thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Michelle Obama Managing 'Low-Grade Depression' In Wake Of George Floyd's Death

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Michelle Obama has spoken about experiencing “low-grade depression” during the pandemic, saying it’s “exhausting” to continually see Black Americans “dehumanised” in the news.
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Speaking on The Michelle Obama Podcast, the former first lady told journalist Michele Norris: “I know that I am dealing with some form of low-grade depression.
“Not just because of the quarantine, but because of the racial strife, and just seeing this administration, watching the hypocrisy of it, day in and day out, is dispiriting.”
The second episode of her podcast, titled Protests and the Pandemic, was released on Wednesday. It sees the pair discuss the challenges of recent months.
“Part of this depression is also a result of what we’re seeing in terms of the protests, the continued racial unrest, that has plagued this country since its birth,” Obama continues.
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“I have to say, that waking up to the news, waking up to how this administration has or has not responded, waking up to yet another story of a Black man or a Black person somehow being dehumanised, or hurt or killed, or falsely accused of something, it is exhausting. And it has led to a weight that I haven’t felt in my life in a while.”
Obama compared seeing the video of George Floyd’s death to “those pictures of folks standing around lynched bodies in trees”.
“We talk about fear, you know, we talk about white women clutching their purses at the sight of us, or feeling uncomfortable when we walk in the store, but, I wonder, do you know how afraid we are? Because we know that there are white folks who see us as not human.”
To look after her mental health, Obama says she finds maintaining a schedule essential. For her, small things like eating dinner at the same time every day and waking up on cue seem to help.
“I try to make sure I get a workout in, although, there have been periods throughout this quarantine, where I just, have felt too low,” she says.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Holly Willoughby Shares Throwback Wedding Photo As She Celebrates Anniversary With Husband

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Holly Willoughby has shared a very personal moment with fans, posting a picture of her first kiss with husband Dan Baldwin after they got married.
The This Morning presenter shared a throwback photo from her big day as she celebrated her 13th wedding anniversary.
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Paying tribute to her TV producer husband, Holly posted the picture on her Instagram account, calling herself “totally blessed”.
She wrote: ”[Tuesday] marked 13 years since this photo was taken...I love you so much Daniel... totally blessed... my absolute [world].”
Holly and Dan married in August 2007, and welcomed their first child, son Harry, two years later.
They’ve since become parents to nine-year-old Belle and Chester, five.
Holly is currently on a break from her This Morning presenting duties, as is her co-host Phillip Schofield, and earlier this month posted a photo of herself enjoying her time off.
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Sharing a stunning selfie, she hinted that she was on holiday, captioning it with the sun and waves emoji.
On her last day on the show in July, Holly spoke of her hopes to be reunited with her glam squad when she returns to work in September.
Posting a video of her pre-show routine on Instagram, she wrote: “Here’s hoping this is the final time I do this.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Controversial YouTuber Jake Paul's Home Searched By FBI In California

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The FBI raided the Los Angeles-area home of controversial YouTube star Jake Paul on Wednesday morning.
A search warrant was executed at Paul’s home in the city of Calabasas, though information on the reason for the warrant is sealed, according to a statement released to ET Online.
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It read: “The FBI is executing a federal search warrant at a residence in Calabasas in connection with an ongoing investigation.
“The affidavit in support of the search warrant has been sealed by a judge and I am, therefore, prohibited from commenting as to the nature of the investigation. No arrests are planned.”
Jake Paul pictured in June zz/GOTPAP/STAR MAX/IPx
Local station KABC noted that the search warrant was issued about two weeks after Paul, 23, hosted a large party at his mansion.
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TMZ reported that the search was conducted by what it described as “a small militia ... in armoured trucks.” The outlet’s website said at least 20 people were on the grounds, including several in SWAT and/or tactical gear.
KABC later tweeted that authorities seized multiple firearms during the raid.
Paul’s camp did not immediately respond to a HuffPost request for comment.
Calabasas Mayor Alice Weintraub, discussing Paul’s recent party, said she was outraged by the lack of masks and social distancing among its guests.
“I was very upset that somebody would hold such an outrageous gathering in our community,” the mayor told KABC. Saying that the community is trying “to do everything we can” to stem the spread of the coronavirus, “and something like this just does the opposite.”
In addition, Paul was charged with two misdemeanours in June after being filmed at a Scottsdale, Arizona, mall as it was being looted.
Paul first gained fame on the Disney Channel show Bizaardvark, and for a series of YouTube video in which he engaged in outrageous and dangerous stunts.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--England's First Wild Beaver Families Win 'Right To Remain' On River Otter

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England’s first wild beavers for four centuries have been given the permanent “right to remain” in their Devon river home.
Up to 15 beaver families are estimated to live on the River Otter, where they have been living wild for some years.
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Conservationists hailed the “groundbreaking decision” by the government to allow “nature’s engineers” to “breathe new life into our rivers and wetlands”.
The news marks the first ever reintroduction of an extinct native mammal to England, Devon Wildlife Trust said.
Beavers were hunted to extinction in Britain four centuries ago for their meat, fur and gland secretions used for perfume and medicine.
In 2013, a family of beavers were discovered to be living on the River Otter in East Devon – England’s first wild breeding population of beavers for 400 years.
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The animals were initially threatened with removal by officials, until Devon Wildlife Trust stepped in to lead a study to examine the impacts of wild beavers on the river, landscape and community.
⚠EXCITING NEWS⚠ Today, we wake up to groundbreaking news: the government has officially said that Devon's beavers can stay. Their benefits will be felt by wildlife and people, and we are THRILLED! More here: https://t.co/xgsNBoQBb4@WildlifeTrusts @UniofExeter @DefraGovUK pic.twitter.com/fD3sBPcSuM — Devon Wildlife Trust (@DevonWildlife) August 6, 2020
The five-year trial found their dam-building helped reduce flooding for at-risk homes, improved water quality, and created wetlands that supported fish, insects, birds and endangered water voles. Their presence has even boosted local tourism.
The results showed how rapidly beavers can bring a “wealth of benefits” to the areas they inhabit, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said.
Two family groups of beavers were first identified and have since bred and dispersed through the river system, building 28 dams.
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They will now be allowed to remain in the river permanently, and are expected to continue to naturally expand into new areas.
Mark Elliot, beaver project lead at Devon Wildlife Trust, said the government’s decision was “brilliant news”, but added: “It’s now vital that decisions are made on the national status of beavers that allows them to be reintroduced into other river systems in England.
“There also needs to be funding to support landowners who wish to allow beavers to restore wetlands on their land, and to assist landowners who do not wish beavers to affect their farming practices.
“This is vital if we are to see beavers welcomed back into the English landscape after such a long absence.”
Reflecting on an UNFORGETTABLE moment last Friday: the release of Sigourney - a female beaver on Cabilla Cornwall, Bodmin! 🎉🐾✊🏼
A tentative, but determined step in the right direction. Huge props to @MerlinHanbury for leading the charge.@gow_derek @CwallWildlife @UniofExeter pic.twitter.com/55xh7qY9dU — Beaver Trust (@BeaverTrust) August 3, 2020
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Peter Burgess, director of conservation at Devon Wildlife Trust, said: “This is the most groundbreaking government decision for England’s wildlife for a generation.
“Beavers are nature’s engineers and have the unrivalled ability to breathe new life into our rivers and wetlands. Their benefits will be felt throughout our countryside, by wildlife and people.”
It is thought there are other beavers living on English rivers and there have been calls to help these populations.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Cameron Diaz Reflects On Decision To Quit Hollywood: 'I Got A Peace In My Soul'

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Cameron Diaz has opened up on her decision to quit Hollywood, saying the move brought her “peace”.
The star is known for films including There’s Something About Mary, Charlie’s Angels and The Holiday, but hasn’t appeared on the big screen since the 2014 adaptation of Annie.
Speaking to Gwyneth Paltrow for the latest episode of the In Goop Health: The Sessions series, Cameron said she had found years of working and being in the public eye “intense”.
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Cameron Diaz SIPA USA/PA Images
After Gwyneth asked her what if felt like to “walk away from a movie career of that magnitude”, Cameron said: “A peace. I got a peace in my soul, because I finally was taking care of myself.”
The Shrek star continued: “It’s a strange thing to say, I know a lot of people won’t understand it, I know you understand it, but it’s so intense to work at that level and be that public and put yourself out there.
“There’s a lot of energy coming at you at all times when you’re really visible as an actor and doing press and putting yourself out there.”
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Cameron starred in Charlie's Angels alongside Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore Sony Pictures
Cameron, who made her film debut as a 21-year-old opposite Jim Carrey in 1994 comedy The Mask, described her intense schedule as a “grind” and said it meant she was unable to make any time for her personal life.
The pressure of being responsible for multi-million dollar films could be “overwhelming” she said, explaining she wanted to become self-sufficient after years of having even basic tasks done for her on set.
“I stopped and really looked at my life,” she said. “When you’re making a movie, they own you. You’re there for 12 hours a day for months on end, you have no time for anything else.”
Cameron confirmed her retirement from acting in 2018. However, speaking in April, she did not rule out a return and said: “I’m never gonna say never, because I’m not a person who says never about anything.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Facebook Removes Trump's Post For First Time Over 'Virtually Immune' Coronavirus Claim

