thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-26--Kobe Bryant: Sports Stars And Celebrities Pay Tribute To Basketball Superstar After Death

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As news of Kobe Bryant’s shock death spread on Sunday, tributes poured in for the former Los Angeles Laker.
Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, along with eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. He was 41 years old and a father of four, leaving behind his wife, Vanessa.
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Barack Obama called the basketball star a “legend on the court” as he and wife Michelle sent their “love and prayers” to the family of Bryant and his daughter.
“Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act,” the former president tweeted.
“To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.”
Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day. — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 26, 2020
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Alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant helped the Lakers win three NBA championships in a row between 2000 and 2002.
It is a feat that has not been matched since, with the Golden State Warriors losing in last year’s finals having won two in a row.
O’Neal tweeted: “There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW”.
Fellow NBA great Scottie Pippen said he was “stunned” over Bryant’s death.
“Words can’t even come close to describing it. Just an incredibly sad and tragic day,” he tweeted.
Philadelphia 76er Joel Embiid tweeted: “Man I don’t even know where to start. I started playing ball because of KOBE after watching the 2010 finals. I had never watched ball before that and that finals was the turning point of my life. I WANTED TO BE LIKE KOBE. I’m so FREAKING SAD right now!!!! RIP LEGEND.”
I’m stunned. Words can’t even come close to describing it. Just an incredibly sad and tragic day. — Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) January 26, 2020
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Man I don’t even know where to start😭😭 I started playing ball because of KOBE after watching the 2010 finals. I had never watched ball before that and that finals was the turning point of my life. I WANTED TO BE LIKE KOBE. I’m so FREAKING SAD right now!!!!
RIP LEGEND — Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 26, 2020
Tennis player Andy Murray’s Instagram story read: “This has hit me hard. Thinking of all his family, friends and colleagues.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker wrote: “Oh no. How awful. One of the greatest sportsmen of our lifetime. Utterly tragic”, while current England forward Raheem Sterling wrote: “Rest easy Legend”.
Six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady said: “We miss you already Kobe”, while retired NBA star Dwyane Wade wrote: “Nooooooooooo God please No!”.
Former sprinter Usain Bolt tweeted: “Still can’t believe @kobebryant.”
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Actress and television personality Whoopi Goldberg said Bryant was a “hero” to her family in a tribute on Twitter.
“RIP Kobe, hero to many including my grandson, extraordinary athlete and always kind to me and my family. My deepest condolences to his family,” she said.
Actor Idris Elba wrote on Twitter: “Kobe is G. Will always be remembered. A sad day.”
Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles posted a photo of the US gymnastics team with Bryant, saying: “Rest in peace Kobe”.
US politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez paid tribute to Bryant and the other passengers of the helicopter.
She said on Twitter: “Deeply shocked at the news of Kobe Bryant and four others lost today. Sending all my thoughts to their families and loved ones in this devastating moment.”
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Deeply shocked at the news of Kobe Bryant and four others lost today.
Sending all my thoughts to their families and loved ones in this devastating moment. https://t.co/1bgEhj2AhA — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 26, 2020
rest in peace Kobe 🕊 pic.twitter.com/YtlMAVJHIJ — Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) January 26, 2020
Singer Justin Bieber posted a photo of himself as a child with Bryant on Instagram.
He said: “It can’t be. You always encouraged me mamba. Gave me me some of the best quotes that we smile about to this day! Love you man!”
Actress Reese Witherspoon said she was “devastated” to hear the news of Bryant’s death.
She said on Twitter: “Just devastated to hear about Kobe Bryant. An extraordinary athlete, and a genuinely kind, wonderful man. Sending love, prayers and compassion to his family.”
“Continuing to move the game forward (at) King James,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. Much respect my brother.”
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Bryant retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history, finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific scorer with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-26--Kobe Bryant Dead: NBA Superstar And His 13-Year-Old Daughter Killed In Helicopter Crash

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In 2018, Bryant became the first NBA player in history to win an Academy Award for his animated short Dear Basketball.
He faced backlash in 2003 after he was accused of raping a 19-year-old hotel employee in Colorado. He admitted to having a sexual encounter with the woman, but denied the accusation that it was rape. The young woman declined to testify in court, and the case was later dropped. They later settled a civil suit she filed in 2005.
Before his death was confirmed, tributes poured in for the former Laker.
Barack Obama called the basketball star a “legend on the court” as he and wife Michelle sent their “love and prayers” to the family of Bryant and his daughter.
“Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act,” the former president tweeted.
“To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.”
Alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant helped the Lakers win three NBA championships in a row between 2000 and 2002.
It is a feat that has not been matched since, with the Golden State Warriors losing in last year’s finals having won two in a row.
O’Neal tweeted: “There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW”.
Tennis player Andy Murray’s Instagram story read: “This has hit me hard. Thinking of all his family, friends and colleagues.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker wrote: “Oh no. How awful. One of the greatest sportsmen of our lifetime. Utterly tragic”.
Six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady said: “We miss you already Kobe”.
(Infographic supplied by Statista)


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-26--Three Arrested After Death Of Footballer Jordan Sinnott

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a footballer died following an assault in Nottinghamshire.
Jordan Sinnott, who played for Matlock Town, was found unconscious with a suspected fractured skull following two disturbances in Retford on Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Nottinghamshire Police launched a murder investigation after the 25-year-old died in hospital shortly before 6pm on Saturday.
Three men have now been arrested in connection with the incident, including two men both aged 21 who were arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday, police said.
A 27-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm shortly after the incident remains in police custody, the force added.
Officers initially responded to reports of up to eight men and women being involved in a disturbance in the Dominie Cross pub car park in Grove Street shortly after 11.25pm on Friday.
They were later called to assist ambulance crews attempting to treat Sinnott after he was discovered unconscious with a suspected fractured skull following a subsequent incident at around 2am in Market Place.
The footballer remained in hospital after the incident while receiving treatment for his injuries, where he died surrounded by his friends and family.
Sinnott is the son of former professional footballer Lee Sinnott, who played for Crystal Palace, Watford and Bradford City during his career.
Two other men were also injured during the incidents. A 27-year-old man sustained a suspected broken nose while a 44-year-old man suffered a suspected broken jaw.
Detective inspector Justine Wilson, from Nottinghamshire Police, said the force were still looking for people who may have been directly involved in his death and urged anyone with any information to come forward.
She said: “Our thoughts remain with Mr Sinnott’s friends and family, who our specialist officers are continuing to support.
“The family would like to pass on their appreciation for the supportive messages they have received and ask for their privacy to be respected at this incredibly difficult time.
“For the family’s sake I ask anyone who witnessed these events to contact Nottinghamshire Police or call Crimestoppers anonymously with any information they may have.”
Matlock Town said on Saturday that their away game against Mickleover Sports had been postponed due to “tragic and unforeseen circumstances”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Brexit 'Broke' Labour At Election For 'Overwhelmingly Unpopular' Corbyn - Report

Jeremy Corbyn was “overwhelmingly unpopular” with voters and Labour lost support “in every social class and nearly every age group”, a new report has found.
Labour was “within touching distance” during first half of 2019 before Boris Johnson’s election as Tory leader saw support disintegrate, the ‘Devastating Defeat’ study written for Europe For The Many, an organisation that brings together academics and campaigners, claims.
It said that changing leader “could have asserted much more influence”, but goes on to argue Brexit has “broken” Labour’s electoral coalition and redrawn the political map.
The report said Labour could have limited damage by backing single market membership earlier, adding: “It is perfectly plausible that if Labour had the same position for a second referendum but with a different leader, or took this line at an earlier stage they could have asserted much more influence over these voters.”
It adds: “What is clear is that Jeremy Corbyn’s personal standing and approval ratings were undermined by Brexit (as well as other issues) and a large part of this was due to the perceived indecisiveness, lack of clarity and firm leadership.”
The report claims the new political divide is between social liberals (who are more likely to be pro-Remain) and social conservatives (more likely to back Leave) with more traditional views on issues like crime and immigration.
It adds election victory for Labour is “impossible” if the next leader fails to win over socially conservative voters.
But it claims “insincere slogans” and “shallow appeals” such as Gordon Brown’s ‘British jobs for British workers’ drive or gimmicks like Ed Miliband’s ‘controls on immigration’ mugs will backfire as voters view Labour’s core values as liberal.
The party should instead focus on economic messages and quality of life, it says.
The report warns: “Avoid making shallow appeals to these voters. Do not adopt insincere slogans or messages like ‘one nation Labour’ or ‘British jobs for British workers’.
“This is self-defeating, reinforces Tory messaging and risks eroding the Labour coalition. Focus on the economic policy offers that have support.”
Despite many claiming that Labour’s socialist policies were roundly rejected, the report insists “there is broad support for the party’s economic policy amongst a large majority of the British population”.
The report divides seats into the following blocks: • Labour’s ‘multi-ethnic working-class heartlands’ - safe Labour seats with high levels of inequality, deprivation and ethnically diverse, such as many in London and Manchester • Cosmopolitan ‘centres of the new capitalism’ - Seats, such as Canterbury and Putney, that Labour won for the first time in 2017 or 2019, which are relatively diverse, have large numbers of private renters and graduates. • Brexit-voting towns - seats usually in the north or Midlands, also known as red wall seats. The report argues these areas are witnessing decline, with low house prices, low wages, low ethnic diversity and high numbers of older people. • Affluent and middle-class ‘Conservative shires’ - Tory safe seats which are affluent, voted Leave and have low ethnic diversity and an older population.
While there were 800,000 voters who directly switched from Labour to Tory, 1.1 million Labour Remain voters deserted Corbyn.
“While around 200,000 to 250,000 Labour (2017) Leave voters split away to these parties, more notable perhaps is the 300,000 Labour (2017) Remain voters that moved directly to the Tories despite Johnson’s promise of a hard Brexit,” the report said.
“This may have been due to concerns over Corbyn’s leadership, a change of mind, or receptiveness to the idea of ‘getting Brexit done’, which appears to have been a very powerful Tory message.”
The report, penned by data analyst Christabel Cooper and LSE researcher Luke Cooper, and backed by Momentum’s Laura Parker, said the Tories’ victory is “inseparable from Brexit”, adding of the result: “It built a new politics out of the sluggish economic conditions of left behind Britain.
“This politics was able to unite the traditional, affluent Tory vote, which also backed Brexit, with a breakaway group from Labour’s electoral coalition.”
The report also says that claims Labour has lost the working class vote are “woefully simplistic”, underlining that of the 20 top seats for child poverty, 19 are Labour-held.
Pointing to how the leadership candidates might try to recover Labour’s fortunes, the report adds: “The Tories now have a huge challenge.
“They have to keep control of seats desperate for investment, which look completely different to their consistently held seats, while also keeping their commitment not to raise any taxes over the next five years.
“We predict that they will combine very socially conservative policies on issues like crime and immigration with pork-barrel politics, targeting these areas for investment by cynically cutting funding to other areas, such as very deprived safe Labour seats.”
Christabel Cooper, director of Sensible Analytics Ltd, who is also a Labour councillor in Hammersmith and Fulham, said winning support among socially conservative voters is key for Labour, but added: “But it would be a betrayal both of Labour’s fundamental values and of its core voters, for the party to embrace illiberal policies on issues such as minority rights.
“So how to bring back these voters back without compromising our values is the big question facing the next party leader.”
Bridget Phillipson, Labour MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, said: “This report is a really important start to understanding the party’s defeat and how we can rebuild. It busts the myth that the working class is one big homogenous group, but also reveals the challenges we face.
“To win over voters who are less socially liberal than Labour is today, but more economically left-wing than the Tories, we should not impersonate them. We need to convince them. Going forward the party has to build that trust and credibility.”
It comes as Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Lisa Nandy and Emily Thornberry battle it out to be the next leader, with the result of the election due to be announced on April 4.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Love Island: New Bombshells Wallace And Demi Introduced As Connor Is Dumped

