thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--How To Know When It's Time To Seek Help For Your Anxiety

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Feeling anxious at times is normal, but when doubled with the news of a second lockdown, it’s enough to send anyone’s fear, dread, and worry levels skyrocketing.
The effects of the pandemic may have led to increased anxiety and panic attacks among Brits. So what can you do about your coronavirus anxiety? The world might seem like a confusing and isolating place, but there’s plenty of support and resources helping you to deal with anxiety – and it’s important to have those strategies and toolkits at hand.
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“Surround yourself with your support network and find your rock (even if virtually). If you don’t have anyone, there are organisations like ourselves out there and local peer support self-help groups,” Dave Smithson, from Anxiety UK, tells HuffPost UK.
“Talking to people and sharing your thoughts and feelings with others in similar situations can be really supportive. They understand what you’re going through and what you’re dealing with because they’re in the same boat.”
Thomas Tolstrup via Getty Images
Remember to look after yourself.
It’s easy to get sucked into a hole scrolling through news coverage of the ongoing pandemic. While it’s important to stay connected, it’s also important to take a step back and look after yourself.
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“Control the amount of information you pay attention to and you allow in because otherwise, it can get overwhelming if you think and breathe Covid,” Dr Abigael San, a chartered clinical psychologist explains. “Try to limit news intake once or twice a day. Put devices somewhere else out of sight and switch off or mute alerts that come in so you can get on with other stuff and don’t become consumed – because it can really affect your mood.”
“We’ve got the benefit of experience this time around and we’ve already been through it before, but with a different outlook,” adds San.
“We’ve come out the other end and we’re still here – it was very difficult, but it didn’t break us. We sort of know how to deal with it now and can keep to schedule so that we’re not just kind of stuck in a repetitive world.”
damircudic via Getty Images
It’s important to recognise this situation is difficult for everyone. Change is scary and there are things you simply can’t control, but there are things you can do.
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“There are lots of self-care techniques that you could work into your daily life such as mindfulness, meditation, or yoga,” Putt explains. “Journalling can also be a helpful way to keep track of how you are feeling and to notice what helps to reduce your anxiety.”
But know when it’s time to seek help.
If you’re feeling increasingly worried about the future, chances are you’ll respond one of two ways: either shutting yourself away from anyone, or reaching out to friends, unloading your worries on their listening ears.
Neither approach is wrong. Whichever way you naturally gravitate, it may be difficult to understand those who act differently than you do when they’re feeling fragile. “Reaching out can be difficult but it is important to seek help if you notice your mental health problems are having a significant effect on your life,” explains Stephen Buckley, from the mental health charity, Mind.
This may also be the case if you have tried to speak to friends about how you are feeling, or taken steps to focus on self-care, and you still aren’t feeling any better. In general, it’s best to seek support if you’re struggling to live your life as you normally would.
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Symptoms of an anxiety disorder may include racing thoughts, uncontrollable over thinking, difficulties concentrating, feelings of dread, panic or ‘impending doom’, feeling irritable, heightened alertness, problems with sleep, changes in appetite, wanting to escape from the situation you are in, and dissociation.
You may also experience physical symptoms, such as sweating, heavy and fast breathing, hot flushes or blushing, dry mouth, shaking, hair loss, fast heartbeat, extreme tiredness or lack of energy, dizziness and fainting, and stomach aches and sickness.
“Start by talking to someone you trust about how you’re feeling, but it’s also important to talk to your GP as they can help with treatment options, such as talking therapies or medication,” says Buckley. “Talking to a doctor about this can be challenging, so Mind has produced a ’Find the Words’ guide which can help you to talk about mental health problems with your GP.”
People in England can access a number of therapy treatments freely through the NHS. The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme provides evidence-based treatments for people with anxiety and depression and is accessed by more than 900,000 people each year.
The therapies you can access through IAPT are evidence-based and aimed at people with common mental health problems including depression and generalised anxiety disorder. While there are many talking therapies available, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is most commonly offered. Covid-19 is more than a news story – it has changed every aspect of life in the UK. We are following how Britain is experiencing this crisis, the different stages of collective emotion, reaction and resilience. You can tell us how you are feeling and find further advice and resources here.
How Are You Feeling?
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--What The New Covid Rules Mean For People On The Shielded List

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The prime minister has revealed a raft of new measures designed to curb the rate of Covid-19 infection in the UK.
People have been told to work from home if they can; pubs, bars and restaurants in England and Scotland are subject to a 10pm curfew; and the number of people able to attend weddings has halved from 30 people to 15.
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But what happens for those who were shielding earlier this year? From August 1, the guidance to shield, and the support provided, was scrapped entirely in England. But news of rising cases is likely to concern them.
Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Boris Johnson said: “I want to speak directly to those who were shielding early in the pandemic and may be anxious about being at greater risk.
“Following advice from our senior clinicians, our guidance continues to be that you do not need to shield – except in local lockdown areas – and we will keep this under constant review.”
The prime minister’s announcement comes after the UK government’s chief medical and scientific advisors warned there could be 50,000 Covid-19 cases a day in the UK by mid-October with a daily death toll of 200 or more by mid-November if the current growth in the rate of infection is not halted.
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What do those on the shielding list need to know?
In some areas subject to local lockdowns, the advice is not to shield. In Bolton and Greater Manchester, for example, the government’s guidance states people who are clinically extremely vulnerable do not need to shield, but should continue to take precautions.
In Leicester, the picture is different: people who are clinically extremely vulnerable are urged to shield until the 5 October. After this time, shielding will be paused. It’s best to check your local authority’s website for further guidance on shielding in your area – and follow the public health guidance stated there.
HuffPost UK understands that, to date, the clinical advice has been that there should not be a set threshold for reintroducing shielding. The key epidemiological indicator for this decision is the incidence rate, not R rate or other metrics, although these are also taken into account.
People who were shielding earlier this year were told to stop on August 1 and encouraged to return to work or school. Shielders are still able to get support from NHS volunteer responders – if they need prescriptions or shopping picking up – and priority delivery at supermarkets. But they no longer receive free food parcels, medicine deliveries or basic care from the National Shielding Service.
There are concerns over the lack of guidance and clarity for those who are most vulnerable to the effects of the virus.
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At the time of writing, the government’s official guidance on shielding had been last updated on September 4, and said: “The government is advising that you do not need to shield at the moment. This is because the rates of transmission of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the community have fallen significantly.”
What do the experts say?
Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said it’s “disappointing” vulnerable citizens have been omitted from the conversation over the past few weeks.
“Given it’s now almost certain we will see big increases in the epidemic over the next two to three months, we really need to focus on how better to identify, protect and support our more vulnerable citizens,” he said. “This has been a big omission in the public debate over recent weeks.”
Dr Dominic Pimenta, a hospital doctor and chairman of healthcare workers’ charity Heroes, echoed Prof Hunter’s comments, and said the new measures are welcome, but the guidance around shielding should be clearer.
“The current local lockdown areas affect 13 million people, and the government guidance is unclear what services will be provided to those shielding in that area, advising [them] to contact their local authority for further guidance,” he says.
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“While some services continue nationally ... there is deep uncertainty, particularly for those attending workplaces, at what point they will be asked to shield again, and crucially, supported to do so.”
He said the lack of guidance and support for this group is “shameful”.
Is there any financial support available?
As of August 1, when shielding ended nationally, people in this group were no longer eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) on the basis of being advised to shield by the government.
For those who live or work in an area where shielding has been introduced as part of the local lockdown measures and they have been notified to shield, if they are unable to work as a result, SSP is available.
While those who can afford to shield will most likely do so, those who cannot will be forced to “make a choice between their livelihoods and their health”, says Dr Pimenta, who authored a book on the pandemic called Duty Of Care.
“Whatever the national strategy will turn out to be, it’s an immutable fact that cases will continue to rise for at least another fortnight after these measures come in, increasing the risk in the community, particularly for those who cannot afford to protect themselves,” he says.
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Phillip Anderson, head of policy at the MS Society, adds: “It is simply not right that some are already being forced to choose between their health and their job and we want to see a financial support package introduced where it’s not safe for them to go into work.”
Dr Pimenta says there needs to be guidance issued now, so people can plan for the coming weeks and months. “Far better to err on the side of safety, and end the confusion now nationally, so both employers and those on the shielding list can plan for what is going to be a difficult winter for us all,” he says.
“This meaningless delay in guidance serves only to disproportionately affect those who are both physically and economically the most vulnerable in our society – a dire injustice.”
What needs to happen now?
Anderson has called for action. “Yet again we have a major statement from the prime minister where he was largely silent on vulnerable people,” he said. “With estimated cases higher than when the shielding programme was paused, this is a huge disappointment.”
He said there needs to be an “urgent plan to protect vulnerable people”, and for people to know under what circumstances shielding could be brought back and what support will be offered.
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The general public is now being told to work from home, where possible, he points out. Does this mean it’s safe for people who are vulnerable to go to their workplaces if they can’t work from home? “We want to know if it’s safe for vulnerable people to go into workplaces at all,” he added.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “Shielding for the clinically extremely vulnerable has been paused since the start of August in most of the country - our advice for them is the same as for the rest of the population.
“Shielding is still advised in specific areas of the country where prevalence of the virus is higher. Local authority support is available to those shielding in these areas.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--I’ve Been Unemployed This Entire Pandemic. I’m Terrified About What A Second Wave Would Mean