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Facebook has deleted a post by Donald Trump in which he claimed children were “almost immune to coronavirus”, saying it violated its policy against spreading misinformation about Covid-19.
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It is the first time Facebook has taken steps to remove content posted from Trump’s account, following intensifying criticism over the social media’s perceived inaction over hate speech and misinformation.
Facebook said the “video includes false claims that a group of people is immune from Covid-19 which is a violation of our policies around harmful Covid misinformation”.
Later on Wednesday, Twitter announced it had also blocked Trump’s presidential campaign account, Team Trump, from tweeting unless it took down a post containing the same claim.
Until it was removed, the post was hidden per Twitter’s enforcement rules. The Trump campaign did not clarify whether it removed the tweet, but did later appear to be tweeting again from the account.
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A Twitter spokesperson told HuffPost the tweet “is in violation of the Twitter Rules on Covid-19 misinformation. The account owner will be required to remove the Tweet before they can Tweet again.”
The post in question featured a clip from a Fox News interview with the president, during which he claimed that children are “almost immune” to the virus.
In the interview, he was pushing for schools to reopen nationwide. He said: “If you look at children, children are almost ― and I would almost say definitely ― almost immune from this disease.”
Children are less likely to become severely ill from the virus, but they can be infected and fall sick – as well as transmit the virus to others.
A large study conducted in Washington DC and published in the journal Pediatrics also found worrying disparities in how the disease affected different groups of children – with Black and Latinx, as well as those from lower-income households, more likely to contract the virus.
Trump campaign spokesperson Courtney Parella told HuffPost in a statement: “Another day, another display of Silicon Valley’s flagrant bias against this President, where the rules are only enforced in one direction. Social media companies are not the arbiters of truth. The President was stating a fact that children are less susceptible to the coronavirus.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Anthony Fauci Says He's Hired Security To Protect Daughters From Death Threats

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Dr Anthony Fauci said Wednesday that he’s had to hire security to protect himself and his family after receiving death threats from people who object to his work on the coronavirus pandemic and the science behind regulations.
During a livestreamed talk with CNN’s Dr Sanjay Gupta hosted by Harvard’s School of Public Health, the infectious disease expert said he was taken aback by the harassment he and his family have received in the last few months.
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Noting that crisis “brings out the best of people and the worst of people,” Fauci said, “getting death threats for me and my family and harassing my daughters to the point where I have to get security, it’s amazing.”
Fauci said his wife and daughters were “fine” but stressed by the threats.
“I wouldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams that people who object to things that are pure public health principles are so set against it and don’t like what you and I say, namely in the world of science, that they actually threaten you,” he said.
Fauci previously revealed that he and his family were facing “serious threats” during an interview on “The Axe Files” podcast in July. At that time, he called the threats “a little bit disturbing.”
Fauci had his own personal security detail as early as April, according to reports from CNN and The Hill.
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Dr. Fauci smiles through disclosing death threats against him and his family: "I wouldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams that people, who object to things that are pure public health principles, are so set against it .... that they actually threaten you.” pic.twitter.com/1wLly42MBc — The Recount (@therecount) August 5, 2020
Fauci is one of the most prominent figures in the White House’s coronavirus task force but has also been at odds with members of the Trump administration, including Donald Trump himself, as he offered bleak predictions as the pandemic worsened.
Trump has undermined and contradicted some of Fauci’s recommendations and information during the pandemic. This past weekend, Trump directly challenged Fauci by retweeting a video of the doctor explaining why the US has experienced another surge in coronavirus cases over the summer while cases in European countries have fallen.
“Wrong!” the president tweeted.
Peter Navarro, Trump’s top trade adviser, even published an op-ed against Fauci in USA Today in an attempt to discredit him, claiming the infectious disease expert “has been wrong about everything I have interacted with him on.”
Wrong! We have more cases because we have tested far more than any other country, 60,000,000. If we tested less, there would be less cases. How did Italy, France & Spain do? Now Europe sadly has flare ups. Most of our governors worked hard & smart. We will come back STRONG!
:: https://t.co/hhwYOrnWZn — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--6 Steps To Better Solo Sex, According to Sex Therapists

Let’s face it: masturbation can get a little rote. We close the blinds, visit our go-to Pornhub categories, find something agreeable on page however-long-it-takes-to-find-something, and get the job done. Wham-bam, thank you, ma’am.
But what’s the rush? While it’s true we’re often crunched for time, there’s something to be said for savouring the moment instead. Sex therapists and educators agree.
“A lot of folks regard masturbation as a quick one-and-done release as opposed to a celebratory pleasure practice,” said Amy Baldwin, a sex and relationship coach and co-host of the Shameless Sex Podcast. “If you put more into it, you can experience heightened pleasure and more powerful and abundant orgasms.”
It makes complete sense that most of us opt for quick masturbation, when you think of how little we’re taught about it growing up. Maybe you once got in trouble for touching yourself as a kid or maybe you never heard a word about what masturbation was or entailed from your parents. It certainly gets the short shrift during sex education.
On top of that, Baldwin said, “a lot of folks learned to move quickly in fear of mum or dad walking in the room when they were young.”
Luckily, we can work to embrace a more mindful, satisfying version of masturbation.
“Because the brain is the largest sex organ, people can learn to retrain their brain and body to feel pleasure in new ways,” Baldwin said. “When folks start to learn about intentional masturbation, they often experience more feeling and sensation including heightened pleasure and more powerful and abundant orgasms.”
“This is because intentional masturbation often leads to more connection to the body, and a lot can happen when we are fully present for all of the sensations,” she explained.
Certainly sounds more enjoyable than that “wham-bam, thank you, ma’am” scenario we described earlier, huh? Below, sex-perts like Baldwin offer their best advice for taking solo sex to the next level.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--50 Funny And Relatable Tweets About Mealtime With Kids

At lunch time my toddler asked me for more food. Right as I put her plate down with more food she said no thanks I'm done then I looked at her and said that's not for you and I sat down at the little table and started eating my food. The look of defeat on her face, priceless.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--I Condemned Trump's Bible Photo-Op And Went Viral. Here's What That Moment Taught Me

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I’ve been thinking all summer about the power of decisive moments ― those times in our lives when we actively choose a particular path or way of being in the world, one that requires us to be brave. We all want to be brave when it counts, to be one who steps up, leans in, does the right thing when it matters most. While the more dramatic of those moments can catch us by surprise, in the sense that we may not have woken up that morning knowing such courage would be required of us, looking at those moments through the wider lens of time, we realise that they are not isolated events.
A decisive moment ― one that we remember as having marked or defined us ― is often preceded by a long season of preparation. And when the moment passes and the adrenaline rush is over, we are left to live according to what we felt at the moment of decision.
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Serving as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington requires me to step into the public arena on occasion ― never enough for some members of the capital region diocese and far too often for others who prefer their bishops to keep politics out of church and church out of politics. Truth be told, more often than not when I speak or act publicly, few people outside of church circles notice or care.
But every once in a while it happens that the world takes notice, as it did on June 1 when President Donald Trump made his now-infamous walk across Lafayette Square, with top military and Cabinet leaders at his side, in order to be photographed holding a Bible in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Moments before, standing before journalists in the Rose Garden, the president had threatened to use military force against American citizens who had joined a protest ― one of many taking place around the world ― in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. The order was then given to forcibly remove all protestors from Lafayette Square and the courtyard in front of St. John’s Church, presumably to clear a path for the president.
“I managed to get in front of a microphone that evening to say that the president had no right to the spiritual mantle he had attempted to claim as authority for his actions and words.”
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Urged on by horrified church colleagues who were watching this scene unfold live and immediately contacted me, I managed to get in front of a microphone that evening to say that the president had no right to the spiritual mantle he had attempted to claim as authority for his actions and words.
As it turned out, the microphones and cameras kept coming for about four days, and I kept saying essentially the same thing. It seemed to others that I was being very brave. Maybe I was, but in all truth, it felt more like being summoned to speak on behalf of others who were being brave, others in the church and the nation who were standing up for racial equity, others in the church and the nation were outraged by what they saw. I did my best to embrace the moment without losing sight of the larger struggle for racial justice that people across our country were demanding.
It was a bit like riding a wave. Like all waves, it was all-consuming for a brief moment and then ― and here’s the point ― the moment passed. And I’m not persuaded that it was all that decisive a moment for me, at least not in comparison to other dramatic moments of that very dramatic week.
Keep in mind the larger truth that for Black and brown people in the United States, there was nothing new in the way George Floyd died. People of colour have been killed at the hands of law enforcement and vigilante citizens since the founding of this country. What is new is the ability for ordinary citizens to record on video what generally happens in secret. What is new is that the long protest by people of colour has been joined, at last, with a rising sense of horror and shame among white Americans. The veil on our eyes has been lifted, a moment amplified and intensified by the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing murderous racial disparities in this country that we white Americans had refused, until now, to see.
The author Courtesy of Mariann Edgar Budde
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For me, the more important decisive moment came the following Sunday. I was back on what’s now called Black Lives Matter Plaza, listening to the words of Bishop William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign. Bishop Barber looked out on the wonderfully multiracial, intergenerational crowd gathered and said, “Do not let anyone tell you that this is the first time people of different races, classes and educational backgrounds have come together to fight for a common cause. It has always been such a coalition of the faithful that has brought about change in this country ― Black, white and brown; rich and poor; young and old. Everyone is needed; everyone has a part to play and an offering to make.”
When he said that, I felt shame and performance anxiety roll off my shoulders and I heard myself say to God and to the universe, “I want to be among the coalition of the faithful now. I want to be among those working for the change we need now.”
That’s the decision that informs my life today. It’s not exactly a new decision, but I feel it in a new way. It won’t always burn in my heart the way it does now, I know that. But I pray for the grace and courage and perseverance to be true to it even when the passion of this season fades.
“Threshold” is a word we’re using quite a bit in this country ― I’ve used it myself ― to describe where we are, a kind of crossing over from one reality to the next. “Crucible” is another, to connote the possibility of transformation when elements come together under pressure and heat. We find ourselves wanting to be brave, to do right, to act with courage, and we must, but given the challenges before us and our fallibility as human beings, it’s important to acknowledge that as we step up to the plate, we’ll miss more balls than we hit.
“For when that decisive moment comes in the midst of a whirlwind and we feel called to act ― to be truly brave ― we do so trusting less in ourselves than in the power, the energy, the spirit that’s compelling us forward.”
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But here is a surprising truth: Acceptance of our imperfect perceptions, incomplete understandings, our woefully inadequate actions and rather small place in the scheme of things is paradoxically and wonderfully empowering. For when that decisive moment comes in the midst of a whirlwind and we feel called to act ― to be truly brave ― we do so trusting less in ourselves than in the power, the energy, the spirit that’s compelling us forward. We don’t have to be perfect, which is a good thing, because we won’t be. We don’t have to take on the entire world, only our corner of it. We’ll never know the ultimate significance of our words and actions. We simply don’t know. “But what a relief it can be to accept contingency,” writes the poet Christian Wiman, “to meet God right here in the havoc of change.”
The truth is that we don’t yet know if this will be the time, whether we, as a nation, are ready and willing to make the kinds of changes we so desperately need. We don’t know now whether our efforts will bear fruit.
But what we do know ― what I know ― is this: Wherever we are in the continuum of change, there are ways to be faithful to that vision, to be part of the coalition of the faithful. Whether this is the turning point or yet another season of preparation, whether we are successful today or whether we fail, we can do what God asks of us, which is our part ― faithfully, imperfectly, in an ever-changing world in which we, too, are being changed.
Mariann Edgar Budde serves as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C. You can follow her on Twitter at @mebudde. This article first appeared on HuffPost Personal
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--How People With Chronic Pain Feel About The 'No Painkillers' Approach

