thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Mock The Week's Dara O’Briain Takes On Criticism Of Show For Being 'Too Left-Wing'

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Dara O’Briain has dismissed criticism that Mock The Week is ‘too left-wing’, calling the debate “frankly mind-numbing”.
The stand-up star and presenter defended the comedy panel show by insisting comedians were busy “fighting” for laughs on the show.
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Speaking to the PA Media agency, Dara said: “When a story pops up on Mock The Week, no-one is going, ‘How can I bend this to an agenda?’
“You’re going, ‘What’s the gag? What is the joke here? Where can I find the joke?’”
He added: “There is no meeting… The idea that they sit me down with Huw Edwards and Gary Lineker and (children’s presenter) Mr Maker, and we have a meeting.”
Dara O’Briain on Mock The Week BBC
Dara said comedians are in the arts “and people in the arts tend to be more left-wing than right-wing, except,” he added, “comedians are all tiny, self-employed, savage business people who run a business in an incredibly competitive (environment)…. We’re all fighting over the gigs.”
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He added: “The producers will put the news in front of you and none of us are going, ‘Well, how can I educate the public on this?’ It’s ‘What’s the funny thing about this? What’s my angle on this?’”
He said: “The government does stuff and so people talk about what the government has done. Starmer and Corbyn before him are kind of in a reactive role as well.
“It’s always going to be that.. and, honestly, to be plunged into the middle of a debate which is about the polarisation of certain elements…. when we do 11 half hours a year, as if this is somehow central to the whole thing. People’s objections are to the news.”
Dara’s comments come after it was reported new BBC director general Tim Davie was considering axing a number of comedy shows to tackle perceived bias.
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Along with Have I Got News For You, Mock The Week has faced complaints about its jokes about the Conservatives and Brexit.
Dara said he hoped to quiz the BBC chief about the issue when he bumped into him recently, but Davie got in a lift.
He recalled: “Tim Davie and I met in a corridor, about a week ago.... Tim looked at me. Who can tell what the reaction was because he was wearing a mask. But I was about to go, ’So let’s have a chat over this left-wing, right-wing thing.
“There was a ‘ding’ noise because his lift arrived. He said, ‘Oh, only one person at a time unfortunately.’
“He got into the lift and then the doors closed, and so I have no idea if Tim regards this as a lucky escape.”
Tory MP Ben Bradley recently weighed in on the debate, saying: “In recent years lots of BBC comedy shows are just constant left-wing rants about the Tories and Brexit. If the BBC is to truly represent all licence fee payers, that needs to change.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Lord Sugar's Past Coronavirus Comments Come Back To Haunt Him As He Addresses Trump Diagnosis

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On Friday morning, Lord Sugar reacted to the news that the US president and first lady had contracted Covid-19, saying he hoped this would encourage Trump to take the pandemic more seriously.
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“[Donald Trump] and his wife have covid,” he tweeted. “Will he finally wake up and realise this is a dangerous pandemic. Not as he said in March just a flu.”
.@realDonaldTrump and his wife have covid. Will he finally wake up and realise this is a dangerous pandemic. Not as he said in March just a flu. — Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) October 2, 2020
However, soon after sharing his post, many social media users began reminding Lord Sugar of his own recent comments about coronavirus, not least when he suggested that people in the UK should start returning to offices, and that those who had been working from home during the crisis had become “complacent”...
Lol weren't you demanding we all go back to the office the other week? https://t.co/eM6O9SEgjy — D✨ (@bet_binch) October 2, 2020
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Oh boy...but...I genuinely don't hope you get it either, Lord Sugar. But also – wasn't so long ago you yourself downplayed the seriousness of the virus, correct? You didn't know anyone who'd died of Covid-19 so the country should get back to work, or something...? — John Skinner (@johnskinner1701) October 2, 2020
You were telling everyone to get back to the office 2 weeks ago! #WorstLordEver https://t.co/kqzKkUA6kW — Andy Mitchell (@meandymitchell) October 2, 2020
Um, weren’t you on tv not so long ago saying it’s time everyone got back to work and back in the office/factories etc?? Very mixed messaging here — Missy (@missy_131) October 2, 2020
Hold on a minute. A few weeks ago you were pushing people to go back to the office! Make up your mind. — Sophie (@MinniB87) October 2, 2020
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During an appearance on This Morning last month, the entrepreneur clashed with Phillip Schofield as they discussed the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Excuse me, excuse me,” he said. “I am sick and tired of watching CNN, Sky, Bloomberg, BBC, the lot, because all they do is cause panic amongst people.
“I’m not interested in any of this stuff because you can switch the television on anytime of day and the first thing you see is some more bad news.”
In the same interview, Lord Sugar claimed: “Those people who like working from home have become a bit complacent… There’s a fine line of fearful and enjoying it, to be honest with you. It’s as simple as that.
“What are they fearful of? I’ve got a factory down the road from here that has 300 people that have been working all throughout the pandemic. We have got proper processes in place.”
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Alan Sugar PA
He mused: “I just, logically, say ‘well hold on... we’ve come out of this so-called lockdown, who’s dead? I’m not. I’m still alive’. My wife, thank god, is still alive. So’s everybody else I know. No one else has caught anything.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Zef Eisenberg, Maximuscle Boss And Speed Freaks Presenter, Dies In Speed Record Attempt

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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Dominic West Addresses Trump's Coronavirus Diagnosis: 'What Goes Around Comes Around'

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British actor Dominic West raised eyebrows during an appearance on Friday’s Good Morning Britain, as he admitted that he was rather elated with the news that US president Donald Trump had contracted coronavirus.
Dominic was a guest on the ITV daytime show to discuss his work as an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, when he was asked how he’d reacted to the news of Trump’s diagnosis.
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“Well I did slightly leap in the air with joy,” Dominic told presenters Kate Garraway and Adil Ray. “[Trump] said ‘it is what it is’, and I think the phrase is ‘what goes around comes around’.
“I just hope it doesn’t interfere with him being elected out of office, that’s all.”
Dominic West speaking from home during an appearance on Good Morning Britain ITV/Shutterstock
Kate – whose husband has been in intensive care for the last six months due to Covid-19 complications – then said: “I’m sure you wish him personally all the best, but subscribe that there’s an element of karma in this?”
Dominic responded: “Well, there’s an element of schadenfreude, I suppose. I’m not a fan of his, as you can probably tell, and I just hope Biden stays healthy and gets the presidency as quickly as possible.
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“I think Trump is a catastrophe for America and for the world.”
Adil Ray and Kate Garraway interview Dominic West ITV/Shutterstock
Following his appearance on the show, Dominic’s name began creeping up the list of trending topics on Twitter, with viewers voicing their thoughts both for and against his comments...
Saw Dominic West trending and feared he'd said something horrendous and nasty like being anti-mask or anti-lockdown, you know, something awful.
*phew* 😎 pic.twitter.com/1Vc91dO72x — Matt Broughton (@mrmjb87) October 2, 2020
I’m disappointed in Dominic West. Despite what you think of him as a politician, to jump for joy because someone has a virus that could potentially kill him is disgusting! #GMB — NmcG1981 (@NmcG1981) October 2, 2020
To anyone offended by Dominic West's comments this morning... I'll just leave this here. https://t.co/tX6RND8gAr — Tasha Matthewman (@TashaMatthewman) October 2, 2020
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The right wing are outraged over Dominic West. No, you should be outraged at the fact Trump is a fascist. He has not taken coronavirus seriously and the US death toll is dreadful. That’s where the outrage is. — ✨ Lizzie ✨ (@lizzie_kristina) October 2, 2020
Maybe Dominic West was pleased that Trump might just start taking Covid-19 seriously now that he's tested positive & stop spreading so much misinformation about it?
Sure he wasn't really mocking someone for getting ill - would be a dreadful way to behavehttps://t.co/y2jVzIgn2d — Jane ⭐🌱✌🖤 (@localnotail) October 2, 2020
Comments on @GMB by Dominic West were pretty disgraceful! Poor Kate Garraway biting her lip! — Steve Kennaugh (@VikingF1) October 2, 2020
You could tell Kate Garraway wanted to cut that interview with Dominic West after his Trump comments however she had to remain professional #GMB — @SocialMediaJon1 (@socialmediajon1) October 2, 2020
I applaud Dominic West's honesty. He just said what many were and are thinking. 👏👏👏👍👍👍 — Lisa Not So Loony Leftie Tucker-Clemens ✊✊🏼✊🏾✊🏿 (@TuckerClemens) October 2, 2020
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To all the hypocrites attacking Dominic West for saying he leapt with Joy on hearing #TrumpHasCovid get lost with your feelings. This is a man who ordered children to be separated from their parents and put in cages. Where was your outrage then? #GMB — Joe Politico (@Politico247) October 2, 2020
How nasty, idiotic and utterly pathetic. What a shame, I used to quite like Dominic West. https://t.co/ENobdU7DGR — Alex Hannam (@hannamalex) October 2, 2020
So the people that call everyone else snowflakes seem terribly triggered by Dominic West today. 🤣🤣🤣 — Danny Nicholson (@dannynic) October 2, 2020
I have never found Dominic West more attractive and that's saying something. #DominicWest pic.twitter.com/tfLLWlPghg — Kate White (@KateWhiteJourno) October 2, 2020
Dominic did say that he felt one positive that could come out of Trump contracting Covid-19 was that his supporters might “take [the pandemic[ more seriously, and realise the huge numbers of deaths in America are not an inevitability”.
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“Interesting to see those who’ve spent the last few years screaming that Trump’s an uncaring, heartless empathy-devoid b*stard now spewing their gleeful joy that he & his wife have a deadly virus,” Piers tweeted.
“They’re no better than the man they loathe.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--EastEnders Announces Lucas Johnson Is Returning To Walford As Don Gilet Reprises Role