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After six of the most rewarding months of my life, I came out of my journalism diploma in February feeling optimistic about 2020. I even had an interview with a local newsroom lined up.
But when the government announced national lockdown restrictions back on 23 March, I remember myself on the phone to my boyfriend, crying. “How am I going to get a job now?” I never heard back from the newsroom, and all my other job applications were put on hold.
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Unlike so many others, I was lucky enough to be able to move home and not fall into debt, but the worry of my employment status and what it means for me long-term has been a constant weight on my mind for seven months now.
At the beginning of lockdown, my news feed was filled with stories of people complaining about being on furlough, and my instinctive reaction to this was one of anger. How could people possibly complain about getting paid to do nothing?
Inside, I knew not everyone was fortunate enough to have the comfortable – or even safe – home life I had. And I understood too that while they were at least employed, there would be thousands worried about their finances and whether they would have a job to go back to. But, to me, they were worrying about something that hadn’t happened yet – I was already unemployed, and suddenly my chances of finding employment were reduced significantly.
Relying on my family and partner to get me through has been difficult, but the hardest part of being jobless is not having a purpose. It’s difficult to feel helpful when you’re the one that needs help.
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“I’ve been ignored and rejected, and given false hopes by some companies. I've applied for local key-worker jobs, including supermarket and temporary retail roles, and was rejected by all of them.”
In the heat of summer my mood swings were intense. I would pick up a book, an activity I usually found solace in, but after five pages I would begin to feel restless, angry even. Not sure where these feelings were coming from, I would put the book down and feel an overwhelming sensation that everything in my life was pointless. That was my lowest point.
I went through a period where I kept crying and feeling anxious. I constantly felt like I had to apply for jobs, any other activity was taking me away from the prospect of being employed. I had a nagging feeling that it was my fault I was out of work. I’ve been ignored and rejected, and given false hopes by some companies. I’ve applied for local key-worker jobs, including supermarket and temporary retail roles, and was rejected by all of them. I attempted to get local work at a Worcestershire food production farm, but I was told that because of the local outbreaks they were no longer hiring agency staff.
These collective experiences increased my levels of despondency enormously. I have been unemployed before, but the difference during this time is the uncertainty, competitiveness of jobs, and feeling like I have very little control over my situation.
I often feel embarrassed about my situation. I’m 26 now, and assumed at the beginning of the year that by now I would have bagged my first journalism job and be living in my own rented accommodation. Instead I’m back with my parents wondering if anyone is ever going to hire me. More than anything I worry about how much this will set my career back.
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When September rolled around I started to shift my perspective on finding work. Previously I was only applying for jobs in the traditional way of filling out endless applications. But now I’m seeking freelance opportunities and networking in the hope that I will have more success in finding work that way, something I never would have considered had it not been for my experiences during lockdown.
“While there is government support for those struggling with finances, there doesn’t seem to be any real help in getting the unemployed back into work.”
But still, the end of the government’s furlough scheme in November is a huge concern for me, and will be for others too. Unemployment numbers are undoubtedly going to grow, and there is no employment fast-lane for those of us already out of work – at least not one that I’m aware of. We are all bundled and labeled together as an ever-growing blurry mass of unemployed people.
If I don’t find work soon, I will have an even tougher battle ahead of me. I will be fighting for opportunities alongside people who want to change jobs or have only just been handed their redundancy notice – people who don’t have seven months of unemployment to their name.
I blame the government’s handling of the situation. The thought of a second national lockdown terrifies me; I understand the importance of trying to contain the spread of the virus, but it would make a bad situation worse for unemployed people like me, and leave us feeling even less in control over our lives than before. And that’s not to say how I would struggle emotionally with another lockdown.
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While there is government support for those struggling with finances, there doesn’t seem to be any real help in getting the unemployed back into work. That’s left me feeling abandoned and unsupported. I wish that when I apply for work that I actually have a chance. So far my experiences of rejection and u-turns have communicated otherwise. Perhaps there should be a job-matching scheme in place for those that have been out of work for more than a certain period of time?
More than anything I wanted to write this article so that those who have been unemployed since before lockdown don’t feel alone in their struggle, or like they’re invisible. This is something that I have felt. And it’s why I sincerely hope the government urgently helps the unemployed get back into work – particularly those of us who were caught out from the beginning.
Emma Gibbs is a freelance journalist. Follow her on Twitter at @GibbsGibbs9


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-22--The Covid Contact-Tracing App Is About To Launch. But There Are Big Concerns

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The long-awaited NHS coronavirus contact-tracing app is set to be released on Thursday but “major questions” about its effectiveness remain unanswered, a charity has warned.
The Health Foundation said results from the NHS Covid-19 app’s trial run had been “notably absent”, adding failure to show how the technology had performed during testing risked reducing public confidence.
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The app uses Bluetooth technology to keep an anonymous log of other app users in close proximity and can notify them they were close to an individual who later tested positive for coronavirus.
The Department of Health and Social Care said trials of the app in Newham and the Isle of Wight – which began in mid-August – had revealed the app is “highly effective when used alongside traditional contact tracing to identify contacts of those who have tested positive for coronavirus”.
But the Heath Foundation said the public had yet to see the results of these pilots and called for greater transparency.
Josh Keith, a senior fellow at the charity, said: “With a virus that is transmitted as quickly as Covid-19, the automated contact tracing that the app promises could prove invaluable in reducing its spread.
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“Also, the additional features of the app, such as booking a test, reporting symptoms or checking the risk level in postcode district could provide a helpful single source of Covid-19 related advice and support.
“However, for any major, nationwide public health intervention it is important the Government publishes evidence that it is effective and ready for mass rollout in advance of its launch.
The NHS Covid-19 app on a mobile phone PA
“This is key for building confidence in the app as people will want to know that it will benefit them and their communities.
“But any data on the pilots that took place in August have been notably absent, leaving major questions over the app’s effectiveness unanswered.”
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After months of delay, technical issues and concerns over privacy, the NHS Covid-19 app is finally expected to launch in England and Wales on Thursday.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has described the app’s launch as a “defining moment” and said it would help to contain the virus “at a critical time”.
A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said: “Ensuring a wide range of people download and use the app is essential.
“The NHS Covid-19 app forms a central part of NHS Test and Trace in England, and works alongside traditional contact tracing services and testing, to help individuals to understand if they are at risk of infection so they can take action to protect themselves and their communities.
“We have spoken with groups with protected characteristics, such as age, ethnicity and disability, those experiencing health inequalities and those groups particularly impacted by coronavirus and the app and supporting material will be available in multiple languages.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-22--This Car Ad Has Been Banned For Trivialising Black Lives Matter

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An advert for a car leasing company has been banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog for being socially irresponsible and “likely to cause serious offence” on the grounds of race.
The advert, which appears in the form of a Facebook post, was shared by car leasing company LingsCars.com on June 16. It features the phrase: “Black cars matter. I asked Holly for a headline for this A4... and she said: ‘Once you go black, you never go back!’”
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Below the text is an image of a raised fist with a wristband displaying the Audi logo alongside an image of a black Audi car. Text states: “Audi A4 black power edition” and “Manual gearbox (big gearknob)”.
Three people complained about the post, saying the claims ‘black cars matter’ and use of the phrase ‘Once you go black, you never go back’ alongside the image of the raised fist were insensitive and offensive. They challenged whether the advert was likely to cause serious offence and was socially irresponsible.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has since ruled that the advert should be removed and not appear in its current form again. However it is yet to be taken down.
Provided by the ASA Black Cars Matter advert banned from Facebook
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When asked to provide a response to the complaints, LingsCars.com – founded by Ling Valentine – stood by its advert, saying ‘black cars matter’ was inoffensive.
It said the phrase was a pun on the launch of the new car, the Audi “Black Edition”, and that “Once you go black, you never go back” was a well-known phrase that would not be offensive to Black people.
The company, based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, said the image of the raised fist was the symbol of the ‘Black Power’ movement and argued it was a positive symbol and was not seen as offensive in other contexts, such as the recent Grand Prix where Lewis Hamilton raised his fist.
The ASA noted how the ad appeared shortly after the Black Lives Matter protests and during a public debate about racism in the UK. “We considered that people would understand the headline ‘black cars matter’, the image of the raised fist and the name ‘Audi A4 Black Power Edition’ to be references to the Black Lives Matter and Black Power movements,” ASA said in a statement.
“By using that slogan and iconography simply to draw attention to an ad for a car had the effect of trivialising the serious issues raised by those movements.”
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ASA added that the claim, “Once you go black, you never go back!” in addition to the reference to a “big gearknob” was likely to be seen as objectifying and fetishising black men.
“Because those claims, particularly in the context of an ad for an unrelated product alongside references to recent protests opposing racism against Black people, were likely to cause serious offence on the grounds of race, we considered the ad was socially irresponsible,” it said.
Lingscars.com Ltd has been told to remove the ad and it must not appear again in its current form.
Ling Valentine, who runs LingsCars.com, has made headlines previously for the design of her website – as the Independent wrote in 2016: “Its aesthetic can best be described as late-’90s GeoCities page, designed by a disgraced clown after ingesting a pillowcase full of LSD” – as well as a publicity stunt which saw her buy a nuclear rocket truck with her company’s name on the side, which she parked along the motorway.
In a Q&A published on the ‘about me’ section of the company’s website, Valentine writes: “Racism never bothers me, and it’s very rare, or maybe I never notice it. I really can’t understand people that are so politically correct that they think you don’t have a racial identity.”
A post shared on the LingsCars Facebook page after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned the advert, reads: “I can only respond by suggesting the ASA should have the ‘big gearknob’ shoved right up their arse.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--New NHS Test And Trace Phone App Needs Seven Million Users To Stop Covid Spread

