thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-04--Canadian Armed Forces Trolled The Proud Boys In The Most Incredible Way

"If you’re thinking about wearing our uniform, know what it means. Love is love," the message accompanying the image said. Twitter
A hashtag used by the far-right hate group, Proud Boys, has been hijacked by the LGBT+ community.
The white supremacist group gained notoriety earlier this week when US President Donald Trump refused to publicly condemn them during the first presidential debate with Joe Biden.
Responding to a question from moderator Chris Wallace, who asked if he would condemn white supremacist and militia groups that have showed up at some protests, Trump said: “Sure, I’m willing to do that. But I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing.”
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On the Proud Boys’ account on the messaging app Telegram, members of the group celebrated the apparent endorsement.
“Trump basically said to go fuck them up,” said one of the Proud Boys’ leaders in a chat on the right-wing social media app Parler. “This makes me so happy.”
In response, gay men have taken to Twitter to reclaim the #ProudBoys hashtag, flooding it with photos of happy – and proud – gay couples.
Among those who have posted in support of the hashtag include the Canadian armed forces, who tweeted a photo of one of their members kissing another man.
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Accompanying the photo was the message: “If you wear our uniform, know what it means. If you’re thinking about wearing our uniform, know what it means.
“Love is love. Know what we mean?”
The tweet has been retweeted more than 7,000 times within hours of being posted.
The hijacking of the #ProudBoys hashtag has been partly attributed to actor and activist George Takei, who wrote: “What if gay guys took pictures of themselves making out with each other or doing very gay things, then tagged themselves with #ProudBoys.”
I wonder if the BTS and TikTok kids can help LGBTs with this. What if gay guys took pictures of themselves making out with each other or doing very gay things, then tagged themselves with #ProudBoys. I bet it would mess them up real bad. #ReclaimingMyShine — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 1, 2020
The LGBT+ community responded immediately with rainbow flags and messages and images of queer love and pride.
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YALL. The #ProudBoys hashtag has been hijacked by the gays to piss off the Nazis and I’ll happily do my part by flooding the internet with the only acceptable proud boys out there: the very gay ones 🌈 pic.twitter.com/cnlmyfhGyH — Jennifer Scheurle (@Gaohmee) October 4, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-04--Trump's Doctors Say He Could Be Discharged From Hospital Tomorrow

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Donald Trump could return to the White House as early as tomorrow, his doctors said on Sunday, despite being only two days into a five-day course of treatment for Covid-19.
Speaking on the steps of Walter Reed hospital, Dr Sean Conley said the president had experienced “a few episodes of transient drops in oxygen saturation” and required supplemental oxygen, but otherwise gave an upbeat assessment of his condition.
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“The fact of the matter is that he’s doing really well,” he said.
The medical professionals also spent just as much time saying how honoured they were to be treating the president as they did giving actual updates on his condition.
Erin Scott / Reuters
Doctors said Trump has not run a fever since Friday and that his liver and kidney function remained normal after the second dose in a five-day course of Remdesivir, an intravenous antiviral drug sold by Gilead Sciences Inc that has been shown to shorten hospital stays.
Dr Brian Garibaldi said Trump was also given dexamethasone in response to “transient low oxygen levels.”
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“He received his first dose of that yesterday and our plan is to continue that for the time being,” Garibaldi said.
He is also taking an experimental treatment, Regeneron’s REGN-COV2, as well as zinc, Vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and aspirin, Conley has said.
Differing assessments of Trump’s health from administration officials on Saturday left it unclear how ill the president had become since he tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday night.
A White House team of doctors said on Saturday morning Trump’s condition was improving and that he was already talking about returning to the White House.
Within minutes, chief of staff Mark Meadows gave reporters a less rosy assessment, saying, “The president’s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery.”
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Meadows, whose initial comments were delivered on condition that he not be identified, altered his tone hours later, telling Reuters that Trump was doing “very well” and that “doctors are very pleased with his vital signs”.
In an interview with Fox News broadcast Saturday night, Meadows revealed that Trump’s condition on Friday was far worse than officials had made public, saying doctors recommended the president go to the hospital after seeing he had a fever and his blood oxygen level dropped rapidly.
Conley commented on the contradictory assessments on Sunday.
“I was trying to reflect an upbeat attitude of the team and the president about the course his illness has had,” Conley told reporters on Sunday. “I didn’t want to give any information that might steer the course of illness in another direction and in doing so, it came off that we were trying to hide something, which isn’t necessarily true.”
But any hopes of an outpouring of support for Trump in the wake of his Covid-19 diagnosis were given a serious blow on Sunday, as a poll gave his election rival Jo Biden his widest lead in a month.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll also shows a majority of Americans think the president could have avoided contracting the virus if he’d taken it more seriously.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-04--Charles Moore Rules Himself Out Of BBC Chairman Race

Lord Charles Moore was “virtually a done deal” after six weeks of wrangling over pay and conditions, according to reports. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boris Johnson’s top choice to be chairman of the BBC has ruled himself out of the role, according to reports.
Lord Charles Moore had been asked by the prime minister to take up the post as the successor to Sir David Clementi when he stands down as chairman of the BBC board in February.
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His appointment – if it had gone through – would have been controversial; Moore has previously been a longstanding vocal critic of the BBC and was in 2010 fined for not paying the licence fee. He has also previously come under criticism for his comments on race and same-sex marriage.
But the Sunday Times reported he had decided against even applying “for personal reasons”.
It had been said that the former editor of the Daily Telegraph and biographer of Margaret Thatcher was “virtually a done deal” after six weeks of wrangling over pay and conditions.
The paper added that the BBC would have been forced to inflate the salary to at least £280,000 to attract him to the role. The current BBC chairman, Sir David Clementi, is paid £100,000 a year.
Moore has previously written that the BBC could not carry on before and must “decolonise”. He received backing from Michael Gove, who told the Mail on Sunday: “Charles Moore is one of the most brilliant writers, journalists and thinkers in Britain today.
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“Anyone who knows him knows he is open-minded, fair-minded, passionate about this country’s success.
“The BBC is an amazing institution and Charles is someone who would bring a properly Reithian approach to it. He would want to make the BBC succeed.”
A formal recruitment process to find a new chairman has yet to be launched, but a job advertisement is expected to be issued shortly.
Other potential candidates for the role are the former culture secretary, Baroness Morgan of Cotes, and the former home secretary, Amber Rudd, the Sunday Times has previously reported.
Paul Dacre, the former editor of the Daily Mail and another fierce critic of the BBC, remains Johnson’s choice to become chairman of Ofcom.
Critics have raised concerns that such a move would threaten the broadcasting regulator’s reputation for fairness and independence.
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Gove said: “Paul Dacre is probably the single most successful newspaper editor of the past three or four decades and he is someone who has defied expectations in the campaigns that he’s run on the environment and to pursue the killers of Stephen Lawrence.
“Because both men are right of centre, and because both of them – like 52% of the people in this country – thought we should leave the European Union, they have been painted in primary colours as somehow demon kings. That is just not true.”
Downing Street declined to comment on speculation. around the recruitment process.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-04--Priti Patel Slams 'Do Gooders And Leftie Lawyers' Amid Criticism Of Asylum Plans

Home Secretary Priti Patel arrives for a cabinet meeting in London POOL New / Reuters
Home secretary Priti Patel has hit out at “do gooders” and “leftie lawyers” amid reports “inhumane” measures are being considered to deter asylum seekers from Britain.
Speaking at the Conservative Party’s virtual conference, Patel said the government would “take every necessary step to fix this broken system”, as she said asylum claims cost the UK more than £1bn-a-year.
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But the Home Office has been gripped by fresh controversy this week amid reports “blue sky” thinking by officials included deploying a wave machine to deter boats crossing the English Channel.
Other proposals were said to be sending migrants to a remote volcanic island in the Atlantic, called Ascension Island, while claims were processed, something Labour’s Nick Thomas-Symonds called “inhumane, completely impractical and wildly expensive”.
A UN refugee agency representative to the UK, Rossella Pagliuchi-Lor, meanwhile, said the proposal would breach the UK’s obligations to asylum seekers and would “change what the UK is - its history and its values”.
But Patel said the “complex” issues of immigration and asylum will be tackled in legislation next year, “amounting to the biggest overhaul of our asylum system in decades”.
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In a combative speech to the Tory’s rank and file, she said: “Under Conservative leadership, the United Kingdom has and always will provide sanctuary when the lights are being switched off on people’s liberties.
A Border Force vessel assist a group of people thought to be migrants on board from their inflatable dinghy in the Channel ASSOCIATED PRESS
“As for those defending the broken system – the traffickers, the do gooders, the leftie lawyers, the Labour Party – they are defending the indefensible.
“And that is something I will never do. If at times it means being unpopular on Twitter. I will bear it.”
Calling the current asylum system “fundamentally broken”, she said the new programme will be “firm but fair”.
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She said: “We will continue to hunt down the criminal gangs who traffic people into our country.
“I will continue to use the full force of our outstanding National Crime Agency and intelligence agencies to go after them.
“We will make more immediate returns of those who come here illegally and break our rules, every single week.
“And we will explore all practical measures and options to deter illegal migration.”
Responding to the speech, Thomas-Symonds, the shadow home secretary, said: “The Tories talk about a broken immigration system, but they have been in power for a decade and are the political party that broke it.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-04--New Poll Caps Off Cataclysmic Few Days For Donald Trump's Reelection Campaign