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EastEnders is welcoming back one of its greatest villains ever, as Lucas Johnson returns to Albert Square.
Don Gilet is reprising his role as the murderous character, who was last seen on screen in 2016.
Bosses have teased a gripping new storyline that will see him come face-to-face with ex-wife Denise Fox, who is played by Diane Parish.
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Denise was previously held hostage in a basement by Lucas as he faked her suicide, as well as framing her for his crimes.
Lucas and Denise in EastEnders BBC
Speaking about returning to the soap, Don said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to be asked to breathe life once again into such a complex, controversial and divisive character but, most importantly, to have another opportunity to work alongside one of the UK’s finest actors, Diane Parish.
“I feel blessed.”
Don Gilet is returning to Walford as one of E20’s most notorious bad guys, Lucas Johnson, later in the year. Four years after he left The Square his comeback is set to cause shockwaves amongst the residents. Has his time inside done him any good? #EastEnders #BigReturn pic.twitter.com/eAiJmQASom — BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) October 1, 2020
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EastEnders executive producer Jon Sen added: “Bringing back Don to the square has been on our wish list for some time now as there’s definitely some unfinished business with Lucas and he certainly hasn’t let Denise go.
“His reign of terror put him firmly up there with Walford’s biggest villains and I can’t wait for audiences to watch his return unfold.”
Lucas first appeared on the BBC soap in 2008 and was sent to jail for his murders in 2010.
He was last seen in 2016 when he plotted to escape from prison.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--President Trump And First Lady Melania Trump Test Positive For Coronavirus

President Trump And First Lady Melania Trump Test Positive For Coronavirus
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus. The president confirmed his diagnosis on Twitter early Friday morning. The news came after it was announced that his senior aide Hope Hicks had tested positive.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Piers Morgan Hits Out At Those 'Spewing Gleeful Joy' At Trump's Covid Diagnosis

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Piers Morgan has hit out at those “spewing their gleeful joy” at US president Donald Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis.
Trump revealed that he and his wife Melania had tested positive for Covid-19 in a tweet on Friday morning.
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After the news made headlines across the globe, Piers took on those celebrating Trump’s diagnosis, calling the people wishing him dead “despicable”.
Donald Trump and Piers Morgan pictured together in 2010 D Dipasupil via Getty Images
The Good Morning Britain host tweeted: “Interesting to see those who’ve spent the last few years screaming that Trump’s an uncaring, heartless empathy-devoid b*stard now spewing their gleeful joy that he & his wife have a deadly virus,
“They’re no better than the man they loathe.”
Interesting to see those who’ve spent the last few years screaming that Trump’s an uncaring, heartless empathy-devoid b*stard now spewing their gleeful joy that he & his wife have a deadly virus. They’re no better than the man they loathe. — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 2, 2020
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As someone replied to Piers suggesting the “terrible mess” the US was in as a result of coronavirus is because of its leader, the presenter responded: “Nobody’s been more critical of Trump over Covid than me.
“But I don’t want him or his wife to die from it. Those who do are despicable.”
Nobody’s been more critical of Trump over covid than me. But I don’t want him or his wife to die from it. Those who do are despicable. https://t.co/Ii72dGJZA3 — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 2, 2020
Another wished Trump a full recovery, but said they were “still going to point out he’s a fool for catching it after six months of mocking people for wearing masks”, to which Piers replied: “That’s fine. It’s the ecstatic glee I am witnessing that is so distasteful & hypocritical from those who preach about tolerance and kindness.
“We saw the same when Boris Johnson nearly died. It’s vile.”
That’s fine. It’s the ecstatic glee I am witnessing that is so distasteful & hypocritical from those who preach about tolerance and kindness.
We saw the same when Boris Johnson nearly died. It’s vile. https://t.co/Uc8gyxbpUJ — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 2, 2020
Trump and Melania have now begun quarantining, with the president tweeting that they will “get through this TOGETHER!”.
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Dr. Sean Conley, physician to the president, also claimed Trump would continue to “carry out his duties without disruption while recovering”.
The first lady also tweeted, confirming that both she and the president had tested positive as had “too many Americans... this year.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Cats Can Spread Covid. Here’s What We Know.

Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at University of Nottingham, previously said that cats produce “very low levels of virus”, which is why it’s believed that cats don’t transmit the virus to humans.
Humans can transmit Covid-19 to cats, though. This latest study pointed out that “reverse zoonosis” – that is, infection from human to animal – is possible if owners expose their domestic pets to the virus during early stages of illness.
You should avoid contact with your cat including stroking, petting, being kissed or licked and sharing food if you think you have coronavirus. If you do touch them, make sure you wash your hands before and afterwards.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--5 Fibs You Were Told This Week

5 Fibs You Were Told This Week

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It’s that time of the week again, when HuffPost UK’s weekly round up of fibs saunters into your life with all the bravado of a maskless Stanley Johnson popping to the shop to buy a newspaper.
It will surprise you not to learn that a sizeable portion of this instalment centres on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but we also have a groundbreaking investigation into oil companies to pour over.
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We’ve also decided to add a small section devoted to keeping a historical record of famous(ish) people who say really, really daft things during these turbulent times and this week’s entry is indie icon Ian Brown.
NEVER MiND THE BOLLOCKS heres the NAZiS with VAXES — Ian Brown (@ianbrown) October 1, 2020
Not even sure what that means tbh. But anyway, let’s get on with our regular feature...
EVERYTHING IS FINE WITH TEST AND TRACE!!!
Health secretary Matt Hancock has repeatedly insisted the UK’s Test and Trace system is working fine and everyone should just chill out and give him a break.
On Thursday he was once again under pressure as Labour’s Karl Turner said there is “no sign of the world-beating” test and trace programme in his Kingston upon Hull East constituency.
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In response and treading a familiar path, Hancock praised the “biggest contact tracing programme that this country has ever seen”.
But as any decent Agony Aunt could tell you, there’s a difference between being big and being good.
The latest and possibly most shocking evidence that all is not well with Test and Trace, a Somerset woman described to HuffPost UK this week how she was told the only Covid-19 test available for her son was in Northern Ireland or Aberdeen. To make matters even more shambolic, she later found out there were plenty available at her deserted local centre.
Ivanka Trump and the disappearing mask
Have a look a this...
Yup, it’s Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and Lara Trump on their way to the first presidential debate on Tuesday, all of them wearing masks like sensible citizens during a global pandemic.
Yet when they sat down at the indoor venue, all but Melania took them off.
JIM WATSON via Getty Images
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This, obviously, all came days before Melania Trump, and Donald, tested positive for coronavirus.
At one point during the debate, a Cleveland Clinic doctor approached unmasked members of the audience – on the president’s side of the room – with masks in tow and asked them to put them on.
A Bloomberg reporter on site claimed that the doctor told him she was refused and the audience members did not put masks on.
An observation from inside the debate hall: Everyone in Biden’s side of the hall is wearing a mask. More than half on Trump’s side, including his four children, are not wearing masks. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it’s a requirement that all guests wear masks. — Tyler Pager (@tylerpager) September 30, 2020
The pub curfew
Years ago, one of the government’s favourite refrains when dealing with the coronavirus pandemic was “follow the science”.
Oh wait, that was only April.
Anyhoos, it once again reared its head over the weekend when the culture secretary said there is “definitely science” behind the 10pm curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants which has, in some cases, led to impromptu street parties.
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Day two of a 10pm curfew: Oxford Circus has turned into an impromptu party pic.twitter.com/YTCVdf3GAl — Charlie Haynes (@charliehtweets) September 25, 2020
Oliver Dowden, told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “There is definitely science behind it, that’s why we’re requiring people to be seated in pubs and restaurants, so that stops the flow of them to and from the bar.
“We are reducing the closing times to stop people staying later and drinking. And the point about all of this is that everyone has their part to play. If we all play by the rules, we can ensure that there are not further, more draconian restrictions.”
Dowden’s comments come despite a scientist advising the government saying he had “never heard” the measure discussed at Sage meetings.
And according to a report in The Times, Boris Johnson introduced the curfew measures not based on science or modelling, but because it was “a good symbolic thing because it’s a low-cost way of sending a clear message that things are different”.
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Which doesn’t sound very... scientific.
The oil giants
Earlier this year, oil giants BP and Royal Dutch Shell made a big song and dance about quitting a handful of high-profile industry groups that were campaigning to undermine regulations to reduce greenhouse gases.
This was all part of a very public and seemingly very-well meaning drive to look like they actually cared about the environment which they’ve helped damage over decades.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it turns out it’s all a bit of a charade, and an Unearthed and HuffPost investigation found the two companies are still active members of at least eight trade organisations lobbying against climate measures in the United States and Australia.
Oil giants BP and Shell have promised to reform their lobbying on climate change - including by their industry trade groups.
But we found both companies are funding - often secretly - numerous lobby groups that are actively opposing climate action around the world. https://t.co/SkGN0Dib5r — Lawrence Carter (@lawrencecarter1) September 28, 2020
Reviews of leaked and publicly available documents show those groups are part of the sprawling network of state and regional trade associations that have, in at least one case, boasted about quashing the very carbon-reduction policies the oil giants publicly claim to support.
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You can read the full investigation here.
The fib that is actually the opposite to a fib
Yes, we know, this isn’t a fib. In fact it’s the opposite of a fib – it is god’s honest truth.
But it was said by a Tory minister in relation to coronavirus and makes them look quite bad which is a rare thing these days so you’re just going to have to deal with it.
This is skills minister Gillian Keegan...
Keegan Parliament
On Tuesday she was sent out on behalf of the government to explain lockdown rules imposed on the north-east of England which banned people from mixing with other households in any setting.
Now, it had been illegal for two households to mix inside or in a garden, but it was only guidance that they should not meet at public venues, including restaurants and pubs.
Keegan was asked by BBC Radio 4′s Today programme on whether this meant separate households were still allowed to meet up in pub gardens, to which she responded: “I’m sorry I can’t clarify that.
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“I don’t know the answer to that question but I’m sure they can find out the answer to that question.”
Pressed on how people are meant to keep up to date with the latest restrictions when ministers cannot, she added: “I’m sorry I can’t answer that question.
“I’m sure there are many people who could. I don’t represent the north-east.”
Labour’s shadow health minister Alex Norris said: “It speaks volumes that even the government’s own ministers don’t know what’s going on.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--7 Funny Tweets To End Your Week With A Bit Of Joy

