thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-03--Charity Calls Out Westminster's Attempts To 'Close Rank' Around Rape Allegation

Police officers outside the Houses of Parliament. A Conservative MP has been arrested on suspicion of rape. ASSOCIATED PRESS
MPs should not “close ranks” to protect colleagues accused of sexual assault, a survivors’ charity has said, as a minister defended the decision not to suspend the whip from an MP accused of rape.
Tory chief whip Mark Spencer said on Monday the party takes the matter “very seriously” but would wait until the police reached a “conclusion” before acting.
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Questioned about Spencer’s inaction, business minister Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Radio 4: “I think it’s only right that we wait for the police to complete their investigation.
“They are very, very serious cases and when the information is finally in the public domain, people realise as to why people have behaved in a particular way.”
Alex Feis-Bryce, the chief executive of Survivors UK, reported a sexual assault a decade ago by an MP who was “widely known to be someone to avoid for young male researchers” in Parliament.
The case went to trial and the MP was cleared.
But Feis-Bruce told HuffPost UK: “I was astounded by the desire to close ranks and how prevalent ‘known/open secrets’ are about sexual harassment and misconduct in Parliament. There is a culture of silence and this is often preserved across party divides. In this case, the fact that the whip has not been withdrawn highlights the lengths people will go to to close ranks.
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“I think it’s really important for MPs to be held to as high standards as other professionals. If anyone else, in any other profession, did that their position would be seriously questioned.
“Sexual violence, at its foundation, is about an abuse of power. Unless MPs are properly held to account for their behaviour, the culture in Parliament will never change.
“When people in positions of power commit sexual offences, their victims often feel that their influence is such that there’s absolutely no point in taking it forward. When people are named, it very often empowers others to speak out. When prosecutions and convictions for sexual violence are so low, we cannot simply rely on the criminal justice system to be the only test for what is acceptable behaviour for elected officials.”
Shadow safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has criticised the Tories for failing to suspend the whip from the MP, which would effectively eject him from the party.
The Labour MP told Times Radio it sent a “terrible message” that senior figures were still able to secure “protection” with their Westminster status.
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Speaking to Sky News, Spencer said: “I think it is down to the police to do that thorough investigation, not for the Whips Office to investigate this alleged crime, it is for the police and the authorities to do that.
“Once they’ve come to that conclusion, then we can assess where we’re at and the position that the MP finds themselves in.
“Of course, we’ve got to bear in mind the victim. We don’t want to do anything to identify the victim at the same time.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-03--UK Insists It Has 'Robust' Security Following Reports Liam Fox's Email Account Was Hacked

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The government has insisted it has “robust” security systems in place, following reports that secret documents detailing trade talks between the UK and US were stolen from former trade secretary Liam Fox.
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On Monday, Reuters reported suspected Russian hackers had accessed Fox’s emails multiple times last year.
Fox is currently the UK’s nominee to lead the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The documents, which were leaked, were seized upon by Jeremy Corbyn during the 2019 election campaign as proof Tories were hatching a trade deal with Donald Trump to “sell off” the NHS to American private health and drug firms.
There is no suggestion that Labour was in any way involved in the original leak of the papers.
Dominic Raab announced last month that the UK’s intelligence assessment was that “Russian actors” – a way of describing hostile hackers as opposed to Moscow’s intelligence agencies – had “almost certainly” sought to interfere in the election by “amplifying” the documents online.
Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images
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A government spokesperson said today: “There is an ongoing criminal investigation into how the documents were acquired, and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this point.
“But, as you would expect, the government has very robust systems in place to protect the IT systems of officials and staff.”
Fox served as international trade secretary from July 2016 until July 2019, having previously been the defence secretary. The former cabinet minister has been contacted for comment.
Parliament’s intelligence and security committee (ISC) recently accused the government of being too slow to recognise the potential threat posed by Russia to British democratic processes.
The committee said ministers did not properly consider whether Moscow could interfere in the Brexit referendum until after the event.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-03--BBC Rejects Complaints Over Same-Sex Kiss In Children's Series The Next Step

The BBC has rejected complaints made about a same-sex kiss in children’s drama The Next Step.
The broadcaster stood by the inclusion of a romantic moment between teenage characters Jude and Cleo in the Canadian series – which airs on CBBC – stating that it is “proud to reflect all areas of children’s lives across our factual and fictional output”.
The scene was widely praised online for providing LGBTQ+ representation to a younger audience when it aired last month, but Metro reported the BBC had also received “more than 100” complaints about the kiss.
The Next Step characters Cleo and Jude shared a kiss during an episode that aired on CBBC last month BBC
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Responding to the complaints, the BBC also pointed out misconceptions that it was the first time a same-sex kiss had aired in one of its children’s series, noting this actually happened in drama Byker Grove in 1994, with many same-sex relationships also featuring in other series.
In a statement, the BBC said: “The decision to include this moment, as part of a longer storyline throughout series seven which has been tracking the development of a romantic relationship between two of the characters, Jude and Cleo, was taken very carefully and with much consideration, and came about after CBBC and Boatrocker (the production company who make the show) acknowledged that the series could and should do more to reflect the lives of LGBTQ+ young people.
“This is an important part of our mission to make sure that every child feels like they belong, that they are safe, and that they can be who they want to be.”
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It continued: “We believe that the storyline, and the kiss, was handled with sensitivity and without sensationalism, following as it did the portrayal of Jude and Cleo’s developing relationship and I’m afraid we do not agree that it was inappropriate for the audience age – CBBC regularly portrays heterosexual young people dating, falling in love, and kissing, and it is an important way of showing children what respectful, kind and loving relationships look like.
“At Children’s BBC, we are proud to reflect all areas of children’s lives across our factual and fictional output.
“Same-sex relationships have already featured in other CBBC shows such as Jamie Johnson, 4 O’Clock Club, Dixie and Marrying Mum and Dad, and (contrary to what was reported in the press about The Next Step) the first same-sex kiss on CBBC was in fact in Byker Grove, many years ago.”
The statement finished: “This moment in The Next Step is merely one story among a myriad of voices and experiences across our output.”
The Next Step follows the members of a dance troupe from a dance studio, as they train for and compete in various championships.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-03--Young People Have Struggled To Be Heard In Lockdown. Here's What They Have To Say

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Following a pandemic that has impacted the world, young people have struggled to be heard on issues that matter to them.
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With the so-called ‘generation lockdown’ determined to share their views, poet Caleb Femi has given them a voice by teaming up with youth organisation the National Citizen Service to produce a spoken word piece and short film.
Femi crowdsourced young people’s hopes about their futures, post-lockdown, and used these soundbites to create a spoken word piece: Life After Lockdown. He directed a short film for it, shown above, featuring young people reading out his piece to bring their thoughts to life.
“The submissions we got from young people were interwoven to highlight their truths, their resilience and an imagination that can envision and create a new tomorrow,” he said. “They acknowledge the past, but are resolute in changing a shared future.”
Femi said he was met with “stock-taking questions” from young people when hearing from them, such as: who am I? What impact do I have on those around me? What do I contribute to my community? And – perhaps the most important question of all – what does life after the lockdown look like?
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David M. Benett via Getty Images
Ellie, 17, from Worcester, is one of the young people who features in the film.
Speaking separately about her lockdown experience, she said it had been hard being stuck in the same house for weeks, but it taught her to be grateful for those around her. “I hope we can continue supporting each other, as well as those who are doing an amazing job keeping this country together,” she said.
“I also hope we continue sharing the positive voices of young people with the rest of society, especially since it’s our future that will be mostly impacted as a result of Covid-19, yet we’re the ones who are often forgotten.”
Megan, 16, from Huddersfield, said lockdown had taught more about her resilience. “It’s only during lockdown that I found how extremely patient I am and actually learnt to let go of some of my worries,” she said.
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While Ithill, 15, from Essex, said she had discovered a new love of baking. “If we didn’t have lockdown, I wouldn’t have never picked up a measuring bowl,” she said.
Femi believes as well as listening to experts, society could learn a lot from young people. “After the devastation of Covid-19, it’s never been more important for us to listen to them,” he added. “They are bold and charged with optimism, resilience, empathy and imagination.
“Gone are the days where ‘children’ should be seen and not heard. No, not when they have innovative ideas, when they see things the older generations cannot. Let us listen to them as we plan for a better future for all of us.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-03--Can Trump Really Ban TikTok – And Could It Happen In The UK Too?

