thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Love Island's Shaughna Phillips Reacts To Shock Dumping: 'I Left When I Needed To'

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Love Island favourite Shaughna Phillips has admitted she wishes she’d swapped Callum Jones for Luke Mabbot sooner, after being dumped from the villa.
The democratic services officer, who has been hugely popular among fans of the ITV2 reality show, was voted off the Island after Luke picked Demi Jones over her in Friday night’s recoupling.
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Shaughna had only just confessed her feelings for Luke M over the last few days, but it was a case of too little, too late for the Justin Bieber look-a-like.
Shaughna Phillips has been dumped from Love Island ITV
Speaking after her exit, Shaughna – who was coupled up with Callum, before he dumped her for Molly Smith in Casa Amor last week – said: “If I had my time again I’d definitely have ditched Callum sooner, which would then have left me with some ‘openness’ and then I’d have probably noticed I liked Luke M a lot sooner than I did.
“I didn’t know I fancied him at first, but I knew there was something there.”
She continued: “I’m glad I went out on a genuine note and didn’t force anything with anyone else.”
Luke M picked Demi in the recoupling ITV
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Despite Luke not choosing her, Shaughna confessed she still hopes she could be in with a chance if things don’t go well between him and Demi.
“I’m more than happy to carry on talking to him,” she said. “Obviously depending on how things go with Demi.”
Of the pair’s relationship, Shaughna went on: “I think there could be a genuine connection there. They are two of the loveliest people I’ve ever met. They’re two very good looking people and they’re honestly such sweethearts so I can only imagine those two going on to do.”
She added: “I’m definitely glad I stayed for as long as I did. There wasn’t a chance of me leaving. I’m an Aries and I’m stubborn. If I was going to leave, it was either going to be by winning or by being dumped.
“My time in the villa, I wouldn’t change it for the world and I left when I needed to leave.”
Aside from Luke and Demi, Friday night’s recoupling also saw new boy Jamie Clayton pick Natalia Zoppa, while all other couples remained together.
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With just over a week until the final, Siannise Fudge and Luke Trottman are the current bookies’ favourite to win the series, closely followed by Finn Tapp and Paige Turley.
Love Island airs Sunday at Friday at 9pm on ITV2.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Storm Dennis Weather Forecast: Everything You Need To Know Ahead Of This Weekend

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A “perfect storm” of heavy rain, strong winds and melting snow is set to bring havoc to the UK this weekend as Storm Dennis takes up where Storm Ciara left off just a few days ago.
And that’s all of the UK – the Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for the entire country on Sunday.
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Saturday will be grim for most of us too – severe weather warnings covering England, Wales and large parts of Scotland are in place.
Storm Dennis PA Media
Here’s everything you need to know...
What to expect
Storm Dennis is forecast to batter large swathes of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with 70mph winds and up to 140mm (5.5inches) of rain in some areas, PA Media reports.
#StormDennis continues to deepen in the Atlantic this evening and will then bring gales and heavy #rain across the UK through this #weekend
Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/0sGFwIDrjn — Met Office (@metoffice) February 14, 2020
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Flooding
That “perfect storm” of heavy rain, strong winds and melting snow could leave hundreds of homes across the UK flooded this weekend, experts have warned.
The Environment Agency (EA) said the flood impact from the weather system is likely to be worse than last weekend’s Storm Ciara due to rain falling on already saturated ground.
#StormDennis is expected to bring very heavy rain, flooding and disruption to parts of the North, South East and South West of England over the weekend and into next week.
Check your area for flood warnings here: https://t.co/xeEdR9bDsC pic.twitter.com/78819MuTfJ — Environment Agency (@EnvAgency) February 14, 2020
John Curtin, the agency’s executive director of flood and coastal risk management, said Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire were the areas he was most “concerned” about.
“This (storm) could be a step up from what we have seen before,” Curtin said.
“We had a big storm last weekend, (we now have) saturated catchments, snowmelt and rainfall, so it is a perfect storm.”
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Roads
The storm is also likely to cause treacherous driving conditions.
AA Patrol of the Year Ben Sheridan said: “The forecast looks bleak across the UK with warnings for wind and heavy rain which will significantly reduce visibility on the roads.
“For those who are braving the storm, drivers should make sure they account for the conditions. Slow down, allow for greater stopping distances and watch out for potential hazards.”
Heavy #rain forecast for much of the UK on Saturday. #StormDennis
Be #weatheraware if you are out and about. pic.twitter.com/hUALgufMGo — Met Office (@metoffice) February 14, 2020
Rail
Network Rail advised passengers to expect disruption on many routes due to flooding and to allow more time for their journeys.
Tracks could be flooded as the ground near parts of the railway is already saturated, particularly in the North West.
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Cross-border journeys between England and Scotland were severely restricted last weekend.
Network Rail’s network services director Nick King said: “As we saw last week, stormy weather brings high winds that can lead to trees and other debris falling on to the railway, and floods that prevent us from running trains on parts of the network.
“That is why we are again asking passengers to check their journeys before they travel this weekend, either with their train operator directly or through National Rail Enquiries.
“Our teams of engineers will again be out working at all hours and in all weathers to remove fallen trees and debris from the railway, repair damaged infrastructure and work to reopen lines affected by flooding.”
Households living near rail lines are being urged to secure any loose items in their gardens, after several trampolines were blown on to tracks and overhead electric wires last weekend, blocking lines.
Air
There is no reported air travel disruption as yet but you might be in for a bumping landing if you’re flying into the UK.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Keir Starmer Wins Local Labour Parties That Backed Jeremy Corbyn In 2016

Empics Entertainment
Keir Starmer won the support of almost half the local Labour parties that backed Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 leadership race, despite pleas from allies of the outgoing leader encouraging them to nominate Rebecca Long-Bailey.
The 648 constituency Labour parties (CLPs) have until midnight on Friday to formally endorse a candidate.
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After CLP nominations closed, Starmer won 141 of the 285 CLPs that backed Corbyn over challenger Owen Smith in 2016. Some 103 voted for Long-Bailey.
Yet Momentum, the pro-Corbyn grassroots campaign group that helped propel him to victory in both 2015 and 2016, had backed the shadow business secretary, saying she was the “heart of a new and diverse generation of socialists who recognise that we cannot return to the politics of the past”.
The organisation has attempted to mobilise its activists to help Long-Bailey win key leadership nominations from CLPs across the country. The Salford and Eccles MP also has the support of leading Corbyn allies including shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Unite general secretary Len McCluskey.
Corbyn has not formally endorsed any candidate. But he has heaped praise on Long-Bailey, describing her as “our candidate for leader” and thanked her for her “steadfast” support during the attempted coup in 2016.
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She told supporters on Friday the party could not win the next election if it veers away from the left-wing path set by Corbyn.
Labour suffered its worst election defeat since 1935 when it lost 59 seats in the December poll, a result that ushered in the first unequivocal Conservative landslide since the 1980s.
But Long-Bailey said the party must not row back from the “popular” policies found in its manifesto but instead learn to explain them better.
In an interview with HuffPost UK earlier this week, she also attempted to outflank Starmer on the left by pledging to keep Corbyn’s policies on taxing the rich, banning arms sales, tackling climate change and ending the gender pay gap.
Friday also saw the TSSA union, which housed Momentum’s office, back Starmer.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Coronavirus Fears Impact London’s Chinatown

Coronavirus Fears Impact London’s Chinatown
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, so too does its economic impact - with businesses in London’s Chinatown feeling the pinch. The area, nestled between the theatre district and landmarks like Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, is a busy destination - but local businesses are saying they have seen a dramatic drop in their income as fears about the virus spread.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Wendy Williams Tearfully Apologises After Backlash To Comments About Gay Men

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The US talk show host sparked a backlash when she made the disparaging comments during a segment celebrating the female Valentine’s Day alternative, Galentine’s Day.
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“If you’re a man and you’re clapping, you’re not even a part of this,” she told the audience. “I don’t care if you’re gay. You don’t get a [menstrual period] every 28 days. You can do a lot that we do, but I get offended by the idea that we go through something you will never go through.
“Stop wearing our skirts and our heels,” she continued. “Girls, what do we have for ourselves? You’ll never be the woman that we are, no matter how gay!”
Wendy Williams made the comments on US chat show The CW
After she faced much criticism online – some accused her of homophobia while others argued her remarks could be interpreted as transphobic – Wendy has now posted a two-minute video apologising.
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A message from Wendy. pic.twitter.com/aEpMvubJVJ — Wendy Williams (@WendyWilliams) February 14, 2020
’I’ll start by saying I apologise, I did not mean to offend my LGBT+ community,” she said.
“One thing I can tell you now is that I never do the show in a place of malice. I understand my platform in the community.”
Becoming emotional, she continued: “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’m just having a conversation. If you know me long enough, then you know... bon vivant, I don’t even know what that means, but it sounds fabulous.
“In my mind, it means live and let live. Bon vivant. And I live and let live every day.”
She added: “I’m 55 years old and maybe I sounded like your auntie, your mother, your big sister or somebody out of touch.
“I’m not out of touch except for perhaps yesterday by saying what I said. I deeply apologise and I deeply appreciate the support that I get from the community. I will do better.”
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Wendy is no stranger to controversy. Earlier this year, she apologised to the cleft community after appearing to mock actor Joaquin Phoenix’s lip scar.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Boris Johnson's Cabinet Tells Him What He Wants To Hear

