thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--When My Child Came Out As Transgender, I Worried. Now I'm Witnessing Her Joy

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Our youngest daughter Ru, short for Ruth, called home from college crying. She rarely calls home since she started her freshman year, so my antennae immediately went up. I’ve had plenty of experience getting bad news over the phone, so it’s no wonder I go from zero to 60 in seconds and assume something must be wrong when I get an unexpected call from one of my three children.
But this call was different. Ru was calling to tell us how happy she is.
My daughter has found her community at her school, and while college certainly isn’t easy ― essay writing in particular is bumming her out ― she feels she is being challenged in all the best ways. She thanked us for always supporting her, and when we hung up, I cried with relief.
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Last summer, mourning doves built a nest in the gutter under the awning over the back deck. For weeks, the hen and cock took turns sitting on their eggs. We all got much joy watching the fledglings hatch and feed. My husband, Ru, and I sat outside in the cool of the day under the flight path of the Burbank airport and watched the goings-on of this little family. Those babies were greedy little bastards ― always hungry.
They grew quickly over the course of a week and walked around on the roof like they were inspecting the place. Two mornings prior, they left the nest, which to the three of us seemed far too soon. We went into a frenzy of Googling for information on mourning doves and their fledglings. The irony was not lost on me. Ru, the youngest of our three children, was in the midst of transitioning from male to female while preparing to leave for college.
Dove fledglings fun fact: Eggs hatch after a 15-20 day incubation period. Within 11 days, they are strong enough to leave the nest and when they do, it will take them another three to four days to fly. They must find ground cover to survive.
Courtesy of Deb Spera Two mourning doves photographed at the author's home.
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Ru struggled all summer. She grew out her beard in preparation for electrolysis, hoping to be free of facial hair before beginning school. Both the treatment and being continually referred to as “he,” “him” and “dude” while sporting the beard was painful. She didn’t come out of her room except in the mornings and evenings, and only then to observe the doves.
We watched as the hen and cock fended off prey, chasing away other birds and predators who ventured near our house. The fledglings congregated under the giant tomato plant in my garden while Ru and I sat together in the early mornings. Ru read from her Google search.
Hen and cock: Mourning doves mainly eat seeds, but the young are fed crop milk. Both males and females produce this milk.
We were mesmerized by Ma and Pa dove bobbing their heads to regurgitate crop milk. The fledglings, in feisty sibling rivalry, stabbed greedy little beaks down their parent’s throats fighting for their fair share.
“Who knew gender fluidity existed in the bird kingdom?” I said.
“Google,” Ru replied.
When Ru came out to us, we insisted she store her sperm before starting hormones. “Who knows,” we said, “someday you might want to start a family.”
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She insisted she wouldn’t, but at the tender age of 16, how can anyone know for certain what one will or won’t want in time? At her age I swore all the same things.
When she was 17, a friend remarked what a good mother she would be and Ru basked in the compliment. She exhibits all the qualities of a good parent, caring and concern but with healthy boundaries, and she knows the limits of her abilities when distressed friends come to her with problems ― kind of like a parent. We do what we can to help them grow.
Our job goes from changing diapers and kissing boo-boos, to standing on the sidelines, cheering, “You can do it, sister!”
Ru confided in my husband how hard it was to be neither perfectly male nor perfectly female. She felt she was failing at both. What if she wasn’t happy in college? What if she didn’t find her people? Her father told her that perhaps she was being too hard on herself ― that she is perfectly transgender and that is enough.
We worried when the larger fledgling flew first. The other, smaller sibling sat beneath the chaise lounge not moving. The hen and cock took turns trying to coax it out of hiding, but it wouldn’t budge. Eventually they flew to the roof to wait. Only when its sibling flew down did the youngest fledgling stand.
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“It looks like they’re talking,” Ru said.
The two of them strutted back and forth from the vegetable patch to the chaise lounge. Ma and Pa dove finally joined their babies on the lawn. The family of four picnicked on seeds and crop milk.
Ru came out first to her brother and sister, and they held her secret. They circled her until she was ready to come to us many months later, then her father and I joined the circle and we held her, together. The whole family attended her first doctor’s appointment related to transitioning, our oldest on FaceTime from Washington, DC.
From that moment forward we stopped referring to Ru as he and him ― and by the name we had given her at birth. We still messed up, but kept trying until we got it right more often than not. Now she is simply our girl, Ru.
As we did a deep dive researching what it means to be transgender, trying to catch up to Ru’s knowledge, what we learned from doctors, scientific experts and researchers was the same: Gender identity comes from the brain, not from your anatomy. Simply stated, our beautiful daughter knows she was assigned the wrong gender at birth and is now living as her true gender.
When the smallest fledgling finally flew, we cheered. It visited the nest where it was born, flew into our kitchen window, bounced off and fluttered to a nearby tree limb to shake off the confusion. Under the watchful supervision of Ma and Pa, it finally figured out the terrain of our backyard, and when it came to rest on the arm of our back-porch couch, the whole family joined. We whispered our hurrahs and yippees so as not to scare them off.
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When Ru was ready to tell the world, we spent an entire Sunday calling and emailing all of our family and friends from around the country to share the news. We told the people we love the most what we’d learned about the transgender community, how gender dysphoria works, how gender and sexuality differ, how high the statistics for suicide are for those who are not supported by a loving community and how transgender people — especially trans women of colour — face incredibly high levels of violence and discrimination just because of who they are.
“We are team Ru,” we said. “We hope you will join us.”
Not a single family member or friend rebuffed her or us. I know that is rare and how lucky we are.
“When Ru was ready to tell the world, we spent an entire Sunday calling and emailing all of our family and friends from around the country to share the news. ... 'We are team Ru,' we said. 'We hope you will join us.' ... Not a single family member or friend rebuffed her or us. I know that is rare and how lucky we are.”
On the long drive to college, Ru expressed equal parts elation and worry, excited for new academic challenges and independence, but also deeply concerned for her safety and future. I can confide in you that I worried, too. I felt I hadn’t prepared Ru enough or schooled her enough on womanhood. I could only hope others took the time to see Ru’s kindness, her deep curiosity about the world and most of all, her remarkable courage. Who am I to say there is danger when there just as easily can be safe harbour?
Mourning dove fun fact: If the fledglings refuse to leave the nest, on the 13th day the hen and cock will stop feeding them. The babies must learn to fly to survive.
Our mourning doves are gone now, off to wherever they fly when they are grown, someplace we can’t know or see.
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I always sing to Ru this little ditty I wrote. It annoys her, but I will not be stopped. Mothers get to keep some privileges, and being annoying is one of them.
Ruth Deluth is living proof that joy can come when you live your truth.
That’s crop milk, baby. Pure crop milk.
This article first appeared on HuffPost Personal


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--What Is Cancel Culture?

What Is Cancel Culture?

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What Is Cancel Culture?
Cancel culture is seemingly happening to everyone, every day, but what exactly is it? Dr Tina Sikka explains where cancel culture came from and what it means for society.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Police Officer Stabbed After Chasing Man With A Knife In North London

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A police officer has been stabbed in north London after chasing a man seen with a knife.
The injured officer was stabbed in the arm and is being treated in hospital. His condition is not life threatening.
A Taser was used and a man was arrested on suspicion of GBH during the incident in Hendon at around 1.15pm on Friday. He has also been taken to hospital as a precaution.
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Scotland Yard had received reports of a man seen in possession of a knife in Hendon Way.
Roy Smith, the Met Police’s North West basic command unit commander, said: “This is another example of the dangers our officers face on a daily basis as they go about their duty protecting the people of London.
“I have visited the injured officer in hospital and thankfully he should make a full recovery from his injury.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--UK Will Not Join EU Scheme To Obtain Coronavirus Vaccine, Matt Hancock Confirms

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The UK will not join an EU scheme to obtain a coronavirus vaccine if one is successfully developed, Matt Hancock has confirmed.
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The health secretary said the government believed it would be quicker to use Britain’s own procurement schemes, which are more developed.
“We have chosen not to join the EU scheme on vaccine purchase,” Hancock told Times Radio on Friday.
“The reason is that it wouldn’t have allowed us to have a say in the vaccines that were procured, the price, the quantity of the delivery schedule.
“We are further ahead than the EU schemes are,” he added.
“We would have joined the EU scheme if they had allowed us also to continue with our own negotiations, but one of the conditions of the scheme was that we would have had to stop our own negotiations and only do them through the European Commission, and we weren’t prepared to do that.
“We think we will go faster this way.”
Trials to test possible coronavirus vaccines are underway around the world.
In the UK, hundreds of people have volunteered to take part in a human trial led by the University of Oxford.
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The university has already signed a deal with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to supply the vaccine if it is successful.
An agreement between Oxford University, the drug company and the government means the UK will have immediate access to the vaccine, if it works.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Boris Johnson Tells Britain To 'Go Back To Work'

