thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Hashem Abedi: Brother Of Manchester Bomber Salman Abedi Jailed For At Least 55 Years

Hashem Abedi has been jailed for life with a minimum of 55 years after being found guilty of 22 counts of murder. He helped his brother Salman carry out a terror attack on the Manchester Arena in May 2017. Greater Manchester Police
The brother of the Manchester Arena bomber has been jailed for life with a minimum of 55 years for mass murder.
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Handing down the sentence, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said: “The defendant and his brother were equally culpable for the deaths and injuries caused by the explosion.
“The stark reality is, these were atrocious crimes. Large in scale, deadly in intent, appalling in their consequences.
“The despair and desolation of the bereaved families has been palpable.”
The Old Bailey heard that the Islamic State-inspired jihadi had helped his older brother, Salman, who blew himself up in the attack after an Ariana Grande concert on the night of May 22, 2017.
The defendant, who had travelled to Libya before the bombing, was extradited back to Britain to face trial.
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The jury deliberated for five hours to find him guilty on March 17 – just days before trials were halted as the nation was plunged into lockdown.
Passing sentence on Thursday, Baker, said: “If the defendant, like his brother, had been 21 or over at the time of the offence, the appropriate starting point would have been a whole life order.
“Not only because of the combination of the significant degree of pre-meditation but also because the motivation for them was to advance the ideology of Islamism, a matter distinct to and abhorrent to the vast majority for those who follow the Islamic faith.”
Prime minister Boris Johnson said the sentencing was an opportunity to reflect on the importance of “tolerance, community and kindness” – all of which were shown in Manchester “in the face of unimaginable tragedy”.
“The Manchester Arena attack was a horrifying and cowardly act of violence which targeted children and families,” he said.
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“Those who were taken from us will never be forgotten, nor will the spirit of the people of Manchester who came together to send a clear message to the entire world that terrorists will never prevail.
“My thoughts remain with the survivors, and with the friends and families of victims, who have shown remarkable courage and dignity.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Majority Of BAME People Support Defunding The Police, Report Finds

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A majority of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in the UK support the idea of defunding the police, according to a new study.
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More than half feel there is a bias against them within police forces and that they are treated more harshly in courts.
Two thirds (65%) of respondents said they feel members of the police are biased against them.
Of these, eight out of 10 respondents of Black and Bangladeshi heritage said “police are biased against people from my background and ethnic group”, compared to around half of those of Chinese and Indian backgrounds.
More than half (54%) said they supported the idea of defunding the police, with women most likely to agree that the government should divert money to preventative areas such as youth work, social care and mental health services.
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Meanwhile, three-quarters of Black people and 71% of Bangladeshi people said they feel they are dealt with more severely in the courts.
Almost three-quarters (73%) said they support the Black Lives Matter movement, but there were fears that they might prompt a backlash from sections of the white population.
About the same proportion of respondents (72%) said learning about Black history should be compulsory in schools, while 65% felt statues of slave traders should be removed from public squares and put into museums.
More than half have witnessed or experienced racist comments being made in public, racism on social media or in the press, or racial abuse over the past 12 months.
Detective inspector Andy George, interim president of the National Black Police Association, said the survey confirmed their concerns around trust and confidence in UK policing.
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He said: “Building strong relationships with ethnic minority communities makes us more likely to understand new and emerging crimes in the community and more likely to receive community intelligence which will allow us to target those causing most harm in the community.
“Now is the time to acknowledge the evidence produced in this report and build long-term strategies to increase trust and confidence in BAME communities.”
The poll also found widespread anger over the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
More than half (57%) of respondents said not enough had been done to protect BAME communities from Covid-19.
People of Chinese heritage were the most likely to list coronavirus as one of the issues most important to them, which may reflect the impact of anti-Chinese sentiment since the coronavirus outbreak.
The report said the results showed there should be action to address the concerns of the BAME communities, given the threat of a second wave.
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It reads: “Given the devastating impact this first wave of coronavirus has had on BAME communities, the Government must do more than simply reflect on what went wrong.
“They must act to put protections in place that directly support those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, and to put a greater emphasis on addressing structural racial disparities as part of an economic recovery plan.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Katie Price Warned It Could Take Two Years To Get 'Back On Her Feet' After Surgery

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Katie Price has revealed doctors have warned her it could take as long as two years for her to heal properly after breaking both of her feet.
Last month, Katie was on holiday in Turkey when she suffered a serious accident while jumping over a wall, injuring her feet in the process.
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In a new vlog recorded before she underwent surgery last week, the reality star and former glamour model set the record straight to those questioning the legitimacy of her injuries, revealing what she’s been told by her doctors.
“The update on my feet, they are saying it will take two years for me to be back on my feet after proper rehabilitation,” she told her subscribers.
Katie Price speaking to her YouTube subscribers YouTube
Later in the video, Katie also says she will have arthritis and feel pain in her feet “for the rest of my life”.
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Taking on her detractors, she said: “For some reason, people think I’m lying about breaking my feet. Number one, why would I lie about it?
“And number two, people are saying ‘oh it’s her trying to get sympathy’. Why do I need to get sympathy? Why do I need to pretend I’ve broken my feet? If anything, that’s aggro, and that’s sick to do that.”
She continued: “So many trolls have literally said… where I had my kneepads on and I was shuffling getting into a car, ‘well if she’s broken her feet, she wouldn’t be able to do that’. The fact is, yes I have, and yes I can.
“Why? Because I’m not going to sit there, moaning, ringing a bell ‘can someone help me?’... life goes on. I’ve broke my feet. Deal with it, get on with it. That’s exactly what I’m doing.
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“Yes, it’s very painful, but what am I going to do? It’s the rest of my life now, I’m going to be in pain with my feet, I’m going to have arthritis in my feet, I’m going to have to learn to walk again, fact. I’ve been told this. If some of you guys don’t want to believe me, don’t believe me.”
Katie also praised her new boyfriend Carl Woods, claiming he’s been “amazing” at helping her through her recovery.
After undergoing surgery last week, Katie wrote on Instagram: “Unfortunately more procedures was needed when they entered my feet than thought, but I’m lucky I have the chance to one day get on my feet again.
“Chelsea Westminster hospital nurses doctors have been amazing and the surgeons totally have my up most RESPECT and absolutely FANTASTIC very professional and have been very honest and straight with me to make me actually sink in my head the seriousness of my injuries.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--This Eight-Year-Old Is Helping Key Workers And Feeding The Hungry

This Eight-Year-Old Is Helping Key Workers And Feeding The Hungry
Eight-year-old Greyson Winfield is helping the people who need it most in his community of Conway, South Carolina. Greyson has been cutting the grass for key workers and helping to feed the hungry in a bid to simply make people smile. He recently started an organisation called “Helping Footprint” which helps buy food and pay bills for families in need.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--17 Awkward Celebrity Interviews That Still Make Us Cringe