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Whatever You Say, Boss
Sajid Javid quit as chancellor yesterday saying “no self-respecting minister” could agree to Boris Johnson’s demands.
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This morning the new cabinet met for the first time. And in a show of self-respect, were led in a call and response by the prime minister. “How many hospitals are we going to build?” the PM asked. “40,” the ministers replied in unison. “Well done,” Boris beamed.
Ministers also agreed with the PM that 20,000 police would be recruited. Police numbers have fallen by around 20,000 since the Conservatives came to power in 2010. Well done.
One bit of news from the meeting was that ministers agreed to implement a points-based immigration system from the beginning of next year.
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick this morning denied Rishi Sunak, the new chancellor, was Johnson’s “puppet” for accepting the job. Sunak addressed Treasury staff before cabinet met. Javid attended a pensions fair in his constituency which had the “best turnout ever!”
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Visiting a local school today, ousted Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith was asked by a child if he knew the prime minister and how is last meeting went. “Er, er, er... great, it was just great,” Smith replied.
Ballot papers in the Labour leadership contest will be sent out soon. But the race still has a long way to go. The result will not be announced until April 4. which is seven weeks away.
Rebecca Long-Bailey used a speech in Salford this morning to argue she started the campaign from “behind”. The shadow business secretary added “Jeremy [Corbyn], John [McDonnell] and Diane [Abbott]” had now “done their bit” and she was ready to “take up the mantle of socialist leadership”. The Guardian’s Kate Proctor has a good write up.
Lisa Nandy’s campaign received a boost today when she won the support of the Jewish Labour Movement. A clip of her speaking at the group’s hustings this week has been getting a lot of attention.
Emily Thornberry has until midnight to secure the nomination of three more constituency Labour parties (CLPs) if she is to make onto the ballot. She is agonisingly close to the threshold of 33, having so far won the backing of 30.
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Keir Starmer will hold a rally at the Roundhouse in Camden on Sunday. Today he won the support of the TSSA. Many will recall the transport union housed Momentum’s first headquarters in Euston during the 2015 and 2016 leadership contests.
Watch out for our fun interview with Richard Burgon tomorrow, especially for deputy leadership candidate’s favourite book, films and song.
Quote Of The Day
“I think my future plans are things like going to the pub”
– Julian Smith tells Sky News what he will do now he is no longer in the cabinet. Same Julian. Same.
Friday Cheat Sheet
Alex Sobel, the MP for Leeds North West, has revealed he will be tested for coronavirus. “Just to be clear I’m not exhibiting any systems,” he tweeted.
UK negotiators have held trade talks in total secrecy with at least one unknown country, it has been claimed. As Rachel reports, the news emerged during a tribunal in central London, where campaign group Global Justice Now is challenging the information watchdog to order ministers to publish data about government trade operations.
Anti-racism campaigners are urging Boris Johnson to suspend a Tory MP and launch an “urgent investigation” as pictures were revealed showing Dehenna Davison, the new MP for Bishop Auckland, with two far-right activists. Davison said she “in no way whatsoever” condones “the views highlighted of the individuals concerned”.
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What I’m Reading
The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Unilad – VICE
Subscribe To Commons People
Each week, the HuffPost UK Politics team unpack the biggest stories from Westminster and beyond. Search for Commons People wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Trump Admits He Sent Rudy Giuliani To Ukraine After Denying It

Donald Trump with Rudy Giuliani. The Washington Post via Getty Images
President Donald Trump now admits he sent his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani to Ukraine to dig up dirt on 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter, a central part of Trump’s impeachment.
Trump on Thursday explained why he chose to “use Rudy” in an interview for Fox News host Geraldo Rivera’s podcast, perhaps feeling at ease after being acquitted by the Republican-led Senate earlier this month.
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“Was it strange to send Rudy Giuliani to Ukraine, your personal lawyer? Are you sorry you did that?” Rivera asked Trump.
“No, not at all,” Trump said.
“Here’s my choice: I deal with the Comeys of the world, or I deal with Rudy,” he continued, referring to former FBI Director James Comey, whom he fired in 2017 after the FBI began investigating his 2016 campaign. The investigation mushroomed into special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian election interference.
Trump said he has “a very bad taste” for US intelligence officials because of Mueller’s investigation, so he chose Giuliani to do his bidding.
“So when you tell me, why did I use Rudy? And one of the things about Rudy, number one, he was the best prosecutor, you know, one of the best prosecutors, and the best mayor,” Trump told Rivera. “But also, other presidents had them. FDR had a lawyer who was practically, you know, was totally involved with government. Eisenhower had a lawyer. They all had lawyers.”
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In November, Trump denied that he sent Giuliani to Ukraine, despite congressional testimony from multiple witnesses, including career diplomats and government officials, who said Giuliani met with and pressured Ukrainian officials as part of Trump’s plot to coerce a foreign government into aiding his reelection.
“No, I didn’t direct him, but he is a warrior, he is a warrior,” Trump said in an interview on former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly’s radio show, when asked if he instructed Giuliani to “do anything” in Ukraine.
But then-ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testified that Trump gave him “express direction” to work with Giuliani.
Giuliani also was mentioned in Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, when Trump told Zelensky to “speak to him.”
“Mr. Giuliani is a highly respected man,” Trump said, according to the summary of the call released by the White House. “He was the mayor of New York City, a great mayor, and I would like him to call you. I will ask him to call you along with the Attorney General. Rudy very much knows what’s happening and he is a very capable guy. If you could speak to him that would be great.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Banksy Returns To His Hometown Bristol With New 'Valentine's' Day Mural

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Banksy has returned to his roots for his latest public installation.
A stencil of a young girl seemingly firing a slingshot at a bunch of red flowers appeared on the side of a house in the Barton Hill area of Bristol, early on Thursday.
Banksy later confirmed on Instagram that he was behind the piece ― in the same neighbourhood where, as a teenager in the 1980s, he cut his teeth as a graffiti artist at the local youth centre’s “Aerosol Art Project.”
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“They’re naming it the Valentine’s Banksy,” said Kelly Woodruff, whose father owns the property on which the piece was created. Hundreds of Banksy’s fans have now visited the site.
“My slight worry is, we’ve got Storm Dennis coming on the weekend,” Woodruff told PA Media, referring to the weather system that’s expected to batter the UK from Saturday onward. “So I really want to try and protect the roses.”
Ben Birchall - PA Images via Getty Images
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Banksy, who has never been officially identified, did not caption the two images he shared online of his latest piece, sparking speculation on social media about its meaning.
Some people noted its similarity to his “Girl with Balloon” piece. Others suggested it was Banksy’s Valentine’s Day gift to his old stomping ground, where he’d attended the graffiti project led by then-youth worker John Nation at the former Barton Hill Youth Centre.
Nation, who now gives tours of Bristol’s street art scene, told HuffPost in 2017 how a teenage Banksy would “come to the centre and watch people paint”.
An early Banksy piece that he painted in the 1980s at the Barton Hill Youth Centre, streets away from where his latest installation is located. John Nation
“He says he called it his religious pilgrimage every weekend to go,” Nation said. “Many of these guys had their own crazy little dreams, and he said what Barton Hill showed him was very powerful, that you could go on to follow those dreams.”
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Barton Hill’s community facilities have, however, suffered public funding cuts and “withered” over the last decade, according to the Bristol Post, leading some to think Banksy wanted to shine a light on what the publication also described as “one of the most deprived areas” in the city.
Banksy’s representative did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for further information.
Check out close-up images of Banksy’s latest work here:
Ben Birchall - PA Images via Getty Images
Ben Birchall - PA Images via Getty Images
Ben Birchall - PA Images via Getty Images
Ben Birchall - PA Images via Getty Images
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Ben Birchall - PA Images via Getty Images
Ben Birchall - PA Images via Getty Images


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--EastEnders Celebrates 35 Years On Our Screens | Good Vibes Only

EastEnders Celebrates 35 Years On Our Screens | Good Vibes Only
This week in the world of entertainment, EastEnders is set to turn thirty-five years old with a sinking ship on the Thames. Plus, Madonna performs even after the iron curtain is dropped on her and Nicola Coughlan from Derry Girls joins Jonathan Van Ness at Elton John’s Oscars after party.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Stranger Things 4 Teaser Confirms Hopper's Fate

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Warning: This article contains spoilers for the third series of Stranger Things.
Netflix has unveiled the new teaser trailer for the upcoming fourth series of Stranger Things, clearing up the biggest cliffhanger of the last series.
At the end of the most recent series – dubbed Stranger Things 3 by the streaming platform – it appeared that Hopper had sacrificed himself in order to defeat the Mind Flayer and save Hawkins.
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This seemed to be confirmed by the rest of the episode, which saw Joyce raising his adopted daughter, Eleven, and giving her a letter that Hopper had written before his apparent death.
David Harbour in Stranger Things Netflix
However, not all fans were convinced that Stranger Things would really kill off David Harbour’s character, with some speculating he’d either been kidnapped by the Russians or escaped to the Upside Down via a portal.
Well, the new From Russia With Love teaser has now been posted online, and as you can see below, fans finally have their answer...
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Yes, Netflix has confirmed that we haven’t quite seen the last of Hopper just yet, with Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers teasing that the character is “imprisoned far from home in the snowy wasteland of Kamchatka, where he will face dangers both human...and other”.
It’s also been revealed that back in the USA, “a new horror is beginning to surface”, which the producers have cryptically hinted “connects everything”.
Hmmm…
They added: “Season 4 is shaping up to be the biggest and most frightening season yet, and we cannot wait for everyone to see more. In the meantime ― pray for the American.”
Production on Stranger Things 4 is now underway, with the new episodes expected to debut on Netflix later in 2020.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--NASA Astronaut Reunites With Her Dog After 328 Days In Space

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Christina Koch has spent more consecutive days in space than any other woman, and her dog was not a big fan of that.
In a video tweeted by the NASA astronaut on Thursday, the pup can be seen peeping out the window and wagging her tail frantically. When Koch opens the door, after having spent nearly a year in space, her pal is beside herself.
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“Not sure who was more excited,” Koch quipped. “Glad she remembers me after a year!”
Not sure who was more excited. Glad she remembers me after a year! pic.twitter.com/sScVXHMHJn — Christina H Koch (@Astro_Christina) February 13, 2020
After a record-setting 328 days in space, during which time she participated in the first all-female spacewalk with astronaut Jessica Meir, Koch touched back down to Earth last Thursday. Her stint was just 12 days shy of the American single-spaceflight record, held by Scott Kelly, and broke the previous 288-day record for longest single spaceflight by a woman, held by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson.
On Wednesday, she told reporters she was feeling “great” and relishing the wonders of her life on Earth ― including her loved ones, favorite snacks (chips and salsa), the beach and, of course, LBD.
“We call her LBD, little brown dog. She’s from the Humane Society and she couldn’t be sweeter,” Koch said at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. “And yes, she was very excited, I was very excited, I’m not sure who was more excited!”
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“You know it’s just a symbol of coming back to the people and places that you love, to see your favorite animal.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--What We Learned From Boris Johnson’s Cabinet Reshuffle

What We Learned From Boris Johnson’s Cabinet Reshuffle
Boris Johnson’s long-awaited cabinet reshuffle has taken place, two months after the Conservatives won a resounding victory. But what does the reshuffle tell us about how Boris Johnson is looking to go forward with Brexit, the country and moving on?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--How Do Governments Track A Global Virus?