Boris Johnson encouraged Brits to get back to work. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Back To Work
Boris Johnson shifted the message today, asking people to “go back to work if you can”. A notable change from the previous ask that the public work from home where possible.
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The prime minister, answering questions from the public via video from a desk in Downing Street, he said: “I think everybody has sort of taken the ‘stay at home if you can’ – I think we should now say, well, ‘go back to work if you can’. Because I think it’s very important that people should try to lead their lives more normally.”
As Paul pointed out in yesterday’s edition of the Waugh Zone, the government’s main concern now appears to be that the public remain too scared to return to town centres, offices and shops.
Johnson also dropped a strong hint that tougher laws are coming on face coverings. The PM, who has not been seen in public wearing a face covering himself, said “we need to be stricter” on insisting coverings are worn in “confined places”.
“We are looking at ways of making sure that people really do have face coverings in shops, for instance, where there is a risk of transmission,” he said.
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Explaining the change in approach, Johnson added the “balance of scientific opinion seems to have shifted more in favour of them”. But he said he did not want to “get to world” where people would be told to wear a face covering “all the time everywhere”.
The PM also appeared to trail a U-turn on Huawei’s involvement in the UK’s 5G network. “We have to protect our critical national infrastructure,” he said. An announcement to parliament is expected soon.
Today’s “People’sPMQs”, unlike the previous editions in which Johnson was breezily able to answer the questions he liked, was essentially an expanded version of the public questions at the daily No.10 press conference. Just without the journalists.
And the PM did manage to avoid tricky subjects such as: why did he claim “nobody knew” coronavirus could be transmitted asymptomatically when Sage said in January there was evidence? Why did he miss the self-imposed target of all test results being returned within 24-hours? Why will NHS staff have to pay for parking at hospitals? Why Chris Grayling?
Johnson promised that No.10 coronavirus press conferences would be held when the government had “something really important to say”. But so far it looks to be when it has something good to say.
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There have been three briefings since the daily events were brought to a close. One for the education secretary to announce the plan to get all children back into education, one for the culture secretary to announce the reopening of culture, and one for the prime minister to announce the reopening of pubs.
A press conference was not called when Leicester, a city of over 300,000 people, was put back into lockdown.
Matt Hancock did, to be fair, take questions in the Commons chamber on the decision. But it’s worth noting in under two week’s time parliament will rise for the summer recess. MPs will be unable to drag ministers to the chamber for all of August. And given the two-week lag on infection data, it’s next month when the impact of the latest unlocking could become clear.
Quote Of The Day
“Some people have enjoyed lockdown.”
– Boris Johnson while taking questions from the public.
Cheat Sheet
The World Health Organisation has updated its guidelines on how the coronavirus is transmitted, stating that the likelihood that the virus can go airborne, particularly in enclosed spaces like restaurants and gyms, “cannot be ruled out.”
Rishi Sunak is the most popular chancellor since Gordon Brown in 2005, according to a YouGov poll.
Nicola Sturgeon has warned easing lockdown restrictions must not lead to Scots letting down their guard, as she revealed the highest number of new cases of the virus for three weeks.
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Pubs, cafes and restaurants can reopen indoors in Wales from 3 August, as long as cases continue to fall.
The coronavirus R number has risen in England, with the government data stating that it could now be as high as 1.
What I’m Reading


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Boris Johnson Backs 'Stricter' Rules On Wearing Face Coverings

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Boris Johnson has said the government is looking at introducing stricter rules on wearing face coverings.
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To date, ministers have resisted calls to make wearing a face mask mandatory in public.
Government recommendations as part of the “one metre-plus” guidance are that measures such as wearing a face covering should be taken if people indoors cannot keep two metres away from each other.
Politicians have faced criticism after not wearing a face covering at press conferences and photocalls, in particular chancellor Rishi Sunak was pictured serving food to customers at a Wagamama restaurant in central London without a non-surgical mask following his summer economic statement.
Speaking at People’s PMQs, Johnson suggested that expert opinion on face coverings had shifted over the course of the pandemic.
Underlining the shift in tone, the PM was later pictured wearing a face mask for the first time as he visited businesses in his Uxbridge constituency.
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The PM in face mask as he visited businesses in Uxbridge on Friday and urged people to "be sure to follow the guidelines on social distancing". Downing Street
He said in the online question and answer session with the public: “As we get the numbers down in the way that we have and we really stamp out outbreaks in the way that we are, I do think we need to be stricter in insisting people wear face coverings in confined spaces where they are meeting people they don’t normally meet.
“We are looking at ways of making sure that people really do have face coverings in shops, for instance, where there is a risk of transmission.”
He added: “The balance of scientific opinion seems to have shifted more in favour of them than it was. We are very keen to follow that.
“I do want to get back to a world where the British people are able to shake hands – that’s what we are aiming for.
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“But face coverings, we increasingly think that we have got to be very insistent in confined spaces, where you are meeting people you don’t normally come into contact with – transport, shops – wear a face cover.”
Figures from the Office for National Statistics have suggested the majority of Britons are covering up while in public.
Its data showed that 52% of adults in Britain had worn a face covering when leaving their home in the final week of June, up from 43% on the week before.
Regardless of whether they had worn a face covering previously, 58% of the 1,788 adults quizzed between July 2-5 said they were very or fairly likely to wear one in the next seven days.
Rishi Sunak serving food to customers at a Wagamama restaurant in central London. Treasury
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Health secretary Matt Hancock has been seen wearing a face covering while visiting a hospital, while culture secretary Oliver Dowden also wore one while attending a gallery this week.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has changed the rules to make it obligatory for shoppers to cover their face with a covering or similar garment in Scotland.
The president of the Royal Society, Professor Venki Ramakrishna, has recommended that everyone should wear a face covering in public to reduce the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
Meanwhile, London mayor Sadiq Khan has repeated his call for face coverings to be made compulsory in public, telling the PM in a letter that he was “disappointed and frustrated” that the Government had not demanded masks be worn in “busy and enclosed public places”.
The Labour politician added: “Face coverings are not only vital for public health.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Johnny Depp Tells Court 'Defecation Incident' Was 'Fitting End' To Amber Heard Relationship

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Johnny Depp has told the High Court he thinks a “defecation incident”, in which faeces were found in his and ex-wife Amber Heard’s bed, was a “fitting end” to their relationship.
The actor is facing a fourth day of questioning during his high-profile libel case against The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an article published in April 2018, in which they called him a “wife beater” and referred to “overwhelming evidence” that he attacked Heard during their relationship. He strongly denies the allegations.
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The Sun’s publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN) relies on 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence towards Heard, which Depp denies, in their defence against the actor’s libel claim.
On Friday, Depp was questioned about Heard’s 30th birthday party at the Eastern Columbia Building in Los Angeles in April 2016, and the “defecation incident”.
Depp told the court he had been “convinced” it was either his ex-wife herself, or one of her friends who was involved in the episode.
Johnny Depp arriving at the High Court in London on Friday Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment
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Sasha Wass, lead counsel for NGN suggested Boo, one of the couple’s two Yorkshire terriers, “had problems with her toilet habits”, to which the actor said the dogs “were very well trained”, but that “Boo was not as trained as Pistol”, their other dog.
Wass said to Depp that “it came to your attention the following, that was the day of Amber’s actual birthday, that the cleaner had found faeces in the bed”.
She suggested Depp was later sent photographs of the faeces, which the actor found “hilarious” and that “there were jokes like ‘Amber Turd’, ‘Amber in the dumps’ going on.”
Depp replied: “It was one of the most absurd, unexpected statements that I have ever witnessed in my life so, yes, initially I did laugh because it was so strange.”
He told the court it was “a mystery” who defecated in the bed “and it was not left by a three or four-pound dog”.
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Depp said he thought the incident was“a fitting end to the relationship”.
He added: “I was convinced that it was either Ms Heard herself or one of her cohort involved in leaving human faeces on the bed.”
Amber Heard pictured arriving on the fourth day of the libel trial TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images
Earlier, Wass told the court Depp had arrived late for Heard’s party after being given some “rather unfortunate news” about his financial affairs at a meeting.
The actor said he went to bed and was reading “trying to avoid any confrontation with Ms Heard”.
He said: “I thought her behaviour regarding the subject of my tardiness to her birthday dinner, I though that it was too much… her anger, her rage… when I had been texting Ms Heard, telling her: ‘I am so sorry, I’m going to be late’.”
Wass went on to suggest Depp had become angry after Heard raised the issue of him being late to the party, and he got out of bed to argue with her, which the actor denied.
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The barrister said Depp was “very distressed about the news you had received and the last thing you wanted to be told was that you were a disappointment to your wife”.
Depp replied: “I believe that’s the last thing any husband would want to hear.”
Wass went on to accuse Depp of picking up a magnum bottle of champagne and throwing it at Heard, which missed, with the glass smashing, which he denied.
She also alleged he grabbed Heard by her hair and pushed her onto the bed adding “when she tried to leave, you blocked the bedroom door and you tried to grab her hair”.
The barrister suggested Depp then “pushed her to the ground” and “bumped her chest” before leaving the apartment.
Depp denied that he had grabbed or pushed Heard and said he had texted his security team, who were outside the penthouse, and said “gotta go, got to get out of here”.
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Wass asked if Depp left Heard a note which read “happy f****** birthday”.
Depp replied: “I don’t know that I did, but it is very, very possible.
Depp and Heard pictured in November 2015 Todd Williamson via Getty Images
The court briefing went into private on Friday to consider evidence relating to Heard’s allegations of sexual violence.
The exact nature of the allegations was not disclosed to the press or public and remains unknown.
Depp’s case against NGN and Wootton arises out of the publication of an article on The Sun’s website on April 27 2018 with the headline “Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be ‘genuinely happy’ casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?”.
NGN is defending the article as true and says Depp was “controlling and verbally and physically abusive towards Ms Heard, particularly when he was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs” between early 2013 and May 2016, when the couple split.
The pair met in 2011 and began living together in 2012 before marrying in Los Angeles in February 2015.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--At Least 16 Homeless People Have Died After Contracting Covid-19 In England

