thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--This Simple 5-Step Shortbread Recipe Will Instantly Improve Your Day

Preheat the oven to 170°C / 325°F / gas mark 3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.
Sift the flour, cornflour/cornstarch and rice flour into another bowl, then add a quarter of the total flours to the creamed butter and stir in. Add another quarter of the flour and begin rubbing the mixture together using your fingertips. Add the remaining flour and mix again with your fingers.
Knead gently into a malleable ball of dough. This can also be done by putting all the ingredients in a food processor and blending until it forms a smooth ball of dough.
Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll it out until about 1cm/1/2 inch thick (roll a little thinner if you are using the biscuits to make a strawberry dessert). Stamp out discs with the cookie cutter and arrange about 4cm/1 ½ inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Re-roll any leftover dough and cut out discs, as before, until all the dough is used up.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--Here’s Why A Coronavirus Circuit Breaker Won’t Work In The UK

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I was in Singapore for its circuit breaker. The island has suffered just 28 fatalities, and on October 23 there were no new cases of locally transmitted Covid-19 infection.
So what can we learn from the Singaporean experience? Put blunty: there is simply no way that a two or three-week lockdown will work in England. Not now, not with the level of infection that we currently have in parts of the country.
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Strict restrictions would have to stay in place for far longer here or we could find ourselves in a nightmare cycle of going in and out of lockdown until science swoops in to rescue us with an effective vaccine or therapeutic drug.
Even in Singapore, where the virus had been so successfully contained until the government encouraged Singaporean residents to return home, two weeks was not enough. And that’s despite daily government figures showing they only averaged 80 new cases per day in the week preceding the circuit breaker.
It doesn’t take a genius to see that by comparison, the situation in the UK is dire. On Wednesday, October 21, 7,706 patients with Covid-19 were reported to have been in hospital across the UK. On October 27, that figure was much higher at 10,308.
Twice this week the UK’s Covid-19 death toll topped 300, with 310 deaths recorded on October 28 and 367 recorded on October 27 – the highest figure since May 28.
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Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Head of ONS, said there is “no question we are in a second wave and infections are rising very quickly. Rates of increase may slow slightly but are still at a very high level, which needs to come down.”
A man walks through a shopping arcade where social distancing measures are in force on October 28, 2020 in Bridgend, Wales. Matthew Horwood via Getty Images
We cannot have Boris Johnson blunder his way through this again, telling everyone to eat out to help out, and then appearing surprised when the virus’ ugly head reemerges with a vengeance.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty warned us months ago we were at the limit of what could be reopened safely, yet commentators scoffed that he was exaggerating. He predicted we would have over 200 daily deaths by November. He told us tough choices would be needed before schools and universities could reopen.
Those tough choices weren’t made. And now the situation has spiralled out of control again, entirely predictably.
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However hard it would be on the nation’s morale, it’s time for another lockdown – and the time gained must be used effectively to give our failing test and trace system a massive overhaul.
Singapore used its lockdown to build an even better test and trace system, including “SafeEntry” where you have to scan a unique barcode and give ID details on entry to every single shop, restaurant, bus and taxi.
Off the back of its success, Singapore is preparing its move into phase three of relaxing restrictions, where larger gatherings will be allowed under very strict conditions, with pre-event testing, trialling a new, rapid antigen test.
But to this day, higher risk settings like bars, pubs, karaoke lounges, nightclubs and others remain closed, as their activities pose a higher risk of transmission.
But make no mistake, if Boris Johnson plucks up the courage to enter us into another lockdown, it won’t be for two or three weeks. Strict measures will be needed for far longer, as in Singapore and Israel.
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But don’t take my word for it.
Professor Li Yang Hsu, Head of Infectious Diseases Programme at Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, told me the success of a short national lockdown here would depend on two factors.
Firstly, how effectively it is complied with or enforced. And secondly, what happens during and after in terms of societal restrictions.
“Optimistically, assuming the lockdown is as effective as the one imposed in UK in March in terms of reducing transmission of the virus, one would expect to see a slowdown in the rise of new cases after just over a week, and a reduction in deaths perhaps after a month or so, as deaths lag behind new cases,” he said.
“Our situation in Singapore remains good because we have not gone back to the pre-COVID normal.”
The unavoidable reality is that in the UK, just as in Singapore and Israel, where they’ve just started to slowly ease out of a second shorter lockdown, most of the cases arise from persons coming into close contact with an infected individual in social, workplace and family settings.
Unfortunately for us all, that means socialising has to be restricted.
We’ve come this far, we must not now turn our backs on those who have lost loved ones or who remain vulnerable to the disease.
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This virus may not be a visible enemy in the way that bombs are, but it is a highly efficient killer. If we want to defeat it, then tougher measures will be needed.
Melissa Jacobs is a freelance journalist with a background in biological sciences.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--Second Lockdown: Critics Slam Government's 'Staggering Incompetence'

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Critics have slammed the government’s “staggering incompetence” in the wake of Boris Johnson’s announcement of a second nationwide lockdown.
Tough new restrictions will come into force a minute after midnight on Thursday morning, with non-essential retail and hospitality forced to close and household mixing indoors forbidden.
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The government had already been heavily criticised for failing to act in September when the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) issued a stark warning about rising cases and urged leaders to implement a circuit breaker lockdown.
Data shown by chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance during the press conference held by the PM on Saturday evening showed a grim trajectory for cases, hospitalisations and deaths without an intervention.
Labour MP Lisa Nandy tweeted: “A reminder that when he [Boris Johnson] was advised to lockdown on 21st September we were recording 4368 cases a day.
“Now it’s over 21k and rising. The incompetence is staggering.”
“It was the right thing to delay” says the Prime Minister. A reminder that when he was advised to lockdown on 21st September we were recording 4368 cases a day. Now it’s over 21k and rising. The incompetence is staggering — Lisa Nandy (@lisanandy) October 31, 2020
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MP John McDonnell also slammed the government’s “incompetence”, writing: ”[The] country has to recognise now that Johnson and Sunak are dangerously not up to the job.
“People have died and are dying as a result of their incompetence. On [the] 18th September I called for lockdown based on Sage. I said then you can revive the economy but you can’t resurrect the dead.”
Country has to recognise now that Johnson & Sunak are dangerously not up to the job. People have died & are dying as a result of their incompetence. On 18th September I called for lockdown based on Sage. I said then you can revive the economy but you can’t resurrect the dead — John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) October 31, 2020
Meanwhile, London mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “furious” that the government had “dithered and delayed”, slamming Johnson for choosing to “completely ignore the expert, scientific advice”.
Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham, who earlier in October took on their government over funding through furlough, also expressed his frustration with the “sheer injustice” of the announcement.
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So why were low-paid workers in the North only worth 67%?
The sheer injustice of it. https://t.co/Jw9spDiRDS — Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) October 31, 2020
Johnson announced during the press conference that the furlough scheme, at 80% of pay, would be extended through to December. It was due to end on October 31, before the announcement of a second lockdown.
Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said: “After the PM’s speech, many will be wondering how they’ll cope- from the self-employed to those on short contracts, and seeking work.
“Dither and delay has damaged public health.
“And tonight’s lack of clarity on support- aside from a sentence or two on furlough-is inexcusable.”
After the PM’s speech, many will be wondering how they’ll cope- from the self-employed to those on short contracts, and seeking work.
Dither and delay has damaged public health.
And tonight’s lack of clarity on support- aside from a sentence or two on furlough-is inexcusable. — Anneliese Dodds (@AnnelieseDodds) October 31, 2020
From Thursday, all pubs, restaurants, hospitality venues and leisure facilities will close but nurseries, schools, colleges, universities and essential shops will stay open.
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Johnson said on Saturday that people should only leave their home for education, work, to shop for essential items, recreation outdoors, for medical reasons or to escape harm. When outdoors, they should only mix with people from their household or with one person from another household.
Support bubbles for single-adult households are still permitted, and children who live between two different households will still be able to move between parents.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--Boris Johnson Announces 80% Furlough Scheme With Second Lockdown