“Over the next period of a few days, I guess that’s the real test, so we’ll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days,” Trump said, seated at a round table in front of an American flag.
However, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows briefed reporters soon afterwards and said Trump went through a “very concerning” period on Friday and that the next 48 hours would be critical.
Further adding to the confusions, the president’s personal physician Dr Sean Conley had said the president was fever-free, was not on oxygen and was not having difficulty breathing.
Dr Conley refused to say whether Trump had ever been on oxygen despite repeated questioning, but said the president’s symptoms, including a cough and nasal congestion, “are now resolving and improving”.
A source familiar with Trump’s condition told the Associated Press the president was administered supplemental oxygen at the White House on Friday before going to hospital.
There was also confusion over when the president tested positive, as Dr Conley initially suggested Trump was 72 hours into the diagnosis.
Dr Conley later clarified he meant to say “day three” instead of 72 hours, and said the president had been first diagnosed with Covid-19 on Thursday evening
He also said Trump had received a first dose of a five-day course of Remdesivir, an intravenous antiviral drug sold by Gilead Sciences Inc that has been shown to shorten hospital stays.
The president is also taking an experimental treatment, Regeneron’s REGN-COV2, one of several experimental Covid-19 drugs known as monoclonal antibodies, as well as zinc, Vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and aspirin.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Tory Rebellion Threat As MPs Get Vote On Covid-19 'Rule Of Six'

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Boris Johnson could face a Tory backbench rebellion as MPs are set to vote on the Covid-19 rule of six this week.
The social distancing rule means that any gathering of more than six people – indoors and outdoors – is illegal in England.
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Downing Street confirmed on Monday that the Commons will vote on the measure on Tuesday.
It comes amid growing anger from Tory backbenchers, who oppose more intervention and restrictions from the state.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson urged tory MPs to back the motion, telling reporters: “He would urge all MPs to vote for it.
“The measures we are bringing forward are there for a specific purpose and that is to help us to control the spread of the virus and protect the NHS.”
The spokesperson added: “He understands many of the frustrations that people have but as the prime minister, he has to take a course of action that prevents the further spread of the virus and therefore protects the NHS and protects lives.
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“What we are seeking to do is get the right balance between protecting lives and livelihoods, which is why we are also trying to keep as much of the economy moving as we can.
“In terms of the rule of six, it gives clarity to the public and is a sensible and helpful step in helping us to control the spread of the virus.”
The vote follows around 40 MPs writing to the prime minister last week to warn him new government measures should have parliamentary scrutiny.
Would-be rebels have been coalescing around Graham Brady, chair of the powerful 1922 committee of Tory MPs, who has warned the government it cannot “rule by decree” during the pandemic.
With an 80-seat majority, however, it is unlikely rebels will have the numbers to defeat Johnson.
It also follows a huge jump in the number of infections after a computer glitch meant some 16,000 lab-confirmed cases of Covid-19 from the previous week were recorded late.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Boris Johnson Incorrectly Says People Will Get £500 A Week To Self-Isolate

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Boris Johnson has said people on low incomes will receive £500 a week from the government if they have to self-isolate. He is wrong.
Under the policy, it is a one-off payment of £500 for the entire 14-day period.
Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, the prime minister said it was important for people to isolate if they were found to have been in contact with somebody who has coronavirus.
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″That’s the way to make it wor –. £500 if you do, per week, and a £10,000 fine if you don’t,” he said. “It creates a firebreak around the incident and helps us to fight the virus.”
According to the government’s website, just under four million people who are in receipt of benefits in England will be eligible for the £500 payment.
It was introduced from September 28 when it was made illegal to ignore an order from NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate.
Anyone breaching self-isolation can be fined £1,000, increasing to £10,000 for repeat offences.
It is not the first time the prime minister has mangled an explanation of his own coronavirus policies.
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Last week Johnson apologised and said he “misspoke” when he was not able to explain the lockdown rules for the north-east of England.
It comes as the weekly rate of new Covid-19 cases soared in dozens of areas of, following the addition of nearly 16,000 cases that went unreported because of a technical error with an Excel spreadsheet.
The problem has led to a delay in efforts by NHS Test and Trace to find the contacts of those who tested positive for the virus, in some cases by around a week.
Johnson was unable to say on Monday morning how many contacts of positive coronavirus cases had been missed.
“I can’t give you those figures,” he said. “What I can say is all those people are obviously being contacted and the key thing is that everybody, whether in this group or generally, should self-isolate.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Madonna's Reason For Turning Down A Collaboration With David Guetta Is So Very Madonna

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David Guetta has revealed that a planned collaboration with Madonna fell apart when she found out a certain fact about him.
The French DJ and music producer told YouTube comedians McFly et Carlito that a meeting was set up for him to collaborate with the Queen of Pop after a remix he did of her song Revolver won a Grammy.
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But while the two hit it off, with David even seemingly in line to produce an entire Madonna album, things never got going for them, after she discovered what star sign he was.
Madonna Aurora Rose via Getty Images
“She tells me that she loves this remix and she suggests that I produce her next album,” he recalled.
“I arrive for lunch. We talk about everything – the music, what she wants to do with the album. [She was] super nice. It’s just her and me. Very relaxed, very cool. We have lunch, it’s happening, very good.”
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But he revealed that’s when things hit a seemingly insurmountable bump in the road.
The When Love Takes Over star continued: “Suddenly [after telling her he is a Scorpio], she makes a face and she says to me, ’I’m sorry, we’re not going to be able to work together. It was a pleasure to know you. Goodbye!”
David Guetta performing a set from home earlier this year John Parra via Getty Images
Madonna previously voiced her disdain for Scorpios last year, when she was about to be interviewed by Rylan Clark-Neal on The One Show.
“Oh! He’s a Scorpio, oh my god!” she exclaimed, after Rylan told her his star sign, to which he insisted: “We’re not too bad.”
The Like A Prayer singer responded: “That’s what a Scorpio always says. And then they sting you.”
It seems there are exceptions to Madonna’s no-Scorpios rule, though.
Her last two albums have featured collaborations with Diplo, who she also counts among her famous friends, despite his birthday falling on 10 November, putting him firmly in Scorpio territory.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Wales Is Considering Banning Visitors From Covid-Hit Parts Of The UK

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The Welsh government is “actively considering” imposing quarantine restrictions on people travelling into Wales from areas of the UK with high levels of coronavirus.
First minister Mark Drakeford had previously called on Boris Johnson to introduce travel restrictions for people in areas of England under local lockdown.
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In Wales, people must not enter or leave an area subjected to such restrictions without a reasonable excuse – which does not include travelling for a holiday.
Health minister Vaughan Gething told a press conference: “We’re actively considering what we should do and I’ve discussed it this morning with the first minister.
“We have quarantine regulations for international travel.
“So for some of the hotspot areas in the north of England – the north-east and north-west, and the West Midlands – if they were other countries or territories, we would have quarantine regulations for them to return to the UK.”
It comes after the weekly rate of new Covid-19 cases soared in dozens of areas of England, following the addition of nearly 16,000 cases that went unreported because of a technical error with an Excel spreadsheet.
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The problem has led to a delay in efforts by NHS Test and Trace to find the contacts of those who tested positive for the virus, in some cases by around a week.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--A Second National Lockdown Seems Inevitable. Here's What Stands In The Way