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The Love Islanders had no sooner said goodbye to one contestant than two new ones were heading into the villa on Monday night.
The most recent episode of the ITV2 reality show saw the shock exit of Connor Durman following Sunday’s cliffhanger ending, before two new arrivals dropped in.
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They are 24-year-old Wallace Wilson from Inverness and 21-year-old Demi Jones from Portsmouth.
Demi Jones ITV
Demi’s arrival could mean good news for Nas Majeed, as she said she had her eye on both him and Finn Tapp going into the villa, also picking them and recent new boy Luke Mabbott to go on dates with.
So far, Nas has failed to find love, having only coupled up on a friendship basis with Jess Gale and Siannise Fudge.
Demi has her eye on Nas Majeed ITV
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The boutique style advisor also says she is not prepared to settle for the wrong boy, explaining: “If my boyfriend or someone I’m talking to is not giving me the right attention or affection then my eyes could start wandering. It only takes a boy to give you a bit of attention when you’re not getting it from the right person, for you to be swayed.”
Meanwhile, Wallace is a personal trainer and describes himself as “confident, funny and energetic” and rates himself as an eight out of 10.
He is going into the villa with his eye on Siânnise, Paige Turley, and Sophie Piper, choosing the trio to enjoy a set of first dates with.
Wallace Wilson ITV
He says: “I think stepping on toes is life isn’t it, it’s just what happens, you’ve got to look after number one.”
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Their entrances, which will air as part of Tuesday’s show, come after Connor was dumped from the Island after he and partner Sophie Piper received the least public votes.
Connor was dumped from the Island on Monday ITV
The remaining Islanders were then forced to choose between which of the pair to send home.
After leaving the villa, Connor insisted he was not upset Sophie had not decided to follow him.
He said: “It’s still early on in the villa. Her head could be turned. I want her to enjoy the experience. It’s a once in a lifetime thing. I wouldn’t have any grudges against her. I do just want her to be happy.
“I wouldn’t want her second guessing things and regretting anything. Whatever she does, I’m happy for her.”
Connor added that he will “wait for” Sophie, saying he is “in no rush to meet someone else”.
Love Island continues on Tuesday at 9pm on ITV2.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Can Tory MPs - Or Donald Trump - Trust A Word Boris Johnson Says On Huawei?

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Sign up now to get The Waugh Zone, our weekday evening politics briefing, by email.
Where’s the plan, man?
Can anyone believe a word Boris Johnson says? During the last general election campaign, the voting public were more than aware of the PM’s lifelong slipperiness with the truth. But they nevertheless gave him an emphatic endorsement, clearly believing his pledge to ‘get Brexit done’ by January 31.
This Friday will see that Brexit promise kept, of course. Yet questions still linger about Johnson’s trustworthiness and the next few weeks may lay bare just how many people he’s hoodwinked, or at least strung along, on some pretty big issues of public policy.
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Was all his scepticism about HS2 real or a ploy? Will cabinet ministers who stood by him (Liz Truss was flirting with standing for leader herself) be brutally dumped in a reshuffle? Will he go ahead with Huawei being allowed access to the UK’s 5G network, despite all the warm words he has offered to Donald Trump (the president sounded very reassured by Johnson at the Nato summit last month) and to hawkish Tory backbenchers?
In an ominous urgent question in the Commons today, a raft of those backbenchers got on their feet to express their unease. Most telling of all was the suggestion from Iain Duncan Smith that the PM had somehow given the strong impression that he would block Huawei. “I was led to believe that this government would not make that decision,” he told the chamber. Yes, led to believe...Will he betray others on his side just as he betrayed the DUP over a border in the Irish Sea?
It won’t have been the first time perhaps that Iain Duncan Smith has been bamboozled (if not directly misled) by Johnson. Westminster was rife this summer with chatter that IDS had decided to chair his leadership campaign in return for some kind of cabinet post. A job didn’t materialise, though a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours list was not a bad consolation prize.
It’s possible too that defence secretary Ben Wallace, a close ally of the PM, will feel let down too over Huawei, given his own personal opposition in private. When the decision is finally announced on Tuesday, the cabinet will naturally rally behind Johnson for putting the British national interest first. But there will be a fair few Tory MPs who will feel short-changed and to get their first prick of doubt about just how much they can trust their leader after all.
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Backbencher Tom Tugendhat has not done his own long-term ambitions any harm by warning that allowing Huawei even limited access would be like “letting the fox into the hen house” (a phrase he has used repeatedly). Not for nothing did US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, due in town later this week, praise him on Twitter.
There may also be a suspicion that the PM has been ‘captured’ by the very ‘establishment’ that he and Dominic Cummings were meant to be disrupting. This isn’t just about abandoning the idea of radical Whitehall departmental restructuring. Insiders say Johnson has an excellent relationship with cabinet secretary and national security adviser Sir Mark Sedwill, who played a key role in the summary departure of Gavin Williamson over the Huawei leak last year. Don’t forget that Williamson has been put on a humiliatingly low security clearance level (some ministers in his department have to handle sensitive stuff) despite his recall to cabinet.
Many in government will however be reassured that the PM is actually not trying to second guess the clear judgement from UK security officials that the Huawei risk can be managed, while also delivering savings in time and cost vital for the rollout of gigabit broadband and 5G.
Yet away from Huawei, the bigger problem perhaps for Johnson is not that he can’t be trusted, but that he is just pretty bad at planning. His ability to win elections is not in doubt, but his ability to govern effectively very much is. He beat Ken Livingstone not once but twice in a ‘Labour city’, and he’s smashed through the party’s ‘red wall’ in the north and midlands.
Yet just as he arrived in City Hall without a clear plan in 2008 - and had a nightmare first few months - he seems so far to have arrived in No.10 without any clear blueprint for government on hefty issues (a strategy for science, tech and maths seems to be the exception, but that’s because Cummings has a very clear idea of what he wants).
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Saying yes to Huawei access is in a way the easy bit of 5G, actually getting a competent rollout of gigabit broadband to all those rural and other areas he promised is a big test of competence of public-private interaction.
Similarly, dollops of cash for the NHS is one thing, but actually doing the heavy lifting on social care policy is another entirely. Bigging up infrastructure like boys’ toys can get you so far, but the real hard business of government involves making a firm decision on a high speed rail link that will inevitably annoy key allies. On Brexit too, the problem is not even that he will get a backlash either way on alignment/divergence, but that he just doesn’t seem to know what kind of Brexit he wants yet. That’s pretty extraordinary, if you take even a moment to think about it.
Quote Of The Day
“The UK has yet come to terms with the fact it’s now a small country”
Irish PM Leo Varadkar tries to play hardball (as he eyes his own re-election)
Cheat Sheet
Rebecca Long-Bailey has said it is “bollocks” to claim voters don’t want socialism, despite Labour’s heavy election defeat, HuffPost UK revealed.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said that “as of 2pm today there are currently no confirmed cases in the UK” of coronavirus. Hours earlier, asked if there were already cases here, Public Health England’s Dr Yvonne Doyle told SkyNews: “I would expect so.” PHE is seeking to locate 1,460 people who had flown from Wuhan to the UK.
Leo Varadkar suggested there would be a quid-pro-quo (or is that euro-pro-quo) in coming UK-EU trade talks. The UK may have to “make concessions in areas like fishing in order to get concessions from us in areas like financial services”.
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Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey told the Commons the so-called Bedroom Tax (in Whitehall-speak ‘the Spare Room Subsidy’) is an “important part” of efforts to tackle homelessness and the government would “absolutely” be continuing it.
Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan said the government supported almost all of the recommendations of a new independent review into journalism. But she rejected the Cairncross Review’s call for the establishment of an ‘Institute for Public Interest News’, saying it risked interference with the freedom of the press.
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How James Corden Made It In America - New Yorker
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Croydon Stabbing: Man Dies In Rush Hour Knife Attack At South London Train Station