SaulHerrera via Getty Images
Covid-19 and the US election have dominated the news again this week and Storm Alex is set to drench much of the UK with wind and rain.
We don’t know about you, but we could do with some light relief.
To help us get in the weekend spirit, here are seven tweets that have left us chuckling this week. We hope they bring you the slice of silliness you need.
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This job application took an unexpected turn
“I was 10 years old.”
the job hunt is going well pic.twitter.com/jxcAVXjliZ — sgt balls: nazi hunter (@Barknado69) September 29, 2020
Man tries to guess paint colour
The accuracy is honestly baffling.
main source of joy is this guy who frantically guesses what color the paint is going to be pic.twitter.com/T1dQrTRWIK — rebecca jennings (@rebexxxxa) September 29, 2020
‘Time Heals Everything’... except, coronavirus
*Sound on*
i am screaming xjsjsjxsj pic.twitter.com/V8KMf35duU — paulina (@palynathisway) September 29, 2020
Once again, Twitter is the highlight of GBBO
Noel is the art teacher we all wish we’d had.
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When the art teacher has lost control of the class so they bring the deputy head down to sort it out #gbbo pic.twitter.com/sH9V15WkTi — Mark (@Hiphopocrates) September 29, 2020
Mum’s Peppa Pig order goes awry
my kid just unwrapped her new peppa dinner set and I accidentally ordered a french version and now it says groin groin groin all over the plates and cup ffs pic.twitter.com/3IfXzVfjTL — Maggy (@maggyvaneijk) September 30, 2020
“Why did you want to buy this place?”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Jim Carrey Becomes Joe Biden In New Saturday Night Live Teaser

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Saturday Night Live bosses have unveiled a first-look teaser of Jim Carrey in character as Joe Biden, ahead of the new series.
It was previously announced that the comedy actor had been cast as the Democratic presidential candidate in new sketches when the late-night show returns to screens in the US this weekend.
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A new teaser posted on SNL’s Twitter page shows Jim getting into character, donning a grey wig and a suit, as he gets ready to play Biden.
At the end of the clip, he’s seen striking a grinning pose alongside former SNL cast member Maya Rudolph, who is returning to the show to play Biden’s running mate Kamala Harris.
Ladies and gentlemen…
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. #SNLPremiere pic.twitter.com/khYgAvXKpw — Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) October 1, 2020
In the new series of SNL, Jim and Maya are expected to appear in sketches with Alec Baldwin, who will be reprising his role of Donald Trump, which he has held since the last US election campaign in 2016.
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Alec has twice been nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of Trump, including one win in 2017.
Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump NBC via Getty Images
Addressing the decision to cast Jim Carrey as the former vice president, SNL producer Lorne Michaels told the New York Times: “Jim is brilliant, and he cares deeply about the country and what’s going on. He wants to have a voice in this.
“Every time he’s done SNL, he’s always come through brilliantly, and I think what he will bring to this part will be stunning and possibly transcend comedy. Because we’re in a period where comedy is only part of it.”
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris at the recent Democratic National Convention OLIVIER DOULIERY via Getty Images
In recent years, Jim Carrey has not shied away from voicing his disdain for Donald Trump, which has included blistering takedowns in interviews and numerous satirical cartoons.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Fat Bear Week Is The Only Good Thing In The World Right Now

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If 2020’s endless slog is getting you down, I come “bearing” some good news — Fat Bear Week is back and it is exactly what it sounds like.
Once a year, officials from Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve set out to determine the fattest and best bear on the local Brooks River. Dozen of over-sized bears battle it out to see who’s the fattest of them all is.
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It’s like sport, but instead of worrying about leagues Covid-19 protocols or the dangers of very large men running into each other, you just get to look at pictures of incredibly fat bears and vote for your favourite.
This year’s bracket runs from 30 September to 6 October and pits newcomers like Chunk against two-time Fat Bear Week champion Otis.
Here's how to participate in #FatBearWeek: this is an elimination tournament to determine who will be crowned 2020's fattest bear on the Brooks River. For each pairing of bears, you will be given the opportunity to vote on our new #FatBearWeek website, https://t.co/bcJqAzVU3F pic.twitter.com/wCQTu4zUmM — Katmai National Park (@KatmaiNPS) September 29, 2020
Voting is open online for a new face-off every day. The first daily match is posted at 5pm UK time, with the second match posted at 9pm. Voting on each pairing is open until 3am the following day.
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After 11 bears are eliminated, the winner will be declared on Fat Bear Tuesday, on 6 October. And, frankly, Fat Bear Tuesday should be an international holiday at this point.
This year’s chunky champion will have a lot to live up to with a high bar set by last year’s winner Holly, who was dubbed the Queen of Corpulence.
Over 187,000 votes were cast in last year’s competition.
What makes a good fat bear? It’s a lot of salmon, berries and hard work on the part of the bear. This time of year, bears go through hyperphagia in preparation for hibernation, meaning it’s impossible to feel full. They put on a bunch of weight that will help them through winter hibernation, when they lose up to a third of their total body weight. Adult male bears in Katmai usually weigh between 270 and 400 kilos, but can hit well over 450kg in the autumn.
Katmai National Park operates several livestreams of the river where the bears catch salmon, and I can confirm those are some hefty mammals and they are going ham on that salmon.
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Katmai National Park is located in southwestern Alaska and is home to some of the most bountiful salmon runs in the world. With few people nearby, that means lots of snacking for some hefty, hungry bears.
Of course, Fat Bear Week takes on new meaning in 2020, as we all partake in our own hibernation of sorts, feasting on sourdough and hunkering down for the winter not unlike Holly, Otis and the others.
So if the world is getting to be a bit too much, just fantasise about being a fat bear munching on salmon, with not a care in the world – what a dream that would be.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Shirley Ballas Tells Strictly Come Dancing Fans To Keen An 'Open Mind' Ahead Of Same-Sex Pairing

Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has urged viewers to keep an “open mind” ahead of the show’s first same-sex pairing being introduced.
This year’s line-up was confirmed last month, with Olympic boxer Nicola Adams being partnered with a female professional dancer in what will be a first for the show.
Asked for her thoughts on the upcoming partnership, Shirley – who has long called for Strictly to introduce a same-sex pairing – said she was “excited” to see Nicola on the dance floor, telling viewers to remain open-minded.
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Shirley Ballas Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
“I would really urge the viewers to look with an open mind,” Shirley told The One Show on Thursday evening.
“Remember… two men have danced together for years, on Broadway, in different shows, and two women – I had a girl partner myself. It’s movement to music with great technique, it doesn’t have [to be a man and a woman].”
When presenters Alex Jones and Chris Ramsey questioned how the choreography will be two different when performed by two women, Shirley explained: “That will be down to the professional herself.
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“You know, because you can shadow, you can side-by-side dance, you can opposite dance, there are many different ways that you can pursue your thought in dancing.
“So it’ll be up to the creativity of the young lady that gets to dance with Nicola. I think it will be absolutely fabulous.”
Nicola Adams Karwai Tang via Getty Images
The corporation stood their ground, though, with a spokesperson insisting: “Strictly Come Dancing is an inclusive show and is proud to have featured same-sex dancing amongst the professional dancers in group numbers in previous series.
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“We have stated, in the past, that we are open to the prospect of including same-sex pairings between our celebrities and professional dancers, should the opportunity arise.
“Nicola Adams requested an all-female pairing, which we are happy to facilitate.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--This Symptom Could Be The Most Reliable Sign You Have Covid-19