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Boris Johnson has said the furlough scheme, with 80% of lost wages paid, will be extended during the new month-long national lockdown for England.
The prime minister confirmed at a snap Downing Street press conference on Saturday that the second lockdown will begin on Thursday and last until December 2.
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All pubs, restaurants, hospitality venues, non-essential retail and leisure facilities will close during that time, though manufacturing and construction can continue, and schools, colleges, universities and essential shops will stay open.
The government has confirmed that the emergency wages scheme will continue, with the cut-off set at 80%.
The prime minister apologised for the strain the lockdown would put on hard-pressed firms, still reeling from previous restrictions, adding: “I’m under no illusions about how difficult this will be for businesses which have already had to endure such hardship this year and I’m truly, truly sorry for that – and that’s why we’re going to extend the furlough system through November.
“The furlough system was a success in the spring, it supported people in businesses in a critical time. We will not end it, we will extend furlough until December.”
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He said the measures would be time-limited from November 5 to December 2, when restrictions would be eased and regions would go back into the tiered system.
Johnson added: “Christmas is going to be different this year, perhaps very different. but it’s my sincere hope and belief that by taking tough action now we can allow families across the country to be together.”
Boris Johnson announced a second national lockdown on Saturday. WPA Pool via Getty Images
The 80% matches the rate announced during the first lockdown in March and is a higher percentage than the 67% chancellor Rishi Sunak set out for areas subject to tier 3 restrictions.
Johnson will speak to MPs on Monday and there will be a vote in parliament on the new measures on Wednesday.
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The new shutdown was announced after Johnson chaired an emergency meeting of the Cabinet at Number 10 and as the country was grappling with a spike in coronavirus infections, hospitalisations and deaths.
More than 1m coronavirus cases have now been recorded in the UK.
At the meeting, chief medical officer Chris Whitty and Vallance told ministers that every one in every 100 people in England have Covid, compared with one in 2,300 in July and one in 200 at the beginning of October.
The scientists also warned that the NHS would run out of critical care beds by early December, including the beds at the emergency Nightingale hospitals and even if all non-emergency operations were cancelled, if drastic action was not taken quickly.
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trade Union Congress, welcomed news of the furlough schemed extension, but told HuffPost UK the self-employed also needed support.
She said: “The government should have acted decisively much sooner and now families face a grim winter.
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“The extension of the furlough scheme is long overdue and necessary, but ministers must do more to protect jobs and prevent poverty.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--England To Go Into Second Lockdown From Thursday, Boris Johnson Confirms

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A national lockdown in England will come into force from Thursday, Boris Johnson has announced amid fears the NHS could be overwhelmed.
Speaking at a snap Downing Street press conference on Saturday, the prime minister said strict new measures will remain in place until December 2, with people strongly encouraged to stay at home.
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It came as chief scientific officer Patrick Vallance said that if the government took no action the Covid-19 second wave would be “twice as bad or more” than the first.
Johnson said: “The virus is spreading even faster than the reasonable worst case scenario of our scientific advisers.
“Unless we act, we could see deaths in this country running at several thousand a day – a peak of mortality, alas, bigger than the one we saw in April.”
All pubs, restaurants, hospitality venues and leisure facilities will therefore close, but unlike in March schools, colleges and universities will stay open.
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In what will be a relief for many workers, the furlough scheme, which sees the government pay 80% of lost wages, will be extended until December 2.
Johnson stressed that during the month-long lockdown, people should only leave their home for education, work, to shop for essential items, recreation outdoors, for medical reasons or to escape harm.
When outdoors, they should only mix with people from their household or with one person from another household, he added.
The PM said he had reached his decision because the overrunning of the NHS would be a “medical and moral disaster, beyond the raw loss of life”.
He said: “Doctors and nurses would be forced to choose which patients to treat, who would get oxygen and who wouldn’t, who would live and who would die.”
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Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty walks through Westminster in London on October 31, 2020 JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images
He added: “The risk is, for the first time in our lives, the NHS will not be there for us.”
It comes after Johnson chaired an emergency meeting of the Cabinet at Number 10, after the country recorded a spike in coronavirus infections, hospitalisations and deaths. More than 1m coronavirus cases have now been recorded in the UK.
At the meeting, chief medical officer Chris Whitty and Vallance told ministers that every one in every 100 people in England have Covid, compared with one in 2,300 in July and one in 200 at the beginning of October.
The scientists also warned that the NHS would run out of critical care beds by early December, including the beds at the emergency Nightingale hospitals and even if all non-emergency operations were cancelled, if drastic action was not taken quickly.
Whitty warned that the prevalence of coronavirus has been increasing “extremely rapidly” in recent weeks.
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Citing Office for National Statistics data, the chief medical officer for England said: “The prevalence of this disease has been going up extremely rapidly over the last few weeks, having been very flat due to the work of everybody in the country over spring and summer.
“And we now have around 50,000 new cases a day and that is rising.”
As during the lockdown in March, takeaways can stay open but only for delivery services.
All other non-essential retail will close and there will be a ban on households mixing indoors in a bid to slow down the Covid-19 second wave.
How government scientists expect the rate of hospital admissions in England could increase if no measures taken How government scientists expect the rate of hospital admissions in England could increase if no measures taken
Manufacturing and construction businesses can stay open but other businesses will close and people must work from home where possible, Johnson said.
After the four weeks, the country is expected to return to the three-tier local lockdown approach, with parts of the country with higher infection rates subject to tougher measures.
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International travel will also be banned, unless for work, although Brits abroad will be able to return.
Overnight stays away from home will be permitted only for work purposes and travel within the UK, unless for work, is discouraged.
Places of worship will stay open for private prayer but services will be banned. Funerals will be limited to close family only.
Johnson will speak to MPs on Monday and there will be a vote in parliament on the new measures on Wednesday.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said the government should have introduced a circuit breaker lockdown three weeks ago, when his party backed demands by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) to introduce one.
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He said “The government completely rejected that, only to now announce the same thing.
“That delay in introducing restrictions will come at an economic cost and a human cost.
“I’m glad that the government has finally taken this decision - but it should have done so weeks ago.”
MP for Wycombe Steve Baker, left, arrives in Downing Street, for a cabinet meeting amid speculation Boris Johnson will impose a national lockdown in England next week. PA
Previously, Johnson has clashed with Tory backbenchers who fear the impact new measures may have on the economy.
Wycombe MP Steve Baker, one of the most outspoken proponents of a national lockdown, was seen entering Number 10 on Saturday.
He said he and a data analyst were able to “robustly scrutinise” government plans and that it had been a “serious” conversation.
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He said the “prime minister had difficult choices to make”, and added he “would reflect” on what he had heard.
Separately, the “fire break” lockdown introduced in Wales by first minister Mark Drakeford will remains in force until Monday, November 9.
Nicola Sturgeon, meanwhile, has told Scots not to travel to or from England unless it is for “essential purposes”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--Donald Trump's 20,000 Lies Have Been Turned Into A Work Of Art

A mosaic of about 20,000 of President Donald Trump’s lies was reborn in SoHo in Manhattan earlier this week after vandals had defaced the original exhibit.
The public art called Wall of Lies, which looks like a mass of multicoloured Post-it Notes (they’re colour-coded by subject), now covers a 100-foot-long section of fence, Time Out reported.
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All of the false or misleading statements by Trump since the start of his presidency in the exhibit were identified by Washington Post fact-checkers.
The mosaic was initially displayed in Brooklyn outside independent Radio Free Brooklyn in Bushwick, but it was vandalised with pro-Trump slogans, including “Vote Trump or die” and “Stand back and stand by,” which was the president’s message to the Proud Boys hate group during his first debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer visited the wall in Brooklyn before it was defaced and picked out several lies about him.
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NY Senator Chuck Schumer at the “Wall of Lies” today in Bushwick, Brooklyn, reading aloud some of Trump’s lies about him. @radiofreebk #walloflies pic.twitter.com/NYdNbXbb67 — Phil Buehler (@pwbuehler) October 5, 2020
“Seen from a distance, it looks like chaos – perhaps an apt metaphor for this presidency,” Bushwick artist Phil Buehler told the Bushwick Daily. The work is a collaboration of Buehler and Tom Tenney, the executive director of Radio Free Brooklyn.
“But when you step closer, you can read the individual lies, which are in chronological order, colour-coded by categories like coronavirus, Russia, immigration, the environment and jobs,” Buehler added. “Then when you step back, you can recognise patterns in Trump’s lying.”
The defaced wall of lies remains in the original site.
Creators held a fundraiser to remount the exhibit – at twice the size – in downtown Manhattan.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--Trump Rallies Led To '30,000 Coronavirus Cases And 700 Deaths'

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A series of rallies held by President Donald Trump over three months this summer functioned as Covid-19 superspreader events, leading to thousands more cases and hundreds more deaths than otherwise would have occurred, Stanford University researchers concluded.
Academics from the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research focused on 18 events between June 20 and September 22 and tracked community spread of the coronavirus up to 10 weeks after the rallies, reasoning that “the effects of a superspreader event may snowball over time.”
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The rallies resulted in more than 30,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 700 deaths, though not necessarily among attendees, the researchers’ working paper published on Friday concluded.
“Our analysis strongly supports the warnings and recommendations of public health officials concerning the risk of Covid-19 transmission at large group gatherings, particularly when the degree of compliance with guidelines concerning the use of masks and social distancing is low,” the authors concluded.
“The communities in which Trump rallies took place paid a high price in terms of disease and death,” they said.
The paper has not yet undergone peer review.
Three of the events – in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Phoenix; and Henderson, Nevada – took place indoors; the rest happened outdoors.
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Photos and video from Trump’s events showed that few attendees wore masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Although the risk of transmission is lower outdoors, it can still happen, particularly if people are unmasked.
The Stanford findings appeared to back up comments from at least one Oklahoma health official who suggested that the president’s rally contributed to a spike in Covid-19 cases around Tulsa in late June and early July.
Responding to critics who said the rallies put lives unnecessarily at risk, Trump campaign officials said they took precautions before and during the events, including taking temperatures and providing hand sanitiser.
Such precautions only go so far if people don’t wear masks or maintain social distance, researchers have said.
The US neared – or, by Reuters’ account, surpassed – a record high of 100,000 new daily cases this week, and the total number of cases across the country since the start of the pandemic crossed the 9 million mark. Experts widely believe that cases will rise as Americans spend more time indoors because of colder weather this fall and winter.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--UK Passes One Million Confirmed Covid-19 Cases

