thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-10--Britain, Why Are You Trying So Hard To Become Irrelevant?

Why is Britain self-sabotaging like this? Julia Tena de la Nuez writes. Getty Creative
The day before the UK left the European Union, I attended a meeting at the BBC in Salford where the head of news announced that 450 jobs would be cut as part of a plan to save tens of millions of pounds. The BBC has come under heavy attack in recent months – from Boris Johnson branding it the “Brexit Bashing Corporation”, to a senior Labour MP accusing it of consciously favouring the Conservatives during the 2019 election campaign. And more recently, the corporation was dealt another blow as Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan suggested that the television licence that funds BBC shows and services could be abolished from 2027.
As a Spanish journalist living in the UK, I find it bewildering that politicians would want to threaten an institution that elevates Britain’s international standing and serves as a model for public service broadcasters all around the world.
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After three years of heated parliamentary arguments, messy negotiations and failed withdrawal agreements, Britain’s reputation in Europe has been considerably damaged. Before Brexit, many countries looked up to the UK as an example of a successful parliamentary democracy. That is just not the case anymore. Sylvie Kauffmann, editorial director of France’s Le Monde, echoed the feelings of many Europeans when she wrote in 2019: “Once, we used to hold up British parliamentary life as the Rolls-Royce of liberal democracy. Now that Rolls-Royce looks more like a dodgem.”
Crippling one of the country’s biggest and most respected brands will further erode the UK’s reputation. Yes, the BBC has its flaws (the gender pay gap row comes to mind), but the public service broadcaster is admired all over the world, from Europe to the US and even begrudgingly by Russia. I’ve spoken to people all over the world for Radio 5 live and almost everyone I speak with knows what the BBC is. Most importantly, they trust it enough to share their stories with it. In my experience, the people that refuse to talk to the BBC (or complain about it on the phone) are usually British. The rest of the world seems to love it.
The BBC has a glorious history. When most of Europe was conquered by the Nazis during World War Two, many citizens in occupied Europe tuned in to the BBC, making it one of the most significant sources of accurate information for people living under Nazi rule. In 1939 the BBC opened a Spanish service in London which became a reliable source of information for Spaniards during the Franco regime, despite the pressures exerted by the Spanish embassy in the UK. After the war, many European countries modelled their broadcasting system on the BBC. In an open letter published by The Guardian in 2015, the directors of several Nordic public service media companies (ranked amongst the most trusted media companies in the world) explained how the idea of public service broadcasting was born in the UK: “No creative organisation in the world is as well known and has such a reputation for quality as the BBC,” they wrote. “That reputation reflects on Britain as a whole.”
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I come from a country where few people trust our public broadcaster. TVE (Televisión Española) is regularly criticised for displaying pro-government bias in its selection of news and guests. According to a study by the Pew Research Centre in 2018, only 13% of Spaniards cite it as its main source of news. Furthermore, 16% of Spaniards that consider themselves right wing cite TVE as its main news reference, compared to 8% that consider themselves left wing. The same study found that in the UK, 48% of people consider the BBC to be their main source of information, with practically no political distinctions amongst it’s audience: it is the informative reference for 48% of left-wing Britons and 51% of right-wingers, which suggests that it is probably doing a good job at being impartial (despite what senior politicians in both parties may think).
Spain’s trust in its media is amongst one of the lowest in Europe. In the UK, public trust seems to be moving in that direction. If you want to reverse that, hold on to the BBC. Criticise it by all means and hold it accountable when it needs to be. But don’t let your politicians undermine it, and don’t let them convince you that you don’t need it. Additionally, if you want the UK to recover its reputation as a voice for sense in the world, you’re going to need one of your most respectable brands. Unfortunately, that probably means paying for a TV licence.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-10--Natalie Portman’s Oscars Outfit Supports Snubbed Female Directors

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Natalie Portman’s Oscars Outfit Supports Snubbed Female Directors
Natalie Portman wore a Dior cape to the Oscars with the names of eight female directors embroidered down it, in a show of solidarity as no women were nominated in the Best Director category at the Academy Awards once again. Only five women have ever received nominations in the category, with Kathryn Bigelow the only female director ever to take home an Oscar for The Hurt Locker in 2010.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-10--22 Photos From The Oscars Vanity Fair After Party That Will Give You FOMO

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It might feel like the Oscars go on for about four years, but when the ceremony finally wraps up, it is actually just the start of the night for the famous attendees.
For many of them, it’s off to one of the most exclusive bashes in the celebrity calendar – the official Vanity Fair after party.
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The 26th annual event was hosted by Radhika Jones at the Wallis Annenberg Center, and had plenty of star power, with the likes of Kim Kardashian, Renée Zellweger, Joaquin Phoenix, Billie Eilish and Sandra Oh all snapped celebrating...
1 It was a real family affair for Joaquin Phoenix Gregg DeGuire via Getty Images 2 Stella Maxwell, Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell, Timothée Chalamet, and Sara Sampaio gave us squad goals Matt Winkelmeyer/VF20 via Getty Images 3 After causing a storm in the UK, Ciara blew into the Vanity Fair party John Shearer via Getty Images Advertisement 4 Bobby Berk's Oscars makeover was as dramatic as any seen on Queer Eye Frazer Harrison via Getty Images 5 Heidi Klum and Alessandra Ambrosio were seen larking around Kevin Mazur/VF20 via Getty Images 6 Darren Criss made the most of the In-N-Out Burgers (10/10 jacket, too) Emma McIntyre /VF20 via Getty Images Advertisement 7 Freida Pinto threw down some moves on the dancefloor Emma McIntyre /VF20 via Getty Images 8 Billy Porter turned up wearing this incredible number John Shearer via Getty Images 9 Seriously, a LOOK Matt Winkelmeyer/VF20 via Getty Images Advertisement 10 OK, we'll stop now Rich Fury/VF20 via Getty Images 11 Kim and Kanye packed on the PDA on the red carpet Taylor Hill via Getty Images 12 Before she joined Caitlyn Jenner and Sophia Hutchins inside Kevin Mazur/VF20 via Getty Images Advertisement 13 Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse also couldn't keep their hands off one another Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images 14 Oscar-winner Renee Zellweger was giving out selfies to her adoring celebrity fans Kevin Mazur/VF20 via Getty Images 15 Cynthia Erivo served some serious face as she flew the flag for the UK Taylor Hill via Getty Images Advertisement 16 Greta Gerwig's heels soon came off Kevin Mazur/VF20 via Getty Images 17 Laura Dern celebrated her win with pal Scarlett Johansson Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images 18 Jeff Goldblum reminded us why we all love him Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images Advertisement 19 Parasite director Bong Joon-ho was the guest of honour after winning Best Picture JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX via Getty Images 20 Sandra Oh pulled it out of the bag again with her second fabulous outfit of the evening Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images 21 Demi Moore popped by to say hello Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images Advertisement 22 Joan Smalls paid tribute to Lil' Kim's infamous 1999 MTV Music Awards look Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Jameela Jamil Reflects On 'Clusterf***' Of A Week After Coming Out As Queer

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Jameela Jamil has spoken out after what she’s described as a “clusterfuck” of a week, which saw her coming out after facing backlash over a role in a new talent competition about voguing.
Last week, Jameela was at the centre of criticism when it was reported that she was to serve as “MC and judge” on Legendary, a new TV talent search which will centre around ballroom culture.
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She quickly spoke out to dispel the reports, insisting that she would only be judging, rather than hosting, but many still questioned whether Jameela was qualified to be a part of a show so rooted in a specific LGBTQ subculture.
Following this, Jameela then posted a lengthy statement in which she came out as queer, and announced she’d be taking a break from Twitter, branding the social media site “brutal”.
Jameela Jamil Rich Fury via Getty Images
Jameela has now returned to social media, sharing a post on Instagram on which she reflected on the last week of her life.
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“Well. Last week was a perfect clusterfuck,” she began. “It was completely overwhelming.”
Admitting she felt her timing was “bad”, “inappropriate” and “unfortunate’, Jameela continued: “The sequence of events was insane, a misunderstanding was left uncorrected for too long, and misinformation spread too far, too fast, then my timing was bad, and in a moment of distress and pain, personal things were blurted out because when you have a secret for decades and you’re traumati[s]ed, it always feels like it might just fucking burst out of you at any given moment, even the most inappropriate and unfortunate ones.
“I thankfully chose the *most* inappropriate and unfortunate time, maybe ever, for mine. So now you don’t have to feel embarrassed about yours. I PEAKED FOR ALL OF US!”
Jameela went on to thank her fans and supporters for their “thousands of messages of kindness and deeply personal letters from strangers and people I know, coming out to me privately”.
“I don’t take it lightly and am happy for you that you felt ready to tell even one person,” she said.
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“Do it whenever you feel the time is right, as long as you think you’ll be safe. Don’t feel bad for hiding it for as long as you need, and move at your own pace. But feel no shame about getting it off your chest and know you aren’t alone. There is a huge community of people who understand you, respect you and stand with you.”
She ended her post hoping the coming week “will be calmer than the last”.
Legendary is expected to debut on HBO Max in the US later in the year.
Running for nine episodes, the show will feature performers battling it out in “fashion and dance challenges” in their respective voguing houses in an effort to win a trophy and cash prize, according to a press release.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Dominic Cummings Says Cartoon Characters Better Than Cabinet Ahead Of Reshuffle

