Chris 💜 (@dizzydictator) August 30, 2020
NOT ADELE. I really thought I was safe with her. Bye I can’t do this pic.twitter.com/CHoG0PSxss — Elmira (@demicentric) August 30, 2020
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There were so many fucking steps that happened before that Adele photo made it public. An idea that took SEVERAL people’s approval. A hairstylist who was like “you sure?” A publicist who said “go for it.”
I need to lie down — Phillip Henry (@MajorPhilebrity) August 31, 2020
However, others spoke out to defend Adele following her post...
I’m not mad at Adele at all! I love her for this my sides are KILLING ME! 😂😂 I know her heart. 🗣WHINE YA WAIST QUEEN — SCAM GODDESS (@DivaLaci) August 31, 2020
In Adele’s mind she probably thought she was just showing love but I really hope people don’t start being mean towards her like yes express how you feel but don’t be cruel cause it was only a few days ago people were talking about “be kind” — 🦋B E K🦋 (@_RebekahJade) August 30, 2020
Like the woman clearly appreciates black culture and black people. She probably just got a bit carried away with the carnival theme and went a bit overboard and yes I understand it must be frustrating for some people but like I said not everyone gets it right 24/7 — 🦋B E K🦋 (@_RebekahJade) August 30, 2020
To all the ignorant non Jamaicans dragging Adele for supporting the Jamaican culture, sit down! You don’t speak for us! We are proud of Adele! Nuff respeck to her! pic.twitter.com/d1GI9Ep7kt — Francine Braverman (@fogartyny1) August 31, 2020
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#Adele
White ppl are offended by Adele and "cultural appropriation" but they don't care about the opinions of Jamaicans and Bantu people who don't see cultural appropriation and are not offended.
Cancel culture is bullshit. pic.twitter.com/B5diSrjjbw — - (@roughspoken) August 31, 2020
A list of things that would make me cancel Adele pic.twitter.com/WdAH7vuB1o — Ryan Warne (@thouartvandelay) August 30, 2020
There’s a lil love in this dragging bc let that have been anyone else 😂 — stefan • (@stefanbertin) August 30, 2020
Adele is yet to address the reaction to her photo, which was posted on Sunday night.
Although the chart-topping star is known for keeping a low profile, she has broken cover a number of times lately, and got everyone talking with her Instagram updates.
Back in May, she marked her 32nd birthday with a post thanking key workers for “keeping us safe while risking their lives” during lockdown.
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A few weeks later, she also revealed that she’d been revisiting her iconic Glastonbury set while at home, with fans spotting a subtle nod to her London roots in the background of her picture.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Wisconsin Governor Asks Trump To Stay Away After Jacob Blake Shooting

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Wisconsin governor Tony Evers urged President Donald Trump to reconsider a planned trip to the state following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, saying such a visit may only “delay our work to overcome division and move forward.”
Evers, a Democrat, sent the missive after the White House said the president would travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin on Tuesday to meet with law enforcement and survey the damage following demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism.
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Blake, a Black man, was left paralysed after the police shooting; two protesters at a subsequent demonstration were shot and killed just days later. Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old from Illinois, was arrested and charged with the second shooting. The officer who shot Blake in the back seven times has not been charged.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is urging President Donald Trump to reconsider a planned trip to the state this week. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Kenosha and communities across Wisconsin are enduring extraordinary grief, grappling with a Black man being shot seven times and the loss of two additional lives on Tuesday night at the hands of an out-of-state armed militant,” Evers wrote to the president. “I, along with other community leaders who have reached out, are concerned about what your presence will mean for Kenosha and our state.”
“I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing,” Evers continued. “I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together.”
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Trump’s visit could exacerbate tensions in the city as the president continues to use such visits to amp up his image as a “law and order” leader. During his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Trump painted a grim image of the country if he should be voted out of office, saying: “We must never allow mob rule.”
In his letter, Evers also urged Trump to contribute to the state’s healing process and support efforts to increase police accountability and transparency reform rather than stoke division.
“It is our job as elected officials to lead by example and to be a calming presence for the people we know are hurting, mourning and trying to cope with trauma,” Evers wrote. “Now is not the time for divisiveness. Now is not the time for elected officials to ignore armed militants and out-of-state instigators who want to contribute to our anguish.”
On Sunday night, the White House said Trump still plans to go to Kenosha despite Evers’ letter.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Delay GCSE And A-level Exams To Help Pupils Catch Up, Says Labour

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Next year’s GCSE and A-level exams should be pushed back to help pupils cope with the impact of the coronavirus crisis, Labour has said.
Shadow education secretary Kate Green said exams due next May should be delayed until June or July so students can be given time to catch up after losing up to six months of teaching time.
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She warned pupils going into Year 11 and 13 could face “a mountain to climb” unless the timetable is changed.
“Pupils across the country who have missed out on vital teaching time will have a mountain to climb to prepare for May exams unless the Government steps in,” Green said.
“Ministers had warning after warning about problems with this year’s exam results, but allowed it to descend into a fiasco.
“This is too important for Boris Johnson to leave until the last minute. Pupils heading back to school need clarity and certainty about the year ahead.”
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Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said Labour’s plan was “worthy of serious consideration”.
“What is most important is that we don’t see a repeat of this year’s chaos,” he said.
“Poor planning and last-minute changes by the Government caused misery for many students. It would be indefensible if that happened again.
“A delay is not without its problems, a consequential delay to the publication of results will put pressure on higher education providers such as universities and colleges as well as employers. All this will need to be dealt with.”
A spokesperson from the Department of Education said: “We recognise that students due to take exams next summer will have experienced disruption to their education, which is why we prioritised bringing Year 10 and Year 12 pupils back to school last term.
“Exams will go ahead next year, and we have been working closely with the sector, Ofqual and exam boards to consider our approach.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Can You Catch Covid-19 Twice – And What Does This Mean For A Vaccine?