A murder investigation has been launched after a teenager was stabbed to death at a busy train station in south London during rush hour.
British Transport Police said emergency services were called at around 4.45pm on Monday following reports of a knife attack at East Croydon station.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
He has been named as Louis Johnson.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Bat Soup, A Secret Vaccine, Thousands Dead? The Coronavirus Myths We Need To Shut Down

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Here’s what we know.
Since it emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan, coronavirus has infected more than 42,000 people and killed 1,007, with 99% of cases found in China.
Two dozen other countries have reported 393 cases of the virus, with one death in the Philippines.
In the UK, eight people have tested positive for the virus, while hundreds of Britons in Wuhan were evacuated back to the country and put into quarantine.
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But while authorities focus on stopping the spread of coronavirus, some clear lines of disinformation about the disease have emerged – especially on social media.
Here they are – and the reasons you shouldn’t believe them.
1. The coronavirus outbreak was manufactured by the pharmaceutical industry to flog a vaccine.
With so little knowledge about where the coronavirus had come from, conspiracy theories about its origins were given plenty of space to germinate.
In particular, the idea that the virus was deliberately circulated in order to force people to buy a vaccine found popularity among those on the internet looking desperately for a source.
One of the most widely-shared tweets comes from YouTuber Jordan Sather, who described coronavirus as a “fad disease”, adding “funny enough, there was a patent for the coronavirus was [sic] filed in 2015 and granted in 2018”.
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The new fad disease called the “coronavirus” is sweeping headlines.
Funny enough, there was a patent for the coronavirus was filed in 2015 and granted in 2018.https://t.co/qqKRSptDgf — Jordan Sather (@Jordan_Sather_) January 22, 2020
Was the release of this disease planned?
Is the media being used to incite fear around it?
Is the Cabal desperate for money, so they're tapping their Big Pharma reserves?
Are there vaccines already being manufactured to "fight" this?
Coordinated all along? — Jordan Sather (@Jordan_Sather_) January 22, 2020
Sather is affiliated with QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory group revolving around an alleged “deep state” plot against Donald Trump.
His questions about coronavirus have been seized upon by those keen to believe in a cover-up around the disease.
Even a focused search for just the phrase “coronavirus patent” reveals hundreds of tweets raising suspicions.
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From anti-vaxxers to Trump supporters claiming the virus is a tactic to disrupt the US president’s re-election campaign, the theory that the virus was purposefully spread in the wake of a patent being granted on a vaccine has been shared over and over online.
Except it isn’t true.
Starting to get it?
Patent virus✅
Push vax✅
Profit✅
Repeat✅ https://t.co/8aepiH5VnL — sally (@sallyKP) January 25, 2020
CORONAVIRUS is a Patented Virus: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation One of the Primary Owners. Deep State Released the Virus to create Chaos Since Nothing Stopping Trump? #FactsMatter #JusticeIsComing https://t.co/PsFd5vzkxP — Ken Jones⭐⭐⭐ (@sxdoc) January 23, 2020
Yes, there is a patent: it was filed by the Surrey-based Purbright Institute, a research centre monitoring viruses in farm animals, and viruses that spread from animals to humans.
Addressing the misinformation spread about the patent, Purbright has released a lengthy statement on its website which clarifies that its coronavirus research extends to viruses affecting poultry and pigs – not the variation that has emerged in humans.
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“The patented work was not funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” the statement makes clear.
It’s important to remember that coronavirus isn’t one disease – it’s a group of viruses. The current coronavirus, believed to have originated in Wuhan, is the seventh identified type.
The reason the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is being dragged into this, incidentally, traces back to its listing on the Pirbright Institute’s website as a “major stakeholder”. By the end of 2018, the foundation – which supports a multitude of projects spanning the globe – had paid out more than $50b (£38m) in grants.
There’s also the small matter of the fact no vaccine has yet emerged, but there’s no reason to let facts get in the way of a good misinformation campaign.
2. 112,000 people have died, and more than 2m have been infected.
One of the more popular suggestions to have surfaced online is that the Chinese government has vastly suppressed the true numbers of people infected and killed, with “estimates” of the dead reaching over 100,000 according to some conspiracy theorists.
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This has been picked up on a number of online forums, including Twitter and Reddit – bolstered by reports from disreputable media figures such as far-right American radio show host Hal Turner.
In a report published on his website at the end of January, Turner claimed that 112,100 have been killed, and 2.3m infected.
Worryingly, this report has gained traction online and appears to have been shared both by fellow conspiracy-theorists and perhaps genuinely concerned citizens.
This guy is reporting 2.8 million infected. 100k dead. If this report is accurate governments across the world need to be implementing drastic measures to contain this: https://t.co/Sxzdmo0QIw — Jared Tate © (@jaredctate) January 24, 2020
With thanks to @gddcunha1961
What the fuck is going on?https://t.co/3yZrc0HteZ — DavidIBirch ♈ (@dbirch214) January 25, 2020
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Turner has been widely referred to as a neo-Nazi and, according to reports, has previously incited violence against Black people and immigrants.
The South China Morning Post reported in November that another of Hal’s “reports” – of an explosion in the South China sea – could not be verified and appeared to be entirely false.
The false report was published on the website side of his radio show, with the first line stating: “The outbreak of an alleged new coronavirus in China is completely out of control, and is killing THOUSANDS every day.”
Whilst each day has brought new reports of deaths within the country, there is no suggestion from any credible publication that the total number of deaths has spiralled into the tens of thousands.
The article continues: “The thousands of dead are being taken directly to incinerators. No funeral. No burial. Just burned. Intel is getting its actual Death counts directly from the incinerator operators!”
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No source is given for this information, and it has not been corroborated by any authority.
The report also states that: “The new virus is different from SARS, in that it causes rapid kidney failure.”
In reality, it has been widely reported that the deaths have followed a bout of pneumonia triggered by the virus.
3. The virus spread as a result of people eating bat soup
The formation of this new strain of coronavirus is still little-understood – but what scientists do know is that the first human cases of infection were likely to have started in a market in Wuhan.
China has suspended the trade of all wild animals due to fears the viral illness was transmitted to humans via animals sold in the market.
A number of publications, including the Sun and the Daily Mail, published a video of an influencer eating bat soup, referring to the dish as “gruesome” and “revolting”.
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Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t long before Twitter users were taking the connection with bats and running with it – in some cases falling back on language that others criticised as racist.
“When you eat bats and bamboo rats and shit and call it a ‘Chinese delicacy’”, one account wrote.
“All I got to say is them folks will eat any damn thing,” wrote another.
When you eat bats and bamboo rats and shit and call it a "Chinese delicacy", why y'all be acting surprised when diseases like #coronavirus appear? 🤢pic.twitter.com/SQjCzheDQN — woppa 🎗😷 (@Woppa1Woppa) January 22, 2020
Graphic ⚠
#ChinaPneumonia — “Bat Soup” on 🇨🇳 diners’ desk.#Wildlife animals hv ALWAYS been “delicacies” in #China, some even claim they can improve health & sex performance.
Let’s NOT forget #Bats are reservoirs for <60 viruses.#coronavirus #Wuhanpic.twitter.com/Eg7QEUxrsz — @Dystopia 😷- #HongKong is NOT China (@Dystopia992) January 22, 2020
What in D hell is going on.
So reports are coming out of China that the Corona Virus either started from the Fruit Bat Soup or the Sweet & Sour Civet Cat.
All I got to say is them folks will eat any damn thing. pic.twitter.com/wFRTgs0Xha — MIKEB 🇺🇸 Black American Certified D.O.A.S. (@mbunchen) January 24, 2020
Both articles cite a study reportedly carried out by Chinese Academy of Sciences, the People’s Liberation Army and Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, which they say states: “The Wuhan coronavirus’ natural host could be bats [...] but between bats and humans there may be an unknown intermediate.”
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A summary of the research on the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai says of the most recent strain of coronavirus: “It is likely that their natural host is bat.”
Though a number of western newspapers linked this research to the bat soup, it does not appear that the scientists themselves made this connection.
As for the much-publicised clip of the woman eating the bat soup itself, its host – Chinese influencer Wang Mengyun – has now been forced to apologise for apparently promoting the animals as a delicacy.
She claims she ate the soup in 2016 while hosting an online travel programme – years before the first signs of the current virus emerged at the end of 2019.
Furthermore she says she wasn’t even in Wuhan, or China at all, when she ate the bat. The clip was reportedly filmed in the South Pacific island of Palau.
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4. China is digging mass graves
At the end of January, it was revealed that China was building two huge hospitals entirely from scratch in order to deal with the virus, the first of which would be finished within a matter of days. Dramatic pictures of dozens of cranes frantically working to level the ground before construction began were circulated online immediately, and China was praised by many for taking swift action to ease the pressure on medical staff. But the images of the huge area of land being cleared by diggers has been interpreted by some online as showing an altogether darker picture – with claims of “mass graves” being dug instead.
Or are they digging mass graves? "China builds 1,000-bed coronavirus hospital in Wuhan at the epicenter of the outbreak" https://t.co/O9Des2ws0q — carltonAdams (@realadamcarlson) January 25, 2020
Construction on a hospital was underway today in Wuhan, China, to treat coronavirus patients [see image]
Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Is it just me, or does that look more like they are preparing mass graves in advance ?
Dr. Patrick R. Mullen
Widowed Scientist pic.twitter.com/6lw46hfiBv — Dr. Patrick R. Mullen (@prmullen69) January 24, 2020
This is China right now. THEY ARE DIGGING MASS GRAVES! pic.twitter.com/jRGpVsBH0q — Jordan Mack 🍍🍕 (@jordan_mack) January 26, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Tory Backlash Over Huawei As Boris Johnson Hints At Approval For Chinese Firm In UK 5G