True, they’re not usually much fun for the stars involved, and sometimes even we have to resort to watching through our fingers, but we can’t deny hitting that replay button over and over whenever a celeb lands themselves in an embarrassing interview situation.
And as you can see from our collection below, plenty of stars have had things take an uncomfortable turn when they find themselves in the hot seat...
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Dakota Johnson on Ellen
Let’s start with one of the more recent additions to the awkward interview hall of fame. Things here start on an awkward note, when Ellen DeGeneres accuses her guest of not inviting her to a birthday party, only for Dakota Johnson to reveal that, in fact, the comedian was invited, she just turned down the offer.
“You’ve been on the show many times,” Ellen protests at one point. “Don’t I show [that I like you]?”
At one point towards the end, Dakota jokes that the interview is “not going well”, and even jokes about leaving the stage completely, but ultimately they manage to get things back on track.
Fern Britton on This Morning
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And speaking of lost invitations, Fern Britton was unimpressed when she felt she’d been snubbed from a Bafta event celebrating This Morning’s accomplishments, and even confronted Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby about it live on air.
The row eventually crossed over onto social media, at which point it emerged that her people received the invite but didn’t actually pass it along to Fern herself, assuming she wouldn’t have wanted to go.
Mark Wahlberg on The Graham Norton Show
Mark Wahlberg riled many viewers during his Graham Norton appearance in 2013, when he repeatedly interrupted fellow guest Sarah Silverman in the middle of an anecdote, at one point rising from the sofa and sitting on the host’s lap, only to get a little too intimate with him.
Graham said of the interview years later: “I think it’s that sort of thing when you finish drinking, that isn’t the drunkest you’re going to be.
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“You realise when you get home, ‘Ooh, I’m drunker than when I left the pub’. I think maybe there was a bit of a timelapse and he did get very drunk.”
Joan Rivers on CNN
The late Joan Rivers was being interviewed about her new book in 2014, but took issue when she felt the interviewer was asking questions that were a little too on the serious side.
Eventually, the comedian stormed off completely, the final straw being when she was asked about her choice to wear fur on the cover of her book.
Joan later told The Hollywood Reporter: “The CNN interviewer was a news reporter and not an entertainment reporter. She did not seem to understand we were talking about a comedy book and not the transcripts from the Nuremberg Trial.
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“Every question was an accusatory one designed to put me on the defensive.”
Cara Delevingne on Good Day Sacramento
Things started to nosedive early into this promotional interview for Cara Delevingne’s film Paper Town in 2015, when the host called the model-turned-actor “Carla” before she’d even said a word.
Eventually, the presenters on Good Morning Sacramento cut the interview short themselves after noting that Carla seemed “less excited” than she had in recent exchanges and “a bit irritated”.
After the interview went viral, Cara suggested that her British sarcasm had been lost in translation.
Jesse Eisenberg on Say My Name With Romina
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It’s hard to pinpoint the most excruciating moment here. Is it when Jesse Eisenberg tells presenter Romina Puga that she’s “on his time”? Or perhaps when he appears to take offence to her joke about him having a “fat thumb”?
Maybe it’s the immortal line “I said your name into the camera, what else do you want?”, before the frostiest card trick performance we’ve arguably ever seen.
Avril Lavigne on Popworld
Have two people ever seemed less interested in speaking to one another than Alex Zane and Avril Lavigne, particularly when the smell of the city of Venice crops up in the conversation?
Popworld, of course, was known for its irreverence when it came to interviews, but seemingly Avril’s people forgot to mention this to her before she sat down on the sofa.
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Madonna on The Late Show With David Letterman
The Queen of Pop’s appearance on David Letterman’s talk show in 1994 came when her credibility was at a low moment, and this interview definitely didn’t help matters.
She dropped the F-bomb so many times the host was visibly stunned, before going on to ask him to smell her underwear, and inquire if he was a fan of urinating in the shower.
More than a decade on, Madonna later blamed having smoked a joint moments before going on stage for her behaviour.
Peter Andre on Sky News
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“Talk to me about the tour...”
Poor timing meant Peter Andre was booked to be interviewed on Sky News the day after his ex-wife, Katie Price, married Alex Reid... and he certainly did not enjoy being quizzed about the possibility of the cage fighter potentially adopting his children.
The emotional singer eventually cut the interview short, telling Kay Burley: “I’d rather just stop this, if that’s OK?”
Lady Gaga on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
Lady Gaga gave one of her first UK interviews with Jonathan Ross at a time she was emerging as one of the biggest stars in the world, but the chat wasn’t exactly smooth sailing.
The host seemingly didn’t know what to make of Gaga, sipping tea and speaking in a hushed voice, but he wasn’t exactly without blame, asking tired questions a quick Google search would easily give the answer to and asking the singer about the oft-repeated rumour at that time that she had a penis.
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She shrugged off the comment with a joke, but it was still presumably not the way Gaga had been hoping to launch herself in the UK.
Russell Brand on Morning Joe
The awkwardness here kicks in at around the 4:45 mark, when a discussion about Russell’s accent grows into him accusing the morning presenters of “casual objectification”.
“Is this what you all do for a living?” he questioned, before going on to blast their bad manners, as they repeatedly spoke about him as if he weren’t sitting at the table.
It’s safe to say, this won’t be kick-starting Russell’s breakfast telly career over in the States...
Dakota Johnson on the Oscars red carpet
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Another appearance from Dakota Johnson, but once again we’d argue the awkwardness here isn’t actually her fault.
Having already been introduced as Melanie Griffith’s “little girl”, Dakota was clearly not comfortable chatting about her steamy Fifty Shades scenes in front of her mother, who insists it would be “strange” for her to watch the film when pressed on the issue by the host.
Robert Downey Jr on Channel 4 News
And while we’re on the subject of walk-outs, Robert Downey Jr made one of the most dramatic walk-outs ever in 2015, when he took issue with Krishnan Guru-Murthy asking him about his past struggles with addiction.
The Iron Man star later branded Krishnan a “syphilitic parasite”, stating: “I’m one of those guys who I’m always assuming the social, kind of decorum is in play and that we’re promoting a superhero movie.
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“A lot of kids are going to see it, and this has nothing to do with your creepy dark agenda that I’m feeling all of a sudden like, ashamed and obligated to accommodate your weirdo shit.”
Quentin Tarantino on Channel 4 News
Surprisingly, Robert Downey Jr wasn’t actually the first time that Krishnan Guru-Murthy had upset a celebrity with his line of questioning.
Years earlier, he got on the wrong side of film director Quentin Tarantino during this interview about the film Django Unchained.
When the journalist suggested to a link between film violence and real-life violence, Tarantino insisted: “I refuse your question. I’m not my slave and you’re not my master. You can’t make me dance to your tune... I’m saying I refuse.”
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Tarantino then suggested the interview is nothing more than a “commercial for his film”, stating: “It’s none of your damn business what I think about that.”
S Club on Liquid News
“Let’s talk cash...”
This is what happened when S Club were asked about their finances by a pre-Strictly – and, perhaps even more strangely, pre-fringe – Claudia Winkleman.
Spoiler alert: It does not go well.
Meg Ryan on Parkinson
Potentially the OG of awkward interviews, Michael Parkinson and Meg Ryan did not even try to hide their disdain during this interview, with the You’ve Got Mail star later claiming that the host had acted “disapprovingly” towards her.
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“I don’t even know the man,” she told Marie Claire. “That guy was like some disapproving father! It’s crazy.
“I don’t know what he is to you guys, but he’s a nut. I felt like he was berating me for being naked in the movie.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Melanoma Deaths Rise By 150% In 50 Years. How To Spot The Signs

Callista Images via Getty Images Melanoma skin cancer
We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus pandemic. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
Deaths from melanoma skin cancer have risen by 150% since the 1970s, according to figures released by Cancer Research UK.
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Between 1971-73, there were 1.5 deaths from melanoma per 100,000 people, while between 2015-17, this rose to 3.8 deaths per 100,000 people.
The rise is greater in men than women, with death rates in men more than three times higher now than they were in the 70s. One possible reason for this is that men are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage.
Many of these deaths could be prevented, warned the charity, which says 86% of cases are linked to spending too much time in the sun or on sun beds.
Previous figures released by the charity showed rates of melanoma have soared by 45% over the course of the last decade, with young people also developing the disease – rates for 25 to 49-year-olds have increased by 70% since the 1990s. However the issue is still most common in those aged 65 and over.
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The risk of developing melanoma is around three times higher in people who are sunburnt just once every two years, it said, and even reddening of the skin or tenderness is a sign of sun damage.
Shane McCormick, previously a landscaper in the construction industry and now a sales director for paving company Talasey, was first diagnosed with skin cancer on the base of his back in April 2017.
When he was a landscape gardener, he worked outdoors most of the day alongside his dad, who also worked in the industry. “We didn’t really think about covering up or using sunscreen,” he says. “Awareness wasn’t like it is today. I used to be out there working with my top off.”
He received treatment and the results came back clear. But a year later he was diagnosed with secondary melanoma after it transpired his melanoma from the previous year had spread.
McCormick had more treatment that ended in March this year and he’ll now have yearly scans for the next five years, of which his first was clear. He changed his job because of his cancer diagnosis and is urging others to be more sun aware, too – especially given the spate of recent good weather.
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“Taking care of yourself in the sun is just as important as it’s ever been,” he says. “For me this has been a big learning experience. Whilst I can’t change it, I can tell my story and stop others from experiencing what I’ve been through.”
Signs of melanoma
In the UK around 16,200 people are diagnosed each year with melanoma, making it the fifth most common cancer in the UK. Figures show that if the cancer is caught early, 91% will survive the disease for five years or more.
Melanoma can appear anywhere on the body but, according to the British Skin Foundation, is most commonly found on men’s backs and women’s legs.
It can develop from existing moles, but in 70% of cases appears as new marks on the skin. Experts recommend doing a skin check once a month.
It’s helpful to remember the ABCD rule when doing a skin check on your moles. Take note if there is:
Asymmetry: the two halves of the area differ in shape.
Border: the edges of the area may be irregular or blurred, and sometimes show notches.
Colour: this may be uneven. Different shades of black, brown and pink may be seen.
Diameter: most melanomas are at least 6mm in diameter.
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Why have melanoma deaths risen?
The main reason for the rise in deaths since the 70s is the UK’s ageing population, Dr Bav Shergill, a consultant dermatologist and British Association of Dermatologists spokesperson, tells HuffPost UK.
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“However other factors such as increased affordability and availability of foreign holidays, the enduring fashion for tanned skin, and the popularity of sun beds all play a part,” he says.
“Early detection is vital for successful treatment of skin cancer. Therefore, people should not delay visiting their GP if they’re concerned about a potential skin cancer. It is a major source of concern that skin cancer referrals have dropped significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Since lockdown started the UV index has repeatedly reached levels at which sun protection is advised. “It’s commonly understood that sunburn should always be avoided, however what is less well known is that a tan is also a sign of skin damage which can increase the risk of skin cancer,” says Dr Shergill.
“Short of using a self-tan product, there isn’t a safe way to get a tan.”
How to prevent melanoma
Spending time in shade, particularly between 11am and 3pm, and wearing protective clothing should be the first line of defence against the sun, says Dr Shergill. Sunscreen should be regularly applied to offer extra protection – he recommends a minimum of SPF 30, with good UVA protection.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “There are many benefits to going outside, felt now more than ever because of sustained periods of lockdown. But something we should all be aware of is sun safety and how to reduce our risk of melanoma.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--This Is How Common It Is For People To Suffer From 'Long Covid'