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Four out of five people with sudden loss of smell or taste tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies, new research has suggested.
The findings suggest an acute loss of smell or taste is a highly reliable virus indicator, scientists say, adding that loss of smell or taste should now be considered globally as a criterion for self-isolation, testing and contact tracing.
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In the UK, the NHS acknowledges three key symptoms of Covid-19 that warrant a test: fever; continuous cough; and loss, or change to, a person’s taste or sense of smell.
What did the study find?
Researchers at UCL and UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) assessed health data from primary care centres in London. They found 78% of people who reported sudden loss of smell and/or taste at the height of the pandemic had Covid-19 antibodies. Of these people, 40% did not have a cough or fever.
According to the researchers, it’s the first time such a figure has been calculated.
Lead author Professor Rachel Batterham, of UCL Medicine and UCLH, said: “As we approach a second wave of infections, early recognition of Covid-19 symptoms by the public together with rapid self-isolation and testing will be of vital importance to limit the disease’s spread.
“While people in the UK who experience sudden onset loss of smell or taste are advised to self-isolate and seek a test, at a global level few countries recognise this symptom as a Covid-19 indicator – most focus on fever and respiratory symptoms.”
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Loss of smell a ‘highly reliable indicator’ that someone has Covid-19
“Our findings show that loss of smell and taste is a highly reliable indicator that someone is likely to have Covid-19 and if we are to reduce the spread of this pandemic, it should now be considered by governments globally as a criterion for self-isolation, testing, and contact tracing,” said Prof Batterham.
Between April 23 and May 14, researchers sent texts to people registered with a number of primary care centres in London who had reported sudden loss in their sense of smell and/or taste.
A total of 590 participants enrolled via a web-based platform and responded to questions about loss of smell and taste and other Covid-19–related symptoms.
“Our research suggests a key public health message should be: people who notice a loss in their ability to smell everyday household odours such as garlic, onions, coffee, and perfumes should self-isolate and seek a coronavirus PCR swab test.” - Prof Batterham
Of these, 567 then had a consultation with a healthcare professional who confirmed the history of their symptoms and supervised a test to find out if they had coronavirus antibodies.
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The study, published in PLOS Medicine, found that 77.6% of 567 people with smell and/or taste loss had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
Of these 39.8% did not have a cough or fever, and participants with loss of smell were three times more likely to have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, compared with those with loss of taste.
Prof Batterham added: “Our research suggests a key public health message should be: people who notice a loss in their ability to smell everyday household odours such as garlic, onions, coffee, and perfumes should self-isolate and seek a coronavirus PCR swab test.”
Most common symptoms of Covid reported in the UK right now
Professor Tim Spector, from King’s College London, recently told HuffPost UK that headache, fatigue, loss of smell, fever and a persistent cough are the five most common symptoms of Covid-19 being reported to the UK’s Covid Symptom Study app.
These symptoms haven’t significantly changed since the start of the pandemic, he said.
The most common symptoms of Covid vary slightly in children and the over-70s, he added. The top five symptoms in school aged children who test positive are: fatigue, headache, fever, sore throat and loss of appetite. The app also found that one in six (15%) children who test positive present with an unusual skin rash.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--The Trumps Have Coronavirus. Here’s What Happens Now

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With the US election just 32 days away, Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for Covid-19.
The president has repeatedly downplayed the threat of the virus, even as more than 200,000 Americans have died, but experts have warned that at 74 he is already at a higher risk of falling seriously ill.
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Here’s what we know so far:
Who takes over if Trump is too ill to work?
The Trumps have some of the best healthcare in the US available to them, but the president – who is 74 – is still at a higher risk of severe illness than most due to his age, according to the Centres of Disease and Control (CDC) guidelines.
The organisation says people aged 65 to 74 have a five times higher risk of hospital admission with coronavirus compared with those aged 18 to 29, and a 90% higher risk of death.
If Trump became too ill to work, vice president Mike Pence would then take charge.
With a number of cases of Covid reported within the White House, it is feasible that Pence could also test positive. If he did contract the virus, and was incapacitated, the Speaker of the House – democrat Nancy Pelosi – would take over.
What does this mean for the election?
Trump has held large – often maskless – events throughout the pandemic in the lead up to the presidential election and has repeatedly sought to downplay the virus, despite more than 200,000 Americans dying with Covid-19.
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He has been fiercely criticised for his approach to the large gatherings, which have attracted crowds of thousands against health guidelines followed worldwide.
But having tested positive for the virus and therefore self-isolating, the Trump’s have been forced to cancel all of their upcoming engagements.
The future of Trump’s planned rallies remains uncertain with the president unlikely to be able to attend events in Wisconsin, Florida and Arizona, the Express reported.
It is also unclear whether or not Trump’s positive test will prevent him from attending the second presidential debate, set to take place on October 15 in Miami, Florida.
With the election itself just 32 days away, on November 3, Trump’s positive diagnosis raises huge questions around how the event will play out.
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It has previously been reported that Donald Trump has no power over the election schedule, and moving it would require changing federal law.
How has the world reacted?
Global markets dropped in the wake of the announcement of Trump’s positive test, with shares and oil prices sinking both in the US and Asia.
With the news breaking early on Friday morning, most world leaders – at the time of writing – had not yet responded publicly to the news.
Boris Johnson, who has recovered from Covid-19 after falling seriously ill, tweeted: “My best wishes to president Trump and the first lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus.”
My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus. — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 2, 2020
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US vice president Mike Pence was one of the first to react to the news, tweeting: “Karen [second lady of the United States] and I send our love and prayers to our dear friends president @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS Melania Trump.
“We join millions across America praying for their full and swift recovery. God bless you president Trump & our wonderful first lady Melania.”
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Wishing my @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a quick recovery and good health.”
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick told Times Radio that Donald and Melania Trump’s Covid-19 diagnosis is a reminder that everyone is susceptible to the disease and urged the public to follow the rules.
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Meanwhile, Wales’ first minister said he believes there will be “political ramifications” following Trump’s positive test.
“This is a president who has always downplayed the virus, acted – as you’ve seen in those rally pictures you were showing – as though it didn’t exist and this is bound to make people in the United States wonder about the quality of the leadership they’ve been offered over the last six months,” Mark Drakeford told Sky News.
He said that “on a personal level” he hoped Trump and the first lady would “sail through” the virus.
“But I think it will bring a whole series of questions to the fore which the president has tried to sideline during this election campaign,” Drakeford said.
“He’s not wanted to talk about coronavirus despite the 200,000 people who have died in the United States. So I think the political ramifications will be real, however his own condition develops.”
What have the Trumps said?
The president announced his diagnosis on Twitter early on Friday morning, writing: “Tonight @FLOTUS [first lady of the United States] and I tested positive for Covid-19. We will begin or quarantine and recovery process immediately.
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“We will get through this TOGETHER!”
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
The first lady later also tweeted, confirming that both she and the president had tested positive as had “too many Americans... this year.”
She added: “We are feeling good and I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe and we will all get through this together.”
As too many Americans have done this year, @potus & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 2, 2020
None of Trump’s four adult children, all of whom attended the presidential debate on Tuesday but refused to wear masks, have yet publicly responded to the news.
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Who else in the White House has tested positive?
The Trumps are not the first in the White House to test positive for Covid-19 – they themselves took tests after one of his closest aides Hope Hicks was confirmed to have contracted the virus.
While waiting for the results of his test following Hicks’ diagnosis, Trump said he had found it difficult to socially distance while meeting members of the armed forces.
He told Fox News: “It’s very hard when you’re with soldiers, when you’re with airmen, when you’re with the marines, and with the police officers, I’m with them so much.
“And when they come over to you it’s very hard to say ‘stay back, stay back’ you know, it’s a tough kind of a situation, it’s a terrible thing.”
He added: “They come over to you and they want to hug you and they want to kiss you because we really have done a good job for them and you get close and things happen.”
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Katie Miller, press secretary to the vice-president, who is married to Trump’s adviser Stephen Miller, has previously recovered from Covid-19.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Nicola Sturgeon Calls For MP Margaret Ferrier To Resign Over 'Indefensible' Covid Breach