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“Honestly, I wouldn’t function without pain medication,” says Jennifer Brough, 30, who lives with fibromyalgia and endometriosis, two conditions that have “radically” altered her life since she was diagnosed.
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Brough is concerned about new draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) that suggests painkillers – paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin and opioids – should not be prescribed to treat chronic primary pain (CPP), citing evidence they can cause harm, including addiction.
“While I am reticent to take painkillers often, when I have incapacitating flare-ups, medication provides the necessary respite I need to function,” she says.
Chronic primary pain refers to chronic pain as a disease in itself, according to NICE. It includes issues such as chronic musculoskeletal pain, as well as chronic pelvic pain and fibromyalgia. In contrast, chronic secondary pain is where the pain is a symptom of an underlying condition.
The draft guidance suggests there’s “little or no evidence” the commonly used drugs for chronic primary pain make any difference to people’s quality of life, pain or psychological distress. But Brough disagrees. “To suggest painkillers aren’t effective solutions for managing pain is an oversimplification of the issue,” says the editor and writer from Croydon.
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While the guidelines indicate some concern around the long-term impacts of taking pain medication, such as addiction, Brough believes removing this as a treatment option “will dramatically affect the physical and psychological wellbeing of vast numbers of the population”.
Supplied Jennifer Brough
Katy Stevens, 32 and from Essex, lives with the chronic primary pain condition fibromyalgia, in addition to psoriatic arthritis. “I’m generally a positive and motivated person, and enjoy working from home,” she says, “but when I have a chronic pain flare, I struggle with basic parenting and house-related work.”
Stevens, who is a content creator at Katy Kicker, is prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Naproxen for her pain, which she’s found helpful, in addition to heated blankets, cooling pads and regular exercise.
She’s also concerned by the draft guidance. “I’m worried my GP may not prescribe me pain medication going forward,” she says. “I manage really well for the majority of my chronic pain days, however, a couple of times a month I have to use Naproxen in particular, and it’s the only medication I’ve found to be helpful.
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“I’ve tried herbal alternatives, and a variety of non-prescription products and returned back to Naproxen each time.”
Supplied Katy Stevens
The NICE draft guidance suggests gabapentinoids, local anaesthetics, ketamine, corticosteroids and antipsychotics shouldn’t be offered to people to manage chronic primary pain because, again, there’s “little or no evidence” these treatments work. Instead, people should be offered supervised group exercise programmes, some types of psychological therapy, or acupuncture, it said. Antidepressants can be considered, too.
Stevens says she’s found exercise helpful, and has learned mental health coping techniques for her worst pain days. She agrees anti-depressants can be useful, too – “I’ve previously been prescribed amitriptyline to help with my fibromyalgia symptoms, and found it worked well” – but believes pain medication also has its place within all of these options.
Medical professionals should be trusted to “exercise common sense” when it comes to treating people’s pain, she adds. “I personally receive a prescription for pain medication just 1-2 times a year, so my GP can see I’m only using it when I really need to. I want my own GP to know that I’m trying to help my body, but life with chronic pain is hard.”
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In addition to pain relief, Brough has paid for private therapy and also takes pregabalin – a drug that primarily treats epilepsy and anxiety, but is also prescribed for nerve pain. She has found both beneficial, “but it is only another tool in the kit that sits alongside painkillers,” she says.
There’s a worry among people living with chronic pain that if you shift the focus to a psychological approach, there’s an underlying narrative it’s all in a person’s head. “To move to these alternative therapies – particularly in the psychological arena – emphasises that pain can disappear if we work on ourselves,” says Brough. “It smacks of a ‘mind over matter’ approach that simply isn’t a realistic choice for many people in chronic pain.”
Many people who live with chronic pain want more treatment options and research on the table, rather than taking options that some have found to be beneficial away.
Rachel Tait, 31, from Northumberland, who runs What A Pain – a website about life with chronic illness – worries the draft guidance will bring “a great deal of stress and worry” to those living with chronic primary pain, many of whom she speaks to on a daily basis.
Tait has rheumatoid arthritis (RA), characterised by chronic pain, inflammation and fatigue, and trigeminal neuralgia, a painful condition affecting the nerves in her face. While the draft guidance wouldn’t impact her, as she has chronic secondary pain, she’s concerned about the impact it could have on others.
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“From my own experience I know pain medication alone isn’t a fix all, but it is a very important tool when used correctly for managing chronic pain,” she says. “It is needed in combination with other pain management though, and most importantly, the underlying cause of pain must be addressed.”
“Pain medication alone isn’t a fix all, but it is a very important tool.” - Rachel Tait, 31, from Northumberland, who runs the What A Pain website
In a blog post on the draft guidance, retired physician and researcher Edzard Ernst questioned the evidence surrounding acupuncture in particular, as well as the very definition of chronic primary pain. “Pain is usually a symptom and not a disease,” said Ernst. “In many forms of what we now call CPP, an underlying disease does exist but might not yet be identifiable, I suspect.”
The NICE guidelines are open to public consultation until September 14 – and Brough is encouraging people with chronic primary pain to share their stories with the health body.
Paul Chrisp, director of the centre for guidelines at NICE, said the guidance acknowledges the need for further research across the range of possible treatment options, reflecting both the lack of evidence in this area and the need to provide further choice for people with the condition.
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Commenting on the draft guidance, Nick Kosky, a consultant psychiatrist at Dorset HealthCare NHS University Foundation Trust and chair of the guideline committee, said patients with chronic pain expect a clear diagnosis and effective treatment, “but its complexity and the fact GPs and specialists find chronic pain challenging to manage, means this is often not possible,” he adds.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Can't My Socially-Distanced Gym Stay Like This Forever?