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Every Monday we’ll answer your questions on Covid-19 and health in a feature published online. You can submit a question here.
This week, HuffPost UK reader Coula asked: Can you catch the virus more than once? The prime minister is having to self-isolate after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. Boris Johnson, who caught the virus and was hospitalised by it in April this year, said he’s currently in good health and has no symptoms. It poses the question, though: can you catch Covid twice? Submit a coronavirus health question.
Studies suggest the answer is yes.
A few studies have now confirmed that people can indeed catch the virus twice.
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) department of microbiology identified a patient in Hong Kong was diagnosed with Covid-19 for the second time – and it wasn’t a continuation of his old illness, rather a new strain altogether.
The “apparently young and healthy patient” had a second episode of Covid-19 infection, which was diagnosed four and a half months after the first. The second time, he had no symptoms and his infection was only picked up because of screening tests at Hong Kong airport. Genetic sequencing of the virus later showed he had been infected twice by different strains of Covid-19.
It makes sense that this is the case. If you think about the flu or common cold, there are various strains doing the rounds and you can often become sick with these multiple times in your life. Possibly even multiple times in a year.
It’s not always the case that the virus doesn’t cause symptoms the second time around, however. A 25-year-old man living in Nevada was infected with two variants of the virus SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, within a 48-day timeframe, according to details published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
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In between both infections, he tested negative for the virus, according to his case report. When he caught Covid-19 again, his symptoms were more severe and he ended up in hospital needing oxygen support.
There were two key concerns raised by the case report. The first is that we now know a second infection can occur within a short timeframe and can be more severe. The second is that such findings indicate that exposure to Covid-19 may not translate to guaranteed total immunity. That said, further research is needed to determine how common an occurrence this is.
So, can we all get reinfected with Covid-19?
It’s complex, said Professor Daniel Altmann, an expert in immunology at Imperial College London. It’s not a matter of black and white, let’s say – there’s plenty of grey. “The problem is, this is a new virus we’ve had full knowledge of since January 11,” he told HuffPost UK in September.
“Also, we’ve never in our lifetimes had so many on the planet affected, so there’s an awful lot of diversity out there to understand.”
Since the start of the pandemic, Prof Altmann has spoken to a “steady trickle” of people convinced they’ve been infected by the virus twice. There’s a pattern he’s noticed: the person is unwell with classic Covid-19 symptoms and they have a test, but the test comes back negative. Then a month or two later, they become unwell again, with slightly different symptoms and a positive test.
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“That sounds rather like reinfection to most of us,” he said. But it’s hard to distinguish between this hypothesis of reinfection, and the obvious alternative: that the first infection never went away and was just lingering to re-emerge.
“We always advised the only way to prove this was to compare the swabbed virus from the two attacks,” he says. “If they’re slightly different, that proves two separate infections. That has now been done in Hong Kong, formally, proving that it can occur.”
It’s good to put this information into context, though. There have been millions of cases of Covid-19 worldwide, and the Hong Kong case was the first reported case of reinfection.
How likely is it that we’ll get reinfected?
We can’t yet say how common reinfection is. “There is little data on which to base a guess,” said Prof Altmann, “but probably one in several thousand of those who have been infected.” So the likelihood of someone catching it twice is still pretty rare, in his eyes.
Immunity is complex, though, and depends on many factors, including how severely you had the virus the first time. Studies have shown those hospitalised with Covid-19 tend to have higher numbers of antibodies in their system than those with mild illness, potentially making them less likely to catch it again.
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Based on what we know about antibodies, Professor Paul Hunter, from University of East Anglia, suggests it’s likely those who experience mild illness will have a shorter duration of immunity than those with severe illness.
But we don’t know exactly how long antibodies last – whether you have a mild or severe illness. Studies suggest they last in the system for at least four months, which means after that time, reinfection might be possible.
It’s likely reinfection would not cause as severe an illness the second time around, though, “because of some degree of residual immunity, which may not be sufficient to stop the infection, but enough to reduce the risk of severe illness,” said Hunter.
solarseven via Getty Images
Antibodies aren’t the body’s sole defender, though – T-cells and B-cells, which the body releases as part of its immune response, could also play a part in fighting off another wave of illness. And these can remember the virus for much longer than a few months.
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“We, and many others, have been looking in enormous detail at variations in types and levels of immunity in those who’ve been affected by Covid-19 to varying degrees,” said Prof Altmann. “The answer is: there’s enormous diversity out there, from those who have great levels of all the necessary types of immune cells, to those who have virtually no detectable immunity.”
What are the implications of this on a vaccine?
Prof Altmann doesn’t believe we need to worry. “The best vaccines are good at overcoming the foibles of poor immunity and susceptibility to natural infection, leaving the vast majority with a high enough level of protection,” he said.
Professor Brendan Wren, an expert in microbial pathogenesis at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, agreed. “It is to be expected that the virus will naturally mutate over time,” he said. “This [the Hong Kong case] is a very rare example of reinfection and it should not negate the global drive to develop Covid-19 vaccines.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--This Taiwanese Egg Pancake Is An Ideal No-Fuss Breakfast For Kids

Tiffany Chang Dan Bing (Taiwanese Egg Pancake)
Cooking With Kids is a weekly recipe series on getting creative in the kitchen with the family.
No time for an elaborate breakfast? Enter: the dan bing, the Taiwanese street-food answer to a breakfast burrito. Chef and recent winner on Netflix’s cooking show Crazy Delicious, Tiffany Chang, has the perfect savoury breakfast recipe that’s quick, easy and mouth-watering.
“Traditionally it’s served with youtiao (fried dough stick) and eaten with a bowl of soy milk,” Chang explains. “My kid loves how versatile this is and she can add her own twist in the fillings. She likes hers with guacamole, Taiwanese pork floss and smoked mozzarella.”
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Besides having fun mixing and matching different fillings, this is a great recipe for kids to understand measurements and sneak in a little maths. “Speaking like a true tiger mum, I can ask them, ‘And how much do you need if I’m making double?’” Chang explains. “Kids can do pretty much all the heavy lifting until the cooking part, which they can do when they’re a bit older.”
“This was one of my favourite breakfast items when I was a kid in Taiwan,” adds Chang. “I wanted to show my kids as long as you have flour and water, you will never starve.”
Dan Bing 古早味蛋餅 (Taiwanese Egg Pancake)
Makes: 3 | Prep Time: 15-20 mins | Cook Time: 1-2 mins
HuffPost UK Pancake with chilli oil
Ingredients:
For the dan bing:
70g plain or all-purpose flour
30g fine sweet potato flour or tapioca flour (I wouldn’t recommend subs for this as it will change the texture but if you really must, you can use cornstarch).
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1 egg
150g tap water
Pinch of salt
Vegetable oil
1/2 tsp of white or black sesame seeds (optional).
For the fillings (per bing):
1 egg
1 spring onion, finely chopped
Pinch of salt
Pinch of white pepper
Any other fillings you’d like.
HuffPost UK Bing with guacamole and cheese.
Method:
1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl except the sesame seeds. Add in water and whisk until you no longer see any flour.
2. Whisk in the egg, then pour the batter through a fine sift into a clean bowl to remove all the clumps. Add in sesame seed and mix gently with a soft spatula.
3. In a 10 or 12-inch non-stick frying pan, on low heat, using a brush or a paper towel, lightly coat the pan with some oil.
4. Using a ladle or measuring cup, pour 1/2 cup of batter into the pan and swirl quickly so it coats the pan – like how you’d make a crêpe. Cook the first side for about 45 seconds, or until you can easily flip without the base sticking. Cook the second side for 30 seconds. Remove to a plate and set aside.
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5. Cook the rest of the bings and move to the plate.
6. In the same frying pan, turn up the heat to medium and coat the pan with 1/2 tbsp of oil. Soak up the excess with a paper towel. In a small bowl, beat the egg, salt, pepper and chopped spring onion together.
7. Once the frying pan is preheated, gently put down one dan bing sheet, and fry the first side again for about 30-45 seconds, until it’s slightly golden, then flip. Cook the second side again for about 20 seconds.
8. Using tongs, fold the dan bing in half and move to the edge of the pan.
9. Add 1 tsp of oil in the middle of the pan and pour in the egg mixture. Now put the dan bing on top, the second side down.
10. Press down the bing with a soft spatula and cook for about 15 secs, flip again and lower the heat. Now, this is a good time to add your fun toppings, like cheese, pork floss, bacon, ham, last night’s pulled pork, the sky’s the limit!
11. Roll it up in the pan and remove to a chopping board. Serve it chopped in big pieces – or wrap it up in parchment paper (in Taiwan, they use plastic bags) and eat it like a burrito!
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Why You Should Use 'Time In' With Your Kids – Not Just 'Time Out'

