thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-13--Sonic The Hedgehog Reviews: After A Shaky Start, Critics Have Their Say On New Film

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Film critics have been having their say about the new big-screen adaptation of Sonic The Hedgehog, ahead of its UK release this Friday.
Sonic The Hedgehog has already been at the centre of much discussion, following producers’ decision to push back the release date so the film’s central character could be redesigned, after its first trailer was near-universally panned.
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Unfortunately, despite the film’s redesign, it seems critics are still largely unimpressed with the new Sonic film, with terms like “empty cash grab” and “a nightmare” being thrown around in the first round of reviews (although many pointed out it is, by and large, a film aimed solely at children).
Take a look at a selection of what the critics are saying below…
Sonic The Hedgehog, as depicted in the new film Paramount Pictures
“After a quick redesign, the speedy video-game character is back: less weird-looking, more overtly cartoonish, ready to tear out of the uncanny valley and into our hearts. By the looks of it, though, they should have spent longer in the workshop. Few but diehard fans and young children will be charmed by this predictable, derivative caper.”
“File this one away next to the live-action Alvin and the Chipmunks, the live-action Yogi Bear, and the live-action Rocky and Bullwinkle. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before.”
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“The negative response to the first trailer — specifically Sonic’s disturbing, excessively realistic look — led to the film’s release being delayed and a promise of a redesign. But while the new look is a big improvement, the finished product is, by and large, forgettable.”
“For all the borderline tedium I felt at Sonic The Hedgehog, I do realise that this is a picture made for 8-year-olds. And they’ll probably like it just fine. Yet I would also call the overly kiddified tone of the movie a mistake… Even as they fixed his face, the filmmakers strove so hard to make him “likable” that they never figured out a way to make him cool.”
“There’s no doubt that the new version is a considerable improvement, more faithful to the video game design. But there’s no point having a great Sonic if the movie around him isn’t great – so was it all worth it? Sort of. Sonic the Hedgehog is a diverting and entertaining family watch, but it will likely race out of your memory as quickly as Sonic collects rings.”
“The production may have riled the internet months ago, with furor over the look of its first trailer sending FX crews back to work on a character redesign; but what’s made it to the screen is light-hearted fun unlikely to offend anyone.”
“To me, an adult who liked Sonic as a kid and still has an affinity for some of the games and shows, this movie was not very entertaining. Some parts were pretty good. But this wasn’t made for me. It was made for children.”
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“It’s not a great sign of creative storytelling when a kids film plugs Amazon, Zillow, and Olive Garden in the span of a single scene, without a trace of irony. It’s not compelling evidence of artistic purpose when that Olive Garden joke is stretched into a recurring gag.”
While this family-friendly action-comedy suffers from a simplistic story and leans too heavily on tired visual cliches, Sonic the Hedgehog is nevertheless boosted by solid performances from Ben Schwartz as Sonic and Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik.
Certainly, there’s enough nostalgia-driven humor and connections to the games to entertain Sonic fans of all ages. However, the movie’s formulaic and rather simplistic approach to the world of Sonic and the story Sonic the Hedgehog chooses to tell may be a bit frustrating or boring for those expecting more from the property.
Sonic The Hedgehog hits cinemas on 14 February.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-13--Sajid Javid Says 'No Self-Respecting Minister' Would Accept Boris Johnson's Terms As He Quits As Cha

Sajid Javid Says 'No Self-Respecting Minister' Would Accept Boris Johnson's Terms As He Quits As Chancellor

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Sajid Javid has unexpectedly resigned as chancellor amid Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle, and said “no self-respecting minister” would accept the ultimatum handed to him by the prime minister that undermined his authority.
The prime minister sacked five senior ministers on Thursday morning but Javid had widely been expected to remain in post.
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Rishi Sunak, who had been serving as chief secretary to the Treasury, has been appointed chancellor in his place. He said he was “delighted” and had “a lot to get on with”.
It was understood Javid objected to No.10 seeking to take more control over the Treasury, a move that seemed to be confirmed when Downing Street said said a new joint team of special advisers was being established in between the two departments.
Speaking after the bombshell resignation for the first time, Javid made plain that the proposal was unpalatable.
He said: “I was unable to accept those conditions and I do not believe any self-respecting minister would accept those conditions.”
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It has been a privilege to serve as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Prime Minister & government will continue to have my full support from the backbenches. pic.twitter.com/cFo0fuaqv2 — Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) February 13, 2020
When asked whether the conditions were put forward by Boris Johnson’s special adviser Dominic Cummings, he said they were imposed “by the prime minister”.
He soon after posted his resignation on Twitter, and made a thinly-veiled attack on appointing loyalists by warning: “It is crucial for the effectiveness of government that you have people around you who can give you clear and candid advice.”
Javid has for weeks been at loggerheads with Cummings, the mastermind of the successful Vote Leave campaign brought in by the new prime minister to head his No 10 operation.
Last year HuffPost UK revealed Cummings had fired one of Javid’s advisers.
John McDonnell, Labour’s shadow chancellor, said the shock resignation showed the government was “in crisis after just over two months in power”.
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“Dominic Cummings has clearly won the battle to take absolute control of the Treasury and install his stooge as chancellor,” he said.
Former chancellor Sajid Javid, new chancellor Rishi Sunak PA
Elsewhere during a dramatic day, Julian Smith was fired as Northern Ireland secretary, despite him having recently helped secure a power-sharing deal at Stormont. He was replaced by party chairman Brandon Lewis.
Esther McVey has been fired as housing minister. Andrea Leadsom has been sacked as business secretary.
Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, has been removed from his post and said it had been a privilege to serve during “recent turbulent political times”.
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In a post on Facebook, Theresa Villiers said the prime minister told her she had to “make way for someone new” as she lost her job as environment secretary.
It is the first cabinet reshuffle since Johnson won a comfortable majority at the general election in December.
Suella Braverman, a leading Brexiteer, has been appointed attorney general.
Alok Sharma has been promoted from the international development job to business secretary, replacing Leadsom.
He has also been handed the job of minister for COP26, the UN climate change summit taking place in the UK later this year.
Oliver Dowden is the new culture secretary, replacing Nicky Morgan.
Former Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay has been appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Amanda Milling has been appointed Conservative Party chairman.
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Priti Patel remains as home secretary and Dominic Raab remains as foreign secretary, Downing Street has confirmed.
Matt Hancock stays as health secretary and Liz Truss remains as international trade secretary.
Ben Wallace has kept his job as defence secretary - despite reports he was set to be fired.
Therese Coffey is staying in post as work and pensions secretary.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan has been promoted to international development secretary. George Eustice has been promoted to environment secretary.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-12--Reshuffle Rumours: Here's Who Could Be In And Out In The Cabinet Shake-Up

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Cabinet reshuffle latest:
Earlier predictions
Boris Johnson will on Thursday finally reshuffle his cabinet in what feels like the longest-awaited ministerial shake-up for some time.
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The prime minister is expected to sack some female cabinet ministers but it is understood that women including Anne-Marie Trevelyan are in line for a promotion.
There will be no overall reduction in the number of women in cabinet - currently seven out of 22 - Downing Street sources have indicated.
And expectations of a Dominic Cummings-inspired radical reshaping of the cabinet and government have long subsided, with the most senior ministers expected to hang on to their jobs.
Johnson’s chief of staff doesn’t seem to care anyway, saying cartoon characters could do a better job.
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So who’s in and who’s out, according to the rumour mill?
In line for the sack
With Brexit “done”, there is much less need for a Leave-supporting cabinet to back the PM in battles with Remainers who wanted to soften or even stop Brexit.
Accordingly, it is Brexiteers in a Leave-heavy cabinet who look most likely to be culled.
The bombastic Geoffrey Cox is widely tipped to lose his attorney general job, with Downing Street said to have grown tired of his grandstanding. He could however get some form of a reprieve if he is sent to head up Johnson’s commission to reform the judiciary.
Attorney general Geoffrey Cox chats with Defence secretary Ben Wallace outside No.10. Both are tipped for the sack ASSOCIATED PRESS
Business secretary Andrea Leadsom is also widely expected to get the sack after warning of the dangers of a “male-dominated environment” around the cabinet table, in what will have been seen as a last-ditch attempt to save her job.
Environment secretary Theresa Villiers equally looks almost certain to get the boot with various Tories keen for her brief at Defra, a previously unglamorous department that will become absolutely key now that Britain has left the EU.
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Trade secretary Liz Truss was another woman thought to be at risk but Johnson namechecked her in his big Brexit speech last week, leading some to conclude she could be moved rather than sacked.
Work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey could also be on the way out but equally she may be given more time to prove herself, having only got the job in September.
Defence secretary Ben Wallace is a long-term friend of Johnson but was vocally opposed to the PM’s decision to grant Chinese tech giant Huawei a role in British 5G infrastructure and could go.
Jacob Rees-Mogg has been hidden away from the public since he suggested Grenfell tower victims lacked common sense during the general election, but he is not being as widely tipped for the sack from his Commons leader post as you might expect.
Baroness Nicky Morgan is also definitely on the way out of her culture secretary job, having confirmed as much last week.
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So who’s going to replace them?
Trevelyan is certain to be promoted to the cabinet and No.10 sources have indicated that Suella Braverman and Gillian Keegan will complete a trio of women in line for promotions, although the latter two may come in below the top level.
Oliver Dowden and Alok Sharma will also be promoted.
Defence minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan is definitely getting promoted PA
Away from the dead certs, Steve Barclay looks likely to return after he led successful negotiations with Brussels but saw his Brexit secretary role scrapped on EU exit day.
Barclay has been tipped as a potential replacement for Villiers at Defra, but a number of other ministers appear to want the job.
Chief whip Mark Spencer, who has a farming business, is thought to be one of those pushing for the job, while Chris Pincher might replace him in turn as Johnson’s head of party discipline.
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Justice minister Lucy Frazer has been tipped for promotion and is a potential candidate for Cox’s job.
The Telegraph reported that Chloe Smith was in line for a “minister for the union” job while Nusrat Ghani, already a transport minister, could land the new HS2 minister role.
Victoria Atkins, Helen Whateley and Kwasi Kwarteng have also been mentioned as potential promotion candidates.
Johnson also needs to find someone to run the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow after sacking previous president Claire Perry O’Neill.
Michael Gove has been mentioned as a candidate, but will he really take a job rejected by David Cameron and William Hague?
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Zac Goldsmith might be a better bet, while Gove could get a beefed up role in the next stage of Brexit trade talks.
Rishi Sunak is almost constantly tipped for big things but is now widely expected to stay in his chief secretary to the Treasury job.
What about lower down the ranks?
Johnson will attempt to create a pipeline for female talent to reach the cabinet by ensuring a 50-50 gender balance at the most junior ministerial level - parliamentary under secretary of state.
He will also ensure that at least 60% of the so-called “bag carrier” PPS non-ministerial jobs are held by female MPs, and will promote those from the 2017 and 2019 intakes to make a dramatic increase from the current 18%.
A No.10 source said: “The prime minister wants this reshuffle to set the foundations for government now and in the future.
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“He wants to promote a generation of talent that will be promoted further in the coming years.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Frolics, Falls And Fall-Outs | Love Island Unpacked