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This time last year, I remember considering cutting a workout short because a man at the gym wouldn’t stop staring at me – or, more specifically, stop staring at my breasts.
It was not the first time I’ve been made to feel uncomfortable in a fitness space, and I doubt it will be the last. But it’s a stark contrast to my first visit to the gym since it reopened for the first time since lockdown was imposed back in March. This time, I loved every minute of it, maybe going so far as to say it was the best workout I’ve ever had.
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Let me tell you why.
As someone who has struggled with a fluctuating weight for most of her life, and has been on the receiving end of countless fat jibes, I have a complicated relationship with my body. I have learned to love myself the way I am, but for a long time the gym was a place where I felt I didn’t belong. I never took part in classes because I feared looks from others, my mind obsessing over the rolls of my stomach when I bent over or the fact I couldn’t hold a yoga position as long as the rest of the class.
There is a misguided belief that gyms are for people who are already in shape, or who appear to be in shape (for the record, you can look overweight and still be incredibly strong: I can leg press 100kg and am a size 16). If you’re not toned, dressed in the latest Lululemon and showing off how many reps you can do, are you even working out?
“Post-lockdown, my gym is pure bliss – and not just thanks to the endorphins.”
Being forced to compete with so-called ‘gym people’ can be intimidating for those who are already scared to take the leap onto their fitness journey. Like the time a man told me to give up the dumbbells because he ‘needed’ this particular set, and I could use something else. Or when another man was visibly tapping his foot because he felt I was taking too long on the seated arm curl machine – naturally, I stayed longer just to annoy him, but I could feel his eyes burrowing into my neck the entire time. And don’t even get me started on the man who approached me in the gym at 3am while I was doing sit-ups, because he fancied a late-night chat.
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But post-lockdown, my gym is pure bliss – and not just thanks to the endorphins. With social distancing now a government-imposed requirement, there are clear markers preventing people from entering your personal space without consent, and there is also a limit on how long you can use a machine or stay in the gym.
This means there are no longer any men huffing or puffing to encourage women to leave the notoriously testosterone-filled weights area, often purely for the reason that some men believe it somehow belongs to those who have a penis. Neither is anyone trying to flirt, because it’s near-on impossible. My session was also the first time I’ve seen a split ratio of men and women on the weights mats, of different ages and sizes – and it filled me with pure joy.
Almara Abgarian The author, who returned to the gym for the first time since March
As for the threat of coronavirus, I felt very safe. My local gym is cleaner than it has ever been, with everyone required to use hand sanitiser on arrival, clean off the machines before and after use, and change their clothes and shower at home.
Every other machine is marked with an X, so that people keep the appropriate distance, and many pieces of equipment are now available in limited numbers. As an example, there is now only one mat and kettlebell up for grabs, to ensure that these are cleaned after each use.
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You must also book and pay for your session in advance – unless you are a member – and are told to bring your own towel and water bottle.
Overall, it’s not the space that made the biggest impression on me, but the atmosphere. People are grateful to be able to step back into the gym again, and no one was breaking rules.
“My session was also the first time I’ve seen a split ratio of men and women on the weights mats, of different ages and sizes – and it filled me with pure joy.”
Of course, it shouldn’t take a pandemic for women to finally get to exercise in peace and be granted the same access to equipment as men. My reluctance about the gym is undoubtedly connected to personal body image issues (I’m working on it, okay?) but most gyms have never been this female-friendly or body-positive – and I say this as a hardcore feminist who will happily chew someone’s ear off if I feel I am treated as anything less than an equal. Fighting back in a space where you already feel on the back foot is no easy task.
Coronavirus has presented us with a chance to build a better society in the future. These dark times will eventually end, but my hope is that we take the very few positives from this otherwise tragic situation and learn from them.
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Don’t let it take another pandemic for women like me to feel at home in gyms.
Almara Abgarian is a freelance journalist. Follow her on Twitter at @almaraabgarian


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Social Housing Faces 'Extinction' As Government Unveils Sweeping Planning Reforms

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Sweeping reforms to the planning system could lead to social housing facing “extinction”, critics have warned.
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said the biggest overhaul of planning policy in England in decades would protect green spaces while making it easier to build on brownfield sites.
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The government’s over-arching aim to curb the power of local politicians was clear as Jenrick said it takes seven years to agree housing plans and five years just to get a spade in the ground – and the proposed changes aim to speed up the process.
But campaigners were alarmed by the consequences of the slashing of red tape, seizing in particular on the government proposing to scrap Section 106 agreements, which can be used to require private developers to build a certain amount of social homes on a site.
While an obscurity to most outside the building world, Section 106 is said to be responsible for half of all affordable homes built in England. It will be replaced by a new “infrastructure levy”. Without it, Labour branded the shake up a “developers’ charter”.
Despite the government’s insistence that the moves would create tree-lined streets and promote “beautiful” buildings, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) said there was “every chance they could also lead to the creation of the next generation of slum housing”.
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Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “Any alternative to Section 106 must ensure we can deliver more high quality affordable homes to meet the huge demand across the country.”
Polly Neate, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said: “Decades of political decisions have left social housing gravely endangered.
“If the government now removes the requirement for developers to build their fair share it could face extinction.
“Over a million households on waiting lists for social homes risk having their hopes dashed.”
Prime minister Boris Johnson and his senior aide Dominic Cummings have both advocated reform to the system and the proposals in the Planning for the Future White Paper published on Thursday set out the government’s vision.
Part of the new process will involve quicker development on land which has been designated “for renewal”, with a “permission in principle” approach that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said will balance the need for proper checks with a speedier way of working.
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The other two categories will see land designated for growth where new homes, hospitals and schools will be allowed automatically to empower development, while areas of outstanding natural beauty and the green belt will come under the protection category.
Jenrick added: “These once-in-a-generation reforms will lay the foundations for a brighter future, providing more homes for young people and creating better quality neighbourhoods and homes across the country.
“We will cut red tape, but not standards, placing a higher regard on quality, design and the environment than ever before.”
It also aims to boost the share of houses built by small and medium-sized building firms, which built 40% of new homes 30 years ago but only 12% today.
The White Paper proposes that all new streets should be tree-lined and the MHCLG also says “all new homes to be carbon neutral by 2050, with no new homes delivered under the new system needed to be retrofitted”.
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White Paper "could also lead to the creation of the next generation of slum housing”. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Councils will also be forced to lay out a “local plan” of where new homes can be built, as only 50% have such schemes in place.
The reforms aim to reduce the number of planning cases that get overturned at appeal by creating a “clearer, rules-based system”.
A new national levy would replace the current system of developer contributions and “beautiful buildings” will be fast-tracked through the planning system.
But RIBA president, Alan Jones, said: “While there’s no doubt the planning system needs reform, these shameful proposals do almost nothing to guarantee the delivery of affordable, well-designed and sustainable homes.
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“While they might help to ‘get Britain building’ – paired with the extension of permitted development – there’s every chance they could also lead to the creation of the next generation of slum housing.”
Shadow housing minister Mike Amesbury said: “This is a developer’s charter that will see communities sidelined in decisions and denied vital funding for building schools, clinics and community infrastructure.”
An MHCLG spokesperson said: “These claims are completely untrue.
“Our proposals will introduce a simpler levy that ensures developers deliver at least as much – if not more – affordable housing.
“We are prioritising high quality design for all new homes. For the first time every local area will develop their own mandatory design codes – these will decide the development which can happen in their area, with new building only allowed if they reflect local character and preference.
“Developments will only be fast-tracked if they are high quality and meet locally-designed codes and any new buildings would be subject to our stringent regulations.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Tories Hand Schools With Richer Pupils More 'Levelling Up' Cash

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Boris Johnson stands accused of breaking his promise to “level up” education funding as a new analysis shows schools with rich pupils are set to benefit more from new cash.
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Think tank the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has probed the Tory government’s new settlement for schools, which the prime minister said would be a cash injection for deprived parts of the country.
Confirming settlement for schools that will see an annual spending rise of £7.1bn over three years, Johnson said pupils in England will receive an increase in funding of at least 2% next year.
It means secondary schools will attract a minimum of £5,150 per pupil – up from £5,000 this year – while primary schools will get at least £4,000 per pupil, up from £3,750.
But the EPI founds that more funding is being directed towards schools previously funded at a lower rate – and often these have fewer disadvantaged pupils.
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It found on average that poorer pupils - those eligible for free school meals (FSM) - will see a real terms funding increase of 0.6% compared to last year, while non-FSM students will receive a larger increase of 1.1%.
The report also said that white British pupils will see real terms funding increases of 1.4%, compared to 0.5% for non-white British pupils.
There are also fears that deprived areas could be further hit as the Covid-19 crisis will push up school costs.
It concludes: “The link between funding and pupil need is being weakened by a system of levelling up which directs a proportion of additional funding towards schools with historically lower levels of funding – these schools will typically (though by no means exclusively) be serving schools in more affluent areas.”
David Laws, executive chairman of the EPI, added: “School closures this year will have been especially harmful for the learning outcomes of the poorest pupils. Those from disadvantaged backgrounds will need maximum support to ensure their life chances are not damaged by this period of disruption.
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“But by skewing extra funding towards more affluent pupils, the government’s approach of ‘levelling up’ school funding is fundamentally at odds with this goal.”
It comes as the government faces calls to ensure that exam grade calculations don’t downgrade pupils from poorer backgrounds.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority is under fire over its model, which reduced the pass rate of the poorest Higher pupils by more than twice that of the richest.
Commenting on the EPI report, Julia Harnden, funding specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), meanwhile, said: “The problem is that many schools in deprived areas where funding rates are higher to support disadvantaged pupils, are getting lower uplifts, because the government isn’t putting enough money into the system to increase their funding to the same extent.
“In fact, we are concerned that some of these schools may be worse off in real terms because school costs are rising above inflation.”
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Avis Gilmore, deputy general secretary of the National Education Union, said the “reverse is happening” to “levelling up” and the new formula risks exacerbating the attainment gap, adding: “The cuts schools and colleges have suffered to their budgets since 2015 have impacted greatly on children and young peoples education.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--The Top Toys For Christmas 2020, According To Argos