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Richard Bailey via Getty Images
Going back to school after the summer holidays is often the source of some epic tantrums, considering kids have had weeks of staying up way past bedtime, getting up late and ‘duvet days’.
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So, when you factor in the fact most children in the UK haven’t been to school for six months, let alone six weeks – not to mention the stresses of lockdown – parents might be on the receiving end of even worse behaviour than usual.
The government has issued guidance for carers on its website, warning that children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing may have been adversely affected by the pandemic. Some kids “may react immediately”, they say, while others, “may show signs of difficulty later on”.
It might be harder for kids to regulate their behaviour right now because they’ve lost their usual coping mechanisms, like seeing friends or taking part in routine activities, says Jack Parnell-Driver, from the YoungMinds Parents Helpline,
“In the last few months, young people have struggled to cope with social isolation, anxiety, a loss of structure and fears about their future,” he says. “Some might also be struggling with bereavement or other traumatic experiences during the lockdown period, while groups who were already marginalised or disadvantaged are now likely to become more so.”
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Paediatrician and author Dr Harvey Karp tells HuffPost UK it’s not surprising tantrums are getting worse, as children have been cooped up. “Boredom, frustration, fatigue, poor diet, and the inevitable limitations of your living space during lockdown can be as explosive as mixing nitro and glycerin,” he warns.
Some of the things you may see your child doing, says Parnell-Driver, include: acting out or having angry or aggressive outbursts, finding it difficult to calm down when they’re distressed, withdrawing from friends, family, school and activities they usually enjoy, and changes in their appetite and sleep patterns.
So, how can parents deal with it? Here are some top tips from the experts.
Talk to your child in a simple way– and validate their feelings.
“When a young child is upset, the fast-acting, rowdy right side of their brains takes the wheel, overriding the more logical left side of the brain,” says Karp. “That’s why your well-intentioned words of reason aren’t able to reach your furious little friend.”
But it’s really important to try and talk to your child to let them know you understand why they might be finding things difficult, advises Parnell-Driver.
Reflect back the words children use when you’re doing this to validate their feelings. Karp calls this method of communication the ‘Fast Food Rule’. “When your child is angry or frustrated, you repeat back what they’re feeling, before you try to calm them down or offer any kind of explanation,” he advises.
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Karp also recommends using short, one, two or three-word sentences, and don’t be afraid of repetition. “You may say the same thing five to 10 times just to get through,” he warns.
Mirror their expressions and gestures.
Aim to be your child’s anchor when they’re acting out. “Provide structure, routine and reassurance and think together about what helps them cope with difficult feelings,” says Parnell-Driver.
Parents should aim to mirror about a third of their child’s emotional intensity with their own tone of voice, expression, and gestures, says Karp. “This helps make your child feel understood,” he says. “It might feel a little weird at first, but it’s actually pretty similar to how you might want someone to respond to you if you were very upset.”
Focus on ‘time in’, not ‘time out’.
Another way to curb misbehaviour – and boost good behaviour – is to use a ‘time in’, rather than a ‘time out’, suggests Karp. A ‘time in’ is the opposite of a ‘time out’: “It’s when a well-behaving child gets tiny bits of encouragement that tell them, ‘keep it up!’” he says.
Lisa5201 via Getty Images
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“When you see your child doing something you like, let them know. Mix a bit of fanfare with a bunch of compliments and a whole lot of gentle, smiling approval – just don’t go overboard, because balance is key.
“When children act out, our first instinct might be to use a consequence like a time out. While time outs can be a way to stop dangerous behaviour, a steady stream of time ins are a more effective way to boost good behaviour than a steady stream of time outs.”
“There are many types of time-ins,” Karp explains. “One of my favourites is ‘gossip’: let your child overhear you whispering to grandpa – or even a teddy bear – about how great they’re doing. Like grown-ups, kids are more likely to believe compliments they overhear than direct praise.”
Give them attention – as well as ‘special time’.
Giving your children attention in this tricky time leading up to the new term tells them you’re interested in what they’re doing – and that makes them feel good. “Plus, it doesn’t require a lot of time from busy parents,” adds Karp. “A pat on the back, a wink, or a kind word can go a long way.”
Your relationship may also benefit from regular “special time”, adds Karp. Special time is a daily routine of two 5- to 10-minute sessions of uninterrupted attention. See what they’d like to do in this time, whether it be drawing, watching a programme together, or playing with their toys in their bedroom.
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Seek help if you’re struggling.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Trump Defends Kyle Rittenhouse's Deadly Shooting: 'They Attacked Him'

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Donald Trump has defended the 17-year-old Trump supporter who shot and killed two people in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last week, saying they “violently attacked him”.
The president also blamed ongoing civil unrest in the US on “left-wing political violence.”
Speaking at a White House coronavirus update, Trump called Rittenhouse’s attack at a Black Lives Matter demonstration, held days after Kenosha police wounded Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black father, an “interesting situation.”
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“He was trying to get away from them, I guess ... and he fell,” Trump claimed, citing videos of the Rittenhouse attack. “And then they very violently attacked him.”
The president claimed that the teenager, who was carrying an assault-style rifle, “probably would’ve been killed.”
“He was in very big trouble. He probably would’ve been killed, but it’s under investigation,” Trump said.
Rittenhouse, who lives 20 miles away in Antioch, Illinois, was among a number of vigilantes who came to the Kenosha protest with firearms, claiming they wanted to “protect” public property.
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Videos filmed at the protest show a person who appears to be Rittenhouse carrying a semiautomatic rifle. The gunman trips and then can be seen shooting at two protesters who confront him. He then walks to police officers with his hands raised as bystanders yell to police that people were shot.
Anthony Huber, 26, and Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, died in the shooting. A volunteer medic, 26-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz, was wounded in the arm.
Protests first broke out in Kenosha after police shot Blake at least seven times in his back on Aug. 23 as he walked away from officers and toward a parked SUV that had his three children inside. The shooting left Blake paralysed from the waist down.
A video of the encounter went viral, drawing even more protesters and counter-protestors, and along with them looters and armed vigilantes to Kenosha in the days after Blake’s death.
The week after the Kenosha protesters were fatally shot, Trump would not comment publicly on Rittenhouse or the victims, even as he complained of the violence happening at anti-racism protests across the country, including ongoing ones in Minneapolis, New York City and Portland, Oregon.
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MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images
On Monday, Trump spent most of the White House news conference blaming Democrats, Democratic state leaders and his presidential opponent, Joe Biden, for the civil unrest.
He accused Biden of using “Mafia talking points” to incite the unrest and falsely claimed that Biden had not spoken out against the rioting and looting that has taken place during some of the protests.
At a campaign event in Pittsburgh earlier Monday, Biden had condemned those acts and clashes between anti-racism activists and Trump supporters.
“Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting. None of this is protesting. It’s lawlessness, plain and simple,” Biden said. “Violence will not bring change. It will only bring destruction. It’s wrong in every way.”
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Trump also defended a large caravan of Trump supporters and Patriot Prayer members, a far-right group, that drove through Portland on Saturday. Videos show that some people in the caravan brought paintball guns and pepper spray, which they used on counter-protestors.
On the night of the pro-Trump event in Portland, Aaron J. Danielson, who has been identified as a “friend” of the Patriot Prayer group, was fatally shot.
When asked by reporters why he was not condemning his own supporters who brought paintball guns to the Portland demonstration, Trump insisted that they brought them to defend themselves.
“Paint is a defensive mechanism,” Trump said. “Paint is not bullets.”
Biden released his own statement on Monday night, urging Trump to join him in plainly denouncing all types of violence at protests. Biden accused Trump of being “too scared” to call for the violence to end.
“Tonight, the president declined to rebuke violence. He wouldn’t even repudiate one of his supporters who is charged with murder because of his attacks on others,” Biden said. “He is too weak, too scared of the hatred he has stirred to put an end to it.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Richard Morris: Body Found In Search For Missing Diplomat

Richard Morris Foreign And Commonwealth Office
Police searching for missing diplomat Richard Morris have found a body in a forest in Hampshire.
The 52-year-old set off jogging from his home in Bentley, Hampshire, near Farnham, at 10.30am on May 6.
The former ambassador to Nepal was last seen running in Islington Road in nearby Alton.
After weeks of searching officers announced the discovery of a body on Monday.
It was found in Alice Holt Forest and the death is not being treated as suspicious, police said.
Hampshire Constabulary said: “Officers investigating the disappearance of Richard Morris from Bentley have today found a body in Alice Holt Forest.
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“Formal identification has not yet taken place, but the 52-year-old’s family have been notified. They are being supported by specialist officers.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Morris was the ambassador to Nepal between 2015 and November 2019 and accompanied the Duke of Sussex during his tour of the country in 2016.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--As Scores Of US Universities See Coronavirus Outbreaks, Nation Tops 6 Million Cases