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The UK has surpassed one million confirmed cases of Covid-19, official figures show.
The most recent statistics shared by the Department of Health and Social Care show that almost 22,000 people have tested positive for the virus in the past day alone.
The the total number of cases in the UK now stands at 1,011,660.
Commenting on the news Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England, said: “For many among this million, getting infected has meant serious illness and even death.
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“We have all already made huge sacrifices and we are in an increasingly precarious situation as hospital admissions grow each day.
“But we can all continue to play our part in bringing this virus under control and must abide by the restrictions in place, socially distance, wear a face covering and regularly washing our hands.
Saturday’s figures also showed a further 326 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 in the past 24 hour period – the third time this week that the toll has topped 300.
The UK’s total death toll now stands at 46,555.
Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 62,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--'If Only We Had A Crystal Ball' To Plan Lockdown Says Health Minister Nadine Dorries

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Only “a crystal ball” could have allowed the government to plan for a second lockdown a health minister has said – almost six weeks after government scientific advisers called for circuit breaker restrictions.
Amid reports that England would soon be forced into another month-long full national lockdown, Nadine Dorries tweeted that only a crystal ball could have helped the government anticipate the scale of the second wave of Covid-19.
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The health minister has been met with widespread criticism for her comments, made more than a month after the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) called for a two-week circuit breaker to halt the spread of the virus.
In a response to a tweet by journalist Hugo Rifkind, who earlier in October wrote “the lesson of the pandemic so far has been that everything we do, we do at least three weeks too late”, Dorries wrote “If only we had a crystal ball and could actually see how many over 60s would be infected, the positivity rate, the infection rate and the subsequent lag giving us thee 14-day anticipated demand on hospital beds on any particular say, three days in advance.”
See? If only we had a crystal ball and could actually see how many over 60s would be infected, the positivity rate, the infection rate and the subsequent lag giving us the 14day anticipated demand on hospital beds on any particular day, three weeks in advance. https://t.co/WtQI5D9T4u — Nadine Dorries 🇬🇧#StayAlert (@NadineDorries) October 31, 2020
On October 13 it emerged that ministers had been warned three weeks prior that the country faced a “very large epidemic with catastrophic consequences” unless they took decisive action and implemented a two-week lockdown.
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SAGE proposed five measures alongside a circuit breaker; advising anyone who could to work from home; a ban on household mixing inside homes (apart from within support bubbles); the closure of all hospitality venues, indoor gyms and services such as hairdressers; and all university and college teaching to be moved online “unless absolutely essential”.
Just one of these, the advice to work from home, was officially announced by the government.
After facing criticism for her crystal ball tweet, Dorries – despite being health minister – told Rifkind: “I have no more information than you do.”
I have no more information than you do. Anyone can take a look at the Covid dashboard on https://t.co/Qy9pdFxnys and plot the trajectory of the virus. — Nadine Dorries 🇬🇧#StayAlert (@NadineDorries) October 31, 2020
Her comments have sparked a backlash from fellow Twitter users, who pointed out that in a senior position, Dorries should have been aware of the trajectory of the virus and the severe restrictions needed to bring it under control.
“You’re our health minister? Oh god,” wrote one social media user.
you’re our health minister? oh god — Lux (@Callux) October 31, 2020
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Your scientists see it and tell you about it, using magical trickery like science and maths to make predictions you could use to plan ahead. They warn you your ideas won’t work. You ignore them because you, the Govt, have other priorities.
This is how history will remember you. — Jim Boardman (@JimBoardman) October 31, 2020
We do have a crystal ball. We can make prediction. It is quite effective. There is lots of data to enable that. A lockdown was called for and needed several weeks ago. It should have been hard and could have been short. Now we will have tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths. — Dr Martin Listen to the Science (@MartinRemains) October 31, 2020
It’s not the first time during Covid-19 that Dorries’ comments have become the centre of attention.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--Morgan Freeman Spells Out Exactly What’s At Stake With The US Election

Actor Morgan Freeman explains exactly what’s on the line in the 2020 election in a new ad for the NAACP.
Freeman warns — as the narrator of the spot that Rachel Maddow premiered on her MSNBC show Friday — that “our lives quite literally depend” on voting.
Morgan Freeman Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
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“It wasn’t long ago that people were beaten and even killed to obtain the sacred power each of you have today, the power to vote,” he says. “And right now your vote is more critical than ever.”
“This election is about you and me, your family and my family, our planet, and our democracy in its entirety,” Freeman continues. “With our votes, we, the people, can begin to overwhelm the unjust political and economic systems that favour profits over people and elect leaders who will take us forward.”
“Brothers and sisters, go vote,” Freeman concludes the clip. “Our lives quite literally depend on it.”
Maddow hailed the spot.
“It’s really good,” she said. “This is a stressful time, I know, but it is an inspiring time too, which is why this is exactly what I needed to see tonight.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--Avoid Travelling To And From England, Nicola Sturgeon Urges Scots

She said: “People should not travel to or from level 3 areas in Scotland and for now, we are asking people not to travel to or from England at all, except for essential purposes.”
Commenting on speculation about a lockdown in England, she added: “Prevalence of the virus is currently lower in Scotland than in other parts of the UK and there are early signs that the tough restrictions in place since we moved quickly in late September have started to slow the rate of increase.
“We will base decisions on circumstances here – though what happens just across our border is clearly not irrelevant to our considerations.
“In coming days @scotgov [Scottish government] will consider data on the spread of the virus, as we always do, and take account of any developments in England.”
Sturgeon said the Scottish government would have to consider if “any financial support will be available now as a result of steps in England, which would not be guaranteed to Scotland later”.
But she added: “Most importantly, we urge everyone to comply with current restrictions, including on travel.
“Above all, we will do our best – in difficult circumstances – to arrive at the best and most rational decisions we can, with the priority of protecting health and lives.
“And we will set out any decisions to the Scottish people and @ScotParl [Scottish Parliament in as managed a way as possible.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--Entertainment World Remembers Sean Connery Following The James Bond Legend's Death, Aged 90