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TikTok is known more for its viral dance challenges than its place in geopolitics, but that could be about to change.
With Trump announcing on Friday that the US administration is now pursuing a ban on the popular app, TikTok’s position as a Chinese-owned social media giant has come under renewed scrutiny.
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Owned by Beijing-based tech company ByteDance Ltd and launched in 2017, the app has become the focus of security fears – particularly around the potential for sharing user data with Chinese officials
There have also been allegations of the censorship of videos critical of the Chinese government, accusations strongly denied by TikTok.
But assurances made by the app’s owners are not likely to be enough for Trump’s administration, and could impact how the app operates in the UK too.
Why does Trump want to ban TikTok?
Donald Trump is proposing to ban TikTok in the US, claiming the Chinese-owned video-sharing social networking service poses a national security threat. zz/KGC-375/STAR MAX/IPx
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Despite the app having been downloaded by millions of Americans, Trump said on Friday that he “may” soon ban TikTok from the US.
His comments were followed up on Sunday when the president’s secretary of state Mike Pompeo described national security concerns surrounding the popular app.
These fears come down down to TikTok’s origins in China, and reports of its potential links to the Chinese Communist Party.
From his use of the phrase “China-virus” to describe Covid-19 to an ongoing trade war, Trump’s attitude towards China hasn’t exactly been kept under wraps – and it appears TikTok is the next aspect of China-US relations to be questioned.
Pompeo told the Fox News Channel: “These Chinese software companies doing business in the United States, whether it’s TikTok or WeChat — there are countless more… are feeding data directly to the Chinese Communist Party, their national security apparatus.”
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“Could be their facial recognition patterns. It could be information about their residence, their phone numbers, their friends, who they’re connected to. Those — those are the issues that president Trump has made clear we’re going to take care of,” he said.
Could he actually do it?
Media law expert Zhongdong Niu, a lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “Of course, every government has the power to ban foreign products. The question is more about whether it is technically or economically viable.”
TikTok is not the first Chinese app to be considered for a ban by the US. In March 2020, popular dating app Grindr was sold by its Chinese owners after a US government committee expressed security concerns about Beijing Kunlun Tech’s ownership of the app.
The US government had revealed back in March 2019 that it had demanded Kunlun sell its ownership of the app – mirroring the calls from Trump to TikTok over similar security fears.
The Verge reports that India has used a ban against TikTok at a network level, blocking any communication between the targeted servers and users in the country – a firewall-like approach that is expected to be mirrored by Australia in the event of a ban. But the US has no precedent for this sort of outright ban, and it’s unlikely that it would follow this route for TikTok.
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NurPhoto via Getty Images
Instead, it could follow the path set out by Grindr and force ByteDance – TikTok’s Chinese parent company – to sell up in order to allow it to continue operations in the US.
Niu said: “I think TikTok is on a par with Grindr in the sense that it has huge social influence and impact.”
The row over TikTok has been consistently likened to the ban on Huawei, but as Niu points out, there’s a huge difference between an app and an entire technological infrastructure.
He added: “This is not a situation like Huawei, which is very much a strategic asset as part of the telecommunications infrastructure. It is not easy to ban something like Huawei.
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“Even the US has not been able to get rid of Huawei wholly, they have given them a timeframe. Huawei products cannot go overnight without disrupting the telecommunications network.”
Here’s where Microsoft could come in
TikTok became the most downloaded app in the US in October 2018. Now, president Donald Trump is threatening to ban it. NurPhoto via Getty Images
On Saturday it was reported by The New York Times and Fox Business that US-owned tech giant Microsoft is in “advanced talks” to buy the app.
The potential deal would be a victory for both companies, making Microsoft a major player in the social media arena and providing relief to TikTok and its parent company Bytedance from Trump’s sights.
TikTok issued a statement on Friday saying: “While we do not comment on rumours or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok.”
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On Saturday, it posted a short video from its US general manager Vanessa Pappas, saying: “We’re not planning on going anywhere”.
Microsoft initially declined to comment on the talks, but broke its silence on Sunday when it confirmed that CEO Satya Nadella had been involved in direct talks with Trump – adding that the company was pursuing a ByteDance acquisition for its US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand operations. It is expected that these talks will conclude no later that September 15.
But while initial reports suggested that discussions were at an advanced level, Microsoft have insisted that talks remain in the early stages.
In a statement on the company’s site, a spokesperson wrote: “This new structure would build on the experience TikTok users currently love, while adding world-class security, privacy, and digital safety protections. The operating model for the service would be built to ensure transparency to users as well as appropriate security oversight by governments in these countries.
“Among other measures, Microsoft would ensure that all private data of TikTok’s American users is transferred to and remains in the United States. To the extent that any such data is currently stored or backed-up outside the United States, Microsoft would ensure that this data is deleted from servers outside the country after it is transferred.
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“Microsoft appreciates the US government’s and president Trump’s personal involvement as it continues to develop strong security protections for the country.”
What presence does the app have in the UK?
According to data presented by Statista, by December 2019 almost 9% of smartphone users in the UK had TikTok downloaded, and as the platform has become increasingly recognisable it is likely that percentage will have grown.
On Sunday it was reported that TikTok was planning to open a headquarters in London – even as it faced a potential ban across the pond.
Reports in The Sun suggest the UK is set to give the green light to a new headquarters for the service in London, with key executives relocating to the UK as part of the move.
TikTok has so far declined to comment on its plans.
Last month, the app’s head of public policy for Europe, Theo Bertram, denied the company had halted plans for a London HQ because of escalating tensions between the UK and China over Huawei and Hong Kong.
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“We are still thinking about what to do about our global HQ and we haven’t made any decision on that yet, and anything else is speculation,” he said.
The Sun reported that with ministers approving the plans for a new headquarters, Boris Johnson could “risk a major row” with Trump over the decision.
Could we see a TikTok ban too?
Chinese telecoms firm Huawei will be banned from installing any new equipment to the UK’s 5G phone network from the end of this year and have all its kit stripped out by 2027, the government announced in July. Matthew Childs / reuters
Just as the US could technically ban the app, so could the UK government – but it is unclear whether or not this would be necessary.
Again, comparisons have been made to the changing picture with Huawei and the complex geopolitical forces that led to the UK eventually following the US’ lead – but TikTok is one app, not an entire telecommunications network.
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Fears about whether or not Western countries such as the US could trust Huawei not to monitor communications networks led to Washington banning US firms from doing business with Huawei – for example, designing equipment such as chips.
Crucially, Trump’s administration has demanded that its allies follow suit.
The UK initially resisted, but during talks between the two countries it became clear that pushing ahead with a Huawei relationship could jeopardise post-Brexit US-UK trade discussions, and limit security cooperation in the future.
While data protection issues remain a concern around TikTok, the security implications surrounding Huawei currently run much deeper.
As Niu points out, Trump’s ban on the social media app is likely part of a larger push against a relationship with China. But while the UK government has recently spoken out against China – particularly in the context of Hong Kong and the treatment of Uyghur Muslims – UK markets still have a huge interest in China.
Niu added: “TikTok is not strategically important – I can’t see any point the UK government could make against TikTok, it is just a very popular mobile application.
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“There may be the issue of data protection but that is quite a minor concern, and above all the US government hasn’t really pressured the UK on TikTok.
“Diplomatically, the UK operated in a kind of middle ground. A ban on TikTok in the UK would be another blow to the already-strained UK-China relationship and there could be consequences.”
He explained that China had taken a “restrained” approach to the ban on Huawei, in anticipation of the result of the US presidential election. If the US stays on the same path post-November 2020, Niu said: “If there’s clearly no way back, I think they [China] might then do something.”
He added: “As for TikTok, I’m not really convinced the UK government would do anything about it at the moment.
“There’s no political motivation and economically it is bad enough. Diplomatically it could be a really risky manipulation.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-03--7-Year-Old Gets Mini Nurse's Uniform To Ease Her Hospital Anxiety

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We might be in the middle of a pandemic but that hasn’t stopped one learning disability nurse from going above and beyond to help a child feel more comfortable during a trip to hospital.
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Seven-year-old Jessica was extremely anxious about her upcoming hospital appointment at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
So, to ease her worries, Emily Kavanagh, who works in the outpatients department, asked if Jessica wanted to be a nurse for the day instead.
Supplied by NHS Jessica wearing her mini uniform to her hospital appointment.
The seven-year-old took her own doctor’s kit and was given a mini uniform, provided by the NHS, so she could feel like a member of staff rather than a patient.
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Kavanagh tells HuffPost UK it “transformed” Jessica’s trip to the hospital.
“Her role as nurse for the day worked incredibly well,” the nurse tells HuffPost UK. “Her family discussed previous appointments when she had been scared, frightened and unable to engage with health professionals.
“She became part of our team for the day; she described her symptoms and chatted with the team. We were all extremely proud of how she responded and engaged in her appointment.”
Yesterday my patient was so anxious about coming into hospital her mum didn’t know if she would be able to bring her. But today with the help of the #MiniUniforms my patient became a Dr for the day and skipped out of her appointment #ReasonableAdjustments #AutismAwareness pic.twitter.com/L0BqC2RZ9H — Emily Kavanagh (@emchlokav) July 23, 2020
The day before the appointment, Kavanagh had spoken to Jessica and her mum Rebecca in a virtual consultation about how to support her – they chatted about her needs, likes, dislikes and any reasonable adjustments that could be provided to make her feel more comfortable.
“We agreed that I could be her link person and I introduced myself via a video consultation,” says Kavanagh. “I explained everything that would be expected of her during the appointment, including any examinations that would be required by the doctor.”
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Over the course of the conversation, she learned that Jessica loved playing doctors with her younger brother and that she wanted to be a nurse when she was older.
Jessica said she had her own toy doctor’s kit, so Kavanagh encouraged her to bring it along to the appointment. On the day she provided a miniature uniform for her so she could feel like one of the staff, shifting the dynamic and instantly putting her at ease.
Rather than being anxious about her time in hospital, Rebecca says her daughter was very keen to go and see Emily, which was “unusual”.
She is incredibly thankful of the support shown to her daughter, who has since said she wants to be like Kavanagh when she grows up, because “she is kind and plays with the children”.
Supplied by the NHS Emily Kavanagh
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The mini uniform scheme is a relatively new initiative set up by Ruth May, the chief nursing officer for England, with a view to inspiring children and young people to take up a career in nursing and midwifery. But it turns out it’s also a successful way to ease children’s anxieties over going to hospital.
May tells HuffPost UK: “I know that attending hospital can be a really stressful experience for lots of young people, but especially those with learning disabilities or autism, so I’m delighted that our mini uniforms are coming in handy in reducing anxiety for some.
“This is another example of how rewarding being a nurse can be.”
It was the first time the mini uniform scheme had been used in Kavanagh’s department but they’re now keen to try it more often, to allow children and young people to feel part of their care.
“I think it would be amazing if they were available for children who are anxious in every hospital, or even just for play and distraction when waiting for appointments,” she says.
“It is important that we endeavour to listen to our children, young people, families and carers to ensure that often the very smallest of changes to what we do can have enormous effects on their experiences.
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“Simple adjustments like the use of the mini uniforms help to improve the patient’s experience and enable equal access to healthcare for everyone.”
As for May, she’s already lining Jessica up for a job.
“We’d be proud to have Jessica join our ranks when she’s old enough, but in the meantime, with vacancies and places on university courses available across the country,” she says.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--BBC Responds To Complaints About Use Of N-Word In Report About Racist Attack - But Fails To Apologis