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The United States on Monday surpassed 6 million confirmed coronavirus cases as recorded infections surge at some universities nationwide, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
At least 183,000 people nationwide have died from Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus that was first documented in China in December. As of Monday, the US continued to lead the world in the highest number of reported Covid-19 cases and deaths, with Brazil and India trailing behind it.
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Public health officials have warned that the actual number of Covid-19 cases is likely much higher than what has been reported. This is partly because many infected people are asymptomatic and may not seek a diagnostic test.
At least 26,000 coronavirus cases have been reported among students and faculty at more than 1,500 American colleges and universities, according to a survey conducted by The New York Times.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has reported the most infections, with at least 972 cases. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Central Florida have reported the second and third highest numbers of cases, with at least 835 infections and at least 727 infections, respectively.
Cases among children in the US have increased as schools in some parts of the country reopen for in-person instruction, according to the Times. The uptick in recorded pediatric cases can be attributed in part to increased testing, but a rise in hospitalisations and deaths among children also suggests the virus is spreading at a higher rate, an American Academy of Pediatrics official told the publication.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Mariah Carey Addresses 'Extremely Uncomfortable' Pregnancy Interview On Ellen

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Mariah Carey has shared her thoughts on an interview she gave on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show 12 years ago, in which the singer was pressured into addressing a pregnancy that she had been trying to keep private.
In 2008, Mariah was being interviewed on Ellen, when the conversation quickly turned to rumours at that time suggesting the chart-topping star was pregnant.
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While the We Belong Together singer urged Ellen to “not discuss that”, the host then brought out some champagne, encouraging Mariah to drink some, and claiming they should toast to “not being pregnant”.
In fact, the star was in the early stages of a pregnancy at that time, but miscarried shortly after the interview took place.
Since allegations of a “toxic workplace” behind the scenes of Ellen’s show have come to light, a number of past interviews have resurfaced on social media, including the Mariah appearance from 2008.
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Asked about the moment during a new interview with Vulture, Mariah revealed: “I was extremely uncomfortable with that moment is all I can say. I really have had a hard time grappling with the aftermath.”
Mariah added that she was deliberately trying not to speak about the pregnancy because of a previous miscarriage, stating: “I don’t want to throw anyone that’s already being thrown under any proverbial bus, but I didn’t enjoy that moment.
“[There’s] an empathy that can be applied to those moments that I would have liked to have been implemented. But what am I supposed to do?”
Mariah Carey pictured earlier this year Jamie McCarthy via Getty Images
Mariah became a mother in 2011, welcoming twins Moroccan and Monroe with then-husband Nick Cannon.
Past Ellen interviews with Sofía Vergara have also come under scrutiny in recent times, though the Modern Family actor has insisted that she always felt like she was “in on the joke” whenever the presenter would poke fun at her.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Nicola Sturgeon 'Concerned' As Scotland Records Three-Month High In Coronavirus Cases

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Scotland has recorded the highest number of coronavirus cases in three months, as Nicola Sturgeon said she feels “a greater sense of anxiety today” than at any time “probably for the last couple of months”.
In the last 24 hours, 160 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded – the highest total since May 16.
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The first minister said the rise in cases was “undoubtedly a concern” but added the numbers were “partly a result of greater numbers of people being tested”.
The majority of the new cases are in the central belt, with 69 in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area and 27 in Lanarkshire.
Sturgeon said the figures in the Glasgow area “seem to reflect a number of small clusters, rather than one or two more significant outbreaks”.
Speaking during the daily coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh, she said an incident management team was looking at a cluster of 22 cases in Ayrshire and Arran, many of which “seem to be linked to indoor gatherings that took place the previous weekend”.
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But she stressed the positive results “still represent less than 1% of people newly tested yesterday”.
She said: “The number of cases we are seeing right now is a reminder to all of us the virus is still a very real risk, it is a development that concerns me and it is one we are taking very seriously.
“We mustn’t lose sight of how important it is if we are to keep schools open, build economic recovery and retain a bit more normality in our lives that we do continue to suppress the virus and push as close to elimination of it as we possibly can.”
Last week it was confirmed two people in Scotland had died after testing positive for coronavirus – the nation’s first such deaths in more than a month – bringing the death toll to 2,494.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-31--Katy Perry Shows Off Her Own 'VMAs Look' Days After Giving Birth

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Katy Perry showed off her own unique “VMAs look” on Sunday night, days after giving birth to her baby daughter.
The chart-topping singer has attended the MTV Video Music Awards multiple times in the past, including in 2017, when she hosted the ceremony.
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However, while she wasn’t among the guests at this year’s event, which went ahead without a live audience, at various locations around New York and California, that didn’t stop her getting into the spirit on her Instagram story.
During the show, Katy – who revealed earlier this week that she and fiancé Orlando Bloom had welcomed their first child – shared a mirror selfie sporting maternity underwear and a nursing bra, with a VMAs sticker over the top.
Katy Perry Instagram/Katy Perry
“Bra by @Medela_US, Underwear by @FridaMom,” she wrote, also joking: “Hair n makeup by @Exhaustion.”
On Thursday morning, Katy and Orlando introduced their first child, a daughter named Daisy Dove Bloom, to the world.
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“We are floating with love and wonder from the safe and healthy arrival of our daughter,” the couple said in statement, alongside a black and white picture of them holding Daisy’s tiny hand, with Katy’s nail decorated with the image of a daisy.
Katy and Orlando also used the moment to raise awareness of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth around the world that have been made worse by the coronavirus crisis.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--Ed Sheeran Told Jedward About The Birth Of His Daughter Before The Rest Of The World

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On Tuesday morning, Ed Sheeran revealed to the world that he and his wife Cherry Seaborn had welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran.
However, before he made the official announcement, the singer broke the news privately to his good friends… Jedward.
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Yes, shortly after Ed posted on Instagram about the arrival of his daughter, Jedward shared a screengrab of a DM they’d received from him a day earlier.
The message read: “I love you guys. Sorry I’ve been off socials for so long, just popping in to tell you you’re awesome and hope to see you soon! I’ve got a daughter now by the way, you’re gonna love her.”
Hi Twitter @Edsheeran has some news for you and us ❤ we kept it a secret obviously 🙌🏼 Welcome Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran pic.twitter.com/DwBRwgiyCg — JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 1, 2020
“Hi Twitter @Edsheeran has some news for you and us,” the twins tweeted. “We kept it a secret obviously. Welcome Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran.”
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It turns out the former X Factor contestants actually have a friendship with Ed that goes back a number of years, after the chart-topping singer bumped into them while he was on tour in Toronto.
“I love Jedward,” he told The Irish Sun in 2017. “[They’re] like a puppy, there is no way you can dislike Jedward. There is no side to them at all that’s nasty – they are just nice. For people not to like them is weird.”
He later told BBC Radio 1 that he’d even turned down spending time with a massive A-lister to hang out with Jedward, revealing: “This is going to be a bad name drop but I once turned down a party with Paul McCartney to party with Jedward. That’s a fact.”
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Addressing his Instagram followers on Tuesday morning, the Grammy-winning star said: “With the help of an amazing delivery team, Cherry gave birth to our beautiful and healthy daughter – Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--Boris Johnson Claims ‘Huge Numbers’ Returned To The Office – Without Any Evidence