How Do Governments Track A Global Virus?
As the coronavirus continues to spread in China and beyond, governments across the world will attempt to keep track of who is carrying the virus in a bid to slow down the infection rate. Techniques include contact tracing and thermal scanning – but as we find out from speaking to Freya Jephcott, a researcher of outbreaks of unknown origins, there is no perfect solution.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Jeremy Vine Branded A 'C***' By Caller Live On His Channel 5 Show

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Jeremy Vine got a nasty shock during Friday’s edition of his Channel 5 show, when a caller dropped the C-bomb live on air.
During a phone-in segment about Valentine’s Day, Jeremy spoke to a viewer referring to himself as “Tim from Lancashire”, who claimed he was a first time caller.
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After “Tim” revealed he’d not bought his wife a Valentine’s Day card for their entire marriage, the host then questioned if he’d treated her in other ways.
“We’ve been married 28 years and never bought into Valentine’s Day cards,” he insisted, before abruptly adding: “And you’re a c***.”
Jeremy Vine reacts to the sudden C-bomb on his live panel show Channel 5
Jeremy was then forced to apologise for the C-bomb, telling viewers: “I must apologise for the language. By the way as he started talking, I thought, ‘This guy’s not for real’.
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“Really sorry for that. We do everything we possibly can to avoid any bad language on the programme.”
He added: “We know it offends some viewers. It’s downright rude to everyone when a caller can’t control their language.”
Obscene phone calls were frequently a problem for the show’s previous host, Matthew Wright, back when the show was still known as The Wright Stuff.
In particular, one repeated nuisance caller used to phone Matthew under various guises, only to brand a former partner a “bitch” live on air.
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The Wright Stuff airs every weekday at 9.15am on Channel 5.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Coronavirus Spreads Quickly. These People Are Racing Against The Clock To Stop It

For epidemiology expert Dr Freya Jephcott, the most important weapon against coronavirus Covid-19 isn’t hand gel, masks or soap – it’s your phone book.
There have been 36 confirmed UK cases of the infection, and the battle by health professionals to contain it has so far centred around contact tracing.
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Whenever someone is diagnosed, experts face a race against time to identify the people they might have infected – before those people spread the illness themselves without knowing.
The identification of a patient in Haslemere, Surrey, has thrown experts a curveball after it became apparent the man concerned had not travelled to any areas where he might have been expected to contract the virus.
But the process for finding out exactly how he became ill remains the same, health officials told HuffPost UK.
There are currently about 400 Public Health England staff on standby across the country to quiz coronavirus patients on where they’ve been, and who with, since they fell ill. Dr Jephcott has experience in the field – a research fellow in epidemiology at the University of Cambridge and an expert in the outbreak and spread of the Ebola virus.
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A woman wearing a face mask packs her suitcase in the departures area of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, after it was announced British Airways had suspended all services to and from China. PA
She participated in the large-scale programme of contact tracing carried out in Western Africa during Ebola’s most widespread emergence in 2014 – a time-consuming and manpower-heavy process.
The search for those who may have been contaminated with Ebola in some cases required literally chasing people through thickets in Sierra Leone. By contrast, the detective work being undertaken to contain Covid-19 is rather more bureaucratic – so far, anyway.
“It is often a case of literally sitting down for hours with a patient, going through sometimes weeks of where they have been, who they have spoken to, who they might have come into contact with – then trying to trace those people, which could throw up even more potential exposure cases,” she told HuffPost UK.
“Couple that with a patient who is feeling ill and may need to take breaks, and you have a process that may take days and days for just one person. It’s extremely labour-intensive and takes a huge number of people.”
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It is this “shoe-leather epidemiology” that is being deployed by Public Health England – but teams are able to speed up the process by contacting potential cases by text and email if they can’t reach them immediately, and by utilising the health service’s information databases.
Dr Freya Jephcott, research fellow at Cambridge University Dr Freya Jephcott
The pay-off can be worth it, Dr Jephcott says, as contact tracing is proven to be very effective in fighting some infectious diseases.
“In the case of Covid-19 there has been some suggestion that people may be contagious before they show any symptoms, which would likely diminish the effectiveness of contact tracing if we start to see a larger number of cases,” she added.
“It’s really too early to tell with this particular virus. But even if contact tracing doesn’t work in completely preventing the spread of infection, it can still slow it considerably, and that’s also really important.
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“If such a virus such as this one spreads through a population very quickly, then you risk the health service becoming overwhelmed, and in turn you could see lots of people off work either sick or caring for someone who is sick too, which in turn can disrupt supply chains and other services.”
Public Health England is currently applying contact tracing from the moment a patient starts feeling ill.
It defines “close contact” with an infected person as spending 15 minutes or more within two metres of them, or holding a face-to-face conversation, and encourages those who have done so to “self-isolate” for two weeks.
But those who may have simply passed an infected person in a corridor, or at an airport or train station, are not usually contacted as the risk is thought to be minimal.
Dr Tom Wingfield, a physician and lecturer in infectious diseases, works at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM).
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The specialist facility is among a network across the country equipped to deal with patients diagnosed with “high consequence” infections and has treated cases of monkey pox, Mers (Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus) and Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus) in the past.
He says contact tracing is undoubtedly the best way to contain a virus when the number of diagnosed cases is relatively small, as is the case with Covid-19 in the UK.
Dr Tom Wingfield, of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Dr Wingfield said LSTM’s process relies heavily on in-depth conversations with newly-diagnosed patients – called “index cases” – to build up a detailed picture of where they have been, who they have been with and the people who could be most at risk as a result.
“We would ordinarily have a conversation with them about all of their movements, the people they have shared a meal with, shared a room with, or those they have just fleetingly passed. We then assess which of those individuals who have been exposed to the virus are at higher risk and monitor them extremely closely for any signs of illness,” he added.
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“In the vast, vast majority of cases patients are more than happy to help. In the small number of cases when a patient does not want to share information, or is too ill to do so properly, we rely on information from family members [who are present] as much as we can, without breaking patient confidentiality.
“This enables us to act quickly, get treatment for the individual quickly and identify anyone else who may be at risk. It means an individual is also likely to recover much more quickly.”
If the virus were to spread further, health officials would be likely to change tactics. However, contact tracing would still be applied if the index case were a healthcare professional, or someone else likely to have been in contact with vulnerable people.
“It’s not possible to predict with 100% certainty how these things will develop, but contact tracing has worked extremely well in the past against other infectious diseases,” Dr Wingfield said.
“I can’t provide exact numbers, but if the volume of cases were to increase, then contact tracing may no longer be a viable activity and other approaches may be looked at.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--What I Wore When I Fell In Love