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Tributes have been paid to Sean Connery, following the actor’s death at the age of 90.
Sir Sean was best known for his iconic portrayal of James Bond. The Scottish actor was the first to bring 007 to the big screen, appearing in seven of the spy thrillers.
Sean Connery was the first actor to bring James Bond to the big screen. Rex
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Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli paid tribute to the actor in a statement: “We are devastated by the news of the passing of Sir Sean Connery.
“He was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond whose indelible entrance into cinema history began when he announced those unforgettable words – “The name’s Bond… James Bond” — he revolutionised the world with his gritty and witty portrayal of the sexy and charismatic secret agent.
“He is undoubtedly largely responsible for the success of the film series and we shall be forever grateful to him.”
Pinewood Studios, home of the Bond film franchise, said in a statement: “We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary Sir Sean Connery. Memories of this outstanding actor and his unforgettable embodiment of superspy James Bond will forever be cherished at Pinewood.”
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Tributes have been pouring in from the entertainment world on Twitter after his death was announced by his family on Saturday.
I grew up idolizing #SeanConnery. A legend on screen, and off. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/OU9QEy5fTB — Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) October 31, 2020
1/2 I'm incredibly saddened to hear of Seans passing. My thoughts are with his family. He was a wonderful person, a true gentleman and we will be forever connected by Bond. — Dame Shirley Bassey (@DSBtigerbay) October 31, 2020
2/2 When we were younger I used to cheer Sean on from the sidelines whilst he played football in his team, The Showbiz 11! Well, I will always be there to cheer you on Sean! Forever in our hearts and may you rest in peace. Shirley x — Dame Shirley Bassey (@DSBtigerbay) October 31, 2020
‘Sean Connery WAS James Bond, the rest of us were just imposters.’ - what George Lazenby, the man who replaced him as 007, told me a few years ago. He was right..... pic.twitter.com/l16Ck8iEK4 — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 31, 2020
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RIP Sir Sean Connery.. a trailblazer, a true legend and a gentleman https://t.co/hkLwouejZI — Robert Carlyle (@robertcarlyle_) October 31, 2020
There's a level of stardom where the star becomes so embedded in the culture, at least for a certain generation, that it's almost impossible to imagine they no longer exist. Sean Connery was at that level. #RIP — David Baddiel (@Baddiel) October 31, 2020
Possibly it's deeper as well because the death of someone so present in your imagination feels impossible, like your own. Which brings home to you that it - your death that is - really isn't. — David Baddiel (@Baddiel) October 31, 2020
Shaken and, on this occasion, stirred to hear that Sir Sean Connery has passed away. Had the pleasure of playing golf with him on a couple of occasions. A real character and for me, the best Bond. James Bond should be immortal. RIP — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 31, 2020
Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any shittier the sad news that Sean Connery has died. RIP - best ever Bond. — Lorraine (@reallorraine) October 31, 2020
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Sean Connery was a movie legend, even far into his golden years. Our strongest Bonds were formed by him, and he was Untouchable. He passed today at age 90, a suave hero to the end. — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 31, 2020
Every day on set with #SeanConnery was an object lesson in how to act on screen. But all that charisma and power- that was utterly unique to Sean . RIP that great man , that great actor . https://t.co/W8MQrFYlJ0 — Sam Neill (@TwoPaddocks) October 31, 2020
How infinitely sad to hear the news Sir Sean Connery has passed away. He and Roger were friends for many decades and Roger always maintained Sean was the best ever James Bond. RIP — Sir Roger Moore (Legacy) (@sirrogermoore) October 31, 2020
No doubt he epitomised James Bond but don't forget there were so many other roles. True Movie Star who owned the screen .
Rip #SeanConnery pic.twitter.com/CLxA5l8k8l — Eamonn Holmes (@EamonnHolmes) October 31, 2020
Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, also paid tribute to the actor, who she described as one of the nation’s “best loved sons”.
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1/ I was heartbroken to learn this morning of the passing of Sir Sean Connery. Our nation today mourns one of her best loved sons.
https://t.co/76UGDptARp — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 31, 2020
2/ Sean was born into a working class Edinburgh family and through talent & sheer hard work, became an international film icon and one of the world's most accomplished actors — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 31, 2020
3/ Sean will be remembered best as James Bond - the classic 007 - but his roles were many & varied. He was a global legend but, first and foremost, a patriotic and proud Scot - his towering presence at the opening of @ScotParl in 1999 showed his love for the country of his birth. — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 31, 2020
4/ Sean was a lifelong advocate of an independent Scotland and those of us who share that belief owe him a great debt of gratitude. — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 31, 2020
5/ It was a privilege to have known Sean. When I last spoke to him it was clear even then that his health was failing - but the voice, the spirit and the passion that we all loved so well were still there. I will miss him. Scotland will miss him. The world will miss him. — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 31, 2020
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6/ My thoughts and condolences are with Micheline, their children and all the family. RIP Sir Sean Connery — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 31, 2020
The actor is survived by his son Jason and his second wife, French artist Micheline Roquebrune.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-31--Here's What A Second Lockdown Means For England

England is to go into a second national lockdown at one minute past midnight on Thursday morning, Boris Johnson has announced.
Here’s what we know:
What are the new rules?
All pubs, restaurants, hospitality venues and leisure facilities will close but nurseries, schools, colleges, universities and essential shops will stay open.
As during the shutdown March, takeaways can stay open but only for delivery services.
People should only leave their home for education, work, to shop for essential items, recreation outdoors, for medical reasons or to escape harm. When outdoors, they should only mix with people from their household or with one person from another household.
All other non-essential retail will close and there will be a ban on households mixing indoors as part of a bid to slow down the Covid-19 second wave.
Support bubbles for single-adult households are still permitted, and children who live between two different households will still be able to move between parents.
When could a second national lockdown end?
Johnson said he expects the lockdown to remain in for four weeks until December 2 – but those with longer memories will recall the March measures had an expected timeframe of at least three weeks.
Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sunday morning, Michael Gove said if the data on the spread of the virus doesn’t improve then the full national lockdown will continue.
The Cabinet Office minister said the government would be “driven by the data” when it came to making the decision but added it would be “foolish” to predict what would happen with the pandemic over the next four weeks.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Keir Starmer Urges Jeremy Corbyn To 'Reflect' On 'Wrong Response' To Anti-Semitism Report

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on Jeremy Corbyn to “reflect” on his comments, after the former party leader was suspended over his response to a damning anti-Semitism report.
Sir Keir said he was “very disappointed” in Corbyn’s reaction, describing it as the “wrong response” adding: “I haven’t spoken to him since.”
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He said: “I think he should reflect on what he said.
“I think it’s pretty clear across the Labour movement that most people think he’s completely in the wrong place on this.”
Sir Keir said there was “no need for a civil war” in the Labour Party, adding that “we need to be united, but we also absolutely need to root out anti-Semitism”.
The MP for Holborn and St Pancras told BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show: “Well I was very clear in my response to the commission (Equality and Human Rights Commission) report on Thursday, which found that the Labour Party had acted unlawfully and there’d been a failure of leadership, that we needed to accept the findings, accept the recommendations and implement them and apologise.
“But I also went on to say that, under my leadership, we will root out anti-Semitism and that those that deny or minimise anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and say it’s just exaggerated or part of a factional fight are part of the problem.
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“I was therefore very disappointed in Jeremy’s response where he appeared to suggest it was exaggerated etc, and I’d invite Jeremy just to reflect on what he said on Thursday and think about what he said because I think for most people what they wanted from the Labour Party on Thursday was an honest recognition of the problem and an apology, a line in the sand and a constructive way to move forward, which is what I want for the Labour Party.”
The Equality and Human Rights Commission found that the party broke equality law when Corbyn was in charge, but he refused to fully accept the watchdog’s findings and said anti-Semitism had been “dramatically overstated for political reasons”.
Len McCluskey, the boss of the Unite union, a major financial backer for Labour, warned Corbyn’s suspension was an “act of grave injustice” that could cause a split and doom the party to defeat.
Sir Keir said: “There is no need for a civil war in the Labour Party.
“I stood on a platform to unite the party and I’m determined to do that, but I also made a solemn pledge that we would root out anti-Semitism and I’m not going to shirk from difficult decisions in rooting out anti-Semitism.”
He added: “What happened on Thursday was not what I wanted to happen.
“I wanted us to be able constructively to move forward… So there’s no need for a civil war in the Labour Party, we need to be united, but we also absolutely need to root out anti-Semitism.”
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Sir Keir went on: “Anti-Semitism came up in the shadow cabinet and I challenged what was going on, on a number of fronts.”
Corbyn issued a statement to accuse the media and his political opponents of having overstated the scale of the problem and say “I do not accept all” of the EHRC findings.
The EHRC concluded the party was responsible for unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination and found evidence of “political interference” in the complaints process by Corbyn’s office.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Exempt Babies From Two Person Lockdown Rule To Help Mothers, Government Told

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The government has agreed to change its new lockdown rules for England so parents of young children can meet up with each other.
Under the restrictions that come into force on Thursday, people are only allowed to meet with one person outside from another household.
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The initial plans counted a parent and their baby as two people. This would have meant a mother or father would have been unable to meet up with another person while looking after their child.
MPs had called on the government to loosen the rule before it comes into force.
On Sunday afternoon, health minister Nadine Dorries announced children under school age who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside.
Children under school age who are with their parents will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside. This will mean that a parent can see a friend or family member with their baby or young children. — Nadine Dorries 🇬🇧#StayAlert (@NadineDorries) November 1, 2020
Children and adults who are dependent on round-the-clock care, such as those with severe disabilities, will also be included. The guidance will be updated to reflect this. — Nadine Dorries 🇬🇧#StayAlert (@NadineDorries) November 1, 2020
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Conservative MP Alicia Kearns had called for the rule to be amended on Sunday. “As we prepare to go into a second lockdown, it’s important that we support new mums. I remember the loneliness,” she said on Twitter.
“I’ve asked for any parent with a baby to be able to meet, and also that it’s children under school age.
The MP for Rutland and Melton said it was important that “two new mums can meet together in lockdown”.
She added: “I recognise the goal of lockdown is to reduce contact between different households.”
Labour MP Stella Creasy added: “Hard to see how a baby is distinct from parent in transmission stakes at such a young age and given growing crisis of post natal maternal health vital mums not stuck at home this next month.”
Pregnant Then Screwed said it understood the importance of reducing the spread of coronavirus, but also called for a change.
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“But babies under 18 months should not be counted in these figures. New mums are having a hard enough time as it is,” the charity said.
’They need support and company from other mothers to improve their mental health.
“If they are breastfeeding they have no other choice but to go everywhere with their baby. Have new mothers been forgotten here?”
In Scotland, children under 12 do not count towards its household limit rules.
From Thursday, pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential retail will close from Thursday for four weeks across England, with furlough payments at 80% extended for the duration of the new measures.
Yet unlike in the lockdown during the first wave of the pandemic, schools, colleges and nurseries will remain open.
Boris Johnson said the restrictions would end on December 2, when the government would reintroduce local restrictions based on the latest data and trends.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Michael Gove Denies Leaking News Of Second England Lockdown