Benjamin Fontaine / EyeEm via Getty Images
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At least 16 homeless people have died in England after contracting Covid-19, new figures have revealed.
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According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), six of the people who died were in London, while three deaths were recorded in the north-west of England.
No deaths of homeless people in Wales were identified, statisticians said.
Most of the homeless people who died in England were men, the ONS said.
The mean age of homeless men who died after getting coronavirus was 58 – much lower than the average age at death involving Covid-19 for men in the general population, at 79.
The study did not clarify how many homeless women died after contracting Covid-19.
The figures reported by the ONS were based on deaths registered up to June 26.
Our findings show that of deaths involving #COVID19 in England and Wales registered up to 26 June 2020, 16 were identified as people who were homeless https://t.co/mVZ3UWImqy pic.twitter.com/mKlzY7l4cw — Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) July 10, 2020
Experts searched Covid-19 death registration data for indications that a person was homeless when they died, including a reported residence or place of death such as a known homeless shelter or “no fixed abode”.
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They included hotels known to be accommodating homeless people as part of the government’s drive to get thousands of rough sleepers into safe accommodation during the pandemic.
But private rentals and student accommodation were not included.
In addition, not all local authorities in England were able to provide details of temporary accommodation within the requested timescale, so not every address used to house homeless people will have been identified.
Due to these factors, it is “unlikely that every death will be identified”, the ONS said.
According to statisticians, the numbers of coronavirus deaths identified was similar to the average number of homeless people whose deaths involved alcohol or suicide per quarter from 2014-2018.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter said the death of every homeless person from coronavirus was a tragedy.
“We know that street homeless people, even at a young age, are more likely to have underlying health conditions,” she said. “This, along with things like a lack of good nourishment and sleep, can weaken their immune systems.”
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Homeless people are among the UK’s most vulnerable citizens, Neate said.
“Nobody should be at risk of catching Covid-19 on the street, where it’s hard to follow even basic public health guidance such as regularly washing hands.
“Whilst this dangerous virus is still in circulation, the government must make it clear to all councils that they must accommodate anybody facing the streets as the pandemic continues. And as we start to consider what a post-Covid society will look like one thing is for sure: we must end homelessness for good.”
Meanwhile Jon Sparkes, who is chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, said that efforts to move rough sleepers and those in night shelters into safe accommodation “undoubtedly saved lives”.
At the start of the pandemic, the government announced £3.2m in emergency funding to help councils house people sleeping on the streets. In June, ministers pledged another £105m for more interim housing.
Sparkes said that the UK must build on its initial efforts.
“We need emergency homelessness legislation to guarantee everyone experiencing homelessness has the security of a safe and settled home.
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“Without this, people risk being forced back on our streets or into crowded shelters, with the danger posed by the virus still very real.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We have taken unprecedented action to support some of the most vulnerable in society during the pandemic, but there is still much more to do.
“Almost 15,000 people at risk of sleeping rough have been offered accommodation to enable them to self-isolate, and thanks to councils, the NHS, and charities, receive the support they need," they said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Seven People Who Fell In Love With Cycling During Lockdown

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You’re reading our series Summer’s Not Cancelled, where we celebrate summer in this new normal. From rediscovering nature and cherishing time with friends and family, to virtual festivals and unforgettable staycations – summer’s still here, it’s just different.
It had been years before I, aged 27, plucked up the courage to get back on the saddle (spin classes don’t count, apparently). I blame a terrifying cycling incident in a foreign country hurtling towards oncoming traffic, which – I thought – had put me off for life.
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Lockdown changed that; it changed me. Inspired by others getting back on their bikes, I found myself hunkering after a taste of life on two wheels. And after few practices wobbling around on a clunky Santander rental bike on quiet back roads, I was ready to take my figurative stabilisers off and venture farther afield. Now, I’m hooked.
I’m not the only one. Lockdown has resulted in a cycling boom with retailers and bike repair shops seeing a surge in business, as people seek alternative modes of transport, ways to stay active and explore their local areas. We spoke to riders who have joined the growing number of new and returning cyclists on the UK’s roads.
“A blissful moment of escape from the constant buzz of notifications.”
Alex Bigham Alex Bigham riding on a bike
Alex Bigham, 38, a freelance communications consultant who lives in south London got back into cycling two years ago. Now, he cycles to work and takes his kids on bike rides on the weekends.
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“We don’t go far, but it’s nice to see their enthusiasm for it as we pop over to Ruskin Park and admire the views over the capital,” he told HuffPost UK. “While my enthusiasm predates lockdown, I think the emptier roads and the fear of taking public transport have definitely renewed my recent love of cycling.”
Bigham added: “My favourite route is speeding down Herne HIll and into Brockwell Park. They really should find a way so you’re always going downhill. Not even on the worst day’s cycling when it’s lashing with rain and you’ve got a puncture and it’s miserable, it’s still better than any other form of commuting. It’s a blissful moment of escape from the constant buzz of notifications.”
“I enjoy cycling so much, I’ve started my own bike club”
Jennifer Emele Jennifer Emele
Jennifer Emele, a 25-year-old financial analyst, from Grays, Essex, recently started cycling again and is hooked. She learned to ride when she was ten and has cycled on and off since, but bought her first adult bike in lockdown.
“As I live in Essex, I often drive my car to a park in London to ride around – that way I get to see all the beautiful scenery and go for longer rides. My favourite route so far has been Tottenham to Clapham Common for a cheeky picnic and then back to Tottenham, which was 40km in total. At the completion of it, I was really proud of myself,” she said. “I enjoy cycling so much, I’ve started my own bike club. We meet every fortnight to ride together. Our next challenge is to cycle 50km, hopefully we’ll complete that before the end of July.”
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Emele added: “I got into cycling for two reasons, for leisure and to keep fit – I’m glad I’ve found a fun way to lose weight. I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face while cycling – it’s an epic experience.”
“Without lockdown, I’d probably have never gotten around to purchasing a bike, but now I’m not sure what I’d do without it.”
Bekki Ramsay Bekki Ramsay and her bike
Bekki Ramsay, 25, a digital PR manager from Newcastle Upon Tyne hasn’t been on a bike since in well over a decade. After receiving money back from her cancelled summer holiday she decided to treat herself to a new bike instead and take up cycling again.
“The best thing about owning a bike is the freedom that comes with it – you can travel further than you could on foot, which often can make it easier to socialise, too!” she explained. “Without lockdown, I’d probably have never gotten around to purchasing a bike, but now I’m not sure what I’d do without it.
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“I was struggling with poor mental health and slowly turned into a bit of a hermit from not leaving the house for a month at all. After making a financial investment, I went on my first bike ride and fell in love. It helped me clear my mind, got my body moving again and I felt the best I had in weeks.”
“It’s also nice to learn a new skill as an adult and to see yourself improve at something you thought you’d always be shit at.”
Isabelle Aron Isabelle Aron cycling along a canal
Isabelle Aron, 29, a journalist who lives in North London didn’t learn how to ride a bike properly when she was younger either and couldn’t get past taking the stabilisers off. Thanks to the pandemic and the roads being quieter she’s finally gotten over her fear of falling off and tackling the daunting busy London roads.
“I’ve always thought I’d never really improve at cycling but over the last few months I’ve cycled more than I ever have, and I can definitely see an improvement,” Aron explained. She’s covered a lot of ground during her cycling lockdown journey and has been all over to Trent Park, Ally Pally, Hampstead Heath, and riding along the River Lea canal.
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“The other night I met some friends for a beer in the park and we were all on bikes, which would have never happened before. It’s also nice to learn a new skill as an adult and to see yourself improve at something you thought you’d always be shit at.”
“Cycling to work is very open and calming – it gives me time and headspace to think.”
HuffPost UK Miguel Roca
For Miguel Roca, a musician and educator in his late 30s, based in south east London he also learned quite late in life at the age of 28. He had a cycling accident where he fractured a bone, which put him off big time.
“I was going too fast down an incline and mistimed my front brake so I came to an abrupt, undignified stop and went over the handlebars,” Roca said. “I didn’t try again for 10 years! Now I cycle to and from work again which is in a semi-rural area and avoid busy roads. I love to cycle around where I live as there’s a lot of green space. Cycling to work is very open and calming – it gives me time and headspace to think.”
“I spend more time with the family.”
Judith Philip Judith Philip
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Biomedical scientist Judith Philip, 46, has commuted to work for 10 years, but lockdown made her appreciate spending more time cycling for leisure with family.
“During lockdown, I’ve been able to teach my kids how to ride a bike, just as my mum taught me how to ride,” Philip, who lives in Walthamstow, north London, explains. “I spend more time with the family taking short trips to the park, exploring Epping Forest and along Mini Holland. They love going out on their bikes now.”
“It was an amazing sight to see families and newer riders especially from a diverse community, who would not have ridden before lockdown dust off their bikes,” says Judith, who is part of the Black Cycling Network. “Our role is to inspire, encourage and support the BAME community to enjoy all the benefits of cycling - another area [of focus] is the under representation of BAME women in cycling.”
“It’s such a fantastic way to exercise and so good for your health – it gets the blood pumping.”
Keith Greaves Keith Greaves cycling on country roads
Keith Greaves, 50, who works as a financial data monitor in Manchester has been an avid cyclist for years. He only started cycling in his early 40s, but since he was involved in numerous accidents that wasn’t his fault. His confidence has been knocked slightly.
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“I always follow guidelines, wear a helmet and reflective gear,” he explained. “I had pressure from my family that if I can’t find a route that was mainly off road in quiet areas then I should give it up.”
Despite being discouraged and having a few bumps and scrapes along the way. Greaves still loves cycling, especially through country roads around Sale. “It’s such a fantastic way to exercise and so good for your health – it gets the blood pumping. I wished I took up cycling sooner, it’s one of those things where you start and you really learn to love it if you keep doing it.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Holly Willoughby Shares Lockdown TV Glam Routine: 'Hoping This Is The Final Time I Do This'