What I Wore When I Fell In Love

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Costume designer Edith Head is famous for suggesting, “You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it.” But does that apply to everything? Even true love?
“I feel my best when my skin is gleaming, outfit is runway-ready and my hair is tousled to the sky,” said fashion and beauty influencer David Ruff, who was wearing ratty workout gear when he ran into his ultimate crush, Shawn Mendes. “But your look, like life and love, won’t always be perfect,” Ruff said.
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Indeed, there’s something liberating about attracting your heart’s desire when you’re feeling less than fresh. But the question remains: Are you more likely to fall in love when dressed to the nines or when you’re barefaced, wearing athleisure? Below, fashion influencers known for their killer sense of style reveal what they were wearing when they found love.
miodrag ignjatovic via Getty Images In front of wall with multi colored balloons standing woman in dress and holding heart shaped helium balloon, covering face
Carina Chaz, founder and CEO of DedCool
“I met the love of my life when I had sworn off dating. On a nondate in the park, microdosing mushrooms, I’d dressed for comfort: an oversized Aerosmith vintage T-shirt, a pair of mid-rise, faded red, ankle-cropped Mother jeans and platform Dr. Martens boots. I’ve been on a vintage kick to live more sustainably and in sync with clean beauty practices. I feel most confident by being good to myself and the environment.”
Christian Vierig via Getty Images Dr. Martens boots made their way into two love stories on the list.
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Sibyl Buck, musician, model and yogi
“I was wearing a red tank top with thin blue ringers around the armholes, a low-cut undershirt and my favorite bell-bottom Lees from the ’70s. My skin was awful! When I stopped modeling, it went crazy and looked like a heat rash all over my face and neck. I was deeply humbled. I was fronting my band that night, and I used swagger and the heavy music to make my angry-looking skin part of my frontwoman look. And that’s the night I met my beloved.”
“It was Valentine’s Day and we were going to dinner with a group of people at a restaurant in Hollywood. I was cute casual, nothing too fancy. Makeup was minimal to none. I had on cream highlighter and that’s it. I felt great in my skin. Being natural is when I feel most confident. It’s when I start layering on the makeup (Does my lipstick look all right? Is it smudged?) or when I do my hair (Are my curls flat? Did my blowout get frizzy?) that I start feeling less confident. The less effort I put into my look and the more effort I put into overall health and happiness, the better I feel and look.”
Susan Korn, founder and designer of Susan Alexandra
“I had just come from a dinner with some girlfriends, so the mood of my look was decidedly femme and soft, not sexy and adventurous. I’m always 70% uncomfortable in my skin and that’s just me. But this was summer and I was tan and my hair was long. I feel most divine in a summer dress. It’s as good as I get. This one was sheer, black and vintage with an uneven fluttering hem. It had a mix of pink polka dots, pink roses and trails of sparkly thread throughout. Dresses are God’s gift to romance, and even with the little heel I was wearing, I felt tall and cool, cinematic and, dare I say, charming!”
Jiashan Liu, designer
“I was working for New York Fashion Week. He was modeling in shows. We met when he faked running into me, then asked to take a picture. I was wearing a black tube top with thin spaghetti straps, black flowy pants, an oversized white shirt which I stole from my dad and platform Dr. Martens. I did my everyday signature winged eyeliner, paired with a little highlight on cheeks and nose, and gloss from YSL to finish. I used Dior’s Sauvage, which reminds me of a mysterious forest. The overall look was sexy without trying too hard. I like to show off my figure but love the empowered feeling that comes from oversized clothes.”
Marc Broussely via Getty Images Sometimes, a vintage Aerosmith T-shirt can be just as romantic as a little black dress.
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Lindsay Jones, creative director, designer and advocate
“I was looking through vintage books in Paris. At the time, I was into wearing silk robes and silk pants with Gucci slippers and socks. Think a power femme version of Hugh Hefner. I used to be a dirty punk rock gangster and still am, so it’s fun to clean up and hold presence in a room. Clean, exfoliated skin is the look, with Nars matte lipstick and blush in Orgasm, plus Milk cosmetics’ Kush Mascara, which gives major BDE. I have a Sephora addiction. These are my go-tos when it comes to casual seduction.″
Samantha Conn, founder and creative director of Luna Skye
“I host dinner parties every month at my house. Musicians of all kinds gather for food and drinks. One of my oldest, greatest friends brought this guy along. It was a really casual environment with no pressure or expectations. I remember I was wearing Le Labo Santal. I’m always wearing Le Labo Santal, which has embedded itself in my clothing and skin so even when I haven’t applied it, it lingers. I was dripping in jewelry. This is when I feel the most beautiful and confident — minimal, but put together.”
Madison Williams, TV producer, host, fashion blogger
“The night I fell madly in love with my now-fiancé, we had just moved to Los Angeles and he threw me a masquerade party. I wore a little black dress. It was a tight, short-sleeved, one-shoulder number and I wore a pair of pewter-colored Juicy Couture pumps. I opted for a mask that was structured and dramatic, with one side silver and the other black. I wore it more as a headband to show off smoky eye makeup. To top it all off, a spritz of Britney Spears’ Fantasy perfume. I remember feeling SO confident that night about myself, my outfit, my relationship with Sonny and my future.”
MacKenzie Crawford, shop owner, Babes on Legs
“On this particular first date, I remember planning my outfit as if to warn him, ‘This is what it will be like with me.’ Business on top, party on the bottom! I wanted to be taken seriously as a responsible, mature adult, so I opted for a sheer black turtleneck paired with a black leather bomber jacket with brown mink-lined collar and cuffs, which gets the most compliments from strangers when I’m out. I went for Pucci pants with a mint green and gray swirl print with little triangles all over them. I paired those with cow print boots. I always wear something I’m really comfortable in so that I have one less thing to feel anxious about when meeting someone for the first time.”
Matthew Milèo, owner/creator of Milèo New York
“At the research lab at school, I froze in my tracks for what seemed like an eternity when I saw the new grad student. My first thought was, ‘What the hell am I wearing right now?’ The outfit was a flannel hoodie with baggy AF corduroys, neither of which showed my body. Within 10 minutes, my newfound crush says he’s not into baggy clothes. In that moment, the need to undergo metamorphosis could not have been greater. I spent hours trying on clothes that were fitted. I tailored some. Looking back, I was probably concealing myself because I didn’t want to be noticed in a sexual way yet. But he shook me to my core and I let go of the baggy body armor.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Mumps Symptoms Explained As Cases Surge In England

Shaun Weatherby The photo on the right shows Shaun with mumps.
Mumps cases in England have reached a decade high, with 5,042 lab-confirmed cases of mumps in 2019, compared to 1,066 cases in 2018.
The rise looks set to continue in 2020, Public Health England (PHE) has said, with 546 confirmed cases in January 2020 compared to 191 during the same period last year.
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Shaun Weatherby, 26, based in North Wales, contracted mumps last September and says the day before his symptoms properly started to show, he felt a small lump under his jawline on one side.
Later that night, he struggled to swallow food, but felt “fairly normal” on the whole. The illness progressed rapidly, with the lump becoming larger, more painful and Weatherby finding it increasingly difficult to swallow.
“The next day I wasn’t in work and when my girlfriend returned home, both sides of my face had swollen quite significantly – I hadn’t eaten for nearly two days at this point,” he tells HuffPost UK.
After a trip to A&E, he was diagnosed with mumps, despite having had the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine as a child. He had to drink water through a straw, and barely ate anything, for five days in total.
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“It’s definitely an experience I don’t want to have again,” he says.
What is mumps?
Mumps is a contagious illness which causes the sides of a person’s face, underneath their ears, to swell up and hurt. After the introduction of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine in 1988, cases began to go down – however in the past few years the numbers are rapidly creeping up again.
The rise in cases last year was largely driven by outbreaks in universities and colleges, PHE said. Many of the cases were seen in young adults born in the late nineties and early 2000s who missed out on the MMR vaccine when they were children.
These groups are now old enough to attend college and university and are likely to continue fuelling outbreaks into 2020 – particularly as the infection is so contagious.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms tend to develop 14 to 25 days after becoming infected with the virus, according to NHS Choices. The most obvious sign of mumps is swelling of the glands at the time of the face, giving the appearance of “hamster cheeks”. Sometimes one gland (one side) might be affected, but most of the time both glands swell up. It can be pain, tender and difficult to swallow.
Other symptoms that might develop a few days later include joint pain, sickness, dry mouth, headache, stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite and a high temperature.
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It’s worth noting that in roughly a third of cases, mumps doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms.
vladwel via Getty Images
How can you protect against it?
The best way to protect against mumps is to have the MMR vaccine – yes, even if you’re an adult. The first dose is normally given to babies aged 13 months, and a second dose tends to be issued between the ages of three and five.
Some adults won’t have had this vaccine in childhood, however, particularly those born between 1980 and 1990. Or it’s possible they only had the first dose and not the second, which means they won’t be fully protected.
PHE is urging people to ensure they have had two doses of MMR vaccine. If you’re not sure whether you’ve had them, call your GP who will be able to tell you.
Adults who only had one dose as a child will need to have another dose, a PHE spokesperson confirmed to HuffPost UK. If you have two doses in adulthood because you didn’t have any vaccines as a child, the second MMR dose must be given at least one month after the first.
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Vaccination prevents most (95%), but not all, cases of mumps. If a vaccinated person does get mumps, they will likely have less severe illness than those who are unvaccinated.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at PHE, is reminding people: “It’s never too late to catch up.” She said: “We encourage all students and young people who may have missed out on their MMR vaccine in the past to contact their GP practice and get up to date as soon as possible.”
Data shows that uptake of most childhood vaccines has been steadily decreasing since 2012-13. The rise in mumps cases correlates with a rise in measles too, which led to the UK losing its measles elimination status last year.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said the jump in mumps cases is “alarming” and “yet another example of the long-term damage caused by anti-vax information”.
“Science proves that vaccines are the best form of defence against a host of potentially deadly diseases and are safer and more effective than ever before. Those who claim otherwise are risking people’s lives,” he said.
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Treatment
If you think you have mumps, you should see your GP so they can rule out other issues such as glandular fever and tonsillitis. Mumps can be dangerous in some people as it can lead to complications such as viral meningitis – so protecting against it is key.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--This Is The Key To Female Orgasm, Say Sex Experts