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Michael Gove has insisted he did not leak details of England’s second national lockdown before the government intended to announce them.
The Cabinet Office minister was present in a meeting with Boris Johnson, chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Matt Hancock where the new rules were discussed.
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Details of the plan were reported in The Times on Friday evening, with the paper revealing the prime minister was due to hold a press conference on Monday to announce them. The Daily Mail and The Sun also carried similar stories.
Johnson subsequently held a cabinet meeting on Saturday morning and held a press conference in the evening to reveal the decision.
Johnson has launched an inquiry the find the source of the stories.
Asked by Andrew Marr on the BBC if he leaked the information, Gove replied: “No.” Asked if he knew who leaked it, he said: “No.”
Gove also confirmed on Sunday morning the four-week national lockdown could be extended beyond December 2 if coronavirus infection rates do not significantly fall.
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Speaking to Sky News, he said he believed the restrictions would bring down the R value, but warned that people may have to stay at home for longer if not.
Pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential retail will close from Thursday for four weeks across England, with furlough payments at 80% extended for the duration of the new measures.
People will be allowed to exercise and socialise in public spaces outside with their household or one other person, but not indoors or in private gardens, and will be able to travel to work if they cannot work from home.
Yet unlike in the lockdown during the first wave of the pandemic, schools, colleges and nurseries will remain open.
Asked during an interview on Ridge On Sunday whether the national lockdown could be extended, Gove replied: “Yes.”
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He said: “We want to be in a position where we can – and I believe that this is likely to be the case – have an approach where if we bring down the rate of infection sufficiently we can reduce measures nationally and also reduce measures regionally.
“Because the regional approach is one that, wherever possible, we want to take because again we recognise it may be the case in the future that having reduced R below 1, having reduced national restrictions, we may see a specific upsurge in specific areas which will require specific regional measures.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Iain Duncan Smith Claims Government Has 'Given In To Science' Over Lockdown

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Iain Duncan Smith has claimed the government has “given in to the scientific advisers” over its decision to impose a second national coronavirus lockdown.
In a series of tweets, the Tory MP and former minister said the way in which Boris Johnson had been “pressurised” by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) was “unprecedented”.
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He added: “Normally, advisers advise & ministers decide. Yet that system has broken down with Sage believing its advice to be more like commandments written on stone and its members publicly lecturing the government over the airways when it disagrees.
“This is despite the fact that many of its recommendations have been hotly disputed by other reputable scientists.”
The PM's announcement of #2ndLockdown is a body blow to the British people. Just as the economy was picking up, even giving cause for optimism, we're now to impersonate the Grand Old Duke of York, giving in to the scientific advisers & marching England back into another lockdown. — Iain Duncan Smith MP (@MPIainDS) November 1, 2020
The way that the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has pressurised the Government into taking this decision has been unprecedented. Normally, advisers advise & ministers decide. Yet that system has broken down... — Iain Duncan Smith MP (@MPIainDS) November 1, 2020
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...with Sage believing its advice to be more like commandments written on stone and its members publicly lecturing the Government over the airways when it disagrees. This is despite the fact that many of its recommendations have been hotly disputed by other reputable scientists. — Iain Duncan Smith MP (@MPIainDS) November 1, 2020
Duncan-Smith’s comments come despite the fact Sage has been recommending stricter lockdown measures for weeks and it was only after the latest data showed infection rates were rising sharply.
On Saturday afternoon the UK surpassed one million confirmed Covid-19 cases.
It has become clear in recent weeks that coronavirus is now spreading faster than even the worst predictions of scientists. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey found cases have “continued to rise steeply” with an average of 51,900 new cases per day of Covid-19 in private homes between October 17 and 23.
This represents a 47% jump in cases in just one week.
Government scientists now believe deaths could reach 500 per day within weeks, with the toll already topping 300 twice in the past seven days.
"The people of this country have had enough of experts" https://t.co/buWvHIobRK — jon henley (@jonhenley) November 1, 2020
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Advisers called for a circuit breaker almost six weeks ago, but as the number of cases and hospitalisations continued to escalate it became clear that two weeks of restrictions would no longer be enough to control the virus and drive down the reproduction number, or R value, of the virus below one.
The moves are also designed to address the problem of pressure on the nation’s hospitals to cope with a second wave. A recent meeting of Sage found the rate of infections and hospital admissions was now “exceeding the reasonable worst case scenario planning levels”.
Separate figures from the Zoe app study run by King’s College London suggests the number of daily new Covid-19 cases in the UK is continuing to steadily increase, but is not surging.
“Giving in to the scientific advisers” is a sentence that sums up the absolute depths of stupidity within the Conservative Party at the current time. https://t.co/FUuFIxiPoh — Dave Jones 🏴🏳🌈 (@WelshGasDoc) November 1, 2020
Researchers there said there are currently 43,569 daily new symptomatic cases of Covid in the UK on average over the two weeks up to October 25 (excluding care homes).
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Elsewhere, Michael Gove on Sunday admitted England’s four-week national lockdown could be extended beyond December 2 if coronavirus infection rates do not significantly fall.
The Cabinet minister said he believed the restrictions announced by Boris Johnson would bring down the R value, but warned that people may have to stay at home for longer if not.
Yeah, it's totally beyond me why would you ever listen to scientific advisors on a scientific matter of deadly viral pandemic that killed tens of thousands of people in the first wave when you delayed the action thinking you know better. Totally baffling. https://t.co/lCqtp8qUZ4 — Jakub Krupa (@JakubKrupa) November 1, 2020
Pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential retail will close from Thursday for four weeks across England, with furlough payments at 80% extended for the duration of the new measures.
People will be allowed to exercise and socialise in public spaces outside with their household or one other person, but not indoors or in private gardens, and will be able to travel to work if they cannot work from home.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Brooklyn Beckham’s Huge Neck Tattoo Of His Fiancée's Eyes Is A Serious Commitment

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Happy 1 year anniversary baby. I’m the luckiest person to have you by my side x I can not wait to grow old with you and start a family with you ❤ love you so much ❤❤


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--5 Unanswered Questions About The New National Coronavirus Lockdown

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England’s new coronavirus lockdown begins on Thursday, sparking a sombre sense of deja vu across the country.
The unwelcome news was made in a hastily arranged but then repeatedly delayed press conference on Saturday evening and while Boris Johnson spoke at length, a number of questions remain unanswered...
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When will it end?
Johnson said he expects the lockdown to remain in for four weeks until December 2 – but those with longer memories will recall the March measures had an expected timeframe of at least three weeks.
Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sunday morning, Michael Gove said if the data on the spread of the virus doesn’t improve then the full national lockdown will continue.
The Cabinet Office minister said the government would be “driven by the data” when it came to making the decision.
Does that mean Christmas is cancelled?
Possibly but it’s just too early to tell. Johnson warned that Christmas could be “very different” this year, but offered a glimmer of hope that families may be able to be together after the lockdown.
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He said: “It is my sincere hope and belief that by taking tough action now we can allow families across the country to be together.”
Why was the announcement such a shambles?
Multiple newspapers learned on Friday that the PM would take the drastic step of plunging England into another national lockdown, despite the announcement being planned for Monday.
No. 10 was forced to hastily arrange a press conference for Saturday after the information became public, amid outrage that newspapers should learn of the new measures through leaks or official selective briefings.
In a move to placate anger in his own party, Johnson sent a message to Conservative MPs on WhatsApp to apologise and warn there are “no easy short term options”.
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“Folks – so sorry that you’ve had to hear about all this from the newspapers today,” he wrote in a message seen by the PA news agency.
“Let me assure you that the leak was not a no10 briefing and indeed we have launched an inquiry to catch the culprit. I had hoped to make the announcement in parliament on Monday but to avoid any further uncertainty I’ll now do a press conference from Downing Street this evening.”
What happens if you’ve already been made redundant?
One of the more positive aspects of the press conference was the PM’s announcement that the furlough scheme would be extended to cover the new lockdown period.
Johnson said the government will extend furlough payments at 80% to December and he was sorry about the hardship that businesses have already endured this year.
But the original furlough scheme was due to end yesterday meaning many businesses will have already made decisions on redundancies
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Worth remembering: furlough was due to end today and firms have already made decisions accordingly. https://t.co/ZYJ3lAXizJ — Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) October 31, 2020
Why is the government paying 80% of wages after haggling with regional mayors over 67%?
The national furlough scheme was set to be replaced with the new job retention scheme at the end of October – which would mean those out of work due to the virus would be paid only 67% of their wages compared with the 80% they were afforded when the country first went into lockdown.
It was this 67% figure that regions going into the now defunct Tier 3 restrictions had been haggling over.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson told BBC News on Sunday: “It’s interesting as well, isn’t it, that of course yesterday evening they announced that the furlough scheme would return at 80%, something that Andy Burnham, Steve Rotheram, leaders of the north, myself included, have been calling for.
“That’s the point about contempt… that they dismissed the North’s call for the furlough scheme to be introduced in Tier 3 but now have all of a sudden found the 80% furlough scheme for a Tier 4 or national lockdown.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Giant Billboards Taunt Ivanka Trump And Jared Kushner Over Covid