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At least seven million people will need to download the new NHS Test and Trace Covid app for it to start reducing the spread of the virus, according to government estimates.
The new smartphone app was finally launched on Thursday, after months of setbacks, to allow users to find out quickly if they have been within close proximity of anyone with coronavirus and whether they need to get a test.
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It will also allow the public in England and Wales to scan for QR codes in specific locations such as pubs and restaurants, to make it easier if they need to be traced following any outbreaks.
Developers of the app are working on the assumptions in Oxford University research which suggests that a minimum of 15% take-up is needed in a population in order to have any “meaningful impact” on the reproduction or ‘R’ number of the virus.
With 49 million people over the age of 16 eligible to use the app in England and Wales, that means roughly seven million users will be required in order to affect the spread of the disease.
The ‘R’ has risen above 1 in recent weeks, meaning the virus is now spreading rather than shrinking. Latest estimates are that cases are doubling every seven days.
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Other similar apps in Germany and elsewhere have seen take-up rates of between 10% and 30% and the UK’s pilot schemes in Newham and the Isle Of Wight have seen results within that range.
However, earlier this year an Oxford University team had estimated that 56% of the general population must use an app to halt the outbreak - equivalent to 80% of all existing smartphone owners.
When asked by BBC Breakfast how many users would be needed to make an impact on stemming the virus spread, health secretary Matt Hancock ducked the question.
“Well the answer is the more the better,” Hancock replied. “As soon as....There isn’t a figure...It’s not that we don’t know the figure. As soon as you have two people downloading this app it becomes useful.”
One problem for the contact tracing feature of the app is that its Bluetooth technology is estimated to produce “false positives” for a third of people told to self-isolate.
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Since the launch of the trials, the accuracy of the app has improved and the “false positive” rate has reduced from 4.5 in 10 to 3 in 10.
The government stresses that no one will be sent an isolation alert unless they have been within 4 metres someone who has tested positive.
The “false positive” issue stems from Bluetooth technology’s imprecise distances, meaning people between two metres and four metres away may also be recorded as “close”.
The status of the app has over recent months been downgraded from “crucial” to stopping Covid’s spread to now just “the cherry on the cake”.
Its usefulness may come more from making it easier to check in to pubs and restaurants, get advice on social distancing and receive direct alerts on changes in risk levels locally.
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The NHS Covid-19 app on a mobile phone. PA
The launch of the new technology will be accompanied by a primetime TV advert on Thursday night, with the slogan “Protect your loved ones. Get the app”.
Most shops and restaurants will be required by law to display the official NHS QR codes in their premises. So far, more than 160,000 businesses have already downloaded the codes to help customers “check in” through their phones.
The app’s contact tracing feature works by using low-energy Bluetooth to log the amount of time users spend near other app users, and measures the distance between them.
Anyone who has spent more than 15 minutes less than two metres from someone else who later tests positive for Covid will then be alerted - even if they don’t know each other.
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The app will then advise on 10 or 14-day self-isolation and allow users to check symptoms, book a free test if needed and get their test results. Once a user is told to self-isolate, a timer feature will help count down the days left in quarantine and give access to relevant advice.
New cash payments to the low paid are designed to remove fears the public may have about losing wages from self-isolation.
In a bid to protect personal data, the app does not hold names, addresses or dates of birth, and only requires the first half of a user’s postcode to ensure local outbreaks can be managed. No personal data is shared with the government or the NHS.
The app will be available in nine languages initially: English, Welsh, Urdu, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Romanian, Arabic and Turkish.
The app uses an Apple and Google-developed system, using Bluetooth to keep an anonymous log of people a user has been close to.
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The UK’s major network operators - including Vodafone, Three, EE and O2, giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile and Virgin Mobile - have agreed to “zero-rate” data charges incurred by all in-app activity, meaning they will not be charged for using it.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “We are at a tipping point in our efforts to control the spread of this virus. With infection rates rising we must use every tool at our disposal to prevent transmission, including the latest technology.
“Today’s launch marks an important step forward in our fight against this invisible killer and I urge everyone who can to download and use the app to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
Dido Harding, the head of NHS Test and Trace, added: “The features of this app, including QR code check-in at venues, work alongside our traditional contact tracing service and will help us to reach more people quickly in their communities to prevent further spread of the virus.”
Insiders said that the trials in east London and the Isle of Wight showed that word-of-mouth recommendation was a powerful driver in take-up of the technology.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Has Rishi Sunak Pulled Back From The Furlough Cliff-Edge?

In years gone by, if a government couldn’t get its Budget through parliament, the failure was seen as an effective vote of no confidence. In true 2020 fashion, as the coronavirus surges a second time, we now have a government pulling its own Budget, a dramatic move that suggests it lacks confidence in its own ability to make its sums add up.
Instead we get chancellor Rishi Sunak’s ‘Winter Economy Plan’. Just as ‘Winterval’ festivals are Christmases that dare not speak their names, the Winter Economy Plan sounds like a euphemism for ‘a bloody great Treasury panic over ending furlough’.
The fact is that for months Sunak has trotted out the mantra that his incredibly effective furlough scheme could not last “indefinitely”, even though no one has ever suggested it should. As Keir Starmer pointed out in PMQs, the list of organisations calling for a rethink of the cliff-edge end of furlough include the CBI, the TUC, the Federation of Small Businesses, the British Chambers of Commerce and now even the Governor of the Bank of England.
Pulling the plug so suddenly at the end of October was always going to be a huge political and economic gamble. But as soon as the PM decided to impose six months’ worth of new Covid restrictions, including a reversal of the ‘go to the office’ advice and curfews that could hit hospitality hard, that cliff-edge became unsustainable. The new curfews start on Thursday night, so Sunak’s Commons statement will be just hours beforehand.
Pret a Manger founder Julian Metcalfe led the business backlash at the new restrictions today, with a withering verdict: “This man sitting down with his Union Jack talking utter nonsense...to spout off some Churchillian nonsense that we’ll make it through, it’s terribly unhelpful.” Add in all the big firms (the 40,000 staff of HSBC, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Lloyds, PWC) that have today suddenly stopped their return-to-office plans and you can see the need to act quickly.
Phasing in new restrictions on workplaces while simultaneously phasing out financial support for workers was never going to be a good look. The question has always been just what kind of continued support Sunak was going to provide, and how much cash he was prepared to spend on it. A new Institute for Government report estimates the cost of Covid as already hitting £317bn for 2020/21.
Labour have long called for a “targeted” furlough (Anneliese Dodds did so on May 7) and their strategy may well pay off. The party was timid in specifying which precise sectors should be targeted, for how long and how it would pay for them. It took Starmer himself during his LBC show to finally say he wanted a ‘bridge’ to next ‘spring’ for the tourist industry, for example. He has talked about targeted help for aviation, retail, hospitality and theatres but again there has been no huge detail.
But the Treasury has until recently failed to take even vague targeting seriously. A major milestone was passed last week, namely the 45 day legal notice period for announcing more than 100 redundancies by October 31. Some Treasury officials tried to get tomorrow’s package ready for that deadline but failed. It now looks like they may hit the 30-day notice period for less than 100 redundancies (a deadline due next week), but it’s a darned close run thing.
Labour and the TUC have advocated a German-style short-working support scheme, with subsidies for wages when a worker is kept on part-time. We will find out on Thursday whether that has proved too impractical for the Treasury, and whether it has a more “creative” alternative. It may well ditch the term ‘furlough’ to avoid the charge of U-turning again, but the new jobs support, whatever it’s called, will have to be as effective.
For Boris Johnson, the impending jobs crisis always carried the danger of being seen to be tone deaf. Starmer’s words today on test-and-trace could easily be applied to the PM’s attitude to the furlough cliff-edge: pretending that there isn’t a problem is part of the problem. It may be however that the raw politics of the Red Wall seats has once more ensured this is no Thatcherite let-the-market-rip government.
As we reported earlier this month, Tory MPs representing 107 seats won from Labour in the 2019 election in the north and midlands had just over 650,000 people still fully furloughed by their employer in the middle of August. That’s a heck of a lot of families hoping that voting Tory wasn’t a huge mistake. Sunak doesn’t want to be constantly seen as Santa dishing out cash, but neither does he want to be Scrooge, especially when the chill winter wind of Covid cases looms.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--People Take To Streets After No Murder Charges For Cops Who Killed Breonna Taylor