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Dominic Cummings has said a gang of children’s cartoon characters would do a better job than the current cabinet, ahead of the expected reshuffle on Thursday.
Several members of Johnson’s 31-strong cabinet could be axed in the shake-up.
Asked outside his London home about the cabinet this morning, Dominic Cummings said: “PJ Masks will do a greater job than all of them put together.”
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In the Disney cartoon, the young friends transform into superheroes named Catboy, Owlette and Gekko during the night to fight villains.
Dominic Cummings says "we need PJ Masks on the job"
Asked for his response to the government's decision to go ahead with HS2, the PM's senior adviser channels the crime-fighting superheroes and says: "The night time is the right time to fight crime"https://t.co/62QwKDsUwN pic.twitter.com/2nw0PAZiV7 — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) February 11, 2020
Cummings was asked by the BBC about the HS2 rail-link, which the prime minister is expected to give the go-ahead to later today.
He is reported to be opposed to the decision and said, in reference to the PJ Masks cartoon: “The night time is the right time to fight crime.”
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Big hitters including Chancellor Sajid Javid and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab are seen to be safe in the reshuffle.
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But Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers and Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom are rumoured to be out the way out.
Attorney General Geoffrey Cox and Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg are also seen to be in trouble.
Nicky Morgan, the culture secretary, has confirmed she will leave the cabinet. She stayed on in post after the election after being elevated to the House of Lords.
Michael Gove has been tipped to take over as president of the COP 26 UN climate change summit being held in Glasgow in November.
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Ahead of the reshuffle it has been reported several women could lose their ministerial jobs.
Caroline Nokes, the chair of the Commons women and equalities committee, warned Johnson against ending up with a cabinet “filled with men”.
The former Tory immigration minister told an event in parliament last week there was “no pipeline” for women to climb up the ranks of government.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Derry Girls' Nicola Coughlan Had A Night At The Oscars And We're Absolutely Living For Her Tales

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Renée Zellweger won her second Academy Award and Parasite director Bong Joon-ho made history with his Best Picture triumph, but there was one person who was having a better time on Oscars night than all of the A-listers in attendance put together.
Derry Girls actress Nicola Coughlan was absolutely living her best life after flying out to Los Angeles to attend Elton John’s annual viewing party.
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Nicola was invited to the exclusive bash as a guest of Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness, who she has become close friends with over the past year.
And if you thought she wasn’t going to unabashedly share every aspect of the night on social media, you’d be very much mistaken...
She’d got all dolled up for the occasion, looking and feeling like a million dollars
If you look closely you can spot the exact moment I felt too Irish to commit to my sass walk pic.twitter.com/RGwcbkH8Xu — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
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And not only did JVN get her in, he even managed to bag an invite for Nicola’s best friend too
One of my best friends I’ve had since I was 14 was my date, we were absolutely lolling at how famous everyone was we didn’t know what to do with ourselves pic.twitter.com/zseePsAYPK — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
Here she is with JVN himself
Baby Jonny hosted and it’s actually rude how cute we looked!! pic.twitter.com/O8X3OKf39B — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
She finally got to meet his pals, and we can safely guess she had a complete fan girl moment
I finally met @tanfrance and @antoni and they are the most beautiful boys in the world I want to eat them — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
Her tales of which A-listers she spotted were excellent
Things that happened last night:
When Jane Fonda came on to present best picture I shouted “Oh my god look at Rita Moreno!” And was told by Skylar Astin (Who was at my table honestly it is hilarious that I was allowed to be there) that it was in fact not her — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
Donatella Versace and Heidi Klimt were there, didn’t know how to process that — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
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Sharon Stone hosted part of the auction and she bid and won a fancy picture of the Queen — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
Elton John won and everyone went mental and it was class!!! pic.twitter.com/JoY6UccMtt — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
And she gives zero fucks if you think she is name dropping
For those accusing me of name dropping, leave those names on the floor I meant to drop them — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
She made great use of the boujie port-a-loos
There was a wind machine in the portaloo and honestly wow a highlight pic.twitter.com/G37LK547Zb — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
Although she was left a little confused by the (very LA) menu
There was so much food! They gave us salad AFTER the main course and no one could understand why — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
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She lost her mind when the host turned up at his own party fresh from his Oscars win and regaled his guests with some of his hits
Elton John then came to the party and played and honestly it was one of the best moments of my life pic.twitter.com/uLbT5Xb995 — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
I reacted about as calmly to seeing Elton John perform 20 feet from me as I did after meeting Michael Palin pic.twitter.com/XFFHnv9Mxw — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
Honestly it was hilarious I was even there, I only was because my pal was hosting but I was honestly like your elderly auntie at a wedding- delighted to be invited and absolutely thrilled to get the free dinner — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
But the early flight home the following morning was less than ideal
Elton John Oscar Party vs 5am at LAX pic.twitter.com/bX04Kh09GV — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 10, 2020
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During her trip to Hollywood, Nicola also recorded an episode of Jonathan Van Ness’ hit podcast, Getting Curious, in which she opened up about her career.
As well as a third series of Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls, Nicola will also be seen in new Netflix show Bridgerton, which is created by the woman behind Grey’s Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--I Work In Brighton. We’ve Been Left In The Dark About Coronavirus

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“There are people in hazmats at the university now”.
That was the message I got from a friend studying at Sussex University on Monday. Suddenly coronavirus, a plausibly deniable crisis in distant China, felt very real. By Tuesday, two GP surgery branches had been closed in the city.
As a business owner in Brighton my first thought turned to what would happen should Brighton turn into an emergency situation like Wuhan, where public transport has been shut down and people are advised to isolate themselves. Admittedly, that might seem a little extreme. But no longer was coronavirus something that was thousands of miles away, something out of a Stephen King novel. It was here in Brighton, the city I work in every day.
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I live in London, but my businesses are based in Brighton. Each day, I commute on the Gatwick Express on a train that stops at the airport – a hub that connects to Chinese cities and the world. The palpable sense of paranoia that you feel when you see someone sneeze on the train or hear a cough is, sadly, real. I’ve taken to carrying anti-bacterial hand gel with me now. Some people on my regular train are now wearing face masks, and I even saw one woman wiping down her train table with wipes.
“When I researched government advice on how employers should handle the situation, I was surprised to find that there is none...”
The fear of my business being crippled by my workforce being taken ill or quarantine being imposed on the city is something I have to consider. When news spread that coronavirus had infected a number of people in Brighton, I knew it would only be a matter of time before staff started worrying about the potential ramifications. But when I researched the latest government advice on how employers should handle the situation, I was surprised to find that there is none.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is good at being proactive in offering advice to Brits abroad in times of crisis, but it seems that when it comes to Brits on home turf the advice has been patchy and leaves a number of unanswered questions. I myself am left wondering if the “super spreader” got the Gatwick Express back to Brighton after he got off his Easyjet flight at Gatwick.
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We decided ourselves to enact a proactive working from home policy that will allow our staff to continue their jobs remotely should they be unable to come into work or quarantined even if exhibiting no obvious symptoms. Thankfully remote working is relatively straight-forward for a business like ours, but there will be plenty of small businesses that could be hugely affected by any disruption to their work.
But when it comes to what those businesses should do to protect their staff in a city that now has a number of confirmed cases of coronavirus, the silence is deafening. There is no advice on government websites for employers. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development offers advice on their site which in fact says: “Keep up to date with government advice and adapt business plans to reflect changes” and “actively communicate these plans with your people, customers and suppliers”. Yet there is no government advice specific to Brighton or for employers apart from the general coronavirus campaigns.
Shutting down is not an option. Apart from the loss in sales we’d suffer – over 70% of our clients are based in the USA – we have hundreds of customers travelling with us right now. It’s our responsibility to make sure they continue to enjoy their trips, and that if travel advice changes we react accordingly to help them alter their travel plans. I’m confident in our crisis planning and ensuring we’ll get by, but it strikes me as odd that there is not even the most basic advice from the government on how to handle the situation.
“Right now all we can do is use our best guess on how to safeguard the health of our staff...”
It’s a chilling parallel to the fact that in Wuhan when there were only a handful of cases, the Chinese government were slow to offer advice and public information. Over here in the UK we’re not doing much better at advising people and employers what they should be doing. ‘Wash your hands and use anti-bacterial gel’ just isn’t strong enough advice.
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I want to know whether we should be asking our staff to stay at home, whether we should be asking our office cleaners to use additional cleaning products and whether the government is confident that my staff are still safe to be coming into the office on public transport. Right now all we can do is use our best guess on how to safeguard the health of our staff and the continuation of our business.
Darren Burn is the CEO of LGBT travel companies OutOfOffice.com and TravelGay.com. Follow him on Twitter at @dazburn.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Oscars 2020: Points Have Been Made About Natalie Portman's Red Carpet Fashion Statement