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Boris Johnson has sparked a backlash from senior Tory MPs after suggesting he could allow Chinese tech giant Huawei a role in Britain’s 5G network.
The United States has warned the UK’s data security - and therefore sovereignty - could be at risk given Huawei’s closeness to the government of China, while senior Tories warned that giving the firm a role would mean “nesting a dragon” British infrastructure.
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Ex-party leader Iain Duncan Smith suggested the prime minister had previously given him assurances he would not approve Huawei, given China’s position as a “country that has set out to steal data non-stop”.
But Johnson insisted it is possible to ensure British consumers benefit from “fantastic” 5G technology, but to do it in a way that does not compromise national security or jeopardise the country’s key intelligence partnerships with the likes of the US.
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The row broke out as ministers on the national security council (NSC) prepared to meet on Tuesday to hammer out what US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has called a “momentous” decision.
The Financial Times reported the meeting is expected to agree the company can play a restricted role, with ministers looking to impose a cap on its market share to prevent over-reliance on its equipment.
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The US administration has previously urged allies in the Five Eyes intelligence community - made up of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - not to use Huawei, claiming it would be a security risk - something the company vehemently denies.
Boris Johnson welcomes members of the Chinese community at 10 Downing Street, London, in celebration of the Chinese New Year. PA Wire/PA Images
Johnson told reporters: “The way forward for us clearly is to have a system that delivers for people in this country the kind of consumer benefits that they want through 5G technology... but does not in any way compromise our critical national infrastructure, our security or jeopardise our ability to work together with other intelligence powers around the world.
“The Five Eyes security relationships we have, we’ve got to keep them strong and safe.”
He added: “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have technological progress here in the UK, allow consumers, businesses in the UK to have access to fantastic technology, fantastic communications, but also protect our security interests and protect our key partnerships with other security powers around the world.”
But Johnson’s expected decision has caused dismay among senior Tories, including foreign affairs experts and former cabinet ministers.
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"Allowing the fox into the hen house when really we should be guarding the wire"
Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat highlights "concern" surrounding the Chinese technology giant Huaweihttps://t.co/dMrWRkVDqA pic.twitter.com/I31Smqdh4f — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) January 27, 2020
Asking an urgent question in the Commons, former foreign affairs committee chair Tom Tugendhat said: “The idea we should be nesting that dragon, the idea that we should be allowing the fox into the hen house when really we should be guarding the wire is one of those moments where I hope the minister will see his responsibility very clearly.”
Duncan Smith said: “We are at war in a sense, there is a cyber war going on at which China is arguably the single biggest participant, maybe Russia as well.
“That we should think about giving a company which is heavily subsidised by China, a country that has set out to steal data non stop and also technology; that we think of giving to them that right to be in what is essentially a very, very delicate area of our technology, the idea that we would do that seems to me utterly bizarre.
“I was led to believe this government would not make that decision, I hope that they will now reject Huawei immediately.”
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Former Brexit secretary David Davis said that although the US had “sometimes been heavy handed in their dealings with the Chinese” they “have a point” about Huawei.
He claimed potential vulnerabilities could be exploited by Beijing later down the line.
He told PA: “The problem with this is that it is irreversible. Once you have done it, the technology is not designed to be ‘plug and play’ - where you can pull out a Huawei unit and put in a Samsung one - it’s effectively proprietary, a bit like having an Apple plug.
“So it’s quite close to an irreversible mistake, and it’s also close to a mistake you wouldn’t know if you’d made it.”
Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt warned against a “dependency” on a Chinese company in delivering 5G technology.
"The devil is in the detail"
Former foreign sec @Jeremy_Hunt says while he was a hawk on Huawei while in government, he now thinks whether to use them in our 5G networks may depend on how much market share - & therefore control - they're given#r4today | https://t.co/K5yFMgfAZ4 pic.twitter.com/4zd9d3DSPi — BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) January 27, 2020
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He told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme: “I must admit I always wondered whether it was wise to allow ourselves to become technologically dependent on another country, whichever country, for something as critical as 5G technology.”
Professor Malcolm Chalmers, the deputy director of the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, said he did not believe the US would cut off intelligence-sharing if Huawei was given a role in the UK’s 5G network.
“When the dust settles, I find it very hard to believe that the US would want to cut off its access to UK-generated intelligence as a response to a decision of this nature. I don’t take that threat very seriously,” he said.
Last year, the US imposed trade restrictions on Huawei over concerns about the company’s security and ties to the Chinese government.
Allegations that its telecommunications equipment could be used to spy on people have been repeatedly denied by the firm.
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Tory MP Crispin Blunt, who has sat on committees for foreign affairs and national security strategy, urged the US to provide evidence it was not treating Huawei as a player in its trade war with China.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Prince Andrew Has 'Provided Zero Cooperation' To The Jeffrey Epstein Inquiry, Says US Prosecutor

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Prince Andrew has “provided zero cooperation” to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking inquiry, a US prosecutor has said.
US attorney Geoffrey Berman said the Duke of York’s lawyers had been contacted by prosecutors and the FBI who requested to interview him as part of the investigation.
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But Berman – who is overseeing the investigation – said: “To date, Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation.”
Andrew stepped down from royal duties in November following a disastrous Newsnight interview in the wake of the scandal.
At the time he said: “I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency.”
Following the interview, he was accused of lacking empathy for Epstein’s victims and of failing to show regret over his friendship with the disgraced financier, who died in jail in August 2019.
Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein, said in an interview with BBC Panorama that she was left “horrified and ashamed” after an alleged sexual encounter with Andrew in London in 2001.
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She claimed she danced with Andrew in Tramp nightclub, adding he was “the most hideous dancer I’ve ever seen in my life” and “his sweat was [...] raining basically everywhere”.
Prince Andrew was friends with Jeffrey Epstein before his death LINDSEY PARNABY via Getty Images
Buckingham Palace is not commenting on the matter.
A source said: “This issue is being dealt with by the Duke of York’s legal team.”
Berman was speaking at an event to promote a new law that makes it easier for victims to sue over childhood abuse.
Before being asked about the duke, Berman confirmed the investigation was looking at possible “conspirators” who worked with Epstein.
He added: “Jeffrey Epstein couldn’t have done what he did without the assistance of others, and I can assure you that the investigation is moving forward.”
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During his Newsnight interview, the duke said an alleged encounter with Giuffre in 2001 did not happen as he spent the day with his daughter, Princess Beatrice, taking her to Pizza Express in Woking for a party.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Coronavirus: Government Orders People Returning From Wuhan To 'Self-Isolate'

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The UK government has urged 1,500 people who have returned from Wuhan in recent weeks to “self-isolate” as ministers stepped-up moves to tackle the spread of coronavirus.
In an update to MPs about the outbreak, health secretary Matt Hancock said the risk to the UK population is “low” and the country is “well prepared and well equipped” to respond if required.
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But Hancock said officials could not be 100% certain that the virus is not spread by people who are not displaying symptoms.
In new public health guidance, the secretary state said people returning from the Chinese city in the last 14 days should stay indoors and contact NHS 111 phone number. He added there were 1,460 people “we are seeking to locate”.
Hancock said: “Coronaviruses do not usually spread if people don’t have symptoms – but we cannot be 100% certain.
“From today, we are therefore asking anyone in the UK who has returned from Wuhan in the last 14 days to self-isolate. Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people – and to contact NHS 111.
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“If you are in Northern Ireland, you should phone your GP.
“If you develop respiratory symptoms within 14 days of travel to the area, and are now in the UK, call your GP or ring 111 informing them of your symptoms and your recent travel to the city.
“Do not leave your home until you have been given advice by a clinician.”
Health Secretary @MattHancock updates the @HouseofCommons on #coronavirus 🔽
Anyone in the UK who has returned from Wuhan in the last 14 days, read the full statement for the latest clinical guidance:
▶ https://t.co/gmrEw7K5Rf pic.twitter.com/QbkbHdiCC6 — Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) January 27, 2020
Hancock said efforts are still going on to trace people who have arrived in the UK from Wuhan and the surrounding area, adding: “Having eliminated those who we know have since left the country, there are 1,460 people we are seeking to locate.
“The Foreign Office is rapidly advancing measures to bring UK nationals back from Hubei province.
“I have asked my officials to ensure there are appropriate measures in place upon arrival to look after them and protect the public.
“If you are in Hubei province and wish to leave, please get in contact with the Foreign Office.”
Ministers have said they are working to get Brits out of coronavirus-hit Hubei province in China, with prime minister Boris Johnson saying the government is doing “everything we can”.
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Officials estimate that up to 200 UK citizens currently there will want to return to the UK.
More than 50 people have now been tested for coronavirus in the UK, although all tests have returned negative.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Brexit Does Not Mean Leaving Wales Behind