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People in Louisville, Kentucky, cried out upon hearing there would be no murder charges for the police officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor — and then they marched.
Early Wednesday afternoon, a Kentucky judge read out the charges in the Taylor case: Det. Brett Hankison, one of three officers involved, was charged with “wanton endangerment” — notably, for shots fired into neighbouring apartments, not Taylor’s. None of the three was charged with murder.
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Within hours of demonstrations starting, videos showed police arresting protesters. Police also appeared to be firing munitions at protesters, which one reporter at the scene described as “pepper balls.”
In March, Louisville police executed a warrant at the apartment of 26-year-old Taylor, who was Black, where she and her boyfriend were asleep. The warrant was for a narcotics investigation not involving Taylor or her boyfriend. Three officers, who were white, fired more than 20 gunshots, several of which hit Taylor, killing her. Her boyfriend, who said he didn’t hear police announce their presence before breaking into the apartment, shot one of the officers once in the leg.
On Wednesday, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron spoke about the indictment, saying the other two officers, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, were “justified in their use of force.”
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Taylor’s family attorney Ben Crump called the lack of charges “outrageous and offensive,” adding that Hankison’s charge “should have been ruled wanton murder.”
“It’s yet another example of no accountability for the genocide of persons of colour by white police officers,” he said in a statement.
Now women leading the crowd in #breonataylor march that started in downtown louisville. pic.twitter.com/Gmoe8lwFrA — Shay McAlister (@ShayMcAlisterTV) September 23, 2020
Reactions in Downtown Louisville after the grand jury announced charges against just one of three officers involved in killing Breonna Taylor. pic.twitter.com/pNvNEphIjE — Charlie Gile (@CharlieGileNBC) September 23, 2020
Huge crowd on the move in Louisville right now, several hundred taking to the streets in the wake of the Kentucky Attorney General’s announcement in the Breonna Taylor case #BreonnaTaylor #Louisville pic.twitter.com/69W0HtrpoS — Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 23, 2020
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Fists raised, #Louisville protesters take Kentucky St and Hancock St intersection following #BreonnaTaylor announcement. pic.twitter.com/HIrurV0PJe — Rae Hodge (@RaeHodge) September 23, 2020
Two of the officers, Mattingly and Cosgrove, were placed on paid administrative leave, and Hankison was fired more than three months after the killing, following widespread protests.
On Tuesday, Louisville’s mayor declared a state of emergency and blocked off part of downtown, and on Wednesday set a curfew and called in the National Guard, in anticipation of the announcement and the public unrest that was expected to follow.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--White Supremacist Sentenced To 25 Years For Maryland Hate Crime Shooting Of Black Man

White supremacist Brandon Higgs on Wednesday was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the 2018 shooting of a Black man in Reisterstown, Maryland. Baltimore County Police Department
A Maryland judge on Wednesday sentenced white supremacist Brandon Higgs to four decades behind bars for charges related to the 2018 shooting and wounding of a Black man, with part of the sentence suspended.
John Magee, the prosecutor for the Baltimore County state’s attorney’s office, told HuffPost that the judge in the case suspended 15 years of the sentence during the ruling, meaning Higgs will likely serve 25 years behind bars, plus five years probation.
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The 26-year-old former Navy cryptologist was found guilty in January of first-degree assault, attempted voluntary manslaughter, hate crimes and related firearms charges stemming from the 2018 shooting in Reisterstown, a suburb of Baltimore.
“He’s got a long time to think about the shit he did,” Elvis Smith, the man Higgs shot, told HuffPost after leaving the sentencing hearing Wednesday morning. “So I’m happy.”
The shooting received national attention because of the heinous nature of the crime, and because private online chat logs obtained by anti-fascists showed Higgs was active in organised white supremacist groups and had expressed a murderous hatred for Black people, particularly those in the Baltimore area.
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On Dec. 20, 2018, 60-year-old Smith and 48-year-old Robert Peete were at work laying concrete on a driveway outside a house in Reisterstown. A dog belonging to Higgs, who lived nearby, got loose and ran through the wet concrete. The three men exchanged some angry words before Higgs returned home.
Higgs re-emerged outside minutes later carrying a loaded gun and made racist remarks to Smith and Peete. “This is my hood,” he said, using a racial slur. He added: “Black motherfuckers, go back to Africa!”
A shoving match broke out between Smith and Higgs, before Smith hit Higgs with a small rake used for smoothing concrete.
Higgs then drew his gun and a tussle over the weapon ensued. Peete told HuffPost he remembers Higgs pointing the gun directly in his face. Peete said he managed to get out of the way of the weapon.
At some point during the struggle, the gun went off, the bullet ripping through Smith’s leg and obliterating his tibia. (At Higgs’ trial later, it was never established whether he fired the gun or it went off accidentally.)
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Smith and Peete then managed to disarm and restrain Higgs until police arrived.
As Higgs awaited trial, where he pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges, anti-fascists uncovered comments Higgs had made in private neo-Nazi chat groups, including a group for people planning to attend the deadly 2017 “Unite the Right” white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The comments, some of which are quoted below, included racial slurs.
“I decided I’m going to create my own group called Baltimore Animal Control and buy those dog patrol poles with the snare at the end and wrangle niggers with it,” Higgs wrote in one post.
“Also want to leave bear traps in Baltimore city with buckets of KFC chicken,” he wrote in another.
Higgs also referred to Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who in 2015 massacred Black worshippers at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, as “St. Roof” on the message boards.
At his trial earlier this year, Higgs appeared in court in a red prison jumpsuit, his tattoo of a yellow identitarian lambda ― a white nationalist symbol ― visible on his arm.
Court records show that since being found guilty in January, Higgs has also been charged with multiple misdemeanours he allegedly committed while incarcerated, including one charge of possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute.
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Magee, the prosecutor in the hate crime case, said these drug-related charges are still pending and did not affect the sentencing on Wednesday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Keir Starmer Demands Economic 'Plan B' As Autumn Budget Cancelled

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Keir Starmer has called for a “plan B” for the UK’s economy after Boris Johnson imposed fresh coronavirus restrictions which are predicted to threaten jobs.
The Labour leader used a televised address to the nation on Wednesday to say “it makes no sense to bring in new restrictions at the same time as phasing out support for jobs and businesses”.
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“We need a ‘plan B’ for the economy,” he stressed.
It came as chancellor Rishi Sunak scrapped the autumn Budget and prepared to make an emergency economic statement on Thursday.
Sunak has faced widespread calls to replace the furlough scheme that runs out in October given the impact the new restrictions, including advice to work from home and 10pm closing times for hospitality, are likely to have on businesses.
Labour leader Keir Starmer delivers a televised address to the nation The Labour Party
The Treasury said work on a scheme to replace furlough had been taking place in parallel with Budget preparations.
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Its focus will be on saving jobs to avoid the expected three million unemployed.
The Treasury said: “We will always be honest with people about the difficult trade-offs that are involved here.
“Not between health and the economy, but between keeping people in jobs and helping them find new ones. And between help in the here and now and rebuilding in the future. That’s what people deserve.”
The chancellor initially announced his move via Twitter, with a graphic titled “Winter Economy Plan”.
As our response to coronavirus adapts, tomorrow afternoon I will update the House of Commons on our plans to continue protecting jobs through the winter. pic.twitter.com/eP6aqcocxd — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) September 23, 2020
No further details were provided and it came as the government confirmed more than 6,000 new coronavirus cases by 9am on Wednesday – the highest daily number since May 1.
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A Treasury source said: “No-one wanted to be in this situation but we need to respond to it.
“The chancellor has shown he has been creative in the past and we hope that people will trust us to continue in that vein.
“Giving people reassurance and businesses the help they need to get through this is uppermost in his mind.”
The move followed comments by prime minister Boris Johnson about a “creative and imaginative” action plan to protect jobs, with unions and business leaders pointing to schemes used in other European countries.
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said on Tuesday it was time to “stop and rethink” the furlough scheme in favour of a targeted approach.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which outlined its furlough replacement proposal last month, said the government must “fast-track a new plan” to protect jobs.
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The mooted plans would reportedly see the government and firms share the cost of topping up wages for employees only able to work part-time due to the pandemic.
One option reportedly being considered to replace the furlough scheme is Germany’s Kurzarbeit, or shorter work-time policy, under which firms can cut working hours in economic downturns with the state replacing part of their lost income.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Kentucky Cop Who Killed Breonna Taylor Charged With Wanton Endangerment