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You’re reading How To Get Off, our series celebrating bodies, pleasure and fantasy.
Women are always on, but is this stopping us from getting turned on? If we’re not actually doing something we’re thinking about doing it (washing up or filing our tax return or any of those 3,000 things on our to-do list that aren’t sex).
No wonder our minds often wander when we’re actually doing it. But worrying about gas bills that need paying is never going to be conducive to a good time. That’s because mindset is instrumental when it comes to the female orgasm – not only do sex therapists and sexologists believe this, but studies back it up.
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One such study, from 2015, found women who regularly reached orgasm tended to focus more on the sensations of sex and how their body felt – basically, sex mindfulness – compared to women who found it harder to orgasm. A separate study found a link between a lack of “erotic thoughts” during sex and less frequent orgasm.
Negative thoughts during sex are also – perhaps unsurprisingly – a barrier. Among women, the most intrusive concerns cited tend to centre around appearance and, to a lesser degree, performance (no, it’s not just men).
Even the words we use to describe orgasm can play a part in making women less likely to come. “I prefer to think of orgasm as an ‘experience’ rather than something to ‘achieve’,” says sexologist Gigi Engle, author of All The F*cking Mistakes: A Guide To Sex, Love And Life. “The reason for this is pressure – women face enough pressure in every other area of life, so taking it off of sex is a pivotal component in having fulfilling sexual experiences.”
Jolygon via Getty Images
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Some women might feel ashamed that they don’t orgasm as much as they’d like – some struggle to do it full stop (this is known as female orgasmic disorder) – but it’s actually a fairly common experience.
A survey of more than 32,000 women conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital found one in five had difficulties experiencing orgasm.
Removing the pressure to have an orgasm is key to freeing them up to happen, says Engle. “Why? Because having an orgasm is as much a mental process as it is a physical process,” she says. “When you put pressure on orgasm, you start to think you won’t have one or you have to have one – and then you don’t have one. Being in a calm, present mindset is key to allowing your brain and body to sync up for an orgasm.”
Switching on your body
Isiah McKimmie, sexologist and author of Epic Orgasms, says getting clued up on practical tips is key to reaching orgasm more easily and often. “Along with our cultural messages about sex, we also receive very little real education about sexual pleasure or get taught skills to enjoy ourselves more,” she says.
So, the basics. There are two key ingredients to the magnificent cake that is orgasm – adequate clitoral stimulation (the physical) and being in a sexy, relaxed mindset (the mental).
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““When you put pressure on orgasm, you start to think you won’t have one or you have to have one – and then you don’t.”
“The clitoris is a huge part of orgasm,” says Engle. “Women are never taught about their clitoris nor are they taught to prioritise their pleasure. We’re taught to somehow have orgasms through intercourse and do whatever we can to make our partner orgasm.”
Some women can experience orgasm without clitoral stimulation. But a study published in The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy found only 18% of women said vaginal penetration alone would do the trick. That same study found most women liked to be touched directly on the clitoris and cited up and down, with medium pressure, as their favourite way to be touched.
Spending 15-20 minutes on foreplay, especially if this includes deep kissing and oral sex, can help your orgasm along nicely, McKimmie suggests.
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But in addition to the physical mechanisms at play, mindset plays an equally important part. Sex and relationship therapist Miranda Christophers says women need to feel emotionally in a place that will allow arousal, in order to get off. You need to be able to fully relax – so if you’re feeling tired or anxious, that might make things quite difficult. The idea is all about letting go.
“While not all women need to feel both to achieve orgasm, most females need to feel psychologically and physically excited and stimulated,” she says.
Alexmia via Getty Images
Turning on your mind
Once you’re clued up on the clitoral logistics, is there a way to get into a better mindset for orgasm? In the words of Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally: Yes, yes, yes! Communication is key, says Engle. “Your partner is not a mind reader. They are not responsible for your orgasm. You are responsible for your orgasm.”
Brits can be pretty reserved when it comes to talking about sex. A survey by eharmony found only a quarter of people in the UK are happy to talk about what goes on in the bedroom, with the over-55s least at ease. But plucking up the courage could actually change your sex life – and with two thirds of Brits saying they’re unhappy with theirs, it’s clear there’s some serious talking to be done.
Engle advises speaking to your sexual partner about what works for you, what you need – even telling them you’d like to bring your vibrator into the mix if that’s what you want. “If you lie back and think of England – as the old saying goes – you’re not going to feel pleasure, let alone have an orgasm,” she adds.
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It can also help you get in the zone if you engage in relaxing, centring practices in everyday life, she says – whether that’s yoga, meditation or mindfulness.
Best of all, masturbate, says Engle. “Get yourself a high-quality sex toy – I love the We-Vibe Tango and the Womanizer – and get to know your body,” she suggests. “Find vibration patterns and rhythms that get you there. Experiment with external and internal stimulation. Try running a vibrator over your labia.and mons, and your nipples and inner thighs. When you take control of your pleasure and your orgasm, you give yourself the power to ask for what you want and to make your orgasm the centre of your experience.”
It’s time to get off
Next time you have sex, try to focus on the feeling, what turns you on – and nothing else. “Avoid focusing on performance or distractions and instead notice the pleasurable sensations within your body and allow the flow of sexually exciting thoughts or visual stimulation,” says Christophers, who advises clients to ‘fall into’ the feeling of pleasure once it starts. “If it begins by the feelings aroused by kissing, to allow themselves to immerse themselves into the feeling,” she says.
Not every sexual encounter needs a climax. “We don’t always need sex to end in an orgasm. It’s a perfectly valid choice not to, sometimes we can struggle to have an orgasm in a particular encounter,” says McKimmie. That’s okay.”
But harness your power. “The brain can really be considered our biggest sexual organ,” she says. “Our thoughts can help turn us on – or off.”
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In fact, our mind is so powerful when it comes to orgasm, that some women can actually reach orgasm through thinking alone, she says. And if that’s not something to aim for someday, we don’t know what is.
How To Get Off is our answer to Valentine’s Day, celebrating bodies, pleasure and fantasy – whatever your relationship status. We’ll be exploring what really gets us off in 2020, looking at sexual awakenings, toys and erotica, and real-life experience.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--I Was At The Centre Of The Hong Kong Protests. This Is How It Changed My Life

Press Association HuffPost UK
I had barely woken up on 30 August 2019, when I opened the door of my room to find five police officers standing there, instead of my parents.
Why were they there? The Hong Kong Police Force were accusing me of protesting without their given permission, and inciting others to join at a time when mass pro-democracy protests were sweeping Hong Kong. The movement in 2019 started against a controversial extradition bill – now suspended – which would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial.
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Until 1997, Hong Kong was ruled by Britain as a colony but then returned to China. Under the ‘one country, two systems’ arrangement, we are meant to be independent from China in all internal affairs. Our preserved rights, which are not enjoyed in mainland China, include freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. These values make Hong Kong a special home for many people like me.
“It was exhilarating to help make such a change at a young age. But we were motivated by our futures, and not only by fears of China”
Over the years, growing up in Hong Kong, I have felt that our unique values and freedoms have come under threat, by attempts to integrate Hongkongers into China. It is highly stressful living with the thought that we may, and most likely will, become fully part of China – which is why I joined the fight for our rights to be preserved in Hong Kong.
The first time I became aware of China’s interference in Hong Kong was at the age of 15, when I saw a Facebook post showing young people demanding change – during a time when the Hong Kong government was planning to introduce ‘moral and national education’ in 2012. To me this, sounded like Chinese brainwashing and a corruption of our education system. After all, if an authoritarian regime wants to control a place, the first thing they do is control the city’s education system.
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So I joined a student group, Scholarism, where I met Joshua Wong, another activist my age and a prominent pro-democracy voice. As a group, following demonstrations, we managed to overturn the government’s plans. It was exhilarating to help make such a change at a young age. But we were motivated by our futures, and not only by fears of China. We want to live in Hong Kong for the next 30 years, 50 years, 70 years – but with at least the same rights as we have, if not more.
Pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong, right, and Agnes Chow speak to media outside a district court in Hong Kong, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and another core member of a pro-democracy group were granted bail Friday after being charged with inciting people to join a protest in June, while authorities denied permission for a major march in what appears to be a harder line on this summer's protests. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) ASSOCIATED PRESS
So, in 2014, we realised that we Hongkongers had fell short of true democracy. This started off the Umbrella Movement, a 79-day occupation of several Hong Kong neighbourhoods, which my friends and I took part in eagerly. How were we to have a say in our future, without democracy? The government responded by gradually limiting our political rights more and more.
Along with Nathan Law, Joshua and I founded the political group Demosisto. Believing Hong Kong’s future should not be decided by the Beijing government, but by us, I tried to stand as a candidate in the Legislative Council elections in 2018, but I was banned from even standing. In the past pro-independence parties has been banned but now it appeared that our party had been too outspoken in even demanding democracy – another sign of the increasing limitations on our political rights. I was frustrated for our generation, because it meant that many like me were not allowed to have a voice in deciding our common future in Hong Kong.
After many attempts at taking the official route to demanding universal suffrage, Hongkongers realised we weren’t being listened to by our own government and China. Some two million citizens from all walks of life took to the streets. Eventually, we forced the extradition bill to be suspended.
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“Democracy, to me, is like air. We don’t really realise how important it is but, once there is no air, we struggle for it.”
This was a massive success for the protest movement, of course – but we have a long way to go. We still have demands: that our protests not to be characterised as “riots” (which could see protestors jailed for up to ten years); amnesty for arrested protesters; an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality, and finally the implementation of complete universal suffrage. We are not only fighting against the Hong Kong government and police, we are also opposing to the authoritarian regime of the Chinese Communist Party controls the Hong Kong government. Democracy, to me, is like air. We don’t really realise how important it is but, once there is no air, we struggle for it.
Hong Kong experienced a lot in 2019, and now too in 2020. One way or another we’re going to face more suppression and more violence from the Chinese authorities and the Hong Kong government. But we Hong Kongers won’t give up the fights for the values we cherish so much. Sometimes, like all of us, I feel very scared. But I certainly can’t give up. This is the only thing I know.
Agnes Chow is a student and pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong. Follow her on Twitter at @chowtingagnes. Agnes features in Channel 4′s Dispatches: The Battle for Hong Kong.
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--BBC Football Pundit Taken Off The Air After Criticising ‘Young Black Lads’