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Almost three quarters of people admitted to a hospital with coronavirus suffer ongoing symptoms three months later, a study has found.
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Most of the patients report improvements in their initial symptoms of fever, cough and loss of sense of smell. Yet the study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting ‘long Covid’ is a problem.
Researchers found 81 out of 110 patients discharged from Southmead Hospital in Bristol were still experiencing symptoms such as breathlessness, excessive fatigue and muscle aches when invited back to clinic three months later.
Many were also suffering from poor quality of life compared to the rest of the population, struggling to carry out daily tasks such as washing, dressing or going back to work.
The findings are part of the preliminary results of the North Bristol NHS Trust’s Discover project, which is studying the longer-term effects of coronavirus, so-called ‘long Covid’.
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“There’s still so much we don’t know about the long-term effects of coronavirus, but this study has given us vital new insight into what challenges patients may face in their recovery and will help us prepare for those needs,” said Dr Rebecca Smith, deputy director of research and innovation at North Bristol NHS Trust.
A total of 163 patients with coronavirus were recruited to the study, which was funded by the Southmead Hospital Charity, and of those 19 died. The remainder were invited for a three-month check-up and 110 attended.
Most (74%) had persistent symptoms – notably breathlessness and excessive fatigue – with reduced health-related quality of life.
Previous research from the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust also identified fatigue, breathlessness and psychological distress – including problems with concentration and memory – as the most common symptoms of long covid.
“The emerging evidence is that for some, the road to recovery may take months and it is vital specialist rehabilitation is on hand to support them,” said Dr Manoj Sivan, who worked on the study.
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HuffPost UK has previously spoken to people with suspected long Covid. “I constantly feel like my body is fighting a virus and go to bed hoping for a better day,” said Deborah Foley, 50, from London, after 16 weeks of symptoms. “Sometimes I sleep and other times gasping for air keeps me awake.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Government Agrees Deal With Universities After Exam Grading Fiasco

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The government says it has agreed a deal with universities so all students who achieved the necessary grades will be offered a place at their first choice of institution.
Grants based on the numbers of students enrolled will also be made available to universities to increase teaching capacity as courses swell to bursting point.
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But these will only be for “medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and teaching courses” that are “vital to the country’s social needs and economy”.
If courses are full, students will be offered a deferred place for next year.
It comes after the government announced students would be able to receive grades based on assessments by schools or colleges, rather than an algorithm, after thousands of results were downgraded on August 13.
Prior to the government’s U-turn, exam boards had downgraded nearly two-in-five (39.1%) grades in England, according to data from Qfqual – equating to about 280,000 subject entries being adjusted down after moderation.
A total of 35.6% of grades were adjusted down by one grade, 3.3% were brought down by two grades and 0.2% came down by three grades.
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Universities minister Michelle Donelan admitted in a statement it had been “an incredibly difficult time for students” but added: “I want to reassure them that every effort is being made to make sure all those who planned to, can move on to higher education.”
She added: “This pandemic has highlighted more than ever the importance of our fantastic healthcare services and the need to invest in them.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Schools Minister Nick Gibb Defends Exams Algorithm As 'Good Model'

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Schools minister Nick Gibb has defended the algorithm which downgraded pupils’ exam results as a “good model”, but admitted it “certainly was foreseen” that privately-educated children could benefit.
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Speaking after the major U-turn which saw government revert to using teacher-assessed grades for A-Levels and GCSEs, Gibb said the aim of using computer modelling was to “standardise” and “make sure that there was a level playing field”.
But the exams regulator and Department for Education found themselves at the centre of fury after star pupils when the algorithm downgraded almost 40% of pupils, with poorer students, who are usually taught in larger class sizes, hit harder.
Gibb and education secretary Gavin Williamson are under fresh pressure as results of BTec qualifications were delayed the day before they were due to be published.
While he insisted BTec students would be upgraded rather than penalised, Gibb defended the algorithm.
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Amid reports that government was warned it may punish disadvantaged children, Gibb said it was how the modelling was applied which was at fault.
He said: “The model was a good model, and we continued to refine it.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the education minister added: “The application of the model is a regulatory approach and it’s the development of that that emerged on the Thursday when the algorithm was published.
“And at that stage it became clear that there were some results that were being published on Thursday and Friday that were just not right and they were not what the model had intended.
“It was not intended that a young person who had worked diligently for two years on their A-levels and was expecting an A and two Bs or three As, and turned up at school to collect their grades and they were three Ds.”
Gibb went on to say it “certainly was foreseen” that private school pupils could benefit from the use of the algorithm.
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He said: “That certainly was foreseen because we knew that small cohorts had to rely more on the teacher-assessed grade than on the standardisation process, but that applied to the state sector as much as to the independent sector.”
He also admitted that he was warned about concerns that the algorithm used to determine grades could impact poorer pupils.
Asked about reports in The Times which suggested Sir Jon Coles, a former director-general at the Department for Education, wrote to Williamson early last month to express concerns about the algorithm used by Ofqual, Gibb said: “He (Sir John) spoke to me about it and he was concerned about the model and he was concerned that it would disadvantage particularly children from poorer backgrounds.
“And so I called a meeting therefore with the independent regulator, with Ofqual, to discuss in detail those very concerns.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross refused to give his backing to Williamson.
Ross, who called for Scottish education secretary John Swinney to resign after similar problems with computer modelled results in Scotland, said Williamson should “reflect” on his position.
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“I think Gavin Williamson and the government and the Department for Education will be reflecting on why did they not see the problem that the SNP had to deal with as a result of their actions in Scotland,” he told BBC Radio Scotland.
Asked whether Williamson should quit, Ross said: “That is a decision for Gavin Williamson. It’s a decision for the prime minister, if he continues to have the trust of the prime minister.
“I’m not here to say in your report that I think Gavin Williamson has done a great job and he should continue.
“I think he has to reflect on what happened to so many pupils in England, students who were concerned for four days, because we had the exact same up here in Scotland for a week.”
Labour, meanwhile, has called for the government to publish all correspondence it had with Ofqual over the algorithm.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Strictly Come Dancing's Neil Jones Reveals New Relationship Following Katya Split

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Strictly Come Dancing star Neil Jones has revealed he’s in a new relationship, following his split from ex-wife and fellow professional dancer Katya.
On Wednesday evening, Neil posted a picture on Instagram showing himself cosying up to fellow dancer Luisa Eusse alongside an orange heart emoji.
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Although he didn’t say anything else about his relationship with Luisa, the picture caught the attention of a number of his fellow Strictly stars, including Johannes Radebe, Oti Mabuse, Gorka Marquez and Karen Hauer, who liked and commented on the snap.
Luisa posted her own couples photo a few hours later, showing herself and Neil holding hands while overlooking some water.
“Just you,” she captioned the picture.
Luisa also shared a picture of herself and Neil getting very close in a lift on her Instagram story, posting the same orange heart emoji.
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Neil Jones and Luisa Eusse Instagram/Luisa Eusse
Neil was previously married to dancer Katya Jones for six years, until they announced their split shortly before last year’s series of Strictly began.
Despite the break-up, Neil and Katya insisted at the time that they were still close friends, and would remain professional dance partners.
The pair also took the opportunity to shoot down the suggestion that the Strictly scandal that had taken place a year earlier, when Katya was caught kissing her celebrity partner Seann Wash, was not to blame for their split.
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Katya and Neil Jones at last year's Strictly launch Lia Toby via Getty Images
Both Neil and Katya are expected to return to Strictly when it returns to our screens later this year.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Wonder Woman 1984 Villain Is Partly Inspired By Donald Trump

I don’t want to get political, it’s not about [getting] political. Actually, a huge influence of this movie was also [convicted fraudster Bernie] Madoff. What I was looking at was... the young Madoff story fascinates me, because I’m like, ‘How do you end up being Bernie Madoff?’ And when you really start tracking that story, it’s like, it all started out in a way that made sense, and he was paying it off, and then doing this, and then paying it off again. And then, it’s just like you become an evil dude when you don’t even realise that it’s happening.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Mo Gilligan Joins The Masked Singer Panel As Ken Jeong Exits Due To Covid Restrictions

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The Bafta-winning comedian and chat show host will join Rita Ora, Jonathan Ross and Davina McCall on the second series of the ITV singing competition, which begins filming next month.
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Ken will not be returning because of the pandemic, as he is based in the US and is therefore unable to fly to the UK due to international travel restrictions.
Mo Gilligan is joining the panel of The Masked Singer Channel 4
Of his new role, Mo said: “It’s a real privilege to be joining The Masked Singer team. It’s one of the funniest shows out there and I’m really proud to play my small part to help bring a little bit of joy to the nation.”
ITV has said Ken will remain part of the Masked Singer family and said he “hopes to make an appearance or two during the series”.
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Ken added: “I told the team nothing short of a global pandemic would stop me from coming back for season two! I am gutted because I truly love working with Joel, Rita, Davina, Jonathan and everyone at Bandicoot and ITV.
“Please take care, be safe, and as the title of the show suggests, wear a mask.”
Ken Jeong, Davina McCall, Rita Ora and Jonathan Ross ITV
The Masked Singer is based on a South Korean format, which sees the panel tasked with guessing the identities of 12 celebrities dressed in elaborate costumes.
The first series proved to be a surprise hit for ITV when it aired earlier this year, and was won by former Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts.
The second series will be one of the first TV shows able to film with an audience when it returns to its studios in Bovingdon in Hertfordshire in September.
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SRO Audiences, who handle ticketing for the show, has stated on its website that audience members will be subject to strict Covid regulations, which include people only sitting together if they are part of the same social bubble, temperature checks and Test And Trace forms to be filled in on arrival.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Labour Demands Gavin Williamson Publish All Correspondence Over Exams Fiasco