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A grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, has indicted Detective Brett Hankison in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, charging him with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.
No charges were filed against Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove, the other two police officers who were at the scene the night Taylor was fatally shot. Notably, no murder charges were filed against any of the men.
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First-degree wanton endangerment is a felony that comes with a sentence of one to five years in prison under Kentucky law. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Annie O’Connell issued a warrant for Hankison’s arrest in a Wednesday hearing and set his bail at $15,000.
The charges were tied to shots fired into neighbouring apartments, not those shot inside Taylor’s. O’Connell read the charges aloud, linking each to the occupants of the three apartments that Hankison “wantonly” shot into by listing their initials.
She did not say BT for “Breonna Taylor,” suggesting that the grand jury did not deem the shots fired into her apartment as meeting the bar for “wanton endangerment.”
Mattingly and Cosgrove have been on paid administrative leave since the March incident; Hankison was fired in June after a review found the detective “wantonly and blindly” fired 10 rounds into Taylor’s apartment.
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The city of Louisville reached a $12 million settlement with the 26-year-old’s family last week, and also agreed to undertake police reforms like establishing a housing credit program for officers to live in certain low-income areas.
At 1:00 a.m. on the morning of March 13, the plainclothes officers shot Taylor, a 26-year-old Black EMT, to death in her own apartment. The officers, who used a battering ram to enter Taylor’s home, had a “no-knock” warrant because they believed a suspect in a drug ring ― who did not live there ― was having packages delivered to Taylor’s home. The individual allegedly involved in the ring had actually been arrested earlier that day, which police acknowledged after the fact.
Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, called 911 when the officers burst in and shot at them in self-defence, striking one officer in the femoral artery. The officers responded by firing at least eight bullets, killing Taylor in the hallway.
“I don’t know what is happening,” Walker can be heard saying in his frantic 911 call. “Somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend.”
Lt. Ted Eidem of the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Public Integrity Unit claimed afterwards that the officers had knocked several times and identified themselves as police before they entered. Taylor’s family, including Walker, disputed this in a wrongful death suit filed in May. None of the officers were wearing body cameras.
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Walker later told police that he and Taylor heard loud banging at the door around midnight but that nobody identified themselves. The two were concerned it was Taylor’s ex-boyfriend.
“First thing [Taylor] said was, ‘Who is it?’ No response. ‘Who is it?’ loud, at the top of her lungs, no response,” Walker told police. “So I’m like what the heck? So I grab my gun, it’s legal, I have a license to carry, I’ve never even fired my gun outside of a range. There’s another knock at the door, she’s yelling at the top of her lungs, and I am too, at this point, ‘Who is it?’”
A subsequent search of the apartment found none of the drugs or paraphernalia enumerated in the warrant. Charges against Walker for firing at the police officers were dropped in May.
In addition to the Public Integrity Unit’s internal investigation into the police shooting, the FBI confirmed in May that it had also opened an inquiry.
Taylor’s death sparked a national outcry that boiled over in May when a white police officer in Minneapolis killed George Floyd, a Black man, by kneeling on his neck, prompting massive, sustained civil unrest and calls for change across the country.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Keir Starmer Admits Nicola Sturgeon Has Mandate For Indy Ref 2 If SNP Win Holyrood Elections

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Keir Starmer has admitted Nicola Sturgeon should have the right to call another Scottish independence referendum if the SNP wins the Holyrood elections.
Speaking to Sky News’ Beth Rigby, the Labour leader was pressed repeatedly on whether he backed another vote on independence north of the border.
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After refusing several times to give his outright support, Starmer conceded that victory for the SNP – which most polls forecast – in next May’s Scottish elections would mean it was “for Scotland” to decide.
It comes after an interview with STV in January, in which Starmer said he would “absolutely accept this is a question for Scotland”.
The SNP is likely to place a second plebiscite at the centre of its manifesto for May’s elections.
Starmer told Sky News “the last thing we need is another divisive referendum”, but when his previous comments were repeatedly read back to him, and Rigby asked him whether he backed the “principle” of a mandate, he said: “These issues are questions for Scotland. I do stand by that.”
Scottish Labour will make the case for greater federalism while the Scottish Conservatives are expected to strongly oppose another independence vote.
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Several reports have suggested the UK government would be forced to accept a second vote should the SNP win, however.
Responding, senior cabinet minister Michael Gove said: “Sir Keir Starmer has a problem accepting referendum results.
“He tried to block Brexit, and now he wants to work with Nicola Sturgeon to renege on the Scottish referendum result and break up the UK.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon PA
Starmer also used the interview to accuse Boris Johnson and his government of “serial incompetence” over their handling of the coronavirus crisis.
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He said: “I don’t think he has led us well during this pandemic and I’m not alone in that. I think the vast majority of people think that he hasn’t.
“We have got one of the highest death rates in the world and we are heading, on current forecasts, for one of the deepest recessions.
“Our country is better than that.”
Highlighting a number of Government U-turns, Sir Keir said: “I’m quite prepared to accept that a government will make mistakes in a pandemic like this and one or two U-turns is probably a sign of a government listening and then changing.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--EU 'Tells UK It Will Not Block Food Imports' After Brexit Transition

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The big Brexit row over whether the UK will be able to continue exporting food to the EU unhindered after the transition period appears to be over.
HuffPost UK understands that Michel Barnier told UK negotiators last week that it would have no issue getting the so-called “third country listing” that gives it the right to automatically export food to the EU after the transition ends on December 31.
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Earlier on Wednesday, senior cabinet minister Michael Gove also confirmed there had been “progress” on the issue.
The topic was the subject of an extraordinary Twitter spat between Barnier and his opposite number, Lord David Frost, earlier this month.
1/7 I would like to make a few comments and state a few facts, in my capacity as the PM's negotiator in the current and last autumn's talks. https://t.co/qJ2hGUf5RM — David Frost (@DavidGHFrost) September 13, 2020
It came after Barnier demanded “more clarity” from the UK about its biosecurity controls if it wants to get the automatic right to export animal products into the EU when the transition ends and Britain stops following Brussels’ rules.
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The EU’s reluctance to grant a listing sparked fears in No.10 that mainland Britain could be blocked from sending animal products to Northern Ireland – because the province will follow EU rules in this area to maintain an invisible border with the Republic, under the terms of the withdrawal agreement negotiated by Boris Johnson.
The prime minister had accused the EU of attempting to impose a food “blockade” against Northern Ireland, as the row over the law-breaking Internal Market Bill raged last week.
Brussels insisted it was “not threatening food supply to Northern Ireland” and some EU figures felt the UK had manufactured a row on the issue.
HuffPost UK also understands the EU is waiting to legislation on standards promised by the UK in October before granting the listing.
The 🇪🇺 is not threatening food supply to Northern Ireland. We are committed to the faithful implementation of the Protocol.
EU rules will continue to apply to food imports into NI. This avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland. The UK agreed to this. [1/4]@NewtonEmerson https://t.co/TFNM2jlkRe — Daniel Ferrie (@DanielFerrie) September 17, 2020
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But UK negotiators feel the EU was refusing to even begin the process of third-country listing as a way to get leverage in talks on a long-term trade deal.
Now, Barnier has agreed to begin the process towards third-country listing for the UK.
A Whitehall source told HuffPost UK: “It’s welcome that the EU have come to their senses and backed down on their threats which would have amounted to a blockade on British food.
“Withholding listing for the UK would have been an extraordinary step when they allow exports from dozens of countries around the world.
“It shows that the EU’s threats didn’t stem from a genuine policy concern, but were simply a politicisation of the process.”
A UK government spokesperson said: “The EU has now said to us that normal processes will be followed on third country listings.
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“So there are no obstacles to listing our food and agricultural products as our food standards rules will be exactly the same as the EU’s.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Tories Accused Of 'Carnival Of Incompetence' On Brexit Kent 'Border' Plan

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Labour has blasted the government’s “carnival of incompetence” on Brexit after Michael Gove confirmed many lorry drivers would face a de facto border to enter Kent from January.
The Cabinet Office minister confirmed truck drivers will need a “Kent access permit” to go on designated roads leading to the port of Dover and Eurotunnel in a bid to prevent huge traffic jams.
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Government documents suggest the police or Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will be able to fine drivers heading to those destinations without one.
It came after Gove published a reasonable worst case scenario which warned there could be queues of 7,000 lorries in the county if not enough businesses prepare for border checks and requirements following the end of the transition period on December 31.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves said: “It is incredible that ministers are only now admitting to their plans to arrest British truckers for entering Kent without new travel passports.
“With just over three months to go, how are businesses meant to prepare amid this Conservative carnival of incompetence?”
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The plans were mooted in a government document published in August and confirmed by Gove in the Commons on Wednesday.
He said: “We want to make sure that people use a relatively simple process in order to get what will become known as a ‘Kent-access permit’, which means that they can then proceed smoothly through Kent.”
Hauliers using designated roads in Kent leading to the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel will need digitally-issued access permits, with drivers receiving either a “green” or “amber” certification from the government’s “smart freight” service.
Green would certify that the haulier has all the necessary documents needed to cross the border and can proceed to the port.
Amber would mean the haulier first has to go to an HMRC departure office or a “third party authorised consignor” to complete customs checks and obtain a special customs barcode.
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Each permit will be valid for 24 hours to cover a single trip.
Receiving a red result would mean drivers are missing some or all their documentation and should not go to the port.
Any hauliers still travelling to the port with a red notification, or if they have not used the smart freight service at all, would face a fine from police or the DVSA.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--James Corden Explains Obvious Reason Trump Should Be Concerned About Coronavirus