Frolics, Falls And Fall-Outs | Love Island Unpacked
The week in Love Island started off with a goodbye to two couples and a new arrival. Shaughna admitted her affection for Luke M and Paige was left furious, after Finn got royally done over by one particular story which claimed his head had turned in Casa Amor.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Love Island's Demi Has Fans Howling With Comedy Fall, As It's Branded A 'God Tier Moment'

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Between all the shock dumpings, new arrivals and Hideaway antics, there’s not been much room for laughs in Love Island over the past few days.
However, that is something that changed during Thursday night’s episode when this happened:
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Demi Jones had viewers of the ITV2 reality show – and indeed her fellow Islanders – in stitches when she took a tumble in the villa.
Shaughna Phillips had just pulled her for a chat to tell her about her growing feelings for Luke Mabbot when Demi lost her footing on the decking and fell down a step.
Going, going, gone: Demi falls over on Love Island ITV
The fact Demi managed to save her wine was immediately singled out for praise...
Saving your drink like a pro. I stan #LoveIsland https://t.co/o7AR1FR7Ys — CH (@ClaireHamm) February 13, 2020
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How did the glass of wine survive 💀 https://t.co/vqo1qiAEb5 — PartyNextDeux 🇬🇭 (@JonMesante) February 13, 2020
How she just places the drink down when she falls 😂 #loveisland https://t.co/DOVSsIF5Jn — Aimee. ✌ (@AimeeeexX) February 13, 2020
Although some felt the moment was missing something...
Demi's fall really needed a Maura: "I can't believe you wasted that wine!" moment #loveisland — Ryan Love (@RyanJL) February 13, 2020
It was claimed the fall sealed her fate with Luke M...
Demi foreshadowing her downfall towards Luke M #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/JVarxtd3Wx — Hayden (@hxydxn03) February 13, 2020
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Shaughna’s role in it should not have been underestimated...
Obviously the fall is incredible but once again Shaughna proves she is the Don by maintaining her balance and not falling too. That's some serious core strength and balance #loveisland #Demi #youfellover https://t.co/zsGB1cRAtw — Elaine Jones (@elainejones_1) February 14, 2020
It also spoke to many people’s real lives...
Me walking down the aisle on my wedding day 🤣 https://t.co/xgh6n1d4iu — Lucy Ann ♥ (@LucyAnnMortimer) February 13, 2020
Me after a few drinks forgetting how to use my legs https://t.co/OjObZcBNDM — Claire🌈 (@claire95xo) February 13, 2020
my girls walking to the uber at 4am #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/seb91v7jJ4 — lewys (@lookingforlewys) February 13, 2020
And it has already gone down in the fall of fame...
Forget what I ever said about winter #LoveIsland not being as good as previous series. Demi falling over is the best thing I have ever seen on television — Emma Kelly (@TooManyEmmas) February 13, 2020
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Demi’s fall joining Olivia Attwood’s swan dive into the pool as a god tier Love Island moment #loveisland — george (@georgegriffiths) February 13, 2020
After Demi had picked herself up, she was then left upset when Shaughna revealed her growing attraction to Luke M, having grown close to him herself in recent days.
Shaughna later sat Luke down to tell him, leaving him in somewhat of a dilemma.
Friday night’s episode will see a recoupling take place, with the girl left single at the end dumped from the villa.
With Natalia Zoppa having moved in on new arrival Jamie Clayton, it looks like it will be Luke’s choice that will ultimately send someone home.
Find out who it is on Friday at 9pm on ITV2.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Chelsea FC Women Now Tailors Training Around Player's Periods

Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea FC Women is said to be the first football club to tailor players’ training around their periods, in a bid to improve performances and reduce injuries.
Manager Emma Hayes told The Telegraph she was inspired to make the change after watching the team lose to Arsenal in the 2016 FA Cup final, when a lot of the players were either on or around their period.
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“I remember watching players close the ball down and thinking everything was reactive and second-best. That was the starting point,” she said, adding that until that point, training tactics had been geared towards the male body.
“I am a female coach in an industry where women have always been treated like small men. The application of anything from rehab to strength and conditioning to tactical all come from the basis of what men do.”
Arfa Griffiths via Getty Images
The club is now working with Dr Georgie Bruinvels, creator of the FitRWoman app, which enables women to track their periods so they can train smarter.
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The app gives advice such as what foods you might want to eat at different times of your cycle and what types of training may benefit you most.
Research has suggested a link between injuries and hormonal fluctuations, with injuries thought to be more likely in the first half of the menstrual cycle. The new training regime is enabling Chelsea players to track this and adapt their workouts, Bruinvels explained.
While Chelsea is thought to be the first club to incorporate period tracking in day-to-day training, the USA team, USWNT, used period tracking ahead of their Women’s World Cup win last year.
Players in other sports also track their own periods to enhance their performance. England and Harlequins Women rugby player Rachael Burford previously told HuffPost UK she uses the FitRWoman app.
“I think it’s all about really knowing and understanding yourself,” she said. “Before, I never used to track it. And now, at least I’ve got a system I can refer to. It’s really, really useful just having knowledge about it because then you can control it in a really positive way.”
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Steve Bardens via Getty Images Rachael Burford
Tennis champion Heather Watson also told HuffPost she adapts her diet when she’s on her period, stating that bananas and caffeine-based energy gels are her go-tos.
“I feel a lot lower on energy and my temperature rises more when I’m on my period. Just before I start my period I have a lot of cravings as well. I tend to want to eat chocolate and sweet things,” she said.
“I have to make sure I have the right food and stuff with me on court that will give me that extra energy if I need it.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Orlando Bloom's New Tattoo For His Son Is Wrong, Morse Code Experts Say

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Orlando Bloom unveiled some arm ink earlier this week on Instagram, showing fans a slim line under a series of numbers accompanied by the dots and dashes often seen in Morse code messages.
“New tattoo,” he wrote in the caption for the image. “Can you guess who?”
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Fans quickly guessed that the lines and dots represented the Morse code spelling of Flynn, the name of Orlando’s son with his ex-wife, Miranda Kerr.
The numbers above also appear to be the date and time that Flynn was born.
However, some eagle-eyed fans pointed out that the code actually seems to spell out “Frynn” instead of “Flynn.”
Instagram Instagram
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HuffPost consulted a few Morse code experts about what’s actually going on here.
Roy Henrichs, who volunteers with Maritime Radio Historical Society’s Operations and Maintenance team, said Orlando “is pulling everybody’s leg” and that his tattoo “doesn’t appear to say anything”
The tattoo is “just a bunch of dots and dashes in line with a pair of extremely long extended dashes,” Roy said over email. “Probably is just a styli[s]ed artistic design!”
Roy added that the tattoo isn’t “International Morse nor American Morse.”
“There are differences in the character sets for these. Also, there are supposed to be spaces between letters – but there aren’t any evident in the photo,” he explained.
He was also kind enough to provide this breakdown for readers to see if they can find either “FLYNN” or “FRYNN” on the arm:
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Char. Int’l. Amer.
F ..-. .-.
L .-.. __ (a long “dash”)
R .-. . .. (one “dot” space one “dot”)
Y -.― .. .. (Two “dots” space two “dots”)
N -. -.
Paul Reuvers, an engineer behind the Netherland’s Crypto Museum, echoed Henrichs’ thoughts, telling HuffPost, “It’s definitely not Flynn, as in that case one extra dot would be needed.”
“To be honest, this morse code is difficult to read as so appropriate space have been inserted between the characters. My guess is that it’s just random,” he added.
We even tried plugging “Frynn” and “Flynn” into a Morse code translator, and the results don’t help Orlando’s case.
Based on the translator from Morse Code World, the tattoo indeed resembles “Frynn” more closely than “Flynn”.
Morse Code World translator Morse Code World
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Morse Code World translator Morse Code World
At any rate, the gesture seems sweet enough, and we’re pretty sure most people glancing at his arm in the flesh aren’t proficient enough in Morse code to judge him too harshly.
Go forth and enjoy your new ink, Orlando. Just maybe double-check the spelling next time.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Coleen Rooney Responds To Rebekah Vardy's Loose Women Interview About 'WAGatha Christie' Drama