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Boris Johnson has been accused of “Trump playbook” tactics after he declared that “huge numbers” of people returned to work on Tuesday – despite not having any figures to back up his claims.
In remarks recorded by TV cameras, the prime minister told the cabinet that many more workers were back at work.
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But even Downing Street could not supply any evidence for the statement, and it emerged later that in greater London bus use rose by just 6% and Tube rose by 8% week-on-week.
“People are going back to the office in huge numbers across our country – and quite right, too,” he told ministers gathered in a socially-distanced room at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
But as social media users pointed to empty streets and train stations in big cities, his official spokesperson admitted that there were no publicly available statistics for any return.
Asked for evidence for the “huge numbers” remarks, the spokesperson said: “Schools have largely gone back today.
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“You wouldn’t expect me to be in a position to share numbers today but what the government has done is say there’s that greater discretion for employers over how employees can work safely, including returning to a Covid-secure workplace.
“You have children going back to school today. That of course will allow parents greater flexibility about returning to the office. It is too soon for us to be able to share figures with you on people returning to work today, [but] the message from the PM is he recognises the importance that returning to work has in stimulating the economy.”
The No.10 spokesperson added: “Also, there are benefits of office working for staff, including the benefits of face-to-face meetings with their colleagues. But individual employers will of course make their own decision based on their own individual circumstances.”
Asked again directly what evidence the PM had for his claim, the spokesperson replied: “People will be returning to the office after the summer break and also children going back to school gives parents some added flexibility.”
Transport for London then issued figures for the capital on Tuesday morning, which suggested nothing like a “huge” shift in a return to office working.
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figures from @TfL from this morning show the extent to which workers have NOT returned en masse:
- Tube use down 72% on same day last year
- Bus use down 53% on same day last year
- Tube use up 8% on same day last week
- Bus use up 6% on same day last week — Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) September 1, 2020
The spokesperson disputed reporters’ suggestions that train stations were far from busy but conceded that figures on the numbers of people using public transport had yet to be provided by the Department for Transport.
Twitter users compared Johnson’s claims to Donald Trump’s claims that his inauguration in 2017 had seen the biggest crowd in the history of such events.
Boris Johnson: "People are going back to the office in huge numbers across our country, and quite right too."
Straight out of the Trump "biggest inauguration crowd in history" playbook. An entirely evidence-free assertion that plays well to his base. — Edwin Hayward 🦄 🗡 (@uk_domain_names) September 1, 2020
And we’ve seen them lie about numbers before. In fact, that was one of @realDonaldTrump’s first official acts as president. https://t.co/DTZlsIQ6Km — skullsinthestars - Black lives matter (@drskyskull) August 29, 2020
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Trump had claimed that he had delivered his inauguration address to a “massive field of people [...] packed” with up to 1.5m people, even though independent experts said the turnout was 600,000.
No.10 also appeared to toughen its stance on civil servants going back to work in Whitehall, although it had no figures on how many staff were still working at home.
“I wouldn’t have those figures specifically for today but you can expect to see more civil servants return to the office in coming weeks with the return of parliament and the return of children to schools.
“We do want to see more civil servants back in the office.”
Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader and party chair, told HuffPost UK: “The Prime Minister’s incompetence is clear for all to see, despite his desperate attempts to distract the public from how out of touch he is.
“Instead of briefing out scripted remarks that don’t seem to be backed up by any actual figures, the Prime Minister should focus on the job in hand: ensuring schools are safe, finally delivering a functioning test and trace system and avoiding a huge wave of unemployment this autumn.”
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In his remarks to the Cabinet, Johnson added: Of course we know that there is still going to be more of this disease, this wretched Covid, still to come.
“And although we know there will be more outbreaks we are also absolutely confident that we are going to be able to deal with those outbreaks.
“Bit by bit, this incredible country is getting back on its feet and recovering from this crisis.”
No.10 pointed out that just 40% of schools in England were reopening on Tuesday, as part of a gradual return of pupils through the week. It said that the first fair date for any figures on school returns would be on September 15.
The PM’s spokesperson also revealed that later this week the government would run its latest phase of its “All In, All Together” campaign in regional and local media.
“What that will look at is reiterating our guidance on how to return safely to work,” he said.
“Some of the things we’ve looked at so far is the support that is available to businesses, how to shop safely and also what people need to know about NHS Test and Trace.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--UK Trade Envoy Hopeful Tony Abbott Attacks Coronavirus ‘Hysteria’

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Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has hit out at coronavirus “hysteria” and suggested governments have “let fear of falling sick stop us from being fully alive”.
The controversial figure, tipped to be taking on a prominent trade role in Boris Johnson’s UK government imminently, suggested ministers and citizens around the world had become cowardly in the face of Covid-19.
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Abbot refused to comment on the trade envoy role, saying it was “not yet official”. But he told Monday’s live streamed Policy Exchange event in London that, in the absence of a vaccine or effective treatment, “at some point we have to learn to live with this virus”.
Abbott backed the initial imposition of lockdowns as reports emerged from Wuhan of a “surge in deaths from a strange new virus” and “footage emerged of people dying on trolleys in the corridors of northern Italian hospitals”, declaring “a degree of panic was understandable”.
But he insisted lockdowns could have lasted a “few weeks” rather than months, blaming officials for being “trapped in crisis mode”, stark modelling from Imperial College that predicted 500,000 potential deaths in the UK going unchallenged, the media spreading “virus hysteria”, and ministers being too willing to follow the advice of “unaccountable” scientists.
Abbott stressed it was “clearly not possible” to keep workers relying on government support like the furlough scheme while running up wartime levels of debt and deficit.
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And he stressed that the “psychic damage” of the pandemic, with elderly relatives dying alone due to social distancing restrictions, were “at least as bad as the pandemic’s toll on health and wealth”.
SIPA USA/PA Images
Abbott decried “people once sturdily self-reliant looking to government more than ever for support and sustenance; a something-for-nothing mindset reinforced among young people spared the need to search for jobs; and magic pudding economics entrenched under the guise of modern monetary theory.
“None of this can last, yet every day it goes on risks establishing a new normal.
“The sooner citizens don’t have to offer police an explanation of their movements, the less anxious we will feel.
“The sooner the airwaves are not filled by officials telling us not to go out, not to see people and not to shake anyone’s hand, the more resilient we will be, even if there will be some modest uptake in corona cases.
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“From a health perspective, this pandemic has been serious.
“From an economic perspective it’s been disastrous.
“But I suspect that it’s from an overall wellbeing perspective that it will turn out worst of all.
“Because this is what happens when for much more than a mere moment we let fear of falling sick stop us from being fully alive.
“Now that each one of us has had six months to consider this pandemic and to make our own judgements about it, surely it is time to relax the rules so that individuals can take more personal responsibility and make more of their own decisions about the risks they are prepared to run.”
Abbott added: “For me, the recent 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two prompted this reflection – that generation ready to risk life to preserve freedom, this generation ready to risk freedom to preserve life.
“Yet we don’t think of our parents and our grandparents as too brave, do we? I wonder what judgement history will pass on us.”
Later, the prime minister’s spokesperson refused to comment on claims that Abbott would get a trade role but made clear No.10 had not changed its view of the importance of tackling the virus.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--Children Need A Mental Health Catch-Up – Not Just An Academic One

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When children return to school for the new term, they will not just need to catch up academically. A mental health catch-up is needed too.
Children and teenagers are having to come to terms with the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, school closures and lockdown restrictions.
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This includes social isolation, loneliness, trauma, bereavement, uncertainty, change, family problems, relationship difficulties, plus the difficulties of transition for those who have moved schools.
It’s a long and troubling list – and is being faced by young people at a pivotal time in their lives.
But sadly, government investment in the mental health of young people will only scratch the surface of the issues that lie ahead.
It goes nowhere near providing a nationally consistent and long-term support system to help young people therapeutically recover from how the pandemic has impacted on their lives.
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Small children with face mask back at school after covid-19 quarantine and lockdown, writing. Halfpoint via Getty Images
For many young people, the new term comes after nearly six months of not being able to access the professional support they so desperately needed.
A survey by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the University of Roehampton showed that school counselling had halved between before lockdown restrictions came into force in March, and when the survey was carried out in July.
This was mainly because schools had closed or had reduced or stopped the provision of therapy due to Covid-19 restrictions. Some children and young people were unable to access online therapy because there was nowhere private that they could have it.
And a survey by charity Young Minds, carried out in June and July, suggested that almost a third of young people who were receiving some form of mental health support immediately before the pandemic – including from the NHS, private providers, school counsellors and helplines - were no longer accessing it, but still needed it.
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School counsellors are expecting a huge influx in demand for their services over the next few months and are anticipating a rush of young people coming to see them when the new term starts.
School closures may have impacted counselling services over the past six months – but these dedicated counsellors will play a critical role in supporting young people through the next stage of this pandemic.
A trained counsellor gives a young person a place that is focussed 100% on their needs – a safe space with no judgement to help them to understand and cope with what they’re going through.
“School counselling services are not on offer to all pupils in England. And that’s a scandal.”
They can have a positive effect on young people’s confidence, resilience, family relationships, friendships, school attendance and academic achievement.
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And young people have told me how it makes a difference that they can see their counsellor in their school, and that they don’t have to travel across their town or city for an appointment. It’s much easier for them to access this support.
But this crucial service is not on offer to all pupils in England. And that’s a scandal.
While Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland already have statutory funded school counselling services, England does not.
Funding is based on decisions at an individual school, academy trust or local authority level.
There’s also an issue of reliance on volunteers and trainees to provide these services at schools.
On Thursday (27 August), the government announced a package of £8 million for mental health and wellbeing support for young people.
But the support offered here is more generic, looking at upskilling school staff to have those difficult conversations with students, they still need somewhere to refer students on to.
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What could make a difference here is a nationwide investment in qualified, professional counsellors in schools.
School staff need services to help them help our most vulnerable children and young people, they can’t do it alone.
BACP is lobbying for a paid counsellor in every secondary school. And you can help by writing to your MP to ask them to support a nationally-funded counselling roll-out for schools in England.
England needs to catch up with the other UK nations in the mental health support it offers school children – and there is no more crucial time than now to do this.
If young people are to emerge from the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic and flourish academically and socially; supporting their mental health in the weeks, months and years to come must be prioritised.
School counsellors are in the perfect position to help with this.
Jo Holmes is Children, Young People and Families Lead at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--What Is 'Pure O'? George Ezra Opens Up About Life With OCD