Mr. President, this isn’t rocket science — which is probably good considering your thoughts on missiles.
On Monday, President Donald Trump held two rallies in Ohio, first apparently incorrectly talking about hypersonic missiles, calling them hydrosonic, and then downplaying the coronavirus, which has killed more than 200,000 people in the United States. According to Trump, it affects elderly people with heart problems. “Virtually nobody,” he said.
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On Tuesday’s Late Late Show, host James Corden was baffled.
“Now, I understand why Trump had to hold two rallies instead of one. Between this and the missiles, he had a lot of misinformation to spread,” Corden said.
He then explained exactly why the president should be more concerned about Covid-19.
“Trump said it only affects elderly people. You’re 74! You are elderly! Your diet is Kentucky Fried Chicken. Elderly people with heart problems is you! How are you not worried about this!” James said.
Trump also saluted young people for their immune systems, and James believes he should probably think about those comments as well.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--EJ Osborne, BBC Money For Nothing Presenter, Dies Aged 45

BBC
TV presenter EJ Osborne has died at the age of 45.
He was best known for co-hosting the BBC upcycling series Money For Nothing.
News of EJ’s death was confirmed by his wife Anne-Marie on his professional Instagram account.
She said that EJ died on Monday after spending the last three weeks of his life at the Dorothy House Hospice near Bath.
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Sharing a series of pictures of him, Anne-Marie said that “an inexpressible loss envelopes us”.
Paying tribute to the hospice staff, she continued: “I was with him every day and was blown away by their compassion, resilience and kindness. I know he felt so cared for and safe.”
EJ’s former Money For Nothing co-host Sarah Moore was among those who shared tributes online.
Posting a photo of them together on Instagram, she called him “fantastic, inspiring, chuckling and talented”.
“I join with all of the team, our artisans, production crew, directors, executives, viewers and friends in sending our love and respect to his family,” she said.
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“He touched us deeply with his obvious lust for life, energy and commitment.
“Rest in peace and purple sequins my friend. See you on the other side.”
Carla-Maria Lawson, head of BBC daytime and early-peak, said EJ, who died on Monday, “lit up the screen”.
She said: “EJ was a brilliant talent who brought a wealth of expertise as an artisan and lit up the screen with his charm, likeability and warmth as a presenter. He will be hugely missed by us all at BBC Daytime and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time.”
Australian EJ was a woodworker who found fame as part of the team on the BBC series, which turns items other people have disposed of into desirable products.
As well as wife Anne-Marie, EJ is survived by young daughter Orla.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--UK Daily Coronavirus Cases Hit 6,000 For First Time Since Start Of May

Images By Tang Ming Tung via Getty Images
The UK has recorded more than 6,000 new cases of coronavirus for the first time since the start of May.
Government data published on Wednesday showed an increase of 6,178 cases over the previous 24 hours.
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The last time more than 6,000 cases were reported was on May 6.
Wednesday’s figures represent the biggest jump in Covid-19 cases since May 1, when the UK recorded 6,201 new infections.
The landmark number of cases comes the day after Boris Johnson warned Brits that the UK “could still be forced into a new national lockdown”.
The prime minister announced a series of new rules for England on Tuesday, including a 10pm curfew for bars and restaurants and higher fines for failing to wear a face mask.
The military could also be deployed to help the police enforce coronavirus restrictions, Johnson told the Commons.
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The Covid-19 deaths of another 37 people were also recorded on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, figures show that the number of coronavirus patients on ventilators has crept above 200 for the first time since the start of July, with 211 people in mechanical ventilation beds on Tuesday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--The New Name For Uncle Ben's Rice Is Here

The Uncle Ben’s rice brand is getting a new name: Ben’s Original.
Parent firm Mars Inc. unveiled the change on Wednesday for the 70-year-old brand, the latest company to drop a logo criticised as a racial stereotype. Packaging with the new name will hit stores next year.
“We listened to our associates and our customers and the time is right to make meaningful changes across society,” said Fiona Dawson, global president for Mars Food, multi-sales and global customers. “When you are making these changes, you are not going to please everyone. But it’s about doing the right thing, not the easy thing.”
Several companies have retired racial imagery from their branding in recent months, a ripple effect from the Black Lives Matters protests over the police killing of George Floyd and other African Americans.
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Quaker Oats announced in June that it would drop Aunt Jemima from syrup and pancake packages, responding to criticism that the character’s origins were based the “mammy,” a black woman content to serve her white masters. Quaker said packages without the Aunt Jemima image will start to appear in stores by the end of the year, although the company has not revealed the new logo.
The owner of Eskimo Pie has also said it will change its name and marketing of the nearly century-old chocolate-covered ice cream bar. Beyond food brands, the Washington NFL franchise dropped the “Redskins” name and Indian head logo amid pressure from sponsors including FedEx, Nike, Pepsi and Bank of America.
Geechie Boy Mill, a family-owned operation in South Carolina that makes locally-grown and milled white grits, is also planning a name change. Geechie is a dialect spoken mainly by the descendants of African-American slaves who settled on the Ogeechee river in Georgia, according to Merriam-Webster.com.
“We are in the process of changing our name and have developed a whole new brand. We look forward to sharing it with the public,” said Greg Johnsman, owner of Geechie Boy Mill.
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Mars had announced in the summer that the Uncle Ben’s brand would “evolve.”
Since the 1940s, the rice boxes have featured a white-haired Black man, sometimes with a bow tie, an image critics say evokes servitude. Mars has said the face was originally modelled after a Chicago maitre d’ named Frank Brown. In a short-lived 2007 marketing campaign, the company elevated Uncle Ben to chairman of a rice company.
Dawson said months of conversations with employees, customer studies and other stakeholders led the company to settle on “Ben’s Original. She said the company is still deciding on an image to accompany the new name.
Mars also announced several other initiatives, including a $2 million investment in culinary scholarships for aspiring Black chefs in partnership with the National Urban League. It also is planning a $2.5 million investment in nutritional and education programs for students in Greenville, Mississippi, the majority African-American city where the rice brand has been produced for more than 40 years.
Mars said it has set a goal of increasing the ranks of racial minorities in U.S. management positions by 40%. The company did not give a timeframe for reaching that number.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--'Act Now' – Government Urged To Do More To Protect BAME People As Covid Second Wave Hits

A mural showing BAME medical and transport workers, in Waterloo, London. Dominic Lipinski - PA Images via Getty Images
The government has been accused of failing to carry out key recommendations to protect Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities from Covid-19 as fears mount over the second wave.
The first indication that people from these groups were disproportionately dying from coronavirus was published almost six months ago, yet critics say little has been done to reduce the risk despite two reports outlining actions that could be taken.
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Ministers are being urged to act now to protect the vulnerable communities.
At the moment, a third of coronavirus patients in intensive care are from BAME backgrounds and on Monday, chief scientific officer Patrick Vallance warned there could be 50,000 daily cases of Covid-19 by mid-October and 200 deaths a day by mid-November if the current rate of infection is not halted.
Labour MP Marsha de Cordova MP, shadow women and equalities secretary, slammed the government for “failing” to safeguard BAME groups.
“This government has failed to act to protect Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities since this health crisis began six months ago. During that time we have seen copious amounts of evidence and recommendations, all of which point towards clear actions that the government must take,” she told HuffPost UK.
“The latest evidence suggests that Black, Asian and minority ethnic people are still disproportionately impacted by the virus but the government is still not doing enough and must instigate an action plan immediately.”
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A report in April by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) revealed that a third of coronavirus patients were Black or Asian, despite those groups making up only 13% of the UK population.
Further analysis by Public Health England (PHE) in June confirmed that the ethnic minority population was more likely to contract the virus than others.
After the initial PHE report was slammed for failing to publish any recommendations to address the increased risk, equalities minister Kemi Badenoch was handed the responsibility of examining “what further could be done”.
Following public pressure, a subsequent PHE report was then published containing a series of recommendations including comprehensive ethnicity data collection – including on death certificates – and the involvement of BAME communities in research to help better understand cultural, structural, economic, religious and commercial factors behind Covid-19.
Richard Baker via Getty Images
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The government said that it “continues” to take action on tackling the disparities.
A spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “The government continues to take action to address the disparities that exist across society, including implementing the recommendations from reviews that we have agreed to take forward.
“The minister for equalities will provide her first quarterly update in the coming weeks, outlining the specific work that has been done to advance the recommendations within the PHE review.”
The government did not confirm a date for the update when asked.
Advisory group Independent Sage also published a report in July outlining recommendations.
Member Dr Zubaida Haque, who is also the former interim director of race equality think tank Runnymede Trust, said the government “must take” specific actions made in the report to prevent further deaths in BAME communities.
They include a tailored find, test, trace, isolate, support (FTTIS) programme, improved statutory sick pay and the removal of barriers for migrants accessing essential benefits.
“We have known from the outset that this pandemic does not affect all groups equally, and that Black and ethnic minority communities are disproportionately vulnerable to Covid-19,” Haque told HuffPost UK.
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“And yet, there is little evidence that the government has taken measures to reduce the risk – and importantly reduce the number of deaths of people from Black and Asian backgrounds.
“The only thing we see is a government prioritising politics before lives, shifting the blame for the spike in Covid-19 cases to the public, and doing very little to prevent further deaths in this pandemic.”
Research grants of £4.3m have been given out by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a non-departmental public body of the government, to better understand the reasons behind the disproportionate outcomes.
HuffPost UK has asked UKRI why this is the case.
Nurse Ameera Sheikh protests outside Downing Street, London, demanding a pay rise, real protection against COVID-19 and and the release of Public Health England's review into BAME NHS staff's deaths. Stefan Rousseau - PA Images via Getty Images
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The government spokesperson also said “significant effort” has been made to ensure that public health messaging reaches everyone (including those who speak little or no English) and national campaigns have been translated into several languages by local authorities.
But members of the public have suggested that this has not been happening. For example, doctors have been forced to translate coronavirus guidance to stop minority lives being endangered.
The government also said it had worked closely with social influencers, religious leaders, and partnered with key community groups and organisations to ensure effective messaging, while conducting “targeted partnership” advertising with BAME media titles.
Following the prime minister’s announcement of new Covid restrictions on Tuesday, a number of MPs raised concerns in parliament about the BAME population’s safety at this time.
Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham, Munira Wilson, asked: “Could he [Boris Johnson] tell the house how he thinks shutting pubs an hour earlier will address this worrying trend? And what action has his government taken to tackle the disproportionate impact on ethnic minorities since PHE published its report in June?”.
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Boris Johnson responded by saying the government is offering more testing for frontline staff, many of whom are BAME, and health messages are being circulated more widely.
In the PM's statement today, I raised the alarming number of #Covid_19 cases we are seeing in the Asian population. There's been precious little action from the Govt since these issues were brought to the forefront in June. Watch below 👇 pic.twitter.com/itPuvLJ7g2 — Munira Wilson MP (@munirawilson) September 22, 2020
Helen Hayes, Labour MP for Dulwich, echoed this question and added that nothing has been done.
In response, Boris Johnson reiterated his earlier point.
Dr. Halima Begum, the new director of Runnymede Trust, told HuffPost UK: “Covid-19 isn’t racist but it does discriminate. The government stands in paralysis and fails to implement key recommendations – from the PHE report and Independent SAGE’s own set of recommendations – to protect people from within BAME communities.
“It is Runnymede’s view that the government could do more to protect BAME communities who face a heightened risk of contracting Covid-19 at this time. We urge the government to implement a National Cross Governmental Strategy for actions on social determinants of health injustices as recommended in the Marmot Review – which means taking action to improving prevention, access to health services, and treatment for long term conditions among black and minority ethnic communities.
“The impact of recent local lockdowns and rhetoric, in terms of increasing stigma on BAME communities during Covid-19, is hurting our communities and we call on the home secretary to outline plans to tackle that.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Two Brits Killed In 30ft Fall As They Took Pictures On Spanish Holiday, Inquest Hears