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arriving for First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh. PA
Nicola Sturgeon has joined calls for Margaret Ferrier to resign after the MP took a train from Glasgow to London and back despite having coronavirus.
The SNP leader and first minister of Scotland described the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West’s actions as “dangerous and indefensible”.
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Ferrier is no longer an SNP MP having lost the whip but continues to represent the area as an independent.
Sturgeon tweeted on Friday: “I’ve spoken to Margaret Ferrier and made clear my view that she should step down as an MP.
“I did so with a heavy heart – she is a friend and colleague – but her actions were dangerous and indefensible.
“I have no power to force an MP to resign but I hope she will do the right thing.”
I’ve spoken to Margaret Ferrier and made clear my view that she should step down as an MP. I did so with a heavy heart - she is a friend & colleague - but her actions were dangerous & indefensible. I have no power to force an MP to resign but I hope she will do the right thing. — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 2, 2020
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It follows SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford saying Ferrier had “let the country down”.
Blackford told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland Ferrier may have broken the law and has made a “tremendous error of judgement” and added: “I would say to her that her position is no longer tenable.”
Blackford told BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme that Ferrier may have broken the law, and said: “This is a very serious situation.
“That we have been living with this Covid for a number of months. Now, people are making enormous sacrifices.
“And MPs have to be judged to the highest standards.
“And, we have a situation here that not only has the guidance been broken, but the law has been broken.
“And, I would simply say to Margaret that people will expect her to reflect on the situation that she has put herself in.”
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He also admitted he first learned of her positive test on Thursday morning, though Ferrier was not suspended until later in the day.
He added: “This is a desperately serious situation that’s taken place.
“At the end of the day, we should be judged by the actions that we take.
“And it’s clear that Margaret travelled to London having had a (Covid) test, and having then been informed that she had tested positive, did the journey in reverse.
“That is not only wrong, it is a breach of the law.”
Glasgow East MP David Linden on Thursday night used an appearance on BBC Question Time to say he thought Ferrier should resign.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon (right) with Margaret Ferrier, SNP candidate for Rutherglen, during the election campaign Jane Barlow - PA Images via Getty Images
On Friday morning, Kirsty Blackman MP added: “I agree with David Linden. Margaret Ferrier must resign. Both David and Margaret are unparalleled campaigners for our party but in this circumstance David is right. Margaret’s actions cannot be overlooked.”
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Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross and MSP Ruth Davidson have both called for Ferrier to stand down as an MP.
Speaking to Times Radio, Ross said Ferrier had been “reckless and dangerous”, adding: “We expect politicians to lead by example and follow the guidance we are setting – we are law-makers.
“Margaret Ferrier was part of the process to enable these laws to be enacted across the country and her actions are reckless, they are dangerous, they are undermining everything we are doing as a country to try and get on top of this virus.”
He criticised the SNP, saying: “There’s an awful lot of questions to be answered here as to when the SNP found out.”
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has called Ferrier “reckless” and has also called for her resignation.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Reached Out To Ashley Banjo Amid Diversity Complaints

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During the conversation, Harry discussed Diversity’s recent performance on BGT, which referenced many of the events of 2020, including the killing of George Floyd and the global protests against police brutality which followed.
Ashley takes a knee with his fellow Diversity dancers during their BGT performance Dymond/Thames/Syco/Shutterstock
Harry said: “We spoke to Ashley Banjo a few weeks ago, straight after the Britain’s Got Talent situation.
“And that in itself, I am sure even me talking about it will be controversial, but the reality of it is he and his team of guys put on the most amazing display.”
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PA
Diversity won praise from viewers for their powerful BGT routine, but Ofcom also received around 24,500 complaints about it, with the TV watchdog later issuing a lengthy report explaining why they would not be taking the matter any further.
A spokesperson said: “We carefully considered a large number of complaints about this artistic routine, an area where freedom of expression is particularly important.
“Diversity’s performance referred to challenging and potentially controversial subjects, and in our view, its central message was a call for social cohesion and unity.
“Any depictions of violence by the performers were highly stylised and symbolic recent global events, and there was no explicit reference to any particular political organisation – but rather a message that the lives of Black people matter.”
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Reacting to Ofcom’s ruling, troupe leader Ashley Banjo wrote on social media at the time: “Creativity is always a leap of faith. All I did what was what felt right and I’d do it 100 times over.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Mary Trump Has Terrifying Explanation For Trump’s White Supremacist Comments

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Donald Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, said the president was sending a chilling message to white supremacist groups when he told them to “stand back and stand by” during Tuesday night’s debate.
“It wasn’t a shoutout,” she said on “The Dean Obeidallah Show” on Wednesday. “It was an order ― and we need to see it in those terms and we should be terrified by that.”
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Mary Trump said the president doesn’t care that these groups are violent or that their members are racists.
“He only cares that they support him,” she said. “And that’s the only criteria that matters.”
Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist who published a tell-all book dishing on the president this summer, also named two other reasons he won’t denounce these groups.
“First of all, he’s a white supremacist. So he would have to denounce himself, which will never happen,” she said. “Secondly, denouncing white supremacy doesn’t get him anywhere with his base, and that’s the only people he’s talking to anymore.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Nicki Minaj Gives Birth To First Child With Husband Kenneth Petty

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Barbie dreams come true: Nicki Minaj is officially a mum.
The rap superstar welcomed her first child with husband Kenneth Petty on Wednesday in Los Angeles, according to multiple outlets. The couple has yet to announce the news themselves or release any further details about the newborn.
Minaj first revealed her pregnancy in a series of gloriously over-the-top, professional photos showing off her baby bump in July.
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The rapper captioned one photo “#Preggers” with a yellow heart. “Love. Marriage. Baby carriage,” she wrote under another post. “Overflowing with excitement & gratitude. Thank you all for the well wishes.”
The couple has much to celebrate, as the baby arrived within weeks of their one-year wedding anniversary following nearly a year of dating.
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Minaj marked the occasion at the time with an Instagram video of matching “Mr. and Mrs.” mugs and coordinating “Bride” and “Groom” baseball caps.
A month before the two tied the knot, the mogul sent shockwaves through the music community when she announced that she was retiring from the rap game without warning.
“I’ve decided to retire and have my family,” she wrote on Twitter in September 2019. “I know you guys are happy now. To my fans, keep reppin me, do it til da death of me, in the box—cuz ain’t nobody checkin me. Love you for LIFE.”
After an outcry from her fans, Minaj later apologised for the “abrupt” post and has since released a slew of new songs, most recently featuring on A$AP Ferg’s “Move Ya Hips,” which dropped over the summer.
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“I’m still right here,” she explained about her shocking post. “Still madly in love with you guys and you know that. In hindsight, this should’ve been a Queen Radio discussion and it will be. I promise u guys will be happy. No guests, just us talking about everything. The tweet was abrupt and insensitive, I apologize babe.”
Minaj has long expressed her desire to have a family, previously stating that she believes she was “put here to be a mother.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Public Uneasy About 'Dystopian' Home Working Spy Tech, Poll Suggests

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Workers are both unaware of and uncomfortable about remote monitoring by their employers while working from home, new polling shows.
Ministers have been urged to get to grips with the issue of employers spying on their staff following Boris Johnson’s advice that people should again work from home if they can to limit the spread of coronavirus.
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Most of those surveyed expressed deep unease about employers keeping tabs on their keystrokes or app usage.
A vast majority also said they were unaware keystroke monitoring, camera tracking technologies and wearables even exist, despite suggestions that more employers are looking to introduce the tech to monitor productivity as more people work remotely.
The Prospect Union, which commissioned the poll, warned that while monitoring of home working sounds like a “dystopia”, it is increasingly likely to become a topic of debate, while there are “precious few controls” in place to prevent it becoming a reality for many workers.
Only a third (32%) had heard of keystroke monitoring and camera tracking, the YouGov poll for the Prospect union warned.
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Two thirds (66%) said they would be uncomfortable with keystroke monitoring while four in five (80%) felt the same about camera monitoring.
Only around a quarter (26%) had heard of electronic tracing with wearable tech, while three quarters (76%) said they would be uncomfortable with it.
The polling also found that around half (48%) of workers said that they thought that introducing monitoring software would have a negative impact on their relationship with their manager. This rose to 62% among 18- to 24-year-olds.
There was some evidence that more consultation could reduce the level of apprehension around these technologies, with nearly a third (27%) of remote workers saying they would be more comfortable with monitoring software if trade unions or worker representatives were involved in conversations about how it would be implemented.
This number rose to 36% of young workers (18- to 24-year-olds).
Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy urged the government to “get serious” about the issue by bringing businesses, unions and tech companies together to review workers’ rights in a post-Covid world.
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“Having your every keystroke or app usage monitored by your boss while you are working in your own home may sound like a dystopia – but there are precious few controls in place to prevent it becoming a daily reality for millions of workers across Britain,” he said.
“Employers are beginning to think about how their workplace will operate in the future, including a far greater prevalence of blended working and exclusive working from home. As the new reality takes hold we will see more and more debates about the use of technology to monitor workers – the evidence suggests the workforce are simply not ready for it.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Melania Trump Caught On Tape Swearing In Response To Children Separated At Border