Wales Getty Creative
We weren’t all leavers but we are all leaving now. Yes, I wanted a green tinge to that inane and vacuous slogan that was “Red, White and Blue Brexit” and yes, loser’s consent – the most vital of characteristics in a vexed debate – has arguably been non-existent.
But there is little point in continuing to rehearse these arguments or fighting yesterday’s battles.
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At 11 o’clock on Friday night, our Senedd will lower the flag of the European Union, but defiantly raise Y Ddraig Goch in its place – making it two Red Dragons to one Union Jack.
That, to me, is emblematic of the future facing Wales. It is the Red Dragon of Wales that will be taking back control, and if Plaid Cymru has anything to do with it, eventually setting us on a new course.
We need to move on and accept reality. Face the facts, even face the future. Certainly that is the dominant mood as this Friday fast approaches.
Political success can be contingent on how we respond to the march of events – events that can often seem counter-productive to our aspirations and, indeed, beyond our control.
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“We need to move from simply seeking to defend status quo – economically and constitutionally – to a new strategy which moves Wales forward in this new context.”
But sometimes, the art of political leadership is to turn events that, at first seem totally adverse, to your advantage – by a form of political jujitsu.
We can value what we had and what we are leaving behind without the need for a last stand – there is no contradiction in that.
In much the same vain – there is no tension between holding Boris Johnson’s feet to the fire and fighting for Wales’s interests by securing new opportunities.
Central to our fight for the best deal for our nation whilst keeping the UK Government honest is fair participation in the Shared Prosperity Fund. We want Wales to have a voice in trade agreements, and a say on tax and procurement policies. And we want continued involvement in Erasmus and other beneficial EU programmes where third country participation is possible.
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But we must also move beyond Brexit.
Both Labour and Tory politicians have called for a focus on “bread and butter issues” – I say bring it on.
On health, on education, on the economy – matters which transcend leaving the EU in the minds of most people by now – Plaid Cymru’s offer is the same to those who voted leave or remain, wherever in Wales they may live.
For 20 years we have had a Labour Government that has been insipid when in charge, incapable of change and incurious about the future.
We need to move from simply seeking to defend status quo – economically and constitutionally – to a new strategy which seeks to move Wales forward in this new context.
Seeming to defend the status quo was perhaps the weakest element of the Remain argument – after all the status quo for Wales is not a successful one in economic terms.
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So instead of focusing on the losses from the Single Market, we have now to start to focus on the new opportunities in the new landscape.
Instead of focusing on defending the powers we have, we should focus on making the case for the new powers we need to take us through an uncertain transition and put us on a new economic course.
From power grab to power gain.
This should form part of a ten-year economic strategy to take Wales from where we are now, raising Welsh income per head, relative to the rest of the UK, by 10 percentage points over the course of this decade.
For those of us who want to channel our positive energy we can turn the next 15 months into Wales’s transition period.
The challenge is to respond to the world as it is today not the world as we want it to be.
Leaving the European Union does not mean leaving the new Wales behind.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Victims Of Helicopter Crash Identified: Kobe Bryant On Board With Local Coaches, Children

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Nine people, including Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, were killed when the basketball legend’s helicopter crashed into a hillside outside Los Angeles on Sunday.
Officials on Monday were still working to determine what caused the fatal crash. The Sikorsky S-76 aircraft went down in foggy conditions that prompted local police agencies to ground their helicopters around the same time.
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Though authorities had not yet publicly identified crash victims as of Monday morning, some relatives and community members had begun to confirm their loved ones’ deaths.
Along with Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, here are the victims of the crash:
John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli; his wife, Keri; and their daughter, Alyssa, died in the crash, the school said in a statement on Sunday.
Alyssa and Gianna played together on the AAU basketball team coached by Bryant, reported The Houston Chronicle. The group was reportedly headed to Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy for a tournament.
John and Keri Altobelli are survived by a daughter, Alexis, and a son, Red Sox scout J.J. Altobelli, reported the Chronicle.
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Incredible sadness in So Cal & beyond over the loss of the Altobelli’s-onboard the chopper w #kobebryant. 13 yo Alyssa was a player on the Mambas. All 8 passengers were from #OrangeCounty headed to girls basketball tourney @cbsla #cbsla @orangecoast pic.twitter.com/L7sMzEew1G — michele gile (@CBSmichelegile) January 27, 2020
Christina Mauser
Christina Mauser was the top assistant coach of the Mamba basketball team that included Gianna Bryant and Alyssa Altobelli, reported the Los Angeles Times. She also was a basketball coach at Harbor Day School in Corona del Mar, roughly 40 miles south of Los Angeles.
Her husband, Matt Mauser, confirmed her death in a Facebook post on Sunday.
“My kids and I are devastated,” Mauser wrote. “We lost our beautiful wife and mom today in a helicopter crash. Please respect our privacy. Thank you for all the well wishes they mean so much.”
Christina Mauser with her husband Matt. Facebook
Sarah Chester, Payton Chester
Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton Chester, a middle school student, were also killed in the crash, reported ESPN and CBS News.
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“Rest in Peace to the most amazing Mother and sister,” Riley Chester wrote in an Instagram post Sunday that has since been deleted. “I love you Pay Pay and Mom RIP.”
Payton Chester, left, with her mother Sarah. Facebook
Ara Zobayan
Bryant’s private pilot Ara Zobayan was flying the helicopter when it crashed, reported multiple outlets. He was an instrument-rated pilot and was qualified to fly in fog, reported Fox 5 San Diego.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Love Island:  Ofcom Reaches Verdict On Ollie Williams And Siannise Fudge Controversies

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Love Island will not face investigation over the inclusion of Ollie Williams on this year’s line-up, the TV watchdog has confirmed.
Nearly 600 complaints were made to the regulator earlier this month, following the emergence of pictures showing Ollie posing with dead animals. An online petition calling for his removal also gained 38,000 signatures.
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Ollie subsequently quit the ITV2 show after three days to rekindle a relationship with his ex-girlfriend, and later insisted he did not shoot any of the animals shown in the photographs, “nor have I ever shot as a trophy hunter,” he said.
The pictures had prompted 578 viewers to complaint to Ofcom, but it has not upheld the complaints following an initial assessment.
Love Island's Ollie Williams ITV
A spokesperson for the regulator said: “We don’t determine how contestants are chosen, or who takes part in programmes. These are editorial matters for ITV.”
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Ofcom also decided not to investigate comments made by Bristolian beauty consultant Siannise Fudge.
Some 63 viewers objected to Siannise – who said her friends call her Princess Jasmine – likening Nas Majeed, with whom she was coupled up, to “Aladdin”.
Siannise prompted controversy when she compared Nas to Disney character Aladdin ITV
“In our view, the comment was not used in a derogatory manner, and was likely to be intended as a compliment,” Ofcom said.
“This also followed Siannise’s comment about seeing herself as a Disney princess seeking her prince, which provided further context.”
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In a recent interview with The Sun, Ollie doubled down on his defence of the pictures, insisting he had taken part in a conservation and anti-poaching unit in Mozambique.
However, he admitted he “can see why people reacted in the way they did”.
“The photos are offensive, all people can see is a dead animal and me smiling and I apologise for the offensive nature of them,” he said.
“I knew the negativity were about these pictures, because taken out of context they look bad. I’m not a trophy hunter and I don’t take gratification out of killing animals.”
The land owner, who is heir to the Lanhydrock estate in Cornwall, also revealed he had reunited with ex Laura Nofer after leaving the show for her.
Love Island continues on Tuesday at 9pm on ITV2.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Coronation Street Star Neville Buswell Dies Aged 76

ITV/Shutterstock
Former Coronation Street actor Neville Buswell has died at the age of 76.
The star – best known as the Street’s Ray Langton – died on Christmas Day.
News of his death came to light on Monday with the publication of an obituary by undertakers in his adopted home of Las Vegas.
Palm Eastern Mortuary also said Neville’s funeral took place on 3 January, but did not reveal any further details about his death.
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Neville Buswell as Ray Langton in 1970 John Madden via Getty Images
Neville first joined the cast of Coronation Street in 1966 as womaniser Ray, but left the show later that year.
He returned in 1968, remaining on the cobbles for 10 years.
During that time, Ray was at the centre of a number of memorable storylines, including his wedding to Deirdre Barlow, played by the late Anne Kirkbride, in 1975. The characters went on to have a daughter, Tracy, together.
Neville with the late Anne Kirkbride as Deirdre ITV/Shutterstock
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Ray exited Coronation Street in 1978 when Deirdre found out about his affair with waitress Janice Stubbs, and while they had planned to move to the Netherlands as a family to overcome his infidelity, he eventually left alone.
Neville briefly returned to the role in 2005 in the lead up to Deirdre’s second wedding to Ken Barlow to try and make amends with Tracy. He died at the wedding reception after revealing he had terminal stomach cancer.
Neville returned to the soap in 2005 Mark Campbell/Shutterstock
Paying tribute to the former star, a Coronation Street spokesperson said: “We are saddened to hear of the death of Neville Buswell. His portrayal of Deirdre’s first husband Ray Langton in the 1970s made him a part of Coronation Street history.
“We were delighted when he returned to the role in 1997 for a special DVD set in Vegas and again back in 2005 when Ray turned up on the cobbles to visit Deirdre and his daughter Tracy.
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“We would like to extend our sympathies to his family and friends at this sad time.”
In real life, Neville moved to the US after his exit from the soap in 1978, working as a croupier, casino manager and mortgage broker in Las Vegas. He continued to live in the city after retiring in 2008.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--EU Has A 'Stronger Team' Than UK For Brexit Trade Negotiations, Ireland Claims