BBC Responds To Complaints About Use Of N-Word In Report About Racist Attack - But Fails To Apologise

The BBC has failed to apologise in a statement responding to complaints over the use of the N-word in a report about an unprovoked racist attack in Bristol.
The broadcaster was criticised after airing the word uncensored during the segment last Wednesday, as Fiona Lamdin reported on how two men drove a car into a man, before running off and shouting racist abuse at him.
In the report, which aired just after 10.30am, she said: “Just to warn you, you are about to hear highly offensive language. Because as the man ran away they hurled racial abuse, calling him a n*****.”
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The report aired on BBC News last week BBC News
Following a number of complaints, the BBC said that it “accepted this has caused offence” but failed to apologise, claiming the use of the uncensored word was “editorially justified given the context”.
A statement on their complaints website read: “Clearly we would never want our reporting to become the focus of such an important story. We have listened to what people have had to say about the use of the word and we accept that this has caused offence but we would like people to understand why we took the decision we did.
“This story was an important piece of journalism about a shocking incident. It was originally reported by some as a hit and run, but investigations indicated that racist language was used at the scene and it was then treated by the police as a racially aggravated attack.
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“The victim’s family were anxious the incident should be seen and understood by the wider public. It’s for this reason they asked us specifically to show the photos of this man’s injuries and were also determined that we should report the racist language, in full, alleged to have been spoken by the occupants of the car.”
The statement continued: “Notwithstanding the family’s wishes, we independently considered whether the use of the word was editorially justified given the context. The word is used on air rarely, and in this case, as with all cases, the decision to use it in full was made by a team of people including a number of senior editorial figures.
“You are, of course, right that the word is highly offensive and we completely accept and understand why people have been upset by its use. The decision to use the word was not taken lightly and without considerable detailed thought: we were aware that it would cause offence. But, in this specific context we felt the need to explain, and report, not just the injuries but, given their alleged extreme nature, the words alleged to have been used - a position which, as we have said, was supported by the family and the victim.
“These are difficult judgements but the context is very important in this particular case.
“We believe we gave adequate warnings that upsetting images and language would be used and we will continue to pursue this story.”
The BBC’s statement was met with further criticism online.
So @BBCNews are sticking by and justifying the use of the N word on live television. Simply exhausting and a waste of our energy. pic.twitter.com/9TtsCX0xBs — William Adoasi (@WilliamAdoasi) August 4, 2020
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Omg i was just gonna mention. When i got the email this morning i was like?????? Not one single “sorry” https://t.co/HmLsukuutL — Laura (@lauzzaza) August 4, 2020
Utterly ridiculous. https://t.co/VuN3caBeLg — yungi bout to knock down ya door 🥊🥊 (@persona_llytae) August 4, 2020
When @BBCNews uses 'we were given a pass' to offend people as an excuse. Disgusting! https://t.co/nZuusuyvHL — Shava (@Meth_uselah) August 4, 2020
I am completely flabbergasted by this. https://t.co/a6rqs9lvhx — El Bajo de DG 🎸 (@d_fifi_g) August 4, 2020
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BBC guidance states “the strongest language” must not be shown before the watershed at 9pm, but the N-word itself is generally deemed too offensive to be aired at any time.
An Ofcom report about public perceptions of such language in 2016 deemed it to be “highly unacceptable at all times”, but said that if it is to be used then “strong contextualisation [is] required”.
The BBC previously told HuffPost UK in a statement: “This was a story about a shocking unprovoked attack on a young Black man.
“His family told the BBC about the racist language used by the attackers and wanted to see the full facts made public. A warning was given before this was reported.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Met Police Investigating Racist Threat Made Against David Lammy

David Lammy has called on Twitter to be “much faster at stamping out racist threats and abuse” after receiving a threat on the social media platform. Barcroft Media via Getty Images
David Lammy has called on Twitter to be “much faster at stamping out racist threats and abuse” after receiving a threat on the social media platform.
The shadow justice secretary, who is Black, posted a screenshot of a message he received in which a Twitter user said he would “hang from a lamppost” if he “wasn’t careful”.
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In response to the abusive tweet, Lammy replied: “Vile racists like you will not silence me.
“But social media must not be a platform for threats and abuse.”
On Sunday he reported the threat to the Metropolitan Police, who have confirmed they are investigating an “allegation of malicious communication”.
The following day the Labour MP called on Twitter to act quickly, addressing its CEO, Jack Dorsey, directly.
13+ hours later, the police are investigating and Mikolaos Nichaloliakos’ tweet calling me a ‘monkey boy’ and making threats about ‘hanging’ are still live.@Twitter @jack tell me racist abuse is not welcome on your platform.
You need to get so much faster at removing hate. https://t.co/RAoC4hgbW1 — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 3, 2020
But the social media platform did not act until Monday when it suspended the user’s account, prompting home secretary Priti Patel to call for “decisive action” against abuse on the site.
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I am sorry you have faced this awful racist abuse @DavidLammy.
I have asked the @metpoliceuk to keep me updated on their investigation.
As I have said before, @Twitter must take decisive action against this sort of vile content much faster. https://t.co/pRqB7nWWq5 — Priti Patel (@pritipatel) August 3, 2020
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also condemned the abuse, saying: “Social media platforms must be quicker at taking action against hate.
“Racism has no place online or anywhere in our society.”
The politicians’ comments prompted comparisons with their perceived lack of action over online abuse directed at Black Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler.
Did Dawn Butler and Diane Abbott ever get any form of solidarity.... https://t.co/cl73um5A3w — YT: C’est Chancy 🇨🇩 (@JesuisChancy) August 4, 2020
A spokesperson for the Met Police said: “Police received an allegation of malicious communication on August 2, 2020. The allegation relates to a tweet directed at an MP. The Met Police is investigating.”
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No one has been arrested over the message.
A spokesperson for Twitter said: “We have policies in place that address abuse and harassment, violent threats, and hateful conduct.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--The Five Wildest Moments From Donald Trump’s Interview with Axios

The Five Wildest Moments From Donald Trump’s Interview with Axios
President Donald Trump sat down for an interview with Jonathan Swan, delivering a wild interview in which he argued about the coronavirus death rate, John Lewis’ legacy and what his presidency has done for America. Here’s the five wildest moments.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Meghan Markle Turns 39

Meghan Markle Turns 39

Meghan Markle Turns 39
The Duchess of Sussex turns thirty nine, in the same year her son Archie turned one, she left the royal family for the US, and narrated a documentary for Disney+.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--These Are All 40 Activists Featured In British Vogue's September Issue