Two friends died after losing their balance while embracing near a seafront wall and falling 30ft on to the beach below, an inquest heard.
Daniel Mee, 25, and Jayden Dolman, 20, were on holiday in Alicante, Spain, with friend Lewis Higgins when the tragedy occurred on July 3 2019.
An inquest in Taunton heard the men had walked from their villa to the beaches and had been “larking about” taking photographs when they fell over a railing at 7.15pm.
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Mee was pronounced dead at the scene while Dolman was airlifted to Alicante General Hospital, where he later died.
Left to right: Lewis Higgins, Daniel Mee, Jayden Dolman Instagram
Tony Williams, senior coroner for Somerset, read parts of a magistrates’ document prepared in Spain at the inquest on Tuesday.
It included a statement from Higgins, who was taken to hospital himself for a severe anxiety attack after witnessing the incident.
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“He said he and his friends Jayden and Daniel were walking from the villa to the nearest beach,” Williams read.
“They started to walk from one place to the other, walking from beach to beach.
“His two friends were walking in front of him. During the evening, they were taking pictures while they were walking.
“Daniel embraced Jayden. He saw them both close to the railings. Then they fell.
“They didn’t jump over the railings at any time. He believes that they were embracing and lost their balance.”
Higgins told Spanish authorities that the friends had been drinking during the day.
A civil guard, who was off-duty at the time, saw the three friends walking near Punta Prima beach, which is in Torrevieja.
“They were stopping to take photographs on the edge of the cliff,” Williams read.
“They were lively, shouting and laughing.”
The off-duty civil guard walked down to the beach and looked up towards the promenade the men had been walking down.
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“He saw two of the three people falling from the promenade,” Williams read.
“He saw them land. He immediately called emergency services.”
The inquest was only into the death of Mee, as the body of Dolman was not repatriated to the United Kingdom.
It heard toxicology tests found the amount of alcohol in Mee’s blood was 215mg per 100ml of blood. The legal drink-drive limit is 80mg.
Mee’s cause of death was a head injury, Williams said.
He reached a conclusion of accidental death for Mee, who was a plumber from Bridgwater.
“All three of them have had a few drinks, they are on holiday, they are enjoying themselves, they are walking along the promenade,” Williams said.
“Daniel and Jayden are hugging close to the railings and during that, they have lost balance, they have gone over the railings and unfortunately fallen over where there is a steep drop of nine metres on the other side.
“Unfortunately, they have sustained injuries that have proved fatal.”
Speaking after the deaths, a spokesperson for Bridgwater and Taunton College – which both Mee and Dolman attended – described them as “talented students who will be sorely missed”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Welsh First Minister Destroys Dominic Raab's Claim About UK's 'Consistent' Covid Decisions

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Dominic Raab has claimed the four UK nations have overwhelmingly taken a “consistent” approach to making decisions on how to tackle coronavirus, despite each country making... very different decisions.
His comments came less than 24 hours after Nicola Sturgeon announced Scotland would be going further than England with its new restrictions by imposing a ban on household visits.
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Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Raab said: “There’s always an evidence basis which we all look at, it’s slightly different in the four parts of the UK, although actually overwhelmingly we’ve taken a consistent and common approach.
“We recognise that the devolved administrations have the authority to decide things in a slightly different way.”
And just a few hours later, Raab’s comments were blown apart by Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford.
Asked by Sky News about the different decisions taken by Wales, he said: “Of course, we have done things differently in Wales, more cautiously, more slowly and answered many questions over the last few months about whether we should have done things more quickly.
“I think we’re glad now that we didn’t because in Wales I don’t need to take a number of the measures the PM had to announce for England yesterday because we’ve never been in that position.
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“We’ve always had a policy of encouraging people to work from home wherever they can and we don’t need to go into reverse because that’s always been our policy.”
The four nations have been out of step on a number of other major decisions:
In May, Nicola Sturgeon asked the UK government not deploy its new “stay alert” message north of the border.
In June, England published a list of countries on so-called “travel corridors” for holidaymakers. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales did not immediately follow suit, describing the move as “shambolic”.
Scotland introduced mandatory face masks in shops on 10 July with England only following suit 13 days later.
The new strategy for England – announced six months after the lockdown was introduced in March – will see office staff once again working from home, the wider use of face masks and a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.
Businesses will face £10,000 fines or closure for failing to comply with regulations, and people risk £200 penalties is they do not wear masks or breach the “rule of six”.
The military could be used to free up police officers to tackle coronavirus rule-breakers, and Johnson said the measures may need to be in place for a further six months.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Hopeless, Forgotten, Livid: How Couples Feel About The New Wedding Restrictions