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A creeping feeling of déjà vu has been haunting Westminster with the arrival of autumn as bulletin after bulletin carries more bad news about the dreaded resurgence of Covid-19.
Case numbers, hospitalisations and, of course, deaths are rising and the R value has stayed stubbornly above 1.0, meaning that the pandemic continues to grow across the country.
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The UK map is a patchwork quilt of varying social distancing restrictions, reflecting how Boris Johnson wants to stick to his “whack-a-mole” strategy of stamping out outbreaks and avoiding blanket bans.
But with around a third of the entire UK population now living under some form of local lockdown, the question many are asking is: why doesn’t the prime minister “go the whole hog” and back a full second national lockdown?
Chief medical officer Chris Whitty, who with the PM and chief scientific officer Patrick Vallance, led a Downing Street press conference on October 1, has warned the country faces a “six-month problem”.
There are “significant rates of transmission” in “great majority” of areas where the virus is spiking, he said.
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Pointing to alarming graphs showing that hospital admissions were rising sharply among the over-65s, Vallance warned it would be “wrong” to think that the problem was only in areas under local lockdowns.
“It is worst in certain areas but there is evidence of spread everywhere,” he said
So what is stopping the PM from a full lockdown – and could a two-week “circuit-breaker” compromise be on the cards?
The devastating impact on the economy
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak holds a virtual news conference in Downing Street ASSOCIATED PRESS
Covid-19 has already ravaged the UK economy and the Bank of England warned last month that the resurgence of the virus will hit the country hard.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is thought to oppose a second lockdown “for any long period of time” amid fears job losses could soar and unemployment in 2021 could spiral out of control.
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“It’s a constant balancing act, trying to keep the country moving forward without the hospitals filling up with critically ill patients with Covid so that other services can continue to run, but achieving that is the key point,” said one MP.
“And if that isn’t happening [to the NHS], then keeping people running their businesses and employing people is equally important.”
Data released by the Office for National Statistics revealed that the number of redundancies in the UK has risen at its fastest pace since the financial crisis.
Many economists think Sunak’s new wage subsidy scheme is unlikely to stem further job losses this winter.
“The economic challenges are huge,” said the MP. “If the economy slows down too much – well, we use it to pay all of our public sector, it’s not for the fun of it. It pays for the wages for all of the services we want for our constituents.”
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Libertarian ‘Brady bunch’ Tory backbenchers
Conservative MP Graham Brady TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images
One thorn in Johnson’s side should he move for a second shutdown is a grouping of backbench Tory MPs known informally as “the Brady bunch”.
Notionally led by the chair of the powerful 1922 committee, Graham Brady, they oppose new restrictions by the state, both due to the limits on individual freedoms and the strain on business.
Or, as Brady recently put it, they feel the government has “got into the habit of ruling by decree” during Covid-19, with many measures, including hefty fines, announced without parliamentary scrutiny.
One moderate Tory MP, who doesn’t back the would-be rebels, told HuffPost UK other MPs were more trenchant in their view: “The Hitchenite wing, or lockdown-sceptic wing of the party, is growing stronger and stronger.
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“They are very hardline and there are more and more of them. They have increasing influence via people like Toby Young and Laurence Fox and then Nigel Farage on the fringe.”
They added: “Some of it is for libertarian reasons – they don’t want people to be bossed around by the state – but for others it is genuine worry.
“I don’t care about the libertarian arguments but I really do worry about businesses in my constituency and job losses.”
The group, which is thought to be around 50 strong, won a concession from the government last month after threatening a rebellion over the continuation of emergency measures.
Now, any second national lockdown must be put to a vote in the Commons.
While backbench voices may chip away at Johnson’s authority, they have little chance of sinking a second lockdown, given the Tories’ 80-seat majority.
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But the PM may also look to swerve a face-off with his detractors by brokering a compromise.
How to save Christmas
Christmas lights are used to show appreciation for the NHS on a house in Cambridge Drive in Chandler's Ford near Eastleigh, Southampton PA
“There is a fundamental belief in central government that the British public will not stand for a fully locked-down Christmas or even the rule of six, frankly,” one source close to the government told HuffPost UK.
Instead of “cancelling Christmas”, a two-week “circuit breaker” national lockdown, starting October 23, is on the table and may allow the country to avoid tighter restrictions later, it is said.
A government source told HuffPost UK a range of data is used to make decisions, and that there is no “specific point” at which a second shutdown would be triggered.
Setting an end date on a “full fat” lockdown would solve more than one problem for the PM.
October 23 is the start of half term, meaning schoolchildren – who have missed out since March, with those from poorer backgrounds hit hardest – could avoid having a great deal more of their classroom education interrupted.
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So the move may satisfy working parents and teachers who fear youngsters are falling behind with lessons.
This “third way” plan is said to have been briefed to hostile MPs already as a “light at the end of the tunnel” this winter.
“I think with backbenchers you can sell drastic measures in the short term, that are time limited, by saying: if all goes well, we will open up at Christmas,” the source added.
Retail and hospitality businesses, struggling to keep their head above water, would similarly be more inclined to swallow measures if they had an end in sight.
Brady, meanwhile, told BBC Radio 4′s Westminster Hour on Sunday that “people were told that it was a finite thing” when lockdown was first imposed.
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He added piecemeal regional lockdowns were now being questioned by the public.
Brady said: “People were remarkably tolerant in being prepared to go along with that, I think for that reason. And when you then start to get to speculation about a second lockdown or all of these regional things, I think patience really does start to wear thin and I can understand that.”
The government on Sunday revealed that as many as 16,000 cases from last week were not added to government figures, with the UK recording a huge 22,921 lab-confirmed cases in the 24 hours up to 9am on Sunday.
The news flatly contradicts suggestions that the second wave may have been “levelling off”, as it is now known the country reached 10,000 new daily cases on September 30.
Ministers are being shown more drastic figures by chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific office Patrick Vallance, one source said.
“The numbers that [the cabinet] are seeing are very, very bad and the thing that is always repeated to them by Whitty and Vallance in the meetings they have, is this [data] is two weeks’ old, so what is happening now is worse than what I’m showing you,” they said.
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“So they show ministers a lot of numbers that are bad but say that ‘before I do, know this, it is worse’.”
Rumblings of disquiet in the Red Wall
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham PA
With vast swathes of the north under local lockdown already and widespread confusion, not least by Johnson himself, over what measures are in place where, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham sounded the alarm on Sunday.
Telling the government it is “in danger of losing the public in the north of England”, he said: “We need a bit of a reset.”
The Labour mayor’s view is shared by several Tory MPs representing his party’s former heartlands, HuffPost UK understands.
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Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday, the former health minister – who has previously claimed Covid-19 could do more damage to the north than Margaret Thatcher – added: “Actually if [the government] carry on imposing restrictions on the north without proper support for the businesses and the employees affected in the north, we will see a winter of ‘levelling down’ and the north-south divide getting bigger.”
Meanwhile, Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth has pointed out that – by contrast – few Tory ministers have seen local lockdowns in their constituencies, suggesting there even may be “political interference”.
It is feared the economic long-term impact could disproportionately leave the Red Wall – across the midlands, north and Wales – much worse off, with many jobs lost in retail and hospitality.
“They expect this to hit the Red Wall worse than anywhere,” said one insider.
“There are MPs who think the government worries too much about the Red Wall, and say there are other areas of the country and other people who voted Tory, but it’s definitely true that the first test of any policy outside of Covid is the Red Wall test.”
One northern Tory simply added: “It’s a constantly moving challenge of keeping the economy moving and ensuring the NHS is not overwhelmed.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Ashley Banjo Says Diversity Ofcom Complaints Are Evidence Of A Deeper Issue In British Society

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Diversity troupe leader Ashley Banjo has said the controversy surrounding the group’s recent performance on Britain’s Got Talent, which reflected on the events of 2020, is indicative of a deeper issue in British society.
In the first semi-final show of this year’s BGT, Diversity returned to the stage to put on a powerful performance looking back at key moments in the year, including scenes alluding to the coronavirus pandemic, the killing of George Floyd and the ensuing global protests against police brutality.
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While the routine won widespread praise at the time, it also led to more than 24,000 complaints being made to Ofcom, which the media regulator eventually dismissed.
Reflecting on the performance in a new interview with GQ Hype, Ashley admitted he was surprised at how much the Black Lives Matter-inspired section of the routine ended up being focussed on.
Ashley Banjo for GQ Hype Adama Jalloh
Asked about “that Diversity BLM performance”, Ashley explained: “I’m proud for it to be [called that], but it’s really interesting how you coined it our ‘BLM performance’, because it wasn’t.
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“What I find the most incredible thing about all of this is that the Black Lives Matter element of the routine is the part that stuck with people, which, like I said, I can’t reiterate enough how much I’m proud of.
“But the performance itself was supposed to be a roundup of everything that we felt in the year; a summary of the things that have affected us... it was an idea of unity, the idea of hope. And obviously, as part of that routine, it would be impossible to ignore how much the Black Lives Matter movement, the idea of racism coming to the forefront of global attention, is present. It’s here and it’s right now.
“So in our summary of the year, it was impossible for me not to reflect upon it.”
Ashley and his fellow Diversity performers taking a knee during their routine Dymond/Thames/Syco/Shutterstock
Insisting he always had the full support of ITV, Ashley continued: “I said to them on the phone that week before, ‘This is what I think I’m going to do’. And they were great with it. That’s really important. They didn’t say anything until we turned up on the day. We turned up and we rehearsed.
“I think it was a bit of a shock for everybody [there]. Everyone was like, ‘Wow, this is where you’re going’. But as much as it was a shock, I don’t think as many people have ever taken me aside individually. The first run-through in rehearsal, people said they either were in tears or that it connected with them. That for me was so important.”
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The Diversity performer was also asked whether he thought the complaints were a symptom of a “significant problem with British culture”.
“I think a significant problem is an idea of perspective, right?” Ashley said. “I feel like, to some people, there is a massively significant problem, and to others there is no problem. And it is that spectrum, for me, that’s the problem.
“You know, I can’t pin it to one specific moment. The idea that there are some people who didn’t even really know that racism still exists – that’s the problem for me. That’s why it’s the right stage. That’s why I’m so passionate about creating these performances.
“And I’m also really passionate about freedom of speech and about open conversation and opinion. I love this country. That’s why I love living here and that’s one of the beautiful things about living here: the fact that we can all speak our mind.
“But if the moment I, as an artist, from a show like Britain’s Got Talent, can’t use my four minutes to say what I like and have it come from the heart, and not even say it offensively, but just say [it] honestly and artistically, that’s an issue.”
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Ashley on the cover of GQ Hype Adama Jalloh
He added: “I just want people to know racism is real, and, right now, we’re shining the light on the idea that Black lives matter, because they do. And the moment that there are other oppressed minorities or other issues to shine the light on, I’ll be there with bells and whistles on saying, ‘If this is wrong, it needs changing’.
“But right now, we are talking about the fact that Black lives matter. And if you can’t get on board and support that and dig deeper than just blaming a few people who have an opinion that you might not agree with, you need to take a look at yourself.”
An Ofcom spokesperson previously said of the complaints received about Diversity’s performance: “We carefully considered a large number of complaints about this artistic routine, an area where freedom of expression is particularly important.
“Diversity’s performance referred to challenging and potentially controversial subjects, and in our view, its central message was a call for social cohesion and unity.
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“Any depictions of violence by the performers were highly stylised and symbolic recent global events, and there was no explicit reference to any particular political organisation – but rather a message that the lives of Black people matter.”
Reacting to Ofcom’s ruling, troupe leader Ashley Banjo wrote on social media at the time: “Creativity is always a leap of faith. All I did what was what felt right and I’d do it 100 times over.
“Sending love to everyone that stood by us.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--This Is Why The Latest Test And Trace Shambles Is The Most Disturbing Yet