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Coleen Rooney has issued a statement following Rebekah Vardy’s appearance on Loose Women on Thursday.
The two footballers’ wives have been embroiled in a very public feud since October, when Coleen kicked off what became known as the “WAGatha Christie” saga.
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She revealed that she’d blocked all but one of her Instagram followers, in a deliberate attempt to find out who had been leaking stories about her to the press.
She then made headlines when she dropped the immortal line: “It’s… Rebekah Vardy’s account.”
This has been a burden in my life for a few years now and finally I have got to the bottom of it...... pic.twitter.com/0YqJAoXuK1 — Coleen Rooney (@ColeenRoo) October 9, 2019
While Rebekah has always maintained she wasn’t personally responsible for the leaked stories, she doubled down on this defence on Thursday’s Loose Women, revealing the aftermath took such a toll that she was hospitalised on three separate occasions.
Rebekah Vardy on Loose Women Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
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Responding to Rebekah’s interview, Coleen’s rep said in an official statement: “Coleen has nothing to add to what she has already said.
“She remains confident in the legal process and sees no reason to take the numerous opportunities that have been offered to engage in further public debate in this matter.”
Recalling being seven months pregnant when it all happened, Rebekah, who admitted she is “in the middle of a legal battle” over the matter, told the Loose Women panel: “We were just about to meet to go for dinner with some friends and we were just in a taxi, my manager messaged me and said you need to see this.
Coleen Rooney Shutterstock
“I looked at my phone and there it was in all its glory. It was hideous and it was horrible and I don’t think I was prepared for what was to come.
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“The trolling was the worst part for me. I have been trolled before and I do get it all the time, but it escalated off the back of this.”
Rebekah also said several arrests had been made after she went to the police about the online abuse she’d received.
“You can’t let them win,” she said. “I think the more we highlight the fact that this is happening and this is really serious the more the chances are of doing something good about it.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Police Were Wrong To Question Man At Work Over Transgender 'Hate' Tweets, Court Rules

Former police officer Harry Miller, 54, who founded the campaign group Fair Cop, said the police’s actions had a “substantial chilling effect” on his right to free speech. He denies being prejudiced against transgender people.
Miller, who is from Lincolnshire, claims an officer told him that he had not committed a crime, but that his tweeting was being recorded as a “hate incident”.
The College of Policing’s guidance defines a hate incident against trans people as “any non-crime incident which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender”.
In a ruling on Friday, the High Court in London found Humberside Police’s actions were a “disproportionate interference” with Miller’s right to freedom of expression.
But Mr Justice Julian Knowles rejected a wider challenge to the lawfulness of the College of Police guidance, ruling that it “serves legitimate purposes and is not disproportionate”.
The judge said: “The claimants’ tweets were lawful and there was not the slightest risk that he would commit a criminal offence by continuing to tweet.
“I find the combination of the police visiting the claimant’s place of work, and their subsequent statements in relation to the possibility of prosecution, were a disproportionate interference with the claimant’s right to freedom of expression because of their potential chilling effect.”
At a hearing in November, Miller’s barrister Ian Wise QC said his client was “deeply concerned” about proposed reforms to the law on gender recognition and had used Twitter to “engage in debate about transgender issues”.
He argued that Humberside Police, following the College of Policing’s guidance, had sought to “dissuade him (Miller) from expressing himself on such issues in the future”, which he said was “contrary to his fundamental right to freedom of expression”.
The judge said Miller strongly denies being prejudiced against transgender people, and considers himself to be taking part in an “ongoing debate” about reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004, which the government consulted on in 2018.
In July 2018, former minister for women and equalities Penny Mordaunt launched a public consultation into how transgender people change their legal gender on their birth certificates.
Under the existing Gender Recognition Act (GRA), a trans person has to undergo a two-year waiting period, a review or appearance before a specialist panel as well as paying £140 before being able to change their gender legally. Although delayed, the government has said it is committed to finishing the consultation.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--16 Ways To Practise Self-Care That Cost Next To Nothing

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In the age of Instagram, “self-care” has become synonymous with indulgences like massages, facials, fancy products, boutique workout classes and lavish vacations.
That all sounds great if you have tons of disposable income. But for most of us, spending serious cash on self-care just isn’t realistic.
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“The whole concept of self-care has really strayed from the original intent, and become a meme unto itself,” said Kathleen Dahlen deVos, a psychotherapist. “When I talk with my clients about self-care, rarely am I encouraging practices and habits that cost money. In fact, spending excessive money or funds we don’t have In the name of ‘self-care’ can actually be distressing, destructive and work against our mental and emotional wellbeing.”
By lijing via Getty Images
We asked experts in the wellness space to share some of the best ways to practice self-care that are basically free. Here’s what they told us:
1. Spend some time outside.
Take a walk around the block, sit in the grass, hike a local trail or just let the sun shine on your face for a few minutes.
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“No matter where you live, you likely have access to an outside space,” said Tiffany Lester, a doctor. “If it’s not in your neighbourhood, think of a close space you can get to within 10 to 30 minutes. Getting outside and away from our devices calms our nervous system from the negative effects of everyday stressors.”
2. Clean and organise your living space.
When your apartment or office is a mess, it can take a toll on your mental state, making you feel more stressed, anxious and overwhelmed.
“For some, a messy or disorganised space can activate their nervous systems and impact mental health wellness,” said therapist Jesse Kahn, director of The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center. “If that’s you, taking time to clean up your space can be an act of self-care and self-love, and may feel healing rather than like a chore you don’t want to do.”
3. Reduce the amount of time you spend on social media.
Mindlessly scrolling through your social media feeds for hours on end is not only a time suck, but is also linked to lower self-esteem, sleep issues and an increased “fear of missing out,” or FOMO.
“Social media and the internet is a great resource to connect, cultivate support and community, but it can also be a place of overconsumption, distraction, and numbing out to what we truly may need in our lives,” said McKel Hill Kooienga, a registered dietitian in Nashville, Tennessee, and founder of the site Nutrition Stripped.
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4. Do some journalling.
CSA Images via Getty Images
All you need is a pen and some paper to get started. Journaling can be a therapeutic practice that helps you understand thought patterns, work through difficult emotions, reflect on certain events or cultivate more gratitude in your everyday life.
“Sometimes I find it just as helpful as therapy — and I’m very pro-therapy; I’m studying to be a therapist,” said Lauren Donelson, a writer and yoga teacher based in Seattle. “Journaling helps us externalise what’s going on inside our heads, and it helps us to look at our thoughts more objectively.”
5. Get better sleep.
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“Maybe the self-care practice here is getting a certain number of hours a night, not exceeding a certain number of hours, getting to sleep by a certain time so you’re able to wake up by a certain time or creating a ritual to help you calm your body, relax and go to sleep,” Kahn said.
6. Meditate.
Practicing meditation is one of the best ways to restore and reconnect with our mind and body, said Tamara Levitt, a meditation instructor and head of mindfulness at Calm.
“As (writer) Anne Lamott said: ‘Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes,‘” Lamott said. “There is immense value in giving ourselves time and space to shift from ‘doing’ mode to ‘being’ mode. Meditation allows us to reconnect with the needs of our mind and body.”
If you prefer guided meditations, you can check out the free version of apps like Headspace or Calm, or find videos on YouTube. And, of course, meditating in silence is another great option that doesn’t cost a dime.
7. Check in with yourself.
At least once a day, if not more, take some time to check in with yourself. Pause to assess how hungry or full you are, any emotions you may be feeling or scan your body for areas of tightness.
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“Simply asking yourself the question, ‘How am I doing right now?’ is a gentle reminder to take care of yourself,” Hill Kooienga said.
8. Move your body.
Malte Mueller via Getty Images You don't need to spend a lot on a gym membership to get moving.
It might be dancing in your bedroom to a fire playlist, doing squats in your living room or participating in a community yoga class (which is generally less costly than a boutique fitness class).
“However, if that still doesn’t fit in your budget, there are many free online yoga videos on YouTube,” Kahn said. “One of my favourites is Yoga With Adriene.”
9. Connect with loved ones offline.
Texting and email are convenient forms of communication, but they don’t satisfy our deep need for connection in the way more personal interactions do.
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“Call a friend, take a walk with a colleague or cook dinner with a family member,“ Dahlen deVos said. “Connecting with others we care for helps to shift us out of our heads, regulates our nervous systems and elevates our moods.”
10. Invest time in a hobby.
The demands of work, family and other obligations take up most of our time and energy, leaving barely any room in our schedules for activities we truly enjoy. But carving out some time for our hobbies — even when we have a lot on our plate — matters.
“Most of us are too busy to make time for activities that are joy-filled and feel nurturing,” Levitt said. “Find a time each week to shut off your electronics, and engage in a hobby that rejuvenates your spirit; play music, write in a journal, take a cooking class. While electronics deplete us, our favourite activities nourish us.”
11. Take some deep breaths.
During high-stress periods, we may go hours or even a whole day without taking a full, grounding breath if we’re not intentional about it.
“I like to take a few deep breaths in the morning and also throughout the day because it helps me to recenter and connect more with the present moment,” said Jessica Jones, a registered dietitian and co-founder of Food Heaven. “One strategy that I use to remind myself to do this is to take three deep breaths every time I go to the bathroom and wash my hands. It’s easy, free and makes a huge difference in my daily stress levels.”
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12. Volunteer your time with an organisation you care about.
Choose your cause, whatever it may be, and then figure out a way you can pitch in.
“Engaging in altruistic acts and seeing our actions make a direct and positive impact in the lives of others is a surefire way to shift your mood and feel part of something bigger than yourself,” Dahlen deVos said. “This can help put our problems in context, or at least give us a break from stressors without numbing out.”
13. Eat more vegetables.
Malte Mueller via Getty Images Like your parents always told you, eat your vegetables.
Aim to put more of your grocery budget toward veggies and less towards ultra-processed snack foods. Then, to up your intake, cut up some vegetables at the beginning of the week and store them in your fridge — that way you can easily grab them when you need a snack or throw in a handful or two to spruce up your meals.
“Most of us are not consuming near enough whole foods let alone vegetables, which keep us nice and full because of prolonged satiety from the fibre,” Hill Kooienga said. “Vegetables nourish our physical bodies on a cellular level with fibre, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, and they can taste really delicious too.”
14. Cuddle with someone you love.
Snuggle up next to your partner, your child or even your BFF.
“Cuddling releases oxytocin, a feel good hormone, that also helps with reducing stress,” said Lynsie Seely, a marriage and family therapist in San Francisco.
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Pets make great cuddle buddies, too. Plus, spending time with our furry friends has been shown to alleviate anxiety, depression and feelings of loneliness.
“If you don’t have access to a pet, go visit adoptable animals at the local shelter, sign up to walk dogs for a service such as WAG or sip tea at a cat cafe,” Dahlen deVos said.
15. Say “no” more often.
We often think of self-care as doing something extra for ourselves on top of our normal day-to-day activities. But self-care can also be about what you choose not to do, Seely said.
One way to give a healthy “no”? Start setting boundaries with the people in your life.
“So many of us are people pleasers and spend a lot of time doing things out of feelings of guilt and obligation, causing us to feel energetically drained and lacking the ability to focus on ourselves and what we truly want,” said Sara Groton, a nutrition and eating psychology coach in San Francisco. “Any time I find myself thinking ’I should do that or I have to do that,′ I take a moment to question and challenge that thought.”
16. Practice self-compassion.
All the face masks, manicures and massages in the world can’t undo the damage of that harsh inner voice criticising, judging and berating yourself all day long.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Mumps Symptoms Explained As Cases Surge Among Students