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Holly Willoughby has given fans a look at her This Morning glam routine that she’s had to do by herself during lockdown.
The presenter was marking her last day on the ITV daytime programme before her and Phillip Schofield’s annual summer break on Friday.
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As she posted a sped-up video of herself getting ready for the show, Holly told of her hopes to be reunited with her glam squad – make up artist Patsy O’Neill and hair stylist Ciler Peksah – when she returns to screens in September.
Holly wrote: “109 days of lockdown... missing my @patsyoneillmakeup and @cilerpeksah_hairstylist. Here’s hoping this is the final time I do this.”
In the accompanying video, a make-up free Holly was dressed in a The Streets hoodie and could be seen blow-drying her wet hair and applying various products to her face.
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Holly and Phil raised (several) glasses during their final This Morning until September ITV/Shutterstock
Since the UK went on lockdown, TV productions that managed to remain on air have done so with minimal crew, with all stars having to do their own hair and make-up.
This has sometimes led to some hilarious disasters, like Piers Morgan applying too much foundation, giving him an orange hue on Good Morning Britain earlier this year.
During Holly and Phil’s break from This Morning, the show will be hosted by Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes from Monday to Thursday, with various guest presenters taking the reins on Fridays.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Lockdown Rules: Here’s What You Still Can’t Do In England

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After months in lockdown to avoid the spread of coronavirus, things in the UK are slowly starting to return to something resembling normal.
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Following the reopening of pubs, restaurants and hairdressers on July 4, or “Super Saturday”, the government announced on Thursday that nail bars, salons and tattoo parlours will be able to open their doors from July 11 in England.
Outdoor swimming pools will also be able to open, while some grassroots sports and outdoor performances will be able to go ahead.
Meanwhile, indoor gyms, swimming pools and dance studios should be able to open from July 25, ministers said.
These moves have been welcomed by many – but there’s no denying that, each time the government eases the lockdown, it gets harder and harder to remember what you are and aren’t allowed to do.
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So here’s a run down of things that you still shouldn’t be doing in England, according to the rules.
Which beauty treatments are still banned?
Westend61 via Getty Images
News that nail bars, salons, spas, massage parlours and tanning booths are opening soon will have been welcome news for many people forced to try DIY treatments over the past few months.
But the list of services these businesses can offer is actually pretty limited, with the government banning treatments in the “highest risk zone” – basically, your face.
It means that salons will not be allowed to offer the following services when they re-open:
face waxing, sugaring or threading services
facial treatments
advanced facial technical (electrical or mechanical)
eyelash treatments
make-up application
dermarolling
dermaplaning
microblading
electrolysis on the face
eyebrow treatments
intricate detailing, outlining or shaving of beards
advanced beauty therapy and aesthetic treatments (this does not apply to medical settings)
According to the British Beauty Council and National Hair & Beauty Federation, beard trimming will be allowed, but will be limited to “simple beard trims” that should be carried out from the side of the client.
The much-reduced list of services salons will be able to offer customers has left many owners disappointed – and warning that it could mean the end for their businesses.
dnberty via Getty Images
Labour’s women and equalities minister Marsha de Cordova called the government’s plans for reopening beauty salons “half-baked”, saying it would put thousands of women’s jobs at risk and would especially affect the many Black, Asian and minority ethnic women who work in the sector.
“This week, the chancellor ignored Labour’s calls to carry out and publish an equality impact assessment of what impact his summer statement would have on different groups,” she said.
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“With the proposals as they stand, this government will make the crisis even worse for those who have already been disproportionately affected.”
She added: “Yet again this government is failing to target its support at those who need it most.”
HuffPost UK has also highlighted how people are being forced to have avoidable tooth extractions because dentists have been told to avoid carrying out certain procedures due to a lack of PPE.
Which businesses still haven’t been given the go-ahead to open?
Aiman Khair Bin Samsol Hairi / EyeEm via Getty Images
From July 25, indoor gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools will be allowed to open – with a number of strict social distancing rules in place to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
However, there are are number of other businesses which remain closed by law:
Nightclubs, dance halls, discos
Casinos
Sexual entertainment venues and hostess bars
Bowling alleys
Indoor skating rinks
Indoor play areas, including soft-play areas
Exhibition halls or conference centres must remain closed for events such as exhibitions or conferences, other than for those who work for the business or organisation who run the venue.
Who am I able to meet up with?
In the government’s update on lockdown rules on Thursday, ministers did not make any changes to rules about who you can meet up with.
It means that you are still not allowed to meet up in large groups made up of different households.
In England, you are allowed to meet indoors in groups of up to two households. If you’re in a support bubble with someone, they count as part of your household.
According to the government’s guidelines, you must uphold social distancing rules when meeting up with anyone you do not live with or is not in your social bubble.
When it comes to meeting people outside, you’re allowed to meet in groups of up to six people from any number of households.
However, you can meet up in groups of more than six people if everyone comes from two households. Again, anyone who is part of a support bubble counts as one household. Gatherings of more than 30 are illegal, whether in private homes or public spaces.
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Can I get a lift from friends and family?
AndreyPopov via Getty Images
As more and more venues and businesses re-open, many people are now asking whether they can get a lift from friends and family.
The government has advised against travelling with someone outside your household or support bubble in a car, saying that a lack of social distancing means “transmission of Covid-19 can definitely occur during car journeys”.
However, car-sharing is not banned outright. If you can’t avoid it, the government advises getting lifts with the same people each time and sitting side-by-side or behind other people, rather than facing them.
You should also keep the windows open for ventilation and everyone in the car should wear a face covering.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Kanye's Bid For President & Rock DJ Turns 20 | Good Vibes Only

Kanye's Bid For President & Rock DJ Turns 20 | Good Vibes Only
This week in entertainment, after Kanye West announced his run for the White House, so we pick our favourite fantasy presidents. Elsewhere, Robbie Williams’ Rock DJ turned 20 years old (!) and we share the music and shows we’re loving as lockdown eases.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--Lorraine Kelly Praises Kate Garraway's Strength In Husband's Covid-19 Battle: 'I'm So Proud Of Her'