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As her husband’s administration was separating migrant families at the US-Mexico border in the summer of 2018, first lady Melania Trump dismissed the gravity of the situation, telling a friend and former aide: “They said, ‘Oh, what about the children that were separated?’ Give me a fucking break.”
CNN aired her comments ― reportedly made in July 2018 to Stephanie Winston Wolkoff ― on Thursday. Winston Wolkoff, who wrote the book “Melania and Me” about her relationship with the first lady, has said previously that she began recording phone conversations with her after the White House accused her of profiting excessively from her work organizing inauguration events in 2017.
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Also: “They said, ‘Oh, what about the children that were separated?’ Give me a fucking break.” — Melania Trump in July 2018, when her husband’s administration was separating migrant families at the border. https://t.co/eIRkxTaim4 — Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) October 2, 2020
In a series of these audio recordings obtained by CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” Melania Trump is heard telling Winston Wolkoff about her husband’s family separation policy.
Though she admits that it’s “sad” that children are separated from their families, she says the kids are “nicely” taken care of and provided with some comforts, like beds and cabinets for their belongings.
“They didn’t have that in their own countries,” she tells Winston Wolkoff of the amenities provided to the kids.
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“Yeah, they’re not with parents, it’s sad. But when they come here alone or with coyotes or illegally, you know, you need to do something,” she adds.
Migrant children have described being held in cages at US Customs and Border Protection facilities. Photos captured at these detention centres show children sleeping on thin mattresses on the floor with nothing but foil blankets to protect them.
In the recordings, Melania Trump is also heard railing against her critics who challenged her on this immigration policy.
“They say I’m complicit. I’m the same like him, I support him. I don’t say enough. I don’t do enough,” she tells Winston Wolkoff.
“I’m working my ass off [doing] Christmas stuff,” she continues, referring to her responsibilities as first lady to prepare the White House for the holiday season. “Who gives fuck about Christmas stuff and decoration? But I need to do it, right? ... OK, and then I do it and I say that I’m working on Christmas planning ... and they said, ‘Oh, what about the children that were separated?’ Give me a fucking break.”
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"The jacket was... a publicity stunt, and it was to garner the attention of the press, to make sure that everyone was aware that Melania was going to the border."
Melania Trump's former friend, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, on the infamous "I really don't care. Do U?" jacket. pic.twitter.com/sCJAAAcvBf — Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) October 2, 2020
Winston Wolkoff was also asked by host Anderson Cooper about the infamous jacket the first lady wore in June 2018 while boarding a plane to visit migrant children at the southern border.
The author said the jacket ― which had the phrase “I really don’t care. Do U?” written on the back ― had been a “publicity stunt” to “garner the attention of the press.”
In one of the recordings, Winston Wolkoff is heard asking the first lady why she chose to wear the jacket on that occasion.
“I’m driving liberals crazy, that’s for sure ... and they deserve it,” she replies.
A White House spokesperson insisted at the time that “there was no hidden message” to Trump’s fashion choice.
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“I’d hope you guys would want to cover her visit with children today. It’s a jacket. ... After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn’t going to choose to focus on her wardrobe,” said then-White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.
In a statement to CNN this week, Grisham, who now serves as the first lady’s chief of staff, lambasted Winston Wolkoff for releasing the recordings.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Amanda Holden Reveals Her Britain’s Got Talent Outfits Are Checked By A ‘T*t Committee’

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Amanda Holden has said Britain’s Got Talent producers come to her dressing room to check her outfits before the show airs, jokingly calling them “the tit committee”.
Last month, Ofcom received 235 complaints about the low-cut blue dress she wore on one of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals.
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Amanda has now revealed a team of producers give her outfits a once over before she goes on air.
This dress led to 235 people complaining to Ofcom. Dymond/Thames/Syco/Shutterstock
She told The Sun: “There’s now a whole body of people that knock on my door and come and stare at my chest before we go on air.
“There’s a tit committee. There are so many brilliant people, they come down, knock on the door and there’s the lady who’s the producer who said, ‘Mandy, it looks great’.
“She said, ‘I can see it’s underwired’ — people thought it was my nipple they could see but it was the underwire. My husband does describe them as being like football studs, but that’s probably too much information. But yes, there’s a whole committee now, and a head of the committee.”
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Amanda added: “I won’t name her, but she’s female. She is a good, strong woman and she’s on my side.”
Following the latest batch of complaints, Amanda responded on Instagram, writing: “Mmmm really?! Who has nipples this close to their cleavage?!”
“FYI. A boned corset dented the girls all night,” she added, along with two fried egg emojis.
. Instagram
As is standard procedure, Ofcom will now assess the complaints they have received before deciding whether or not to investigate.
However, Amanda’s outfits have actually been the subject of complaints on a number of occasions during her time on the BGT panel, with no formal investigation ever brought about.
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Earlier this year, Mandy had spoken of her hopes that people would find bigger things to worry about than her outfit choices on the show, given the pandemic.
Speaking to The Sun, Amanda said: “I’ll continue to do a lack of dress. I know how popular that is with Ofcom.
“You never know what’s going to offend people, but I’d hope that in light of all the things that are happening now, that when the show does go out, a bit of side-boob will be less offensive after all we’ve been through.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Strictly Come Dancing Star HRVY Tests Positive For Coronavirus

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Strictly Come Dancing contestant HRVY has confirmed that he has tested positive for coronavirus.
On Thursday night, The Sun reported that the 21-year-old singer had contracted Covid-19, with HRVY confirming the news himself on Twitter shortly afterwards.
“[I] wasn’t gonna worry anyone and say anything but now the story’s out, I have coronavirus,” he explained.
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HRVY also said that he’s “all good” and not experiencing any symptoms.
HRVY has tested positive for coronavirus Joe Maher via Getty Images
He added: “Just isolating for the next 10 days. Already super bored so prepare yourselves for my TikToks.”
A BBC rep said: “We have rigorous protocols in place to manage Covid-19 as the safety of all those involved in the production is paramount.”
hi, wasn’t gonna worry anyone and say anything but now the story’s out, i have coronavirus, I’m all good, no symptoms, just isolating for the next 10 days. already super bored so prepare yourselves for my Tik toks — hrvy (@HRVY) October 1, 2020
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PA News has reported that HRVY will still be taking part in this year’s Strictly launch show, which it’s thought is being filmed on 12 October, “depending on a negative test result”, and that he has so far only come into contact with “a handful” of the show’s crew.
These crew members all self-isolated and underwent coronavirus tests, with only a “minimal impact on production”.
It was previously reported that once the series was underway, any cast members who tested positive would need to self-isolate for two weeks, meaning they’d be unable to continue with the series.
Strictly bosses have already had to make some big adjustments to this year’s series due to the coronavirus crisis, including cutting the show’s run and fewer contestants taking part than usual.
The Strictly judges at last year's red carpet launch Karwai Tang via Getty Images
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Sneaky Signs Your Kids Need More Of You – Even If You're With Them All Day

Shinyfamily via Getty Images
A joy (and profound challenge) of the Covid-19 pandemic is that many working parents are spending more time with their kids. Parents report that they’re closer to their children and that they have been doing things together they rarely had time for before: board games, puzzles, gardening and so on.
But that paints a sunny picture of this newfound together time that doesn’t necessarily reflect what’s also happening: stressed-out parents frantically trying to juggle multiple tasks that require their full attention, and children desperately looking to fill time that was once full of school and socialising with their caregivers. So many kids are hungry for attention right now.
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Here’s what to look out for and how to make a few quick, easy changes that don’t make life more difficult than it already is.
Look out for clinginess and regression.
Kids of all ages — from toddlers to teenagers — have been clingier than usual since the pandemic began, which can manifest in many different ways. Preschoolers might be hanging on you constantly; older kids might suddenly be looking to cuddle more. Regressions have also been an issue as kids fall back into habits and behaviours you haven’t seen in a while, like having tantrums, thumb-sucking or playing with toys they haven’t played with in some time.
Experts say a lot of those shifts and behaviours are clues that kids are seeking reassurance that they are safe and that you will continue to navigate this messy “new normal” together.
“Kids show us what they need through their behaviours,” psychologist Claire Nicogossian, a clinical assistant professor at Brown University and author of “Mama, You Are Enough: How to Create Calm, Joy and Confidence Within the Chaos of Motherhood,” told HuffPost.
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Acting out can be another red flag.
Children are hard-wired to want their parents’ attention, so much so that they’re willing to misbehave to get it. They will absolutely settle for negative attention if that is what’s being offered. As the website of the Child Mind Institute (CMI) explains: “Parental attention is so powerful that whatever behaviour we pay attention to will increase, even if we’re telling them to stop.”
Of course, there are plenty of other possible explanations for new (or newish) misbehaviour. Kids have experienced major losses in their life: They may not be able to go to school, they can’t freely play with friends, they have had to adapt to ever-changing routines.
But it’s worth considering the effect that showering them with a bit more positive attention might have.
“Rather than chiding them for what they’re doing wrong, we want to catch kids doing right,” the CMI says. “It’s a simple shift, but one that goes against centuries of parenting norms and takes some practice before it becomes second nature.” That may be particularly true during the pandemic, when we’re all running on empty.
Do an “attention audit.”
Nicogossian often encourages parents to log when they spent “quality time” with their kids over the past day or days. She noted that she is a working mom of three who understands how impossible the current juggle is for parents. But she also believes this relatively simple exercise can be eye-opening for caregivers.
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“When did you spend time with your child when you weren’t multitasking or that you weren’t doing a chore? When was the last time you were together when you weren’t keeping them on-task with distance learning or driving them somewhere or preparing food?” she offered by way of example. “Get some data.”
The good news? If you realise you haven’t actually given your kid much focused attention, the fix can be pretty quick and simple. Could you give them five minutes a day of totally focused playtime? Take a 10-minute walk together? Have a quick dance party? Those short periods of time can make a huge difference, Nicogossian said.
Give them some sort of schedule.
“Kids do best when routines are in place and expectations are clear,” Dylann Gold, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at New York University’s Langone Health, recently said in an article on managing difficult behaviours during Covid-19 on the NYU Langone website. “Predictability, especially given the current circumstances, can help your child feel a sense of comfort and safety.”
Maybe you explain to your kiddo that you’ll have some one-on-one time in the morning around breakfast, that you could take a break to do a brief activity midday, and that in the evening you’ll be able to spend more time as a family — or whatever that schedule looks like for you. Setting expectations can keep kids from looking for your attention at times when you simply cannot give it to them.
Set boundaries.
If you’ve done your time audit, set expectations and your child is still being really clingy, it’s absolutely appropriate to set boundaries, Nicogossian said. (Also again, consider whether there might be bigger underlying issues at play and seek help for them as needed. Talking to your child’s health care provider or teacher can be a good place to start.)
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But don’t let yourself get bogged down in guilt.
“This is the trap parents can get into, this feeling that they have to be available at all times,” Nicogossian said, adding that she feels very “protective of parents” right now and believes we all owe ourselves a lot of care and grace.
Not only is that kind of boundary-setting important for your own mental health and wellbeing as the pandemic wears on, it also teaches your child that they are not totally reliant on you to navigate this strange, hard time. Yes, you are all together at home much more now than before. But, no, you are not there to solve everything for them.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--Donald Trump And Melania Trump Test Positive For Coronavirus