Shaun Weatherby The photo on the right shows Shaun with mumps.
Mumps cases in England have reached a decade high, with 5,042 lab-confirmed cases of mumps in 2019, compared to 1,066 cases in 2018.
The rise looks set to continue in 2020, Public Health England (PHE) has said, with 546 confirmed cases in January 2020 compared to 191 during the same period last year.
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Shaun Weatherby, 26, based in North Wales, contracted mumps last September and says the day before his symptoms properly started to show, he felt a small lump under his jawline on one side.
Later that night, he struggled to swallow food, but felt “fairly normal” on the whole. The illness progressed rapidly, with the lump becoming larger, more painful and Weatherby finding it increasingly difficult to swallow.
“The next day I wasn’t in work and when my girlfriend returned home, both sides of my face had swollen quite significantly – I hadn’t eaten for nearly two days at this point,” he tells HuffPost UK.
After a trip to A&E, he was diagnosed with mumps, despite having had the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine as a child. He had to drink water through a straw, and barely ate anything, for five days in total.
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“It’s definitely an experience I don’t want to have again,” he says.
What is mumps?
Mumps is a contagious illness which causes the sides of a person’s face, underneath their ears, to swell up and hurt. After the introduction of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine in 1988, cases began to go down – however in the past few years the numbers are rapidly creeping up again.
The rise in cases last year was largely driven by outbreaks in universities and colleges, PHE said. Many of the cases were seen in young adults born in the late nineties and early 2000s who missed out on the MMR vaccine when they were children.
These groups are now old enough to attend college and university and are likely to continue fuelling outbreaks into 2020 – particularly as the infection is so contagious.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms tend to develop 14 to 25 days after becoming infected with the virus, according to NHS Choices. The most obvious sign of mumps is swelling of the glands at the time of the face, giving the appearance of “hamster cheeks”. Sometimes one gland (one side) might be affected, but most of the time both glands swell up. It can be pain, tender and difficult to swallow.
Other symptoms that might develop a few days later include joint pain, sickness, dry mouth, headache, stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite and a high temperature.
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It’s worth noting that in roughly a third of cases, mumps doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms.
vladwel via Getty Images
How can you protect against it?
The best way to protect against mumps is to have the MMR vaccine – yes, even if you’re an adult. The first dose is normally given to babies aged 13 months, and a second dose tends to be issued between the ages of three and five.
Some adults won’t have had this vaccine in childhood, however, particularly those born between 1980 and 1990. Or it’s possible they only had the first dose and not the second, which means they won’t be fully protected.
PHE is urging people to ensure they have had two doses of MMR vaccine. If you’re not sure whether you’ve had them, call your GP who will be able to tell you.
Adults who only had one dose as a child will need to have another dose, a PHE spokesperson confirmed to HuffPost UK. If you have two doses in adulthood because you didn’t have any vaccines as a child, the second MMR dose must be given at least one month after the first.
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Vaccination prevents most (95%), but not all, cases of mumps. If a vaccinated person does get mumps, they will likely have less severe illness than those who are unvaccinated.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at PHE, is reminding people: “It’s never too late to catch up.” She said: “We encourage all students and young people who may have missed out on their MMR vaccine in the past to contact their GP practice and get up to date as soon as possible.”
Data shows that uptake of most childhood vaccines has been steadily decreasing since 2012-13. The rise in mumps cases correlates with a rise in measles too, which led to the UK losing its measles elimination status last year.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said the jump in mumps cases is “alarming” and “yet another example of the long-term damage caused by anti-vax information”.
“Science proves that vaccines are the best form of defence against a host of potentially deadly diseases and are safer and more effective than ever before. Those who claim otherwise are risking people’s lives,” he said.
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Treatment
If you think you have mumps, you should see your GP so they can rule out other issues such as glandular fever and tonsillitis. Mumps can be dangerous in some people as it can lead to complications such as viral meningitis – so protecting against it is key.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--What Valentine’s Day Is Like After Marriage, As Told In 26 Tweets

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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Slowthai Dropped As Ambassador For Record Store Day After NME Awards Incident

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British rapper Slowthai has been dropped as an ambassador for Record Store Day following an incident at this year’s NME Awards.
Slowthai made headlines on Wednesday night after he approached the awards’ presenter Katherine Ryan during the ceremony and made suggestive comments towards her.
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He was later removed from the stage after jumping down in the direction of an audience member who branded him a “misogynist” after he was awarded Hero Of The Year.
It’s now been announced that he will no longer be a part of this year’s Record Store Day event.
Slowthai at the NME Awards Jo Hale via Getty Images
“The individual record shops who organise Record Store Day have spoken this morning and have unanimously agreed that Slowthai’s behaviour and statements do not reflect their values or those of Record Store Day,” they said in a statement, released to Metro.
“On that basis we have withdrawn our invitation for Slowthai to be this year’s Record Store Day ambassador and he will not be appearing at our 5 March event.”
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The morning after the NME Awards, Slowthai issued a public apology for his behaviour, tweeting: “What started as a joke between us escalated to a point of shameful actions on my part. I want to unreservedly apologise, there is no excuse and I am sorry. I am not a hero. Katherine, you are a master at your craft and next time I’ll take my seat and leave the comedy to you.
“To any woman or man who saw a reflection of situations they’ve been in in those videos, I am sorry. I promise to do better. Let’s talk here.”
It’s just kicked off at the NME Awards #Slowthai 😬 just after he won hero of the year #NMEAwards2020 pic.twitter.com/rKmUOXSuhB — Vinesh (@V1nesh) February 12, 2020
Katherine previously spoke out to insist that Slowthai hadn’t made her “feel uncomfortable” during the ceremony.
“This is why we need women in positions of power,” she tweeted. “I knew he had lost [the fight] from the moment he opened his mouth like any heckler coming up against a COMIC - not a woman - a COMIC. I was operating 2/10. What a sweet boy. I defused it. Tonight was fun!”
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Slowthai released his debut album Nothing Great About Britain in 2019, featuring collaborations with Skepta, Mura Masa and the punk band Slaves.
Nothing Great About Britain went on to be nominated for the Mercury Prize, with Slowthai making headlines during the ceremony when he performed holding a dummy of Boris Johnson’s head.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Saucy Cucumber Signs Found In Tesco Are Pretty Risqué

Adene Sanchez via Getty Images
Forget the M&S “love sausage”, Tesco appears to be getting in on the saucy Valentine’s food action – with cucumbers.
Shoppers have been left giggling after spotting signs in some stores suggesting the cucumbers are “ideal for Valentine’s”.
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Anyone stuck for a Valentine’s gift? Tesco’s knows what he/she wants pic.twitter.com/LjHgcKqj1Y — TUFAC (@TUFAC4) February 10, 2020
@Tesco I am struggling to find recipes for things to cook which contain cucumber to back up your claim that these are ideal for Valentine’s Day, can you please help? pic.twitter.com/k5ZKTJXeCq — Gary Freemantle (@Gary_Freemantle) February 11, 2020
One customer told Bristol Live they’d spotted an extra risqué version of the cucumber poster in their local store.
“Valentine’s Day special sale: if in doubt come explore a wide range of cucumbers for your loved ones for just 20p!” the poster reads.
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A Tesco spokesperson, however, told Bristol Live the cheeky sign has nothing to do with them. “This is not one of our posters, but we do have a wide range of more conventional Valentine’s gifts to choose from, including chocolates and flowers,” they said.
HuffPost UK has contacted Tesco to find out what’s going on, but we’re hoping it’s the case of some maverick employees recycling old signs from 2016. Back then, Tesco hit headlines for labelling cucumbers and whipped cream “ideal for Valentine’s” in some of its stores.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Wendy Williams Tells Gay Men To 'Stop Wearing Our Skirts And Our Heels'