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A pair of provocative billboard ads that drew a lawsuit threat for skewering Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner took a cruise down to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago golf resort.
The ads, which bash the two White House senior advisers for their attitude to America’s Covid-19 death toll, have been drawing crowds at New York’s Times Square. But their Lincoln Project creators wanted to catch eyes in Florida heading into election day, too.
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The anti-Trump Republican group has also arranged for digital versions of the ads on a truck to circle Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue.
.@jaredkushner and @IvankaTrump demanded we take the billboards down.
They threatened to sue @ProjectLincoln for “enormous” sums.
In honor of their demands, here is the boat we hired, on its way to Mar-A-Lago.
And our digital billboard truck circling Trump Tower in NYC. pic.twitter.com/pZmqvRIrvL — Ron Steslow (@RonSteslow) October 30, 2020
The Florida billboard versions are floating off Mar-a-Lago all weekend, then will head to the waters off Miami.
Lincoln Project co-founder Ron Steslow told Florida Politics that the move is part of the group’s “psy ops” attacks, aimed at the “friends and family” of the president – as well as at New Yorkers wintering in South Florida.
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The ads feature Kushner and Ivanka Trump beaming next to the number tallying America’s Covid-19 deaths. New Yorkers are “going to suffer, and that’s their problem,” Kushner is quoted as saying.
The couple’s lawyer fired off a letter last week blasting the ads as “outrageous and shameful libel,” and demanded they be removed or he would sue. Attorney Marc Kasowitz insisted that Ivanka Trump had never made the gesture on the billboard, and that Kushner had never uttered such a callous comment.
In fact, the first daughter did make the gesture while posing on Twitter with a can of Goya beans after the company’s CEO praised her dad. And Kushner did say those words, according to a Vanity Fair report last month.
Lincoln Project lawyer Matthew Sanderson fired back that the ads were staying, and that he would love to depose all witnesses in the event of a lawsuit.
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“Please peddle your scare tactics elsewhere,” he wrote in a letter to Kasowitz. “The Lincoln Project will not be intimidated by such empty bluster.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--US Police Pepper-Spray Children Demonstrating Near Polling Station

In a startling scene on Saturday, North Carolina police pepper-sprayed a group of mostly Black demonstrators, including young children, who were marching to the polls to vote in the US election.
State attorney general Josh Stein fired off a statement soon after, warning that voters have a “constitutional right to cast their vote safely and securely, without threats or intimidation.”
My statement on today’s incident in Graham, NC:
All eligible voters in North Carolina have a constitutional right to cast their vote safely and securely, without threats or intimidation. After today’s troubling events in Alamance County, I went to the courthouse in Graham ... 1/ — Josh Stein (@JoshStein_) October 31, 2020
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About 200 people participated in the I Am Change march from a church to the polls to encourage people to vote in the town of Graham in Alamance County. It was organised by a local pastor and included the mayor of nearby Burlington.
After the crowd took a knee in the street for 8 minutes of silence to remember Minneapolis police victim George Floyd, deputies ordered them to disperse and began arresting people and pelting them with pepper spray, reported The Raleigh News & Observer. Police also reportedly used pepper spray at other points in the march.
At least three children became ill from the spray, according to the newspaper.
The deputies also dismantled a sound system set up for speakers in the courthouse square as part of the demonstration.
UPDATED: “Melanie Mitchell said her 5- and 11-year-old daughters were pepper-sprayed just after the moment of silence. She said Graham police approached the crowd assembled in the street ... and soon began spraying pepper spray. ... Both kids threw up.” https://t.co/bXCdqK2LFp — Robyn Tomlin ❤📰 (@robyntomlin) October 31, 2020
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The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement on Twitter saying that “unfortunately the rally in Graham ended due to concerns for the safety of all.”
The Graham Police Department issued a lengthy statement saying that organisers failed to get a road closure permit for the 8 minutes of silence, and that police aimed “pepper based vapour” toward the ground to disperse the crowd.
Unfortunately the rally in Graham ended due to concerns for the safety of all. — Alamance County Sheriff's Office (@SheriffAlamance) October 31, 2020
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” marcher Faith Hill told The News & Observer. “I think it was their intention, from the moment this march was announced, that we don’t get to the polls in numbers.”
Democratic congressional candidate Scott Huffman, who participated in the march, railed against the police action in a Twitter video, his eyes still smarting from the pepper spray.
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Peaceful protests for Souls to the Polls & Black Lives Matter turned violent because law enforcement tried to take the sound equipment. Proper permits were issued #BLM #SoulsToThePolls pic.twitter.com/wJlqH3ZNaN — Scott Huffman For Congress (@HuffmanForNC) October 31, 2020
Veronica Holman said her 3-year-old great-nephew threw up after being pepper-sprayed as they sat across the street from the courthouse. “They didn’t warn us or anything,” she told The News & Obsderver. “We were just sitting on the wall.”
Twelve people were reportedly arrested, including a journalist and and a campaign manager for a county commissioner candidate.
It was the last day of early voting.
Stein tweeted later Saturday that the situation had calmed down, and that everyone who wanted to vote apparently managed to do so. He said he had “reached out” to the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office.
... and all is calm now. I reached out to the State Board of Elections and was informed that the events appear not to have impacted voting at the early voting location. The site there was calm, and the voters got in line and voted. 2/ — Josh Stein (@JoshStein_) October 31, 2020
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“We’re still gathering information but it appears that voting has continued and hasn’t been interrupted,” said Patrick Gannon, spokesman for the State Board of Elections.
“This is a non-partisan march,” key organiser Rev. Gregory Drumwright said earlier this month when announcing event. “This march is encouraging people to go to the polls and vote for change.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Second England Lockdown Could Be Extended Beyond December 2, Says Michael Gove

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The four-week national lockdown in England could be extended beyond December 2, Michael Gove has confirmed.
Pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential retail will close for a month from Thursday across the country.
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People will be allowed to exercise and socialise in public spaces outside with their household or one other person, but not indoors or in private gardens, and will be able to travel to work if they cannot work from home.
Unlike in the lockdown during the first wave of the pandemic, schools, colleges and nurseries will remain open.
Asked in an interview with Sky News’ Ridge on Sunday if the lockdown could be extended beyond December 2, Gove said: “Yes.”
The Cabinet Office minister said the government would be “driven by the data” when it came to making the decision. “We are going to review it on December 2,” he added.
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“It’s our hope, on the basis on the analysis, that we have that we will have significantly reduced the reinfection rate,” Gove said.
“We will always take the decision in the national interest, based on evidence.
“With a virus this malignant, and with its capacity to move so quickly, it would be foolish to predict with absolute certainty what will happen in four weeks’ time, when over the course of the last two weeks its rate, its infectiousness and its malignancy have grown.”
Sage member Jeremy Farrar also suggested restrictions could need to be extended, saying that while December 2 was a useful target, “I just don’t think we can become fixed on it”.
If infections, hospital admissions and deaths have not dropped sufficiently, he said: “It would be much better to extend this lockdown for another couple of weeks prior to the Christmas period – and then loosen the restrictions a little bit over Christmas so that people can meet up with their families.
“Much better to do that than remove these restrictions and then have to impose even more draconian restrictions over Christmas or soon into the new year.”
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It emerged earlier in October that government scientific advisers called for a short lockdown in September. But Boris Johnson rejected the suggestion.
The British Medical Association also said it was “regrettable that warnings from Sage were not actioned as long ago as 21 September”.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Johnson warned that Christmas could be “very different” this year, but tried to offer a glimmer of hope that families may be able to be together.
But Sir Mark Walport, former chief scientific adviser, told Ridge on Sunday it was “unlikely” Christmas would be normal.
“The virus, I’m afraid, is sublimely indifferent as to what day of the week it is and indeed whether it is Christmas or any other festival,” he said.
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MPs will vote on the new lockdown measures in the Commons on Wednesday ahead of their introduction at 00.01 on Thursday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Victoria’s Creepy And David’s Cute As The Beckhams Go All Out To Celebrate Halloween In Spooky Style

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Victoria and David Beckham weren’t going to let a global pandemic get in the way of the celebrating Halloween this year.
In fact, the couple went all out to make this year’s Halloween one to remember.
But Victoria and David had decidedly different approaches to the festivities.
Victoria opted for gothic chic in a vampish black dress and skeleton hand belt, which she completed with a Pennywise mask. Well they are very on trend this year.
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Captioning the snap, Victoria wrote: “Check out Mrs Adams!! X I love you @davidbeckham x Happy Halloween.”
David, on the other hand, favoured cute over creepy and went for a pumpkin-print jumper and fangs, which he coordinated with his daughter, Harper.
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To complete the look, the couple used dry ice, twinkling lights and carved pumpkins around their home in LA.
Earlier this week it was reported that the Beckhams and their brood are set to be the subject of a £16 million fly-on-the-wall Netflix documentary.
The film, which will reportedly be co-produced by David Beckham’s Studio 99, will chart the couple’s relationship and rise to international fame.
Archive footage will include old videos of birthdays, Christmas holidays and special occasions, as well as the couple’s early dates.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Sean Connery’s Wife Reveals Dementia Had ‘Taken Its Toll’ On James Bond Star As She Pays Tribute To