HuffPost UK Argos announces the top toys for Christmas 2020
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We’re in a heatwave, during a pandemic, and we can’t bring ourselves to think about Christmas yet. And yet, here we are.
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With just over four months to go until the big day, Argos has announced its highly anticipated top toy predictions for 2020.
According to research conducted by the toy retailer, the time we’ve been spent at home has generated a strong sense of nostalgia.
Half of parents reminisced about their old toys at some point during the nationwide lockdown, and as a result, more than one fifth plan to gift their child something that conjures memories of their own childhood this Christmas.
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There are familiar faces (and creatures) on this year’s list, with toys from L.O.L. Surprise! and Paw Patrol making the lineup for a third and fourth year in a row respectively.
Elsewhere on the list, the unstoppable rise of TikTok and YouTube made its presence felt in the KidiZoom Studio entering the top 12.
At least 10 of the toys are available to buy now – with links below – but two of them aren’t yet available to order. Here they all are.
The well-known fashion dolls are back – with added surprises to add to their new “retro” styles.
HuffPost UK Argos
Star Wars The Child Animatronic Toy, £45
It’s not yet available to order, but this Baby Yoda toy is already set to be a hit. Touching the top of its head activates over 25 sound and motion combinations, including giggles, babbles and more, all while Yoda’s head moves up and down, ears move back and forth, and eyes open and close.
HuffPost UK Argos
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Poopsie Dancing Unicorn, £50
If you press the belly button, this unicorn will sing and dance. A dancing unicorn, what more could you want, even if it’s not yet available to order.
HuffPost UK Argos
PAW Patrol fans, listen up. This is the first-ever motorised team vehicle from the range. So, when your kids spots a dino in trouble, they can launch the rescue nets.
HuffPost UK Argos
This interactive flamingo wiggles and jiggles his neck – and repeats what you say. He even tells you he needs a “poop” after he’s fed. This definitely won’t get on parents’ nerves. Not at all.
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HuffPost UK Argos
Remember Hatchimals? There’s a new range on the block – and these are fairies that can fly. Launch them from the base or lift them into the air, then use your hands to guide them.
HuffPost UK Argos
Your kids can be the star of their own videos – this kit comes complete with green screen to create special effects, too. You can set up the included tripod to film videos, or use the flip-up lens and handle to capture selfie videos.
HuffPost UK Argos
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Laser Battle Hunters, £60 These radio-controlled combat vehicles can move forward, reverse, spin and turn at super-fast speeds. Endless fun.
HuffPost UK Argos
A starter course for Lego and Mario fans – also featuring an interactive Mario figure. Get building and creating, then knock it all down and start again.
HuffPost UK Argos
It’s eye-wateringly expensive – but apparently you can build an exact detailed replica of a Lamborghini Sian FKP 37. Kid car fans, rejoice.
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HuffPost UK Argos
For younger kids, this activity toy is an “interactive friend” that should keep playtime exciting. The four play modes are filled with music and activities that encourage babies to get moving.
HuffPost UK Argos
These dolls love to dance – they have soft bodies but can also raise their arms and legs in “lifelike” positions. An upgrade on your average baby doll, for sure.
HuffPost UK Argos


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Donald Trump Thinks Joe Biden, A Practising Catholic, Will 'Hurt God'

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Donald Trump has claimed that Joe Biden, a lifelong practising Catholic, is “against God”.
Speaking to a small crowd at an airport in Cleveland, Ohio, Trump also suggested the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee would “hurt God” if elected.
The attack came a day after the Trump campaign manipulated an image of Biden with his head down and in prayer at a church to make him appear down and dejected.
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Trump’s comments appear to be driven by polls indicating the president and Biden are neck-and-neck in Ohio. Trump carried the crunch state by 8 points in 2016.
Trump said Biden would “take away your guns”, adding: “No religion, no anything, hurt the Bible, hurt … God. He’s against God, he’s against guns. He’s against energy, our kind of energy. I don’t think he’s going to do too well in Ohio.”
Trump on Biden: "No religion, no anything, hurt the Bible, hurt ... God. He's against God, he's against guns." pic.twitter.com/oiIdPcY2vl — The Recount (@therecount) August 6, 2020
Biden has spoken of his faith a number of times, and said it helped him through personal tragedies, such as the deaths of his wife and children.
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Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the Biden campaign, said: “Joe Biden’s faith is at the core of who he is; he’s lived it with dignity his entire life, and it’s been a source of strength and comfort in times of extreme hardship.
Here's the response from Biden spokesman Andrew Bates to Trump's absurd claims about Biden and God. pic.twitter.com/mrY6bwOeyH — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 6, 2020
“Donald Trump is the only president in our history to have tear-gassed peaceful Americans and thrown a priest out of his church just so he could profane it – and a Bible – for his own cynical optics as he sought to tear our nation apart at a moment of crisis and pain.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Belgium, Andorra And The Bahamas Added To UK Quarantine List

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Travellers arriving in the UK from Belgium, Andorra and The Bahamas will have to quarantine for 14 days from this weekend.
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Transport secretary Grant Shapps said rising Covid-19 infection levels in the three countries mean they have been removed from the so-called travel corridors, which meant arrivals were exempt from self-isolating.
In a tweet, he said the measures would come into force in England from Saturday at 4am, echoing a statement made earlier by the Scottish justice secretary Humza Yousaf.
Northern Ireland later confirmed the measures would also apply there from the same time on Saturday, while in Wales the restrictions come into force from midnight tonight.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also updated its travel advice to warn against all but essential trips to Andorra, Belgium and The Bahamas.
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Brunei and Malaysia have been added to the government’s travel corridor list, following a decrease in confirmed cases of coronavirus, meaning arrivals from these countries no longer need to quarantine.
Figures released on Thursday show Belgium has suffered a consistent increase in cases in recent weeks, rising to 27.8 new cases per 100,000 people.
This towers over the UK’s latest rate of 8.4 per 100,000, and is higher than Spain’s 27.4 level around the time when the UK introduced travel restrictions there.
PA
Belgium’s prime minister, Sophie Wilmes, was last week forced to put a halt to the nation’s Covid-19 exit plan by introducing drastic new social distancing measures in the hope of avoiding a new national lockdown.
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Contacts outside every household were limited to the same five people for a month, in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.
In Andorra, new cases per week have increased five-fold since mid-July, while in The Bahamas the weekly case rate peaked at 78.6 last week, up from 3.1 in the middle of last month.
The UK’s move to add Spain onto the quarantine list on July 26 sparked a diplomatic row with the nation and caught out holidaymakers who had already flown over, including Shapps.
It also angered transport bosses who have called for increased testing to reduce the isolation period.
Luxembourg was added to the UK’s red list on July 31.
Shapps said he “cannot rule out” other countries being included on the list, as officials keep overseas infection rates under close observation.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--London Marathon Switched To Elite-Athlete Race As Mass Event Cancelled

Eliud Kipchoge has been confirmed for the elite-athlete only event. PA
The 2020 London Marathon will be an elite-athlete only event, organisers have announced.
Elite races for men, women and wheelchair athletes will take place on an enclosed looped course in St James’s Park on October 4 in a secure biosphere, with the times counting towards Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification.
Athletes confirmed for the race include Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, women’s world record holder Brigid Kosgei and para athletes David Weir and Manuela Schar.
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No spectators will be allowed at the 40th London Marathon, but BBC Sport will broadcast coverage of the race, encompassing 19.8 laps around the park and finishing in the traditional place on the Mall.
“Today is a day of sadness, but also I think it’s a day of certainty,” event director Hugh Brasher said, hailing the “inclusivity” of the new-look race.
“It’s a day where we’re announcing what is appropriate – we think – for the 40th race. It’s certainly not something we ever expected to do.”
He added: “We hope people will get inspiration from the gods of our sport still battling it out over those 26.2 miles in the only world marathon race that is taking place in the fall.
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“And still having Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, Brigid Kosgei, Manuela Schar, David Weir… they’ll take the inspiration from those athletes, on the journey that will be incredibly personal to them. We will celebrate that journey from a distance, but in spirit, together.”
Those who had planned to take part in the event – originally postponed from April 26 to October due to the coronavirus pandemic – have been offered the option to defer their places to the 2021, 2022 or 2023 events.
The 41st race in 2021 is also set to take place in the autumn, on October 3, to give people more certainty and confidence in the event going ahead.
Additionally, 45,000 people who were supposed to take part in the event in the spring will take part in a “virtual race” across the world, receiving a finisher’s medal and T-shirt for completing the 26.2-mile distance from home anywhere in the world within 24 hours on October 4.
Brasher said: “We believe it’s the greatest marathon in the world, the greatest athletes in the world are still coming, and we hope that Britain gets behind the 45,000 who will run or walk that 26.2 miles on October 4.
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“And in that journey, one of the pieces to celebrate in a way – is that actually this will make it the most inclusive London marathon, we believe, in history – because people have 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds in which to take part.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Coronavirus Could Deepen Inequality. Planning Law Changes Risk Being An Accelerant