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Wendy Williams sparked the ire of many LGBTQ fans after going on a tear on Thursday about men who wear skirts, heels and other gender-fluid styles.
Williams came under heavy criticism stemming from a Hot Topics discussion on her talk show about Galentine’s Day, an unofficial Valentine’s Day alternative introduced by the TV series Parks and Recreation and aimed at the celebration of female friendship.
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“If you’re a man and you’re clapping, you’re not even a part of this,” Wendy told the audience. “I don’t care if you’re gay. You don’t get a [menstrual period] every 28 days. You can do a lot that we do, but I get offended by the idea that we go through something you will never go through.”
. @WendyWilliams to LGBT community. “I get offended at the idea that we go through something you will NEVER go through.” Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/cuwYnGuOYz — Ent. Discussion (@Ent_discussion) February 13, 2020
The host, however, didn’t stop there.
“Stop wearing our skirts and our heels,” she continued. “Girls, what do we have for ourselves? You’ll never be the woman that we are, no matter how gay!”
The online backlash came fast and furious.
“Oh, Wendy. Your homophobia is showing,” one person said. Added another: “I love you, I really do but if you’re telling us to stop wearing ‘y’all skirts and heels,’ then give us back our ‘Yasss’ and gay slang you use on your talk show everyday.”
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Others were even more critical.
.@WendyWilliams, some friendly reminders:
1. Many cis women would be offended by having their womanhood reduced to a skirt and heels + menstruation.
2. I don't menstruate. I do wear a skirt and heels. Both are independent of me being a woman.
3. Let people wear what they want. https://t.co/HrtIb1cuH0 — Charlotte Clymer 🏳🌈 (@cmclymer) February 13, 2020
Y’all remember when Wendy Williams got coin to do that awful Drag Race commentary during the commercial breaks? 😅 Now she sayin that gay men should “stop wearing our skirts and our heels?” 🤷♀ #blessthismess @WendyWilliams — Kelly Mantle (@thekellymantle) February 13, 2020
Gays obsessed with @WendyWilliams is on our team: SHE. IS. NOT. Drop her. She's toxic. https://t.co/iX7hS6gmfX — Boy Culture Blog (@mattrett) February 13, 2020
Several people pointed to the likes of Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness and “Pose” actor Billy Porter, both of whom have rocked high heels, skirts and other gender-fluid fashions on red carpets around the world to great acclaim.
And though Wendy didn’t mention the transgender community by name, some argued her remarks could be interpreted as transphobic, too.
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A Wendy Williams Show representative did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Wendy, of course, is no stranger to controversy. Earlier this year, she apologised to the cleft community after appearing to mock actor Joaquin Phoenix’s lip scar.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Love Island's Headline Game Sparks Flood Of Ofcom Complaints

Love Island has sparked a wave of complaints to Ofcom, after a game producers introduced earlier this week.
In Wednesday night’s instalment of the ITV2 reality show, the Islanders played a game where they were shown a string of media headlines about the series, and had to guess which contestants they referred to.
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However, many viewers took issue when the Heart headline “Casa Amor cause Callum, Finn and Nas’ heads to turn on tonight’s Love Island” was shown to the group, claiming it wasn’t actually true.
This immediately upset Paige Turley, who has been partnered with Finley Tapp since he entered the villa.
Shaughna presents the headline in question ITV
Finn, of course, protested his innocence, telling Paige: “The girls [who were in Casa Amor with him] can say what I was like.”
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“The paper tells me different,” she responded. “Heart tells me different.”
Paige was suitably unimpressed to see Finn's name in the headlines ITV
The moment in question sparked 377 complaints to Ofcom, with The Sun reporting that viewers were upset that producers would include a headline that wasn’t true to provoke drama in the villa.
HuffPost UK has contacted representatives for Love Island for comment.
Finn attempts to protest his innocence ITV
Similar incidents in past series of Love Island have also sparked Ofcom complaints, most notably in series four, when Dani Dyer was distressed after being shown a video clip of then-boyfriend Jack Fincham in Casa Amor with his ex.
What Dani didn’t see, though, was that Jack spent his entire time in Casa Amor pining for her, even sleeping in the garden so he wouldn’t have to share a bed with anyone other than her.
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This year’s headline game replaced a similar game involving viewers’ tweets, which was scrapped ahead of the first ever summer series of Love Island.
Love Island airs every night on ITV2.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Billie Eilish's James Bond Theme No Time To Die Gets The Thumbs Up On Twitter

Billie Eilish gave her fans a real Valentine’s Day treat on Friday, when she unveiled her new James Bond theme song.
The 18-year-old singer debuted the track at midnight, meaning many listeners in the UK woke up to the new track, which is titled No Time To Die, as is the new 007 film.
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Luckily, Billie has already won a lot of praise on social media for the song, which – as is always the case with her music – was co-written by her the star and her brother, Finneas.
Many listeners in particular praised how she’d managed to strike a balance between the usual mood of a James Bond theme and her own distinct sound…
OMG! That was EPIC!
I can't believe what I just heard... You're amazing and I reckon this will fit perfectly with the movie
Congratulations on this huge achievement! — blank (@leandrobazan_) February 14, 2020
Billie Eilish made a Bond song that was the perfect mix of a classic Bond song and a Billie Eilish song. Eerie and incredible. Walked the tightrope between both sounds and nailed it. — isAAc (@Isaac22994619) February 14, 2020
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Absolutely perfect tone for a spy film, haven't had this good a song since Adele's Skyfall, sounds like a bond theme and that's all we ask for, great work Billie and co 😊 — RJH Productions (@RobertJHorsnall) February 14, 2020
Say what you like about Billie Eilish, but she has absolutely hit the nail on the head with this new Bond theme. Atmospheric, moody, perfect — Harry Cannell (@ThatHarryBloke) February 14, 2020
I think it strikes a good balance. It's very @billieeilish while also being very 007. #NoTimeToDie — Michael Kwan (@michaelkwan) February 14, 2020
Billie Eilish's new song just screams James Bond vibes and it is honestly PERFECT for a Bond film!! #NoTimeToDie pic.twitter.com/V52kDIV3Xz — Matt Martin (@matthewjmartin_) February 14, 2020
Whoever thought of @billieeilish for Bond is a genius - this the best theme in ages. Haunting and elegiac, perfect for Daniel Craig’s final Bond. Shivers! #NoTimeToDie #JamesBond https://t.co/QEYEqJ0JDC — Trevor Baxendale (@trevorbaxendale) February 14, 2020
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When #BillieEilish was announced as doing a 007 song, I thought she seemed a great fit, but I had no idea her song would be this cool and different. Took it in a totally different direction from the Shirley Bassey/Adele space & still made #NoTimeToDie seem elegaic and Bond-like https://t.co/ipppeU93aR — David Radcliff (@DavidRadcliff) February 14, 2020
I really love that #BillieEilish theme for #NoTimeToDie. Works very well for me both as a song in its own right, and as a lush Bond theme drenched in orchestral strings. — Darren Jones (@djdarrenjones) February 14, 2020
Never thought Billie Eilish and James Bond would pair so well together but here we are my GOODNESS #NoTimeToDie — Harris Wilson (@harriswiIson) February 14, 2020
I'll admit, if you asked who I wanted to write a Bond song, it would take me awhile before I even thought of Billie Eilish, but I love it — Paige (@MelFray) February 14, 2020
I quite like the Billie Eilish #NoTimeToDie track. Was looking for something more bombastic, but the melancholic haunting quality of it really works for me. — Adron Buske (@AdronBuske) February 14, 2020
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Love how understated @billieeilish's Bond theme is. On paper it was a bold choice but personally I think it's paid ofd — James Thompson (@thommoj03) February 14, 2020
The new James Bond theme song No Time to Die from Billie Eilish is perfectly haunting and just... perfect! #NoTimeToDie pic.twitter.com/cqiyCS9Gv3 — Enlighten Jesse (@EnlightenJesse) February 14, 2020
No Time To Die has also been praised by James Bond historian Jon Burlingame, who suggested the song was the perfect offering for Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007.
“It’s moody, it’s kind of dark. The lyrics are filled with regret and speak of betrayal, and all of that plays into the current Bond mystique, the Daniel Craig era of Bond,” he told the PA news agency. “That works for a contemporary Bond audience.”
She previously said of recording the Bond theme: “It feels crazy to be a part of this in every way. To be able to score the theme song to a film that is part of such a legendary series is a huge honour.
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“James Bond is the coolest film franchise ever to exist. I’m still in shock.”
Billie Eilish Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images
So far, 2020 has been another incredible year for Billie Eilish, who made history at the Grammys by becoming the youngest artist to sweep the board in the awards show’s four top categories.
She followed this with a performance at the Oscars, where she could well be returning in 2021 if history is anything to go by, with the last two artists to record Bond themes, Adele and Sam Smith, both receiving Academy Awards for their efforts.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Trump's Tweets Make It Impossible For Me To Do My Job, Says US Attorney General

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The US Attorney General has complained that President Donald Trump’s attacks on prosecutors, the judge and jurors of the Roger Stone case are undermining the work of the Justice Department.
In an ABC interview, William Barr said on Thursday that Trump’s behaviour was making it “impossible for me to do my job.”
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Barr spoke after the Justice Department abandoned prosecutors’ initial recommendation to give the Stone seven to nine years in prison, prompting all four prosecutors to quit the case.
Trump has been weighing in on the matter on Twitter all week.
“I’m not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody ... whether it’s Congress, a newspaper editorial board or the president,” Barr said.
“I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me,” Barr said, adding: “I think it’s time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases.”
The White House said Trump was not concerned by Barr’s remarks.
“The president has full faith and confidence in Attorney General Barr to do his job and uphold the law,” White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
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Trump’s fellow Republicans also expressed support for Barr.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a staunch Trump supporter, said Barr was “a great choice” as attorney general.
“I think if the attorney general says it’s getting in the way of doing his job, maybe the president should listen to the attorney general,” McConnell told Fox News.
Stone was found guilty in November on seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering.
Trump posted a Fox News story on Thursday that accused some of the jurors of political bias. “This is not looking good for the ‘Justice’ Department,” he tweeted.
Seth Cousins, who served as a juror in Stone’s trial, told Reuters he was “appalled” by Trump’s remarks.
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“It feels like something outrageous is going on,” Cousins said in an interview.
“I think it is appalling for the president of the United States to be attacking American citizens for patriotically fulfilling their duties,” he said.
Attorney General William Barr ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Twitter attacks started on Tuesday when Trump criticised US prosecutors in the case stemming from former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election to benefit Trump’s candidacy.
The Republican president called their sentencing recommendation for Stone “horrible” and a “miscarriage of justice.” Stone’s friendship with Trump dates back decades.
Trump on Wednesday thanked Barr, whom he appointed last year, for “taking charge” of the case. He also tweeted criticism of US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is scheduled to sentence Stone on 20 February.
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Trump and the Justice Department said they had not had direct talks on the matter.
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trump’s comments on the Stone case amounted to interference in the workings of the US government’s judicial branch.
“This is an abuse of power - that the president is again trying to manipulate federal law enforcement to serve his political interest,” Pelosi, a Democrat, told a news conference. “This is not what America is about. It is so wrong.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Why Sex Mindfulness Is The Key To Female Orgasm