Misan Harriman Misan Harriman
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From Black Lives Matter to campaigns raising awareness of mental illness, 2020 has been a year of activism – and it’s celebrated in British Vogue’s September issue.
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Marcus Rashford graces the cover for his work campaigning to end child poverty in the UK. The footballer used his platform to force a government U-turn during the pandemic, after officials cut the food voucher scheme over the summer holidays – at a time when families were already struggling.
“If I didn’t put myself out there and say: ‘This is not okay and it needs to change,’ I would have failed my 10-year-old self,” Rashford says in the edition.
He’s joined on the cover by model and mental health campaigner Adwoa Aboah, who’s founder of the online community Gurls Talk.
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Misan Harriman
“For some time, it’s felt to me to have been quite a box-ticking approach to racial justice, mental health, sustainability,” Aboah says. “Now I have hope it’s changing. I don’t think you’re going to get away with just spraying perfume on the situation anymore.”
The pair were photographed by Misan Harriman – the first Black male photographer to shoot any cover of British Vogue in its 104-year history and the first Black photographer for any September Issue of British Vogue.
In total, the September Issue includes 40 activists, dubbed ‘The Faces of Hope’, who are doing big things to challenge the status quo and improve lives.
Here’s just a snippet of their achievements.
Patrisse Cullors – Artist and political strategist who is the co-founder of Black Lives Matter and also the founder of Reform LA Jails.
Amy Harris/Invision/AP Patrisse Cullors
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Claudia Walder – As editor and founder of disability platform Able Zine, Walder aims to increase representation for disabled and chronically ill creatives, young people and communities, both online and IRL.
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah – Also known as Lady Phyll, she’s the co-founder of UK Black Pride and an LGBTQ human rights activist.
Tamika Mallory – As one of the organisers behind the Women’s March, the social justice activist is a prominent voice for women’s rights. She also uses her platform to support Black Lives Matter and call for better gun control in the US.
Paras Griffin via Getty Images Tamika Mallory
Janet Mock – The writer, director and activist has published two bestselling memoirs about her journey as a trans woman. She’s also written and directed shows, including Pose and The Politician.
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Lavinya Stennett – As founder and director of the education social enterprise The Black Curriculum, Stennett seeks to ensure Black history is not erased in schools.
Patrick Vernon – The social campaigner and cultural historian is a vocal supporter for the rights of the Windrush generation.
Jane Elliott – As a teacher and diversity trainer, she’s known for her work as an anti-racism educator for decades.
Dr Bernice King – The youngest child of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr is now the CEO of Martin Luther King Jr Centre for Nonviolent Social Change.
Professor Angela Davis – An academic, philosopher and political activist, known for dedicating her life to human rights activism.
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Dr Meenal Viz – The NHS doctor protested about the lack of PPE available for healthcare workers during the pandemic. She stood outside the prime minister’s residence on Downing Street, carrying a banner, while pregnant.
ASSOCIATED PRESS Dr Meenal Viz
Fiona Dwyer – CEO of anti-violence against women charity Solace, which has been helping women and girls in London and beyond for more than 40 years.
Patrick Hutchinson – Personal trainer who was widely praised for rescuing an injured man during a far-right protest. Hutchinson was supporting Black Lives Matter in London, but carried the man (reported to be from the opposing group) to safety over his shoulder.
Alice Wong – The disability activist, writer and podcaster is also the founder of The Disability Visibility Project, dedicated to amplifying disabled voices in the media.
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Anna Taylor – 19-year-old climate justice activist who has been leading the youth climate strike in the UK, all while studying.
Chris J Ratcliffe via Getty Images Anna Taylor
Janaya Future Khan – An international ambassador of Black Lives Matter who has helped the movement grow globally.
Yvette Williams – As co-founder of the Justice 4 Grenfell campaign, Williams works to seek safe housing and support for victims of the tower fire and their families.
Mireille Cassandra Harper and her mother, Elaine Harper – Mireille’s ‘10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship’ guide went viral after the death of George Floyd. She’s photographed in the issue alongside her mother, who campaigned against the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela during the 1980s.
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Clara Amfo – A radio and TV broadcaster who was praised for talking about racism and her own mental health struggles following the death of George Floyd.
Quinn Wilson – We have creative director and activist Quinn Wilson to thank for creating Lizzo’s videos.
Jari Jones – The actor, trans model and activist was the first Black trans woman producer of a film at the Cannes Film Festival.
Brittany Packnett Cunningham – As a social justice activist, educator and writer, she was once cited by Barack Obama as a leader whose “voice is going to be making a difference for years to come”.
Doreen Lawrence – The mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, who tirelessly works as an anti-racism campaigner as founder of the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
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Imarn Ayton – An anti-racism activist and actor who was among the organisers of the Black Lives Matter protests in London this summer.
Hollie Adams via Getty Images Imarn Ayton
Brianna Agyemang & Jamila Thomas – These are the music executives and creators of #theshowmustbepaused movement.
Alaa Salah – The Sudanese student is famous for demanding the end of President Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year dictatorship.
Munroe Bergdorf – A model and activist who uses her platform and own experience to campaign for trans rights.
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Kendrick Sampson – Actor and activist who has spoken out about structural racism, telling of how he was shot by seven rubber bullets while joining a protest over the death of George Floyd.
iO Tillett Wright – The writer, producer and social justice activist helps educate the masses about gender through their work.
Joan Smalls – Smalls has become an anti-racism activist, calling out the fashion industry for its lack of diversity.
Temi Mwale – Racial justice campaigner and founder of youth and community empowerment organisation The 4Front Project.
Reni Eddo-Lodge – Bestselling author of Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, which has re-entered the bestseller charts in recent weeks.
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MAURO PIMENTEL via Getty Images Reni Eddo-Lodge
Layla F Saad – Bestselling author of Me and White Supremacy, which aims to help readers see the impact of white privilege and white supremacy in their lives.
Bethann Hardison – The former model advocates for greater diversity in the fashion industry.
Jesse Williams – Actor, director, producer and educator, who has used his platform at awards ceremonies to condemn police brutality.
Vanessa Nakate – Founder of the climate justice organisation, The Rise Up Movement.
Riz Ahmed – British actor and activist, who has spoken about negative stereotyping of Muslims, both in the UK and abroad.
Vogue September issue is available via digital download and on newsstands Friday August 7.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Twitter Users Stunned At 'Full-Blown Lunacy' Of Trump's Wild Axios Interview

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President Donald Trump’s long-awaited Axios interview with Jonathan Swan finally aired on Monday night and it was a wild ride.
Trump tried to paint a rosy picture of the coronavirus pandemic, claiming “we’re last, meaning we’re first” in an attempt to downplay the death toll and current surge in fatalities.
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Trump doubled down on his well-wishes for Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of child sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, who is in custody and facing her own charges.
“I do wish her well,” Trump said. “I’m not looking for anything bad for her.”
Trump was also asked about the legacy of the late John Lewis, who died last month at the age of 80. Trump harped on about the fact that Lewis didn’t attend his inauguration, then downplayed the civil rights icon while praising himself.
“Nobody has done more for Black Americans than I have,” Trump said. “He should’ve come.”
Twitter users had high praise for Swan’s interviewing skills. As for the president’s performance, not so much.
It’s like an episode of Veep but real. https://t.co/xAIgtDK4yd — Justin Amash (@justinamash) August 4, 2020
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After watching the new full video of @realDonaldTrump’s interview with @axios, I think @ProjectLincoln & @gtconway3d et al have driven Trump into full blown lunacy. It is amazing how there are no limits to how proudly Trump shows off his mental deterioration & narcissism. — Spiro Agnew’s Ghost (@SpiroAgnewGhost) August 4, 2020
Trump during the Axios interview: pic.twitter.com/oPa6Mn9vxM — Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) August 4, 2020
You cannot convince me that this isn’t satire or a sick joke oh my god pic.twitter.com/xAZTbV5QiV — Meena Harris (@meenaharris) August 4, 2020
It’s honestly hilarious that this is the guy who supposedly wants MORE debates https://t.co/uB0rsZVPFr — Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) August 4, 2020
I watched the full @Axios interview via YouTube. Why did Trump agree to do this interview w/ @jonathanvswan? 45's weaknesses are on full display for 37+ minutes: ignorance, narcissism, duplicitousness, lack of compassion, irresponsibility and lunacy. https://t.co/NXChpC4nGQ — When they go low, feel free to go lower (@angelialevy) August 4, 2020
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He really has to be one of the dumbest people alive. https://t.co/OkdHQPcqb5 — George Conway (@gtconway3d) August 4, 2020
Many astounding things about this clip, but really striking that the President’s brain is too mushy to even remember “We have a lower case fatality rate than other countries.” He just remembered there was a graph with different lines that we were doing well on. https://t.co/l1xmEE0Bxz — Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) August 4, 2020
If this incredible @Axios interview shows one thing, it's that the president is completely out of gas. The job has chewed him up, spit him out, and there's nothing left in the tank. — Max Burns (@themaxburns) August 4, 2020
I’m seven minutes into the Axios interview it’s just a disaster for the President. He’s just all over the place — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) August 4, 2020
How can you watch this exchange and think that this person should be in charge of managing the response to a deadly pandemic? https://t.co/tPnzlUgOuU — Republican Voters Against Trump (@RVAT2020) August 4, 2020
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Trump is Michael Scott in Scott’s Tots with none of the charm or remorse https://t.co/q7I9uIecsC — Annie Rose Stracener (@anniestracener) August 4, 2020
This is frankly disgusting. Insane. Cruel. But typical Trump. Axios interview is madness. #TrumpIsNotWell https://t.co/uNTNsY6rHv — Christopher Reeves (@tmservo433) August 4, 2020
This is a masterclass in how to effectively interview a compulsive liar - ask questions and then present evidence proving they are lying - and never let up.
Excellent job, Jonathan. — Red *Person Woman Man Camera TV* (@Redpainter1) August 4, 2020
How am I still not used to Trump? This is just absolute madness. He’s got the donkey brains. https://t.co/l2QbEdFJlm — Nate Igor Smith (@drivenbyboredom) August 4, 2020
Swan/Trump is the new Frost/Nixon — MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) August 4, 2020
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Home Office Scraps 'Racist' Visa System Following Court Challenge

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Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.
The Home Office has abandoned a visa system branded “racist” by human rights campaigners after being challenged in court.
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A computer algorithm, or streaming tool, used by the department automatically graded each entry application on a traffic-light system of green, amber and red.
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) said the computer programme discriminated on the basis of nationality — by design.
People applying for visas from a “secret list of suspect nationalities” were more likely to be coded red and therefore be subject to extra scrutiny and ultimately less likely to see their applications accepted, the charity argued.
The JCWI said this was racial discrimination and breached the Equality Act 2010.
Following a judicial review brought by the JCWI and technology campaigners Foxglove, the Home Office confirmed it was scrapping the algorithm, though it rejected claims of racial discrimination.
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From August 7, the current streaming tool will no longer be used. A redesigned visa process is due to be in place by the autumn, the department said.
Until then, the streaming or sifting of the overwhelming majority of visa applications by the Home Office will take place by reference to the individual, such as previous travel, and nationality will not be taken into account.
Chai Patel, JCWI legal policy director, said the visa system had in effect become “speedy boarding for white people”.
“The Home Office’s own independent review of the Windrush scandal found that it was oblivious to the racist assumptions and systems it operates,” he said.
“This streaming tool took decades of institutionally racist practices, such as targeting particular nationalities for immigration raids, and turned them into software.
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“The immigration system needs to be rebuilt from the ground up to monitor for such bias and to root it out.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We have been reviewing how the visa application streaming tool operates and will be redesigning our processes to make them even more streamlined and secure.
“We do not accept the allegations Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants made in their judicial review claim and whilst litigation is still ongoing it would not be appropriate for the department to comment any further.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Michael Eavis Thinks Glastonbury Returning In 2021 Is ‘Wishful Thinking’