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Singer George Ezra has spoken about his experience of a type of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) nicknamed ‘Pure O’ – or ‘Purely Obsessional’. It’s used to describe a condition where people experience distressing intrusive thoughts, but not necessarily the physical actions to relieve them.
Speaking on the BBC podcast How Do You Cope?, Ezra, 27, spoke of how discovering a name for what he was experiencing helped him feel less alone: “I find when people talk about their health and their mental health, it’s hard not to get a bit cliché. But it felt like I’m not a freak, I’m not alone.”
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OCD is something he’s experienced his entire life, he said, but when he was a child his intrusive thoughts were “based in a less harmful place”. As he grew older, he started to have intrusive thoughts that were more distressing.
“You grow up and you start to understand the nature of taboo, it feels like you’re testing yourself,” he said on the podcast. “It feels like you go: ‘in this situation the worst thing you could think is...’ and then you have that thought. And then you think: ‘gah George, don’t have that thought again’. And so you do, and then you go: ‘well, if you’re somebody that can have this thought, does this mean you are this person? And if so, you’re fucking horrible mate.’”
Peter Nicholls / reuters
At the height of his struggle, Ezra said he’d be bombarded by intrusive thoughts from before he’d even opened his eyes in the morning to when he went to bed – and while he was experiencing them, he was “vacant” to the world around him.
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He has since had therapy and finds talking about his struggles have helped. He’s also found some peace with the fact that it’s an ongoing issue, which will never go away, that he has to manage.
The mental health issue was the subject of a Channel 4 comedy drama last year. The show, called Pure, charted character Marnie’s experience of intense intrusive thoughts, many of which centred around sexual visions relating to family, friends and even strangers.
The name ‘Pure O’ is considered to be misleading, though, as people do tend to still experience compulsions, but they’re not necessarily as obvious as what you’d expect with OCD. Rather than visible compulsions like washing or checking, people will have hidden compulsions. For this reason, OCD UK says it doesn’t recognise Pure O as a condition in its own right.
Mental health charity Mind says people might experience mental compulsions, for example, such as checking how they feel (they might check to see if they are still in love with their partner) or checking how they feel about a thought (by checking whether they are still upset by the thought).
There “will nearly always be physical outward compulsions too”, says OCD UK. For example, they might check their own body for reactions or sensations, or avoid particular objects, places or people that trigger their obsessional thoughts.
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‘Pure O’ would be treated using standard traditional treatment methods, the same that are used for every other type of OCD, it said. Treatment for OCD usually centres around therapy and, in more severe cases, medicine.
Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--Holly Willoughby And Phillip Schofield Share A Socially Distanced Hug As They Return To This Morning

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Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield returned to This Morning on Monday and couldn’t hide just how delighted they were to be reunited on the ITV show.
The presenting duo, who have been on their annual summer break for the last few months, shared a hug as they returned to the studio.
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But as we’re still living in strange times, Holly and Phil made sure they adhered to social distancing for their embrace by using a plastic screen with built in arm coverings.
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield Rex
Awwwwww.
“What are we going to call this are we calling this, the cuddle curtain?” Holly enquired.
“Is it weird I’m really excited about this?” Holly continued. “If you had done this this time last year I would have thought you were some sort of weirdo, but this year I’m all over this.”
Phillip added: “It’s made of thick plastic which means that we can actually give each other a hug.”
After the pair embraced, Holly said: “I don’t want to let go. Now we’ve touched it we are the only ones that can touch it so can we keep cuddle curtain in the corner?”
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Holly has been isolating for the last two weeks after returning from a family holiday in Portugal.
The 39-year-old presenter was forced to cut her break short to the luxury Quinta do Lago resort in the Algarve so she could quarantine ahead of her return to the This Morning studio.
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield Rex
Last week she shared her excitement at being reunited with her “silver fox” Phillip.
Sharing a clip on Instagram of a preview of ITV’s favourite daytime TV shows, Holly wrote: “This September we are all back... a new term begins!
“Can’t wait to see you and be reunited with my Silver Fox (errrr just typed ‘silver fox’ in and my phone suggested an emoji!!!!!!!) ... see you soon @thismorning @gmb @lorraine and @loosewomen.”
Holly recently shut down reports she was preparing to leave This Morning.
Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
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The presenter was the subject of a story in The Sun on Sunday, claiming she has “paved the way” to exit the daytime show and focus more on primetime series.
The report came after it was revealed Holly has walked away from the company who managed her career – and also look after This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield’s – to set up a firm of her own.
However, a representative for the star has insisted she still has a future with the ITV daytime show, telling The Mirror: “Holly loves This Morning and working with Phil.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--There’s Only One Way To End Youth Violence: Defund The Police

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Youth violence fell dramatically during the coronavirus lockdown.
But below the surface, the root causes of violence are intensifying, just as the social consequences of the coronavirus begin to set in.
We now see what a decade of austerity leads to: a hollowed-out welfare state, decimated youth services and hugely inadequate mental health support for young people. This leaves us vulnerable to violence like never before.
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We’re two young people from communities which have been abandoned by the powerful in this country. Our message is simple: unless drastic, radical, and transformative change is brought in, violence will spike.
The picture is bleak. Young people in this country’s most deprived communities are facing the trauma of loss and are being locked out of the economy as the recession deepens.
The escalation of racist stop-and-search tactics means that many young people can’t walk the street without the police suspecting them of crimes they haven’t committed – far too many young people feel their skin colour makes them a constant object of suspicion.
So how can we address these issues, and make young people safer?
Firstly, we have to address the misconceptions about youth violence. It’s not caused by drill music, or low police numbers on the street, but instead its causes lie in the failure of politicians to create a society that prioritises the health, wellbeing and safety of young people.
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We don’t need more police officers on the street or a rise in police funding – we need investment in what genuinely keeps communities safe.
Universal credit should be scrapped and replaced with a genuine social safety net which properly supports people, rather than trapping them in poverty. We need investment in mental health support for young people. We need investment in youth services. And we urgently need an end to school exclusion.
Wider society urgently needs to expand what it considers as violence. Poverty, which affects young people’s educational outcomes as well as physical and mental health, should be considered violence. So should homelessness or exclusion from school.
As a whole, these cause significantly more harm than physical violence between young people, and they are all significant factors in causing that physical violence, as the recent Youth Violence Commission Final Report showed.
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In the wake of the recession caused by the pandemic, there is one thing the government could do that would do more to reduce violence than anything else: defund the police.
The police are still set to get a £1.1 billion budget boost in 2020/21, giving them a total £13.3 billion. Increasing police funds will fail to properly eradicate youth violence. Instead, it will produce more symptoms of oppression on an already marginalised group that doesn’t trust the state.
The naked eye can see this unaided. Young people, especially from African and Caribbean descent, are over-policed as citizens, and under-policed as victims.
We see this throughout the lockdown measures, where young black men were stopped and searched 22,000 times during lockdown, 80 percent of which led to no further action. This highlights the truth: stop and search is both disproportionate and massively ineffective in decreasing youth violence. This fact isn’t new.
From 2010 to 2018, only 15% of people stopped and searched were arrested, and the vast majority of those arrests were for drug offences – not for weapon-carrying. The strategy of over-policing communities is an uneducated, lazy, ignorant attempt to run away from tackling the core societal issues that really affect rates of violence.
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If we’re serious about reducing violence, we also need fewer prisons. Prisons are our biggest mental health wards in the UK, with a vast number of people entering prison with underlying mental health conditions.
A man walks past a poster calling for an end to section 60 near Tottenham Police Station. SIPA USA/PA Images
Despite both coronavirus and sharp economic decline, the government is still set on building four new prisons. This will do nothing for young people caught up in violence. 42.6% of juvenile conflicts end up reoffending.
Overflowing our prisons with citizens locks up societal problems for a limited time, but it makes them worse in the longer-term: our prisons exacerbate the issues faced by our most vulnerable, rather than addressing them, and many people leave prison more dangerous than when they entered it.
During the recession, the government should put the funds defunded from the police back into the hearts of communities, by investing in youth services, mental health support, housing and so on. Decades of government cuts have resulted in neglected and poverty-stricken communities, in which the generation of tomorrow turn to postcode wars, county lines and knife crime for financial gain, feeling that legitimate society has shunned them. The economic hardship from the current recession will only cause a surge in the inequality gap for the youth, unless radical action is taken immediately.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--David And Victoria Beckham Celebrate Romeo's 18th Birthday With Some Candid Family Snaps

