thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--'From Heartbreak Comes Hope': Koala Rescuers Share Moving Recovery Stories

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The baby koala named Maryanne lost her mother and a claw, and suffered severe burns on the pads on her feet when Australia’s wildfires destroyed her southeast Queensland habitat.
Peter Luker, a volunteer firefighter and animal caretaker with the Ipswich Koala Protection Society, has seen horrific things this fire season ― but currently has the pleasure of watching little Maryanne make a full recovery.
Advertisement
In early December, a frustrated Luker shared a graphic photo of a charred koala he’d come across as he helped fight the Wivenhoe Pocket fire to demonstrate the horrors of this fire season. The heartbreaking post went viral and was liked and shared tens of thousands of times.
In the new year, Luker is sharing a more positive story from that same blaze. He and his partner, Trudi Timbs, took on Maryanne after she suffered her injuries a week before Christmas, most likely from walking over hot coals or climbing a burning tree.
WWF Australia Maryanne the koala is one the road to recovery after suffering severe burns on her feet shortly before Christmas.
“It’s like having the palms of your hands burnt off; she would have been in incredible pain,” Luker said.
Advertisement
After first receiving emergency treatment at the RSPCA Queensland Wildlife Hospital, the little joey is on the mend in the care of Luker and Timbs ― and delighting those who have the pleasure of meeting her.
She’ll stay with her caretakers until she’s gained more weight, and after some time in a pre-release area she’ll be released back into the wild.
Peter Luker Firefighter Peter Luker shared this distressing photo of the loss of animal caused by Australia's wildfires, and the image went viral.
The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia (WWF) has so far committed more than $1.1 million for the immediate rescue, care and recovery of wildlife, with RSCPA Queensland one of the first recipients due to the state’s early bushfire season and a subsequent influx of injured animals like Maryanne.
The hospital’s average daily intake is continuing to be around 80 animals a day.
“That has put a huge strain on the organisation and particularly the people who are working in the wildlife hospital,” said RSPCA Queensland CEO Darren Maier.
Advertisement
The federal government has also pledged $50 million nationwide to help wildlife affected by the fires.
WWF Australia
WWF Australia is partnering with various groups to provide both an immediate response to the disaster and establish long-term restoration plans, CEO Dermot O’Gorman said.
In Queensland alone, close to 10,000 square miles (2.5 million hectares) have been burned. State environment minister Leeanne Enoch said the scale and ferocity were “unprecedented.”
“We are working on a state-wide figure for wildlife impacted, but for koalas alone, (the Department of Environment and Science) believes that up to 7% of core koala habitat in southeast Queensland could have been impacted by the fires,” she said.
Advertisement
WWF Australia Kevin, a baby koala injured in the Pechey bushfire, is now in the care of the RSPCA Queensland Wildlife Hospital.
In the hardest-hit states of Victoria and New South Wales, fires have scorched around 5,000 and 20,000 square miles, respectively. At this stage, about one-quarter of the modelled koala habitat in eastern New South Wales is within the fire-affected area, an environment department spokesperson said.
Dr. Jenny Gray, CEO of Zoos Victoria, said that with fires still active, the full extent of impact to wildlife in the state remains unknown ― “except to know it will be extensive.”
She said that dozens of koalas were coming through triage with varying levels of injury severity, with some recovering quickly from smoke inhalation while others need longer-term critical care.
In one heartwarming snap from the zoo’s Mallacoota triage center, two orphaned koalas are seen doing well in their “joey creche.”
Advertisement
“From heartbreak comes hope. These two joeys lost their mothers in the fire but were well protected by them and as a result, suffered little injuries,” the center wrote on Facebook.
Other footage shows three bushfire-surviving koalas, Spinach, Vicky and Leafy, making progress at Victoria’s Healesville Sanctuary. They, too, will most likely be able to return to the wild, officials said.
Spinach, termed by zoo workers the “bravest of the three,” suffered extensive burns to his eyes, nose, ears and paws. However, the workers said he is “strong and he’s not giving up” and he can be seen eagerly knocking back a tube of eucalyptus-leaf paste.
“These are just three of the thousands of animals that need your support,” the zoo wrote.
Advertisement
On Kangaroo Island, where around half of the island’s 50,000 koala population is estimated dead, rescuers are continuing to find dehydrated and traumatized animals weeks after the blazes.
“The survivors have little to no energy reserves left and we are finding them sitting on the ground totally shut down - all too often with other corpses nearby,” said Kelly Donithan, a Humane Society International disaster response specialist.
PETER PARKS via Getty Images
On the island, where around half of the habitat is gone, the struggle is not only nursing these animals back to health, but finding alternative homes while their natural food sources grow back.
Recently, a tragic image went viral of a “shut down” koala that looked as though it was grieving beside a dead companion on the island. Donithan rescued that traumatized koala, and said she is now “doing well in emergency rehab.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--US Animal Shelter Seeks Forever Home For 'World's Worst Cat'