Lorraine Kelly has said she is “so bloody proud” of her Good Morning Britain colleague Kate Garraway as she praised her strength in dealing with her husband’s coronavirus battle.
Derek Draper was admitted to hospital in March with the virus, and while he is now “Covid-free”, the virus has done so much damage to his body it isn’t clear if he will fully recover.
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Lorraine has spoken of Kate’s stoicism during her family’s four-month ordeal, as she prepares to return to work for the first time since Derek was hospitalised.
Lorraine Kelly and Kate Garraway Getty/Shutterstock/ITV
Writing in her column for The Sun, Lorraine said: “During that time she has been coping with the unimaginable pain and distress of her husband Derek battling for his life after contracting Covid-19.
“Kate has never once complained or asked: ‘Why me?’ She has simply soldiered on, reassuring and raising her children, praising the NHS and helping others in the same boat.
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“At times it has been a lonely, miserable, tough voyage through uncharted waters. But Kate steered a stoic and steady course throughout.
“She’s watched the father of her children and the man she loves being attacked and ravaged by this vicious disease.
“Her hopes have been raised and dashed but throughout it all, Kate has never given up on Derek.”
Derek and Kate in Australia last year, shortly after she left the I'm A Celebrity jungle James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock
She added: “I’m just so bloody proud of her, of [Kate and Derek’s children] Darcey and Billy too, and so pleased she will be back with us, where she belongs, on Monday.”
Kate spoke of her decision to return to GMB during a guest appearance on the ITV breakfast show this week.
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Describing being in the studio again as being “like coming out of a little bubble of sadness”, she told Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan: “It’s life, it’s livelihood, it’s fear and anxiety, I have got to get on and do the things I’m good at. I’m going to come back on Monday, if you’ll have me, you two are going. I’ve not quite got the fight to be a Piers Morgan but I’m gonna be with Ben Shephard.
“The doctors have said I’ve got to get on, they’ve been worried about me.”
Kate Garraway on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday ITV/Shutterstock
Although she revealed last weekend her husband was out of his induced coma, Kate also said Derek is still “desperately” ill and in a “minimal state of consciousness”, with doctors telling her they’ve never treated anyone so sick.
She said: “His eyes are opening but we have no knowledge of what he can see or hear.
“It’s a very desperate situation, it’s very difficult and of course there’s fantastic hope he is still alive... the doctors keep saying it is a miracle he’s still alive.”
Kate will be helping to cover for Piers and Susanna as they enjoy their annual summer break from GMB, presenting on Mondays and Tuesdays with Ben.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--MPs Warn Of 'Unfair Bias' In Predicted Exam Grade System

School pupils could miss out on the grades they deserve as a result of a potentially “unfair” system put in place during Covid-19, MPs have warned.
The Commons Education Select Committee report said England’s exams regulator’s process for allowing students to appeal their grades if they believe discrimination has occurred is not accessible for all students, and would favour the most “well-heeled and sharp-elbowed” families.
All summer exams were cancelled due to coronavirus which means GCSE and A-level students in England will instead be awarded calculated grades on the usual dates next month based on teacher assessment.
But the committee said it was “concerned” that poorer pupils, Black, Asian and minority ethnic students, and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) “could be disadvantaged” by calculated grades – especially in light of research evidence on unconscious bias.
In March HuffPost UK reported concerns that Black and minority ethnic students could be penalised by the decision to award predicted grades to students instead of sitting their exams.
The MPs’ report also calls for pupils with SEND to be able to appeal results on the basis of malpractice if appropriate access arrangements were not in place for the work used to calculate their grade.
Leaders also say disadvantaged pupils, and those without family resources or wider support, “risk being shut out” of the appeals system which is likely to favour more affluent students.
Individual pupils will not be allowed to challenge teacher-assessed grades or rank order – but a school can appeal to the exam board if it believes it made an error when submitting a grade, or if it believes an exam board made a mistake.
Ofqual has said it expects exam boards to investigate evidence of “serious malpractice” raised by pupils who have concerns about bias or discrimination surrounding teacher-assessed grades and rank order.
But the MPs say: “We are extremely concerned that pupils will require evidence of bias or discrimination to raise a complaint about their grades. It is unrealistic and unfair to put the onus on pupils to have, or to be able to gather, evidence of bias or discrimination.”
On the grading system, committee chairman Robert Halfon said: “There is a risk it will lead to unfair bias and discrimination against already disadvantaged groups and we are far from convinced that the appeal system, which will be more important than ever this year, will be fair.
“The appeals process seems to favour the well-heeled and sharp-elbowed and there is the potential for the system to resemble the Wild West of appeals with different systems used by different exam boards.”
Students in England who are unhappy with teacher-assessed grades, or who are unable to receive a calculated grade this summer, can take A-level exams in October and GCSE exams in November.
But the committee has called for the Department for Education (DfE) to provide guidance for schools and colleges, outlining the minimum requirements for teaching support for pupils opting for an exam.
The government should also extend its £1 billion catch-up funding to include disadvantaged post-16 pupils in colleges and schools to “ensure this is not a lost generation,” the MPs said.
“The pandemic’s impact on learning loss does not stop when pupils turn 16. Post-16 learners, whether they are resitting key English and Maths GCSEs, or preparing to sit final exams before entering higher education or the workplace, deserve proper catch-up support,” the report says.
Halfon added: “The lack of guaranteed support from the DfE for pupils and students doing autumn exams means there isn’t a level playing field for those students. The absence of a post-16 catch-up fund exacerbates these problems.”
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Schools and colleges are utterly opposed to discrimination, and have done everything possible to guard against any hint of unconscious bias. They have gone about the task of deciding centre-assessed grades in extraordinarily difficult circumstances and with the utmost diligence.”
An Ofqual spokesman said: “The standardisation model is a critical tool to make sure standards are aligned between centres and will ensure that national results this summer are broadly similar to previous years.
“We have extensively tested the model to ensure it gives students the fairest, most accurate results possible and, so far as possible, that students are not advantaged or disadvantaged on the basis of their socioeconomic background or particular protected characteristics, and we will evaluate outcomes.
“We agree that students, their parents, carers and teachers need to understand how their results have been calculated and we have committed to publishing full details of the model in due course.”
A DfE spokesman said: “The vast majority of students will receive a calculated grade this summer that enables them to move on to the next stage of their education or training.
“Ofqual has developed a robust process that will take into account a range of evidence, including non-exam assessment and mock results, with the primary aim of ensuring grades are as fair as possible for all students.
“If students are unhappy with their grade, they will have the opportunity to sit an exam in the autumn – or to appeal it through their school or college if they believe a process error has been made.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--11 Of Celebrity Gogglebox's Funniest Moments This Week – From Denise Van Outen's 'Fluffy Bits' To Sh

11 Of Celebrity Gogglebox's Funniest Moments This Week – From Denise Van Outen's 'Fluffy Bits' To Shaun Ryder vs An iPhone

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There is no denying Gogglebox has been one of the shows that has helped us all get through lockdown.
Whether its been Jenny and Lee’s banter or Giles and Mary’s musings, the cast kept us entertained every Friday night for the weeks we were all stuck indoors.
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And now that the celebrities are getting their turn to give their take on the week’s TV, things are no different, with many famous faces making us laugh out loud.
From Denise Van Outen’s “fluffy bits” to Shaun Ryder’s encounter with an iPhone, here’s 11 of this week’s funniest moments...
1. Rylan just getting up off the sofa as his mum was telling a story and saying: “Oh my God, I’m bored.”
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2. Mo and Babatunde’s wine chat
3. Denise’s constant stream of innuendo, asking her partner Eddie this after watching Super Vet
4... and chatting about her “fluffy bits” (on her slippers, of course)
5. Martin recalling the time he first heard Roman swearing as a kid
6. Laura paying Ian this very backhanded compliment
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7. Giles showcasing why he’d be the perfect fit for a Grease sequel
8. While Roman also believed he’d found a hidden meaning in the film
9. He also had some musings about Matt Hancock, which you can just imagine are true
10. Linda giving Rylan this telling off
11. And last, but by no means least, there was Shaun and Bez vs the iPhone
Please turn your phone off the programme is about to start @officialswr #CelebrityGogglebox pic.twitter.com/RGlD9sRcZg — C4 Gogglebox (@C4Gogglebox) July 10, 2020
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--David Beckham Presents Captain Tom Moore With Special Award For NHS Fundraising Efforts

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David Beckham has paid a visit to Captain Sir Tom Moore to present him with a special award for his NHS fundraising efforts.
The 100-year-old war veteran – who raised more than £30 million for the NHS by walking laps of his garden earlier this year – and has now become the first member of the Lionhearts squad of inspirational heroes.
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The Lionhearts is an initiative honouring inspirational people who have gone above and beyond during the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
David Beckham and Captain Tom Twitter/England
Former England captain David made a trip to Captain Sir Tom’s Bedfordshire home to hand over a framed football shirt and to say thank you.
He said: “The highlight of my whole career was being made England captain. To have Sir Tom as our captain – it doesn’t get any better than that.
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“Everyone was aware at some point of this amazing man but I think he went above and beyond any expectations out there.”
Captain Tom – who was knighted in May following his fundraising efforts – said: “It is very kind of you and I am delighted to receive that honour especially from you. Thank you very much indeed.”
Every team needs a captain.
Introducing the first inspirational member of our #Lionhearts: @captaintommoore 🙌
We asked a #ThreeLions icon – and former skipper himself – to welcome him to the squad... 👀 pic.twitter.com/3RKfWZdgQu — England (@England) July 11, 2020
Asked by David about what makes a good leader, Captain Tom said: “I think you have to rather like people and realise there is good in everyone and as a leader you can bring it out of them.
“It is no good you asking me about a leader when you have been sitting there and you know you have been one of the biggest and finest leaders in football we have ever had.”
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Captain Tom also recalled from from the first day he was conscripted at the age of 20, he had decided “that of all these 500 (new recruits) I am going to be the best”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--‘Ashamed' Trump 2016 Voters Explain Why They’re Ditching The US President