ASSOCIATED PRESS
The government has announced today “once in a generation” reforms to the country’s planning regulations; far-reaching changes that promise to make it easier to build much-needed new homes.
Their focus on increasing house building is welcome, but efforts to simplify and streamline the planning system cannot come at the expense of the quality of homes.
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Poor quality housing costs the NHS £1.4bn a year. The devil will be in the detail and the kind of design standards that sit behind different “zones” it has proposed.
But without care, these reforms could lead us into building a generation of substandard housing – or as many are calling “slums of the future”.
We all know that England is in a housing crisis with a lack of affordable, accessible housing. As the population ages, this need for better quality homes that are suitable for people’s changing needs as they get older is only going to become more acute. In less than 20 years, one in in four of us will be aged over 65 and, at that age, we can expect to live just half of our remaining years free from disability. Done right, these reforms offer government a real chance to respond to the shifting age profile that we’re experiencing.
One of the simplest way to do this is to require that all new homes are built to accessible standards. In practice, this means things like not having steps up to a front door, making doorways slightly wider, installing bathrooms that are one level. Homes with these features don’t just work for people with mobility issues – helping people to remain safe and independent in their own homes – they are the kinds of changes that make life much easier for families too. Ageing Better has convened the HoME coalition of 10 organisations, which is urging the government to bring forward changes to raise the minimum standard of accessibility in the Building Regulations.
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Then there is the issue of quality. We’ve all seen the dangers of deregulation. The expansion of permitted development rights – essentially allowing developers to convert offices and other commercial buildings with limited checks has led to very poor quality – and in some cases virtually uninhabitable – homes. These homes are often without safe access and cut off from local amenities. The new planning reforms cannot allow these kinds of construction crimes.
Good quality means decent space and natural light, being energy efficient to allow people to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Data shows that one in ten over-60s who live alone struggle to heat their homes, which can lead or contribute to poor health. Better insulation is a key factor to creating more suitable homes for our ageing population, as it is for people of all ages and key to the decarbonisation of our homes.
We also need a proper chance for people to input into plans to build homes in their communities. Currently most local people engage with planning at the point when applications are made, and if the government make changes to this process, as proposed, there’s a risk that local accountability will be diminished.
The government then must make sure that local people understand and can feedback on plans that will affect them. This is particularly people in more deprived and urban areas who it seems from proposals will be less protected than those in areas such as greenbelt, requiring less scrutiny.
Finally, the government must use this as an opportunity to level-up by enabling more social housing to be built. They have already recognised the huge inequality that exists across the country, which the coronavirus pandemic threatens to deepen. They must then ensure that these changes don’t lead to a new generation of unaffordable homes or a lack of social housing.
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The coronavirus pandemic has reminded us that where we live, the quality of our homes and our connection with communities we live in really matter. In trying to build our country out of this crisis it’s imperative the government doesn’t forget this.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--BBC Receives Almost 19,000 Complaints Over Use Of N-Word In News Report About Racist Attack

The BBC received almost 19,000 complaints in the days after a reporter used the N-word while covering a racist attack in Bristol.
The broadcaster faced a wave of criticism after airing the word uncensored on Wednesday last week. The segment saw Fiona Lamdin reporting on two men who had driven a car into another man before running off and shouting racist abuse at him.
The report aired on BBC News last week BBC News
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In the piece, which aired just after 10.30am, she said: “Just to warn you, you are about to hear highly offensive language. Because, as the men ran away, they hurled racial abuse, calling him a n*****.”
It has now been reported a total of 18,656 people complained to the BBC’s executive complaints unit (EBU) about the incident.
Earlier this week, the BBC responded to the controversy, but notably did not apologise for featuring the N-word in the broadcast.
This prompted further criticism of the broadcaster on social media, with many disappointed it had stood by the decision.
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So @BBCNews are sticking by and justifying the use of the N word on live television. Simply exhausting and a waste of our energy. pic.twitter.com/9TtsCX0xBs — William Adoasi (@WilliamAdoasi) August 4, 2020
Omg i was just gonna mention. When i got the email this morning i was like?????? Not one single “sorry” https://t.co/HmLsukuutL — Laura (@lauzzaza) August 4, 2020
What a disgusting blatant disregard and contempt for Black Lives. Shame on @BBCNews, I am super disappointed in this response. https://t.co/8ORR0XRKfc — Bakani Pick-Up (@bakanipickup) August 5, 2020
I'm fed up of all these white owned corporations trying to tell black people what they should find offensive. If black people say its offensive, then it's offensive, there's no argument. https://t.co/6WTuOQCyoS — theparttimers.co.uk (@Parttimerdan) August 4, 2020
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This is basically an extended version of the “I have friends who let me use it” argument. Just because the victim’s family gave you permission doesn’t suddenly make it OK https://t.co/dHWe0O5qS0 — ruva🌼 (@ruviexo) August 5, 2020
When @BBCNews uses 'we were given a pass' to offend people as an excuse. Disgusting! https://t.co/nZuusuyvHL — Shava (@Meth_uselah) August 4, 2020
I was fuming when I got this email. They’re not apologetic at all https://t.co/kS1AytySCQ — Symone K (@Symone__K) August 4, 2020
Extremely disappointed with @BBCNews
There are alternative ways to highlight what was said but they CHOSE to use offensive language with HISTORIC connotations.
I now question their values as they’ve decided to justify it rather than apologise. https://t.co/WOANcNfZL4 — AYO (@AY00LU) August 4, 2020
In a statement on their complaints website, the BBC said it “accepted that this has caused offence”, but claimed the use of the word was “editorially justified given the context”.
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“The decision to use the word was not taken lightly and without considerable detailed thought: we were aware that it would cause offence,” it said.
“But, in this specific context we felt the need to explain, and report, not just the injuries but, given their alleged extreme nature, the words alleged to have been used - a position which, as we have said, was supported by the family and the victim.
“These are difficult judgements but the context is very important in this particular case. We believe we gave adequate warnings that upsetting images and language would be used and we will continue to pursue this story.”
BBC guidance states “the strongest language” must not be shown before the watershed at 9pm, but the N-word itself is generally deemed too offensive to be aired at any time.
An Ofcom report about public perceptions of such language in 2016 deemed it to be “highly unacceptable at all times”, but said that if it is to be used then “strong contextualisation [is] required”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Belly Mujinga: Prosecutors Rule Out Charges Over Railway Worker's Death

Belly Mujinga PA
Prosecutors have ruled out charges over the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which reviewed police’s decision to close the investigation, said on Thursday that medical tests confirmed the suspect accused of spitting at the Victoria station worker while she was on duty had not been infected with coronavirus.
Mujinga, 47, died of Covid-19 on April 5, two weeks after saying she was spat on while at work by a man who claimed to have the virus.
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Deputy chief crown prosecutor Suzanne Llewellyn said: “At the request of British Transport Police, following their decision to take no further action in this case, the CPS has now independently reviewed the evidence and advised on any further lines of enquiry that might support a prosecution.
“As part of this review, we studied enhanced CCTV, forensic materials and witness statements.
“CCTV and witness evidence was insufficiently clear and consistent to substantiate allegations of deliberate coughing or spitting, meaning no charges can be brought for assault or public order offences.
“Medical tests confirmed the suspect had not been infected with coronavirus, which together with the lack of other evidence rules out any charges in relation to homicide.
“Therefore, after careful consideration and with all lines of inquiry explored, we have advised British Transport Police no further reliable evidence has become available to change their original decision in this case.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Caroline Flack's Death Ruled As Suicide As Inquest Reaches Conclusion

Caroline Flack’s death has been ruled as a suicide, following an inquest.
The Love Island presenter died in February at the age of 40, with coroner Mary Hassell saying she has “no doubt” that she intended to take her own life.
Caroline was on bail and awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to charges of assault, following a row with her boyfriend Lewis Burton in December 2019.
The coroner told Poplar Coroner’s Court on Thursday: “The reason for coming to an inquest is to understand the sequence of events leading to death, and which events had an impact on death.
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“The way you understand that is by listening to the evidence. I appreciate everybody in court is just as able to make up their own minds as I am.”
Caroline Flack, who died in February 2020 EMPICS Entertainment
She continued: “The key decision for me to make is whether Caroline took her own life.
“I have to be satisfied she acted in a way so as to cause her death, and secondly that she intended to cause her death. In Caroline’s case I am entirely satisfied she intended to cause her own death.”
Describing the method of death, Hassell added: “She had only one expectation – her own death. There’s no doubt in my mind at all.”
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Hassell told the court: “Caroline had fluctuating mental ill health, she had had struggles in the past.
“She had had difficulties. In spite of the fact she may have led – to some – a charmed life, actually the more famous she got the more some of these difficulties increased – she had to deal with the media in a way most of us don’t.
“It was played out in the national press – and that was incredibly difficult for her. She faced the prospect of not working in the job she loved, losing a great deal.
“I find the reason for her taking her life was she now knew she was being prosecuted for certainty, and she knew she would face the media, press, publicity – it would all come down upon her. To me, that’s it in essence.”
Caroline at the Pride Of Britain Awards in 2018 Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
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The late presenter’s mother, Chris, then said via video-link: “I totally agree, I think you got it spot on.
“We know you are not allowed to say certain things and it’s up to us if we want to take it any further, and we don’t. You’re spot on.”
During the first day of the inquest, Caroline’s family said she had been “seriously let down by the authorities” and was “hounded” by the press over her then-upcoming trial in the weeks before she died.
Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
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The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-06--Government Sneaks Out Plan That Could Cut Thousands Of Affordable Homes A Year