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Labour has urged education secretary Gavin Williamson to publish all his correspondence about the use of a controversial grading algorithm after a week of chaos surrounding exam results.
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The government had “risked thousands of young people being robbed of their futures” after an “endless pattern of incompetence”, said shadow education secretary Kate Green.
It comes after schools and colleges were told not to issue BTec results to students on Thursday following a last-minute U-turn on grading, following the announcement that GCSE and A-level students would this year be able to receive grades based on their teachers’ estimates.
Williamson has been accused of failing to take responsibility for the fiasco, and is facing calls to quit.
In a statement, Green said: “Gavin Williamson was warned again and again about the problems with the grading algorithm, and each time, he did nothing.
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“This endless pattern of incompetence is no way to run a country. His failure to listen to warnings and to act on them risked thousands of young people being robbed of their futures.
“It is time for full transparency. The Department for Education must now publish all correspondence to and from the Secretary of State in which concerns about this algorithm were discussed, as a matter of urgency.
“Young people deserve to know how they came to be let down so badly.”
Earlier this week, Tory MP Robert Halfon also called to see the minutes of every conversation between the department for education and Ofqual. Halfon, the Conservative chair of the education select committee, said that body’s report in early July had warned there would be significant problems with the algorithm that could hurt the disadvantaged.
We must now learn the lessons from what has happened with the exam results. I’d like to see the minutes of every conversation between the DfE and @ofqual and find out how much this has cost the taxpayer so that it can never happen again. pic.twitter.com/kkg3zpMowa — Robert Halfon MP -Working Hard for Harlow- (@halfon4harlowMP) August 18, 2020
On Wednesday night – with less than 24 hours to go until results day – exam board Pearson asked schools and colleges not to publish level 1 and 2 results in the vocational qualifications to give them more time to recalculate the grades.
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Schools minister Nick Gibb has admitted he cannot give a firm date for the release of the BTec results.
When asked when students could expect to receive their grades, he told the BBC: “Well as soon as possible, but I hope next week.
“Pearson are working to correct and to review those grades and to reissue them.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Selling Sunset's Davina Potratz Still Hasn't Sold That $75m House

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One of the biggest storylines of the last two series of Selling Sunset has been Davina Potratz’s struggle to sell her $75 million (£57m) listing.
Now over eight months on from filming wrapping on the third series, Davina has revealed she’s still not had any luck shifting the ridiculously expensive pad, which belongs to her client Adnan Sen.
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The estate agent thought she had reason to celebrate when she secured the highest-ever listing for the Oppenheim Group during the second series of the hit Netflix reality show, but faced opposition from boss Jason who believed it was overpriced.
Selling Sunset's Davina Potratz Rich Fury via Getty Images
While Jason later insisted he was removing the listing after it failed to sell in its first three months on the market, Davina has confirmed to Metro she’s still working on selling the seven-bed, 10-bathroom property, which is located in Beverly Hills.
“Adnan is still a client,” she said. “He’s a great client and he’s very well aware that the listing is overpriced, but I think he is open to negotiating and potentially working together more.
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“Adnan showed me another one of his listings for $39m (£27m).”
Jason also told Metro that while he had been tough on Davina over the listing, scenes that saw him praise her for securing the property for the brokerage had not made the edit.
He said: “I think what the series focused on was my frustrations over the price, but what I would have liked it to show was my compliments that Davina deserves for bringing in the biggest listing we’ve ever had.
“That is not easy. Overpriced or not overpriced, it’s not easy to convince who has that kind of wealth or those types of properties to choose you to be their real estate agent. That takes a lot of confidence and experience.”
He added: “I was a little tough on Davina… but I think she did a good job and more importantly, she maintained the relationship. He’s got other potential listings for this brokerage.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Great British Bake Off Execs Detail 'Massive Sacrifice' Team Made To Ensure This Year's Series Happe

Great British Bake Off Execs Detail 'Massive Sacrifice' Team Made To Ensure This Year's Series Happened

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The Great British Bake Off bosses have revealed the “massive sacrifice” the cast and crew made to ensure this year’s series could happen despite the pandemic.
Kieran Smith, who is the creative director at the Channel 4 show’s production company Love Productions, detailed various behind-the-scenes secrets from filming, including how 120 people had to live in a self-contained biosphere for six weeks during the shoot so they did not have to socially distance.
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Speaking to Broadcast, Smith said: “So many people rely on Bake Off for work that we knew we had to work out a plan.”
Great British Bake Off's Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith and Noel Fielding Channel 4
Smith worked with Love Productions’ managing director Letty Kavanagh to hire a South-East location in July, where all of the cast and crew lived alongside 80 members of the production team, 20 hotel staff, and around 20 “children, chaperones and dog walkers”.
Prior to moving in to the hotel, people had to self-isolate for nine days and take three Covid tests to ensure they did not have the virus.
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The six-week shoot, which was described as “gruelling”, saw the team work on a “two days on, two days off” basis, while they also built 12 practise kitchens for the bakers to use on their days off.
When filming, producers even worked out a way to transport people from the tent to the nearby hotel so no-one would need to use any public toilets.
Smith and Kavanagh revealed that there was only one coronavirus scare during the shoot, which turned out to be a false alarm.
“It was a massive operation,” Smith said. “It felt like the safest place in Britain.”
He also said new host Matt Lucas, who replaced Sandi Toksvig to team up with Noel Fielding, had also slotted right into the show.
“He was practically living with the bakers,” Smith said. “It felt like he had always been there.”
On Wednesday, it was confirmed on Bake Off’s social media pages that filming on the 11th series had wrapped.
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Filming was originally due to take place in the spring in order for the show to begin airing this month.
However, judge Paul Hollywood, who returned to the show alongside Prue Leith, previously told Radio Times that could “turn around the programme pretty quickly and still have it out in late summer or early autumn”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Trump Will Decide Whether To Accept Election Result Afterward: Press Secretary

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Will Donald Trump accept the outcome if he doesn’t win the US presidential election?
Reporters asked variations of that question twice at a Wednesday afternoon press briefing with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. The answer should have been easy — but as Trump himself has said on several occasions, McEnany suggested that the president may not commit to the election results if he loses.
The first question: “Does the President believe there’s any circumstance under which he could lose the election fairly?”
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The second question: “Is the President saying if he doesn’t win this election that he will not accept the results unless he wins?”
Reporter: "Is the President saying if he doesn't win this election that he will not accept the results unless he wins?"
Kayleigh McEnany: "The President has always said he'll see what happens and make a determination in the aftermath." pic.twitter.com/iH606u3V38 — The Hill (@thehill) August 19, 2020
Ultimately, said McEnany, Trump will “see what happens and make a determination in the aftermath.”
Here’s the thing: Trump doesn’t get to make that determination. While the Trump campaign can challenge the results in individual states and request recounts, ultimate authority in how states conduct their elections resides with each state.
“It is not up to President Trump, and the country does not have to satisfy him that he has lost,” Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law professor at George Washington University, told CBS when Trump suggested in July he wouldn’t respect the results of the election.
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“The Secret Service on Inauguration Day is under the direction of the new president,” Turley said. “Upon the oath of office taken by his successor, President Trump becomes a guest in the White House. If he remains, he becomes an unwelcome guest. If he refuses to leave, he becomes an arrested guest.”
Voter fraud is exceedingly rare, even when voting happens by mail. In Colorado, one of five states that conduct elections entirely by mail, secretaries of state from both parties have concluded the process is safe and secure.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Kamala Harris Slams Trump's 'Failure Of Leadership' In Powerful DNC Speech