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Republicans who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 have described their “guilt” at having voted for the president in a critical new advert broadcast as the Republican leader’s campaign for reelection continues.
In the clip that Republican Voters Against Trump released Friday, 15 former supporters of the president cite his lies, vitriolic rhetoric and mishandling of the coronavirus crisis as just some of the reasons for ditching him in the November 2020 election.
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Trump has “broken my faith in the Republican Party,” says one. Others claim to be “ashamed,” “embarrassed” and “riddled with guilt” to have backed Trump in the first place.
Check out the ad here:
The ad is due to air on Fox News in Arizona and North Carolina on Sunday, according to the group (a project of the Defending Democracy Together advocacy organisation) that regularly shares videos to YouTube of disaffected Republicans speaking out against the Trump White House.
“It takes courage to change your mind and speak out,” the group’s strategic director, Sarah Longwell, said in a statement. “
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--Jada Pinkett Smith Admits To Dating August Alsina During Will Smith Separation

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Jada Pinkett Smith has admitted she had a relationship with R&B singer August Alsina while she was separated from husband Will Smith.
The actor’s reps had previously denied the relationship after August brought it up during an interview with The Breakfast Club radio show host Angela Yee last month.
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August claimed that the Smiths are “life partners” but no longer romantically involved.
Although Jada’s representatives denied August’s account, the Girls Trip actor admitted that he’d told the truth during an exchange with her husband on Red Table Talk, her show on Facebook Watch, on Friday
August Alsina and Jada Pinkett Smith Paras Griffin via Getty Images
The Smiths revealed that when they were separated about four and a half years ago, Jada and August did have a relationship.
“[You and I] were over,” Jada said to her husband. “From there, as time went on, I got into a different kind of entanglement with August.”
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Both denied August’s claim that Will gave him permission to date his wife.
“One of the things I want to clear up that was kind of swirling in the press was you giving permission, which the only person who can give permission in that particular circumstance is myself,” Jada said.
“But what August was actually trying to communicate — because I could actually see how he would perceive it as permission because we were separated amicably — I think he also wanted to make it clear that he’s not a homewrecker, which he’s not.”
Jada and her husband Will Smith Phil Mccarten/Invision/AP
Jada told her husband the “particular journey” she took with August allowed her to “really confront a lot of emotional immaturity, emotional insecurity” and help her “do some really deep healing.”
She added: “And as I came through and started to realise certain things about you and I, he decided to break all communication with me, which was totally understandable. And I let that be and hadn’t talked to him since, so it is a little weird that all this stuff is coming out now, since this was several [years ago].”
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Jada expressed happiness that she and Will have since repaired their relationship.
“We have really gotten to that new place of unconditional love,” she said. Will added that the whole thing feels like “years ago” to him.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--England World Cup Winner Jack Charlton Dies Aged 85

Jack Charlton, pictured here in 2015. PA
Jack Charlton, the former Leeds and England defender who won a World Cup winner’s medal in 1966, has died. He was 85.
Charlton had been diagnosed with lymphoma in the last year and was also battling dementia.
He spent his entire 21-year playing career at Leeds, making a joint club record 773 appearances, before retiring as a player in 1973 and going on to enjoy a successful and colourful career as a manager.
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One of English football’s most popular and larger-than-life characters, he had spells in charge of Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and the Republic of Ireland, who he guided to their first major finals at Euro 88 and two more in the space of 10 years.
A family statement read: “Jack died peacefully on Friday, July 10 at the age of 85. He was at home in Northumberland, with his family by his side.
“As well as a friend to many, he was a much-adored husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
“We cannot express how proud we are of the extraordinary life he led and the pleasure he brought to so many people in different countries and from all walks of life.
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“He was a thoroughly honest, kind, funny and genuine man who always had time for people.
“His loss will leave a huge hole in all our lives but we are thankful for a lifetime of happy memories.”
Charlton’s granddaughter, journalist Emma Wilkinson, tweeted: “Beyond sad to have to say goodbye to my beloved Grandad, Jack Charlton. He enriched so many lives through football, friendship and family. He was a kind, funny and thoroughly genuine man and our family will miss him enormously.”
Beyond sad to have to say goodbye to my beloved Grandad, Jack Charlton. He enriched so many lives through football, friendship and family. He was a kind, funny and thoroughly genuine man and our family will miss him enormously. pic.twitter.com/MR4i5WgAMP — Emma Wilkinson (@emmawilkitv) July 11, 2020
Gary Lineker praised Charlton as “manager of probably the best ever Ireland side and a wonderfully infectious personality to boot.”
Saddened to hear that Jack Charlton has passed away. World Cup winner with England, manager of probably the best ever Ireland side and a wonderfully infectious personality to boot. RIP Jack. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 11, 2020
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Lady Elsie Robson, the widow of former Ipswich, Barcelona and Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson and friend of Charlton, paid tribute to the former defender.
In a statement she said: “Jack was a great friend and a wonderful supporter of our cancer charity. He’d come out to events and meet with fundraisers, and people were always so thrilled to meet a World Cup winner.
“He had such a way about him. He’d just make us all smile. I feel for Pat and the family after their great loss and they have our heartfelt sympathy.”
Leeds United tweeted that the club was: “deeply saddened to learn club legend Jack Charlton passed away last night at the age of 85”.
#LUFC are deeply saddened to learn club legend Jack Charlton passed away last night at the age of 85 — Leeds United (@LUFC) July 11, 2020
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The England football team also paid tribute, with a spokesperson writing: “Our deepest sympathies are with Jack’s family, friends and former clubs.”
We are devastated by the news that Jack Charlton, a member of our World Cup-winning team of 1966, has passed away.
Our deepest sympathies are with Jack’s family, friends and former clubs. pic.twitter.com/eSGjbOpo7Y — England (@England) July 11, 2020
Leaders in Ireland have also paid tribute to Charlton, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald describing the former Republic of Ireland manager as “Ireland’s most beloved English man.”
Jack Charlton was Ireland's most beloved English man. Sorry to hear of his passing. He kept 'em all under pressure and kept us all cheering the boys in green on. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. — Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) July 11, 2020
Former Liverpool midfielder Ray Houghton, who was handed his Republic debut in Jack Charlton’s first match in charge of the side in 1986, told talkSPORT: “He was a larger than life character.”
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“The word legend is used too much in football but not for Jack, for what he’s done domestically with Leeds, winning the World Cup, which he should have been knighted for, I’ve still never understood that, I think that’s an absolute disgrace and the fact that he did so well with Ireland.
“He changed everything about Irish football because there was a stage where we hadn’t qualified for tournaments, we had some great players and very good managers but didn’t quite over the line.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--Armie Hammer And Elizabeth Chambers Split After 10 Years Of Marriage

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After more than a decade together, Armie Hammer and Elizabeth Chambers Hammer are calling it quits.
The couple announced their split on Friday with a joint statement on Instagram alongside a throwback photo from the early days of their relationship.
“It has been an incredible journey, but together, we’ve decided to turn the page and move on from our marriage,” they wrote. “We understand this news lends itself to public dialogue, but in the interest of our children and our family, we’re asking for privacy, compassion and love during this time.”
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The announcement comes less than two months after Elizabeth acknowledged their 10th wedding anniversary with a sweet tribute on social media.
Until recently, they’d been self-isolating in the Cayman Islands with daughter Harper Grace, five, and son Ford Douglas Armand, three.
Originally, the family had intended on taking only a spring-break vacation there, but wound up staying put once travel restrictions were decreed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
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In April, Armie amused fans by unveiling a quarantine mohawk that drew comparisons to Joe Exotic of Netflix’s Tiger King. The Call Me By Your Name actor has reportedly returned to Los Angeles.
Elizabeth, an actor and television personality, appears to have stayed put in the Caribbean as she’s continued to post snapshots of her children enjoying the beach this week.
Slated to return to the big screen later this year in Dreamland, Armie previously chalked up the success of his marriage to “consistency.”
“My wife and I always try to do sweet things for each other, that’s always kind of the mode,” he told People in 2017. “I think the most romantic thing you can probably do is try to do something romantic all the time so that you can’t be like, ‘Oh, I was romantic that one time.’”
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In 2013, Elizabeth recalled how Armie had popped the question in an interview with Town & Country.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--Inquest Into The Death Of Nóra Quoirin To Begin In August