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Boris Johnson will take personal charge of the next phase of Brexit negotiations, Downing Street announced as Ireland claimed the EU has a “stronger team” than the UK.
The prime minister will oversee a new “task force Europe” team based in No.10, a “a small and agile unit” of about 40 people headed by his new chief negotiator David Frost.
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Frost will now be Michel Barnier’s opposite number during negotiations, the role previously carried out by Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay, whose Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) will cease to exist when the UK leaves on Friday night at 11pm.
Johnson’s official spokesperson revealed the details as Irish premier Leo Varadkar claimed the EU would enter talks on a long-term future relationship in a stronger position than the UK.
As he met EU chief negotiator Barnier in Dublin, Varadkar told the BBC: “The European Union is a union of 27 member states. The UK is only one country. And we have a population and a market of 450m people.
“The UK, it’s about 60 [million]. So if these were two teams up against each other playing football, who do you think has the stronger team?”
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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar meets with Michel Barnier, the EU's Brexit negotiator in Dublin. PA Wire/PA Images
UK Brexit envoy David Frost, right, and United Kingdom ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow ASSOCIATED PRESS
Varadkar also suggested a post-Brexit UK may have to trade fishing rights in exchange for UK financial services to have better EU market access. Downing Street appeared open towards this approach.
The Irish taoiseach said: “The United Kingdom has a very strong position on fisheries. The UK has a lot of waters, and a lot of fish is taken out of your waters by boats from other countries.”
He went on: “An area where you’re in a very weak position is one of the most valuable parts of the British economy which is financial services. It’s such a crucial part of the of the British economy.
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“So, you know, you may have to make concessions in areas like fishing in order for us to get concessions from us in areas like financial services.”
But he also pointed out: “Bear in mind 70% of the fish you sell, you sell into Europe. So unless British people are going to start eating an awful lot more fish, you have a problem there.”
Responding, Johnson’s spokesperson said: “The key issue from our point of view is we will have full control of our fishing waters.”
Asked if this would include access for European fishing boats, he replied: “It will be for the UK to determine for the best interests of the United Kingdom who fishes in its waters.”
It is currently unclear whether Barclay will be out of a job come Friday night evening despite having led successful negotiations on the withdrawal agreement, although an announcement on his future is expected soon.
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Frost, who is seen in Whitehall as having a keen eye for Brexit detail, will be supported by deputies from the Foreign Office and Treasury.
They will also work across Whitehall in specific policy areas, while the Foreign Office will regain responsibility for diplomatic engagement related to Brexit.
Michael Gove will take charge of implementing the withdrawal agreement which comes into force on Friday, and getting ready for the end of the transition period in December.
Britain, meanwhile, will no longer sit with the EU at international meetings, and will engage with Brussels as it does with other countries around the world.
“We will speak at our own right in meetings rather than letting the EU speak for us,” the spokesperson said.
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And in Brussels UKRep will be replaced by a new organisation called the UK mission to the European Union (UKmis), in line with other countries.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Grammys 2020:  Billie Eilish Cleans Up And Kobe Bryant Remembered

Grammys 2020: Billie Eilish Cleans Up And Kobe Bryant Remembered
Billie Eilish stole the show at The Grammy Awards 2020 after she won the four biggest awards of the night including album of the year and best new artist. The 18 year-old Bad Guy singer was one of many newcomers who picked up awards, joined by Lil Nas X and Lizzo. The show opened with a tribute to late basketball star Kobe Bryant, who died earlier that night in a helicopter crash.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--10 Little Things To Do When You're Feeling Lonely

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Loneliness is a universal human experience that we all deal with from time to time. An analysis of a recent survey of 10,000 adults found that 61% can be considered “lonely”.
Loneliness is a state of mind that has less to do with being alone and more to do with feeling alone. That’s why people can feel lonely at work, at school or even in their friendships or romantic partnerships. It’s not about the number of people in our lives, but rather about the depth of those emotional connections, psychologist David Narang, author of “Leaving Loneliness,” told HuffPost.
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“If we are in a room full of family and friends but nobody knows the actual thoughts and feelings we are having, we are likely to feel lonely,” he explained. “Whereas if even one person knows our true thoughts and feelings at a moment in time, we are much more likely to feel less lonely.”
And while many people experience loneliness on occasion, a pervasive, prolonged type of loneliness seems to be on the rise.
d3sign via Getty Images If you’re feeling lonely, know that you’re not alone.
Even mental health professionals like therapist and executive coach Megan Bruneau deal with loneliness. For her, loneliness is often accompanied by a sense of heaviness and despair that turns into shame.
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“Loneliness and shame tell me I’m broken and unlovable, better off in the safety of my isolation because once people see the real me, they won’t stick around anyway,” Bruneau said. “Yet I’ve come to know — and at times, befriend — loneliness well enough to support myself through these times.”
We asked mental health experts for advice on what to do when you feel stuck in a lonely state of mind.
1. First, try not to judge yourself for feeling lonely.
Loneliness itself can be painful but that discomfort is only compounded when we criticise ourselves for feeling it, Bruneau said.
“Most of the suffering we experience when feeling lonely is a product of the shame and anxiety we create through judging and abandoning ourselves,” she said. “We believe we’re failing or broken because we feel lonely or we’re lonely because we’re unloveable.”
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Instead, practice self-compassion. Say to yourself: “It’s understandable you’re feeling lonely right now; you’re a human who, like other humans, yearns for connection in our disconnected world,” Bruneau suggested.
2. Know that loneliness is common and what you’re feeling won’t last forever.
“Remember this feeling will pass, is not a sign of pathology, and that there are millions of other ‘lonelies’ out there, sharing this feeling with you right now,” Bruneau said.
3. Reach out to people for connection.
That might mean calling a family member, making plans to get coffee with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, or even posting about your experience with loneliness in an online forum.
“While shame will try to convince you you’re unlovable and no one wants to hear from you, remind yourself it’s lying and you will likely feel better if you connect,” Bruneau said.
4. Get out in nature.
d3sign via Getty Images Over time, loneliness can have a serious impact on both your physical and mental health.
“You can go for a walk outside if you are nearby nature or a park,” said Dr. Jeremy Nobel, founder and president of The UnLonely Project, an organisation dedicated to tackling loneliness through creative arts.
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Spending time with animals can also be comforting, Bruneau added.
5. Reduce time spent on your phone.
If you’ve been scrolling on Instagram a lot lately, make more face-to-face interactions a priority.
“Browsing social media for hours on end tends to leave people lonelier as they compare themselves to the bright and shiny pictures others selectively post,” Narang said. “However, you can turn this to your advantage if you ask someone to lunch or to get together in some way, as the research shows that this way of using social media makes people less lonely.”
6. Do something creative.
Artistic pursuits can be very soothing when you’re in a lonely place, Nobel said.
“Reading a breathtaking poem, knitting a lovely scarf, or expressing your feelings through painting or sculpture are all ways you can transform your suffering into something beautiful.”
7. Think about someone who really loves you.
Pick a person in your life who cares for you deeply and then ask yourself a few questions like: “How do I know this person loves me?”; “How do they express it?”; “What was a time they were really there for me?”
“Remember that being worthy of and receiving this love was not only a reflection of the other person’s goodness, but also of your own, or you could not have been so loved,” Narang said.
“You’re a human who, like other humans, yearns for connection in our disconnected world.” - Megan Bruneau, therapist and executive coach
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8. Seek out a small burst of connection with a stranger.
Even little acts of kindness, like smiling at a friendly looking person you pass on the street or holding the door open for someone, will make you feel closer to those around you, Narang said.
“As you let someone get in front of you on the freeway, imagine what they are feeling,” he suggested. “Talk kindly to the cashier at the grocery store. In small ways, you are meeting their need for kindness or for help which opens them up a little, just as it opens you up.”
9. Sign up for a class or group activity.
Plant the seeds now for new and deeper connections by enrolling in a class or group that meets regularly. It could be anything that piques your interest: a volunteer organisation, a professional association, a cooking class or a book club.
“In the midst of a class or activity, you will be having an experience of that event,” Narang said. “Briefly sharing your experience (e.g. liking something specific or having a particular curiosity) with others there allows them to get to know you just a bit.”
10. Think about what your loneliness might be telling you.
Instead of pushing it away, get quiet and sit with your loneliness, however uncomfortable it may be.
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“Notice the discomfort and how it affects your emotions, thoughts, and also tension in your body,” Narang said. “After a few minutes, you might start to get clear on specific actions you want to take — an action plan which is now coming from your calm mind and which is more likely to be effective than one arising from stress.”
When To Ask For Help
Again, experiencing loneliness is very common — feeling this way doesn’t mean there’s something “wrong” with you. However, if your loneliness is persistent and/or crippling, it may be time to take action and get some help.
Loneliness “is not an experience that we are meant to have indefinitely,” Narang said. “When this otherwise typical experience of loneliness is prolonged, it increases our risk for many health problems, and it may lead us to become depressed.”
Instead of isolating yourself further, open up to others or a mental health professional who can help you foster more community and healthy connection in your life.
“If you find yourself regularly distressed over your feelings of loneliness, that is probably a sign that you might feel better if you reached out for help to friends, family, spiritual counsellors or mental health support systems,” Nobel said.
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Useful websites and helplines:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-27--Rebecca Long-Bailey: It's 'B******s' To Claim Voters Rejected Socialism