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Glastonbury fans might have to keep their wellies stored away a little longer than hoped after Michael Eavis suggested the music festival won’t return until 2022.
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The festival’s organiser said he is “moving heaven and earth” to try and make it a reality next year but admitted it was probably “wishful thinking”.
Michael Eavis Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP/Invision/AP
The annual event was due to celebrate its 50th birthday in June but was forced to cancel because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sir Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar were set to headline the Pyramid Stage this year to celebrate the festival’s landmark anniversary.
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In a new interview with ITV News West Country, Michael said: “Five hundred people is OK, isn’t it? But my job, 250,000 altogether, is too many people I suppose really.
“I’m still hoping I’m going to run next year. We’re moving heaven and earth to make sure that we do, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to happen, that’s just wishful thinking.”
Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
However, asked if he worries about the future of the festival and what will happen after this year, he said: “No, I do not worry at all, I am so confident that it will survive.
“The only certainty I think is the year after, 2022. To be perfectly candid, so we might have to wait for two years maybe.
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“But I am still hoping and we are fighting and working at it all the time to make sure it happens next year.”
He also said he believes the world of the performing arts will come back stronger after the crisis, saying: “Of course it will. My god, yeah. You can’t kill it off just like that. It will come back.
“It will come back, probably stronger actually.”
Michael previously said the future of the festival could be in danger if it’s not able to go ahead in 2021.
In June, Michael – who oversees Glastonbury every year with his daughter, Emily Eavis – told The Guardian that if the festival can’t take place next year, “it will be curtains”.
Michael with his daughter Emily. David M. Benett via Getty Images
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“We have to run next year, otherwise we would seriously go bankrupt,” he explained. “It has to happen for us, we have to carry on. Otherwise it will be curtains. I don’t think we could wait another year.”
Emily agreed that Glastonbury would be in a “very serious situation if we had to cancel next year’s event”, but pointed out that the industry in general could well be in jeopardy.
“The whole live industry will be hanging in the balance if we have another summer without festivals,” she added. “And we don’t know what level of government support there will be for this industry.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Donald Trump Makes Bizarre Claim US Is Beating Coronavirus: ‘We’re Last, Meaning We’re First’

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After nearly four years of perplexing interviews with US president Donald Trump, the bar is pretty high for what qualifies as outrageous, jaw-dropping or even just plain mad.
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Enter Jonathan Swan of American news site Axios, who not only managed to clear that bar but fly so far over it that even in 2020 his interview has still managed to prompt a general response of “omg is this actually real life?”.
If you showed the Axios interview to someone that just came out of a 5 year coma they'd think SNL still doesn't know when to end a sketch. — Schooley (@Rschooley) August 4, 2020
Much of the interview covered the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which has so far killed more than 150,000 Americans – the highest death toll of any country.
In a particularly bizarre segment, Trump brandished pieces of paper while trying to convince Swan that his administration was winning the battle against the virus.
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The president said: “Those people who really understand it say it’s incredible, the job that we’ve done.”
Swan replied: ”Who says that?”
There was no reply from the president. Instead, he continued to insist that other countries were faring far worse.
.@jonathanvswan: “Oh, you’re doing death as a proportion of cases. I’m talking about death as a proportion of population. That’s where the U.S. is really bad. Much worse than South Korea, Germany, etc.”@realdonaldtrump: “You can’t do that.”
Swan: “Why can’t I do that?” pic.twitter.com/MStySfkV39 — Axios (@axios) August 4, 2020
Trump: “If you look a this chart here, the United States is lower in numerous categories. We’re lower than... the world.”
Swan: “Lower than the world? What does that mean?”
Trump: “Lower than Europe.
Swan: “In what? Oh, you’re doing deaths as a proportion of cases. I’m talking about deaths as a proportion of population. That’s where the US is really bad. Much worse that South Korea, Germany, et cetera.”
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Trump: “You can’t do that.”
Swan: “Why can’t I do that?”
Trump: “You have to go by the cases. The cases that are there.”
Swan: “Why not as a proportion of population? Look at South Korea – 51m population, 300 deaths.”
Trump: “You don’t know that, you don’t know that.”
Swan: “You think they’re faking their statistics?”
Trump: “I won’t get into that because I have a very good relationship with South Korea.”
At this point Trump rifled through his pieces of paper and pulled out another chart, saying: “Here’s one right here. You take the United States – we’re last. Meaning we’re first.”
It is not clear what the president was referring to.
It was just one of many mind-boggling moments. Other highlights included:
Testing
Trump has long insisted that the only reason the pandemic is so bad in the US is because they’re conducting more tests than any other country.
Aside from the patently false assumption that somehow coronavirus cases only exist when you test positive for them, the incredibly high death toll is evidence enough of the terrible situation in the US.
Undeterred, Trump once again picked up the theme of testing “too much”.
Trump: “There are those who say ‘you can test too much’. You do know that?”
Swan: “Who says that?”
Trump: “Just read the manuals, read the books.”
Swan: “Manuals? What manuals?”
Trump: “Read the books.”
Swan: “What books?”
The coronavirus test itself
One section in which the president did speak the truth, albeit it not to his advantage, was when he pointed out there was no test for coronavirus when he took office in 2016.
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Trump: “When I took over we didn’t even have a test.”
Swan: “Why would you have a test? The virus didn’t exist.”
Trump: “We didn’t have a test because there was no test.”
Let me be the millionth person to add the Jonathan Swan interview is simply unbelievable gear. And now I cant wait for the Sarah Cooper re-work. — Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) August 4, 2020
On global warming and nuclear weapons
Trump: “Nuclear proliferation is a much bigger problem than global warming... in terms of the real world.”
On his comprehension abilities
Trump: “I comprehend extremely well, probably better than anyone you’ve interviewed in a long time.”
On Ghislane Maxwell
Away from coronavirus, Trump was also asked why he wished Ghislane Maxwell well after she was arrested for alleged child sex trafficking.
Not only did he he defend his words, but he also floated the conspiracy theory that Jeffrey Epstein was murdered.
“She’s accused of child sex trafficking.” — “Big deal.” Big deal?????? pic.twitter.com/LcHzP7ymTu — Michael Moran (@TheMichaelMoran) August 4, 2020
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Swan: “Ghislane Maxwell has been arrested on allegations of child sex trafficking. Why would you wish such a person well?”
Trump: “First of all I don’t know that...”
Swan: “She has. She’s been arrested for that.”
Trump: “Her friend or boyfriend was either killed or committed suicide in jail. She’s now in jail. Yeah I wish her well. I’d wish you well. I’d wish a lot of people well.”
To top it all off, Trump also dismissed the legacy of John Lewis, the Democratic congressman who dedicated his life to the civil rights movement.
Trump: “He didn’t come to my inauguration. He didn’t come to my State of the Union speeches. And that’s OK. That’s his right. And, again, nobody has done more for Black Americans than I have.”
JONATHAN SWAN: “How will John Lewis be remembered in history?”
DONALD TRUMP: “I don’t know...He didn’t come to my inauguration.”
I mean, wow. — Chris Jackson (@ChrisCJackson) August 4, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Normal People's Paul Mescal To Appear In Rolling Stones Music Video

Normal People star Paul Mescal just got even cooler, after teaming up with the Rolling Stones.
The Irish actor is set to appear in the band’s latest video for new track Scarlett.
A short teaser of Paul in action debuted on Monday, showing him in a dishevelled state in a hotel room, struggling to get the song to play on a laptop.
He then downs a drink and says to the camera: “I think we’ll be fine.”
Paul Mescal in The Rolling Stones' video for Scarlett YouTube
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The full video for the song – which is a previously unreleased track the group recorded with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in 1974 – will see Paul as a “rock ’n’ roll leading man”.
The video is described as a “love letter” to Scarlet and was directed by filmmaking duo US with a socially distanced shoot at London’s Claridge’s Hotel.
The full video will debut on Thursday.
Fans of Paul’s will already know that he actually has musical chops of his own.
The star shared a video of his hidden talent after making a name for himself on BBC Three’s adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People earlier this year.
His rendition of Sia’s Chandelier won praise from the woman herself when he shared the clip on Instagram.
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Sharing it on her own account, she wrote: “I’m watching Normal People right now and you’re incredible in it. And now this! Congratulations and hope to meet one day!”
Last week, Paul discovered he had been nominated for an Emmy for his role as Connell Waldron in the BBC drama.
However, he was disappointed to see co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones – who appears opposite him in the series as Marianne Sheridan – miss out on a nomination.
He told Vulture: “If it was me I would have given her all the love in that category. I can’t speak highly enough of the work she did on the show.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--A Morbid Toy Story Question Gets A Dark Answer From Director