andreswd via Getty Images
Charlotte Neary, 27, and Chris Haynes, 33, are due to get married in just over one months’ time. They’d already cut their guest list from 80 guests to 30 to abide by the government’s Covid-19 restrictions. Now, they’ll have to halve it again.
On Tuesday, Boris Johnson announced new restrictions in England, including a ban on weddings with more than 15 people. The limits are likely to be in place for six months, the prime minister warned, meaning weddings scheduled until March may be impacted.
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Meanwhile, weddings are restricted to 20 people in Scotland and 30 in Wales, while limits are determined by the venue’s size and subject to a risk assessment in Northern Ireland.
The fact pubs and restaurants can still take bookings, but the wedding industry is under strict guidance, is frustrating for brides-to-be like Charlotte.
“I understand the economy has to keep going, but it feels like the government is targeting weddings,” the bride-to-be, from Swindon, tells HuffPost UK. “They should leave the life-changing events and focus on the day-to-day.
“They worry about mental health, but what about ours? We’ve saved 30k of our hard-earned money, waited patiently, followed the rules and now we’re being stuffed because of everyone else.”
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Chloe Metzger and Ali Miller, both 26 and based in Hampshire, are also disappointed by the latest announcement. They’re considering postponing their January wedding until later in 2021.
Chloe Metzger Chloe Metzger and Ali Miller
The couple are expecting 55 day guests and another 20-30 in the evening. They have four groomsmen and four bridesmaids. A smaller wedding wouldn’t be possible, they say, as there isn’t enough space for friends and family members.
“We were getting married at a local hotel, we’ve been together since we were teenagers so I feel like I’ve waited a lifetime for it,” says Chloe. “I was just really, really sad when I heard the announcement. I didn’t think it would go ahead, but coming down to 15 cemented it for us.”
The announcement also didn’t come as a surprise to Cathie Swan, 23, who’s been doubtful about her wedding plans for a while. Cathie is due to marry her partner, Beth Addison, 26, in Northumberland with 60 guests in March.
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“The announcement just solidified our concerns more than anything else,” she says. “We’ve spent all summer brushing it aside and saying everything will probably be fine by the time the wedding comes around, but once we hit the six-month-mark – both six months since it all started to get bad here, and six months until our wedding – it hit us both that we almost definitely won’t be able to have our wedding in the capacity we wanted to.”
Cathie Swan Beth Addison and Cathie Swan
The couple plan to still get married on the same date if their venue allows them to have a smaller-scale event with just parents and siblings.
“We’re in the process of telling friends and family they may not get an invite, but it’s tricky,” says Cathie. “We can’t really book anything if we don’t know for sure how many people we can have, so we feel stuck at the minute because we’ve seen how much the situation can change in waves.”
Other couples we spoke to said the excitement has been taken out of wedding planning. Mickeal Denis, 49, is due to marry his partner Antonio, 48, in London in November, with a reception held on a boat on the Thames. They’d originally planned for 130 guests, but have had to drastically rethink their plans, with the help of their wedding planner Bianca Gardner from Bumble Events. After Tuesday’s announcement, they still haven’t decided what to do.
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“The thing I keep saying is it’s not about what we want anymore, it’s about what we’re allowed to do now,” says Mickeal. “The charm of the wedding has gone.”
Mickeal Denis Mickeal Denis, who is due to marry his partner Antonio. Antonio chose not to be pictured.
Mickeal is originally from France and Antonio is from Columbia, so while monitoring the situation in the UK they’ve also had to consider travel arrangements for their international guests.
“We’ve been changing plans since March,” he says. “We’ve had plan A, plan B, plan C – I think we’re at plan Z now. I still want to go ahead, even if it’s in a mask. Love is love and we both really love each other, of course. It looks like we’ll go for it.”
Others got in touch to day the new guidelines are unfair, considering the rules regarding some workplaces and entertainment venues. Fiona, a 32-year-old teacher from Northampton, is due to marry her partner Russel in October and is frustrated by the inconsistencies.
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“I can teach 180 kids a day, and by extension this means a connection with their families. My bubble isn’t a bubble, it’s a whole ocean,” says Fiona, who chose not to share her surname. “I can regularly sit in our staff room with 20 other people, but yet I can’t have 30 at my wedding.”
“We’ve had plan A, plan B, plan C – I think we’re at plan Z now.” - Mickeal Denis, 49
Fiona believes it would be much easier for her guests to socially distance than it is to stay apart in school, as the venue is much larger than her workplace. “Yet the classroom is in theory – government theory – safer,” she adds. “This makes little sense. To say I’m livid is an understatement.”
Safina Ahmed, 26, from Manchester, has had a small Islamic ceremony with 20 people to mark her marriage to her partner Ali Marks, also 26, but the pair are still not legally married. They postponed their big wedding and legal registry from September this year until March 2021 – and now, they’re preparing to postpone again.
“It’s made me feel really hopeless and a bit forgotten about as a couple hoping to get married,” says Safina. “Due to my cultural background, the wedding was supposed to have 400 guests and be spread across the course of two weeks with lots of celebratory events leading up to it.”
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Safina Ali Marks and Safina Ahmed
Having a religious ceremony without all their friends and family present was “heartbreaking”, Safina adds. “This was done in the hope of having a bigger event next year so they could at least witness the legal registry. But the thought of doing it again without everyone really isn’t even an option.”
Couples due to get married beyond March 2021 are also worried. Katy Shroff, 40, from Cambridgeshire, said the announcement has “devastated” her and her partner, Adam Chapman, 31.
The couple were originally due to marry in May 2020 with 150 guests but postponed until May 2021. They’re now doubtful weddings will be back to normal next year and are considering moving their plans to 2022.
“It was such a hard decision to make postponing this year, we had been planning it for two years and everything was ready to go,” says Katy. “It was hard enough spending my 40th birthday in lockdown in March, [and then] losing our stag and hen parties was equally as hard.”
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Katy Shroff Katy Shroff and Adam Chapman
While the couple is hoping to arrange a new date with their church and reception venue, Katy says money will inevitably be lost.
The couple have two daughters and several nieces, who will be flower girls on the day. Katy is doubtful their dresses will fit come 2022, but says a smaller wedding isn’t an option. “I have paid a lot for my dress and I don’t see the point in just 15 people being there in a church we have paid £900 for,” she says. “My fiancé has four brothers, we both have huge families.”
So, what are your options if you’re affected by the latest announcement?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Linda Robson Fudges Latest Dancing On Ice Announcement After Getting Carried Away On Loose Women

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The Loose Women were given the responsibility of revealing the latest Dancing On Ice contestant on Wednesday, but bosses might not rush to get them to do it again.
That’s because panellist Linda Robson ended up ruining the big announcement after getting a bit too excited by some clues.
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Linda Robson ITV
Viewers of the ITV daytime show were given a series of hints about who was the latest star to sign up to the skating competition, which were contained in an envelope Linda was asked to open.
It contained a pictures of fellow Loose Women panellist Denise Welch, a fox, a van, and a full English breakfast.
Linda was initially baffled by the clues, complaining that they made no sense, but as Kaye Adams then went on to introduce a commercial break, Linda – who is coincidentally nicknamed Baggy Mouth by her co-stars – blurted out the correct answer.
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“Denise Van Outen!” she shrieked, prompting Kaye to bury her head in her hands, as Janet Street Porter and Brenda Edwards could be heard laughing.
Later in the show, Denise was – somewhat unsurprisingly – confirmed as a DOI contestant, dropping in via Zoom to talk to the panel about it.
Denise Van Outen joined the Loose Women on Wednesday's show. ITV
“I’m really excited, I can’t believe it and finally I get to tell people!” said former Big Breakfast host Denise, who also competed on The Masked Singer as Fox earlier this year.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to skate because I literally cannot stand up on ice and every time I’ve taken Betsy [her daughter] at Christmas time to a rink I’ve been the one on the penguin!
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“After the year we’ve all had it’s going to be lovely and refreshing to see a bit of sparkle, a bit of glamour and see us all happy and smiling enjoying ourselves on the ice.”
Denise joins TV and radio presenter Myleene Klass and Emmerdale actor Joe-Warren Plant on next year’s Dancing On Ice line-up, with more names set to be announced over the coming days.
The show is scheduled to return for its 13th series in January, and will once again be hosted by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Coronavirus Could Make January Brexit Disruption Worse, Government Warns

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Coronavirus could make disruption at the border caused by Brexit worse, the government has warned.
A “reasonable worse case scenario” document published by Michael Gove warns of queues of 7,000 lorries in Kent if not enough businesses prepare for border checks and requirements following the end of the transition period on December 31.
And a Covid-19 winter spike could make the situation worse if it leads to “absenteeism among port or border staff” in Dover or Calais, or if social distancing measures create extra friction.
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The document however notes that a surge in infections may also suppress demand for freight Channel crossings and “limit the extent of traffic disruption”.
Gove also confirmed controversial plans for a “Kent access permit” which lorry drivers will have to hold to get into the county – an attempt to reduce traffic that critics say amounts to a de facto border inside England.
He published the document while warning that not enough firms are prepared for the UK leaving the EU single market, which allows seamless trade with the continent, at the end of the year.
“Our survey evidence indicates while 78% of businesses have taken steps, just 24% believe they are fully ready,” he told the Commons.
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“Indeed, 43% of businesses actually believe the transition period will be extended even though the deadline for any extension has now long passed and the date we leave the single market and customs union is fixed in law and supported across this House.”
The document’s worst case scenario estimates that 30-50% of lorries will not be ready for extra border checks and requirements, leading to a 60-80% reduction in the normal levels of Channel crossings.
“This could lead to maximum queues of ~7,000 port bound trucks in Kent and associated maximum delays of up to two days,” the document says.
The problems may start small in early January but there is an expectation of “sustained disruption to worsen over the first two weeks as freight demand builds”.
The government expects disruption to begin tailing off over the first three months of 2021 as more firms get their lorries ready with the correct paperwork for the border.
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But there is a warning that EU passport control could continue to cause disruption “until the French relax checks or add more capacity to undertake checks”, the document states.
Meanwhile, Gove said the government had made “progress” in getting Brussels to grant it the automatic right to export food to the EU after the transition ends.
The UK had warned that without so-called “third country listing”, trade of food between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which will follow many EU rules so it can keep an invisible border with the Republic, could have been disrupted.
“The reluctance or the slow pace of granting third country status for food exports to the UK has been concerning but thanks to the prime minister drawing attention to this issue, progress has been made,” Gove said.
Shadow cabinet minister Rachel Reeves said people must assume that these worst-case scenarios over the post-Brexit situation “will play out quite soon”.
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She said: “The news today that there could soon be tailbacks of 7,000 lorries is quite extraordinary.
“I know the government has said that they are committed to building new infrastructure, but I didn’t realise it meant concreting over the Garden of England.
“Today’s warnings are based on a reasonable worst-case scenario, but given we have a reasonable worst-case government, we have to assume that these scenarios will play out quite soon.”
Reeves added: “Why aren’t the essential prerequisites for a smooth transition not already here?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Hundreds Of Whales Die In Australia’s Worst Mass Stranding

Hundreds Of Whales Die In Australia’s Worst Mass Stranding
Nearly 400 pilot whales have died in what is the largest mass stranding in Australia's history. The reason for the stranding remains unknown.