The family of a London teenager found dead after she disappeared from a Malaysian nature resort last year have welcomed the news that an inquest is to be held in the country.
Nóra Anne Quoirin’s disappearance from her family’s cottage at the Dusun eco-resort in southern Negeri Sembilan state on August 4 last year sparked a massive search operation.
The 15-year-old’s body was discovered on August 13 beside a small stream about 1.6 miles from the resort.
Her family said: “We have fought very hard to keep Nóra’s case alive, after it was initially closed by the police in early 2020, and it has been our wish all along to have an inquest.
“This will be crucial in determining the fullest possible picture of what happened to Nora and how her case was dealt with.”
The family said they will appear via video-link to give evidence after the coroner’s court in the city of Seremban set the inquest to begin on August 24.
In January, Nóra’s family urged the Malaysia government to hold an inquest as they began suing the resort’s owner for alleged negligence over their daughter’s disappearance.
Police have said there was no sign the 15-year-old had been abducted or raped, with a preliminary post-mortem investigation showing that she succumbed to intestinal bleeding due to starvation and stress.
Sankara Nair, a lawyer for Nóra’s parents Meabh and Sebastien Quoirin, said in January that the family strongly believed Nora was abducted as she had mental and physical disabilities and could not have wandered off on her own.
The lawsuit said a cottage window was found ajar, with its latch broken, on the morning she disappeared.
Nóra had poor motor skills and needed help to walk, and her mental age was about five or six years old, her parents said in the claim.
Charity LBT, which supports British nationals overseas and issued Friday’s statement on the family’s behalf, also welcomed the announcement.
Chief executive Matthew Searle said: “This is a big step forward for the family in establishing the facts over what happened to their daughter.
“We applaud this action and look forward to a comprehensive process that may lead to answers for the family.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--Trump Spares Former Adviser Roger Stone From Prison

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Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of his longtime confidant and former adviser Roger Stone, who was convicted in November on seven charges including lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing an investigation into whether the Trump campaign worked with Russia to tip the 2016 election.
The White House press secretary’s office released a lengthy statement defending Trump’s decision on Friday evening.
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“Roger Stone is a victim of the Russia hoax that the left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years in an attempt to undermine the Trump presidency,” it read. “There was never any collusion between the Trump campaign, or the Trump administration, with Russia. Such collusion was never anything other than a fantasy of partisans unable to accept the result of the 2016 election.”
With his clemency granted, Stone is now seeking a new trial.
“He maintains his innocence and has stated that he expects to be fully exonerated by the justice system,” the White House statement said. “Mr Stone, like every American, deserves a fair trial and every opportunity to vindicate himself before the courts. The president does not wish to interfere with his efforts to do so.”
Following the president’s action, senator and former Democratic Party nominee Elizabeth Warren said Trump “has abandoned the rule of law and made a mockery of our democracy,” adding: “He truly is the most corrupt president in history.”
Stone, a GOP operative and an adviser to Trump during the presidential campaign, was sentenced to 40 months earlier this year despite ongoing efforts by the president and attorney general William Barr to stymie the court. He was scheduled to report to a federal prison in Georgia in a matter of days.
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In early February, the Department of Justice walked back federal prosecutors’ sentencing recommendation immediately following a Trump tirade about the case on Twitter.
Shortly thereafter, the entire prosecution team resigned. One former member, Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, later testified before Congress that the Stone case had been inappropriately influenced by politics. Stone, Zelinsky said, had been “treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the president.”
Meanwhile, Trump and conservative media ― particularly Fox News ― ramped up their defence of Stone, leading pundits to wonder whether a pardon or commutation of his sentence were on the horizon. A commutation is a reduction, either totally or partially, of a sentence someone is currently serving, but does not eliminate a federal conviction. A pardon is typically granted after a person has served their sentence and may suggest innocence.
On the eve of Stone’s sentencing, Trump tweeted a Fox News video in which host Tucker Carlson called the case “a shocking insult to the American tradition of equal justice.”
During his case, Stone had loudly maintained his innocence and was issued a gag order last year after he posted a threatening image on Instagram targeting the federal judge assigned to his case.
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According to charging documents, Stone compromised a witness and lied to investigators in a probe of his communications with WikiLeaks, which leaked documents from the hack of Democratic National Committee servers in 2016.
But ever since Mueller concluded his probe into Russian influence in the 2016 election, Trump has been faced with the option of pardoning or commuting the sentences of a handful of former aides and advisers who were charged in the investigation.
Stone’s case was rife with drama, as the eccentric regularly used social media to raise money for himself, deny allegations and attack his opponents.
In February 2019, he was admonished for posting a picture on Instagram depicting the federal judge on his case, Amy Berman Jackson, with what appeared to be crosshairs next to her head.
The judge took it as a threat and added Stone to an existing gag order on the case, barring him from talking about it at all. He responded by reminding the judge that he counted prominent members of the extremist Proud Boys street gang among his volunteer staff, and offered that one of them could have posted the image.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--How Sweden And Portugal Went From Pandemic Role Models To Record Infections

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On June 24th, the only two countries in Europe with areas where there were more than 120 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous 14 days were Sweden and, far behind it, Portugal.
Confirmed cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the two weeks to June 24. In red, the areas where there are more than 120 infections per 100,000 inhabitants ECDC
While the WHO recently praised the action of Spain and Italy for turning around the bad epidemiological situation they had started from, just a few days ago the agency included Sweden on a list of 11 European countries where the coronavirus had recently made a resurgence.
Sweden, far from making efforts to try to reverse the situation, replied that the WHO report was a ”total misinterpretation of the data” since the Scandinavian country is now testing more, hence more cases are being detected, argued Anders Tegnell, the Swedish state epidemiologist.
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“It seems a bit arrogant, doesn’t it?” says Manuel Felices, a Spanish surgeon and head of the surgery department at the NÄL hospital, north of Gothenburg, Sweden. The country is also accused of arrogance by its other Scandinavian neighbours, where there has been a total of 1,200 deaths out of a population of 17 million, while in Sweden there have been over 5,000 deaths out of a population of 10 million.
“The virus has been underestimated,” says Felices. This statement, which could apply to almost everywhere in the world, is perhaps more appropriate in Sweden, taking into account that the government not only refused from the start to lock down the population, but also that at this point it is still not recommending the use of face masks nor extending the quarantine to those who live with infected people. “It has been, and is, a huge mistake, in my opinion, to fail to consider the contagious potential of presymptomatic or asymptomatic patients, whose role in spreading is still not officially admitted in Sweden,” says Felices. “The recommendations are based on ‘if you have symptoms, stay at home.’ So much so that family members who have a confirmed case among them, but who do not have symptoms, are not obliged to quarantine,” he explains.
Daily cases of coronavirus recorded per million inhabitants in Sweden, Portugal and Spain in the last month
The Portuguese attitude could not be more different from the Swedish one in this sense. Portugal did lock down its population in mid-March, just 11 days after recording the first case of COVID-19, and it “reopened” the country two months later, when the situation was considered to be under control. The reopening of economic activity and relaxation of the restrictive measures resulted in a rise in cases of the virus, mainly in the Lisbon region, where last week 19 districts in the Lisbon metropolitan area were ordered to quarantine.
The appearance of outbreaks with the economic reactivation is not new, but the act of locking down 700,000 people – who for two weeks (June 29 - July 12) will only be able to leave their homes to work, buy food and medicine, and exercise – came as quite a shock to Europe, and especially to Spain. While continuing to look at its neighbour out of the corner of its eye, in case the story could be repeated there, Spain has seen its worst fears come true after the El Segrià district in Lleida and A Mariña district in Lugo went back into lockdown last weekend.
“What we’re seeing in Portugal is going to become the norm in most countries,” João Júlio Cerqueira said in an email to HuffPost Spain. According to the Portuguese doctor, a specialist in occupational medicine and creator of the Evidence-Based Medicine Project (SCIMED), “there will be outbreaks of infections that will have to be dealt with by the authorities to mitigate the spread of the illness following the reopening of the economy. In that sense, there’s nothing abnormal.”
For Cerqueira, “everything depends on how the government acts to contain those outbreaks,” and although the measures taken by Portugal seem “sufficient to mitigate them,” in his opinion, he considers that the government “was a little slow in the Lisbon region,” adding, “we still need some time to see the results.”
He believes the government’s reaction to put the population back into lockdown is important, but even more so is the capacity for testing that will detect those outbreaks. And here, Portugal can set an example. “Portugal has always had an outstanding capacity for testing. It can give the impression that the country has lots more infections in comparison with other places, when that probably isn’t the case,” points out Cerqueira. It is worth noting that to date, Portugal has recorded more than 45,277 cases of coronavirus and 1,644 deaths, compared to 319,075 infections and over 44,000 deaths in the UK.
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Tests done each day in Portugal, Sweden and Spain per thousand inhabitants since mid-April
“Test, test, and test some more” is one of the leitmotivs of Manuel Felices and the so-called Group of 22 scientists of which the Spanish surgeon is a part. This group, created in March by a group of internationally renowned researchers and doctors, has tried, “from the strictly scientific point of view,” to help change the Swedish strategy against the coronavirus.
Felices considers that the “active tracing of possibly infected people” is not sufficient in his host country, where he has lived and worked since 2012. Nevertheless, now the Group of 22′s main bone of contention is face masks, which are still not recommended in Sweden, something these experts deem a mistake. “We’re fighting to get the use of face masks recommended, in hospitals and nursing homes of course, but also on the street if it’s not possible to keep the social distance, on public transit, in restaurants, etc,” Felices says.
Despite Sweden’s controversial stance and data that proves its strategy has failed to stem infections, Swedish citizens have mostly supported this strategy and, until very recently, it was difficult to hear criticism of the government’s management. In mid-April, 73% of Swedes supported the country’s health strategy, according to a survey by the independent agency Novus. However, for some time now, more and more people are suggesting that the government – even though it has not openly acknowledged this – has tried to follow a herd immunity strategy, allowing a high percentage of the population to get infected.
“From my point of view – and this is an opinion – the strategy has been based on allowing a rate of ‘controlled’ infection, thinking about herd immunity,” Felices says. “The measures speak for themselves: They’ve only recommended that over-70s stay at home, while schools, gyms, etc, have always stayed open,” he explains. Nonetheless, antibody studies only show a prevalence rate between 5% and 7% among the Swedish population, similar to Spain and the rest of Europe, while the Swedish government “was hoping for around 40% in June,” notes Felices. To achieve herd immunity, at least 60% of the population would have to be immunised.
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Finally, it seems that a bit of humility is also something important in this crisis, as the WHO indicated this week. “The sooner we assume there’s a problem, the better. The sooner we contain the virus, the less the economy and the country’s image abroad will suffer,” says João Júlio Cerqueira. “Right now, it’s not only a question of the virus, but of the image the country conveys to the world. Some countries, like Norway and the UK, have excluded Portugal from the reopening of their borders for this reason. It’s happened in Portugal, but it might also happen in Spain,” he says.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-11--This Is What We Know – And Still Don't Know – About A Second Wave Of Coronavirus In The UK