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The UK’s already embattled Test and Trace system suffered what may yet prove to be its most consequential blow this weekend, after it was revealed an error with an Excel spreadsheet meant almost 16,000 cases of coronavirus recently went unrecorded.
The problem has led to a delay in efforts by contact tracers to find people who have been in the same vicinity as those who tested positive for the virus, in some cases by around a week.
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Dr Duncan Robertson, lecturer in management sciences and analytics at Loughborough University and fellow of St Catherine’s College, Oxford, said the error was “an absolute scandal”.
This is an absolute scandal. These individuals will not have had their contacts identified and those contacts may have become infectious and may have been spreading the virus. — Dr Duncan Robertson (@Dr_D_Robertson) October 4, 2020
What was the issue?
The problem was caused by an Excel spreadsheet reaching its maximum file size, which stopped new names being added in an automated process, PA Media reported.
For example, 4,786 cases which were due to be reported on October 2 were not included in the daily total on the dashboard that day, when the figure was given as 6,968.
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The thing I still cannot remotely understand is why Excel was anywhere near the UK testing system in the first place. It's spreadsheet software, not database software – it should not have been within 100 miles of a system developed in 2020. — James Ball (@jamesrbuk) October 5, 2020
The files have now been split into smaller multiple files to prevent the issue happening again.
What’s the scale of the problem?
Public Health England (PHE) said a technical issue resulted in 15,841 cases between September 25 and October 2 being left out of the reported daily coronavirus cases.
Here’s what that means:
Reports last week that the pandemic was ‘slowing’ may have been wrong
A glimmer of hope was offered up last week by researchers looking at data from the end of September that said the number of new cases reported suggested the growth of the pandemic in the UK was “slowing”.
Professor Paul Elliott, director of the React study – the largest research of its kind in England – said although the numbers of people who now have the virus has “grown substantially”, there was reason for cautious optimism.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “In the very recent data, and we’re talking about people who did swabs last Saturday, it does seem that the rate of increase of the infection may have slowed a bit.”
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But “last Saturday” was September 26, which is one of the dates affected by the glitch.
It has not yet been confirmed how much it affected the data used in the React study.
Regional cases have soared
The distribution of the unrecorded cases is not evenly spread across the country and means case numbers in cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne are far higher than previously thought.
Manchester now has the highest rate in England, with 2,740 cases recorded in the seven days to October 1 – the equivalent of 495.6 cases per 100,000 people, more than double the figure of 223.2 the previous week.
Liverpool has the second highest rate, up in a week from 287.1 to 456.4, with 2,273 new cases, PA Media reports.
Knowsley is in third place, up from 300.3 to 452.1, with 682 new cases.
People may have contracted coronavirus because of the glitch – but we have no idea how many
Prime minister Boris Johnson was unable to say on Monday morning how many contacts of positive coronavirus cases had been missed.
The problem with the delay means that he contacts of the cases that have only just been reported in cities such as Manchester have potentially been unknowingly spreading the virus for up to a week rather than self-isolating.
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Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in health protection at the University of East Anglia, told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme: “If you’re going to do your contract tracing there’s a very short timeframe in which you can do it effectively, and the reason is we know now that this infection is at its most infectious at around the time when people develop symptoms.
“So if you’re going to identify contacts and their contacts, it really needs to be done within a matter of a day or so if you’re going to have an effect.
“The big concern is there are a large number of people whose contacts haven’t been made aware that they’re at risk and who could have been spreading the infection last week.”
But Boris Johnson insists figures are ‘realistic’
Asked on Monday how many contacts of positive coronavirus cases had been missed as a result of the error, Johnson told reporters in central London: “I can’t give you those figures.
“What I can say is all those people are obviously being contacted and the key thing is that everybody, whether in this group or generally, should self-isolate.”
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He said the updated figures meant that the prevalence of the virus was where experts had expected it to be and it would soon be apparent if extra restrictions were having the intended impact.
“The incidence that we are seeing in the cases corresponds to pretty much where we thought we were,” he said.
“And, to be frank, I think that the slightly lower numbers that we’d seen, you know, didn’t really reflect where we thought the disease was likely to go, so I think these numbers are realistic.”
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the error was “shambolic”, adding that “people across the country will be understandably alarmed.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--The Trailer For Netflix's New Christmas Film Jingle Jangle Is Here To Get You In The Festive Spirit

The Trailer For Netflix's New Christmas Film Jingle Jangle Is Here To Get You In The Festive Spirit Early

With all the discussion about what Christmas may or may not look like this year, there’s a lot of uncertainty about this year’s festive season.
One thing that social distancing and coronavirus restrictions can’t take away from us though is the joy of Christmas films – and Netflix has gifted us an early present in that respect.
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The streaming service has released the trailer for their big festive offering for 2020, Jingle Jangle, and it’s already got us in the seasonal spirit.
Gareth Gatrell/NETFLIX
The film follows legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle – played by Forest Whitaker – whose most prized creation is stolen by his apprentice (Keegan-Michael Key).
Jangle’s equally bright and inventive granddaughter (Madalen Mills) seeks to heal old wounds with the help of a long-forgotten invention and reawaken the magic.
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The film – written and directed by David E. Talbert – also features original songs by John Legend, Philip Lawrence, Davy Nathan, with This Day performed by Usher and Kiana Ledé.
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And if you’re hoping to cheer yourself up with a new festive flick, there’s not too long to wait, as Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey arrives on Netflix on 13 November.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Boris Johnson Made A Promise To Child Refugees. Now He Must Keep It

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Boris Johnson is running out of time. With the end of the Transition Period less than three months away, many promises have been made. Yet, a Brexit deal is yet to materialise.
While Britain and the EU are still locked in efforts to reach a trade deal, there is one promise that he is certain not to be able to keep without the help of Parliament – protection for child refugees in Europe.
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In December last year, the prime minister promised MPs, including many of his own backbenchers, that he was “absolutely committed to ensuring that this country will continue to receive unaccompanied children” after Britain left the EU.
He said he would “continue to support fully the purpose and spirit of the Dubs amendment”, which saw some of the most vulnerable child refugees relocated from camps in Europe to restart their lives in the UK.
Less than a year later, the Dubs scheme has been shut down and an agreement to support refugees seeking to reunite with family in Britain isn’t even on the negotiating table – to the shame of both Britain and the EU.
The only safe and legal routes for refugees in Europe to reach Britain: one closed and the other soon to be on January 1.
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Today though, the prime minister has an opportunity to salvage his promise, when the House of Lords vote on a cross-party amendment to the Immigration Bill, which would protect safe and legal routes for child refugees in Europe.
MPs and Peers in the House of Commons and House of Lords of all major Parties have come together on this Bill to protect the rights of vulnerable children in UK law.
Local councils of all political parties have also publicly supported refugee family reunion with over 25 UK Councils, pledging hundreds of places for refugee children, so long as the government upholds its end of the bargain and provides safe and legal routes and adequate support on arrival.
Two unaccompanied minors from the Jungle migrant camp in Calais walk outside an immigration centre after being processed after their arrival in Britain in 2016 Peter Nicholls / Reuters
There has been much focus in recent months on the desperate crossings some have attempted to make in boats across the channel. Far less attention has been focused on what will happen when the few safe and legal means for refugees to escape the misery and hopelessness of camps and settlements in Europe are closed down.
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Our charity Safe Passage knows the devastating consequences when safe and legal routes are not there. Far from being “safe” in Europe as the government’s recent narrative has claimed, unaccompanied children are at significant risk of abuse, exploitation and homelessness.
“By failing to replace the EU family reunion scheme at the end of this year, we are effectively abandoning unaccompanied children.”
Many thousands are living in overcrowded camps and settlements at Europe’s borders, their childhoods on hold while EU leaders squabble over their responsibility for human lives.
By failing to replace the EU family reunion scheme at the end of this year, we are effectively abandoning these children, pushing them into the hands of smugglers and criminal gangs who will offer them an alternative, more perilous way to reach their loved ones and a place of safety – be that a boat across the channel or smuggled under the wheel arches of an articulated lorry.
Back in December, when the prime minister assured us that Britain would continue to do its part to protect children from these unthinkable consequences, he also referred to Britain’s “proud history” of providing sanctuary to those seeking asylum.
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The same proud history that saw Britain resettle close to 10,000 unaccompanied child refugees fleeing Nazi persecution on the eve of the Second World War, of which Lord Alf Dubs was one.
Rather than discrediting that history with talk of magic wave machines in the Channel, or internment camps on some distant isle, the government should focus its energies on the one “solution” that has been proven time and again to work – safe and legal routes.
By accepting the cross-party amendment to the Immigration Bill today, Boris Johnson will not only fulfil his promise to separated families, he will also go some way to salvaging that “proud history” he claims.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Black Lives Matter Is 'Not A Force For Good', Says Sajid Javid

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Black Lives Matter (BLM) is not a “force for good”, former chancellor Sajid Javid has said.
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference on Monday morning, Javid said there was still “work to do” to tackle racism in the UK but criticised BLM.
The killing of George Floyd in the US in May sparked global anti-racism protests, including in the UK.
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“I think the movement of people whether through demonstrating or other ways of fighting for racial justice, of course, that is important,” Javid said.
But he added: “If may, I distinguish between the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for racial justice.
“I’m not sympathetic to the actual organisation, Black Lives Matter.
“I think it’s a sort of neo-Marxist organisation that wants to overthrow capitalism and get rid of the police.
“I think the organisation itself is not a force for good.”
Javid, who resigned from Boris Johnson’s cabinet in February, was speaking at an event hosted by ConHome.
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Priti Patel, the home secretary, also used her speech to Tory members on Sunday to criticise Black Lives Matter.
She accused the group, along with Extinction Rebellion, of acting with “hooliganism and thuggery”.
“It is not acceptable for mobs to tear down statues and cause criminal damage across our streets,” she said.
“And it is not acceptable for thugs to assault our police officers, just for doing their job.”
Patel also complained “do gooders” and “leftie lawyers” were trying to block her plans to change the UK’s asylum system.
The Home Office was gripped by controversy last week amid reports officials were considering a number of proposals included deploying a wave machine to deter boats crossing the English Channel.
Other plans were said to be sending migrants to a remote volcanic island in the Atlantic while claims were processed, something Labour’s Nick Thomas-Symonds called “inhumane, completely impractical and wildly expensive”.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Lana Del Rey's Mesh Face Mask Has Not Gone Down Well Among Her Fans