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David and Victoria Beckham have marked their son Romeo’s 18th birthday with some seriously heartwarming messages.
On Tuesday, the couple marked their second-eldest son’s big day with separate Instagram posts, with David sharing a touching slideshow of throwback pictures set to 4 Seasons Of Loneliness by Boyz II Men.
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“Happy 18th to my little man ( or not so little anymore ),” David wrote. “You have grown into the most beautiful person and that as you say yourself ( a man finally ). We love you so much never give up on your dreams & goals.”
David added that the photo montage “shows [Romeo] from day one in my arms with the song you were born to up until our latest moment where yes I had to finally admit my son is taller than me”.
Romeo wrote back simply: “Love you dad.”
Victoria also shared a birthday tribute, which again consisted of a photo montage.
She wrote: “Happy 18th birthday @romeobeckham.... We couldn’t be prouder of the young man you have become.
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“You are beautiful inside and out and we love you so much. The sweetest, kindest soul, our everything. So many kisses from us all.”
Romeo’s brothers Brooklyn and Cruz posted their own sweet messages, which included photos of them as young boys, with the former writing: “Happy 18th birthday Romeo x you are amazing and I hope you have the most amazing day… I love you so much.”
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And while his nine-year-old sister Harper doesn’t have her own Instagram, David did include a post on her behalf on his Instagram story.
She said: “Happy birthday Roro, you deserve to be called a man. I love you, love Harper.”
A screengrab of Harper's message, posted on dad David's Instagram story Instagram
Romeo’s girlfriend Mia Regan also shared a collage of them kissing, joking: “Kissy kissy 18th bby.”
Romeo Beckham is now celebrating his 18th birthday Instagram
The Beckhams have celebrated a number of milestone birthdays in 2020, with their eldest son Brooklyn seeing in his 21st with a huge bash back in March, before lockdown restrictions were introduced in the UK.
It’s actually only been a couple of months since the Beckhams last threw open the family photo album, treating us all to some candid snaps when David and Victoria celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary in July.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--Who Is Joe Biden? Listen To Running Mate, Our US Election Podcast For Brits

Running Mate is a US election podcast – just for Brits. In our second episode, we find out who Joe Biden is and ask whether the Democratic party candidate can defeat Trump.
Host Graeme Demianyk speak to HuffPost reporters in the US, Kevin Robillard and Tara Golshan, who have been covering the former vice president’s campaign. They explain his fondness for push-ups, ice cream and the word “malarkey”, and – more seriously – why he’s rooted in the centre of the Democratic party despite its shift to the left.
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Tara says: “His platform is much more progressive than I think he would have run on four years ago if he had run for president, certainly more progressive than past presidential runs he has attempted in the past. But at the same time, he’s no Bernie Sanders. He’s not on the left wing of the party, and he has no intention of being there.”
Kevin adds: “Biden has always been a guy who’s wanted to be in the centre of the Democratic party. Joe Biden would say his primary political identity is: ‘I’m a Democrat.’ And for him, that means standing up for the little guy, standing up for the working class in broad senses. But I think it also means that if the party shifts, he will gladly follow the party.”
We also speak to Democratic strategist Jeff Hauser, who fears that Biden’s “protect the lead” strategy over Trump is faltering as the polls narrow: “Trump should be in increasing trouble, and he is very much not. You would think that Biden would be trying to shoot for a landslide – and he is neither shooting for it overtly nor achieving one.”
Listen to the second episode of Running Mate above. There’ll be a new episode to download every Monday – find it by searching for Running Mate on any good podcast platform, and get involved in the conversation on social media by using our hashtag #HPRunningMate.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--What Is Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding? Most Women Wouldn't Get It Checked

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Listen to our weekly podcast Am I Making You Uncomfortable? about women’s health, bodies and private lives. Available on Spotify, Apple, Audioboom and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Abnormal vaginal bleeding – it’s something women don’t really talk about. While periods are becoming less taboo, an unexpected vaginal bleed is still often brushed under the carpet and not spoken about.
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A survey of 3,000 women by charity The Eve Appeal found 80% of women wouldn’t go to the GP if they experienced an unexpected vaginal bleed, which is a key symptom of three gynaecological cancers.
This is perhaps unsurprising, when almost three quarters (72%) of women say they weren’t taught how to identify when something was wrong with their periods and bleeding at school.
To mark Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month in September, the charity has teamed up with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) to share tips to help women spot abnormal vaginal bleeding.
It’s a key symptom of three out of the five gynaecological cancers – womb, cervical and vaginal – which together affect 12,750 women in the UK each year. And while abnormal bleeding isn’t always a sign of cancer, it’s best to get it checked for peace of mind.
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Peter Griffith via Getty Images
What is abnormal?
Abnormal vaginal bleeding means: bleeding in between periods; bleeding after sex; bleeding after the menopause; or bleeding that is much heavier or more painful than what is normal for you.
It’s often the first symptom to present with these types of cancer. But although it’s easy to spot, it’s often not investigated, says the charity.
This could be because it’s put down as “just one of those things”, but also because of a lack of awareness that it could be a symptom, embarrassment, fear of attending the GP surgery, or difficulties in getting to the GP.
Women are being urged to track their bleeding so they know what’s normal and what’s not. There are apps you can use to do this, or just make a note in your diary. For example, use one red dot for ‘light flow’, two red dots for a ‘medium flow’ and so on. Regularly check back over your last few entries to keep an eye on any gradual changes and spot abnormalities, the charity advises.
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What specifically should you look out for?
Some changes at you definitely need to keep an eye on – and should speak to your GP about – include:
Very heavy and/or painful periods
Everyone’s period is different, but generally ‘very heavy’ means: heavy bleeding for seven days or more, and pain/heavy flow that disrupts your daily activities. If you need to change your tampon/pad every hour or so, that would be ‘very heavy’.
Bloody discharge
Discharge is a normal part of having a healthy vagina, but if you have any pink, red or brown ‘bloody’ discharge note it down.
Some people get a bit of bloody discharge/light bleeding/spotting in between their periods called ‘ovulation bleeding’. If this isn’t part of what you would consider ‘your normal’ then speak to your doctor.
Abnormal bleeding through the menopause
Going through the menopause for most people means a few years of irregular bleeding. But if any bleeding doesn’t seem right to you, seek medical advice.
There is no such thing as a post-menopausal period. Once you have not had a period for 12 months, you have gone through the menopause.
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Any vaginal bleeding after this is an abnormal bleed. And remember that post-menopausal bleeding can mean anything from a bit of pink-ish discharge through to a heavy bleed.
Bleeding after sex
While most of the time it isn’t something to worry about, you should still note it down and get checked. Also notice whether or not you are in pain, as sex isn’t supposed to be painful.
“Medical professionals, women, and society, need to start having more open conversations about women’s health, including abnormal bleeding and postmenopausal bleeding,” says Dr Sue Ward, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, and vice president of RCOG. “This needs to start in school and continue throughout a woman’s life.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--Defence Secretary Ben Wallace Apologises  For Breaking Social Distancing Rules With Handshake