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Senator Kamala Harris painted a vision of America that celebrated diversity in her historic Democratic National Convention speech.
The senator from California, who made history when selected as Biden’s running mate last week, spoke live from Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday. (The major political event was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.) Harris said she was “committed to the values” that her mother, an immigrant from India, had taught her.
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“She raised us to be proud, strong Black women,” Harris said of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who died of cancer in 2009. “And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage.”
Harris then spoke of a “vision passed on through generations of Americans — one that Joe Biden shares. ... A vision of our nation as a beloved community, where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from or who we love.”
Harris also criticised President Donald Trump — who has a long, ongoing history of racism — saying that Americans “must elect a president who will bring something different, something better... A president who will bring all of us together — Black, white, Latino, Asian, Indigenous — to achieve the future we collectively want.”
Harris, 55, is the second Black woman ever to serve in the U.S. Senate and is the first Black and first Asian American nominee for vice president by a major political party. If elected, she will also become the first female vice president in U.S. history.
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A short video that played before Harris’ remarks Wednesday featured several Black women speaking about the senator, one of them describing Harris as “someone who can fight for Black people, brown people, undocumented people, LGBT people, disabled people.” It included a clip from an interview in which Harris said, “The litmus test for America is how we are treating Black women.”
Kamala Harris pays tribute to the trailblazers who came before her in her DNC address #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/eZF0VeBQAf — NowThis (@nowthisnews) August 20, 2020
Before Biden tapped her for the ticket, Harris was one of his rivals in the Democratic primary race last year. In one of the most powerful moments in the Democratic debates, Harris called out Biden for his collaboration with segregationist lawmakers early in his Senate career and for his opposition to busing to integrate schools. Harris said she herself was bused to school as a young student in Oakland, California.
But a few months after dropping out of the presidential race in December, Harris endorsed Biden and has since staunchly supported his candidacy.
Harris first appeared with Biden last week after she was added to the presidential ticket. Both she and Biden took aim at Trump, and Harris criticised the president’s “mismanagement of the pandemic.” “America is crying out for leadership, yet we have a president who cares more about himself than the people who elected him,” she said.
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Again on Wednesday, Harris called out how “Trump’s failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods.” The U.S. continues to lead the world in coronavirus cases and deaths, with over 5.5 million confirmed cases and more than 172,000 dead so far. Harris noted that Black, Latino and Indigenous people are “suffering and dying disproportionately” from COVID-19.
“This is not a coincidence. It is the effect of structural racism,” Harris said.
Harris opened Wednesday’s event with brief remarks calling out voter suppression efforts, including “obstacles, misinformation and folks making it harder for us to cast our ballot.” The senator’s statements come as Trump has been spreading lies about mail-in voting being “fraudulent” and undermining the U.S. Postal Service. Democratic lawmakers have called the U.S. postmaster general, a Trump donor, to testify about recent changes in operations that have led to mail delays. These changes have since been suspended until after the election, as outrage grew around mailed ballots possibly not arriving on time to be counted in November.
“We need to ask ourselves, why don’t they want us to vote? Why is there so much effort to silence our voices?” Harris said Wednesday, urging all Americans to create a “voting plan.” “The answer is because when we vote, things change … When we vote, we address the need for all people to be treated with dignity and respect in our country.”
Harris explicitly spelled out where she was born: at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland. It appeared to be a subtle response to racist birther conspiracies spread by right-wing pundits and echoed by Trump, suggesting she may not be eligible for the office of vice president because of her parents’ immigration status when she was born. There is no question of Harris’s eligibility. This is notably a continuation of Trump’s history of perpetuating birther conspiracy theories about former President Barack Obama.
In Obama’s speech Wednesday night, the former president described Harris as his friend and as “someone who knows what it’s like to overcome barriers and who’s made a career fighting to help others live out their own American dream.”
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Harris’s sister Maya Harris, who was chairwoman of Harris’s presidential campaign, introduced the vice presidential nominee, along with Harris’s niece Meena Harris and her stepdaughter Ella Emhoff, who called the candidate “Momala.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Barack Obama Gives Blistering Critique Of Trump’s Presidency In DNC Speech

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Former President Barack Obama, on the third and penultimate night of the Democratic National Convention, delivered a speech skewering the job Donald Trump has done as president ― and lauding his “brother” Joe Biden for his character and political experience.
Trump has “shown no interest in putting in the work, no interest in finding common ground, no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends, no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves,” Obama said Wednesday night from Philadelphia.
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Obama has, over the past four years, largely refrained from criticising his successor, but he minced no words in his lambaste of the president during his DNC address.
“Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job because he can’t,” the former president said. “And the consequences of that failure are severe: 170,000 Americans dead, millions of jobs gone, our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.”
Barack Obama: “Donald Trump hasn’t grown into this job because he can’t and the consequences of that failure are severe. 170,000 Americans dead, millions of jobs gone … our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished.” https://t.co/PPXl9Fh6pU pic.twitter.com/BkJu8Jk5dz — ABC News (@ABC) August 20, 2020
Obama urged Americans to consider voting for Biden, his former vice president, who he said “made me a better president” and who has “got the character and the experience to make us a better country.”
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“Twelve years ago, when I began my search for a vice president, I didn’t know I’d end up finding a brother,” Obama said. “Joe and I came from different places and different generations. But what I quickly came to admire about him is his resilience, born of too much struggle; his empathy, born of too much grief. Joe’s a man who learned early on to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity, living by the words his parents taught him: ‘No one’s better than you, but you’re better than nobody.’”
“This President and those in power, those who benefit from keeping things the way they are, they are counting on your cynicism,” former President Obama says.
“Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy.” https://t.co/EWD6B86mfO #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/wxOD7mONNw — Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) August 20, 2020
Obama ― who officially endorsed Biden back in April ― also praised his running mate, senator Kamala Harris, for being “an ideal partner who’s more than prepared for the job, someone who knows what it’s like to overcome barriers and who’s made a career fighting to help others live out their own American dream.”
“Tonight, I am asking you to believe in Joe and Kamala’s ability to lead this country out of these dark times and build it back better,” Obama said, adding that democracy was “at stake” in November.
“This president and those in power, those who benefit from keeping things the way they are, they are counting on your cynicism,” he said. “Do not let them take away your power. Don’t let them take away your democracy.”
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Other than Obama, Harris, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, were among the other notable speakers Wednesday at the convention, which is being held virtually this week due to the coronavirus pandemic.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Trump 'Appreciates' QAnon Supporters 'Like Me Very Much'

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President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he “appreciates” that supporters of QAnon, the far-right conspiracy movement, “like me very much.”
“I don’t know much about the movement, other than I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate,” he told a reporter in response to a question about QAnon. “I have heard that it is gaining in popularity … I’ve heard these are people that love our country.”
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Trump is asked to shed light on his thoughts about about the lunatic QAnon conspiracy theory. Instead of denouncing it, he says, "I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate."
"I've heard these are people who love our country," he adds, coming close to an endorsement pic.twitter.com/gcvHvuqzIa — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 19, 2020
Supporters of QAnon, which has been identified by the FBI as a potential domestic terrorism threat, believe that an individual dubbed “Q” has been leaving “breadcrumbs” of information online about Trump and others.
Among the baseless conspiracy theories touted by QAnon followers — some of whom have been implicated in multiple crimes in recent years, including armed standoffs, kidnappings and murder — include the claim that Trump has been working to dismantle a “deep state” cabal of liberal and Hollywood elites who traffic children and worship Satan.
When asked directly by a reporter about this claim — that Trump is “secretly saving the world” from a “Satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals,” the president wondered aloud as to whether that was a “bad thing or a good thing.”
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“I haven’t heard that, but is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing?” he said. “If I can help save the world from problems, I’m willing to do it.”
A Twitter account associated with the Democratic National Convention, underway this week, condemned Trump’s remarks.
“Trump is flirting with the dangerous and unhinged QAnon conspiracy theory,” DNC War Room said in a post.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--25 Of The Funniest Tweets About Married Life

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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Wildflower Meadows Are Saving The Bees, And Making Us Feel Great Too