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Rebecca Long-Bailey has said it is “bollocks” to claim voters don’t want socialism, despite Labour’s heavy election defeat.
The shadow business secretary, who is a favourite to be the party’s next leader, also accused Labour MPs of deleting shadow cabinet files in an effort to undermine Jeremy Corbyn.
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In a recording leaked to HuffPost UK, Long-Bailey promoted herself as unfailingly loyal to the outgoing leader, who remains highly popular with members, and claimed shadow ministers who resigned en masse in 2016 of tr to sabotage her work.
She was speaking at the retirement dinner of ex-Blyth MP Ronnie Campbell on Saturday evening.
The shadow business secretary said Boris Johnson’s election victory in December left her “in a state of shock” because “everybody loved the Labour Party” in the “people’s republic of Salford”, where she is an MP.
“We had a few wobbly people on the doorstep because of Brexit, but I thought everything was going to be alright,” she said.
She said she believed in the “worst case scenario it would be a hung parliament” but the exit poll left her “crushed”.
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Long-Bailey said: “I was in a state of shock and it was as if everything I believed [was] being ripped up before my very eyes, that everything we fought and we’re so proud of was suddenly invalidated, [that] no-one wanted us, no-one wanted socialism.
“And then I pushed that thought out of my head because I thought ‘that’s bollocks’.”
Long-Bailey was praised by Corbyn as “totally dedicated” at the same event.
Labour Party's Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell attend the launch of the party manifesto in Birmingham, Britain November 21, 2019. REUTERS/Phil Noble Phil Noble / Reuters
Long-Bailey was part of John McDonnell’s shadow Treasury team in 2016.
In her speech on Saturday she said files went missing after Labour MP Rob Marris resigned as a shadow minister and “flounced off” during a committee meeting in parliament.
When proceedings were abandoned, Long-Bailey said she ran back to her office “because I had a feeling that something wasn’t right here” and was told the files had gone.
She described the document as being held on a “shared drive” and the product of “months and months and months” of meticulous work mapping out the team’s bid to oppose the government’s finance bill.
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Long-Bailey said after the resignations she and McDonnell were left in the Treasury team, as Corbyn’s criticis hoped they would be “smoked out”.
She said: “I went in and I spoke to John and I started ranting and I think my exact words were ‘if they think they are going to get rid of us then they’re going to have to carry me out kicking and screaming’ and I sat in that office until about 3am going through all the clauses.
“Richard Burgon was dragged in at one point. Angela Rayner was dragged in and she got us a Domino’s pizza because we were starving and we got through the clauses and we went to the finance bill committee the next day fully prepared and I was pretty good if I’m honest.”
The story will be seen as a thinly veiled attack on her rivals Lisa Nandy, who resigned as shadow energy secretary, and Keir Starmer, who resigned as shadow home office minister.
Marris was among a huge cohort of Corbyn-sceptics who resigned and forced the 2016 leadership challenge which saw Owen Smith defeated. Marris stood down before the 2017 general election.
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He strongly denies there was any malicious intent but said that his assistant deleted the files because the document was created by his parliamentary office and was not the property of the Labour Party.
Make sense of politics. Sign up to the Waugh Zone and get the political day in a nutshell.
“She is trying to imply I stole Labour Party information,” he said, adding: “My assistant removed from the computer documents which my office created using my parliamentary expenses. That information was not paid for by the shadow Treasury team, it was paid for by parliament and it belonged to me.”
Speaking on the same platform as Long-Bailey on Saturday, Corbyn also claimed “the information that she should have had in order to fight the Tories’ finance bill mysteriously went missing”.
Heaping praise on his favoured successor, who was last week endorsed by the powerful Unite union led by Len McCluskey, he went on to say she “gave an absolutely brilliant performance, because she was totally dedicated to standing up for our party against the Tories”.
In a clear if not explicit endorsement of Long-Bailey, he told the crowd: “It’s an absolute pleasure to be here alongside Becky Long Bailey, our candidate for leader.
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“I’ve known Becky since we came in to parliament and we’ve worked very well together. She has done the most to develop our trade union policies.”
Long-Bailey, who faces competition for the top job from Nandy, shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, has repeatedly faced criticism she is the “continuity Corbyn” candidate.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--The Care Home Helping Save The Planet

The Care Home Helping Save The Planet

The Care Home Helping Save The Planet
At MHA Stratton House, a care home for over-65s, residents have been doing their part to help the environment. From recycling hearing aid batteries, to growing their own vegetables, to making Ecobricks - bottles filled with waste plastic that be sent away to use as building material - the group are out to prove that you're never too old to make a difference.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Boris Johnson Defies Trump By Giving Huawei Limited Role In UK’s 5G Networks

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Boris Johnson has approved plans to allow Chinese telecoms firm Huawei a role in building the UK’s 5G phone and data network.
Despite huge pressure from Donald Trump to ban the company amid spying fears, the British government’s National Security Council decided on Tuesday to give it limited access to the new hi-tech infrastructure.
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In an effort to contain a row with the White House, the UK has come up with a compromise where Huawei will have a 35% cap on its market share in the new technology.
Washington has repeatedly warned that the Beijing-based firm poses a security risk and any access to Britain’s 5G would put in jeopardy US-UK intelligence sharing - and possibly any post-Brexit trade deal.
Britain’s most senior intelligence officials believe that they can manage any risk posed by Huawei, which has played a role in the UK’s 3G and 4G networks for more than a decade.
But Liz Cheney, the third most senior Republican in the US House of Representatives, said Johnson had “chosen the surveillance state over the special relationship”.
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By allowing Huawei into their 5G network, @BorisJohnson has chosen the surveillance state over the special relationship.
Tragic to see our closest ally, a nation Ronald Reagan once called “incandescent with courage,” turn away from our alliance and the cause of freedom. — Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) January 28, 2020
Senator Mitt Romney, the former Republican presidential candidate, also criticised the British decision.
The UK’s decision to incorporate Huawei into its 5G network is a disconcerting sign. By prioritizing costs, the UK is sacrificing national security and inviting the CCP’s surveillance state in. I implore our British allies to reverse their decision. — Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) January 28, 2020
MI5 chief Sir Andrew Parker and GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre have advised ministers that there will be no extra threat if Huawei’s role is restricted to non-core parts of Britain’s new mobile network.
Non-core equipment refers to the antennas and base stations that sit on masts and rooftops, considered less vulnerable than the core servers and systems where customer information is processed.
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With only two other companies, Sony Ericsson and Nokia, able to provide the necessary equipment and expertise for 5G in the UK, senior government insiders believe that excluding Huawei would cost billions more and impose serious delays on the technology rollout.
Victor Zhang, Huawei’s vice president, said: “Huawei is reassured by the UK government’s confirmation that we can continue working with our customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track.
“This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future. It gives the UK access to world-leading technology and ensures a competitive market.”
Ciaran Martin, the chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, said the decision would ensure the UK had a “strong, practical and technically sound framework for digital security in the years ahead”.
“High risk vendors have never been – and never will be – in our most sensitive networks,” he said.
“Taken together these measures add up to a very strong framework for digital security.”
Several American senators and members of congress have warned that failing to ban Huawei, as Australia and New Zealand have, could lead to repercussions in crucial trade talks between the US and UK.
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Cabinet ministers including defence secretary Ben Wallace and home secretary Priti Patel have privately expressed concerns about Huawei.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomes members of the Chinese community at 10 Downing Street, London, in celebration of the Chinese New Year. PA Wire/PA Images
Defending the decision, Nicky Morgan, the digital secretary, said she wanted the UK to have “world-class connectivity as soon as possible”.
“But this must not be at the expense of our national security. High risk vendors never have been and never will be in our most sensitive networks,” she said.
“The government has reviewed the supply chain for telecoms networks and concluded today it is necessary to have tight restrictions on the presence of high risk vendors.
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“This is a UK-specific solution for UK-specific reasons and the decision deals with the challenges we face right now.
“It not only paves the way for secure and resilient networks, with our sovereignty over data protected, but it also builds on our strategy to develop a diversity of suppliers.
“We can now move forward and seize the huge opportunities of 21st century technology.”
A senior Whitehall source said: “We are clear-eyed about the challenge posed by Huawei.”
They said: “Our world leading cyber security experts know more about Huawei than any country on earth, and are satisfied that any risk can be managed.
“A market failure has left us in this position. We agree we must urgently diversity the market and are working on a strategy to achieve this.
“We want to get to the position where we don’t have to use a high risk vendor in our network.”
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith suggested on Monday he had been “led to believe” by the PM that the UK would not go ahead with the Chinese firm’s new access.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Holly Willoughby And Phillip Schofield Left Speechless After 80-Year-Old Guest Holds Nothing Back In

Holly Willoughby And Phillip Schofield Left Speechless After 80-Year-Old Guest Holds Nothing Back In Sex Discussion

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This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were left pretty much speechless after an 80-year-old guest spared no detail about her sex life.
Phil and Holly were interviewing Iris Jones, who made headlines with her plans to marry her 35-year-old boyfriend, Mohamed Irbriham.
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During the segment – titled “My Egyptian Toyboy Isn’t After My Money” – Iris went into graphic detail as she described the first time she and Mohamed had sex, and Phil and Holly reacted exactly as you’d expect.
“[It was] pretty rough,” she recalled. “Nobody had been near me for 35 years. I thought I was a virgin again.”
Phillip and Holly's faces said it all ITV
Iris continued: “Anyway, can I say… we used a whole tube of KY jelly. And the thing is, I couldn’t walk the next day. I felt as if I’d been riding a horse. Saddle sore wasn’t in it!
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“Anyway, we got over that. We got over that.”
The 80-year-old went on to say that “sex is not the important thing” in her relationship, noting she doesn’t care to share a bed with her younger man because he moves around too much in his sleep.
To say we're obsessed would be an understatement ITV
The clip was swiftly posted on social media, reaching more than 70,000 views in just a few hours, and being dubbed the “greatest TV moment of the year”:
This is the greatest TV Moment of the year pic.twitter.com/cOLxxa22Tr — I DON'T KNOW HER (@I_Dont_Know_Her) January 28, 2020
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@thismorning oh my god is anyone else watching this! I nearly spat out my tea !! 80 year old #Iris telling us about using a whole tube of KY jelly the first time she slept with her Egyptian toy boy, 45 years her junior - you go girl ! 😆 — Emma Leason (@madeoflove79) January 28, 2020
Omg I can’t breathe 😂 whole tub of KY Jelly! !!@Schofe and @hollywills don’t know what to do with themselves #thismorning https://t.co/oA405uIqTo — Emma (@nickschickuk) January 28, 2020
@thismorning whole tube of ky jelly, saddle sore and couldnt walk the next day.. ive nearly fallen off my sofa #ThisMorning — deb derossi (@debderossi40) January 28, 2020
'Sharon' has now been ousted as 2020's best TV moment by this legend. GET IT GIRL https://t.co/LTuixD4hIh — Emma Kelly (@TooManyEmmas) January 28, 2020
Mateeee this woman on This morning is cracking me up... "I couldn't walk the next day, we used a whole pot of ky jelly" 😭😂 @thismorning.. 80 year old with a 35 year old toyboy, class 🤣🎉 #ThisMorning — GRIFF ✂ (@GriffyBoi88) January 28, 2020
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"First night was rough..used a whole tube of ky jelly"
Shall we stop now.
"Felt like I'd been riding a horse"
Ok. #thismorning pic.twitter.com/yDjO53ngEP — Lacey (@lacegemm) January 28, 2020
Me when she started talking about the first night, like a virgin and KY jelly... #Egypt #ThisMorning #saddlesore pic.twitter.com/t5a2Hzsl3D — Hev H (@AngelMiffy) January 28, 2020
Last week, Holly and Phil were left struggling to compose themselves in similar fashion, over an unfortunately-named medical expert during a discussion about vaginal treatments.
This Morning airs every weekday from 10am on ITV.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Ellen DeGeneres Breaks Down In Tears As She Pays Emotional Tribute To Friend Kobe Bryant