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US president Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus just days after one of his closest advisers who also had Covid-19 traveled with him aboard Air Force One.
Trump announced the diagnosis in a tweet:
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
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In a statement dated October 1, 2020, Dr. Sean Conley, physician to the president, confirmed the diagnosis.
Shares and oil prices sunk both in the US and Asia in the wake of the news.
“The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence,” Conley stated.
He also claimed Trump would continue to “carry out his duties without disruption while recovering.”
The first lady also tweeted, confirming that both she and the president had tested positive as had “too many Americans... this year.”
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She added: “We are feeling good and I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe and we will all get through this together.”
As too many Americans have done this year, @potus & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 2, 2020
His Covid-19 diagnosis is the latest among world leaders, with Boris Johnson admitted to intensive care after contracting the disease in March and the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier also falling ill.
Trump, who is 74 and is considered obese, according to an assessment in June by the White House physician, faces an increased risk of severe illness from the coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have long warned that older adults and those with a body mass index of 30 or above are at increased risk of hospitalization and possibly the need for intensive care should they become infected.
Hope Hicks, a counsellor and senior adviser to the president, tested positive for Covid-19 after traveling with Trump on Tuesday for his first presidential debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden.
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People close to Hicks told Bloomberg News that she was experiencing symptoms of the virus. She was photographed not wearing a mask as she arrived at the airport in Cleveland for the debate.
Vice president Mike Pence tweeted early on Friday morning, writing: “Karen [second lady of the United States] and I send our love and prayers to our dear friends president Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
“We join millions across America praying for their full and swift recovery. God bless you president Trump and our wonderful first lady Melania.”
Karen and I send our love and prayers to our dear friends President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS Melania Trump. We join millions across America praying for their full and swift recovery. God bless you President Trump & our wonderful First Lady Melania. — Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) October 2, 2020
Trump’s infection also comes after many of his family members attended the debate in Ohio without wearing masks, even after a Cleveland Clinic doctor asked barefaced members of the audience to put them on.
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At the debate, Trump also mocked Biden’s wearing of masks at campaign events while falsely claiming there had been “no negative effect” from any of his large campaign rallies in recent weeks. (After a June 20 rally in Oklahoma, health officials cited it as the “likely” source of a surge in local cases.)
“He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve ever seen,” Trump said of Biden’s use of face coverings and his decision not to hold large in-person campaign events.
The president’s infection comes amid his ongoing efforts to declare that the nation has largely moved past the worst threats of the pandemic and could reopen large swaths of the economy, a positive election season message that health experts have warned could not be further from reality.
More than 207,000 people in the US have now died of the coronavirus, and more than 7.3 million have been infected. Cases remain high or are rising in more than a dozen states even after an economically devastating shutdown period in nearly every corner of the country.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--I’m 53, And Sleeping With An 83-Year-Old. Here's The Truth About ‘Geriatric Sex’

Solskin via Getty Images United Kingdom, Rye, Camber Sands
You’re reading Sex Diaries, a HuffPost UK Personal series about how we are (or aren’t) having sex. To share your story, get in touch on ukpersonal@huffpost.com.
When I ran into Patrick, I hadn’t seen him in years.
After moving to my village with his wife, we used to exchange pleasantries with them if we crossed paths but weren’t close. After Irene died suddenly however, he moved away and I didn’t see him again for a long time.
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Seeing him now, three years later, he looked well, and handsome, and I told him so. I was Christmas shopping, so I waved mistletoe at him and cheekily requested a festive kiss. Ambushed by sexual chemistry, what we thought would be a chaste peck on the lips turned instead into a passionate snog. A week later, we were having fantastic sex on his hearthrug.
I knew he was considerably older than me (I was 49, then) but was astonished when he told me that he was in his 80th year. I thought he was ten years younger, and he must have read my mind: “I’ll understand if that puts you off,” he said.
But I had always liked older men. I lost my virginity at 17 to a man of 37, so I had form. The sex Patrick and I had just had was steamy and intense – he would later tell me he had obtained a prescription for Viagra for that evening – and I knew I already liked him a lot. Why should I let age get in the way?
“The idea that anyone over 75 might enjoy an active sex life more often than not promotes a reaction of disgust.”
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Geriatric sex is, let’s face it, a huge laughing matter. Jokes and cartoons about saggy bodies, memory loss and lack of desire abound. The idea that anyone over 75 might enjoy an active sex life more often than not promotes a reaction of disgust, and people I knew were no exception.
“Lalala, I don’t want to hear about it,” said one friend, sticking her fingers in her ears. Others wanted to know way too much. Can he actually get it up? (Yes, with pharmaceutical help – no biggie, it just requires a bit of planning); Aren’t you turned off by his wrinkly body? (No. He’s in better shape than a lot of 50-somethings), and my personal favourite: Aren’t you afraid he’ll die while you’re in bed together? (How can you even ask me that about the man I am rapidly falling in love with?)
It seems that if your lover is elderly, people are happy to refer jokingly to his imminent demise in a way that would be unacceptably rude if he were thirty years younger. For the record, Patrick’s heart has shown no sign of giving out before, during or after sex. Naturally we both know that he won’t be around forever, but neither of us is inclined to dwell on the fact any more than we would if he were 53 instead of 83. Life is uncertain; and besides, if anyone is likely to expire in bed, it’s me – the sex is that good.
But let’s not be coy; of course there are issues we both have to deal with. Patrick’s reliance on Viagra means spontaneous sex is generally off the cards. Ejaculation is a rare luxury at his age, and I’m often left feeling guilty when he hasn’t (though he assures me that he is happy and, on the occasions he does manage it, it’s wonderful for us both), and he doesn’t have the stamina or flexibility of a younger man. But, let’s face it, in middle age I’m not that fit or bendy myself. There may not be all-night sexfests, but there is endless foreplay, a willingness to experiment (married a virgin at 26, Patrick is undergoing what he calls a belated sexual education) and a tenderness to our love-making that I have rarely encountered in younger men.
“Why are we so determined to consign our parents and grandparents to the sexual scrap-heap?”
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With an ever-ageing population, it’s time we all faced up to the fact that people are enjoying sex well into their seventies and eighties, because more of us are destined for a healthy old age than at any point in history.
So brace yourselves, people under 40, because according to a 2015 study, more than half of men and a third of women over 70 reported being sexually active, with a third of both the men and women saying that they had sex at least twice a month. Men and women of that age are still working, travelling the world, running marathons – why should they be branded dirty old men, or worse, if they also have an active sex life? Why are we so determined to consign our parents and grandparents to the sexual scrap-heap?
I know that, even with the ready availability of Viagra, Patrick and I will at some point in the not-too-distant future, see the end of the sexual side of our relationship. He is fit and healthy but I am under no illusions that can change fast. I will cross that bridge, alongside him, when I have to.
Meanwhile, I intend to enjoy our sex life to the full. It’s high time that we all embraced the idea of sex in old age – statistically, more of us than ever are likely to live into our 80s, so let’s stop cringing at the thought. Take it from me, great sex does not come with an age restriction.
Jennifer is a 53-year-old woman, writing under a pseudonym
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--The 'Runny Nose' Test For Covid In Kids: What Parents Need To Know