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You’re reading Summer’s Not Cancelled, a series celebrating summer in this new normal. From rediscovering nature and cherishing time with loved ones, to virtual festivals and unforgettable staycations – summer’s still here, it’s just different.
“The green space outside our iconic front gate may look a little less tidy than it once did,” warned Professor John Parnell, chair of Trinity College Dublin’s grounds and gardens committee. “But it will be more colourful and serve as a constant reminder of what nature looks like, while underlining the increasingly important role we all have in protecting our environment.”
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Wildflower meadows are blossoming across the country, with Trinity College only the most recent establishment to embrace ‘rewilding’ – the purposeful planting of wildflowers – after students, staff and the public voted 90% in favour of replacing its manicured lawns with 25 varieties of native Irish wildflowers this summer.
Supplied Dublin Trinity College's wildflowers are starting to flower on campus.
Rewilding public spaces by replacing formal lawns or flower beds with more horticultural diversity seems a constructive way to reimagine how our cities look. But soberingly, there’s more urgency to the practice.
The UK has lost over 97% of natural wildflower meadows since the end of the second world war, due to changes in farming methods – making rewilding an urgent response to a biodiversity crisis, and not just a pretty sight.
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Trinity College isn’t alone – city and town councils across the country are turning roadside verges into wildflower beds and devoting areas of public gardens to wildflowers, as charities including Plantlife and Rewilding Britain promote the benefits of filling public spaces with shimmering and colourful flower beds.
Land rich in varying species of flower and plant is good for the environment, as it provides opportunities for bees, butterflies and beetles to pollinate, species that have been declining in numbers since the 1980s.
These animals then transfer pollen to other flowers, ensuring more plants are properly fertilised, sustaining the plant ecosystem and allowing farmers to grow the fruit, such as apples, strawberries and pears, that we rely on for food.
Supplied Dublin Trinity College's wildflowers are already attracting pollinators
Plus, wildflower meadows are a naturally scaling prospect: whether a meadow is five metres wide or 500, an increase in meadow land allows pollinators to more easily between separate meadows, accelerating the pollination process.
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Culturally, the reintroduction of wildflower meadows has also prompted fresh thinking around how we perceive formality and informality in our cities.
Note the Trinity College professor’s use of the word “tidy”– suggesting tidiness was something this prestigious university once strove for, but no longer prioritises – at least in natural terms.
“I think we are becoming a lot less binary about what we think of as being formal and messy and thinking more about the types of experiences people want in urban environments,” reflects Catherine Greig, a city planner who is currently rewilding central London’s Grosvenor Square. “Words like natural and rewilding are coming up more frequently and people are more aware that immersive planting has a really positive impact on our wellbeing.”
Michele Hallahan, sustainability advisor at Trinity College Dublin, agrees with Greig that tidiness is a redundant, even tone deaf concept when thinking about the future relationship between nature and public spaces. “People are already beginning to see that a ‘tidy’ green space is largely a lifeless space,” she adds.
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“We have killed off 60% of all species (according to the WWF’s Living Planet Report 2018) as a result of ‘tidying’ things, and we are now in the middle of the sixth mass extinction, caused by humans.”
If you’ve noticed wildflowers more, and appreciated them more, this summer, there could be another reason for that too. “Nature became one of our lifelines during lockdown and people have had the chance to reconnect to the vibrant life that is all around us,” says Hallahan.
Grieg agrees that we’re appreciating the beauty and abundance of wildflowers more this summer. “Nature is good for our wellbeing, and we have all just been through a period of time where our access was limited, so this knowledge has sunk into the public consciousness much more deeply,” she suggests.
Emanuele Cremaschi via Getty Images Italian cities have also adopted rewilding techniques
Skyscrapers with vertical gardens to increase biodiversity are a common sight in Asian cities, mostly famously, Singapore. They are also a growing practice in Europe, and the UK is finally catching up – and returning to its meadowed past.
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Grieg notes that even those that don’t work in city planning can see that “the current way of designing our cities is not sustainable.”
“Through making changes in both large and small spaces to the type of planting, we can hugely increase the amount of greenery, bringing all the benefits for people and for the planet,” she adds.
The diversity of the blooms from wildflowers certainly bring people joy. They are more carefree, more natural in a literal sense and more unusual than the formal lawns, and they are now joyous in new ways, with the knowledge that the multicoloured flowers are helping in the fight to save our planet.
“People will see insects and minibeasts around the planting and start to connect the dots about their benefit,” says Grieg.
Joe Giddens - PA Images via Getty Images Gardeners rake the freshly mown meadow at King's College Cambridge, which features harebells, buttercups, poppies and cornflowers.
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Wildflower meadows require significantly less upkeep than perfectly mown lawns – arguably why so many more are appearing in formally formal spaces. Success stories include university settings such as King’s College, Cambridge; Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford; and Goldsmiths College, University of London, to the benefit of staff and students’s mental health. Land has also been meadowed at Gwynedd in north Wales – and even at Stonehenge in Wiltshire.
Experts in the field are exploring the tastier benefits, too – Sid Hill, a Cornwall farmer and gardener, creates ecological gardens, peppered with edible wild flowers and plants to harvest, so it’s not just the bees getting a good feed.
The natural wildflower meadows that older people remember from childhood are often farmers’ fields now, as shifts in agriculture has demanded meadows be replaced by more ploughed land, often covered in pesticides. But now that we have a greater understanding of the benefits of wildflowers – including on our mental health – they are becoming a democratised asset. Campaigners hope soon all towns and cities will have them distributed fairly for all to enjoy.
“The past months have made many people appreciate their green spaces, of all scales so much more and we can see a shift in people articulating this in their conversations with us,” says Greig.
“Being delighted, filled with joy, a sense of magic, connected to nature, a sense of wellbeing; these are all pieces of feedback people have given us when they think about more natural and wilder planting both in terms of spaces they can currently access and what they want from future spaces,” she concludes.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Is Now A Good Time To Buy A House? Some Things To Consider Before You Do

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If you’re umm-ing and ahh-ing whether to bite the bullet and buy a new home at the moment, you’re not alone. While there’s normally a seasonal slowdown in housing market activity over the summer months, the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown has meant the market is experiencing a mini-boom as restrictions ease and people reassess their priorities in life.
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Rightmove reports it’s been the busiest month for sales in 10 years, with home movers putting more property on the market and saying ‘yes’ to more sales.
Homes are also selling quickly. Property site Zoopla said in mid-August, three-bedroom homes were selling in 27 days on average, which is 12 days faster than the same period last year.
Meanwhile Miles Robinson, head of mortgages at Trussle, says in the first two months of the market reopening, they saw an 182% increase in first-time buyer mortgage applications and 176% increase from next-time buyers.
Topp_Yimgrimm via Getty Images
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What’s behind the boom? Well, the housing market came to a standstill earlier in the year when the government introduced lockdown, which has led to everyone rushing to get back to normal once restrictions eased – and also resulted in a bit of a backlog of houses to sell.
On top of that, most people haven’t been too fussed about going on holiday due to quarantine issues – and instead are wondering where they can move to next. Preferably somewhere with a garden if they’ve been cooped up in a flat for the past six months.
Many people appear to be reprioritising where they live, with some recognising that if they can work from home for such long periods, they no longer need to live in crowded and expensive cities and can take advantage of a more laid-back lifestyle in or beyond the commuter belts or nearer national parks or the coast. A lot of people are leaving London, says Rightmove, with the out-of-city exodus driving prices in places like Devon and Cornwall to new records.
Property expert John Howard, who has worked in the industry for 40 years, points out that during lockdown people have had time to assess what they want to do, where they want to live and have, in some cases, decided to bring forward their future plans by a number of years.
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“People are looking to move out of the big cities where perhaps they’ve spent the lockdown period and move to more semi-rural areas partly because they no longer need to go into the workplace everyday and are seeking a better work-life balance,” he says.
“The time of year also has a lot to do with it as well. Traditionally spring/summer is the time most people look to move and get settled before Christmas. Will the property market be so active in November or December? I doubt it.”
Then there’s the cherry on the cake: the stamp duty relief, which has given plenty of people the impetus to crack on and move. Sales agreed are up across all sectors of the market: 29% in the first-time buyer sector, 38% in the second stepper sector and 59% for larger, top of the ladder homes, says Rightmove.
filo via Getty Images
So, is it a good time to buy?
It really depends on your situation. The stamp duty holiday which lasts until the end of March 2021 means it’s obviously cheaper to do so now rather than in a year’s time – it could mean savings of up to £15,000 on properties worth up to £500,000 in England and Northern Ireland, and £250,000 in Wales and Scotland.
But for those first time buyers who already benefited from this tax break, it might be worth holding off until April 2021 when competition starts to ease off again – as competition only drives up prices, and currently there’s a lot of it.
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For those who will save some cash because of the stamp duty holiday, it’s worth noting the money that you save will probably have to go towards stumping up a bigger deposit on a mortgage. The recession means banks are tightening their purse strings when it comes to the amounts of money people can borrow.
“Lenders are more wary about those with smaller deposits and there’s currently a very limited number of high loan-to-value mortgage products available,” says mortgage expert Miles Robinson. “This means it may be harder to buy a home if you don’t have a big enough deposit saved up.”
Some lenders are even saying no to loans from the so-called ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’. Nationwide’s policy states that borrowers looking to get a mortgage that covers 90% of the cost of their home must prove no more than a quarter of their deposit was gifted to them. They want to know people can afford to pay their way.
“If you’re looking to buy a new home, it’s worth considering whether you can save a bigger deposit of 15% or higher to give yourself more options of mortgage deals, and be prepared that deals and criteria are changing regularly,” says Robinson.
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People might particularly struggle to get mortgages if they’re furloughed or self-employed, so it’s worth speaking to a mortgage broker to assess your options and whether it’s something you can definitely afford.
They can help you navigate the system, which can be pretty confusing if you’re new to it. Be aware some brokers charge fees, so do your homework first.
Emma Harvey, director of mortgages at MoneySuperMarket, says “now could be an opportune moment to buy or sell your property” but flags it’s important to have the right borrowing arrangements in place.
MoneySuperMarket is currently getting a lot of interest in fixed rate mortgages on its website as people want security during economically turbulent times. “Whether you opt for a fixed or tracker deal, you should make sure you understand how the product works, for example with any fees or overpayment, and how changes in interest rates could impact your monthly bills,” says Harvey.
“You should also make sure that you’ve budgeted properly so that you can afford your chosen mortgage. Creating a detailed monthly budget is always a good idea and can help you avoid any unwanted surprises.”
sorbetto via Getty Images
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House prices are soaring
The average UK asking price rose to £320,265 in July but that’s not to say you won’t get a bargain in some areas – the top line is: don’t be afraid to haggle. You’re more likely to bag a deal if the property has been on the market for some time, the seller wants a quick sale or you’re the only bidder, according to Which?
Most people will want a good deal if they buy before March 2021, however rural locations providing green space have never been more popular. In some regions, demand is driving up prices, meaning there’s a greater risk of getting into bidding wars and having to fork out even more.
Homeowners are bringing more properties to market than in any month since 2008, according to Rightmove. There are 44% more properties coming to market compared to the same period a year ago, though there are considerable regional variations.
“Home movers are both marketing and buying more property than we have recorded in any previous month for over 10 years, helping push prices to their highest ever level in seven regions,” says Miles Shipside, Rightmove’s director and housing market analyst.
“Those expressing the most desire to move on are unsurprisingly in London and its commuter belt. London has 69% more properties coming to market, with the South East at 60% and the East at 56%.”
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With more buyers in the market, it’s good news for sellers as it could increase your chances of securing a sale – and a decent chunk of cash.
Kevin Shaw, managing director of Residential Sales at Leaders Romans Group (LRG), says it’s unlikely there’ll be a sustained boom in prices as the recession gets underway. This means you *could* end up getting a better deal later in the year when winter hits and prices drop.
But you need to weigh this up against whether you’ll then be putting pressure on yourself to get everything done before the end of March if you want to save money on stamp duty tax.
Expect delays
If you are looking to buy and want to make the most of the stamp duty holiday, it’s worth trying to avoid the added pressure of being stuck in a chain. Chain-free homes are your best bet right now as if the chain that you’re in collapses, you’re back to square one – not great when you’re on a deadline.
Record levels of pent-up and new buyer demand mean there is extra pressure on the lending and legal areas of the home moving process, so it might be slow-moving. The average time between agreeing a sale and moving in was already around three months before lockdown – and is likely to go up.
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Mortgage lenders and conveyancers may struggle to cope with the increased workload, not only now but as pressure rises further in the run up to March 31 when the stamp duty holiday comes to an end.
Shipside says parts of the lending and legal sectors are having to cope with capacity constraints, as some staff will still be on furlough while many are still working from home. “Patience will be required,” he adds. “To minimise the risk of missing the March 31 stamp duty deadline it’s best to plan well ahead. This busy pace of the market looks set to continue in the short term, and although the market has proven resilient since reopening we still need to be mindful of the wider economic concerns as the year progresses.”
Ultimately, buying a house is a bit of a gamble. But if you’re planning on staying there for some time, it’s likely to be a good investment. John Howard says as the recession takes hold, the popularity of some areas (and therefore the house prices) might go down depending on employment in the area. But, in other areas, it might stay the same or even go up.
“The one thing we do know is that over the last 50 years, property prices have gone up more than most other investments,” he says. “The saying ‘make hay while the sunshines’ is, I think, very relevant in this current market – next year and the year after could look very different.”
But Gareth Shaw, head of money at Which?, urges people to proceed with caution. “Despite this short-term boom in the property market, we’re living in very uncertain times and people should think carefully about whether now is the right time to buy,” he advises.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--In Retail, You Get Used To Abuse. But This Pandemic Is A Whole New Level