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Natalie Portman made headlines over the weekend when she arrived at the Oscars in an outfit that made a very pointed fashion statement.
As she walked the red carpet, many noticed that the lining of Natalie’s jacket was adorned with the names of female filmmakers who have released movies in the last 12 months, after the Academy recognised only men in the Best Director category this year.
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However, after her ensemble began to draw increasing amounts of attention, Natalie’s own track record with female directors was called into question.
Many social media users pointed out that Natalie is actually the head of a production company, Handsomecharlie films, which has only released one feature-length film directed by a woman in more than a decade.
Natalie Portman on the Oscars red carpet Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images
The film in question was A Tale Of Love And Darkness. The director? Natalie Portman...
Natalie Portman’s production company has only ever hired 1 female director (her name was Natalie Portman) https://t.co/DRUVM1oezW — Angela Morabito (@AngelaLMorabito) February 11, 2020
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i wonder if this means her production company will finally produce a film with a female director https://t.co/5J9bEANXD0 — KATE 🔜 #SXSW (@OhMyMithrandir) February 10, 2020
What I find funny is that Natalie Portman has hired 0 (zero) women to direct the movies made using her own production company. I think there's about 7 films under her company, she hired male directors for all of them. Hollywood hypocrites are fun. https://t.co/qcI5BFJR1S — nathan coker (@ncavalanche) February 10, 2020
Amazing gesture! If only the production company she owns and runs would hire female directors other than *Natalie Portman*, then it might not be seen as quite so performative https://t.co/g6RgDQXuKI — a pile of cursed bones reanimated by an evil spell (@ON_Morgan) February 10, 2020
Handsomecharlie Films, Natalie Portman's production company, has yet to produce a film by a female director other than Natalie's movie ' A Tale of Love and Darkness' and her short film ' Eve.' https://t.co/kjoE4E2qZL — Elizabeth 🔜 #SXSW (@lizzylynngarcia) February 10, 2020
Natalie Portman's production company has never employed a female director since its creation in 2007, but I guess it is feminist to get a Dior cape customised — egg on branch (កល្យាណ) (@ka_bradley) February 10, 2020
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I am so sick of performative (white) feminism being applauded, especially when Natalie Portman has a production company and it has only ever hired one (1) female director: HER https://t.co/y7Auqnxk23 — cheers man (@shmcdnnII) February 10, 2020
HuffPost UK has contacted Natalie Portman’s rep for comment.
In her acting career, Natalie has worked with a handful of female filmmakers, including Planetarium director Rebecca Zlotowski, Shirin Neshat and Vanita Shastry, who directed a section of the film The Heyday Of The Insensitive Bastards.
Lulu Wang, Lorene Scafaria, Celine Sciamma and Greta Gerwig were among the directors Natalie paid homage to Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
During the Golden Globes in 2018, Natalie also made a point of calling out the lack of female filmmakers that had been nominated when she and Ron Howard presented the Best Director award.
Introducing the five people nominated, the Jackie actress said: “And here are the all-male nominees.”
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In 92 years of the Academy Awards, only five women have ever been nominated for Best Director, the most recent of which was in 2017, when Greta Gerwig was recognised for Lady Bird.
Kathryn Bigelow remains the only woman to have ever triumphed in this category, which she did in 2009 for The Hurt Locker.
Check out all the red carpet photos from this year’s Oscars below...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Rory Stewart Wants To Sleep On Your Sofa And Feed You Chocolate

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“Please have me to stay.”
So begins one of the more upfront pitches from a British politician in recent years as former Tory MP Rory Stewart pleads for a place to sleep in a new video just uploaded to Twitter.
He continues: “It’s a weird request...”
We’ll stop you there Rory. It is indeed, and the replies to the video are fantastic.
Why don’t you just use Tinder like everyone else? — Brexit Naysayer (@MattCropley1) February 11, 2020
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Do you wipe down the work tops? Also got some bulbs that need changing . — suzanne moore (@suzanne_moore) February 11, 2020
You go to the bathroom. Looking back at you from your mirror, it's Rory Stewart. — Jonn Elledge (@JonnElledge) February 11, 2020
But in fairness to Stewart, who is standing as an Independent candidate for London Mayor, it’s coming from a good place.
We’ll let him finish.
“It’s a weird request but the way that Mayors get to know their cities is by literally walking through every one of the 32 boroughs, being in other people’s shoes, seeing through their eyes, staying in their houses.”
Today I'm launching #ComeKipWithMe - asking Londoners to invite me into their homes and show me the city through their eyes. I want to know your concerns and your ideas. And I promise to bring a sleeping bag and a box of chocolates!
Sign up: https://t.co/jtrLIw7i2G pic.twitter.com/TC7Vfg5tNk — Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) February 11, 2020
And if that wasn’t a good enough reason, he adds this sweetener: “And I promise to bring a sleeping bag and a box of chocolates!”
The stunt is in keeping with Stewart’s previous approach to politics – during his failed Tory leadership bid last year he walked around the UK asking people to ”talk or challenge me”, accidentally becoming a bit of a sweetheart in the process.
I love Barking. Now moving up from McDonald’s to Costa - come and talk or challenge me pic.twitter.com/7XoCxuJl7G — Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) May 27, 2019
And as well as the ribbing from his latest video, there are some people obviously endeared with the idea – sort of.
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Now he's stopped trying to end British democracy I kinda like his kookiness. 😁👍 — Gary Mcleeve (@GaryMcleft) February 11, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--No Woman Should Ever Be Denied The Choice To Become A Mother

It's time for the 10-year egg freezing limit to be extended. Getty Creative
Whether or not we choose to become a parent, having a child is an individual’s fundamental human right.
As society has evolved, so too has the notion of a set timeline when a man or woman should have a baby.
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There are still many questions for individuals and couples on when they will have children but ultimately, no one should have the power to dictate a person’s life choices or lambaste them for any decision they make about their own fertility.
There are several reasons why a person may choose to freeze their sperm or eggs and we must respect them.
It could be they’re going through a life-changing medical treatment, such as chemotherapy, or are living with another medical condition which may impact their chances of natural conception.
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Under these circumstances, people are legally permitted to store their frozen eggs and sperm for up to 55 years.
However, things are different if someone has decided to preserve these to use at a later date for what is currently classed in the jargon as a “social” reason.
This could be because they do not want to rule out the option of having a child at some point in their life, but circumstance means they can’t become a parent at this stage.
In this situation, as the person’s choice is not deemed “medical”, current UK law dictates their frozen eggs and sperm must be discarded after ten years.
This is what I am becoming increasingly concerned by.
We know women are more likely than men to take measures to “preserve their fertility” and it worries me to think their reproductive choices may be hampered by outdated legislation, which may rob them of their chance to become a mother.
The data speaks for itself – the number of women choosing to freeze their eggs has increased by 257% in the last five years – with 1,462 egg freezing cycles in 2017 compared to 410 in 2012.
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If a woman wants to preserve her eggs, the optimal time to do so is in her twenties or early thirties. If she chooses to do this at the age of 28, she has to be ready to use them before she is 38.
The current 10-year deadline can therefore leave her facing a gut-wrenching choice – become a parent before she is ready, use donor sperm to create embryos, or make the drastic and heart-breaking decision to destroy her eggs and possibly lose perhaps her only chance to have her own biological child.
No woman should ever be denied the choice to become a mother, especially when our advancements in technology mean eggs and sperm can now be stored for longer.
Clearly there is a need to reconsider this limit, and that’s why the Government has today announced our plans to consult on reviewing the existing storage limit, ensuring people’s views are fully heard. I’m confident this will make a real difference in helping us adapt and modernise existing legislation, to ultimately change people’s lives for good.
While we must remember this is an issue that affects both men and women, it is right that this consultation considers why females are disproportionately affected by the system and what we can do to level up the system.
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I’m determined the current approach matches the demand of this increasingly popular fertility method.
Parenthood is a wonderful gift that we should all have the choice of should our health system allow. While adoption is a brilliant alternative for many, there is clearly an opportunity here to ensure more men and women have the choice to have a biological child for longer.
We are taking strides when it comes to driving women’s health to the top of the agenda and this symbolises the progress we are making so women’s wishes are no longer ignored – though there is still a long way to go.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Audio Porn: How Tuning In To Erotica Is Turning Us On