Sean Connery’s Wife Reveals Dementia Had ‘Taken Its Toll’ On James Bond Star As She Pays Tribute To ‘Model Of A Man’

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Sir Sean Connery’s wife has revealed the James Bond star’s final months were blighted by dementia but the actor “got his final wish to slip away without fuss”.
The screen legend, who died on Saturday at the age of 90, was a “gorgeous model of a man” according to his wife Micheline Roquebrune, who has paid tribute to the Oscar-winner.
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Michelin, who was married to the Scottish actor for 45 years, told the Daily Mail that he had died peacefully in his sleep.
Sir Sean Connery and his wife Micheline Roquebrune EMPICS Entertainment
“He had dementia and it took its toll on him,” she said. “He got his final wish to slip away without any fuss.
“It was no life for him. He was not able to express himself latterly. At least he died in his sleep and it was just so peaceful. I was with him all the time and he just slipped away. It was what he wanted.
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The 91-year-old Moroccan-French painter, who met the Sean in 1970 at a golf tournament and became his second wife, added: “He was gorgeous and we had a wonderful life together. He was a model of a man.
“It is going to be very hard without him, I know that. But it could not last forever and he went peacefully.”
Charles Eshelman via Getty Images
Sir Sean was best known for his iconic portrayal of James Bond. He was the first to bring 007 to the big screen, appearing in seven of the spy thrillers.
Tributes poured in from the entertainment world on Twitter after his death was announced by his family.
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Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said he had “revolutionised the world with his gritty and witty portrayal of the sexy and charismatic secret agent.”
“He is undoubtedly largely responsible for the success of the film series and we shall be forever grateful to him,” they added in a statement.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--'I Want To Go Home' – Trapped Students Say They Were Lured To University For Their Cash

Despairing students locked down in halls of residence feel they were lured to university with false promises – and many now desperately want to go back home.
With huge outbreaks of coronavirus at many universities across the country and thousands of students trapped in tiny rooms surrounded by people they barely know, and many universities now having abandoned face-to-face teaching altogether in favour of online lectures, students are questioning why they went away to study in the first place.
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They told HuffPost UK they believe they were sold false dreams of life on “Covid-safe” campuses in an attempt to secure their money for tuition fees and accommodation.
Jen Varlow, 18, left her home in York to study history and politics at the University of Sheffield after the A-levels predicted grades fiasco saw her lose her first-choice place at Nottingham University.
All the same, she had been excited and looking forward to the university experience.
“Right from moving in day, I realised things would be completely different from what I’d thought,” she told HuffPost UK.
“We were only given 90-minute slots to move in and could only take one family member with us. I’d originally planned to go with my mum, dad and sister but it ended up just being me and my mum and I had to say my goodbyes to everyone else beforehand.
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“It was nothing like I imagined moving in day at university to be when I was younger. I always thought it would be exciting. But it was really stressful and it was a rush to get everything in the room in the time frame.”
Jen began settling into university life and getting to know her fellow students. But on the Monday of her second week, one of her flatmates came down with coronavirus symptoms so 11 of them had to self isolate.
A couple of days later, Jen got symptoms and was quite poorly. “It was a scary experience,” she said. “I was with people I’d never met before and all of a sudden, we were stuck with each other for 24 hours a day.
“Luckily, we all got on well and there were no fall-outs. Everyone was angry and sad at the situation, but not at each other.”
Jen told HuffPost UK that the university experience is “non existent” and that when she was self isolating the online provision was “terrible” – although lectures have now been moved online.
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“I emailed one of my tutors to say I was self-isolating and wouldn’t be able to attend the in-person seminar, hoping they would be able to set up a zoom link.
“But I was told the expectation was for students to be there in person so they wouldn’t be setting up a live link.”
Jen said she had been torn about whether to go to university or defer for a year. Now, she just wants to go back home and would rather do online learning from York than risk going to in-person lessons.
“I cannot describe how badly I want to go home,” she told HuffPost UK. “I’m not homesick and I love uni – just not in the middle of a global pandemic.
“I believe university students were badly let down and lied to. They told us it would be Covid-safe and we would get the same university experience and then once we had signed our rental agreements, we were trapped in a tiny room not being able to see anyone.
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“It feels like a thinly veiled attempt to get our money and then just abandon us.
“I know university is what I want and it is the right path for me as I want to become a lawyer. But I am not getting what I paid for and feel we were brought in on promises that weren’t kept.”
Jen says she is also disheartened at the way students are being blamed for the spread of coronavirus, as she says only a small minority are breaking the rules. Most, she believes, are frightened of the virus or repercussions of flouting the restrictions.
“If I could get my tuition fees refunded, I would definitely go home and start afresh next year,” she said.
“Life is uncertain and scary at university and I am trapped in a city I don’t know. I have cried so much about it.
“I just want to go home and be safe with my family.”
“I cannot describe how badly I want to go home. I’m not homesick and I love uni – just not in the middle of a global pandemic” - Jen Varlow, a student at the University of Sheffield
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One mother whose 18-year-old son is at university in Leeds told HuffPost UK how he had been looking forward to university for years – but decided to return home after not having any proper human contact for four weeks.
He was forced to isolate after his flatmate tested positive for Covid-19 within his first week of studying.
“He was sitting in his room isolating because a flatmate he never saw had tested positive,” she said.
“When his timetable came through, he only had one lecture a week at the university and then 11 hours of online tutorials and seminars, some live and some pre-recorded.
“What is the point? He was on his own in a very small room and when he did go to his one lecture a week, it was an awful experience. The students were sat with plastic sheeting between them so they couldn’t talk and straight after the tutorial, they were ushered out of the building.
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“After having a negative Covid test, he has now come home as he didn’t see the point of being there and needed human contact.”
“I feel students were tricked and sent to university purely to get their accommodation money. But they should not be using this younger generation as an experiment.”
She said her son is now back in Essex, which has a far lower coronavirus rate than Leeds – and she can’t understand why the government and universities encouraged the mass migration of students just for them to sit in small rooms accessing online learning.
“His university accommodation cost £6,300 for the year,” she told HuffPost UK. “It just seems a pointless cost when he could have stayed at home and studied.
“I feel students were tricked and sent to university purely to get their accommodation money.
“But they should not be using this younger generation as an experiment and treating them like this.”
A father-of-four from London whose youngest son has recently started studying physics at the University of Manchester agrees that students were lured to campus under false pretences.
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“As parents, we were concerned that students were encouraged to go to university with no assurances beyond being told Covid measures were in place,” he said.
“Our anxiety turned to anger when we realised all lessons were going to be done remotely and the suspicion grew that this had all simply been done to get accommodation money and tuition fees from students.
“They have exploited young people who are innocents keen to spread their wings.”
He said his son tested positive for coronavirus after about 10 days at uni, but has now recovered.
“They have exploited young people who are innocents keen to spread their wings”
“Why were these young people encouraged to go to university when they could have told them to study from home until January, when hopefully things would be better?”
Junior Usina – welfare executive officer at the University of Manchester’s Students’ Union – told HuffPost UK students had been put in a horrendous situation by both the government and universities.
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Junior Usina, welfare executive officer at University of Manchester’s Students’ Union Junior Usina
“The first priority for the government and universities when discussing students going to university should have been their welfare and safety, but this was not considered,” he said.
“Students were fed false promises and are now aware that the campus experience does not exist and many of them just want to go home.”
He said the students’ union has been contacted by many unhappy students and has worked to secure an agreement so students who want to return home can leave their accommodation contract.
“Students were fed false promises and are now aware that the campus experience does not exist and many of them just want to go home” - Junior Usina, welfare executive officer at University of Manchester’s Students’ Union
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But tier restrictions and lockdown measures have discouraged many from moving around the country.
Usina also believes the government’s push to get students to university will backfire by resulting in a greater number of university dropouts and a “national educational depression”.
“Some students might decide to drop out of university and move back home for good,” he said. “Students are frightened and want to go home but don’t want to be liable for their rent.
“Those who want to come back in the future are worried they will lose their accommodation unless they keep paying rent.”
The National Union of Students (NUS) is similarly calling for students nationwide to have the right to leave university accommodation and access education entirely online.
It also wants to see students allowed to defer or drop out of courses with no financial detriment, and for rent reimbursements to be given.
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Larissa Kennedy, the NUS national president NUS
NUS president Larissa Kennedy said: “It is clear that students have been mis-sold their experience this term by universities forced to prioritise their income over the health of their staff and students.
“The detriment this will have on students and local communities is unforgivable” - Larissa Kennedy, the NUS national president
“Instead of using the summer to prepare for this inevitability and mitigate risks for university populations and the local communities they are part of, the government waited until the last possible moment to issue guidance to institutions and we are yet to see an effective testing regime on many of our campuses.
“The detriment this will have on students and local communities is unforgivable. The impact on students’ health and wellbeing has been clearly disregarded – and yet students are being blamed for simply adhering to guidelines and following rules set by the government.”
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Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), told HuffPost UK the situation could have been avoided if the government had listened to warnings that universities and their communities would become coronavirus hotspots without a proper test and trace system and regular testing of students and staff.
Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union UCU
“We urged that only teaching that needed to happen in person such as in labs should resume, but that everything else should be online,” she said.
“Students should have been encouraged to stay at home and we should not have had the mass movement of them throughout the country.”
She added: “Some people are seeking to scapegoat students. But the reality is that many are trapped in halls and are facing the Groundhog Day of self-isolation due to the insistence of in-person teaching which means they keep coming into contact with people who test positive.”
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Grady accused the government of having a “boarding school view” of what university is like and says ministers hadn’t even considered the plight of working class students who need to work to pay their way through university, or the challenges faced by disabled students.
She fears there will be a lot of university dropouts this year and that many students won’t return to university in January after having had such a traumatic experience. “None of their normal coping mechanisms are there,” she said, “and they are trapped with people they hardly know.
“It is so irresponsible of the government and universities to put them in this predicament.”
“The negligence of it all is disgraceful” - Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union
UCU has launched a petition demanding the UK government move learning online at all universities immediately as the total number of reported Covid-19 cases on campuses since the start of term has now risen to over 20,000.
It also wants additional funding to protect students and staff from the coronavirus crisis and for those students who want to return home to be moved in a safe and managed way without any financial detriment.
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“This situation was predicted by all manner of scientists, and in particular, the government’s own scientific advisors,” said Grady.
“Now we have got uncontrollable outbreaks at so many universities and many students are sitting lonely in their rooms.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Matt Lucas Resurrects Boris Johnson Impression To Lambast PM’s Delayed Press Conference On Second Lo