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Lana Del Rey is facing criticism over her choice of face covering after being pictured at a fan event over the weekend.
The Video Games singer is currently promoting her first poetry collection Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass, and attended a book signing over the weekend, where she also performed a reading for fans in attendance.
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However, when pictures from the impromptu event were posted online, many took issue with the mask that Lana was wearing.
Namely the fact it was made of mesh, so had a load of holes in it.
As more pictures from the signing were posted online, it was also revealed that the star had also posed for photos with fans without social distancing, while still wearing the face covering in question.
Lana Del Rey meets with fans at surprise book signing event for her collection of poetry, #VBBOTG, in LA. 📚 pic.twitter.com/t2H7hYAvhz — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) October 3, 2020
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Suffice to say, the mask has not gone down well on social media, including among her fanbase...
I love Lana Del Rey, I always have and I (likely) always will. Her music has been with me during every high and low of my life, and I’m thankful that she shares her music with us.
But that doesn’t mean I support everything she does. She knows better than to wear a mesh mask… — Marquis (@MarquisAndLana) October 3, 2020
not lana del rey in a mesh mask 💀 girl — megan 🦷 (@meganarchism) October 3, 2020
she couldn’t wear a real mask under that 😐 lana pls https://t.co/ucmZoIli7T — idiot 🧠 (@ariannaceline7) October 3, 2020
I love lana but when I saw her IG story I clicked right out because WHAT IN THE FUCK BABE 😭 wear a real mask 😰 https://t.co/kw0YZHwPus — jacq - BLM (@papi_vitiello) October 4, 2020
Lana Del Rey wearing a mesh mask at a Barnes and Noble for a signing of her book of poetry entitled "Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass" sounds like it was a made up satire, but it's not. — Chicken Farmer-san (@chicknfarmersan) October 4, 2020
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I CANNOT be the only one with second hand embarrassment for lana del rey wearing mesh mask to her signing — kiran (@_kirankar) October 3, 2020
the fact that lana del rey wore a rhinestone mesh face mask... and hosted a last minute pop-up book signing for her poetry book... girl, we're in a pandemic what the fuck. and wear another fucking mask. — ༺♡ christian ♡༻ (10000000%) (@obsceneprince) October 3, 2020
But Lana bby pls wear a real mask don’t be THAT person — paty (@ZEPPELINHOBI) October 3, 2020
NOT LANA DEL RAY WEARING A MESH MASK AT A MEET & GREET pic.twitter.com/3Qcyg5ZDEk — tea sesh 🎃 (@TeaSeshYT) October 3, 2020
I adore lana but she’s so hard to stan ,, ma’am please wear a real mask and not set up meet and greats in a pandemic — b e c c a (@NEEDURL0VE) October 4, 2020
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i love lana but girl wear a real mask 😭😭 and is a book sign really necessary during this timeeee 😭😭😭 https://t.co/k4NumeYh0Z — 𝙠𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚 (@cxrsedteen_) October 3, 2020
me, as a lana del rey stan, seeing her wear that glittery mesh mask: pic.twitter.com/nQjqMWqpqx — Bianca Roma (@biancaromadl) October 4, 2020
Lana is yet to comment on the controversy directly, but has posted on social media multiple times since the signing, including a video of herself reading a poem in a more effective mask.
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HuffPost UK has contacted Lana’s representatives for comment.
The musician was first seen wearing the mask during a photo-shoot with Interview magazine last month, in which she was interviewed by music producer Jack Antonoff.
She previously faced a huge backlash earlier this year, when she compared her own success to those of many of her peers, who she felt had been rewarded for singing about themes that she’d been criticised for in the past.
However, after many pointed out that the majority of the artists she’d singled out – including Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat – are women of colour, the singer came under fire online.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Mariah Carey’s Response To Being Asked If She’s High Maintenance Is Delightfully… High Maintenance

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Mariah Carey’s diva demands are the stuff of legend, and if you thought for one minute that she’s bothered by the d-word, then think again.
In an interview with The Guardian, the singer, who has just released her autobiography, The Meaning Of Mariah Carey, was asked if she thinks she’s high maintenance and her response couldn’t have been more Mariah if it tried.
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Mariah Carey Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
“You know what? I don’t give a shit. I fucking am high-maintenance because I deserve to be at this point,” she told the newspaper.
“That may sound arrogant, but I hope you frame it within the context of coming from nothing. If I can’t be high-maintenance after working my ass off my entire life, oh, I’m sorry – I didn’t realise we all had to be low-maintenance. Hell, no! I was always high-maintenance, it’s just I didn’t have anyone to do the maintenance when I was growing up.”
And she really doesn’t mind being thought of as a diva either.
“No! Who the fuck cares?” she said. “Honestly! ‘Oh my God, they’re calling me a diva – I think I’m going to cry!’ You think in the grand scheme of things in my life that really matters to me, being called a diva? I am, bitches, that’s right.”
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Never change Mariah, never change.
Despite Mariah’s demands, she isn’t above getting stuck in when duty calls – something Cat Deeley has receipts for.
The presenter recently recalled the time Mariah played her bridesmaid and walked her down the aisle on her faux wedding day in the last ever episode of Chums when she appeared on SM:TV Live back in 2001.
“She actually went to Virgin Brides herself to pick that monstrosity of a dress but she wanted to be in lavender satin,” Cat recalled.
“As I was standing waiting to go on set, she fluffed my dress. I said, ‘Mariah what are you doing? What you doing Mariah?’ And she said, ‘You’ve got to look beautiful, it’s your wedding day!’”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Cineworld Staff Could Take Jobs In Social Care, Says Work And Pensions Secretary

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Work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey has said Cineworld staff who lose their jobs should consider becoming care workers.
The cinema chain has announced plans to temporarily close its theatres in the UK following the delayed release of blockbuster films. The decision has put 5,500 jobs at risk.
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Coffey said on Monday morning that cinema workers could have “transferrable” skills from selling tickets to working in social care.
“In terms of the sort of help we can provide, it may be that people who are used to doing customer service, aspects of hospitality, we can actually draw out of those skills and make them consider a role in social care,” she told LBC.
“Even if that’s only in the short term as social care covers a wide variety of support that needs to be given in their homes or in homes and so it’s those sorts of jobs that are available and people can perhaps undertake those roles in the near future.”
She added: “A lot of this is about customer service and then bringing out the skills of that and how they are transferrable.”
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Cineworld said up to 45,000 employees will be affected worldwide as it confirmed plans to temporarily close its theatres in the UK and the US – the cinema giant’s two biggest markets.
More than 600 sites will be closed across the two countries from Thursday after the industry was rocked by plans by James Bond studios MGM and Universal to delay the release of the franchise’s latest film.
Cineworld said it would close 127 Cineworld and Picturehouse sites in the UK.
Labour shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens said: “This is devastating news for Cineworld workers and cinema goers, and will have a knock-on impact on towns and city centres.
“The cinema industry was viable before the crisis and will be afterwards, when the film industry recovers.
“The failure of ministers to recognise the value of shut-down businesses, which now includes many cinemas, means they are consigning thousands of workers to the scrap heap.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Revealed: Soaring Covid Rates In UK Cities After 'Missing' Cases Are Added To Total

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A computer glitch in the UK’s Test and Trace system means the true rates of coronavirus in cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne is far higher than previously thought.
Manchester now has the highest rate in England, with 2,740 cases recorded in the seven days to October 1 – the equivalent of 495.6 cases per 100,000 people, more than double the figure of 223.2 the previous week.
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Liverpool has the second highest rate, up in a week from 287.1 to 456.4, with 2,273 new cases, PA Media reports.
Knowsley is in third place, up from 300.3 to 452.1, with 682 new cases.
Delays in tracing the contacts of those infected due to the computer glitch mean potentially tens of thousands of carriers of the virus have not been told to self-isolate.
The problem was caused by an Excel spreadsheet reaching its maximum file size, which stopped new names being added in an automated process, PA Media reported.
The government is running its Test and Trace system on Microsoft Excel instead of proper database software.
This is what they call world-beating? They might as well contact people through MSN Messenger. — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) October 5, 2020
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Other areas recording sharp increases include Newcastle upon Tyne (up from 256.6 to 399.6, with 1,210 new cases); Nottingham (up from 52.0 to 283.9, with 945 new cases); Leeds (up from 138.8 to 274.5, with 2,177 new cases); and Sheffield (up from 91.8 to 233.1, with 1,363 new cases).
All but Nottingham are already under some sort of increased local restrictions.
All figures are based on Public Health England data published on Sunday night.
Asked on Monday how many contacts of positive coronavirus cases had been missed as a result of the error, Johnson told reporters in central London: “I can’t give you those figures.
“What I can say is all those people are obviously being contacted and the key thing is that everybody, whether in this group or generally, should self-isolate.”
He said the updated figures meant that the prevalence of the virus was where experts had expected it to be and it would soon be apparent if extra restrictions were having the intended impact.
“The incidence that we are seeing in the cases corresponds to pretty much where we thought we were,” he said.
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“And, to be frank, I think that the slightly lower numbers that we’d seen, you know, didn’t really reflect where we thought the disease was likely to go, so I think these numbers are realistic.”
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the error was “shambolic”, adding that “people across the country will be understandably alarmed.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Cauliflower Cheese On Toast Is The Comfort Food We Need Right Now

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If you still think of cauliflower as that boiled, flavourless vegetable of your childhood this will be the recipe that changes your mind. Leave it to @inagarten to come up with #cauliflowertoast. I riffed on her recipe using a load of ciabatta instead of sliced bread and adding some lemon zest for a hit of acid. Perfect for a rainy night! #veggiesascomfortfood