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Talk about a Buzz kill.
Toward the end of Toy Story 3, viewers everywhere were traumatised when their favorite lovable toys slid toward an incinerator and were nearly destroyed.
The toys were saved at the last minute, but what would’ve happened if they hadn’t been? Would they have died? Would their spirits have gone to the great (infinity and) beyond?
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Well, that very “childhood-ruining debate” (as Uproxx called it) went viral over the weekend, with a Twitter user wondering if the toys in Toy Story could die.
my girlfriend and i are having a big fight bc i think the toys from Toy Story are immortal and she thinks they can die — mustard clown (@markydoodoo) August 2, 2020
Twitter users tackled the topic from all angles. One person argued that toys are “immortal” but not “invincible,” another said that toys can’t die a “total death,” and yet another suggested that if you “chopped off woody’s head ... and put it far far away from his body where no one could put it back on... he must be dead.”
So what’s the truth? Lee Unkrich, who directed Toy Story 3, came across the debate and offered his own definitive answer.
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Unkrich said that toys “live as long as they exist.” However, if they were to be “utterly destroyed,” it’d be “game over.”
They live as long as they exist. But if they were to be utterly destroyed? Say, in an incinerator? Game over. https://t.co/p9nwIAjAl8 — Lee Unkrich (@leeunkrich) August 2, 2020
Dang, Woody. Remember when all you had to worry about was a snake in your boot?
Although Woody, Buzz and the gang avoid the ultimate fate in Toy Story 3, at least one edit of the movie didn’t end that way.
Previously, Unkrich and Coco writer and director Adrian Molina, who was a storyboard artist on Toy Story 3, told us about a version of the film where the toys didn’t escape the incinerator.
Thankfully, that edit was made as a joke, and it wasn’t — as Unkrich might say (perhaps in the voice of Jigsaw from the Saw movies) — “game over.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--9 Women Named Karen Talk About, Well, Being An Actual Karen

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The first time lifestyle journalist Karen LeBlanc was shown a “Karen” meme centred on the coronavirus, she freaked out a little.
LeBlanc, who’s the host of GenXtra, a lifestyle show for Generation X, said her 15-year-old showed her a collage of white women, all sporting Kate Gosselin’s now-iconic reverse mullet and self-righteous smirks.
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“The Karenovirus is responsible for 3 managers being fired this month alone,” the caption read.
In the earliest incarnation of the Karen memes, a Karen (or a Stacey or Becky) was a pushy, coupon-loving, entitled, middle-class white woman who, in the face of even the slightest inconvenience at a store or restaurant, would very much like to speak to the manager.
But as LeBlanc learned, today’s Karens contain multitudes: Now, Karen has a decidedly conservative political viewpoint. She distrusts science (and Dr Anthony Fauci) and won’t wear a mask in public. Worse, she weaponises her whiteness by calling the police if she encounters anyone who looks like they don’t belong in her neighbuorhood.
“I thought, ‘Wow, my name not only symbolises a social pariah, it’s associated with the pandemic,’” LeBlanc said. “Now I overcompensate in social situations, as if apologising for all the kind Karens out there who don’t deserve to be socially skewered.”
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Karens in the news recently include New Yorker Amy Cooper, who feigned hysterics and called the police on a Black bird-watcher in Central Park, and Lisa Alexander, a San Francisco resident, who, along with her husband, called the police on a Filipino man after spotting him stenciling “Black Lives Matter” in chalk on his own property.
A white couple call the police on me, a person of color, for stencilling a #BLM chalk message on my own front retaining wall. “Karen” lies and says she knows that I don’t live in my own house, because she knows the person who lives here. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/rOpHvKVwgP — Jaimetoons (@jaimetoons) June 12, 2020
As Aja Romano reported for Vox recently, in these racially charged, hyper-polarised times, Karen has become a kind of “social boogeyman.”
“Karen is no longer content to speak to the manager. Now she’s calling the cops on her Black neighbours,” the article notes.
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Clearly, the name has taken on a life of its own, but the majority of people named Karen whom we spoke with recently say they’re taking the trend in stride. (They certainly don’t view it as an “ethnic slur,” as a very-bent-out-of-shape Tucker Carlson recently said he does.)
“If the Karen meme makes people laugh, I consider that my public service,” LeBlanc said. “If the meme calls out ugly behavior, intolerance and entitlement then I say good!”
Still, LeBlanc and other women named Karen want nothing to do with the antics of viral Karens. But instead of telling you that, we’ll let these Karens speak for themselves.
Here’s what they told us.
Can we call them Susan instead of Karen?
“I’m a Black woman named Karen. The first time I saw a Karen meme I was on Twitter. I laughed it off and replied back asking if we can call them Susan instead of Karen. Some have suggested that the meme might allow people to point the finger at anyone but themselves when it comes to prejudice or our handling of the coronavirus. As I see it, it’s not so much as pointing the finger at someone to deflect the attention or blame from the other person but more of showing the world that there are some people who are doing things that should be seen. If you’re being a ‘Karen,’ you’re using privilege, you’re basically not being a great person and in this day and age, that needs to be seen.” ― Karen Fairley, an administrative assistant in Mississippi
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Karen is a cultural signifier of the middle-aged ‘mean girl’
“If I could play armchair psychologist, I would say that Karen is a cultural signifier of the middle-aged ‘mean girl’ who’s condescending and self-important, unlike the high school mean girl, who is cliquey and a social striver. I suspect the Karen meme carries a complex, a chip on her shoulder that stems from existing on the fringes of high school popularity, excluded by the mean girl social order. Today, it’s payback. Karen meme is channeling that pent-up resentment at anyone who crosses her path.
What is unfortunate for this Karen is that I don’t have a Kate Gosselin haircut and I don’t spend my energy trying to get managers fired or yell at people who took my parking spot or skipped the line. Now I have to Karensplain myself and overcompensate in my public behavior just to disprove that all Karens are alike.” ― LeBlanc
do babies named Karen even exist or do they just appear one day with 3 kids and wanna speak to the manager — Sofia Mendoca (@sofiamendoca) October 13, 2017
I’m not slighted by a name
“My feelings about my name haven’t changed. I know who I am and who I am not. People are going to be people and everybody seems to be on their last nerve with this pandemic. Our lives have been disrupted, our patterns, and often our sense of security. I take none of that personally. I’m much more interested in the fascism happening in Portland, Oregon, then being slighted by a name.” ― Karen Banfield, a performing artist who also does intuitive readings in Ojai, California
Debating someone, especially on social media, instantly turns into an ‘OK Karen’ type of thing
“I always thought my name was boring so I’m having a little fun with being a Karen. I take it lightly, especially since I know I’m a pretty reasonable person and with the last name of Santiago, I hardly fit the privileged white woman profile. I’m part Hispanic, have dark curly hair and olive skin so I guess I felt removed from the negative connotation, which is probably why I could laugh at it. I don’t know if I would feel the same if I were a nice white woman named Karen. It does get a little annoying simply because any time you might want to debate something or get your point across ― especially on social media ― it instantly turns into an ‘OK Karen’ type thing.’” ― Karen Santiago, a photographer in New York City
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I’m a Karen who’s a card-carrying liberal idealist who fights for injustice
“There are some great Karens in history: There’s Karen K Narasaki, an American civil rights leader and human rights activist who most recently served as a commissioner on the United States Commission on Civil Rights for then-President Barack Obama. There’s Karen Carpenter, who brought us ‘Close to You.’ Karen Briggs is one of the best violinists of all time. Karen LuJean Nyberg was a NASA astronaut! As for this Karen, I’m a card-carrying liberal idealist who fights for injustice and despises #45.
So in light of all that, am I bummed that my name is now associated instead with an entitled or demanding white woman who uses her privilege to demand getting her own way? Hell yes! So please, just call me ‘Pikey.’” ― Karen Pike, a photographer in Vermont
Rebecca Zisser/HuffPost Actual Karens we spoke to said they're not above calling other Karens out for Karen-like behavior.
My daughter’s friend told me, ‘Wow, you’re really nice for a Karen’
“Sigh. Felicia, Becky, and I need to go out for drinks. For me, I can’t help but find overtones of sexism and ageism in Karen. Is she obnoxious? Sure. Have we all seen white women of means acting badly? Absolutely, and it’s not OK. But what bugs me is that she is a grown woman of a certain age, and going back to, uh, I don’t know, the Salem witch trials and probably even before that, this is a segment of the population that has always been scrutinised, shamed and silenced. Make no mistake: Acts of racism are 100% wrong. But it’s not just middle-aged white women who are perpetrating them, and yet with Karen they are getting more than their share of the blame. I saw an attempt to call out Kevins for guys of a certain socioeconomic sector who are racist or socially intolerant, and it just hasn’t stuck.
Obviously, I don’t plan on changing my name or anything, but my friend’s daughter, aged 12, recently looked at me and said, ‘Wow, you’re really nice for a Karen.’ I simultaneously was flattered and wanted to strangle her. Thank you, internet, for dragging my name through the mud!” ― Karen Solomon, a writer in San Francisco
Good thing Karen is pronounced differently in Sweden
“If anything, the first thing I would get judged by would be my race ― I’m Asian ― then my name Karen. I still like my name, though. I mean, Karen is just a name and anyone can be a Karen anyway. I remember the Karen meme from Mean Girls, then it became the anti-vaxxer mom who always wants to speak with the manager when things don’t go their way. Those memes were fun to see because of how out of touch from reality they are. The Karens we see today need to be called out and they need to know they are not above anyone else. But I’m in Sweden; good thing Karen is pronounced differently here! Haha. I usually hear people call me Karin instead. I also remember someone told me I don’t look like a Karen, which I had no idea what it meant before.” — Karen Roldan, a travel and lifestyle writer in Stockholm
I roll my eyes at people who claim things like, ‘Karen is a slur’
“I have always liked my name and I still do. I’m not going to lie, sometimes I wish that the discourse could move on to a different name now, but then again, it’s important to discuss how racism and entitlement manifest specifically in white women, and Karen has become a shorthand for that.
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The Karen discourse doesn’t affect me in any real way in my life. It’s limited to memes and articles I see online; nobody discriminates against me because of my name. Karen memes are about punching up, about calling out privilege. So I roll my eyes at people who claim things like, ‘Karen is a slur.’ Being a Karen really is a state of mind, and having the name Karen is a good reminder to check on those entitled, speak-to-the-manager tendencies. Even as Karen, you don’t have to be a Karen!” ― Karen Schwane, a software developer in Oslo, Norway
Will I have to be an incognito Karen during trips to New York?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--What We Know About The Two New 90-Minute Covid-19 Tests