Matt Lucas Resurrects Boris Johnson Impression To Lambast PM’s Delayed Press Conference On Second Lockdown

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Matt Lucas couldn’t resist having another dig at Boris Johnson after the prime minister delayed Saturday’s press conference about England’s second national lockdown for more than two hours.
The PM was so late addressing the nation - originally announced for 4pm on Saturday afternoon - that Strictly Come Dancing was delayed by a few minutes before the BBC relegated Johnson to the BBC News channel.
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Great British Bake Off host Matt responded by lampooning the PM (again) on Twitter.
“So, we are saying at 4 o’clock, we’ll have a 5:30 press conference, and this begins at 6:45,” he joked.
Fellow comedian Jason Manford also joked about the delayed press conference, quipping: “Where’s Boris? Finishing his subsidised 3 course meal in the House of Commons first I suspect! You’re welcome BJ!”
Where’s Boris? Finishing his subsidised 3 course meal in the House of Commons first I suspect! You’re welcome BJ! — Jason Manford (@JasonManford) October 31, 2020
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And Pointless host Richard Osman added: “Boris Johnson should do this press conference with the lights off and a torch under his chin.”
Boris Johnson should do this press conference with the lights off and a torch under his chin. — Richard Osman (@richardosman) October 31, 2020
Other stars also weighed in...
A virus so deadly we’re going to wait till Thursday to lockdown. — Dapper (@dapperlaughs) October 31, 2020
Test. Test. Test.
Why don’t we have a rapid, regular testing system? Why didn’t we use the original lockdown to get that sorted? Why don’t we offer teachers, care homes, workplaces, airports etc regular tests so we can operate confidently? — Susanna Reid (@susannareid100) October 31, 2020
Boris Johnson has to go.
Britain can't endure any more of his rudderless leadership.
U-turn after U-turn, mixed message after mixed message, failure after failure.
He's been an absolute shambles in this pandemic & we desperately need a PM we can trust & who knows how to lead. pic.twitter.com/u3z30eZ2gz — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 31, 2020
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Wonder if Boris will be this late when he’s working in cyber? — Chris Ramsey (@IAmChrisRamsey) October 31, 2020
I’m struggling to take much more of this if I’m honest. It simply just doesn’t add up.
For those in need, hopefully this will offer you some refuge too ❤ https://t.co/tDgrWDBh2y — Kelvin Fletcher (@kelvin_fletcher) October 31, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-11-01--Is Your Child’s School Covid Secure? Here’s How To Check

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If you’ve got a primary school-aged child, chances are you’re now used to a weird ‘new normal’ – one which involves watching them pass through a temperature gun check before they’re allowed in to lessons.
It still feels a bit mind-boggling not being able to mingle in the playground after a lengthy six months without playdates, or casual chats with parent pals, but we all understand the stakes, especially now that Boris Johnson has confirmed England will go into national lockdown once again.
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At my children’s school in east London, the headteacher has gone a long way to alleviate parental concern over coronavirus – sending dozens of emails to lay out the measures the school has been taking to keep students and teachers safe – including a recent plea for people to ensure they keep their children at home if they have any of the key symptoms, and not to be late so the school can maintain a safe and staggered start.
He’s even asked parents to avoid bringing forgotten items into the school office. “Sorry if that sounded like a moan,” he wrote. “These are just tweaks that we need to get right for everyone if we are to keep everyone as safe as possible.”
Javier Zayas Photography via Getty Images
It all helps, both to keep everyone safe and to alleviate the understandable anxiety among parents.
Psychotherapist and author Joshua Fletcher, who runs The Panic Room counselling service in Manchester, recently told HuffPost UK he had seen a spike in anxiety-related queries from clients as a result of Covid-19, particularly when lockdown measures were lifted and the rules became blurred and more confusing. People became more anxious when “they didn’t have the rigid guidelines to fall back on”, he said.
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If your source of anxiety is your children’s school and how it’s keeping pupils and teachers safe, it might be helpful to take a look at the government website, which lays out the precautions all educational settings should be following.
HuffPost UK also spoke to a Department of Education spokesperson, who said that while there “cannot be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach” that fits every scenario, the government has included in its guidelines measures for schools to engage with parents.
“School leaders will be best placed to understand the needs of their schools and communities and to make informed judgments about how to balance delivering a broad and balanced curriculum with the measures needed to manage risk,” the spokesperson said. “The system of controls provides a set of principles to help them do this and, if schools follow this advice and maximise the use of control measures, they will effectively minimise risks.”
She said the government expects schools to work closely with parents, staff and unions – and to discuss openly with parents and staff when personal circumstances, such as being clinically vulnerable, created extra concerns.
“We want all pupils and staff to be back in schools, and believe the conditions are right for this, but some people will understandably have worries that should be heard and addressed.”
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smartboy10 via Getty Images
If you’re confused, concerned, or think you’ve seen something in your children’s school that doesn’t meet the safety guidelines, the best advice is to talk to your school directly. Here are the eight key areas you could ask teachers about:
Health checks
Schools may check kids for symptoms of coronavirus each day. This can include temperature checks and questions about possible symptoms. If someone gets sick, the school should have a process for isolating them, reporting possible exposure to infection, and a timeline of when they can return to school.
Social distancing
Staff are still advised to keep 1m away from children and other staff, as per government advice. A study by Public Health England about schools reopening in June found staff members were more likely to be affected by the virus than students, though not more likely than the general population as a whole
Bubbles
Given how hard it is to get young children to keep apart, classes are now generally grouped together in ‘bubbles’. In some cases, especially where numbers are low, two year groups may be put into one bubble so they can interact with each another. Face coverings In August, the World Health Organisation published a statement about children and face coverings. It advises that “children aged 12 and over should wear a mask, like adults, when they cannot guarantee at least a 1m distance from others”. However, the UK government is not recommending face coverings to be worn in education settings generally. Instead, schools and colleges have the discretion to require face coverings in indoor communal areas where social distancing cannot be safely managed, if they believe it is necessary.
Lunchtimes
Lunch breaks might be staggered in some schools to enable students to get their lunch safely – and without mixing with other classes and bubbles.
Hand washing
Students and staff should wash their hands with soap and water well and often. Hand sanitiser should be readily available as well as access to hand basins.
Cleaning and disinfecting
Cleaning and disinfecting common areas is advised by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Surfaces that get touched a lot (such as bathroom handles and knobs, keyboards, and doorknobs) should be cleaned as often as possible.
If there’s an outbreak
Ask your school what their plan is if there’s a Covid-19 outbreak – and how they plan to control it. Also ask how parents or carers will be notified: by email, text or call? If children are sent home on isolation, find out what the plan is for full-time distance learning.
Lastly...
Remind yourself that kids are less likely to catch and spread the coronavirus than adults. A school with good safeguards in place helps protect students and lowers their chances of getting ill. And if healthy children do get the virus, they are less likely than adults to show symptoms – or to get very sick.