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“The virus is still out there, it’s looking for more people to infect and we need to stop it getting a grip.”
These were the ominous words of England’s deputy chief medical officer last week morning as she laid bare what is currently keeping her awake at night – a second wave of coronavirus.
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Dr Jenny Harries told ITV’s This Morning: “Myself and colleagues are very, very concerned about looking out for a potential second peak as we move into the autumn.”
On Tuesday July 14 an even starker warning was issued when a group of 37 experts predicted a “reasonable worst case scenario” in which almost 120,000 people could die in hospital this winter.
Professor Stephen Holgate, a Medical Research Council clinical professor of immunopharmacology who led the study, said it was not a prediction, “but it is a possibility”.
So what do we know for sure about a second wave and will it actually happen?
The simple, and slightly worrying fact, is we just don’t know. Because the disease is so new – barely eight months old – scientists are still collecting data on a number of factors, which means making any predictions about how it acts, has been and still is, extremely difficult.
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Professor Ravi Gupta, of the Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, told HuffPost UK: “I think it’s a bit anxiety-provoking that we don’t know what’s going to happen. I think that we need to really get prepared between now and winter as much as we can.
“[There is a] perception all round that things aren’t as bad as they were which people are seeing as a positive thing, but the reality is we’re still in a quite dangerous place.”
So what do we know?
At least in terms of limiting the number of deaths, the lockdown has been effective, though the UK’s high death toll from the virus suggests its late introduction limited how many lives could have been saved.
The price of lockdown was a huge hit on the economy, with GDP shrinking an unprecedented 20.4% in April, the first full month it was imposed.
A general view of a deserted Camden High Street in April. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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So we do know maintaining a lockdown until the holy grail of a vaccine is found just isn’t doable, hence why recent weeks have seen the gradual easing of restrictions.
We also know that so far the easing of these restrictions have not yet caused a spike in infection levels anywhere close to the early days of the outbreak, and the daily death rate is still far below what it was at its peak in April.
But this could change, and we only have to look across the Atlantic to see what is increasingly looking like a worst case scenario in the US, where the premature easing of restrictions has led to a record surge in cases in many states and more than three million across the country.
And the recent situation in Leicester, where the easing of restrictions was paused after a spike in cases, shows the delicate balancing act the government currently has of restoring people’s freedoms whilst limiting the spread of the virus.
Discussing scenes like drinkers packed into the streets of Soho last weekend, Professor Gupta said: “The problem is a few events could lead to significant clusters of cases and we’re not sure how many it would take to lead to something to could get out of control.
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“That’s the worry really.”
What else do we know?
We do have a number of historical precedents to draw from and examining them shows that although not guaranteed, a second wave of coronavirus is a distinct possibility.
Of eight respiratory virus pandemics since the 19th century, five have had two or more waves which usually happen in colder months regardless of when the first outbreak occurs.
Influenza epidemic patients in an emergency hospital Kansas, USA during the 1918 Spanish influenza outbreak which killed around 50 million people worldwide. SIPA USA/PA Images
This is referred to as the “seasonality” of the virus, something health secretary Matt Hancock referred to in the Commons earlier this week when questioned about the possibility of a second wave.
He said: “As we turn to winter and the weather gets colder, there are signs of some seasonality in this virus meaning that we will have to be much more careful both because of the potential impact on how easily the virus transmits.”
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What is ‘seasonality’?
“Seasonality isn’t really about the virus, says Professor Gupta. “It’s about when transmission occurs and circulation so some viruses become seasonal mainly because the behaviour of people changes.
“In winter people tend to spend more time indoors so there’s more opportunity for transmission to occur.”
But again, how seasonal this strain of coronavirus actually is, is just not currently known.
Is the virus mutating?
Yes, but this isn’t surprising as all viruses mutate constantly but only some of these will affect who infectious or deadly it is. Some research suggests there are now two strains of the disease, the so-called Wuhan and Italian strains.
The Italian variant is thought to be more infectious and possibly less deadly, but research to support this is still in its infancy.
A waiter sets a table on June 12 at the terrace of the 18th Century Cafe Florian on St. Mark's Square in Venice, which reopens after being closed for three months during the country's lockdown. ANDREA PATTARO via Getty Images
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Asked if the virus is weakening in strength, as some scientists believe, Dr Harries said: “There is a possibility that that is happening but I think we don’t have enough clear evidence of that at the moment.
“And I just say two things: it is possible that that will happen but we should not be complacent.
“I think it’s far too early to say that, and if people think that they might come into contact with this virus and it’s weaker so they shouldn’t worry, that’s not the right message to have at all.”
Where are we at with a vaccine?
The only thing that could guarantee the halt of a second wave is a vaccine, but there is very little chance of one being developed in time.
Kate Bingham, chairwoman of the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce, said earlier this month she was optimistic that a vaccine would be developed, in the short-term it may just be one that reduces the severity of the disease, rather than prevents people from getting it.
Asked when a vaccine may be available, she said maybe by early next year depending on the success of clinical trials.
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Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, is leading the vaccine trial being run by researchers there.
She told the committee she hoped their vaccine might be ready earlier, but it depended on trials showing efficacy, and she could not put a time frame on it.
This week Dr Harries echoed the sentiment, adding: “I think there are some more optimistic people around so I’m trying not to be pessimistic, but I’m thinking sort of next year and I think our biggest worry and a big message probably to the public is just to think about being really safe over the winter period.”
How do I be ‘really safe’?
The most obvious thing is to follow government guidance on social distancing and hygiene measures like face coverings and hand washing, but some experts think even these rules don’t go far enough.
Dr Peter English, a consultant in communicable disease control, told HuffPost UK that most countries that have brought the virus under control have one thing in common – mandatory mask wearing.
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“In an indoor setting where you can’t be certain people aren’t going to come within one metre of you then in case you’ve got it and in order to protect others, you should wear a mask,” he says.
“I don’t think shops should be letting people in unless they’re wearing a mask and the government should legislate for this as well in my opinion.
“If you do that, keep up the hand washing and minimise contact then you’ve got a much better chance of avoiding a second peak.”
People observe social distancing as they queue up to shop outside a branch of the Tesco supermarket chain in west London, Friday, April 10. ASSOCIATED PRESS
There are other things you can take to help protect yourself not from catching the virus, but from suffering its worst effects.
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Dr Harries urged people to take action now to help fend off the illness by exercising as being overweight is “problematic and that’s one of the things that we could do something about”.
What if I catch the flu and coronavirus at the same time?
Unfortunately, this is yet another unknown because we’re yet to enter this year’s flu season.
According to Professor Gupta whether or not one makes the other worse is an “area of slight concern”.
And there are also potentially massive practical implications of the two viruses proliferating at the same time.
“How are you going to separate these patients from other patients? says Gupta.
“Who’s going to go together with who if we run out of side rooms? These are the things we just don’t know yet.
“That’s the unknown quantity.”
Are we prepared as a country?
We’re better prepared than we were for the first wave simply by virtue of having gone through it.
Both health professionals and the public alike are on a state of alert rather than being hit with the shock of a pandemic that the government was still downplaying just weeks before it peaked.
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But that can only go so far and just this week MPs said the government still does not have “robust” plans in place to ensure hospitals and care homes have the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need in the event of a second wave of Covid-19.