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New developments of up to 50 homes may no longer have to provide any affordable housing under proposed changes to government planning rules.
Hours after the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) released an 80-page document proposing to reform the whole system, a second major consultation appeared online detailing plans for “shorter-term” changes to the existing rules.
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Current regulations include a small sites threshold dictating that developments with 10 or more homes (or covering more than 0.5 hectares) must contribute affordable housing.
Proposed guidelines could increase this five-fold, with the consultation document suggesting that small development sites with up to 40 or 50 homes (or up to 2.5 hectares, around the same area covered by three standard football pitches) would not need to provide a single affordable dwelling.
The government justifies this temporary change by saying it will boost building and support the construction industry in the wake of lockdown and throughout the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
According to government statistics, there were 16% more builder and developer insolvencies in 2019 than in 2018 – the vast majority of which were small and medium enterprises, a situation exacerbated by coronavirus.
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The proposals are expected to remain in place for eighteen months, but there are fears they could be extended, leaving many areas – particularly overcrowded cities such as London which is primarily focused on small site developments – without the assurance of affordable housing for years to come.
The consultation was published almost in parallel with the Planning for the Future white paper, which repeatedly states the importance of maintaining and improving levels of affordable housing.
The document states that if the small sites threshold is cut to 40 units, the government would expect to see a reduction of between 7% and 14% of section 106 affordable housing delivery over a single year, assuming overall housing delivery remained constant. If it’s cut even further – to 50 units – this would be between 10% and 20%.
Alistair Berg via Getty Images
Planning expert Nick Perry, chair of The Hackney Society, told HuffPost UK: “The first thing to be aware of is for all of the language around it being temporary, and some acknowledgement of what those temporary effects could be, it could last for a long time or it could be extended.
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“It does seem slightly ludicrous to all of a sudden bring in this category of ‘no affordable required’ sites that are four times, five times as big as they were.
“In London terms, two-and-a-half acres is a big site. What that means is the vast majority of sites, the important sites, would now be under that threshold, and many smaller developers are not going to be building any affordable homes.
“They will be totally removed from that system, won’t even have to give money in lieu of it, and I’m not sure who that benefits.”
The National Housing Federation previously said its member housing associations built around 39,000 affordable homes in 2019 – more than two-thirds of the total – of which 54% were delivered through Section 106 agreements, which are used to require developers to build a certain amount of social homes on a site.
The proposed changes to the current planning system also include a policy stating that a minimum of 25% of all affordable homes created through developer contributions should be First Homes – the government’s new scheme offering first-time buyers a 30% discount on a property.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--British Airways: More Than 6,000 Staff Apply For Voluntary Redundancy

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More than 6,000 British Airways staff have applied for voluntary redundancy from the airline as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic hits.
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It comes as thousands more cabin crew and ground staff are expected on Friday to receive letters from the airline telling them whether or not they are being made redundant.
Many of those who keep their jobs face pay cuts.
BA’s owner IAG announced in April that it would cut up to 12,000 jobs out of a total of 42,000 due to the effects of coronavirus.
In a statement, BA said coronavirus had had an “enormous financial impact” on the business.
“We are having to make difficult decisions and take every possible action now to protect as many jobs as possible,” the airline said in a statement.
“And, while we never could have anticipated being in a position of making redundancies, more than 6,000 of our colleagues have now indicated that they wish to take voluntary redundancy from BA.”
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Five months after the coronavirus pandemic began, BA is still only running 20% of its usual flights.
Unite the union has launched a scathing attack on the BA, accusing the company of “industrial thuggery” and of forcing out loyal staff because of “company greed”.
Howard Beckett, Unite’s assistant general secretary, said: “This is a very bleak day for the incredible BA workforce and will go down in the history of the airline as the day that it put the interests of the boardroom ahead of its passengers and workforce.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--Facebook Axes Fake Accounts Claiming To Represent Black Support For Trump

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Facebook has removed several accounts purporting to represent African American support for President Donald Trump, the company revealed Thursday.
It also wiped out hundreds of fake accounts linked to the right-wing media operation The Epoch Times that peddled pro-Trump conspiracy theories about Covid-19 and anti-racism protests.
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The fake African American accounts were pushed out by a toll farm in Romania onto Facebook and Instagram targeting the US ahead of the presidential election. The accounts used names like “We Love Our President” on Facebook, and “BlackPeopleVoteForTrump” on Instagram.
Facebook said the fake network’s posts featured US news, including the upcoming election, the “Trump campaign and support for the campaign by African Americans,” as well as support for conservative ideology, Christian beliefs and QAnon.
Facebook removed 35 Facebook accounts, three pages and 88 Instagram accounts in the crackdown, which the company said was part of its ongoing action against “coordinated inauthentic behaviour” during the presidential campaign.
In a separate troll farm operation tied to pro-Trump media organization Epoch Media Group, Facebook eliminated 303 Facebook accounts, 181 pages, 44 Facebook groups and 31 Instagram accounts followed by more than 2 million people in largely English and Chinese-speaking countries and Vietnam.
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Epoch Media Group is the parent company of the newspaper The Epoch Times. The accounts were tied to the digital media outlet TruthMedia, which has been banned from Facebook.
Stephen Gregory, the publisher of The Epoch Times’ English-language editions, denied to NBC News that the company was associated with TruthMedia.
Facebook last year jettisoned nearly 700 fake accounts using deep-fake profile photos that pushed Epoch Times stories and issues. The network had an international following of some 55 million people.
Facebook also banned The Epoch Times from advertising last year after it purchased space under account names like “Honest Paper” to dodge Facebook’s ad review system. At that time, The Epoch Times was the second-largest buyer of pro-Trump ads on Facebook, after the Trump campaign.
Separately, Facebook last month removed 54 Facebook accounts, 50 pages and four Instagram accounts in a probe of what Facebook said was an effort by the Proud Boys “hate group” to slip back into the social media platform after it was permanently banned.
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Facebook linked the network to the felon and longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone and his “associates.”
Identifying those accounts got a boost from the release of search warrants linked to the investigation into Russian interference into the US election by former special counsel Robert Mueller, Facebook noted. The warrants were released in response to a joint petition by several media outlets.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--Selling Sunset: 16 Things You Didn't Know About The Netflix Series