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--What It Was Like To Run The Very Rainy, Virtual London Marathon

HuffPost UK
The Virgin Money London Marathon looked a little different this year due to Covid-19, but runners still attacked the 26.2 miles with the same spirit.
Around the world, more than 43,000 ran the distance “virtually” on Sunday, logging their route and times online and raising thousands of pounds for charity in the process.
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Storm Alex meant many running in the UK had to contend with strong winds and heavy rain, but they refused to let the weather dampen proceedings.
Robbie Higgins, who’s based in Tooting Bec, London, completed the 26.2 miles for the charity Children with Cancer UK by running around Battersea Park, but he lost track of how many laps it took.
“It was wet, cold, miserable and I can’t think of anything else I’d have rather been doing,” he says. “Amazing camaraderie amongst fellow runners and I was lucky to have some great supporters in my wife, sister and nephew too!”
Robbie Higgins Robbie Higgins
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Jennifer White, who’s originally from Edinburgh but is now based in London, ran the marathon for Peta by creating her own route across the capital. Despite the weather being “terrible”, she says the first eight miles “flew by”.
“Due to the torrential rain, the phone I was using as a map died and I got lost from the planned route,” she says. “This meant my group of friends (who were madly driving around Clapham/Tooting/Brixton) couldn’t find me from mile eight and I didn’t find them again until mile 25!
“Thankfully, there were some toots of support from other drivers but it was very different to how I imagine the traditional London Marathon. Overall, I loved the experience and finished in 4 hours 33 minutes.”
Jennifer White Jennifer White
Emma Cantrell, who’s based in Wokingham, Berkshire, had a slightly more rural route for her “amazing’ first marathon.
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“Some of my route was very flooded which meant some brilliant knee-deep-in-water running,” she says. “It was an incredible experience and I loved every moment. I raised £3,000 for a small child poverty charity.”
Emma Cantrell Emma Cantrell
In contrast Lebby Eyres, who’s based in London, took a more traditional route for her fourth London marathon.
“It was the loneliest and wettest marathon I’ve ever done but anyone wearing a number cheered me on and likewise,” she says. “I even hit Tower Bridge at 13 miles, as normal! Feeling proud today.”
Lebby Eyres Lebby Eyres
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Check out more photos and videos celebrating the day below – congratulations to all the runners!
Just pure emotion finishing the Virtual @LondonMarathon today.🌟
Can’t believe I managed to finish the 26.2 miles in a star for @mencap_charity. Thank you to everyone for support today.🏃♂
Loved spreading happiness even if it was the hardest thing I’ve EVER done. #LondonMarathon pic.twitter.com/TYjlLf5NW7 — Peter Gillibrand (@GillibrandPeter) October 4, 2020
Virtual London Marathon 2020!!!! Completed in 3:51:19 - thank you so much to everyone for the support! Couldn’t have done it without my running buddy Lisa! I’m so proud of us!! 🏃🏻♀ #LondonMarathon #the40thrace pic.twitter.com/klLjXHRKnA — Hannah Garnett (@HG_physio) October 4, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Dominic West Apologised To Kate Garraway After Comments About Trump's Coronavirus Diagnosis

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The British actor was a guest on Friday’s GMB, during which he said he “did slightly leap in the air with joy” after hearing that Trump had contracted Covid-19.
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“[Trump] said ‘it is what it is’, and I think the phrase is ‘what goes around comes around’,” Dominic said at the time. “I just hope it doesn’t interfere with him being elected out of office, that’s all.”
His comments sparked a mixed reaction online, with some pointing out that he’d made the remarks to Kate, whose husband has been in hospital for the last six months due to complications from Covid-19.
Adil Ray and Kate Garraway interviewing Dominic West last week ITV/Shutterstock
During Monday’s show, Kate confirmed to presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid that she’d received a message from Dominic after his divisive interview.
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“He’s been in touch directly with me,” Kate explained. “He’s been in touch to apologise personally to me. He wasn’t aware that Derek had had coronavirus, and was still sick, and he was worried that I’d been upset by it.”
She continued: “I wasn’t upset for those reasons, I was surprised – and I went on to say straight afterwards, ’I’m sure you’d join us in wishing him the very best personally, whatever your views of him are’.
“He’s not a Trump supporter, and I think it’s a symptom of Donald Trump’s behaviour throughout this pandemic, that he’s appeared to thumb his nose at it, and he was jumping for joy at the idea that he might now feel the effects of it… like a reality check. I don’t believe Dominic West would wish someone ill.”
Kate Garraway on Monday's edition of Good Morning Britain ITV
After Dominic’s initial comments about Trump last week, Kate asked him: “I’m sure you wish him personally all the best, but subscribe that there’s an element of karma in this?”
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“Well, there’s an element of schadenfreude, I suppose,” he responded. “I’m not a fan of his, as you can probably tell, and I just hope Biden stays healthy and gets the presidency as quickly as possible.
“I think Trump is a catastrophe for America and for the world.”
Dominic went on to say that he felt one positive that could come out of Trump contracting Covid-19 was that his supporters might “take [the pandemic[ more seriously, and realise the huge numbers of deaths in America are not an inevitability”.
Dominic West pictured in 2018 Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
“Interesting to see those who’ve spent the last few years screaming that Trump’s an uncaring, heartless empathy-devoid b*stard now spewing their gleeful joy that he & his wife have a deadly virus,” Piers tweeted.
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“They’re no better than the man they loathe.”
During Monday’s show Kate also shared her feelings on Trump’s actions since being diagnosed with Covid-19, after he was seen being driven past his supporters days after testing positive.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Kate Garraway Says Donald Trump Is 'Lucky' To Benefit From Covid-19 Treatments Her Husband Didn’t Ha

Kate Garraway Says Donald Trump Is 'Lucky' To Benefit From Covid-19 Treatments Her Husband Didn’t Have Access To

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Kate Garraway has criticised Donald Trump for his decision to leave hospital for a drive-by, describing his actions as “bewildering”.
The Good Morning Britain presenter’s husband Derek Draper, 53, remains in hospital after he was admitted with Covid-19 in March.
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On Sunday, the US president, who is being treated for coronavirus, left the Walter Reed Medical Centre to stage a a drive-by for his supporters, accompanied by masked secret service agents in a “surprise visit”.
Kate Garraway and Donald Trump ITV/PA
“It’s just extraordinary, it’s bewildering,” Kate said on the ITV show.
She said that her children are not allowed to visit their father in hospital, even though he no longer has the virus.
“And there are children who have died, with their mums and dads not being allowed to see them, so why does he think it’s more important for him to get into that car?” she asked.
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“If he showed that he was respecting the people around him and respecting the isolation that would have been a heroic message and that would have absolutely benefited the country.”
President Trump has been criticised after he made a surprise visit to supporters outside the hospital.@kategarraway tells @piersmorgan and @susannareid100
of her shock at Trump's actions when her children haven't even been able to visit Derek even though he's tested negative. pic.twitter.com/fHREMNH7eZ — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 5, 2020
The TV host added that the president was benefitting from treatments that were unavailable to her husband when he contracted Covid back in March.
“It makes you think he still doesn’t know (about Covid)”, Kate said. “He’s having all sorts of treatments which people who got sick in March, April, May, June didn’t have access to.
“So he’s lucky that he’s built on the learnings of people like Derek.”
Kate’s husband remains seriously ill in an induced coma.
In a video posted before the car journey, the US president said he had “learned a lot about Covid”.
“I learned it by really going to school,” Trump said. “This is the real school. This isn’t the ‘let’s read the books’ school. And I get it, and I understand it. And it’s a very interesting thing.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Shirley Ballas Fears Strictly Trolling Will Be Worse This Year Due To Lockdown

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Shirley Ballas has spoken of her fears that the trolling she receives on social media during every series of Strictly Come Dancing will be worse this year because of lockdown.
The BBC show’s head judge has been candid about her experiences with negative online comments since joining the panel in 2017.
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Speaking to the PA news agency, Shirley said she expected to receive more abuse because people were at home with little to do.
Shirley Ballas at the Strictly Come Dancing Launch at BBC Broadcasting House in London. (Photo by Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) SOPA Images via Getty Images
“Going into this next phase of Strictly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the trolling is 10 times worse,” she said.
“Because people are in lockdown, because we may go into a second lockdown and heaven help us if we do and people are sat at home with nothing more to do.”
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She continued: “The first year it was very difficult, when people tell you ‘You’ve got a chest like a Seville orange that’s been eaten by a thousand slugs. Ugly bitch, die,’ and people doing coffins with your head on them.
“We (she and her mother) talked about whether I should continue, given the invasion of privacy, but my mother decided we needed to take everything with a sense of humour. So when they laugh at me or call me stupid or thick, I just have to let it go.”
However, Shirley admitted she could not bring herself not to follow social media.
“I read it and move on from it. Even If I don’t read it, there are plenty of people in my industry who will send it to me,” she added.
Shirley with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Bruno Tonioli PA Wire/PA Images
Shirley is returning to Strictly Come Dancing for the new series later this month, alongside fellow judges Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood.
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Bruno Tonioli will sit out the Saturday night live show as he is residing in the US amid the pandemic, but will give his verdict on each of the performances during the Sunday results show.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Long Covid Could Be 'Bigger Public Health Problem' Than Covid Deaths