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You’re reading How To Get Off, our series celebrating bodies, pleasure and fantasy.
Women are always on, but is this stopping us from getting turned on? If we’re not actually doing something we’re thinking about doing it (washing up or filing our tax return or any of those 3,000 things on our to-do list that aren’t sex).
No wonder our minds often wander when we’re actually doing it. But worrying about gas bills that need paying is never going to be conducive to a good time. That’s because mindset is instrumental when it comes to the female orgasm – not only do sex therapists and sexologists believe this, but studies back it up.
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One such study, from 2015, found women who regularly reached orgasm tended to focus more on the sensations of sex and how their body felt – basically, sex mindfulness – compared to women who found it harder to orgasm. A separate study found a link between a lack of “erotic thoughts” during sex and less frequent orgasm.
Negative thoughts during sex are also – perhaps unsurprisingly – a barrier. Among women, the most intrusive concerns cited tend to centre around appearance and, to a lesser degree, performance (no, it’s not just men).
Even the words we use to describe orgasm can play a part in making women less likely to come. “I prefer to think of orgasm as an ‘experience’ rather than something to ‘achieve’,” says sexologist Gigi Engle, author of All The F*cking Mistakes: A Guide To Sex, Love And Life. “The reason for this is pressure – women face enough pressure in every other area of life, so taking it off of sex is a pivotal component in having fulfilling sexual experiences.”
Jolygon via Getty Images
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Some women might feel ashamed that they don’t orgasm as much as they’d like – some struggle to do it full stop (this is known as female orgasmic disorder) – but it’s actually a fairly common experience.
A survey of more than 32,000 women conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital found one in five had difficulties experiencing orgasm.
Removing the pressure to have an orgasm is key to freeing them up to happen, says Engle. “Why? Because having an orgasm is as much a mental process as it is a physical process,” she says. “When you put pressure on orgasm, you start to think you won’t have one or you have to have one – and then you don’t have one. Being in a calm, present mindset is key to allowing your brain and body to sync up for an orgasm.”
Switching on your body
Isiah McKimmie, sexologist and author of Epic Orgasms, says getting clued up on practical tips is key to reaching orgasm more easily and often. “Along with our cultural messages about sex, we also receive very little real education about sexual pleasure or get taught skills to enjoy ourselves more,” she says.
So, the basics. There are two key ingredients to the magnificent cake that is orgasm – adequate clitoral stimulation (the physical) and being in a sexy, relaxed mindset (the mental).
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““When you put pressure on orgasm, you start to think you won’t have one or you have to have one – and then you don’t.”
“The clitoris is a huge part of orgasm,” says Engle. “Women are never taught about their clitoris nor are they taught to prioritise their pleasure. We’re taught to somehow have orgasms through intercourse and do whatever we can to make our partner orgasm.”
Some women can experience orgasm without clitoral stimulation. But a study published in The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy found only 18% of women said vaginal penetration alone would do the trick. That same study found most women liked to be touched directly on the clitoris and cited up and down, with medium pressure, as their favourite way to be touched.
Spending 15-20 minutes on foreplay, especially if this includes deep kissing and oral sex, can help your orgasm along nicely, McKimmie suggests.
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But in addition to the physical mechanisms at play, mindset plays an equally important part. Sex and relationship therapist Miranda Christophers says women need to feel emotionally in a place that will allow arousal, in order to get off. You need to be able to fully relax – so if you’re feeling tired or anxious, that might make things quite difficult. The idea is all about letting go.
“While not all women need to feel both to achieve orgasm, most females need to feel psychologically and physically excited and stimulated,” she says.
Alexmia via Getty Images
Turning on your mind
Once you’re clued up on the clitoral logistics, is there a way to get into a better mindset for orgasm? In the words of Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally: Yes, yes, yes! Communication is key, says Engle. “Your partner is not a mind reader. They are not responsible for your orgasm. You are responsible for your orgasm.”
Brits can be pretty reserved when it comes to talking about sex. A survey by eharmony found only a quarter of people in the UK are happy to talk about what goes on in the bedroom, with the over-55s least at ease. But plucking up the courage could actually change your sex life – and with two thirds of Brits saying they’re unhappy with theirs, it’s clear there’s some serious talking to be done.
Engle advises speaking to your sexual partner about what works for you, what you need – even telling them you’d like to bring your vibrator into the mix if that’s what you want. “If you lie back and think of England – as the old saying goes – you’re not going to feel pleasure, let alone have an orgasm,” she adds.
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It can also help you get in the zone if you engage in relaxing, centring practices in everyday life, she says – whether that’s yoga, meditation or mindfulness.
Best of all, masturbate, says Engle. “Get yourself a high-quality sex toy – I love the We-Vibe Tango and the Womanizer – and get to know your body,” she suggests. “Find vibration patterns and rhythms that get you there. Experiment with external and internal stimulation. Try running a vibrator over your labia.and mons, and your nipples and inner thighs. When you take control of your pleasure and your orgasm, you give yourself the power to ask for what you want and to make your orgasm the centre of your experience.”
It’s time to get off
Next time you have sex, try to focus on the feeling, what turns you on – and nothing else. “Avoid focusing on performance or distractions and instead notice the pleasurable sensations within your body and allow the flow of sexually exciting thoughts or visual stimulation,” says Christophers, who advises clients to ‘fall into’ the feeling of pleasure once it starts. “If it begins by the feelings aroused by kissing, to allow themselves to immerse themselves into the feeling,” she says.
Not every sexual encounter needs a climax. “We don’t always need sex to end in an orgasm. It’s a perfectly valid choice not to, sometimes we can struggle to have an orgasm in a particular encounter,” says McKimmie. That’s okay.”
But harness your power. “The brain can really be considered our biggest sexual organ,” she says. “Our thoughts can help turn us on – or off.”
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In fact, our mind is so powerful when it comes to orgasm, that some women can actually reach orgasm through thinking alone, she says. And if that’s not something to aim for someday, we don’t know what is.
How To Get Off is our answer to Valentine’s Day, celebrating bodies, pleasure and fantasy – whatever your relationship status. We’ll be exploring what really gets us off in 2020, looking at sexual awakenings, toys and erotica, and real-life experience.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--What Sajid Javid’s Resignation Reveals About Bois Johnson’s Government

What Sajid Javid’s Resignation Reveals About Bois Johnson’s Government
Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle has all of Westminster buzzing, with the shock resignation of Chancellor Sajid Javid. What does it reveal about how this government will go about their work?Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth discuss the cabinet reshuffle with Sajid Javid’s former special advisor Salma Shah.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Stephanie Simpson: Body Found In Search For British Backpacker Missing In New Zealand

Stephanie Simpson Facebook
A body has been found in the search for a British backpacker who went missing in the South Island of New Zealand after an intense flood in the area.
Stephanie Simpson, 32, had not been seen since she went for a hike last weekend at the Mount Aspiring National Park, home to one of New Zealand’s highest peaks.
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Police started looking for Simpson, from Essex, after she failed to keep an appointment on Monday and was reported missing.
Searchers had earlier found items thought to belong to Simpson in the Pyke Creek area, including a back pack and a pair of boots.
Sergeant Mark Kirkwood of West Coast Search and Rescue said police extended their condolences to Simpson’s family “at this tragic time”. The death will be referred to the coroner.
Drones with thermal imaging were deployed in the area along with search and rescue teams on the ground and a helicopter.
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Flash floods and incessant torrential rains hit New Zealand’s South Island last week, leaving several hundred tourists stranded for days and forcing many residents to evacuate their homes.
It was not clear if Simpson’s hike at the Mount Aspiring National Park was affected by the rains.
Thousands of hikers visit New Zealand each year to explore its mountains and wildlife.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Exclusive: Tory MP Pictured With Far-Right Activist Faces Calls For Investigation