Craig Ramage playing for Notts County in the 1990s. EMPICS Sport
A BBC football pundit has been taken off the air for “completely unacceptable” comments after saying “young black lads” need “pulling down a peg a two”.
Craig Ramage, a former Derby County midfielder, faced a backlash after criticism of the Sky Bet Championship club’s 1-1 home draw with Huddersfield on Saturday.
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Speaking on BBC Radio Derby’s Sportscene Podcast, Ramage said: “When I look over and I look at certain players, their body language, their stance, the way they act, you just feel, ‘whoa, hold on a minute – he needs pulling down a peg or two’. So I’d probably say that about all the young black lads.”
Derby left-back Max Lowe spoke out against “racial ignorance, stereotyping and intolerance” on social media, while the club say they “stand shoulder to shoulder, together as one with all our players”.
BBC Derby said it was “investigating the matter thoroughly and he will not be on air until this investigation is complete”.
The club said a statement on Sunday evening: “Derby County Football Club is aware of comments made by a BBC employee after yesterday’s game against Huddersfield Town, directed specifically at a section of our young players.”
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“We have been in contact with the BBC throughout the day and underline that we do not in any way condone any form of discrimination.
“We take comments like these extremely seriously, we do not tolerate them, and stand shoulder to shoulder, together as one with all our players.”
Here’s the original audio for anyone that didn’t hear it. Not good. #dcfcfans pic.twitter.com/snCQZ2hoN9 — Derby County Talk (@derbycountytalk) February 16, 2020
Ramage took Twitter to “apologise unreservedly”. He said: “What I said was wholly inappropriate and unintentional. Race is irrelevant to the issues that I was discussing and I deeply regret what I said. I sincerely hope that the players accept my apology.”
Lowe, who was an unused substitute against Huddersfield, wrote on Instagram: “As a young black footballer making my way in the game, I was shocked by comments made by one of the analysts on BBC Radio Derby’s Sportscene programme.
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“With the support from people I have around me – and after reading today that Raheem Sterling is to spearhead an anti-racism and anti-discrimination taskforce on behalf of players from all backgrounds – I have decided to speak out on behalf of black footballers at Derby County.
“Racial ignorance, stereotyping and intolerance negatively affects the image of impressionable young footballers and creates an unnecessary divide in society.
“I am also disappointed that a public service broadcaster did not step in to ask the analyst to explain his reasoning, or to distance themselves from these archaic thoughts.
“This was broadcast at the same time BBC Derby is promoting a 27-minute feature with former Rams defender Charlie Palmer about the difficulties he faced a as a young black footballer in the 1980s.
“As a professional footballer at an ambitious, high-profile Championship club I know that my performances will be scrutinised and I have no problem with that whatsoever – but I do not think it is acceptable for myself and my team-mate Jayden Bogle to be judged by the colour of our skin.
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“Thank you for taking your time reading this – in a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
Craig Ramage made unacceptable comments in a podcast yesterday, which have been removed. We are thoroughly investigating. Craig will not be on air while we look into this matter. — BBC Derby Sport (@BBCDerbySport) February 16, 2020
Kick It Out chairman Sanjay Bhandari told the Guardian: “These comments are shocking and the views expressed are the kind of thoughtless racist stereotypes that we heard 50 years ago. We do not expect to hear them lazily trotted out in 2020. I expect effective action to be taken by the BBC.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Heathrow Airport 'Chaos' As IT Failure Causes Cancelled Flights

Whiteboards displaying handwritten flight numbers and destinations at Heathrow after the airport experienced technical difficulties. PA/@JennyNielsenNPT
Heathrow airport has apologised for disruption caused by “technical issues” that has left passengers unable to check in and cancelled flights.
More than 100 flights have reportedly been cancelled with departure gate information being handwritten on whiteboards.
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The UK’s busiest airport said extra staff had been put on to help with directing people to their gates.
The situation at the airport was described on Twitter by one passenger as “utter chaos”.
Jenny Nielsen tweeted pictures of the whiteboards displaying flight numbers and destinations.
She said: “Computer systems down at Heathrow. No electronic tickets allowed, delays & no flight information on screens… Oh Blighty.”
Utter chaos at @HeathrowAirport today. It’s been a shambles all day- I have seen families with young children miss their flights because of staff giving wrong/misleading information. It’s been pathetic. — Benjamin Kerr (@BenjaminKerr1) February 16, 2020
at heathrow airport, nearly every flight has been cancelled and some are delayed. the ground staff can’t help, screens are off and ‘not working’ although i believe that it’s just to cover up this big mess. can’t even leave the airport and our bags are checked in. @HeathrowAirport pic.twitter.com/XqVzUTn7HQ — alexandra (@alexand18393548) February 16, 2020
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In a tweet, Heathrow Airport said: “We are experiencing technical issues at the airport which we are working hard to resolve.
“To help direct customers to their gates, we have deployed additional Heathrow colleagues across our terminals.
“We apologise for the disruption and will continue to provide regular updates.”
British Airways told a customer on Twitter: “We’re aware Heathrow Airport is currently experiencing a technical issue that is impacting some of their IT systems across the airport, affecting a number of airlines.
“We are working with them to resolve the issue as a priority and apologise for the delay to our customers.”
Heathrow Airport later tweeted that technical issues had been “resolved” and systems are “returning to normal”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Barking Stabbing: Man Fighting For His Life After Knife Attack In East London

PA Archive/PA Images
A man has been left fighting for his life after a knife attack in east London on Sunday.
Scotland Yard said police were called at 4.24pm to Sandringham Road, Barking, to reports of a stabbing.
The victim, a man in his mid-twenties, is in a critical condition in an east London hospital.
London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended the incident, and a crime scene is in place.
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Police said two males have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
An earlier tweet from Barking and Dagenham police said that multiple people had been stabbed.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--ITV Pulls Love Island Episode After Death Of Former Host Caroline Flack

Love Island will not air on Sunday night out of respect for Caroline Flack and her family, ITV has confirmed.
The reality show’s current series will continue on Monday with a tribute to its former presenter Caroline, who was found dead at her London home after taking her own life on Saturday aged 40.
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The broadcaster said in a statement: “Many people at ITV knew Caroline well and held her in great affection. All of us are absolutely devastated at this tragic news.
“After careful consultation between Caroline’s representatives and the Love Island production team and given how close we still are to the news of Caroline’s tragic death we have decided not to broadcast tonight’s Love Island out of respect for Caroline’s family.
“Love Island will return tomorrow night which will include a tribute to Caroline who will be forever in our hearts.”
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Caroline Flack died on Saturday at the age of 40 James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock
On Saturday night, ITV decided not to air Love Island spin-off, Unseen Bits.
A spokesperson said in a statement: “Everybody at Love Island and ITV is shocked and saddened by this desperately sad news.
“Caroline was a much loved member of the Love Island team and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.”
Caroline had presented all five series of Love Island after it was rebooted in 2015 by ITV2.
She stepped down from hosting the sixth series following her arrest and subsequent charge for assault in December.
Caroline was due to face trial in March after pleading not guilty to assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton at her home.
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Caroline hosted the first five series of Love Island ITV/Shutterstock
Laura Whitmore took over as the host of Love Island last month, and on Sunday, she paid heart-wrenching tribute to her friend and colleague on her BBC Radio 5Live show.
“Anyone who knew Caroline knew she was vivacious, loving and had a passion for life, which is why none of this makes sense,” she said.
Laura Whitmore had been standing in for Caroline on Love Island David M. Benett via Getty Images
Caroline’s boyfriend Lewis Burton, who she had been banned from contacting as she awaited trial, said he was “in so much pain” after her death.
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He wrote on Instagram: “I will be your voice baby I promise I will ask all the questions you wanted and I will get all the answers nothing will bring you back but I will try make you proud everyday.”
Following her death, Caroline’s management blasted the Crown Prosecution Service in a strongly-worded statement for pursuing “a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest”.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Elton John Breaks Down In Tears As He’s Escorted Off Stage Mid-Concert After Losing His Voice

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A “deeply upset and sorry” Elton John has apologised to fans after cutting short a concert in New Zealand.
The 72-year-old was performing at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday when he lost his voice and broke down in tears on stage.
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In footage shared by fans on social media, Sir Elton is seen crying as he is escorted from the stage while thousands of concert-goers give him a standing ovation.
The music legend later revealed he had been diagnosed with walking pneumonia just hours before the gig.
Posting on Instagram, he said: “I want to thank everyone who attended tonight’s gig in Auckland.
“I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia earlier today, but I was determined to give you the best show humanly possible.
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“I played and sang my heart out, until my voice could sing no more.
“I’m disappointed, deeply upset and sorry. I gave it all I had.
“Thank-you so much for your extraordinary support and all the love you showed me during tonight’s performance. I am eternally grateful. Love, Elton xx.”
He also shared a picture of himself accompanied on the stage by a member of his crew.
According to one fan on social media, Sir Elton had told the audience earlier in the show: “My voice has completely gone, I’m so sorry.”
He was tended to by a medic for around five minutes earlier in the set and continued to play before he was forced to stop completely.
Following his departure from the stage, one fan tweeted: “Sir Elton John – you gave it everything you had – so sad you had to finish your concert in Auckland an hour early after your voice gave out. Hope you feel better soon.”
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Elton John performs at Mt Smart Stadium on February 16, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. Dave Simpson via Getty Images
Lesley Warwick, from Auckland, who attended Sir Elton’s concert, told the PA news agency: “I was so sad for Sir Elton – the show was fantastic and he gave it everything he had.
“Before his first song he forewarned the audience that he had been diagnosed with walking pneumonia earlier in the day but he was going to give it his best shot to get through the show.
“Kiwis are a very understanding and compassionate lot – he was given a standing ovation as he left the stage. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart played and the audience sang the lyrics as he left.”
Elton John has broken down on stage in Auckland: “My voice has completely gone I’m so sorry” — Stewart Sowman-Lund (@StewartLundNZ) February 16, 2020
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Sir Elton is due to perform two more concerts in Auckland on Tuesday and Thursday as part of his last ever tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road.
According to the American Lung Association, walking pneumonia is a “non-medical term for a mild case of pneumonia”.
Generally called atypical pneumonia, it can be caused by bacteria or viruses and symptoms, including a cough, fever, chest pain, mild chills and a headache, are similar to that of a bad cold.
Symptoms are usually mild enough for a sufferer to be able to continue their daily activities.
Sir Elton’s Auckland show came less than a week after he won an Oscar along with his long-time writing partner Bernie Taupin for Best Original Song for their Rocketman track (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Boris Johnson Told To Sack 'Sinister' Aide Who Backs 'Forced Sterilisation'