Selling Sunset's Amanza, Christine, Chrishell, Mary and Maya Netflix
With its mix of glorious sunshine, high drama and property porn, Selling Sunset has become one of Netflix’s biggest runaway hits since its debut in March 2019.
The reality series follows the professional and personal lives of the staff at the Oppenheim Group, an upmarket real estate agents in LA that specialises in selling multi-million dollar properties.
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Much like other reality shows like The Real Housewives and The Only Way Is Essex, viewers have been sucked in by the cast’s ups and downs, but have often questioned which elements of the show are real, and which are just for TV.
Here are 17 facts about Selling Sunset you probably didn’t know already...
1. The Oppenheim Group’s history dates back to 1889
According to the company’s website, The Oppenheim Group was founded as The Stern Realty Company in 1889, by Jason and Brett’s great-great-grandfather Jacob Stern.
He is described as having been “one of the preeminent real estate entrepreneurs of early Los Angeles”, and he and his family were responsible for building the exclusive Hollywood Plaza Hotel in 1925, which is now preserved as a California Historic Landmark.
Jason took over the company in more recent years after changing careers, having previously worked as a lawyer.
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2. There are other agents that we don’t see on camera
Selling Sunset focuses on bosses Jason and Brett Oppenheim and the antics of Christine Quinn, Chrishell Stause, Mary Fitzgerald, Davina Potratz, Maya Vander, Amanza Smith, Heather Young and season four newcomers Vanessa Villela and Emma Hernan, but there are more agents that we don’t get to see on screen.
They include Nicole Young, Graham Stephan, Peter Cornell and Alice Kwan.
3. Chrishell was the only original cast member who didn’t work at Oppenheim before the show
At the start of season one, we saw Chrishell start work at the Oppenheim Group, but it turns out she was actually cast by producers specifically for the show.
However, if you thought that meant she wasn’t actually a real estate agent, you’d be wrong, as the Selling Sunset co-creator Adam Divello previously told Variety that she had “a real estate license selling homes when we met her”.
Chrishell Stause Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP
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He added: “I think we were lucky to get her. I think she adds something that is very unique to Los Angeles, and we’re doing a show about realtors in Los Angeles.
“The fact that we have one who’s an actress and happens to be married to an actor who’s on a very successful TV series is a plus.”
4. In fact, Chrishell was also known to some US TV viewers already
As mentioned above, Chrishell had an acting career prior to joining Selling Sunset – she was one of the stars of US soap opera Days Of Our Lives (yes, the one Joey from Friends appears in on the show).
Chrishell played Jordan Ridgeway from 2013 to 2015, and has returned to make guest appearances twice since joining Selling Sunset.
She also played Amanda Dillon on All My Children from 2005 to 2011, and has also popped up in an episode of the US remake of BBC drama Mistresses.
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5. Oppenheim have a whole host of famous clients
Although on the show, the agents can often be very secretive about their A-list clients, it has been reported that the Oppenheim Group has sold houses to the likes of Nicole Scherzinger and Ellen DeGeneres, and has worked with other clients including Kris Humphries, Taye Diggs and Orlando Bloom.
6. Jason has been recognised as one of the best agents in the business
Jason was ranked number one agent in Hollywood Hills/Sunset Strip in the Wall Street Journal/REAL Trends’ Best Real Estate Agents in America.
He also ranked as the number three agent in Los Angeles, and the number 22 agent in the United States.
Jason Oppenheim (left) with brother Brett JC Olivera via Getty Images
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As an agency, The Oppenheim Group closes over 100 deals annually, and according to The Hollywood Reporter, Jason “estimates they sell 10 times more homes there (80-plus in 2016) than their closest competitor”.
7. Davina also has a very impressive career
Along with Jason, Davina was one of the other brokers – the rest of the team that work for the Oppenheim Group are all realtors. Her official title before she left the brokerage and came back was Director of the New Development Division of The Oppenheim Group.
Davina Potratz Rich Fury via Getty Images
She’s also a member of Top Agent Network, which represents the top 10 percent of agents in the market and has a five-star rating on Zillow, an online real estate database.
8. But it’s not the first time she has been on TV
She previously appeared on Bravo series Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles.
9. She purposely decided not to bring her personal life on screen
With all the drama that unfolds on the show, Davina decided she did not want any of her own personal life shown on screen.
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In an interview with Reality Blurb, she revealed: “That was certainly on purpose. I just don’t want to go there. I just don’t want to pull somebody else into [it], or a relationship. It’s a personal decision you make if you’re willing to go there and I’m just not.
“Maybe I’m not going to be the most popular person. If I had a wedding on the show, I’d be the star of the show in that moment but I just don’t need that much attention.”
10. The beef between Chrishell and Christine is very much real
The drama between Chrishell and Christine isn’t just for TV, with tensions continuing when the cameras are not running.
Chrishell recently revealed she has blocked Christine on Instagram, telling the BBC’s The Reality Tea podcast: “It’s one of those things where I think that does come across very childish and ridiculous. But I have the screenshots. She knows why she’s blocked.
“At the end of the day, I know why she’s blocked. She knows why she’s blocked. And that’s unfortunately... I’m not going to allow her to do that on my social media.”
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11. Heather was previously a Playboy Playmate
Heather Young Paul Archuleta via Getty Images
She made her debut as a Playmate in 2010 at the age of 21.
Heather also credits posing for the famous magazine for helping her get to where she is today. In a catch-up interview with Playboy earlier this year, she said: “If I hadn’t posed for Playboy, I wouldn’t have met the people who led me to where I am now.
“Playboy got me used to being in front of crowds and being good on camera. Meeting fans as a Playmate prepped me for the fans I have now, from the show.”
According to her IMDb page, Heather has also appeared in some small films, including Christmas in Compton and The Malibu Tapes.
12. Heather’s husband is also a famous real estate agent
We’ve seen more of Tarek El Moussa in the last two seasons of Selling Sunset, but if you enjoy US property shows, chances are you’re already familiar with Heather’s now-husband
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Tarek starred in estate agent series Flip Or Flop, in which he renovated and sold homes with now ex-wife Christine Anstead.
Heather and Tarek announced their engagement in July 2020 and married a year later.
13. Chrishell’s ex-husband is also a household name in the US
Chrishell’s divorce from husband Justin Hartley took centre stage in the third season, but Justin is actually a star in his own right.
The US actor played Oliver Queen/Green Arrow on Smallville from 2006 to 2011, and can currently be seen playing Kevin Pearson in family drama This Is Us.
Chrishell with ex-husband Justin Hartley Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
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Chrishell and Justin started dating in 2014 – the same year in which they both appeared in Mistresses. They married in 2017, but in November 2019, Justin filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
She subsequently filed for dissolution of the marriage a month later.
14. Chrishell was previously engaged to Matthew Morrison
Matthew Morrison Faye Sadou/MediaPunch/IPx
She was briefly engaged to Glee’s Mr Schu before they called things off in 2007.
15. Amanza was previously on Deal Or No Deal
Amanza on Deal Or No Deal NBC
Amanza joined the cast in the second season, with her friendship with Mary going back way.
However, she might have been familiar to viewers as she was previously a so-called “briefcase girl” on the US version of gameshow Deal Or No Deal – a role also previously held by Meghan Markle.
She was also an NFL cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts and had appeared in many magazines, TV commercials when she worked as a model.
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16. Jason has also helped out in LA’s affordable-housing crisis
Jason told the LA Times that they feel they have an “obligation” to give back to the community, given the real estate market has contributed to LA’s affordable-housing crisis.
He said: “We represent the upper 1/10th of 1% of our community and I think it’s naive and disrespectful not to recognise and fulfill our obligation, most importantly, to the opposite, bottom 1%.
“I contribute a significant amount of money to Food on Foot for that very reason. The bottom one [percent] is just as important as the top one [percent].”
17. Christine was not happy with the way her wedding was shown on screen
Netflix
Christine’s wedding to Christian Richard features in the third season of Selling Sunset, but she was left “disappointed” with the edit of her nuptials.
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She said she finds it “hard to watch” her opulent big day, as she wishes there had been less focus on the drama between her colleagues.
Speaking to People magazine, Christine said: “I was a little disappointed. It just didn’t really showcase the way that it was.
“The wedding was the best day of my life and it was hard for me to watch it on the television show because that’s not really the way that I remember it.”
Christine continued: “I understand they wanted to get certain storylines in there, but this was actually my day. This was my day, and I was just disappointed in the way it was perceived on camera and translated, unfortunately.
“I’m not going to lie, I was crying when I watched it. I was like ‘This is not my wedding, this is not my wedding’.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--Rise In England's Coronavirus Cases May Be 'Levelling Off', New Figures Suggest

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The recent rise in coronavirus infections across England may be “levelling off”, official figures published on Friday suggest.
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The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said an average of 28,300 people in private households in England had Covid-19 between July 27 and August 2.
This was the equivalent of about 0.05% of the population, or one in 1,900 individuals.
Boris Johnson postponed the planned easing of lockdown measures, due to begin on August 1, amid fears the infection rate was rising.
But Katherine Kent, the co-head of the ONS Covid-19 infection survey analysis lead, said on Friday the rise might not be as steep as some had feared.
“Although we are still reporting an increase in England since the lowest recorded level of infection in late June, this week’s estimates suggest this trend may be levelling off when compared with the data we published last week,” she said.
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The study showed that in the week to August 2 there were 3,700 new cases per day, a decrease from the 4,200 per day recorded in the previous week.
The figures do not include people staying in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings.
Last week the prime minister said he had decided to “squeeze the brake pedal” on lifting lockdown in order to keep the virus under control.
The move meant venues including bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos will not be reopened until August 15 at the earliest.
The government is also expected to make an announcement on Friday regarding the status of the local lockdown measures in the north west of England and Leicester.
Measures banning mixing between households were due for review on Thursday, a week after they were brought in for residents in Greater Manchester, parts of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire, as well as Leicester.
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Meanwhile, quarantine measures were announced on Thursday evening for travellers arriving into the UK from Belgium, Andorra and The Bahamas – with Britons advised against all but essential travel to the three countries.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-07--Criminal Investigation Launched Over Second UK Police ‘Knee On Neck’ Video Within 48 Hours

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A criminal investigation has been launched after a police officer was filmed apparently kneeling on a teenager’s neck in July during an arrest.
The incident, on July 17, came as Leeds United fans celebrated their club’s promotion to the Premier League. Just one day earlier, a Metropolitan Police officer in London had been suspended, and another placed on restricted duties, after a separate video appeared to show one of them kneeling on a man’s neck in Islington.
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The West Yorkshire Police officer will be interviewed on suspicion of common assault by investigators from the police watchdog and investigated for gross misconduct.
Footage shared on social media shows a 17-year-old boy restrained by officers on the ground outside Elland Road stadium, with one appearing to use his knee.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is appealing for witnesses to the incident at around 5pm on July 17.
IOPC regional director Miranda Biddle said: “We understand why the images that were circulated caused considerable public concern.
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“After the footage was shared on social media, a voluntary referral was made to us in relation to the conduct of the officer.
“Having examined a range of evidence including body-worn video and initial accounts from the officers involved in the restraint, we have taken the decision that this is now a criminal investigation.
“A criminal investigation does not mean that criminal charges will necessarily follow.
“It is vitally important that the circumstances of this incident are subject to an independent investigation so we can fully understand what happened and impartially determine the facts.
“We have already begun to gather evidence but would like to speak to anyone else who was at Leeds United’s ground at the same time for these celebrations and may have witnessed the incident.”
A wave of Black Lives Matter demonstrations have been sweeping the UK following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of US police officers.
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Floyd was killed on May 25 when a police officer kneeled on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.