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When it comes to testing for Covid-19, there are two new kids on the block: LamPore and DnaNudge. But what are they, how do they work, and who can benefit from them?
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The two tests, which give results in 90 minutes, are to be rolled out in healthcare settings in the coming months. They can detect both Covid-19 and flu, which will be invaluable come winter when the NHS faces the burden of seasonal illness.
Here’s a quick guide to what they do.
How does the LamPore test work?
The test works to identify an active infection in a person, rather than testing for antibodies, which would tell a person if they’ve previously had Covid-19. The LamPore test is similar to the current PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, which people have to do by swabbing their nose and tonsils.
LamPore uses a method called RT-LAMP to identify coronavirus in a sample – either from nasal and throat swabs, or saliva – and then amplify it.
The fact it also takes samples from saliva is an exciting step, because experts believe saliva testing to be a more accurate way to test for the virus than swabs, as there’s less room for error. It’s also more comfortable to spit into a tube than have your nasal passage and tonsils scraped with a swab.
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Once the sample is taken, it’s tested using something called sequencing technology, which identifies the virus. It takes just 60 to 90 minutes for the results to come through. In comparison, the existing PCR swab tests take between 24 and 72 hours to process.
Why is it faster?
Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist and expert in molecular oncology from Warwick Medical School, says the test is faster because it uses a different technology to analyse the samples.
The current technique involves processing samples through multiple cycles at different temperatures to get a result, he says, while the new way of testing gets straight to the point. “It’s rapid because you don’t need to perform the analysis on the same sample multiple times,” he explains. “The amplification technique can be performed all at the same temperature, unlike the current technique which requires processing through cycles at different temperatures.”
The new test is similar to the existing swab test in the way it picks up the virus. It can be used to process swabs in labs, as well as on-location through ‘pop up’ labs. A desktop machine can process up to 15,000 tests a day, while a mobile version can process up to 2,000 tests a day.
The existing swab test, however, has to be sent off to specific labs for analysis.
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Who will be able to use it?
Almost half a million (450,000) of the new LamPore tests will be available from next week in NHS laboratories, with the government promising “millions more” tests will be rolled out later in the year, including in care homes.
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“This is a positive step,” says Prof Young. “But we really need near-patient testing – a test that could be used and analysed at a place of work or airport, for example – so that local outbreaks can be rapidly and effectively managed. The LamPore technique could be used on-location, but is not so simple that it can be operated without technical expertise.”
A spokesperson for LamPore tells HuffPost UK they are looking into getting pop-up labs up and running in the community.
For now, the at-home testing kits and drive-through test sites will continue to use the existing PCR tests, which are estimated to be around 75% accurate. That means for every 100 people tested who are actually infected, you’ll miss, on average, 25 people as they will come out as false negatives.
What about the DNA test?
A new test that uses DNA to detect coronavirus will be rolled out in hospitals from September, with 5,000 DNA machines, supplied by DnaNudge, providing an estimated 5.8 million tests in the coming months.
The tests will be able to look for the virus in nose swab samples, to provide a positive or negative result for Covid-19 in 90 minutes.
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Unlike LamPore, DnaNudge can be done on-site without a “pop-up lab”. It uses a miniature analyser – the swab sample is inserted into a cartridge and then straight into the ‘NudgeBox’ for analysis. The test can also detect flu and it eliminates “false negative” results by testing for inadequate swabbing.
Professor Chris Toumazou, CEO and co-founder of DnaNudge and founder of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London, said: “We have been able to successfully adapt our DNA testing technology – which identifies genetic risks for chronic conditions related to obesity and type 2 diabetes – and validate it for detecting Covid-19 with gold-standard accuracy.”
“The opportunity to have this highly accurate test is helping us provide the highest quality care for our patients.” - Dr Gary Davies, hospital medical director of Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
The machines can process up to 15 tests each on the spot each day. They are currently being used in eight London hospitals, located in cancer wards, A&E and maternity wards to protect those most at risk.
Dr Gary Davies, hospital medical director of Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said the test is particularly useful in areas “where speed of testing has the most impact for patients”.
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“The opportunity to have this highly accurate test – without the need for a laboratory – is helping us provide the highest quality care for our patients and support for our staff, and offers the best chance of tackling the biggest challenge that the NHS has ever faced, particularly now as we look ahead to the winter flu season,” he said.
Do we still need more testing?
Modelling by researchers at University College London (UCL) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine suggests a second wave in the UK might be avoided with increased levels of testing in schools, and effective contact tracing and isolation.
Dr Jasmina Panovska-Griffiths, who led the study, said: “Our modelling suggests with a highly effective test and trace strategy in place across the UK, it is possible for schools to reopen safely in September. However, without sufficient coverage of a test-trace-isolate strategy the UK risks a serious second epidemic peak either in December or February.”
She urges the government to ensure that test-trace-isolate capacity is scaled up to a sufficient level before schools reopen.
Prof Young also points out there are quicker tests out there that could be looked into: “What happened to the more rapid, 20-minute OptiGene test that was being evaluated in Hampshire?”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Pizza Express Set To Shut 67 Restaurants And Cut 1,100 Jobs

Pizza Express has said it could close around 67 of its restaurants in the UK. Matthew Horwood via Getty Images
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Pizza Express has said it could close around 67 of its restaurants in the UK.
Up to 1,100 jobs are expected to be at risk as a result of the major restructuring plan.
The chain said it plans to launch a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in the “near future” in a bid to push down its rents.
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The restructuring deal could lead to the closure of 15% of its 449 restaurants, although the final outcome of the restructuring has “yet to be decided”.
The company said: “This decision is a very difficult one; however, against the current unprecedented backdrop, Pizza Express believes reducing the size of its estate will help it to protect 9,000 jobs.”
In July, the entrepreneur who helped build Pizza Express into one of the UK’s biggest restaurant chains, said high street casual dining chains have “no future”.
The model for midmarket branded restaurants was “absolutely broken”, Hugh Osmond said, because private equity firms buying these businesses “fail to understand the business they are acquiring”.
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Zoe Bowley, UK and Ireland managing director, said: “Our business has a long history of success, but the UK-wide lockdown has hit the hospitality industry particularly hard.
“While the financial restructuring is a positive step forward, at the same time we have had to make some really tough decisions.
“As a result, it is with a heavy heart that we expect to permanently close a proportion of our restaurants, losing valued team members in the process.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Ross Kemp Reveals Extreme Swollen Lip After Being Stung In Wasp Attack

Ross Kemp has renamed himself “wasp Kemp” after he disrupted a wasps nest while accessing his loft space at home
The former EastEnders actor was left with extreme swelling on his top lip after being stung by the insects on Monday.
Ross Kemp went to hospital to receive treatment after being stung by wasps Twitter
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Ross had to go to hospital to receive treatment after his lip swelled up as a result of the attack.
Speaking in a series of videos to his Twitter followers, he said: “Now being seen by our fantastic NHS – local doctor’s just giving me a hydrocortisone. Hopefully that’s going to bring it down a bit.”
At the doctors. Love the NHS pic.twitter.com/NRVGU80Flp — Ross Kemp (@RossKemp) August 3, 2020
The actor and presenter – who is best known for playing Grant Mitchell on the BBC soap, as well as fronting various documentaries – also imitated Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger’s famous lips.
“I look like Mick Jagger, don’t I?” he joked.
He then tried to sing the band’s hit (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction but admitted: “Oh, it hurts a bit.”
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Ross also issued a warning to his fans about disturbing a wasp nest.
He said: “That just goes to show what happens with nature.
“I had no idea when I was opening the hatch that there was actually a wasp nest on top of it.
“I am very lucky that they only stung me on my nose, in my nose and my top lip.
“It could have been far worse. Thank you again, you lovely, lovely NHS.”
Wasp Kemp...back home, thank you NHS pic.twitter.com/dBLspHFpxG — Ross Kemp (@RossKemp) August 3, 2020
Ross recently fronted a documentary about dementia for ITV, in which he spoke to the husband of his former EastEnders’ co-star Barbara Windsor, who played his on-screen mum.
The star was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014, with Ross admitting that the deterioration in her condition “has been shocking” and “upsetting”.
Barbara’s husband Scott Mitchell has since made the difficult decision to move her into a care home, after her condition worsened during lockdown.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Ellen DeGeneres’ Wife Portia De Rossi Breaks Silence Over ‘Toxic’ Workplace Accusations

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Ellen DeGeneres’s wife has broken her silence and thanked fans for their support amid accusations of a “toxic” work environment on the set of the star’s US talk show.
Portia De Rossi shared a message of support for the beleaguered host on Monday.
The actress posted a picture on Instagram reading “I stand by Ellen” and wrote in the caption: “To all our fans….we see you. Thank you for your support.”
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Last week, Ellen issued an apology after a Buzzfeed News investigation made a series of claims about the alleged toxic culture on the day time talk show.
“On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness – no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect,” Ellen said.
“Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry. Anyone who knows me knows it’s the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show.”
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Warner Bros, which produces The Ellen DeGeneres Show, also announced it will make staffing changes as well as taking “appropriate measures to address the issues that have been raised” after an internal review found “deficiencies related to the show’s day-to-day management”.
Ellen DeGeneres, left, and Portia de Rossi Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Ellen, who has hosted the Ellen DeGeneres Show since 2003, has since faced calls to step down.
The comedian and actress is known for her bubbly on-screen persona and “be kind” mantra, but that image has been rocked by recent allegations.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--WHO Chief Warns There May Never Be A 'Silver Bullet' For Coronavirus