Ellen DeGeneres has paid an emotional tribute to her friend Kobe Bryant on her American talk show.
Ellen broke down in tears as she remembered the basketball legend, who was killed along with his daughter Gianna and seven other passengers when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed on Sunday morning in Calabasas, California.
“Today is Monday, and yesterday was Sunday,” Ellen began. “It happened to be my birthday and the Grammy Awards. I was nominated, I didn’t win. Not the point.
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“Yesterday was supposed to be a celebratory day, and then we got tragic news about Kobe Bryant, and everything changed in a second. And that’s what I want to talk about.”
Ellen DeGeneres The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Struggling to speak through her tears, Ellen then urged viewers of her show to “celebrate life”.
“Life is short, and it’s fragile, and we don’t know how many birthdays we have,” she said.
“So just– you don’t have to have a birthday to celebrate, just celebrate life. And if you haven’t told someone you love them, do it now. Do it. Tell people you love them. Call your friends. Text your friends. Hug them. Kiss them.”
Kobe Bryant was a regular on The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Ellen DeGeneres Show
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The helicopter in which Kobe was travelling in went down amid uncharacteristically foggy conditions 17 miles from its destination, the Mamba Sports Academy, where he and his daughter were scheduled to attend basketball camp.
Kobe had been a regular guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, giving her his exclusive first interview after famously retiring from the NBA in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history.
He last appeared on the daytime show in April last year, when he discussed his wife Vanessa who was still expecting their baby Capri, who is now seven months old.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--How To Make Cassoulet In One Hour

How To Make Cassoulet In One Hour

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The classics always tend to stick around, and for good reason. People across the country still make the journey to Graceland to visit the home of a man who hasn’t recorded a song in almost 50 years. “Citizen Kane” still ranks in the top three of most movie critics’ list of greatest of all time, even though it was made before the invention of colour film. To this day, the people of France, and anyone with an appreciation for their cuisine, are still cooking cassoulet.
You might be wondering: What is cassoulet? In layman’s terms, it’s a rich stew made of white beans, duck confit and sausage. It’s hearty, it’s delicious and it’s very decadent. The origins of cassoulet are not easy to trace, but one theory links it back to medieval times, when stewed meat and beans were staples of a king’s diet. Some trace it back to 13th-century Arabic cooks, who introduced the white bean to France.
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Jeremy Paige
No matter when or where it came from, one thing is for certain — it takes a long time to prepare. From soaking the beans overnight to slowly cooking duck legs in their own fat and braising all of the ingredients for hours, it becomes a two-day dish to prepare. Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely worth the wait, but with the help of the Instant Pot and a few shortcuts, the entire dish can be prepared in an hour from start to finish.
One way to save time is to take a trip to your butcher shop and ask them for prepared confit duck legs. Another trick is using the Instant Pot to soak the beans. Rather than soaking overnight, you can recreate the same effect by bringing them up to pressure and letting them sit in the hot liquid for 15 minutes. After that, all that’s left is adding the remaining ingredients to the Instant Pot and letting the machine do the rest of the work.
I fell in love with this dish 10 years ago when I made it for the first time in culinary school, but because of the time and labor involved I’ve only made it a handful of times. Now when I want this classic I don’t have to hope it’s on the menu of a local bistro. I can make it myself in no time.
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Jeremy Paige
Instant Pot Cassoulet
Serves 6
Ingredients
1 pound dried cannellini beans
8 ounces thick-cut bacon, diced
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 duck confit legs, meat pulled away from bones and shredded
8 ounces fully cooked garlic chicken sausage, sliced 1/2-inch thick
4 cups chicken stock
4 thyme sprigs, leaves removed and stem discarded
1/2 cup red wine
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
Kosher salt, to taste
Directions
1. Place beans in the bowl of the Instant Pot and add enough water to cover the beans by 2 inches. Seal pressure cooker lid and set to cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Once the pressure is reached, immediately turn off the pot and let the beans soak for 15 minutes. Do not cook the beans on high pressure — this comes later. After the beans have soaked, drain and set aside.
2. Turn the Instant Pot on high sauté. Add bacon and cook until fat is rendered, about 5 minutes.
3. Add onions and cook an additional 2 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Add tomato paste, stirring to coat the bacon and onions, and cook for 2 minutes, until slightly browned.
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5. Add red wine and deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
6. Add shredded duck meat, chicken sausage, chicken stock, thyme and reserved beans. Season with salt. Seal pressure cooker lid and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes, then use the quick release method.
7. While the cassoulet is cooking, melt butter over medium heat in a large saucepan. Add panko, tossing to coat with butter. Cook until panko is golden brown and toasted, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in chopped parsley.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Nicholas Parsons, Sale Of The Century And Just A Minute Host, Dies Aged 96

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Broadcasting legend Nicholas Parsons has died at the age of 96.
The presenter – known for hosting the Radio 4 comedy Just A Minute and the TV series Sale Of The Century – died after what was described by his agent as a “short illness”.
In a statement, issued on behalf of Nicholas’ family, his agent said: “Nicholas passed away in the early hours of the 28th of January after a short illness at the age of 96.
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“He was with his beloved family who will miss him enormously and who wish to thank the wonderful staff at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital.”
Nicholas Parsons Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images
Nicholas began his career in radio as an impersonator, after being discovered by the Canadian radio personality Carroll Levis.
He then branched into acting, in the 1950s and 60s, before landing the role as presenter of the comedy panel show Just A Minute in 1967.
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From then on, he never missed an episode of the show until 2018, when he briefly missed two recordings due to an illness.
Nicholas was also known for hosting the ITV series Sale Of The Century, which ran for 12 years until its final episode aired in 1983.
During his tenure as host, viewing figures peaked at 21 million, which was a record for an ITV game show.
Nicholas hosted Sale Of The Century for 12 years ITV/Shutterstock
Paying tribute, the BBC’s director-general Tony Hall said: “Very few people have done so much to entertain audiences over the decades, and no one deserves to be called a broadcasting legend more than Nicholas Parsons.
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“His charm, inventive intellect and ability to create laughs were unsurpassed. Our thoughts are with his family and all who knew him.”
Nicholas is survived by his wife, Ann Reynolds, and his two children from his previous marriage to the actress Denise Bryer.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Selena Gomez Says She Suffered 'Emotional Abuse' During Justin Bieber Relationship

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Selena Gomez has claimed she was subjected to “emotional abuse” during her relationship with Justin Bieber.
The singer is currently promoting her latest album Rare, which was trailed by the emotional lead single Lose You To Love Me.
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Asked about the song’s personal lyrics during an interview with NPR, Selena said: “I felt I didn’t get a respectful closure, and I had accepted that, but I know I needed some way to just say a few things that I wish I had said.
“It’s not a hateful song; it’s a song that is saying — I had something beautiful and I would never deny that it wasn’t that. It was very difficult and I’m happy it’s over.
“And I felt like this was a great way to just say, you know, it’s done, and I understand that, and I respect that, and now here I am stepping into a whole other chapter.”
Selena Gomez Barcroft Media via Getty Images
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The interviewer then asked whether she was specifically talking about her past romance with Justin Bieber, which she confirmed she was.
She continued: “It’s dangerous to stay in a victim mentality. And I’m not being disrespectful, I do feel I was a victim to certain abuse…”
When NPR asked whether she specifically meant “emotional abuse”, she responded: “Yes, and I think that it’s something that — I had to find a way to understand it as an adult. And I had to understand the choices I was making.
“As much as I definitely don’t want to spend the rest of my life talking about this, I am really proud that I can say I feel the strongest I’ve ever felt and I’ve found a way to just walk through it with as much grace as possible.”
Selena and Justin pictured in 2011 AFP via Getty Images
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Although he didn’t mention Selena specifically, Justin did speak about his behaviour in past relationships in a statement he posted on Instagram last year.
He wrote: “I started doing pretty heavy drugs at 19 and abused all my relationships. I became resentful, disrespectful to women and angry.
“I became distant to everyone who loved me, and I was hiding behind a shell of a person that I had become.”
Justin’s representatives had no additional comment when contacted by HuffPost UK.
Last year, Justin tied the knot with his new wife, Hailey Bieber, and is currently gearing up for the release of his new album, Changes.
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