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You’re reading How To Get Off, our series celebrating bodies, pleasure and fantasy.
“I’ll f*** you so good, I promise, I will, I will… thank you,” says an obsequious staffer, eager to please his manager (“ma’am”) as he attends to everything she needs ahead of a work conference. Soon, things get smuttier, and this man begins to describe how his “sexy boss” is pleasuring him. Then, accompanied by audio effects of heavy breathing, licking, groaning and skin-slapping, the narrator describes, not without some imitated obstacles, a sex scene.
I can’t actually see what’s going on, but it sounds like I’m the one being called “ma’am” and I don’t not like it.
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Audio erotica is a booming industry, if not in money terms, then in tech’s race to grab the female millennial market this visual-free format is primed for.
‘Yes Ma’am’, the sweetly euphemistic title of this particular story, is hosted on Quinn, launched last year by Caroline Spiegel, the sister of Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel. Her company has raised close to a million dollars and is in pursuit of more, much like sexual wellness app Ferly, which also launched in 2019 and has raised a similar amount. Dipsea is the market leader, after setting up in 2017, and raising $5.5m as of 2019.
While each of these sites produces and hosts different types of audio erotica, others are diversifying their offering. Do You, a relative newcomer, aims for further intimacy with the listener by texting sex scenes over to them. But who is listening and what do they get from it? And how, in turn, does this impact what sort of zero-nudity, highly-explicit, middling-budget smut is being created?
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“I discovered audio porn last year and I listen to it about once a month,” says Rachel, 22, from Surrey, who says she enjoys a male voice narrating a BDSM scenario. She prefers audio erotica, in part, because it’s more accessible to stream on a slow connection, telling HuffPost UK: “I live with my parents at the moment and the internet is rubbish, so visual porn isn’t an option for me.”
Accessibility, to a really different degree, is also an issue for John, 31, from the Midlands. He is blind, so, of course, “pictures don’t help me in the slightest.” What John likes about audio erotica, he tells HuffPost UK is that it is “one-on-one, with the reader painting the pictures with her words and her inflection.”
Dr Karen Gurney, a clinical psychologist and psychosexologist, sees audio erotica as a real gift to her and her clients. This is partly because it is accessible to people like John, and partly because it encourages the use of imagination. “Audio erotica triggers arousal and desire, and research shows it does this almost as well as visual porn, and more effectively than reading erotica or using fantasy,” she says. And this is backed up by the research into what turns women on that inspired platforms like Dipsea in the first place.
“Audio erotica triggers arousal and desire, and research shows it does this almost as well as visual porn.” - Dr Karen Gurney
Quinn, which is profile-based, allows direct communication between creators and users. “I’m passionate about assisting women to explore and embrace their sensual and erotic nature in a respectful and loving manner,” reads the blurb for Harry, a British male voice on the site, who regularly checks in with listeners on what scenario he should record next. “You come in, throw her up against the wall and show her just how much you missed her,” responds a fan.
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Subjects are tagged according to voice, participants, atmosphere and acts, catering to a spectrum of sexual orientations that may or may not match your IRL leanings. What’s more, in an era where we’re oversaturated with screentime, accessing erotica through headphones helps support users’ imaginations rather than override them – and crucially leaves your hands free.
Audio suits a range of people, Dr Gurney says, as “it provides a strength of story which doesn’t take so much concentration, so appeals to people who haven’t found a visual porn that works for them, or those who want to develop their fantasies, making a note of what turns them on.”
The reason why audiovisual porn can’t do this so well, she says, is because “most mainstream porn can be quite misogynistic”.
maxkabakov via Getty Images
Rough sex is the norm in mainstream porn, with male pornographers creating stories that rarely take into consideration women’s pleasure – or pain. As Rachel explains: “There are certain kinks that turn me on but it’s more comfortable for me to imagine them than to watch another woman being beaten up.
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“I don’t think any shame should be attached to visual porn,” she adds, “but I feel it a lot less when I’m listening to audio. It just feels a bit healthier.”
Anna, 27, from London feels similarly. She listens to women’s voices narrating heterosexual sexual scenarios on Dipsea about twice a week, and remembers that when she used to try visual porn, “I couldn’t understand it as being pleasurable, because I enjoy something more loving and passionate.”
As a survivor of sexual violence, she adds: “Seeing someone in pain isn’t conducive to me enjoying myself.”
It sits uncomfortably with me when John admits that he enjoys “nonconsent” and “violence” in his audio erotica because I’m not keen on either being fetishised, but I also appreciate that audio porn depicting these themes is far further from their actuality than visual porn.
There’s an important discussion to be had about how violence in porn impacts real-life sexual behaviours. Regardless of how you feel about this debate, at time where more people are considering where their other pleasures in life – food, clothes, travel – come from, ethical porn is something many users are looking out for.
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“There are lots of people who would prefer to get their erotica whispered in their ear than read it.” - GirlOnTheNet
The obstacle to pursuing ethical porn, explains Dr Gurney, is often price. “The problem of porn is you have to pay for it to get good quality.” Audio erotica, however, is relatively cheap to make. GirlOnTheNet, who started off writing erotic stories, is now an independent audio erotica producer, using Patreon so her users pay for the audio that will often be tailored to their desired (Harry of Quinn – latest story title, ‘Let’s Make A Baby’ – is also fundraising there).
“Initially, it was an accessibility thing,” explains GirlsOnTheNet of her work – in her case, for blind people. “The eroticism gets lost when these stories are read aloud in a robot voice.” But after narrating some of her blog posts, “it took off”, she says. “It seems there are lots of people who would prefer to get their erotica whispered in their ear than read it,” she says. Now, she tailors her content to audio, something which John values over the stuff he used to get from old-school sex phone lines. As he puts it: “Recorded content gives performers the time to edit and include sound effects, which greatly enhance the experience.”
That kind of audio mix will be familiar to anyone with a podcast habit – and, indeed, there are several podcasts, such as Kiss me Quick, presented and narrated by California-based Rose Carraway, that serve up audio erotica, too.
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These days, anyone with a webcam, some genitals and a hand can make porn. But, says GirlOnTheNet, “there are ethics, casting and cost issues with visual erotica that you don’t get with audio.” As an example of good audio, she cites the UK-based Molly Moore, who blogs at Molly’s Daily Kiss and also uploads real-life sex stories to her website.
In a society where those who create sexual content – be it the winners of literature’s Bad Sex Awards or sex workers – are routinely mocked and stigmatised for their efforts, Yes Ma’am’s creator, Anonyfun35 (with his supposed PhD in “Ache Linguistics”) has the freedom to make all of those slurpy, sucky noises and still show his face in public.
The accessibility, imagination and ethical boundaries of audio erotica all mark it out as a valuable prospect for those seeking an alternative to mainstream porn on the route to titillation. And for all these aspects, it carries a certain sophistication. The Hoxton, an upmarket hotel chain with branches across the world, wouldn’t dream of installing the pay-per-view porn channels that lesser hotels are known for. But the London outpost is teaming up with Dipsea for a limited period to allow guests to dial-in to hear some audio erotica.
While a spokesperson for the hotel explains this is part of a wider programme of “cultural discovery” and “unique experiences” for its guests, Gina Gutierrez, co-founder of Dipsea, tells HuffPost that “audio is special because it’s so powerfully imaginative” – adding that the company wants to make “more beautiful, considered and design-forward choices.” And what could be more beautiful, considered and design-forward than the visuals we create on the canvas of our minds? Yes, sir!
How To Get Off is our answer to Valentine’s Day, celebrating bodies, pleasure and fantasy – whatever your relationship status. We’ll be exploring what really gets us off in 2020, looking at sexual awakenings, toys and erotica, and real-life experience.
Getty / HuffPost


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--How To Wash Your Hands Properly Amid The Coronavirus Outbreak

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Experts don’t fully know how the latest type of coronavirus spreads, but based on other coronaviruses, it’s believed to be via droplets in the air.
If you touch a surface where these droplets have landed, you’ll have a virus on your hands – quite literally. And hand-washing, or at the very least using hand sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available, is key to getting rid of these unfriendly germs.
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Hand-washing might seem like a simple affair – but chances are, you’re not doing it for long enough and your tactics are all wrong. Knowing how to wash your hands properly is important for everyday life. Public Health England (PHE) previously warned that faecal contamination, which can cause gastrointestinal infections, has been found on a wide variety of surfaces including bank notes, kitchen taps and mobile phones.
You should be washing your hands after going to the toilet or changing a nappy, before preparing and eating food, after handling raw meat, after touching animals, and after using public transport.
So, how do you wash your hands properly?
Because yes, there’s an art to it.
The NHS says we should wash our hands with warm water and soap for as long as it takes to sing the song Happy Birthday twice. That’s about 20 seconds, if you’d rather count.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Queen's Grandson, Peter Phillips, And Wife Autumn Announce Divorce

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The Queen’s grandson, Peter Phillips, and his wife Autumn have announced their split, describing their separation as sad but amicable – and “the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship”.
The couple are in the process of divorcing, and will share custody of their two daughters.
A spokesperson for the pair, who wed at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in 2008, said the decision was taken after many months of discussion, and they informed the Queen and their families last year.
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Canadian-born Autumn will not return to her home country, but will remain in Gloucestershire where they will co-parent Savannah, 9, and Isla, 7.
A spokesperson said: “They had reached the conclusion that this was the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship.
“The decision to divorce and share custody came about after many months of discussions and, although sad, is an amicable one.
“The couple’s first priority will remain the continued well-being and upbringing of their wonderful daughters, Savannah and Isla.”
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They added that both families were “naturally sad” at the announcement, but “fully supportive” of the couple in their decision.
“Both Peter and Autumn have remained in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years,” they added.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Star Wars' Kelly Marie Tran Speaks Out About Reduced Role In The Last Jedi

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Star Wars actor Kelly Marie Tran has spoken out about the reaction to her character’s reduced role in the most recent film in the sci-fi saga.
Kelly made her debut as Rose Tico in the 2017 film The Last Jedi, a role she reprised in Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker, which was released last year.
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However, many fans were disappointed that after being part of one of many o-going storylines in The Last Jedi, Kelly’s screentime was dramatically cut in the follow-up, prompting the hashtag #RoseTicoDeservedBetter to trend on Twitter.
Kelly at the Oscars on Sunday night, where she presented an award Rick Rowell via Getty Images
“Last Jedi was my first movie, you know?” she told MTV on the red carpet at the Oscars, when asked about fans’ disappointment to her character’s limited screentime. “So I think I’m finally starting to realise that when you’re in something of that calibre, there’s so many people working to make something out of love.
“And no matter what you do, there’s always gonna be people that aren’t happy with that.”
Asked whether she was “happy” with how her “part ended up”, Kelly added: “I think that… I’m really just amazed at the way that JJ [Abrams, the film’s director] was able to sort of wrap up all these incredible stories.
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“There were so many characters. You know? And at the end of the day I got to be part of something bigger than me, and that’s really special.”
On the #Oscars red carpet, @joshuahorowitz caught up with 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' star Kelly Marie Tran about fans' reactions to her role in the film pic.twitter.com/dDlHc7bLUz — MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) February 10, 2020
Responding to the backlash back in December, The Rise Of Skywalker co-writer Chris Terrio said: “One of the reasons that Rose has a few less scenes than we would like her to have has to do with the difficulty of using Carrie’s footage in the way we wanted to.
“As the process evolved, a few scenes we’d written with Rose and Leia turned out to not meet the standard of photorealism that we’d hoped for… those scenes unfortunately fell out of the film.”
He added: “The last thing we were doing was deliberately trying to sideline Rose. We adore the character, and we adore Kelly – so much so that we anchored her with our favourite person in this galaxy, General Leia.”
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Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico in Star Wars Star Wars
Kelly’s character was not well-received by some fans, and she eventually decided to leave social media after receiving relentless abuse, including racist and misogynistic comments.
She later penned a moving op-ed for The New York Times, detailing the humiliation and hardships she’d suffered throughout her life as a woman of colour in America.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Brighton: Second GP Surgery Shuts Down Over Coronavirus Outbreak