How Verizon Media and our partners bring you better ad experiences To give you a better overall experience , we @ @ @ @ @ that are more useful to you .
For example , when you search for a @ @ @ @ @ search information and location to show the most relevant cinemas near you .
We also @ @ @ @ @ you ads for similar films you may like in the future .
Like Verizon Media @ @ @ @ @ show you ads that they think match your interests .
Learn more about how Verizon @ @ @ @ @ and how our partners collect and use data .
HuffPost is part of Verizon Media @ @ @ @ @ partners need your consent to access your device and use your data ( including location @ @ @ @ @ , and provide and measure personalised ads .
Verizon Media will also provide you with @ @ @ @ @ .
Learn more .
Select 'OK ' to continue and allow Verizon Media and our @ @ @ @ @ , or select 'Manage options ' to view your choices .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
An animal rescue shelter in North Carolina is being brutally honest in an adoption ad for what it describes as the “world’s worst cat.”
Mitchell County Animal Rescue tells prospective owners exactly what to expect from domestic short-hair mix Perdita in a Facebook listing that is going viral.
Advertisement
“Perdita, we thought she was sick, turns out she’s just a jerk,” the Spruce Pine-based shelter captioned pictures of the 4-year-old black and white puss they took in on Christmas Eve following the death of her owner.
Check out the ad here:
The reportedly unfriendly feline likes “staring into your soul until you feel as if you may never be cheerful again,” “lurking in dark corners, being queen of her domicile” and “fooling shelter staff into thinking she’s sick,” it wrote.
Perdita dislikes kittens, dogs, children and hugs but is “ready to be socially awkward with a socially awkward human who understands personal space,” the ad concludes. She is, however, spayed and vaccinated, per a PetFinder listing.
Advertisement
It’s unclear how tongue-in-cheek the shelter is being with its ad. It did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for further information.
But office manager Brittany Taylor told ABC News Perdita is “just all-out awful.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Love Island's Ollie Williams Reunites With The Ex-Girlfriend He Left Villa For

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Love Island’s Ollie Williams is back with the ex-girlfriend he left the villa for, he has revealed.
The Cornish land owner has said he made the “gamble of the century” after reuniting with Laura Nofer, calling her “the love of his life”.
Ollie quit the ITV2 reality show earlier this month after just three days, having realised he was still in love with Laura.
Advertisement
Speaking to The Sun about their reunion, he said: “I now realise that Laura is the girl I want to marry. I’m so grateful she has taken me back.
“We’re going to move in together in London over the next few months.
“I can’t wait to start a life with her.”
Ollie and Laura were together for 18 months before they split last September, citing distance as the reason.
Ollie quit the Love Island villa after just three days ITV
Advertisement
The reality star, who is heir to the Lanhydrock estate in Cornwall, also revealed that some of the boys in the villa tried to persuade him to stay on the show “because of the endorsement and brand deals”.
“All the brand deals in the world couldn’t buy the love that I felt for Laura,” he said. “I couldn’t possibly risk losing her so I left.”
Ollie’s exit came after complaints were lodged to Ofcom and a petition was launched online to have him removed from the villa, following the emergence of pictures of him posing with dead animals.
However, he later denied that he was responsible for any of their deaths, insisting he had taken part in a conservation and anti-poaching unit in Mozambique, saying: “I did not shoot any of the animals shown in the photographs, nor have I ever shot as a trophy hunter.”
In his interview with The Sun, he doubled down on his defence of the pictures, but admitted he “can see why people reacted in the way they did”.
Advertisement
“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.”
Love Island airs Sunday to Friday at 9pm on ITV2.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Australian Bushfires Contributing To Pushing World's CO2 Levels To New Highs