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The effects of long Covid could turn out to be a bigger public health problem than excess deaths, an academic has warned.
Those suffering with so-called long Covid have reported breathlessness, chronic fatigue and brain fog – months after initially falling ill with the virus.
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A report from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change is recommending that the government highlights the issue in awareness campaigns.
The authors of the paper, titled Long Covid: Reviewing The Science And Assessing The Risk, say they believe awareness campaigns “would help drive compliance with containment measures such as the use of masks”.
In the report’s foreword, Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, said that, in the first few months of the pandemic, little attention was paid to the infected population who were not sick enough to go to hospital, who made up 99% of cases.
He said it turned out that Covid-19 is not just a bad flu, but in many people it behaves more like an autoimmune disease, affecting multiple systems in the body.
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Prof Spector’s app launched in March – with help from his group at King’s College London and the health-science company ZOE – to capture the wider range of symptoms people were experiencing. It received data from more than four million people.
Researchers learned that “a great many people didn’t get better after two weeks as expected”, Prof Spector said, adding: “We kept following them and found out that a significant number still had problems after months.
“This is the other side of Covid: the long-haulers that could turn out to be a bigger public health problem than excess deaths from Covid-19, which mainly affect the susceptible elderly.”
mathisworks via Getty Images
The report said the King’s College study indicates that around 10% of those taking part in the survey had symptoms of long Covid for a month, with between 1.5% and 2% still experiencing such symptoms after three months.
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The authors said these appear to be the most reliable statistics on which to base a rough estimate of the scale of long Covid in the population, adding that, while there is no clear evidence about prevalence in asymptomatic cases, it is likely to be lower than these percentages.
The report said long Covid seems rare in those under 18 and over 65, with higher prevalence among those of working age. The median age of those affected is 45 and it affects women more than men.
“As Professor Spector says, long Covid is likely a bigger issue than excess deaths as a result of Covid, but, crucially, the risk must be considered alongside the economic impact and other health impacts linked to Covid restrictions,” the paper concluded.
Among their recommendations, the authors suggest further studies, awareness campaigns and mass testing to help with diagnosis.
Daniel Sleat, co-author of the report, said: “While long Covid poses a significant risk, it must be assessed alongside the wider impacts of Covid restrictions, both in economic and health terms, as governments determine their next steps on containment measures to avoid a full lockdown.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--FLASHBACK: Here's How Trump Mocked Hillary Clinton's Pneumonia In 2016

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US President Donald Trump is under treatment for coronavirus infection at Walter Reed Medical Center and has received wishes for a swift recovery from both sides of the aisle, including his election rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.
But Trump was far less sympathetic when the tables were turned.
He taunted 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for getting sick with pneumonia, and even did a mock impression of the former secretary of state buckling at the knees as she was taken to her car:
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Donald Trump mocks Hillary Clinton over her pneumonia outbreak pic.twitter.com/feHjV6cLDa — The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 2, 2016
Trump had initially sent good wishes to Clinton after the September 11, 2016 incident.
“I don’t take satisfaction,” he said. “I hope she gets well and I hope she gets well soon.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Why Are Covid-19 Cases High, But Deaths Remain Quite Low?

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Every Monday we’ll answer your questions on Covid-19 and health in a feature published online. You can submit a question here.
This week, HuffPost UK reader Jason asked: “Why are cases rising, but the death rate remains so low?”
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The UK has been witnessing around 50 deaths a day from Covid-19 (sometimes less) – and while this is already far too many, people have noticed the number of deaths seems disproportionate to the recent rise in cases, of which we’re now averaging about 9,700 a day.
For context, at the height of the pandemic, we saw more than 1,000 deaths in a day, but only 5,100 recorded confirmed cases.
Over the past few weeks we’ve watched as cases have almost doubled on a weekly basis. Deaths have risen slowly and steadily, but – on the whole – remained relatively low. So, why is this?
There are a few factors at play here, say scientists. Let us break them down.
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Testing is more widely available
In March, we saw lower levels of Covid-19 recorded to what we have now, says Dr Stephen Griffin, associate professor in the School of Medicine at University of Leeds. But back then, we were only testing those who were very unwell – predominantly those hospitalised with the virus. “So they were the tip of the iceberg and the most severe cases,” he says.
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It’s likely we had far more cases in March than we do now – they just weren’t recorded, as testing wasn’t widely available. “Now, we have testing in the community, as well as at hospital,” says Dr Griffin, “so the number we have in tests is a greater proportion of the number of cases that we’re actually seeing.
“Proportionately, back in spring, it would’ve seemed as though there were far more fatalities in relation to the number of tests coming back positive.”
Now, we have a better grasp of data and a fairer picture of how the virus is impacting our communities broadly – not just those with the most severe symptoms.
We’re getting better at protecting others
We’re also seeing more precautions taken to protect the most vulnerable members of society. This includes regular hand-washing, wearing face masks in public settings and keeping 2m away from others.
On top of that, some families will be limiting their contact with others in order to be able to spend time, safely, with vulnerable family members.
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erhui1979 via Getty Images
We’ve actually got treatments now
Dr Griffin points out there are better ways of treating people now. “You get admitted, you’re on a ward, there are measures we can now put in place to hopefully stop you developing a really bad disease and having to go to intensive care,” he explains.
“And of course, if you’re in a really bad way and you’re on a respirator in intensive care, we also have the option of treating you with steroids – but that only works when you’re at the nasty end of Covid.”
There are various treatment trials underway across the UK, meaning current Covid-19 patients can receive antibody rich blood plasma from previous Covid patients as well as other options. This might also be having some effect.
As cases rise, we will inevitably see more fatal cases, says Dr Griffin. Typically we’re seeing a lag of a few weeks between people testing positive for the virus, then a bump in hospitalisations, and then a bump in deaths.
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The virus is spreading among younger people
Another factor likely contributing towards fewer deaths is that those testing positive have predominantly been young, wealthy white people. The rise appears to correlate with people going out and socialising more in pubs and restaurants, but also mixing at home.
The chances of becoming severely ill with the virus is less likely the younger you are, so it would make sense there are fewer deaths as cases in this group rise. But Dr Griffin says we shouldn’t just look at fatalities – “we know this virus can cause profound, long-lasting issues,” he says, referring to the 600,000 people in the UK suffering with long Covid. So far, studies have shown the virus can cause damage to the heart, lungs, and other areas of the body. So there is still a risk among younger age groups.
One of the biggest worries is that young people may be fuelling the spread among their parents and grandparents. Data from September 30 showed the number of over-65s admitted to hospital or intensive care with coronavirus was rising sharply – and this is a worry.
There are concerns over what happens if the virus spreads through care homes again. Professor Rowland Kao, an expert in data science at the University of Edinburgh, points out that care homes drove the deaths in the early phase, but are not yet a factor in the more recent rise.
“The worry is that, as the epidemic now is increasing exponentially, we’ll see in a few months more deaths, but also a greater probability of infection jumping into the care homes,” he says, “and therefore higher death rates there as well.”
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The virus is the same strength
There are some theories that the virus has weakened in strength and is not as deadly anymore. As far as scientists can tell, this is not the case.
Speaking at a recent press conference, the government’s scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said explicitly: “The virus has genetically moved a bit but it has not changed in terms of its propensity to cause disease and deaths.”
Dr Griffin fiercely agrees that the virus hasn’t mutated to become weaker or less deadly. While viruses do change gradually over time, he points out that coronaviruses don’t change as rapidly as, for example, the flu. There are no indications that there is less virulence of the virus, he says.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Piers Morgan Blasts Trump For 'Ridiculous' Drive-By After President Temporarily Leaves Hospital

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The Good Morning Britain presenter branded Trump’s stunt “utterly ridiculous” and accused him of endangering others after he briefly left the Walter Reed Medical Centre near Washington on Sunday.
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Trump was captured on video waving from the back seat of a black SUV wearing a mask, as crowds cheered and waved American flags and pro-Trump banners. Two Secret Service agents could be seen in the vehicle’s front seats.
Reacting to the development during Monday’s Good Morning Britain, Piers said: “What’s he doing? The whole thing is utterly ridiculous. The penny may have dropped, the severity of coronavirus, considering he’s now got it and has been having some problems with it...
“This is from a president who is in charge of a pandemic which has seen more than 200,000 Americans lose their lives.”
Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain ITV/Shutterstock
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Referring to an earlier video message Trump had recorded, in which the president said he had “learned a lot about Covid... by really going to school”, Piers continued: “You are the most powerful man in the world, you have access to the most incredible people in the world – medical and scientific – and you’ve only just discovered coronavirus school?
“What’s your reaction because you’ve had this masterclass?... Go out with the secret service and put lives at risk, people that risk their lives for you every minute of every day.”
Piers’ co-host Susanna Reid said: “That’s because it’s all about him.”
“He thinks it’s a reality show,” Piers said. “Honestly, the recklessness of this.
“What does this tell people? It tells people, if you have got coronavirus in America, get in your car, go for a little joyride. Go and meet people.
“It’s utterly ridiculous.”
Trump drives past supporters in a motorcade outside of Walter Reed Medical Centre ALEX EDELMAN via Getty Images
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Trump’s actions were also branded “insanity” by a doctor at the facility where he is being treated.
Dr James Phillips said the president had put the lives of Secret Service agents at risk, after sitting in the hermetically-sealed vehicle with two agents, all for a piece of “political theatre”.
Patients who test positive for Covid-19 are generally required to quarantine for 14 days, the typical incubation period for the coronavirus to avoid infecting others.
Dr Phillips tweeted: “That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack. The risk of Covid-19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures.
“The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Dog-Walking Pensioners Suffer ‘Shocking’ Racist Attack In Regent's Park