HuffPost UK
We’ve all heard of the ‘runny nose test’ – that if your child is sniffing and sneezing, the likelihood is that it’s just a cold and not coronavirus.
And now that the weather has changed and autumn is drawing in – not to mention the return to school after six months of homeschooling – we’re likely to find ourselves drowning in a sea of snotty tissues. Grim.
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But how accurate is the ‘runny nose test’ and when should you worry about keeping your kids at home, self-isolating, or getting them tested for Covid-19?
Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, who helped to developed the Covid Symptom Study App believes children with a runny nose and no other symptoms do not have coronavirus – and should not get tested. The government states: “Your child does not need a test if they have a runny nose, are sneezing or feeling unwell but do not have a temperature, cough or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste.”
Spector said children under the age of 18 show different symptoms to adults – and even if they’re coughing, they’re far more likely to have a common cold. “Kids really don’t seem to lose that sense of smell and they also don’t seem to get the cough and shortness of breath as much either,” he told The Telegraph. “So it’s a different picture at different age groups.”
He said over the next few weeks, while the system is stretched, parents should think carefully about whether it’s appropriate to burden the NHS by getting their child a test. “By all means keep your kid at home, but don’t rush around the country trying to get a test for something that is highly likely to be a cold and not Covid,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
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So, a runny nose and a cold means your child doesn’t have coronavirus? Well, Margaret McCartney, a GP, told BBC Radio 4 it isn’t this simple – because a child can have both.
She referenced a study published in the BMJ that looked at 651 children under 19 admitted to hospital with Covid-19. The most common symptom in kids was a fever, and then a cough – but there were lots of other symptoms too, one of which was a runny nose.
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Another study published from Belfast looked at the children of healthcare workers and found almost 7% of children had positive antibodies to Covid-19. Within them, half had no symptoms at all and a third had a fever.
“They didn’t find that a runny nose was more likely with Covid,” said McCartney, “but a few children that had Covid-19 did have these symptoms at some point. So it wasn’t a good symptom to tell who had Covid-19 and who didn’t. You could get a runny nose both with Covid-19 and without.”
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This means having a runny nose doesn’t mean it can’t be coronavirus. “There are no absolutes in medicine,” said McCartney, adding that there are no symptoms that can distinguish clearly between a normal cold in children and coronavirus. In the previous study mentioned, she said 12% of kids who had a runny nose also had Covid-19.
She added that the vast majority of kids with a runny nose won’t have Covid-19 because it’s so rare in children – but it’s not a good enough test to know between them, “so we can’t go on statistics alone”.
McCartney encouraged parents to go by the government advice: get a test for your child if they’ve got one of the three symptoms: a fever; a new, continuous cough; or a change in their taste or sense of smell.
Speaking to HuffPost UK, A&E doctor Dr Sarah Williams, agreed: “Parents only need to take their children for a Covid test if they have a cough, fever, loss of taste or smell. If they have a runny nose without any of those key symptoms, definitely not. A child may have a cold, but they could also have Covid-19, and therefore present with more symptoms. If you don’t test for it, there’s no way to rule it out.”
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McCartney added that parents should avoid sending their children to school or nursery anyway if they’re ill and it’s understandable that parents want to be cautious about sending them back until they’re properly recovered.
What are the most common symptoms of Covid-19 in kids?
According to the Covid Symptom Study app, more than half (52%) of school-aged children who tested positive for Covid-19 don’t report any of the classic ‘adult’ symptoms we’re used to looking out for – such as a cough, fever, or loss of smell or taste – in the week before and after the test.
A third (33%) of children who tested positive for Covid-19 never experienced any of the 20 symptoms listed in the app, which suggests that many children are asymptomatic.
Here are the most common signs of Covid-19 in children, according to the Covid Symptom Study app:
Signs of coronavirus in children
Fatigue (55%)
Headache (53%)
Fever (49%)
Sore throat (38%)
Loss of appetite (35%)
Skin rash (15%).
And here’s how they compare to the symptoms experienced by adults who tested positive for coronavirus.
Signs of coronavirus in adults


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-02--BBC Breakfast's 20 Silliest Moments, As Daytime Show Turns 20

It might feel like BBC Breakfast has always been there for us in the mornings, reliably getting our days off to a calming and informed start, but it wasn’t actually until 2 October 2000 that the show aired its very first episode.
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And while it might be the case that its daytime rivals over at ITV have a reputation for being a bit more chaotic, controversial or unpredictable, that doesn’t mean the BBC Breakfast team doesn’t know how to have fun, too.
To commemorate the show’s two decades on the air, we’ve rounded up 20 of the silliest moments ever to take place in the BBC Breakfast studio...
1. Weather presenter Matt Taylor’s indifference towards Rick Astley comes back to haunt him
An important lesson in just replying positively when you’re asked about literally anything on live television.
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When Matt Taylor told Charlie Stay that no, he’s not a particular fan of Rick Astley, what he clearly didn’t expect (judging by his face) was that the Never Gonna Give You Up singer would be standing by waiting to do an interview just moments later. Proper, proper awks, but we laugh out loud every time we watch this clip.
2. Bill Turnbull drops the C-bomb at half eight in the morning
What happens when you mix up the words “client” and “customer” in the middle of a live broadcast? An abrupt mid-morning C-bomb from Bill Turnbull, of course.
3. But Rick isn’t the only one who got tongue-tied live on air
What we find so funny about this clip isn’t necessarily the way Louise Minchin says “shitted” instead of “fitted” (although a juvenile part of us does thoroughly enjoy that too).
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No, the true joy here is the rather camp way she says “I’m sorry” immediately after the gaffe.
4. Lisa Stansfield asks Naga Munchetty a rather personal question about her night out with Prince
The morning after Prince’s death, Lisa Stansfield was a guest on BBC Breakfast to share her memories of the legendary singer, but it turned out Naga Munchetty had a story of her own.
She revealed that on her 21st birthday, she wound up in the same night club as Prince, only for the Purple Rain star to pick her out to have a dance with him.
“It was the talk of university the next day,” Naga recalled.
“And did everyone say, did you or didn’t you...?” Lisa asked.
Very inappropriate... but also, iconic.
5. Mike Bushell in a swimming pool. Need we say more?
A day will come when we don’t laugh out loud at this clip. But that day... is not here yet.
6. Bill Turnbull tries his best, but can’t resist a Game Of Thrones fanboy moment
BBC
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Back in 2016, Kit Harington was a guest on BBC Breakfast to talk about his then-upcoming role in the play Doctor Faustus.
Unfortunately, it seemed Bill Turnbull only had Game Of Thrones on his mind, ending the interview by thanking “Jon” (that would be Kit’s character in the hit fantasy series), with Louise having to put him right.
7. But there have been even bigger moments of mistaken identity on BBC Breakfast since then
“I think you have the wrong guest, sir.”
What do you do when you’ve got through a very good introduction about a heroic mountaineer... only to find the person on the couch next to you is a completely different person?
You do your best to style the whole thing out, of course.
8. Louise Minchin realises seconds before she’s due to go on air that her dress is on back to front
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And speaking of style, Louise Minchin suffered an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction back in 2017, when she realised just seconds before she went live to the nation that her dress was on the wrong way around.
Still, at least she saw the funny side.
9. Richard Ashcroft sits down for a rather chaotic interview
Well, we say “sits down”, but that part didn’t actually last all that long, did it?
10. Lil Nas X gets a telling off for wandering around
But Richard isn’t the only one who seems to have trouble staying put.
After his interview in 2019, chart-topping singer Lil Nas X seemingly didn’t realise he needed to remain on the sofa for a minute, breezing past the camera completely as he made a less-than-swift exit.
11. Anastacia plants a kiss on a flustered Bill Turnbull
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The I’m Outta Love singer was her usual energetic self when she appeared on BBC Breakfast in 2015, throwing Bill off as he tried to introduce Carol Kirkwood’s weather report.
Things got even more chaotic when she leaned over to plant a kiss on his cheek in the middle of his sentence.
12. However, our favourite BBC Breakfast guest ever...
BBC
...has to be Beruti, this animatronic orangutan.
13. Naga Munchetty doesn’t even try to hide her laughs after an unfortunate choice of words from Carol Kirkwood
BBC
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Again, the best bit of this clip – which aired the day before BBC Breakfast’s 20th anniversary – wasn’t the double entendre itself, but Carol’s feeble attempt at clarifying what she actually meant.
Some grade-A giggling from Naga there, too. Definitely made us feel better about laughing so hard.
14. But Carol Kirkwood is no stranger to dropping a bit of a verbal clanger
Who could forget her trip to Greenwich Park over the summer, where she infamously said she’d run into more than a few “doggers”?
“Not doggers, of course,” she quickly added. “Lots of dog walkers and joggers around here during the course of this morning.”
15. And again...
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Oh, Carol!
16. Helen Mirren forgets where she is
Helen Mirren apparently forgot there were cameras pointed at her – breakfast TV cameras, no less – when she dove into a John Gielgud impression, complete with the line: “You little shit.”
She did realise her mistake, but about a second too late. Oops.
17. A subtitling error accidentally disparages an entire town
Alright, the BBC Breakfast team can’t actually be blamed for this one, but it’s something we found funny all the same.
During a news report in 2017, reporter Jayne McCubbin was heard telling viewers that number of fishermen in the town of Cromer, “famous for its crabs”, was in decline.
Unfortunately, that’s not what the subtitles picked up...
I see BBC Breakfast is not a fan of Cromer. pic.twitter.com/5ylVFalIZR — Paul Hughes (@Mr_Hughesy) September 6, 2017
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18. Gordon Brown brings his interview to an abrupt end
The former prime minister summed up the mood of pretty much everyone around the world who is sick to the back teeth of Zoom meetings when he ended this interview by abruptly slamming his laptop shut.
Truly a mood.
19. One man’s struggle to find the right key brings this reopening of a shopping centre to an anti-climatic end
Awkward moment on BBC Breakfast just now when they tried to reopen a shopping centre live on television but they couldn’t find the right key pic.twitter.com/BihbqUzncv — Scott Bryan (@scottygb) June 15, 2020
Oh. Dear.
20. And finally...
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To commemorate Pharrell Williams’ appearance on BBC Breakfast back in 2014, the entire team of presenters and crew came together to film their own version of his Happy music video.
Be warned: The above video contains a lot of dad dancing.