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Boris Johnson faces calls to “immediately” sack new Downing Street aide Andrew Sabisky, who said brain-boosting drugs were “probably worth a dead kid”.
The newly-hired advisor also once called for a “universal contraception” programme to stop the creation of what he termed a “permanent underclass”.
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The 27-year-old researcher was handed a role as a contractor after the PM’s senior advisor Dominic Cummings put out an advert for “misfits and weirdos” to work at Number 10.
Labour has urged the PM to sack Sabisky, saying there were were “no words” to describe his comments.
Sabisky is reported to have posted to a website run by Cummings, saying existing vaccination laws could pave a way for mandatory birth control.
“One way to get around problems of unplanned pregnancies creating a permanent underclass would be to legally enforce universal uptake of long-term contraception at the onset of puberty,” he wrote.
“Vaccination laws give it a precedent, I would argue.”
In a 2016 interview with Schools Week, Sabisky also discusses a drug called modafinil.
Sabisky reports to Boris Johnson's senior adviser, Dominic Cummings PA
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It is usually used to tackle sleepiness due to narcolepsy but can be used as a brain-enhancer. Its side effects in children include a higher risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which is a life-threatening condition that causes a person’s skin to die and falls off.
He told Schools Week: “From a societal perspective the benefits of giving everyone modafinil once a week are probably worth a dead kid once a year.”
The Mail on Sunday also reported that Sabisky did not agree that female genital mutilation (FGM) was a scandal.
“It is still unclear to what extent FGM represents a serious risk to young girls, raised in the UK, of certain minority group origins,” he wrote.
“Much of the hue and cry looks more like a moral panic.”
In a series of now-deleted tweets, the researcher also described female Labour MPs Yvette Cooper, Angela Rayner and Rebecca Long-Bailey as “dim”, while writing in another: “I am always straight up in saying that women’s sport is more comparable to the Paralympics than it is to men’s.”
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Boris Johnson and his advisor Dominic Cummings, left, leave 10 Downing Street ASSOCIATED PRESS
According to the Times, Sabisky has already attended several meetings in Number 10 and reports to Cummings.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps was pressed on the issue when he appeared on Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday.
“Not only have I not seen the story I don’t actually know the individual you are referring to at all,” he said.
He went on to say the comments made by Sabisky were views “neither I or the government share in any shape or form”.
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Labour MP Jess Phillips said Johnson had gone “full Trumpian” and has called Tory MPs “spineless and weak” for refusing to speak out about Sabisky.
So Johnson and Cummings will go full Trumpian...this should be no surprise. What does surprise me is that while it is happening Tories who would express private horror or would express public horror if it were the Labour party sit by complicity. I could name and shame so many. https://t.co/JJbPI0B3pR — Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) February 16, 2020
The lack of courage in parliament is the greatest shock to me. People who will turn up to have pictures in front of statues of women, who will wave flags on this international day or that but will stand silentg if their boss asks someone who flirts with eugenics to join the team. — Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) February 16, 2020
Spineless and weak. — Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) February 16, 2020
Labour’s David Lammy, meanwhile, called the appointment “sinister”.
So when Dominic Cummings put out an advert for 'weirdos' to work in Number 10, it turns out he meant supporters of Eugenics. Deeply sinister. Andrew Sabisky should be nowhere near government. https://t.co/whzaPXsV5D — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) February 16, 2020
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Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said: “There are really no words to describe Boris Johnson’s appointment as one of his senior advisers a man who is on record as supporting the forced sterilisation of people he considers not worthy. He must of course be removed from this position immediately.”
Number 10 has declined to comment.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Labour's Keir Starmer Claims Press 'Vilified' Jeremy Corbyn

Labour leadership candidate Sir Keir Starmer spaeking during the Labour leadership hustings at the SEC centre, Glasgow. PA
Keir Starmer has said Jeremy Corbyn was demonised by the press during the election campaign.
The frontrunner to be Labour’s next leader, who has refused to give interviews to The Sun, also claimed there had been “vilification of Labour leaders” in the past.
The shadow Brexit secretary told Sky News Sophy Ridge on Sunday that voters who said they didn’t like Corbyn had come to a judgement because of “what had been fed into them by the press” and that UK media risked losing “any kind of balance”.
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He said: “I defend journalists and it is very important that we do but in elements of the press there’s been vilification of Labour leaders that’s gone on for many, many years and Jeremy Corbyn probably got it worse than any leader this time.
“When we went and knocked on doors and people said they didn’t like Jeremy Corbyn, quite a bit of that was what had been fed into them by the press.
“We do need to address this because in the end, if we lose any kind of balance in the coverage of politics, we’re on a slippery slope.
“You can have an honest discussion all you like about politicians and politics, but once you’re on that slippery slope, then we’re losing touch with what actually matters.”
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"I don't need someone else's name tattooed on my head"
Labour leadership candidate @Keir_Starmer says he's aiming to unify the Labour party. He also refuses to say if he's closer to Jeremy Corbyn or Tony Blair, saying he won't "hug a historical figure" to win power.#Ridge pic.twitter.com/2dGDE4sAL0 — Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) February 16, 2020
Many Labour members blame the media for Boris Johnson winning an 80-seat majority at the election, with one YouGov poll of the party’s grassroots saying Corbyn had been the best Labour leader of the last century.
Starmer is the clear frontunner to take the top job, with strong union backing and a majority of local Labour parties throwing their weight behind his campaign.
He faces competition, however, from shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and campaigning Wigan MP Lisa Nandy, who has stressed the need for the party to regain voters in towns.
Pressed by Ridge on whether he felt closer to Corbyn’s politics or those of New Labour’s Tony Blair, Starmer refused to be tied down.
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He said: “If we can’t unite our party and stop taking lumps out of each other, then we’re not going to win the next general election and so I want to bring our party together.”
Starmer turned his fire on the prime minister in the wake of this week’s reshuffle, when chancellor Sajid Javid resigned rather than have Number 10 dictate who his team of advisors could be.
He said the PM’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings was behind Javid’s dramatic exit and said parliament will “have to have DCQs for Dominic Cummings before too long” in place of PMQs (prime minister’s questions).
He said: “Dominic Cummings is just getting more and more power. I know Boris Johnson doesn’t much like coming to Parliament, he does at least come for PMQs.
“I think we’re going to have to have DCQs for Dominic Cummings before too long because he is actually holding all the power and how do we hold him accountable?”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Laura Whitmore Honours 'Vivacious, Loving' Friend Caroline Flack In Heart-Wrenching On-Air Tribute

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Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore choked back tears as she honoured friend and colleague Caroline Flack in a heart-wrenching on-air tribute on BBC Radio 5Live.
Laura opened her Sunday morning show with some moving words about the late TV host, who was found dead at her London home after taking her own life on Saturday aged 40.
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“I wish we were talking under better circumstances, and I’ve been debating whether I should, would or could come on air today. But this isn’t about me,” Laura said.
“Yesterday, we lost someone before their time. At age 40, Caroline Flack made the decision to take her own life and I want to talk about it. We’re going to talk about her and give her the respect that she deserves, but didn’t always get.
Laura Whitmore pays emotional tribute to friend #CarolineFlack
Read more tributes here: https://t.co/mgnB5FK3sl
Listen to the full programme via @bbcsounds: https://t.co/TsoKQAsCvT pic.twitter.com/0T7QEIqtU5 — BBC Radio 5 Live (@bbc5live) February 16, 2020
“Anyone who knew Caroline knew she was vivacious, loving and had a passion for life, which is why none of this makes sense.”
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Remembering her friend, Laura continued: “Caroline loved dancing. Angels by Robbie Williams always reminds me of her because she danced so beautifully to it on Strictly, and I’m going to play that song after I’ve said what I want to say.
“Caroline loved music, she loved a dance. We shared many a dancefloor at gigs, festivals. I met her just shy of 10 years ago at V Festival and then we became friends.
“She was bubbly, and for such a small stature, commanded a room. She loved to laugh and had the most infectious chuckle.
“She also had many struggles. I’m not going to pretend she was perfect, but is anyone? she lived every mistake under the scrutiny of the media.
Laura Whitmore and Caroline Flack David M. Benett via Getty Images
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“Caroline loved to love. That’s all she wanted. Which is why a show like Love Island was important to her because it’s about finding love, friendship, having a laugh. The problem wasn’t the show. The show to work on is loving and caring and safe and protected. The problem is, the outside world is not.
“Anyone who has ever compared one woman against another on Twitter, knocked someone because of their appearance, invaded someone’s privacy, who’ve made mean, unnecessary comments on an online forum need to look at themselves.”
Becoming emotional, Laura then took a minute to compose herself, before continuing: “To the press, the newspapers who create clickbait, who demonise and tear down success, we’ve had enough.
“I’ve seen journalists and Twitter warriors talk of this tragedy, who they themselves have twisted what the truth is. You don’t have to tear someone down to feel good about yourself.
“So to listeners, be kind. Only you are responsible for how you treat others and what you put out in the world. I’ve had messages, I’ve been harassed for just doing my job, and this is where the problem is. I want to use my platform – this platform – to call people out, because it’s gone too far. Your words affect people.
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“To paparazzi and tabloids looking for a cheap sell, to trolls hiding behind a keyboard: enough.”
Laura went on to thank the BBC and ITV for the support that she’d had and for their understanding of her decision to continue with her show.
“I felt it was the right thing to do. Thank you,” she said.
Talking about her boyfriend Iain Stirling, who is also Love Island’s narrator, Laura said: “To my boyfriend, the kindest man I know, and the whole Love Island family who are in mourning of their colleague and friend and have been a great support over the last few hours, I love you.
“To everyone, be kind in what you say.”
She added: “I’m going to carry on today and get through this show, as that is what Caroline would say to do.
“Caroline, I am so sad for you. For your family. I’m angry you saw this as your only option as I know how much love and support you had. I’m sorry you didn’t know that.
“I’m not sure when, but I know I will see you on a dancefloor again, and I hope you are at peace and know that you are loved.”
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Laura took over presenting duties from Caroline on Love Island when she stood down from the current series following her arrest and subsequent charge for assault in December.
Caroline was due to face trial in March after pleading not guilty to assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton at her home.
Laura previously shared a short tribute on Twitter, posting a poem along with a picture of her with Caroline.
“I’m trying to find the words but I can’t,” she wrote.
I’m trying to find the words but I can’t 💔 pic.twitter.com/FY3ppLzqsA — Laura Whitmore (@thewhitmore) February 15, 2020
Laura also shared a video of her and Caroline at a party on her Instagram page, writing: “See you on the dancefloor.”
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Laura’s boyfriend, Love Island narrator Iain Stirling, also shared footage of Caroline dancing to Robbie Williams’ Angels during her time on Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2014.
Referencing her famous walk into the Love Island villa, he wrote: “Today my friend wandered into heaven. I bet it was in slow motion and sassy as fuck. Love you x.”
On Saturday night, ITV decided not to air Love Island spin-off Unseen Bits as a mark of respect to Caroline.
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A spokesperson said in a statement: “Everybody at Love Island and ITV is shocked and saddened by this desperately sad news.
“Caroline was a much loved member of the Love Island team and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--More Than 350 People From A Quarantined Cruise Ship Have Now Tested Positive For Coronavirus