Dehenna Davison and Andrew Foster with a County Durham flag at a party celebrating Britain's exit from the EU
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Anti-racism campaigners are urging Boris Johnson to suspend a Tory MP and launch an “urgent investigation” as pictures are revealed showing her with two far-right activists.
Dehenna Davison, the new MP for Bishop Auckland, seen as a rising star in the party, was snapped holding a County Durham flag with Andrew Foster, a man described by Hope Not Hate as an “an out-and-out neo-Nazi”.
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The image appears to have been taken on January 31 at a party in a pub, where the MP had organised a party celebrating Brexit.
Davison, 26, also faces questions from Hope Not Hate about her alleged association with Colin Raine, a former Tory activist banned from the party after HuffPost UK revealed he was behind a far-right protest and made Islamophobic comments online. Raine and Davison were also pictured together at the Brexit bash at the pub.
Davison has told HuffPost UK that the photos were taken at a public event. After we presented her with information about Raine’s and Foster’s online comments and posts, she said she “in no way whatsoever” condones “the views highlighted of the individuals concerned”.
Hope Not Hate says it has been following the activities of Foster and Raine, a former Bishop Auckland Conservative council candidate, for some time.
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Matthew McGregor, Hope Not Hate’s campaigns director, describes the two as “extreme individuals” who “should be unwelcome at any mainstream political party gathering”. Based on the photos, he says, they appear to “move closely with the local Bishop Auckland Conservative Association and the new MP”.
An online account, thought to be Raine’s, alleges he met with Davison in April at a public event – a month after the party declared he was banned from rejoining. On December 12, Raine also posted a clip of Davison purportedly filmed at a local pub as the exit polls came in, describing her as “our candidate”.
Hope Not Hate’s investigators have unearthed Facebook pictures thought to be of Foster burning a Quran and posing next to a racist message that reads “F*CK P*KIS”.
The Bishop Auckland activist, which the charity says has attended rallies organised by the English Defence League and Britain First, is alleged to have commented on a picture of Adolf Hitler on Facebook, saying: “We need some more of this spirit in our town mate ... show these f***ers once and for all.”
A Twitter account that allegedly belonged to Foster and has since been suspended also called the dictator a “great man” and wished him happy birthday.
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Andrew Foster, who is said to be burning the Quran Facebook
Andrew Foster posing next to a racist sign which says 'f*** pakis' Facebook
A Twitter account which was thought to be associated with Andrew Foster Twitter
Andrew Foster commenting on a post about Adolf Hitler, saying "we need some more of this spirit in our town" Facebook
Raine is also thought to have organised a protest, outside ex-MP Helen Goodman’s office, which included members of the far-right group the Democratic Football Lads Alliance and an English Defence League splinter group known as the North East Infidels. Foster is among those who appeared to be at the protest in 2017.
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Raine posted in April he was “lucky enough to meet up and have a chat” with Davison and, on December 12, when the MP was elected as part of Boris Johnson’s landslide victory, Raine said he “got a bit emotional” when Davison was elected.
Raine previously wrote on Facebook about “aggressive muzzies” who he claimed were praying in public to “provoke a reaction”.
In the 2017 post, he added: “If it is a fight they want I feel they will soon get one.” He has also called those who backed remaining in the European Union “traitors”.
Images from a Facebook account thought to belong to Colin Raine, the left said to be after a meeting in April (a month after the party said Raine was banned from becoming a member) and right in November Facebook
Left, a post Colin Raine made of Davison on election night and, right, Raine posing with Davison at a Brexit party in Bishop Auckland Facebook
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McGregor, from Hope Not Hate, said: “These allegations are extremely serious and warrant the Conservative Party launching an urgent investigation, during which time Dehenna Davison should be suspended until there has been a finding.
“Davison must answer serious questions about her connections with far-right figures Colin Raine and Andy Foster. These extreme individuals should be unwelcome at any mainstream political party gathering, but it appears that they still move closely with the local Bishop Auckland Conservative Association and the new MP.
“The controversy surrounding these two men means that it is hard to believe that the local party did not know who they were.
“Davison must explain why she was associating with these two individuals.
“It is important for our politics generally, and the Conservatives specifically, that the party aggressively rejects any association with the far-right.”
Davison released a statement, which said: “These photos were taken at an event open to the public and I in no way whatsoever condone the views highlighted of the individuals concerned.”
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The Conservative Party has confirmed that neither Raine nor Foster are members of the party.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--The UK Is Holding 'Highly Secret Trade Talks' With Unnamed Countries

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UK negotiators have held trade talks with at least one unknown country in total secrecy, it has been claimed.
The news emerged during a tribunal in central London, where campaign group Global Justice Now is challenging the information watchdog to order ministers to publish data about government trade operations.
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During the hearing, government lawyers disclosed that some preliminary trade talks have not been made public as they were deemed too sensitive for public consumption, director Nick Dearden and Global Justice Now’s legal team have said.
It comes amid widespread concern that public services, such as the NHS and the BBC, and consumer standards could be on the table.
Dearden told HuffPost UK: “The reason transparency is important is that trade deals today go much broader than tariffs.
“They can affect a government’s ability to maintain food standards, hence the concern about chlorine chicken. They can damage a government’s ability to protect public services, to fight climate change to regulate and tax big tech companies like Amazon and Google.
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“Trade deals today create public policy. They change the lives of each and every one of us. And therefore it’s totally wrong that these things are negotiated in total secrecy, without any legitimate accountability to parliament.”
He added: “The government’s barrister admitted to 18 sets of trade talks that we knew had been happening, but also that there have been additional trade talks whose existence remains confidential.
“This evidence was heard in closed session. It suggests that the government has held trade talks whose very existence is not allowed to be disclosed to the public. How on earth can we have transparency in trade talks when we can’t even know who the government is talking to?”
HuffPost UK contacted the Department for International Trade about the claim and was referred to a written statement by trade secretary Liz Truss, which says the UK “must be ready to capitalise” on new trade opportunities.
Global Justice Now is asking the Information Commissioner’s Office to use its power to force Truss’s department to release more details about what negotiators are doing.
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It comes after a freedom of information request by Dearden asking about the government’s trade working groups with other countries such as the US and Gulf states – including minutes, participants, agendas and meetings – was refused.
Ministers are known to be seeking trade deals with the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, India, Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
It also is known to have had talks with countries, including Norway, Mexico South Korea, Turkey and Israel, among others.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images
David Henig, director of the European Centre for International Political Economy, is a former civil servant who helped to establish the Department for Trade in the wake of the Brexit referendum.
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He told the tribunal the government has adopted a “closed approach” to trade policy and said the department was “at the far end of the secrecy” in terms of what it told the public.
“There have been few documents published, whether about ongoing negotiations, future policy positions, or even who in the department is leading on which countries, which was given to stakeholders before 2016,” he said.
“Answers to parliamentary questions have been vague. There has been no formal document outlining trade strategy or how DIT intends to consult on future trade agreements.”
He said the documents published so far were “inadequate for effective public scrutiny”.
He said: “The impression of business and NGO stakeholders is that the secrecy of DIT is excessive and counter-productive. Many are afraid they will not be allowed to attend even private meetings if they raise the issue.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--This Couple's Wedding Rings Are Made From Kindness And Other People's Jewellery

HuffPost UK HumanKind
Sophie Tompkins vividly remembers the smell of vanilla that hit her as she walked down the aisle on her wedding day – it came from the flickering candles either side of her, as she walked towards her husband-to-be Michael. “Vanilla reminds us completely of the wedding now,” she says.
Weddings are often described as the best day of a couple’s life, but it was especially so for Sophie and Michael. Their big day on 24 May 2019 was arranged in six weeks by Gift Of A Wedding, a charity that organises free weddings for those with life-limiting illnesses. Everything was provided at zero cost by local suppliers – there was even a dove release to mark the day.
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A particularly special part of the package were the rings, created used old donated jewellery that had been melted and transformed into two bands. “I was shocked how nice they were and [how nice] the finish on them was,” says Sophie, 25, of her white-gold wedding ring. “You could totally tell someone had put a lot of thought, time and effort in to making these rings.”
Scott Carney Photography Michael and Sophie on their wedding day.
The couple were gifted their wedding because Michael, 28, has cystic fibrosis. He’s in need of a double lung and kidney transplant, but is unable to have one because of how ill he’s become. Michael also has type 1 diabetes and suffered a cardiac arrest last year, where he was given less than a 5% chance of survival.
“Somehow my dad saved [me],” he tells HuffPost UK. “My dad gave [me] CPR, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have been here today.”
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The pair met almost four years ago on Tinder. On their first date, they drove around in Michael’s car and went to McDonald’s, where they spent hours chatting. “It was just your typical young thing to do really,” says Sophie. Two years later, on a holiday to Turkey, Michael proposed on their hotel balcony. The couple were over the moon when Gift Of A Wedding offered to plan their day.
Nikki Berkenbusch-Barrett / N B Jewellery Wedding bands made from old jewellery by Nikki Berkenbusch-Barrett.
Patricia Harrison came up with the idea for the charity in 2012. Working as a wedding planner at the time, she was approached by a 27-year-old who had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. She and several other suppliers joined together to donate their services free of charge so the man could marry his partner – since then, she’s helped gift more than 200 weddings to couples.
The ring recycling scheme came about in the past five years. It’s been a struggle to get established jewellers to donate wedding rings, says Patricia, so she asked strangers to send their old jewellery and a handful of local jewellers melted them down to create brand-new rings. “You wouldn’t even know they were secondhand,” she says.
The recycled rings are made from all kinds of jewellery: snapped necklaces, broken bracelets, bent rings, wedding rings post divorce and single earrings that no longer form part of a pair.
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The charity is now calling on the public to donate old gold, silver or platinum jewellery so it can be transformed into new pieces of jewellery for the couples they help. It’s part of their fundraising jewellery drive, Goldrush, and Michael and Sophie are urging people to get involved.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for [our rings],” says Sophie. “I don’t really think you can put into words how much it means to us. To be given something like that, that could be worth a lot of money, just out of the kindness of someone’s heart – that means a lot.”
Scott Carney Photography Michael and Sophie on their wedding day.
Reflecting on other highlights of their day, held in The Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle, Sophie recalls tripping over her dress while walking down the aisle. (Thankfully her dad was on hand to hold her up.) The evening do featured glitter tattoos, a photo booth and a lot of dancing.
Michael was thrilled to have his friends there, who he’s known since nursery. “Even though I can’t walk far and I can’t dance much, they put [me] on a chair in the middle of the dance floor,” he says. “My friends tried to get me involved in this rave scene in the middle of my wedding, which was a bit different!”
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Almost a year on from their day, Michael says: “I’m still going and I’m 29 this year. I’m plodding away.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Seeing My Grandfather Die Sparked My Life-long Fixation With Death