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Second GP surgery branch in Brighton shuts down
Nursing home in Patcham closes to visitors
Some schools closed
Matt Hancock announces new NHS funding and powers to force people into quarantine
A second GP surgery branch in Brighton has been shut following the outbreak of coronavirus in the East Sussex city.
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The County Oak Medical Centre on Monday closed “because of an urgent operational health and safety reason”, following reports a member of staff there was one of those infected.
On Tuesday morning it emerged that a second branch of the surgery – located less than two miles away – has also been closed.
A sign fixed to the door of the Deneway branch says: “The surgery is closed due to organisational health and safety reasons.
“Please contact 111 if you need to speak to a health professional.”
Speaking to the PA news agency on Tuesday outside County Oak Medical Centre where she is a patient, a 43-year-old mother-of-four from Brighton said: “I was here on the 3rd and the 5th and they will not tell me the risk even though I am immunosuppressed with lupus.”
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She said she has called 111 several times but was told “the risk isn’t known” and to stay in for 14 days if she feels at risk.
“Nobody knows anything. It’s a farce. Everybody is worried about it.
“No-one can protect themselves and we can’t protect the public.
“I am going to ring 111 and [Public] Health England until I get some answers.”
The pharmacy at County Oak Medical Centre will reopen today, staff confirmed, but the surgery is expected to remain closed.
A school in Southampton has also closed for two days over concerns about the virus.
St Mary’s Independent School said the “precautionary” closure came after “members of the school community” became ill, having recently travelled to China.
Parents of pupils at Bevendean Primary School in Brighton have been told absences will be authorised after one of its staff was found to have been in contact with a person advised to “self-isolate” over the virus. The school is otherwise open.
A #Brighton primary school has said one of its staff has been in close contact with a person who has been advised to 'self-isolate' over the coronavirus. #Bevendean Primary is staying open but says it will authorise absences if parents want to keep children away from school. — BBC Sussex (@BBCSussex) February 11, 2020
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As of Tuesday afternoon, a total of 1,358 people have been tested for coronavirus, of which 1,350 were confirmed negative and eight positive, the Department of Health said.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has said the spread of coronavirus “will get worse before it gets better” as he announced greater powers and funding to help tackle the spread of the disease.
In a Commons statement, he told MPs: “Dealing with this disease is a marathon, not a sprint. The situation will get worse before it gets better.”
Hancock said the risk to the public “remains moderate” and the eight patients with confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK are receiving “expert care”.
Tracing those who have been in contact with the first four cases is “now complete” and tracing those who have been in contact with the remaining four cases is ongoing, he told MPs.
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On new powers to force people to remain in quarantine, he said: “The powers are proportionate and will help us slow down the transmission of the virus and make it easier for NHS and public health staff to do their jobs.”
Hancock also announced new capital funding for the NHS if they need to create “further isolation areas and other necessary facilities”.
He said: “Today I can announce to the House the immediate launch of a capital facility to support any urgent works the NHS needs for the coronavirus response such as the creation of further isolation areas and other necessary facilities.”
Hancock told MPs: “The NHS has the capability now to cope with the very highest level of intensity and isolation with 50 cases and the capability to expand that to 500 cases and to do that without an impact on the wider work of the NHS.
“But of course, if the number of cases get bigger, then we will need to take further steps.”
Meanwhile, Patcham Nursing Home in Brighton said on Tuesday it has closed to all visitors after one of the infected GPs visited a patient there about a week ago.
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A spokeswoman for the care home said: “It is important to state that no-one at the home is unwell.
“However, following the closure of the local GP surgery, as a precaution we have closed the home to all visitors.
“As a responsible care home and employer, we have put in place our own checks on residents and staff and Public Health England has confirmed it is happy with our actions.”
‘Fully recovered’
The businessman linked to several cases of coronavirus in the UK has been named as Steve Walsh, who said he has “fully recovered” from the illness.
According to several reports, the 53-year-old said in a statement: “I would like to thank the NHS for their help and care – whilst I have fully recovered, my thoughts are with others who have contracted coronavirus.
The Grenadier pub in Hove, East Sussex, one of the locations visited by the Brighton businessman, Steve Walsh, who has been diagnosed with coronavirus. The public house has said it has been told by Public Health England there is "minimal ongoing risk of infection to either guests or staff" PA
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“As soon as I knew I had been exposed to a confirmed case of coronavirus I contacted my GP, NHS 111 and Public Health England.
“I was advised to attend an isolated room at hospital, despite showing no symptoms, and subsequently self-isolated at home as instructed.
“When the diagnosis was confirmed I was sent to an isolation unit in hospital, where I remain, and, as a precaution, my family was also asked to isolate themselves.
“I also thank friends, family and colleagues for their support during recent weeks and I ask the media to respect our privacy.”
A statement from the Scout Association said: “We are aware that Steve Walsh from the Brighton area who volunteers with the Scout Movement is suffering from coronavirus. He contracted the virus while out of the UK.
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“This volunteer has not been to any Scout meetings since his return to the UK.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Raphaël Coleman, Former Child Actor In Nanny McPhee, Dies Aged 25

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Former child actor Raphaël Coleman has died suddenly at the age of 25.
Raphaël was best known for playing Eric Brown in the family comedy Nanny McPhee, a role he filmed when he was 10 years old.
In more recent years, Raphaël had stopped acting, instead devoting his life to activism, as a prominent member of the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion.
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His mum confirmed the news that he had died, sharing a link on Twitter to a piece he had written about the cause.
Raphaël Coleman, is seen in the 2005 film Nanny McPhee Universal/Working Title/Kobal/Shutterstock
“Rest in peace my beloved son Raphael Coleman, aka Iggy Fox,” she wrote. “He died doing what he loved, working for the noblest cause of all. His family could not be prouder.
“Let’s celebrate all he achieved in his short life and cherish his legacy.”
Rest in peace my beloved son Raphael Coleman, aka Iggy Fox. He died doing what he loved, working for the noblest cause of all. His family could not be prouder. Let’s celebrate all he achieved in his short life and cherish his legacy https://t.co/qFRKPT7rRG — Liz Jensen (@LizJensenWriter) February 7, 2020
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#ExtinctionRebellion’s October Uprising, Trafalgar Square. RIP Iggy Fox, aka Raphael Coleman. He knew that we are all already in Heaven, right here on Earth. pic.twitter.com/V2cgJLneyH — Liz Jensen (@LizJensenWriter) February 8, 2020
His stepfather, Carsten Jensen, wrote in a Facebook post that Raphaël had “collapsed without prior health problems”.
“Death turned off raph,” he wrote. “But it did not turn off the light that burned in him, because no one who has known him has been unaffected by it or will forget it, and that is how he lives on.”
Raphaël with his co-stars on the set of Nanny McPhee Universal/Working Title/Kobal/Shutterstock
He continued: “When I think of Raph, I see something that will never die, a blunt of eternity, a light beam that lives forever in young people.
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“We believe that it is us, the older generations who have something to give the young people. We believe that we are the ones who pass the baton of life to them. But I think it’s the other way around. The young people remind us why we’re alive. They remind us of the purpose of life that this is the gift we must not in distraction until we have unpacked it.”
In addition to his role in Nanny McPhee, Raphaël went on to star in a handful of films released in 2009, including the sci-fi thriller The Fourth Kind, opposite Milla Jovovich, and the horror film It’s Alive.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Trump Just Tweeted A Clip From A TV Show That Was Totally Making Fun Of Him

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President Donald Trump shared a video clip he seems to think shows that “tough guys” support him.
Just one problem: The footage of a biker reacting to a Make America Great Again baseball cap was from an episode of Larry David’s show Curb Your Enthusiasm. And the episode not only mocked the caps but called them “a great people repellent.”
On Monday, Trump tweeted the clip, which contained at least eight profanities:
TOUGH GUYS FOR TRUMP! pic.twitter.com/DbjZjGzLWU — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 11, 2020
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In the episode, the notoriously prickly David discovers that people want nothing to do with him when he wears the MAGA cap so he dons it as a “people repellent.” The cap gets him out of a lunch meeting he had been trying to avoid, and helps him keep the seat next to him at a sushi bar empty.
Larry David and Donald Trump. HBO/Getty
In the clip shared by Trump, David accidentally cuts off a biker, who angrily pursues him, dropping f-bombs along the way. When David dons the cap, the angry biker ― Trump’s “TOUGH GUY” ― suddenly becomes much friendlier.
Last month, sportscaster and talk-show host Michael Kay asked David if he was worried the episode mocking the MAGA hats would alienate Trump supporters.
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“Alienate yourselves. Go. Go and alienate, you have my blessing,” David said to laughs from the audience. “No, I could give a fuck.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Lyra McKee Murder: Four Men Arrested

Lyra McKee Murder: Four Men Arrested

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Four men have been arrested by police investigating the murder of journalist Lyra McKee last year.
The men, aged 20, 27, 29 and 52, were detained under the Terrorism Act in Derry/Londonderry on Tuesday morning, a Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said.
They are being questioned by detectives at Musgrave Serious Crime Suite in Belfast.
McKee was shot dead while observing disorder in the Creggan area of Derry on April 19, 2019.
Arrests in Lyra McKee murder investigation pic.twitter.com/NAdcTvikmQ — Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) February 11, 2020
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The New IRA claimed responsibility for the murder which sparked headlines and revulsion across the UK and Ireland.
Chief Constable Simon Byrne welcomed the arrests.
He said in a tweet that detectives are “working hard in the pursuit of justice”.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy, renewed an appeal for information.
“I have always believed that some people within the community know what happened and who was involved,” he said.
“I understand that people may be frightened to talk to us.
“I have previously given my personal assurance relating to anonymity for the purpose of this investigation and I renew this assurance today, as we approach the anniversary of Lyra’s murder.
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“I want the community in Creggan to think about how that horrific attack impacted them personally and how it impacted the entire community.
“We saw wide-scale revulsion after Lyra was murdered and I remain determined to work with the community and local policing to convert that revulsion into tangible evidence to bring those who murdered Lyra to justice.
“I also know that many people were recording mobile phone video clips that night and whilst we had a huge response to my initial appeal for those videos, I believe that others may exist.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Trump Says Coronavirus Will Subside In Spring, But Doctors Aren't So Sure