Police would like to identify two female dog-walkers in relation to the attack Met Police
An image of two women police would like to identify has been released by police investigating a racially-aggravated assault in London’s Regent’s Park.
Officers were called to the park shortly after 8am on 13 August to a report of a dog attack and an assault on a man and a woman.
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It was reported that two women had attacked a man and a woman, both in their 70s, after the women’s dog had attacked the couples’ two dogs.
The 75-year-old woman suffered a dog bite to her hand, which required hospital treatment. The 79-year-old man suffered cuts and bruising after he was pushed to the ground and assaulted by the two women.
It was also reported that the women had racially abused the victims.
The suspects had left the scene before officers arrived. There have been no arrests.
Police Sergeant John Berry, of the Met’s Royal Parks police, said: “The park should be a place where people can walk their dogs in safety.
“The level of aggression and violence used towards an elderly couple was shocking and I would appeal to anyone who recognises these women to contact police.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Less Than Half Of UK Population Would Be Vaccinated Against Coronavirus, Says Taskforce Boss

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Less than half of people in the UK would be vaccinated against coronavirus, the head of the country’s vaccine taskforce has said, in an attempt to clarify the “misguided” public perception of the programme.
Kate Bingham told the Financial Times there will be “no vaccination of people under 18” which will instead be “adult-only” and focus on “over 50s ... health workers and care home workers and the vulnerable”.
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She added: “People keep talking about ‘time to vaccinate the whole population’ but that is misguided.”
Bingham said the government was aiming to vaccinate about 30 million people, compared with a UK population of about 67 million, if a successful vaccine against Covid-19 was found.
Experts last week said it may take more than a year for everyone in the UK to get a Covid-19 vaccine should one become available early next year.
Professor Nilay Shah, head of the department of chemical engineering at Imperial College London, said even if a vaccine becomes available in early spring, it does not mean life will be “returning to normal in March”.
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He said although the clinical trials for many of the Covid-19 vaccine candidates are currently being fast-tracked, they will still have to demonstrate a protective effect against Covid-19 and go through all the regulatory checks before being rolled out to the population.
Prof Shah, one of the authors of a new Royal Society report on vaccine development and implementation, said: ”(Even if) vaccination does start in the spring, it will take a long time to work through the different priority groups initially, and then the wider population later on.”
PA
Meanwhile, a technical glitch which meant almost 16,000 Covid-19 cases went unreported has led to a delay in efforts to trace contacts of people who tested positive for the virus.
Public Health England (PHE) said a technical issue resulted in 15,841 cases between September 25 and October 2 being left out of the reported daily coronavirus cases.
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Senior officials said the outstanding cases were transferred to NHS Test and Trace “immediately” after the issue was resolved and thanked contact tracers for their “additional efforts” over the weekend to clear the backlog.
All cases were passed on to tracers by 1am on Saturday, meaning potential delays of more than a week in contacting thousands of people who were exposed to the virus and telling them to self-isolate.
PHE said every single person who was tested initially had received their test result as normal, with all those testing positive told to self-isolate.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “This is shambolic and people across the country will be understandably alarmed.
This is just shambolic. ‘Technical problems’ means over 15,000 previously missing Covid cases added to the totals for recent days.
Were these cases followed up by contact tracing teams? Are contacts isolating? How does this impact local restrictions?
People will be alarmed. pic.twitter.com/46hOXxyvur — Jonathan Ashworth 😷 (@JonAshworth) October 4, 2020
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“Matt Hancock should come to the House of Commons on Monday to explain what on earth has happened, what impact it has had on our ability to contain this virus and what he plans to do to fix test and trace.”
On Saturday, professor Graham Medley, an attendee of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, tweeted: “Reporting delays play havoc with data streams and make them very difficult to analyse in real time.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Top Gear Hosts Couldn't Resist A Dig At Dominic Cummings As They Kicked Off New Series

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The Top Gear crew could not resist a dig at Dominic Cummings as they kicked off their new series on Sunday night.
Presenters Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris joked about the prime minister’s aide’s 260-mile trip to his parents’ house in Durham during lockdown as they put a new car to the test on the BBC motoring show.
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“Now, there’s a new top of the range Ferrari out and frankly, there was only one person for the job,” Paddy began “Someone who just loves driving. Someone who will stop at nothing to get behind the wheel...
Top Gear hosts Freddie Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris BBC Studios/Jeff Spicer
“Sadly, Dominic Cummings wasn’t available… so we sent Chris Harris instead.”
Paddy then asked Chris: “How’s your eyesight? Is it alright?”
Earlier this year, there was a national outcry when it was revealed Cummings had driven from his London home to Durham during the height of the national lockdown.
Boris Johnson's top aide Dominic Cummings EMPICS Entertainment
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In a press conference in March, Cummings argued that his journey to Durham in March was justified as he sought to protect his family’s health.
He also claimed his subsequent drive to Barnard Castle was to test his eyesight after it was affected by Covid-19.
Despite continued public unrest, the government backed Cummings, with prime minister Boris Johnson refusing to fire his senior aide.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Katie Price And Boyfriend Get Tattoos Of Each Other’s Faces On Their Arms Because Who Wants Another

Katie Price And Boyfriend Get Tattoos Of Each Other’s Faces On Their Arms Because Who Wants Another Ring?

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Katie Price and her boyfriend Carl Woods have shown just how serious they’re taking their relationship by getting tattoos of each other’s faces on their arms.
The loved-up pair revealed the inkings in their latest YouTube video on Sunday night.
Katie Price and Carl Woods YouTube
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As they peeled off the protective cellophane to reveal their faces, Katie said: “Can you believe that? That is us, sitting there.”
Carl added: “Mine is bigger than yours ... I might get the hair done in colour. Now we’ve got matching cars, matching plates ... and matching tattoos.”
Katie Price and Carl Woods YouTube
Speaking of the tattoos, Katie told The Sun: “No matter what the haters say, this is proof we’ll be together forever.
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“I’m so happy to have this commitment to him.”
Carl said: “This is more than a tattoo – it’s a tribute to each other.”
The couple have been dating since June, after a mutual friend set them up.
It’s not the first time that Katie has had a tattoo done in tribute to a boyfriend, only to have them covered up when things didn’t work out.
Katie had ex-husband Peter Andre’s name inked on her wrist only to have it later covered with a rose. And she also replaced ex Leandro Penna’s name with a big black horse.
Last month, Katie revealed she is receiving treatment at The Priory following the traumatic accident in which she broke both of her feet while on holiday in Turkey.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-05--Trump's Coronavirus Drive-By Stunt Branded 'Insanity' For Exposing Secret Service Agents

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Donald Trump’s “surprise” drive-by stunt to wave at supporters outside the hospital where he is being treated for Covid-19 has been branded “insanity” by a doctor at the facility where he is being treated.
Dr James Phillips said the president had put the lives of Secret Service agents at risk, after the 74-year-old sat for an extended period of time in a hermetically-sealed vehicle with two agents, all for a piece of “political theatre”.
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Trump was captured on video waving from the back seat of a black SUV Sunday evening, wearing a mask, as crowds cheered and waved American flags and pro-Trump banners outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Maryland.
Two people could be seen in the vehicle’s front seats.
Trump drives by the press and supporters outside Walter Reed hospital. pic.twitter.com/3phtKthqTH — Philip Crowther (@PhilipinDC) October 4, 2020
Patients who test positive for Covid-19 are generally required to quarantine for 14 days, the typical incubation period for the coronavirus to avoid infecting others and the disease has killed more than 200,000 Americans.
In two posts on Twitter, Dr Phillips wrote: “Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days.
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“That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack. The risk of Covid-19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures.
“The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play.”
Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential “drive-by” just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity. — Dr. James P. Phillips, MD (@DrPhillipsMD) October 4, 2020
That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack. The risk of COVID19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures. The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play. — Dr. James P. Phillips, MD (@DrPhillipsMD) October 4, 2020
Shortly before the brief ride, Trump posted a video on Twitter saying he would “pay a little surprise to the some of the great patriots we have out on the street”.
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White House spokesman Judd Deere described the drive as a “short, last-minute motorcade ride to wave to his supporters” and said Trump quickly returned to his hospital suite.
Deere said “appropriate precautions were taken” before the ride to protect the President and those supporting him, Reuters reports. “The movement was cleared by the medical team as safe to do,” he added.
If @realDonaldTrump were my patient, in unstable condition + contagious illness, & he suddenly left the hospital to go for a car ride that endangers himself & others:
I'd call security to restrain him then perform a psychiatric evaluation to examine his decision-making capacity. — Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) October 4, 2020
I like presidents who don’t intentionally expose the Secret Service to deadly viruses. — Bryan Behar (@bryanbehar) October 5, 2020
The Trump stunt of driving out of the hospital is so reminiscent of the Lafayette Park stunt with Bible. Recklessly endangering others for a narcissistic photo op. Think of the endangered Secret Service agents in the car with him putting their lives on the line for a photo op! — Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) October 4, 2020
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Trump risked the lives of the Secret Service personnel who were in the drive-by SUV with him. Lives risked for a publicity stunt. They will need to quarantine for 14 days, doctors say. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 4, 2020
Earlier on Sunday, Trump’s doctor said the president’s blood oxygen level dropped suddenly twice in recent days, but he “has continued to improve” since then.
The update from Dr Sean Conley added a new layer of confusion to the president’s fight with Covid-19 as he also suggested Trump could be discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre as early as Monday.
Trump’s doctors, speaking on the steps of the military hospital where he was being treated for a third consecutive day, refused to disclose the specific timing of the president’s dip in oxygen or whether lung scans showed any damage.
Dr Conley acknowledged he was trying to downplay the severity of the president’s condition the day before.
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“I was trying to reflect the upbeat attitude of the team, that the president, that his course of illness has had. Didn’t want to give any information that might steer the course of illness in another direction,” Dr Conley said. “And in doing so, came off like we’re trying to hide something, which wasn’t necessarily true. The fact of the matter is that he’s doing really well.”