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Defence secretary Ben Wallace has been forced to apologise for breaking social distancing rules, after he was filmed shaking hands with someone.
Footage of the handshake on Tuesday morning was captured by Sky News as MPs returned to Westminster for the new term of parliament.
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Boris Johnson’s spokesperson said: “The defence secretary recognises the mistake and apologises for slipping up.
“He knows the importance of social distancing and will be extra careful in future.”
In April Wallace revealed he had spent time self-isolating after developing coronavirus symptoms.
Wallace is not the first cabinet minister to be caught breaking the government’s coronavirus rules.
In June, health secretary Matt Hancock was filmed slapping a colleague on the back in the Commons chamber.
Hancock, who suffered from coronavirus symptoms in March, later said he was “so sorry for a human mistake on my part”.
The prime minister himself infamously boasted on March 3 of having shaken hands “with everybody” he met in a hospital which had a confirmed coronavirus case.
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On the same day the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) body had told ministers they should “advise against greetings such as shaking hands” in an effort to curb the spread of the illness.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--Ed Sheeran And Wife Cherry Announce Birth Of Daughter With The Sweetest Pic

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Ed Sheeran and his wife Cherry have welcomed a baby girl.
The 29-year-old singer shared the news on Instagram with an adorable picture, announcing that Cherry gave birth last week.
“With the help of an amazing delivery team, Cherry gave birth to our beautiful and healthy daughter – Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran,” he wrote.
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“We are completely in love with her. Both mum and baby are doing amazing and we are on cloud nine over here.”
Ed continued: “We hope that you can respect our privacy at this time. Lots of love and I’ll see you when it’s time to come back.”
The couple shared a photo of a colourful blanket, alongside some baby socks.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--Adele Defended By David Lammy, Naomi Campbell And Alexandra Burke Amid Carnival Pic Debate

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Labour MP David Lammy and musician Alexandra Burke are among the stars who have shown support to Adele after her recent Instagram post divided opinion.
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However, the outfit led to a lot of conversation on social media, with some critics accusing the singer of cultural appropriation.
While Adele is yet to comment on the matter herself, she has been defended by some public figures, including David Lammy, the MP for Tottenham, where Adele was born and raised.
Branding the cultural appropriation row “poppycock”, he tweeted: “This humbug totally misses the spirit of Notting Hill Carnival and the tradition of ‘dress up’ or ‘masquerade’...
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“Adele was born and raised in Tottenham she gets it more than most. Thank you Adele. Forget the Haters.”
Poppycock! This humbug totally misses the spirit of Notting Hill Carnival and the tradition of “ dress up” or “ masquerade” Adele was born and raised in Tottenham she gets it more than most. Thank you Adele. Forget the Haters. https://t.co/sabpPPRtID — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 31, 2020
Meanwhile, chart-topping singer Alexandra Burke told the BBC’s Carnival tribute show: “I see the pic. She looks hot… As a Jamaican girl myself, my girl has grown up in black culture. People forget she’s from Tottenham. She probably eats jerk chicken all the time like all of us.
“All I’m saying is the girl looked good, leave her. Allow her man.”
Alexandra Burke David Parry - PA Images via Getty Images
Alexandra also pointed out that Jamaican musician Popcaan had commented favourably on the picture, adding: “If Popcaan is going to endorse it and say yes my girl you’re wearing the flag and you’re wearing it well.
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“Let her live her best life, leave her alone. We love Adele.”
Popcaan commented on Adele's photo with the heart and fist emojis Joseph Okpako via Getty Images
Before the picture went viral, a number of prolific stars also commented on it favourably, including actors Tessa Thompson and Zoe Saldana, with the former posting a heart emoji and the latter writing: “You look right at home guurrrl.”
Supermodel Naomi Campbell also commented on Adele’s post with heart emojis, as well as the Jamaican flag.
Naomi Campbell, Tessa Thompson and Zoe Saldana Matt Baron/MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Although Adele is renowned for keeping a low profile, she has broken cover a number of times lately, and got everyone talking with her Instagram updates.
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Back in May, she marked her 32nd birthday with a post thanking key workers for “keeping us safe while risking their lives” during lockdown.
A few weeks later, she also revealed that she’d been revisiting her iconic Glastonbury set while at home, with fans spotting a subtle nod to her London roots in the background of her picture.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-01--Trump Spouts New Conspiracy Theories In Bizarre Fox News Interview

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President Donald Trump spouted numerous baseless conspiracy theories and attacked Black Lives Matter protesters while claiming his own supporters were peacefully demonstrating during a lengthy interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Monday.
When asked if his supporters should confront Black Lives Matter protesters ― as they have been doing in various cities ― Trump said that should be left to law enforcement. Then, he proceeded to call his base “wonderful, hardworking, tremendous” people who were shocked by the violence and were simply engaging in “peaceful protest.”
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In Portland, Oregon, which has been rocked by demonstrations since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May, Trump supporters drove a convoy of more than 600 vehicles through the city over the weekend. Some were filmed shooting paintball guns and pepper spray at Black Lives Matter protesters. An apparent member of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing group whose supporters have frequently clashed with demonstrators in Portland, died in a shooting during the violence on Saturday.
“You know it’s amazing, they want to protest, and they get criticised,” Trump said. “The other people run through the streets, burn down storefronts, hurt people, beat people and kill people.”
In Kenosha, Wisconsin, protests erupted after the August 23 shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot seven times in the back by police. Blake was left paralysed in the incident, which was caught on video and shared widely on social media. To date, the cop has not been charged.
Three days later, two people died and another was wounded when Kyle Rittenhouse, a white 17-year-old vigilante and apparent supporter of the president, allegedly fired on people protesting the Blake attack. He was charged as an adult with two counts of first-degree homicide and one count of attempted homicide.
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At a press conference on Monday, Trump defended Rittenhouse and repeatedly refused to condemn his other supporters in Portland, claiming the paintball guns were for “defence.”
Asked if he wants his supporters to confront protesters, Trump says, "I want to leave it to law enforcement, but my supporters are wonderful, hardworking, tremendous people and they turn on their televisions and they look at a Portland or a Kenosha ... they can't believe it." pic.twitter.com/tlFC1PvOp5 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 1, 2020
Later in the Fox News interview, Trump claimed unnamed people in “dark shadows” were pulling the strings behind his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, a claim which even Ingraham said, “sounds like a conspiracy theory.”
“There are people that are on the streets,” Trump continued. “There are people that are controlling the streets.”
He claimed there was an apparent secret plot to damage a plane over the weekend, but refused to provide any clarifying details.
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“We had somebody get on a plane from a certain city this weekend. And in the plane, it was almost completely loaded with thugs, wearing these dark uniforms, black uniforms, with gear and this and that,” he said.
Trump compared the Wisconsin police officer who shot Blake to a golfer who chokes by missing an easy putt, and said the police were “under siege.” He baselessly declared that Portland had been burning for decades and asserted that protesters there wanted to kill Mayor Ted Wheeler. Trump also repeatedly blamed the civil unrest in Portland, Kenosha and other cities across the country on Biden and Democratic leaders.