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President Donald Trump said Monday that he expected the coronavirus epidemic to disappear with the end of winter ― a remark at odds with warnings from infectious disease experts.
Trump’s comments on the virus known as 2019-nCoV, which has infected more than 42,000 people globally and claimed more than 1,000 lives, came during a White House business session with state governors.
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“A lot of people think that goes away in April as the heat comes in,” he said of the outbreak that began in the Chinese city of Wuhan. “Typically that will go away in April. We’re in great shape though. We have 12 cases, 11 cases, and many of them are in good shape.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed 12 coronavirus infections in the US, and testing is pending on 68 other potential cases.
The president’s remarks set off some concern that he didn’t have a solid understanding of the threat at hand.
“This statement minimises the many critical factors needed for the containment of the outbreak and the prevention of further disease spread, such as adequate infection control measures and contact tracing,” Dr Britta Lassmann, program director for the International Society for Infectious Diseases, told HuffPost.
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“Data on the role of temperature and climate on the transmissibility of 2019-nCoV are currently lacking,” she added.
Medical workers in protective suits move a patient in an isolated ward of a Wuhan, China, hospital on Feb. 6, 2020. China Daily CDIC / Reuters
Trump’s suggestion that the coronavirus outbreak will subside with the onset of warmer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere is likely based on general trends with viral infections: They often thrive in the colder months because people are spending more time indoors in close proximity to others and because lower humidity in winter allows a virus to remain in the air for longer periods of time.
But Trump’s rosy outlook is also risky because not all outbreaks subside as the weather warms, and this one remains shrouded in mystery on several fronts. So far, there’s no vaccine and no conclusions on how it spreads, how to cure it or how long it takes for an infected person to show symptoms. It’s already surpassed milestones set by other disease outbreaks, including the death toll of the SARS outbreak 17 years ago.
“Although some coronavirus infections are seasonal, only time will tell if the 2019 novel coronavirus will behave this way. Some coronavirus species have peaks in the winter and summer,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the CDC and now president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative focused on preventing epidemics.
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Weather’s impact on a disease’s spread, he added, can vary by climate.
“If nCov behaves as influenza behaves, the seasonality seen in temporal climates may not mean seasonality in tropical climates, where influenza can circulate at high levels all year long,” Frieden explained.
Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has also warned about this virus’s unpredictability. Before Trump even made his comments, Schaffner cautioned against relying on the expectation that new infections will slow with spring.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--The Definitive Ranking Of Love Island's 20 Best Contestants Ever

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It’s no secret that Love Island doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to long-lasting relationships, but what it does have a good reputation for is consistently serving up brilliant reality TV characters.
In the six series that have aired so far, more than 180 contestants have crossed the the threshold of the villa, creating hours of memorable moments as they’ve grafted their way into the hearts of each other – and indeed, the nation.
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But who is the ultimate Islander? It’s time to find out...
20. Alex Bowen (series 2)
ITV
Alex sent the girls into a spin when he made a late entrance back in series two, immediately catching the eye of both Zara Holland and Olivia Buckland.
While he slept with Zara in the Hideaway within hours of arriving, (setting an as-yet-unbeaten record for the Islander who had sex the quickest after entering the villa), we later watched true romance blossom between him and Olivia.
The pair have since become Love Island’s most enduring couple, remaining together solidly since leaving the villa in 2016, and tying the knot two years later.
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19. Nathan Massey (series 2)
ITV/Shutterstock
Former carpenter Nathan really had the gift of the gab, and it wasn’t long before he’d charmed Cara De La Hoyde, who he coupled up with on their very first day in the villa.
Nathan was one of those rare Islanders that got on with almost everybody that came through the doors, while also having a handle on his relationship with Cara (most of the time) and serving up the laughs, so it was no surprise that he went on to win the series.
While they’ve had their up and downs since leaving the villa, Nathan and Cara are now married and also have a son together.
18. Chris Taylor (series 5)
ITV/Shutterstock
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Chris only had a short stint on Love Island, but in our opinion it was all too brief – as anyone who follows his 10/10 content on Instagram will attest.
True, he wasn’t exactly the luckiest in love, getting into friendship couples with Maura Higgins and Francesca Allen before a rocky romance with Harley Brash, but Chris was responsible for two of the most iconic things from the 2019 series – his hair-towel-kimono combo, and The Salmon pool dive, both of which we’ll admit to having tried out (albeit with limited success).
He also had a genuinely touching moment with the other lads when he became emotional at the fact they’d accepted him into their group, admitting he’d “never felt like he fits in”. Sob.
17. Olivia Buckland (series 2)
ITV/Shutterstock
Olivia was one of the core characters in series two, winning fans over with her relatable personality and close friendships with the other female Islanders.
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But she was also known for one of the biggest scandals to ever rock the show, secretly sleeping with Rykard Jenkins (quite an achievement given they were in the communal bedroom) while he was pursing a romance with Rachel Fenton.
The indiscretion all came out in the wash once Rachel was voted off the show, and she later staged a return to confront him.
Olivia bounced back from it all by cracking on with now-husband Alex, creating one of the show’s most popular couples ever.
16. Malin Andersson (series 2)
ITV
Even if you didn’t watch series two, you’ve still probably heard about Malin’s jaw-dropping return to the show after she’d been voted off.
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She’d been in a relationship with Terry Walsh (who we always thought she was too good for), but after being voted off the Island, she watched from home as he cracked on with new girl Emma-Jane just hours after her departure.
This led to her making a surprise reappearance at a bar Terry was drinking at with Scott, for an almighty showdown that we vividly remember to this day.
Since her series, Malin has publicly come through some difficult times, but has established herself as a figure in the body-positive movement and often speaks about the importance of mental health awareness.
15. Montana Brown (series 3)
ITV
Lots of Islanders talk about “keeping it real” in the villa, but no one did that more than Montana, who refused to compromise on what she was looking for just for the sake of coupling up.
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Even when she did find her man in the form of hunky Alex Beattie, she kept her head on her shoulders and refused to say “I love you” back to him.
As well as being a shoulder to cry on for series three’s strong girl squad, Montana was also the best lurker the villa has ever seen, and could always be seen spying on the unfolding drama (usually while munching a bowl or cereal or a biscuit, which sparked a thousand memes).
This provided her with plenty of material for her often hilarious commentary on her fellow Islanders, which led to her Beach Hut entries becoming some of our favourites ever.
14. Laura Anderson (series 4)
James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock
While Laura wasn’t always popular among viewers, we thought she was given a bit of a rough ride on social media during her time in the villa.
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As a result, we felt her pain when she ended in tears after Megan Barton Hanson pinched Wes Nelson from her, and again when Jack Fowler chose to couple up with Laura Crane over her.
But Laura also proved that she was not one to be messed with, holding her own against Megan and Georgia Steel when they moved in on her men.
Her struggles in the villa were worth it, though, as it was delicious to see her ending the series with arguably the hottest boy, Paul Knopps – even if things didn’t last on the outside.
13. Jess Hayes (series 1)
ITV
Talking of girls who had a tough time with boys on the show, it certainly was not plain sailing for Jess.
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After a case of he-said-she-said over what happened on a date with one of the Alberti twins in the first week of the series, Jess seemed to (unfairly) lose the trust of many of her fellow Islanders and never really got it back.
But Jess was a fighter and rebounded from whatever the villa – and her fellow contestants, particularly Josh Ritchie – threw at her, eventually coupling up with hunky cricketer Max Morley.
Jess had the last laugh too, when she and Max beat favourites Hannah Elizabeth and Jon Clark in the final to snatch the £50k prize.
12. Kady McDermott (series 2)
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Kady is so synonymous with the second series of Love Island that it’s hard to believe she wasn’t actually on the starting line-up, entering the villa as the first bombshell.
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And it’s fair to say Kady took the title of “bombshell” and quite literally ran with it, causing some of the most explosive scenes in the villa ever.
From the constant up and downs in her relationship with Scott Thomas, to her infamously screaming “c**t” at Tina Stinnes over the garden wall when she took Scott out on a date, there was never a dull moment when Kady was around.
11. Camilla Thurlow (series 3)
ITV
When Camilla first entered the villa, we’ll admit we had doubts about how she’d get on. As a shy, bomb disposal expert who openly said she was inexperienced when it came to boys, she wasn’t exactly the typical Love Island contestant.
And while she was never the loudest person in the room, she defied expectations and broke the mould as she navigated a tricky romance with Johnny Mitchell – as well as earning an army of fans when she schooled him on feminism.
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She later walked away from the show with something arguably even better than the £50K prize money – actual Calvin Klein underwear model, Jamie Jewitt. And nearly three years on and the pair are still together.
10. Kem Cetinay (series 3)
ITV
Every series of Love Island needs an excitable little brother-type character, and Kem fitted this role perfectly back in 2017.
Although the loveable Essex barber ended up as one half of the winning couple, alongside Amber Davies, it was his bromance with Chris Hughes that we all really took from the series, thanks in part to their frequent displays of musical (in)ability and a particular scene involving some pubic topiary.
Of course, Kem was also responsible for the first Casa Amor upset, cracking on with Chyna Ellis while Amber was back in the main villa – and without his antics, who knows if the twist we all now love so much would have ever returned in subsequent series?
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9. Chris Hughes (series 3)
ITV
Unlike Kem, Chris didn’t exactly get off to the best of starts in the villa, as quite frankly his treatment of Chloe Crowhurst (who he coupled up with first) sucked.
However, Chris went on to redeem himself as he pursued Olivia Attwood, trying to knock down the walls she’d built around her. And he succeeded, as they formed one of the most memorable – and indeed tempestuous – couples the show has ever seen.
We also loved Chris for his bromance with Kem, as well as his obsession with polar bears, his emotional connection to fake baby, Cash Hughes, and his offers to spit bars at often the most inappropriate of moments.
8. Shaughna Phillips (series 6)
ITV
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Shaughna had already became a favourite in the opening weeks of the first ever winter series, but earned legendary status when she uttered two words: “Congrats, hun.”
That was how she responded when Callum Jones brutally brought Molly Smith back to the villa after Casa Amor, which topped off a whole list of classic other utterings.
Her sharp wit and emotional vulnerability made her stand out above her fellow Islanders, who failed to make as much of a mark as previous years. In fact, we’ll go out on a limb to say that she probably rescued series six, and for that, we are truly thankful.
7. Jack Fincham (series 4)
ITV/Shutterstock
Of all the lads to ever enter the villa, Jack is the one you’d most likely meet down your local and be happy to have a pint with.
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With his normal physique and job as a pen salesman, he represented the everyman, and showed that you don’t have to be an influencer or have the body of a Greek god to find love on the Island.
His relationship with Dani Dyer was charming to watch, and he showed her a level of respect rarely seen on the show. And the fact he won also proved that sometimes, nice guys do finish first.
6. Amber Gill (series 5)
ITV/Shutterstock
Amber’s Love Island journey wasn’t exactly the smoothest, and while her heart broke after Michael Griffiths dumped her for Joanna Chimonides after Casa Amor, it turned out to be the making of her.
Aided by BFF Anna Vakili, straight-talking Amber pulled no punches with Michael, and showed there was no keeping a strong woman down, as she embarked on a relationship with rugby hunk Greg O’Shea.
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Until that point, it had always been long-standing couples who had triumphed in the final, but such was the public’s love for Amber that she bucked the trend and won the whole series with someone she’d only been with for two weeks.
Following the pair’s subsequent break-up, Amber recently declared herself the “first ever solo winner of Love Island” in a cheeky Instagram Story... but quite honestly, was she lying?
5. Megan Barton Hanson (series 4)
ITV
We don’t think there has ever been a bombshell like Megan – either before, or since – as her entrance caused an absolute frenzy among the male Islanders.
After pretty much all of them made a play for her, she eventually settled for Eyal Booker, but no sooner had they had taken their relationship to the next level in the Hideaway, than she she got the “ick” and set her sights on Wes Nelson, who until that point was happily coupled up with Laura Anderson.
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Proving she wasn’t afraid to (firmly) tread on toes, she memorably made a move on Wes on the balcony and told him to dump Laura.
However, she then coupled with Alex Miller after Casa Amor, leaving a trail of devastation in her wake.
A true Love Island great.
4. Dani Dyer (series 4)
ITV/Shutterstock
Being the offspring of Danny Dyer was always going to help Dani’s popularity, but during her stay on the Island, she became a star in her own right thanks to her down-to-earth nature, sense of humour and her weird eyelash blow-drying.
Unlike many other Love Island couplings, it was also clear to see Dani had fallen for Jack in a big way, and we felt like we were witnessing true love blossom between them. That’s probably why we felt her pain when she believed Jack had gotten with his ex-girlfriend in Casa Amor thanks to a deceiving video message producers had sent her.
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Having also been a loyal friend to all of the female Islanders, we couldn’t have been less surprised (in a good way) when she and Jack were crowned winners of the fourth series.
3. Ovie Soko (series 5)
ITV
We’ve previously listed 16 reasons why Ovie was the Islander we didn’t deserve, but if you’re in need of a refresher, allow us to remind you.
Not only was he a style icon with a hat collection only out-sized by Boy George, he was a best mate to Amber Gill, an avoider of drama (albeit a brilliant spectator), a true gentleman and all-round sex bomb, all of which earned him his place as a god-tier Islander.
Now, if only more of the Love Island lads – or indeed all lads – could be more like Ovie.
2. Maura Higgins (series 5)
ITV
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From the minute she strutted into the villa and proclaimed that Tommy Fury had given her “fanny flutters”, we knew Maura was going to be trouble – and we were not wrong.
The sex-positive contestant was unapologetic, feisty and hilarious – and we couldn’t get enough of her.
Maura had many highlights it’s almost impossible to count, but her admission that her vagina was “trobbin’” after kissing Curtis Pritchard, her seductive consumption of an ice lolly, and her various facial expressions during the recouplings were notable stand outs.
And that’s without even mentioning the time she absolutely tore Tom a new one one after she overheard him bragging to the other boys about how he’d discover whether she was “all mouth” in the Hideaway.
What a woman.
1. Olivia Attwood (series 3)
ITV
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If ever there was someone who delivered on every single count as an Islander, it was Olivia.
Feisty but vulnerable? Check. Instantly quotable? Check. Unafraid to tell it like it is? Check. In a couple we actually rooted for? Check. A rock to all of the girls? Check. Constant deliverer of drama? Check.
We really could go on, as it was like Olivia was created in the mind of a reality TV producer (which could also explain why she is now a regular on TOWIE, despite not even living in Essex).
If we could go back in time, we’d have her win the third series of Love Island all by herself – if not just for much-memed pool dive or declaring herself as “the fuckboy whisperer” – but for now, we’ll just have to make do with hailing her as our ultimate Queen of Love Island.
Love Island airs from Sunday to Friday at 9pm on ITV2.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Adele Breaks Cover At Jay-Z And Beyonce’s Oscars Party