A pedestrian passes a sale sign in a shop window on Oxford Street in London, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. The British economy is on course to record the deepest coronavirus-related slump among the world's seven leading industrial economies after official figures showed it shrinking by a 20.4% in the second quarter of 2020 alone said The Office for National Statistics. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) ASSOCIATED PRESS
When you start working as a retail assistant in London, you go into it expecting a certain degree of abuse. Small outbursts of annoyance at the length of the queue, or personal comments about the ridiculousness of not having a certain pair of jeans in stock may as well be listed in the job description – it’s something you can get used to. I learned to brush off this behaviour and not let it affect me. Instead, I just smile and nod, and smile and nod.
But never have I seen more mistreatment of staff and abuse from the public than during the easing of lockdown over the last month. On multiple occasions, I have been forced to step away from an aggressive customer who erupted due to a reminder to “please, wear a mask inside the store”. While most respectfully comply, others started shouting their rights down my face about “not being able to breathe”. Others outright said they “don’t believe in it”.
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On one instance, a well-dressed woman approached me asking whether she could try on clothes, holding a pile of five or more items. Apologising to her, I said that “unfortunately, the fitting rooms are currently closed” – which she took as an opportunity to throw the pile directly at my face, and leave the store in a huff.
I stood there speechless, my eyes wide in disbelief. Hangers poking at my cheeks as I clenched the clothes against my chest, a pair of jeans slowly falling off my shoulder to the floor. Humiliated, shocked, livid, I felt so many emotions running through my body. In rage, I dropped the pile and hurried to the bathroom to collect myself back up.
“We retail workers experience the stress of coping with the effects of the pandemic as much as anyone else, without the unnecessary abuse.”
The pressures and treatment from customers has become belittling and dehumanising. I, along with other retail workers, experience the stress of coping with the effects of the pandemic as much as anyone else, without the unnecessary abuse added from shoppers. But what else can I do when an outraged customer is yelling in my face, other than to just “apologise for the inconvenience”, smile, and agree with their impulsive requests?
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Other retail workers I have spoken with have noticed a matching shift in customer behaviour since the reopening of non-essential stores. One even said an angered man threw shoes back at him when he found out he could only pay by card.
Retail violence was already a growing issue prior to the pandemic, and it can trigger huge amounts of stress, anxiety, and even depression. The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) reports incidents of shop workers who experience verbal abuse, threats and assault have doubled in the last month. 62% of UK shop workers experienced verbal abuse, and almost a third were threatened since the reopening of stores. A report by the Time To Change campaign claimed that 36% of retail employees in the UK have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, while Mind is already experiencing an overwhelmingly high demand of mental health services since the coronavirus pandemic, the numbers are expected to grow.
“I wish customers could see things from our perspective, show more compassion, and realise that we are people too.”
I know exactly how this feels. There have been times I have questioned going into work, and even the point of getting out of bed in the morning. The physical and mental exhaustion of dealing with know-it-all customers has risen above my level of patience and tolerance. I keep reminding myself that ‘this is just temporary’ or ‘we are all stressed right now’. But I am tired of making excuses for the shoppers who have no sense of compassion for the retail workforce.
This isn’t our only stress, either. The health and social care secretary, Matt Hancock, said “mandatory mask-wearing will protect shop assistants who can be up to 75% more likely to die of coronavirus than the general population”. And yet, the new government regulations on social distancing and PPE cannot be enforced by staff or store security. Shop workers like me are particularly at risk because they spend all day in confined spaces where public traffic is high, social distancing is minimal, and the virus can spread easily.
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Whereas the majority of shoppers are very understanding and compliant with the new rules, there is a minority who make our lives very difficult and unpleasant. I wish customers could see things from our perspective, show more compassion, and realise that we are people too.
Some of my colleagues have already abandoned their jobss. I do not want to be forced to do the same.
Viktoria Bielawa is a freelance photographer and journalist, and a masters student at the University of the Arts London. Follow her on Twitter at @viktoriabielawa


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Results Delay Means BTec Students Are Missing Out On Apprenticeships And Uni

Monty Rakusen via Getty Images
BTec students could lose apprenticeship places to A-level graduates as they continue to wait for results – more than a week after they should have been published.
While A-level students received their results on Thursday – and won the fight on Monday to get them replaced by teacher assessments – many BTec students have been left without answers.
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Level 1 and 2 courses, usually undertaken as an equivalent to GCSEs, were expected on Thursday, but were pulled on Wednesday by exam board Pearson ahead of a re-grading process to bring them in line with GCSEs. It has not yet been made clear when affected pupils will actually get their results.
Many Level 3 students, who should have received their results a week ago, are still waiting too. But while Level 1 and 2 students are often planning a move into further education, Level 3 students may have apprenticeships, jobs and university places hanging in the balance.
Apprenticeship positions do open up year-round, but as course-leavers get their results in late summer it is a popular time for applications to close ahead of an autumn start.
Jade Walker, 18, from Somerset, was hoping to move onto an apprenticeship scheme after finishing her Level 3 BTec IT course – but without her results she has already missed deadlines for some applications and is worried about falling behind on more as the cut-off dates rapidly approach.
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She told HuffPost UK: “I was hoping to apply for apprenticeships in the next month, but obviously if I don’t have my results I can’t do that.
“It’s really quite different to university – you don’t have a place and there’s nothing just there waiting for you. It’s like a job application, so if you don’t apply in time you can’t do anything about it.
“Some of the deadlines were this week, and some have passed already so I’ve missed out on those. It’s so frustrating and I’m disappointed because I was really interested in some of them and now they’ve gone.”
A Pearson spokesperson has apologised for the “additional uncertainty” imposed on students, adding: “Our priority is to ensure fair outcomes for BTEC students and we will work around the clock to provide revised grades as soon as we can.”
They also said the regrading process was taking place to “address concerns about unfairness in relation to A-levels and GCSEs and ensure no BTec student is disadvantaged”.
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The delay isn’t just impacting students applying for apprenticeships – job applications and university places have also been thrown into a precarious position.
Leo Carr, 19, from West Sussex, is waiting for his results following a two-year Level 3 course in creative digital media production. He’s desperate to start applying for jobs, but without his grades he doesn’t know what he’s eligible for.
“Without my grades I’m just left guessing. I don’t know what to apply for or really where to start,” he said.
“I don’t know anything really about my future prospects, or what sort of career I can build. I’m not sure how the grade adjustment will affect me either yet.
“No one from my course has had their grades yet, but we’ve heard of other people being severely under-graded. There was one person I heard of who had Merits all through the course, but when he got his grade he had failed and felt like he’d wasted two years of his life completely.
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“I’ve put my heart and soul into this course for the past two years, and hearing stories like that has just been horrendous. I’m just sat here, when I was already supposed to have had my grades, not even knowing if I’ll have a future.”
The delay has impacted hopeful university students too. Without their grades they can’t confirm their places or get in via clearing, and all the while student accommodation and courses are filling up rapidly with a cohort of A-level students.
The delay has impacted hopeful students like Maria Oakley’s 20-year-old daughter, who studied BTec Level 3 drama after leaving her A-level courses as a result of mental health problems and is now hoping for a university place through clearing.
“There needs to be accountability for what has happened, and at the moment we haven’t seen any,” Oakley said.
“It’s so unfair that bright, ambitious students like my daughter have just been left in limbo as the universities fill up. It’s so hard and frustrating, and she is suffering terribly while we wait.
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“BTecs are treated as the poor second cousin when compared to A-levels, but there are so many courses and incredible kids doing amazing things and now their lives are on hold.
“They’ve already been through six months of torture with Covid-19, and now this? My daughter is stuck, she can’t make plans, can’t even think about what university she wants to go to – until she sees her results she basically doesn’t have any options.”
Zak Pickett, 21, from Liverpool, is in a similar position. He spent two years studying for a Level 3 extended diploma in aviation operations and is hoping to go to university to study policing, but can’t confirm his offer until his results come through.
He said: “I’ve had very little communication from my college about the mess that is happening – one email in a week doesn’t cut it in my opinion.
“The email came in on Tuesday evening and said we’d expect the results by the end of Wednesday – bearing in mind that nothing about the results being pulled was out yet – so I was eagerly refreshing UCAS Track hoping for the best.
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“I clicked on the news on my break to find out the BTec results had been pulled, and now I’m back to square one, unable to sign anything related to university because I don’t know whether I’m going or not.”
While his university is currently holding his place he said friends of his had been told by their universities that they needed to get confirmation of their results or their offers would be retracted.
He added: “I can’t imagine what some of those other students under their mental health support programmes at college are going through. I hope they’re getting the support they need.”
While the A-level fiasco was reported on widely as results came out, some BTec students feel that their struggle to get the results they deserve has gone unrecognised – especially for those who are not aiming for top universities and instead are heading into employment.
Walker said: “People have always thought that BTecs are lower qualifications than A-levels – I think that really needs to be corrected.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Chi Chi Devayne, RuPaul's Drag Race Star, Has Died Aged 34