HuffPost UK BBC
I was only seven or eight when I saw my grandfather die. I didn’t have many years to get to know him so I don’t remember much about him, just small fragments like his Sid James laugh and how he always used to say “two bob” instead of 10p.
However, one thing which is clearly imprinted in my memory is the look on his face when he died. The fatal stroke seemed to come out of nowhere. He was sitting in his favourite chair watching TV, me on the floor beside him, when he suddenly started to convulse.
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From my vantage point at his slippered feet I looked up and found myself staring into the face of death itself. My grandad’s eyes rolled back into his head, one lone droplet of blood trickled from the corner of his lips and painted a delicate crimson trail across his crêpey cheek. Then, like an exclamation point, his dentures comically shot out of his mouth and landed on the carpet with a thud. At least, that’s how I saw it all through my childhood eyes.
Just like that, he was gone. He never gave me “two bob” again.
“I went about the task of demystifying death so I could have power over it and free myself from future fear”
My brief encounter with death might have frightened many children, but as well as feeling shocked and sad, I was fascinated. I became convinced there must be some way to see it coming if only I knew what to look for.
Inquisitive, precocious and determined, I went about the task of demystifying death so I could have power over it and free myself from future fear, or so I thought. I hypothesised that the more you know about something, the more you can control it. In the case of tragedy, demystifying it helps regain control of the emotions, and I did that with death. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer? I kept my enemy, Death, so close to me he ended up becoming my friend.
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My career in pathology has taught me that had I been older, I may well have been able to see my grandfather’s stroke coming. Ischemic strokes like the one my grandfather had are caused by blood clots blocking the flow of blood to the brain, and we know smoking contributes significantly to this process, as does an unhealthy diet and obesity. And, well, my grandfather had been a smoker.
Â© Elliot Caunce BBC
The ‘puzzle’ of death and mortality drew me not only to the field of pathology as my chosen career but also to the books of Agatha Christie, to crosswords and to jigsaw puzzles. But for me, pathology is about more than just being able to solve that puzzle – it’s about trying to divine the future and ‘correct’ the past. What happened? Who did this? When did it occur?
The enquiries which hope to answer these questions are conducted by skilled scientists and investigators, and it is their roles we will focus on in my new BBC Sounds podcast, mortem. In mortem, listeners meet real forensic experts, retracing their investigations and unearthing clue after clue to see how a case is solved. Our podcast’s victim may be fictional but the science and the scientists we speak with are very real.
“Pathology is about more than just being able to solve the puzzle of death – it’s about trying to divine the future and ‘correct’ the past.”
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mortem will bring you into death in a way you won’t have been before too, through mortuaries. Mortuaries are regulated spaces, and post-mortems privileged processes – understandably criminal autopsies aren’t open to everyone. But by creating composite cases from a variety of different real investigations, and therefore keeping the genuine details of the victims confidential, mortem can paradoxically take you further into the mortuary than any other podcast has before.
It’s just up to you to decide if you’re ready to enter.
mortem is available on BBC Sounds now and Carla’s book Past Mortems is available to purchase. Listen to the trailer now and follow the #EnterTheMortuary hashtag.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Exclusive: Universities Warn Government Of Coronavirus Economic Hit

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Sign up now to get The Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing, by email.
Universities have warned the government they could face a significant financial hit if coronavirus discourages or stops Chinese students coming to study in the UK.
HuffPost UK understands universities have raised concerns with Whitehall officials about the possible impact of lost tuition fees as the coronavirus outbreak continues.
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The number of Chinese students in the UK has soared by 34% in the last five years to 120,000 - accounting for more than one in three international students from outside the EU.
International students are a vital source of income, contributing around £7.3bn a year to the UK economy and paying tuition fees of between £10,000 to £35,000 a year, compared to £9,000 for UK students.
“The scale of the spread, and the longer-term impact it could have, is an area that does require further thought by government”
But the state of near-lockdown in China, with British Airways cancelling all direct flights to or to Beijing and Shanghai, has sparked concerns that students may not be able to come to the UK or may be discouraged or have problems applying for the next academic year.
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The higher education sector is also concerned about how the disease could hit research collaborations and knowledge exchange, for example through Chinese academics visiting UK institutions and vice versa, HuffPost UK understands.
MillionPlus, which represents Britain’s modern universities, urged the government to help institutions deal with the coronavirus epidemic.
Its CEO Dr Greg Walker said: “The priority for all parties is to ensure the safety and health of all those who may be affected or who may be at risk.
“The government have accordingly moved staff from and within China, rearranging exams or visa interviews as necessary.
“The scale of the spread, and the longer-term impact it could have, is an area that does require further thought by government as the full extent of the outbreak becomes clearer.
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“Universities are making preparations for different eventualities and contingencies.
“Individual institutions will have emergency crisis plans in place as part of their risk strategies but government support on areas beyond their direct control is essential.”
Walker said there was a need to ensure Chinese students in the UK who could be due to return home after their visas expire get adequate support including extended stays or temporary accommodation.
“Similarly, if qualifications cannot be undertaken or visas obtained in China, we need to make sure we have the processes in place in our universities and at the Home Office to deal with potential dips or back-logs that may arise,” Walker said.
He urged the government to help universities “get ahead” of any potential consequences of coronavirus.
“International students make a phenomenal contribution to the UK all round, and Chinese students make up a large part of this group and must continue to be welcomed,” he said.
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“Universities are working with the government to ensure talented students come here from across the world and that we remain outward facing in challenging times.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--'Break The Rules Day' Is Replacing Valentine's Day At This School. Here's Why It Matters

HuffPost UK
Like it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is here again – and it’s everywhere. It’s even in our primary schools, where the kids are, frankly, too young to know much about romance (during my eight-year-old’s recent birthday sleepover, she and her friends were in complete hysterics over a ‘kissing’ scene in a family movie).
I still remember the mix of excitement and trepidation I felt as a child on 14 February when, while walking into school, I spotted the dreaded red postbox, marked with a heart, signalling that love was in the air. But just as much as I remember the thrill of anticipation, I also remember the fear that I wouldn’t get any cards.
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That’s why I’m so in favour of the move made by a primary school in East London that has introduced an alternative to Valentine’s Day – one that won’t make any kids feel left out or unwanted. Rather than hearts, cards and flowers, Aldersbrook Primary School is running ‘Break The Rules Day’, instead.
Aldersbrook Primary School/Victoria Richards Break The Rules Day at Aldersbrook Primary School
Kids choose the “rules” they’re going to break from the list, and pay 50p for each one. Brian Hughes, headteacher at Aldersbrook, told HuffPost UK he hoped it was obvious that the type of rules being broken were “fun things that won’t lead to unruly behaviour” – ranging from “come in with a crazy hairstyle” to “bring in a cuddly toy”.
And with all the proceeds going to the PTA, a registered charity, the money will circle right back to the kids again. Hughes also said the school previously changed the ‘Valentine’s Disco’ to a ‘Spring Disco’ to get away from the idea of love as commercialism.
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I think it’s brilliant. Firstly, the idea of ‘breaking the rules’ at school for a day will be almost as exciting as Christmas for kids. No doubt when they read the list they’ll tot up how much they need to spend to break every single rule on there – so it’s not just a healthy alternative to romance, but good maths practice, too.
But also, because I have my own personal bugbear with putting Valentine’s Day pressure on our kids. I’ve always found it uncomfortable to hear suggestions that young children should regard each other as anything other than ‘friends’. When my daughter was small, another dad made a passing comment about his son of the same age that implied they would grow up and “get married”. They were jokingly betrothed before they’d even cut their front teeth – and it just felt plain wrong.
I want my son and daughter to think of their peers as ‘friends’ for as long as possible, without any pressure of romance – and it’s important that we, as parents, don’t place heteronormative ideals on our kids, either. I’ve heard other mums and dads asking girls if they “have a boyfriend” – or vice versa – which only limits kids’ awareness of the multitude of options out there: boyfriends, girlfriends, both or neither.
Why restrict their choices before they’ve even had the chance to make them for themselves?
No, I’d much rather they have fun and focus on being ‘kids’, rather than being forced to take part in a tradition that even grown-ups find uncomfortable. Ask anyone who’s worked in an office that has introduced a tongue-in-cheek version of the same red postbox – I bet you’ll see them cringe.
Far better to let these children break the rules, I say. Starting with Rule #1: taking the pressure right off Valentine’s Day.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-14--Here's What Happened When I Founded A Feminist Group In My Trump-Loving Town

It wasn’t until the ‘Hate Has No Home Here’ sign vanished from my lawn the day my husband and I posted it, that it occurred to me that hate might have a home in my community, or at least my neighbourhood.
The sign disappeared within hours of being posted, a sharp contrast to a neighbour’s ‘Lord of Life Church’ sign that was on display for months. I read this different kind of “sign” loud and clear: It was going to take more than lawn messages to move national social justice movements into my community. If hate was going to get packing, locals like me needed to do some heavy lifting.
But were there locals like me? Two years in our quaint southeastern Wisconsin suburb was long enough to know that in our conservative, evangelical community, a feminist like me is a minority. This was clear when our city made statewide headlines for limiting high school diversity education after the mention of white privilege at an MLK Day assembly sparked parental outrage. It’s one thing to be a predominantly white, middle- to upper-middle-class community like ours; it’s another to be unwilling to admit our privilege exists — let alone discuss it with our children.
My city was again on display in the news when the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a national nonprofit group committed to preserving the separation of church and state, called for removal of two 50-year-old city signs. The signs feature the words ‘The Churches of ********** Welcome You’ featuring the name of our city next to Christian crosses. People were generally disgusted by the suggestion that there’s anything wrong with the signs, insisting that they are welcoming and inviting.
I wonder whether those in favour would defend city signs that read, ‘The People of ********** Welcome You’, featuring Pride flags or Islamic symbols? Although I’d happily fund such an effort, I don’t think it would garner the same support. The truth is all are not equally welcome in their churches. For them, the signs send a different message. But maybe that’s the point and, either way, the signs still stand.