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Adele has been keeping a low-profile while she beavers away on her highly-anticipated fourth album, but she broke cover on Sunday night to let her hair down.
The Someone Like You singer was a guest at her friend’s Jay-Z and Beyonce’s Oscars after party at Chateau Marmont in LA.
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Also at the star-studded bash was Polish TV presenter Kinga Ruisin who chatted with the 31-year-old singer before getting this snap, but admits she didn’t recognise her at first.
Captioning the photo, she wrote (in Polish): “At yesterday’s private party by Beyoncé and Jay-Z, I talked to Adele about ... shoes (Adele in the photo after dropping probably 30kg!) ...
“I know that sounds surreal. But listen from the beginning ... It started with a conversation with Adele about my high heels. Honestly, I didn’t recognise her because she is so thin now!
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She continued: “We talked and laughed until she said her name ... The conversation with Adele was the ticket to a nice conversation with Rihanna. And then there was total madness!”
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Also at the party were Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper, the Kardashians, Kanye West and Travis Scott.
Adele has been following a new fitness and healthy eating plan following her divorce from husband Simon Konecki, which was finalised last September.
New music is expected to arrive at some point this year, almost five years since the release of her Adele’s last album, 25.
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Following her split from her husband, Adele joked to her fans: “Bunch of fucking savages, [the new album] will be a drum n bass record to spite you.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Jamaica Deportation Flight Goes Ahead After Court Orders Restrictions