RuPaul’s Drag Race star Chi Chi Devayne has died, at the age of 34.
Chi Chi – real name Zavion Davenport – was best known for making it through to the final four in the eighth series of Drag Race, and later returned for the third All Stars run.
Last month, she was hospitalised with high blood pressure and suspected kidney failure, and was later discharged after undergoing dialysis treatment.
She returned to hospital earlier in August, where she told fans she had been diagnosed with pneumonia.
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Chi Chi Devayne at a RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars event in 2018 Bennett Raglin via Getty Images
In the last few days, fans had been trying to raise money to help pay for Chi Chi’s treatment.
Chi Chi’s death was confirmed by Entertainment Weekly on Thursday evening.
A statement from World Of Wonder, the production company that makes Drag Race, said: “We’re heartbroken to learn that Chi Chi DeVayne has passed away today. Her drag spread a message of love and kindness that truly touched each person she met.
“Rest in power, Chi Chi.”
We're heartbroken to learn that Chi Chi DeVayne has passed away today. Her drag spread a message of love and kindness that truly touched each person she met.
Rest in power, Chi Chi. pic.twitter.com/AlTwGR71OU — World of Wonder (@WorldOfWonder) August 20, 2020
RuPaul said in a post on the show’s official page: “I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of Chi Chi DeVayne.
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“I am so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul. She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. May her generous and loving spirit shine down on us all.”
"I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of Chi Chi DeVayne.
I am so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul.
She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. May her generous and loving spirit shine down on us all." –RuPaul (1/2) pic.twitter.com/iN3oT3R2dG — RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) August 20, 2020
"On behalf of VH1, World of Wonder and the cast and crew of RuPaul’s Drag Race, I extend my deepest sympathy - from our family to hers." –RuPaul (2/2) — RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) August 20, 2020
A number of Chi Chi’s fellow queens, including those who appeared on Drag Race alongside her, have also been paying their respects on social media.
Kennedy Davenport – who competed with Chi Chi on All Stars 3 – wrote: “So i guess its true... I am num. I dont know what to even do or say.. my baby Zavion Michael Davenport.
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“You fought so hard i am proud of you. REST IN THE LORD HE GOT YOU NOW. Keep dancing with the stars my angel. Im not ok [sic]”
Fellow All Stars 3 contestant Bebe Zahara Benet wrote: “My heart is breaking. You were such a light, a rare talent, a kind and generous spirit and a force of nature on the stage. Rest well, sister.”
Chi Chi 💔 My heart is breaking. You were such a light, a rare talent, a kind and generous spirit and a force of nature on the stage. Rest well, sister. 🕊 pic.twitter.com/XRkxnjzisq — BeBe Black Lives Matter Benet (@BeBeZaharaBenet) August 20, 2020
Others who knew and worked with Chi Chi, including Bob The Drag Queen, Trinity K Bonet, Kim Chi and Trixie Mattel, have also been sharing their own tributes and memories of the much-loved performer.
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Life is not fair sometimes. The sweetest angels get ripped away from us. The nicest and most strongest individuals. I will never forget your fun and authentic soul. You deserved so much better. — AJA 👑💛🍯 (@ajaqueen) August 20, 2020
Chi Chi was a flawless human being 💛 and nobody will ever tell me different. — AJA 👑💛🍯 (@ajaqueen) August 20, 2020
I’m literally so devastated and sick to my stomach. Wake me up when it’s all over 💔 — Shea Couleé (@SheaCoulee) August 20, 2020
OMG just heard. Rest easy the sweetest most sensitive kind and wholesome angel. ♥ Chi Chi. — Give Us Free (@monetxchange) August 20, 2020
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When I first saw Chichi on tv it made me believe that one day I could be there too. I first met her as a fan and I burst into tears. She hugged me, then we smoked!😉 We’ve traveled together a lot since then. it’s an honor to call her sister. Zavion will forever be missed.😔 pic.twitter.com/JTK3eRKzVF — The Vixen (@TheVixensworld) August 20, 2020
Im literally lost for words! Chi Chi forever a star 🌟 — Vinegar Strokes (@TheOnlyVinegar) August 20, 2020
Chi Chi was so kind to me. At a time I was really low. I’m just sat here in tears. R.I.P you beautiful angel. — Baga Chipz (@ChipShopBird) August 20, 2020
Rest in Power Angel! Seriously one of the nicest people I've ever met. 💔
Zavion Davenport Chi Chi DeVayne we will miss you! pic.twitter.com/Hicbi7rBsA — Ongina (@ongina) August 20, 2020
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❤ Chi Chi was truly one of the most supportive queens. Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts, and try to work towards being the symbol of kindness that she exemplified for so many. We all love you and will miss you. pic.twitter.com/pOLjEN5pPJ — Aquaria 🖤 (@aquariaofficial) August 20, 2020
Rest In Peace to one of the most beautiful queens to hit the @RuPaulsDragRace franchise ❤
love you Chi Chi! pic.twitter.com/iC31NqTJWI — hi it’s me priyanka (@thequeenpri) August 20, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-20--Austria, Croatia And Trinidad And Tobago Added To UK Quarantine List – But Portugal Now Safe

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People returning from Austria, Croatia and Trinidad and Tobago will have to quarantine for 14 days after the countries were dropped from the UK’s list of safe travel corridors.
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It follows a sharp rise in cases of Covid-19 and after the Joint Biosecurity Centre flagged that some UK infections may have been imported from Croatia.
The popular holiday destination of Portugal has been added to the “travel corridors” safe list, however, after it saw its Covid numbers fall.
Scotland has also added Switzerland to its list of quarantine countries.
The changes to the travel corridor lists will come into force at 4am on Saturday, both governments have confirmed.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) and ministers had carefully examined international infection data.
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Shapps, who had to quarantine for 14 days after his own holiday in Spain, said: “As with all air bridge countries, please be aware that things can change quickly.
“Only travel if you are content to unexpectedly 14-day quarantine if required. I speak from experience.”
He said ministers and the JBC examined the estimated prevalence of Covid-19 in a country; the level and rate of change in the incidence of confirmed positive cases; the extent of testing in a country, the testing regime and test positivity; the extent to which cases can be accounted for by a contained outbreak as opposed to more general transmission in the community; government actions and “other relevant epidemiological information”.
Officials said the decision to add the three countries to the quarantine list was based on a “significant change in both the level and pace of confirmed cases”.
The weekly incidence per 100,000 people for Croatia has increased from 10.4 on August 12 to 27.4 on August 19 – a 164% increase.
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In Trinidad and Tobago cases have increased over the past four weeks, with a sharp 232% spike in the number of cases per 100,000 people between August 12 and 19.
In Austria, the weekly number of cases per 100,000 of the population has increased from 10.5 on August 13 to 20.3 on August 20, a 93% increase.
The news is likely to anger holidaymakers, however, who face either a race against time to get home or isolation for two weeks.
Steve Davies, from Yeovil, Somerset, is on holiday in Drasnice, Croatia, and said quarantining when he returns will cost him up to £1,200 in unpaid wages.
“Which is more than the cost of the holiday,” the 50-year-old, who works as a production supervisor for Leonardo helicopters, told the Press Association.
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“The announcements are a shambles with little warning to return. Why can’t the government work two weeks ahead on these announcements?
“I refuse to be panicked and I will not return early. It’s safer here than where I am in the UK.”
Editor’s note. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that travellers returning to anywhere in the UK from Switzerland would have to quarantine. The rule only applies to Scotland.