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More than 350 people who were on board a quarantined cruise ship in Japan have now been diagnosed with coronavirus, making it the place with the most Covid-19 infections outside of China.
On Sunday, Japan’s health minister Katsunobu Kato confirmed that another 70 people from the Diamond Princess cruise ship had tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases from the vessel to 355.
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The cruise – which around 3,700 passengers and staff on board – has been quarantined in Yokohama since February 3, after a man who left the ship in Hong Kong was diagnosed with coronavirus.
Those who have been diagnosed with the virus have been transferred to hospitals in Japan. No-one from the ship has died from Covid-19.
The United States, Canada and Hong Kong are sending aircraft to Japan to bring back their citizens on board the ship.
A group of quarantined passengers exercise on the Diamond Princess cruise ship Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, in Yokohama, near Tokyo. A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 67,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The US Embassy in Tokyo said passengers and crew on board the ship were at high risk of exposure to the virus and it recommended that its citizens get off and take one of the flights home.
“This is a rapidly evolving situation and we are taking additional steps to assist U.S. citizens,” it said.
The embassy said all passengers would be screened before being allowed to board the chartered flights and everyone would be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival back in the United States.
“No symptomatic or infected passengers will be allowed to board,” it said.
Workers load supplies onto the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama ASSOCIATED PRESS
Clyde Smith, 80, who was evacuated from the ship to a Tokyo hospital after testing positive for the virus told Reuters on Sunday he had not been told if would be allowed on a U.S. evacuation plane.
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Latest figures from Beijing on Sunday showed 68,500 cases of the illness and 1,665 deaths, mostly in Hubei province.
Japan has had 53 cases of the coronavirus, apart from those on the ship, NHK reported, with one of only four deaths from the virus outside mainland China in Japan.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Grant Shapps Rejects Reports No. 10 Plans To Axe BBC Licence Fee

Transport secretary Grant Shapps arrives for a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London ASSOCIATED PRESS
Transport secretary Grant Shapps has poured cold water on reports that Downing Street will axe the BBC licence fee.
A report in the Sunday Times suggested Boris Johnson had already decided to cut the levy and fund the BBC through viewer subscriptions.
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Quoting senior sources, the report said Number 10 was “not bluffing” and the prime minister would be “really strident” about the need for serious reform.
But, speaking to Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday, Shapps underlined that there was a consultation under way into decriminalising non-payment of the licence fee and there were no “preordained” decisions on future funding models.
“I would be pretty cautious of some unattributed comments,” he said.
“There is a consultation out there. It is just a consultation at this stage. There are no further decisions made at all.
“The BBC is a much loved national treasure. We all want it to be a huge success. But everybody, including the BBC themselves, recognises that in a changing world the BBC itself will have to change.
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“But it is simply not the case that there is some preordained decision about the future funding of the BBC out there. The charter runs to 2027 so there is long way to go on all these decisions.”
"I'd be pretty cautious of some unattributed comments"
When asked about a newspaper report quoting a "senior Downing Street source" saying there should be a "massive pruning back" of the BBC, @grantshapps says there is no "preordained decision" about the corporation's funding pic.twitter.com/KpZMKZPvOY — Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) February 16, 2020
It comes as the UK is set to enter trade negotiations with Donald Trump’s US government, with groups such as the US Chamber of Commerce warning there should be no “culture carve-out” for publicly-funded broadcasters.
The Sunday Times report said there would be a consultation on replacing the licence fee with a subscription model, adding: “We will whack it.”
It added that the number of BBC television channels could also be reduced, the website scaled back and stars banned from cashing in on well-paid second jobs.
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The attack will be seen as a further escalation of the hostilities between No 10 and the corporation, with many Tories still angry at its coverage of last year’s general election.
It was reported that the review will be led by former culture secretary John Whittingdale, who was reappointed to his old department in last week’s reshuffle.
The Sunday Times quoted one source as saying: “We are not bluffing on the licence fee. We are having a consultation and we will whack it. It has got to be a subscription model.
“They’ve got hundreds of radio stations, they’ve got all these TV stations and a massive website. The whole thing needs massive pruning back.
“They should have a few TV stations, a couple of radio stations and massively curtailed online presence and put more money and effort into the World Service which is part of its core job.
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“The PM is firmly of the view that there needs to be serious reform. He is really strident on this.”
The warning comes after the BBC chairman Sir David Clementi last week mounted a strong defence of the licence fee system.
He warned that putting the broadcaster behind a paywall would undermine its ability to “bring the country together”.
The report also saw Johnson’s aides turn their fire on highly-paid BBC stars who made huge sums from outside work, suggesting they should be forced to donate the money to charity.
“It’s an outrage that people who make their profile at public expense should seek to give themselves further financial rewards and personal gain,” one source told the paper.
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“They’re basically making their names on the taxpayer and cashing in. The BBC should immediately halt this practice and give the money to good causes.”
But the Conservatives are not united on major reforms to the BBC, with Damian Green, chairman of the One-Nation caucus of MPs, has urged colleagues to “stop the BBC bashing”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Man Dies After Falling Into River In South Wales During Storm Dennis As Police Declare 'Major Incide

Man Dies After Falling Into River In South Wales During Storm Dennis As Police Declare 'Major Incident'

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A man in South Wales has died after falling into a river during Storm Dennis as the UK was left counting the cost of the extreme weather.
The man fell into the River Tawe at Ystradgynlais at around 10am on Sunday, police said.
He was later found dead further along the river in the Trebanos area. He has not yet been named.
The news came as police in South Wales declared a major incident following severe flooding and the north Atlantic storm, described as a “bomb cyclone”, triggered nearly 600 flood warnings and alerts in England alone on Sunday - more than any other day on record.
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Lifeboats were used to evacuate streets in some of the worst-it areas, with people moved to emergency rescue centres after their homes were devastated by water from overflowing rivers.
On Sunday afternoon South Wales Police said they had declared a major incident as firefighters and rescue crews continued to help communities who have been cut off due to the flood water.
It comes after residents in South Wales were warned that Storm Dennis could pose a “danger to life”, with the Met Office issuing a red weather warning until 11am on Sunday due to heavy rainfall and flooding risk.
Tredegar in south-eastern Wales received 105mm of rain in the 24 hours leading up to 7am, while a gust of 91mph was recorded on Saturday evening in Aberdaron.
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One-year-old Blake is carried by a rescue worker as emergency services continue to take families to safety, after flooding in Nantgarw, Wales, as Storm Dennis hit the UK. PA
One of the worst-hit areas in South Wales was the village of Nantgarw, Rhondda Cynon Taff, near Cardiff, which had seen entire streets left underwater since the early hours of Sunday morning.
Emergency teams including firefighters and volunteers had been evacuating the village’s Oxford Street since around 5am and were still working midday on Sunday.
Paul Mason, group manager of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said the scene his team had faced was the worst he had experienced in his 31-year career.
“The water was up to the window sills in some instances, so we sent a number of boats and crews down here to assist with our partner agencies, systematically going through each of the houses, knocking on doors, trying to prioritise individuals,” he said.
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“This weather is unprecedented. We haven’t seen this, it’s incredible, and it’s right throughout the South Wales Valleys.”
Mason added: “I’ve never experienced anything like this.”
Members of the public are rescued after flooding in Nantgarw, Wales as Storm Dennis hit the UK. PA
The Environment Agency also issued four severe flood warnings – meaning there is a risk to life – along the River Teme in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.
Meanwhile, the agency said on Sunday afternoon that there had been more than 600 flood warnings and flood alerts in place across England – covering an area from Scotland’s River Tweed to the rivers of west Cornwall.
According to John Curtin, the director of flood management at the Environment Agency, there were more flood warnings and alerts in force in England on Sunday than on any other day on record.
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BREAKING: we now have the most flood warnings and alerts in force (594) in England than any other day on record. Stay safe and updated here https://t.co/K5GUW3z87V pic.twitter.com/0IEdWBAOpi — John Curtin (@johncurtinEA) February 16, 2020
In Scotland, residents in Newcastleton were evacuated from their homes, while two people had to be rescued after their car was swept off the road, the BBC reported.
The storm has caused major disruption to travel, with rail services across South Wales suspended after tracks were submerged by rain. The line between Derby and Long Eaton was also closed.
Meanwhile, flooding saw the M54 westbound closed at Telford, along with the A616 around Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire and the A52 between Stragglethorpe and Gamston in the East Midlands, Highways England said.
Hundreds of flights have also been grounded safety reasons, with British Airways and easyJet confirming cancellations.
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More than 230 easyJet flights in and out of the UK on Saturday were cancelled.
Soldiers from The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland assisting with flood defences in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire on Saturday ASSOCIATED PRESS
Earlier, the Ministry of Defence deployed British Army personnel to assist people in West Yorkshire areas badly hit by flooding during last weekend’s Storm Ciara.
According to the Met Office’s Greg Dewhurst, relief from Storm Dennis is still some distance away, with “heavy rain and strong winds” set to continue across large parts of the UK on Sunday.
“South Wales will see a lot of rain fall before Dennis moves north later to Scotland and Northern Ireland,” he said.
One man was found following a huge search operation off Margate after an early-morning distress call, while another was found at Herne Bay.