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A chartered deportation flight to Jamaica has gone ahead with 17 people on board after a last minute Court of Appeal ruling.
Downing Street said 25 people were prevented from being deported as a result of the court ruling, which the government has now said it will urgently appeal. Originally around 50 were expected to be on board.
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Campaigners, supported by 150 MPs, say those facing deportation came to the country as children, are “British in every meaningful way”, and some were sentenced for one-time drug offences when they were young.
But the Home Office said it made “no apology for trying to protect the public from serious, violent and persistent foreign national offenders” amid calls from a judge not to deport many of the detainees amid concerns over their access to legal advice.
Referring to the 17 people deported, Downing Street said: “Between them they have amassed sentences of 75 years for offences which have included rape, possession of firearms, violent offences including ABH and GBH and the supply of Class A drugs”.
Campaigners chanted slogans outside Downing Street as they protest against government plans to deport 50 people to Jamaica, in London on Monday ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Bella Sankey of Detention Action said: “We are trying to ensure that all of those covered by the protection of the court were not removed and that the government did not breach the court order.
“We understand that some, possibly all, of these individuals may have been ultimately removed from the flight but we are currently trying to clarify this.”
UPDATE: We understand that some, possibly all, of these individuals may have been ultimately removed from the flight but we are currently trying to clarify this. https://t.co/HeDHfo7Wx8 — Bella Sankey (@BellaSankey) February 11, 2020
Sankey added: “We are deeply concerned that people have still been deported from Brook House without proper access to legal advice, including at least one individual with clear Windrush links.
“If government wants to show strength and leadership on this issue it will now pause and reflect on widespread and mounting calls for its detention and deportation systems to be fundamentally reformed. Populist authoritarianism is easy and lazy. But Britain is better than this.”
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But Chancellor Sajid Javid defended the government’s decision to go ahead with a deportation flight to Jamaica and denied that any members of the Windrush generation were among them.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We will always do what we can to protect the public. These are all foreign national offenders – they have all received custodial sentences of 12 months or more. They are responsible for crimes like manslaughter, rape, dealing in class A drugs.
“And it is absolutely right, when they have served their sentence, that we send them out of the country because they are not British nationals, they are not members of the Windrush generation, they are all foreign national offenders.”
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) said: “Our thoughts are with the families who have just been forced apart by the Government, with the children who have lost their fathers, with the women who’ve become single mothers overnight.
“Two government commissioned independent reviews, the Windrush Lessons Learned Review and the Shaw Review have both said the government should stop deporting people who arrived here as children.
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“The government has not published the Windrush Review or addressed its recommendations in any way, and without that it is unlawful for deportation of those who have been here since childhood to continue.
“It’s deeply unjust if people who grew up here, whose lives and families are here, can be exiled to a country which is totally foreign to them.
“They are British in every meaningful way and if the law allows those people to be exiled, it needs to change.”
Tottenham MP David Lammy said: “It is an outrage that the deportation flight to Jamaica has departed this morning.
“As the leaked recommendation from Wendy Williams’ Lessons Learned Review showed, the government should not be deporting people who arrived in the UK as children to countries they do not know.
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“The government wants to give the impression that everyone who was deported was a hardened violent criminal, but the reality is many of those who were scheduled to be deported had committed non-violent one-time drugs offences.
“The lessons from Windrush have not been learned. Lives are being ruined because we don’t remember our history.”
In a sign of why ministers are determined to act, 12 judicial reviews have been lodged in relation to the deportation flight in the past few days.
A senior Tory source said the situation “makes the case perfectly to the public about why such a review is needed and why certain parts of Westminster still haven’t learned the lesson from the 2019 election”.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “There are 25 foreign national offenders who the court ruled could not be removed and are therefore still in the country.
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“The offences which these people were responsible for include one manslaughter, one firearms offence, seven violent offences, two which are in the category of rape or sexual offences and 14 drugs offences.”
The spokesman added: “We bitterly regret this decision which prevents the removal from our country of foreign criminals convicted of rape, manslaughter, sexual attacks, violence and drugs crimes which spread misery across our communities.
“The legal process for removing these offenders, which has included repeated appeals and judicial reviews, has already cost the British public tens of thousands of pounds.
“The taxpayer will now be left with an even bigger bill and the prospect of convicts who are considered to pose a threat to the UK being granted bail while this matter is resolved.
“We make no apology whatsoever for seeking to remove serious foreign national offenders and will be urgently appealing.”
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Speaking about the flight, Sankey said she believes the deportation was “an early show of strength from the government on its agenda on these issues”.
She said: “I think what has been incredibly positive is the mounting public and political concern and I think this is probably the most controversial charter flight we have seen.
“I think there is increasing awareness about the real injustices happening to people that have been in this country all of their lives and who are being ripped apart from their families.
“I think this is the beginning of a real shift in terms of how much the government is held to account for its policies in this area.”
Responding to the deportations, Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK’s Refugee and Migrant Rights Director, said the fact that the flight had gone ahead was “extremely concerning.”
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He added: “Among the most glaring injustice is the Government’s complete disregard for the rights and lives of people who have grown up in this country since childhood.
“A number of people the Home Office sought to deport on this the flight are likely to have had rights to British citizenship as children – rights that were denied to them by the Home Office’s excessively high fees for citizenship.
“To exile people from their home and families, after depriving them of their rights in the first place, is cruel.
“It is a disgrace that two years on from the promise to learn lessons from the Windrush scandal - which also saw people wrongly denied their British citizenship and unlawfully deported - the Home Office continues to use harmful policies and practice to deprive people of their rightful citizenship.
“We need to see an urgent and fundamental change to the way the Government respects the rights of its citizens.
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“As a minimum, there should be no further deportation flights until the Windrush Lessons Learned Review is published and its recommendations addressed.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--21 Striking Birth Photos That Capture The Strength Of Mothers

Birth photography is a particularly raw and intimate form of art. To celebrate this work, the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers holds an annual contest with winners selected by a panel of judges, as well as members of the organisation around the world.
The IAPBP recently announced the winners of its ninth annual Birth Photography Image Competition, which honours excellence in categories including Labour, Delivery, Postpartum, Birth Details and Fresh 48.
“Winners were chosen on a point system and judged on technique, lighting, composition, emotional impact, creativity and storytelling,” says the competition’s website, adding, “While birth is beautiful, it is also messy and real.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-11--Best Sex Toys For Couples

Best Sex Toys For Couples

HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change.
filadendron via Getty Images
You’re reading How To Get Off, our series celebrating bodies, pleasure, fantasy.
Sex is great; getting between the sheets (or wherever the mood strikes) with someone you care about is even better and adding a sex toy into the equation is a sure-fire recipe for a mind-blowing session.
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Gone are the days where vibrators had to be hidden in drawers and buying a cock ring in Boots felt like a cardinal sin, using sex toys as a couple is easier than ever – especially as the bashful can always shop online. Introducing a toy is not about undermining the boudoir skills of either person, nor is it saying you’re not excited by each other, it’s a pleasurable way of exploring new, and possibly unchartered, realms of pleasure.
Yes, it can feel vulnerable, but sharing a new experience together is always bonding (or bondage, as the case may be) and these bedroom gadgets will ensure both of you have a brilliant time.
From a dual action vibrator to an egg that allows for shared sexual pleasure in a discreet manner, I’ve picked out the best sex toys for using with your partner – Valentine’s Day just got a whole lot hotter.
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Bondara Hidden Pleasures Remote Control Vibrator Knickers, Bondara Bondara Hidden Pleasures Remote Control Vibrator Knickers, Bondara
The party is literally in your pants with this thong, complete with detachable bullet vibrator. The control can then be handed to your partner, and when your pleasure is in the hands of your playmate, the anticipation and element of surprise encourages intense arousal. As long as they are within a 10-metre radius they can continue to tease and turn you on. If you’re feeling brave enough you could even wear them out to dinner.
Booty Buddy 7 Function Vibrating Butt Plug 4 Inch, Love Honey Booty Buddy 7 Function Vibrating Butt Plug 4 Inch, Love Honey
This butt plug has two speeds and give patterns of posterior-pleasing vibrations, making for intense orgasms – and lots of fun. Its satisfying curves bend with your body and mean you can enjoy comfortable but deliciously pleasurable fun in the bedroom.
Fun Factory Bootie Ring Silicone Prostate Stimulator with Cock Ring, Love Honey Fun Factory Bootie Ring Silicone Prostate Stimulator with Cock Ring, Love Honey
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Who says men can’t multi-task? This, rather intense looking, contraption is all the joy of a cock ring combined with a prostrate penetrator for ultimate arousal and pleasure. It can be used solo as well as with your partner and is much easier to slip on (and in) than a first glance might suggest.
Buy it now.
Fusion Couples Multi Vibrator, Ann Summers Fusion Couples Multi Vibrator, Ann Summers
Tease and pleasure each other with the 10 vibration settings of this dual vibrator. You can bend the toy into whichever shape feels best for you, massaging the G-spot or clitoris, and the versatile, slim shape means this can be worn as a couples’ ring too, to send powerful vibrations to you both. Good relationships are about sharing after all.
Love Honey Love Honey
This harness-free toy offers a mutually satisfying pegging or strap-on sex session. Adjust it according to what feels good for you both.
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Hula Beads, Lelo Hula Beads, Lelo
The first ever remote-controlled pleasure bead, these rotate and vibrate with powerful, yet discreet, pulsations. If you’re familiar, or a fan even, of Ben Wa balls then these give the same subtle sensation, with some added oomph. It’s virtually silent and you can adjust the intensity with the flick of a wrist.
Twin Teasers Textured Penis Sleeves, Love Honey Twin Teasers Textured Penis Sleeves, Love Honey
Forget ribbed condoms, these textured sleeves add girth, texture and pleasure into proceedings. Not only do they mean the penis-haver can last longer, they also give the other person an intense, multi-layered experience.
Love Honey Love Honey
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Sex toys are for life, not just for Valentine’s Day. OK, maybe not life but with an 11-piece kit, there’s plenty of time of experiment and mix things up for years to come. Excuse the pun.
Tease Me Remote Control Vibrator, Nasty Gal Tease Me Remote Control Vibrator, Nasty Gal
Featuring a soft shell and a solid metal ball, this nifty little vibrator can be controlled by either you or your partner and deliver intense waves of pleasure. Because of the size of the vibrator it can be inserted into either the vagina or the rectum and can be kept in during sex, too.
Nailed It Vibrator and G-Sport Stimulator Set, Nasty Gal Nailed It Vibrator and G-Sport Stimulator Set, Nasty Gal
Double the sex toys, double the fun. These twin vibrators hit the G-spot with 10 varying settings and a whole host of different uses – for everyone involved. They’re easy to use and control, so are perfect for couples who are slightly tentative about bringing sex toys into the bedroom.
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Linx Classic Rabbit Vibrating Cock Ring, Simple Pleasure Linx Classic Rabbit Vibrating Cock Ring, Simple Pleasure
Ah, the humble cock ring. Not only does this one emit powerful vibrations, it can also be turned one way to stimulate the clitoris and the other to stimulate the balls of your partner. Fun all round!
IDA, Lelo IDA, Lelo
This state-of-the-art sex toy is definitely at the luxury end of the sex toy scale – in fact it looks more like a hi-tech gadget for your TV room than a pleasure-giving accessory for the bedroom. Worn by women, the remote-controlled couple’s vibrator delivers vibrations so powerful that your partner can feel them too.
HuffPost UK Double Ended Dildo, Ann Summers
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Sharing is caring, and that’s certainly the case with this double-ended dildo. Each end has three graduated beads to enhance stimulation and arouse sensations to ramp things up a notch in the bedroom.
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