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The director of the World Health Organization warned Monday that there may never be a “silver bullet” for defeating Covid-19, even as pressure mounts from the White House to create a vaccine well before the end of this year.
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“A number of vaccines are now in phase 3 clinical trials and we all hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people from infection,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a media briefing. “However, there’s no silver bullet at the moment and there might never be.”
Tedros instead stressed the importance of exercising “the basics of public health and sieges control” to stop outbreaks from occurring.
“Testing, isolating and treating patients, and tracing and quarantining their contacts. Do it all,” he urged.
"A number of vaccines are now in phase three clinical trials and we all hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people from infection.
However, there’s no silver bullet at the moment and there might never be"-@DrTedros #COVID19 — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) August 3, 2020
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"For now, stopping #COVID19 outbreaks comes down to the basics of public health and disease control.
Testing, isolating and treating patients, and tracing and quarantining their contacts.
Inform, empower and listen to communities. Do it all"-@DrTedros — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) August 3, 2020
There are currently six coronavirus vaccine candidates in late-stage testing or close to it.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a White House coronavirus task force member, said last week that he’s “cautiously optimistic that we will have a vaccine by the end of this year and as we go into 2021.”
But Fauci has also said he doesn’t believe the virus will ever be eliminated.
“I think with a combination of good public health measures, a degree of global herd immunity and a good vaccine, which I do hope and feel cautiously optimistic that we will get, I think when we put all three of those together, we will get control of this, whether it’s this year or next year. I’m not certain,” he told the TB Alliance in an interview last month. “I don’t really see us eradicating it.”
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday at WHO headquarters in Geneva that there may never be a "silver bullet" for the coronavirus and that people must instead practice “the basics of public health" to stop outbreaks. FABRICE COFFRINI via Getty Images
President Donald Trump, in contrast, has repeatedly insisted that the virus will one day “disappear” and has called Fauci an “alarmist.” At a news conference last month, Trump said he expects there will be a vaccine “long before the end of the year.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Motorist Handed £90 Parking Fine After Drive-Through Coronavirus Test

Geoff Pugh says he was handed a parking fine after taking a drive-through coronavirus test at a car park in north London. PA
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A motorist says he was “flabbergasted” to receive a £90 parking fine after taking a drive-through coronavirus test at a car park.
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Geoff Pugh, 52, was handed the penalty after taking his wife and two children for a throat and mouth swab at Edmonton Green Shopping Centre in Enfield, north London on July 7.
He said he was at the site for a total of 23 minutes and followed all of the instructions given to him by staff.
The photographer told PA Media: “At first I thought it was just a genuine fine, so I was about to pay it, but when I looked into where it happened and realised what it was, I was flabbergasted.
“I think it’s completely ridiculous to charge someone for looking after the health of their family, neighbours and work colleagues.
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“I didn’t even leave the car the whole time I was there.”
A spokesperson for the company behind the fine said it would cancel any penalty charge notices issued to visitors “incorrectly”.
They said: “The car park terms and conditions and the pay-for-parking system and tariff are set by our client – we do not have any involvement in setting these rules, or indeed when they do or do not charge for parking.
“We cannot confirm whether or not the car park has been repurposed by Enfield Council, just that we have been asked to suspend enforcement activity on specific days and times where they have agreed to provide space for Covid testing. However the car park is still being used for retail during this time.
“July 7 was an occasion where we were only notified that the site had been used for Covid testing, more than a week later, and PCNs were already issued.
“We will cancel any PCNs that have been issued to visitors incorrectly on this or any other specified date where testing is taking place.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Will Young’s Twin Brother Rupert Has Died, Aged 41

Will Young’s twin brother, Rupert, has died at the age of 41.
A spokeswoman for the singer confirmed the news, saying: “I can confirm that Will’s brother has very sadly passed away.
“We would like to request privacy for Will and his family during this very difficult and sad time.”
Rupert had spoken openly about his mental health and alcoholism, and was diagnosed with dysthymia – a depressive mood disorder – in 2005.
Will (R) and Rupert Young Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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Rupert set up the Mood Foundation, a charity that built a national database of private therapists who offered free, one-to-one treatment to anyone over 18 diagnosed with depression or anxiety.
He said at the time: "My aim is to help people suffering from depressive conditions who are being prevented from recovery because they cannot afford the correct treatment or they do not meet the correct ‘threshold’ to access the appropriate services.
"One sufferer affects the lives of everyone around them."
Rupert Young Shutterstock
Will, who shot to fame after winning Pop Idol in 2002, had previously opened up about his brother’s personal struggles.
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He said: ”It was the family stepping away that actually got him better.
“It’s very tough having a family member who is an addict. But when you’re dealing with that you eventually have to just stop and look after yourself.
“Me, my parents, my older sister, everyone. We all just had to walk away. We had to leave him.”
Useful websites and helplines
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Man Fires On Police With AK-47 After Refusing To Wear A Mask: Officials

Authorities have arrested a Pennsylvania man after he allegedly fired on police with an AK-47 a day after shooting at a store clerk who asked him to wear a face mask.
Adam Zaborowski, 35, opened fire on three local and state police officers when they pulled him over near his Slatington home the day after the store shooting, Pennsylvania state police said in a statement.
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Zaborowski was shot at least twice and arrested. He’s expected to fully recover. An officer was left with bullet fragments in the arm.
The violence comes amid a spate of ugly confrontations involving Americans refusing to wear face masks to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
Zaborowski was “just not handling the pandemic well,” his attorney, John Waldron, explained Sunday to Lehigh Valley Live. “I know there’s been some stressors in his life — I don’t mean that as an excuse,” Waldron told The Morning Call.
“The fact that he got shot twice with non-life-threatening injures when he had an AK-47 and another handgun, Adam is very fortunate he ended up the way he did,” Waldron said.
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The string of incidents began last Friday at a cigar shop in Bethlehem Township when a store clerk told Zaborowski to put on a mask. A witness in the store told WFZM-TV that Zaborowski whipped out what he claimed was a copy of an order from the governor saying he didn’t need to wear one. The state requires masks in public places, including stores.
As the clerk argued with Zaborowski, he allegedly grabbed a couple of cigars and walked out. When the clerk followed him to the parking lot, police reported that Zaborowski pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and shot once in the air and twice at the clerk, who escaped injury. Police released video of the shooting, which can be seen above.
“It’s crazy, just crazy,” the store witness told WFZM. “It’s the mask. The guy was obviously anti-mask.”
Zaborowski has been charged with 22 crimes, including seven counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and robbery, and is being held on $1 million bail.
He is banned from possessing firearms in Pennsylvania because of a previous aggravated assault case, police said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--Trump And His Company Under Investigation Over Reports Of Bank Fraud

The Manhattan district attorney’s office suggested that President Donald Trump and his business were under investigation over bank and insurance fraud, according to court documents filed on Monday.
The documents – filed as part of an ongoing legal battle between district attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. and Trump over Trump’s tax returns – mention “public reports of possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.”
The office was already known to be investigating alleged hush-money payments Trump’s legal team made to two women who claim to have had affairs with Trump before he took office. The new documents suggest that the scope of the investigation is much wider than originally thought.
“This possible criminal activity occurred within the applicable statutes of limitations, particularly if the transactions involved a continuing pattern of conduct,” court documents read.
Last week, Trump’s current attorneys attempted to block Vance’s subpoena of Trump’s accounting firm Mazars USA, arguing that the subpoena was “wildly overbroad” and sought “irrelevant records.”
Vance’s team called on district judge Victor Marrero to reject Trump’s claims because they impeded the investigation, noting that the delay in the investigation allows Trump to achieve “temporary absolute immunity.”
While Trump may think the subpoena is “overbroad,” that concern is based on a “false premise” that the investigation is only looking at Trump’s “so-called ‘hush-money’ payments” made by Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen in 2016, Vance’s team said.
Instead, the district attorney’s office noted that their probe was more broadly related to claims of alleged insurance and bank fraud by the Trump Organization and its officers.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-08-04--The 15 Best Instagram Recipes From July 2020

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In the summer, we’re expected to crave light foods that won’t weigh us down, such as fresh salads and juicy slices of fruit. But instead ― maybe because of the stress of a pandemic or just the general state of the world ― we’re carbo-loading on Swedish meatball pasta, fried mac and cheese and ice cream-stuffed brownies. It’s a truly weird year, this 2020.
The HuffPost Taste Instagram account shared plenty of cold, crisp salads and fresh produce in July, but most of what ended up on the list of our 15 most-liked recipes was ... not that. Readers loved the peanut butter chocolate chip cookie cheesecake bars (is that a mouthful or what?), cheddar scallion biscuits, dan dan noodles, cinnamon buns, chocolate chip muffins and sheet pan pizzas.
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But in-season fruit eventually got its moment in the spotlight. Check out the glorious peach recipe that landed in our top spot, and then give these recipes a try.
15. Honey Garlic Salmon
14. Mac and Cheese Stuffed Oven Fried Courgette Bites
13. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars
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12. Blueberry Pie Bars
11. Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches
10. Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Bars
9. Lemon and Thyme Crullers
8. Cheddar Scallion Biscuits
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7. Tzatziki (Greek Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce)
6. Swedish Meatball Pasta
5. Easy Sheet Pan Tomato Herb Pizza
4. Dan Dan Noodles
3. Easy Puff Pastry Cinnamon Buns
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2. Decadent Chocolate Chip Muffins