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Bushfires ravaging parts of Australia are expected to contribute up to 2% of what forecasters have predicted to be one of the biggest annual increases in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since records began.
In its annual forecast, the Met Officers predicted that levels of the key greenhouse gas will reach new highs in 2020.
Advertisement
This year, carbon dioxide levels are set to rise by 2.7 parts per million compared to 2019, averaging 414 parts per million in the atmosphere over the year – ever higher than pre-industrial levels of around 280 parts per million.
The Met Office said it is the first time levels are set to remain about 410 parts per million throughout the year.
Human activities such as burning fossil fuels have been pushing up levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere every year since records began at Mauna Loa in Hawaii in 1958.
But around a tenth of the projected increase in 2020 is due to weather patterns that limit the ability of plants in so-called “carbon sinks”, such as tropical forests, to grow and take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Advertisement
Forecasters pointed the finger at warmer temperatures in the Pacific for the second year running for creating this situation.
This kind of weather pattern has – along with human-caused climate change pushing up temperatures – contributed to the hot, dry weather in Australia which played a key role in how severe the fires were, the Met Office said.
The fires that have been raging in Australia will contribute around 1-2% of the overall rise in concentrations of the greenhouse gas in 2020, according to its prediction.
Bushfires in Australia are expected to add to rising levels of carbon dioxide in 2020 Tracey Nearmy / Reuters
Professor Richard Betts, of the Met Office Hadley Centre and University of Exeter, said: “Although the series of annual levels of carbon dioxide have always seen a year-on-year increase since 1958, driven by fossil fuel burning and deforestation, the rate of rise isn’t perfectly even because there are fluctuations in the response of ecosystem carbon sinks, especially tropical forests.”
Advertisement
While natural sources and stores of carbon create fluctuations, human activity is the driver of the long-term rise in carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, Betts added.
The report comes just a month after the Met Office said that 2020 was likely to be one of the hottest on record, with forecasters expecting global temperatures to be more than 1.1C higher than the pre-industrial average.
Meanwhile, the National Trust warned on Friday that almost three-quarters of the special natural areas it cares for are under threat from climate change.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Lady Gaga’s New Track Leak | Good Vibes Only

Lady Gaga’s New Track Leak | Good Vibes Only
This week in entertainment… Lady Gaga’s latest track leaks online, Beyoncé’s new fashion line is clearly inspired by Sainsbury’s staff uniform and Susanna Reid shares a twenty-year-old photo, where somehow she looks older than today.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Harry Dunn Death: Anne Sacoolas Extradition Request Denied By US

Harry Dunn Supplied
The US secretary of state has rejected an extradition request for the suspect charged in connection with the death of British teenager Harry Dunn.
The 19-year-old’s parents were informed of Mike Pompeo’s decision in a phone call with their constituency MP Andrea Leadsom on Thursday.
Advertisement
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Home Office said: “We are disappointed in this decision, which appears to be a denial of justice.
“We are urgently considering our options.”
Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year.
His family have said they are “not surprised” by the rejection, but added that it will “not be a battle the US government is going to win”.
Advertisement
Sacoolas, 42, was granted diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy.
The Home Office submitted an extradition request for her, which the US described as highly inappropriate.
Boris Johnson had previously said the chances of the suspect ever returning to the UK were very low.
Dunn’s family said “the fight goes on” for justice for their son. The family spokesman Radd Seiger told BBC Radio 5 that he understood no reason had been given for Washington’s decision.
“The reality is they can’t give a reason because there is no good reason,” Seiger said.
“It’s simply an unlawful act, and we knew it was coming. We’ll simply take it in our stride. Everybody’s relaxed, we knew this day was coming.”
Asked if the prime minister was doing enough, family spokesman Radd Seiger told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I have to say at the moment not.
Advertisement
“Boris Johnson wanted to be prime minister, he is now being tested severely. I expect him today to rise to that challenge and come and meet with me and the family and tell us what he’s going to do about it.”
Buisness Secretary Andrea Leadsom, the constituency MP for Dunn’s family, has said the suspect charged with causing the teenager’s death “should come back to the UK”.
In a tweet, Leadsom said: “I am deeply sorry that extradition has been refused.
“This was a tragic road accident where a much loved young man died.
“His family are heartbroken. The person who has been charged by the CPS should come back to the UK #Justiceforharry”
I am deeply sorry that extradition has been refused. This was a tragic road accident where a much loved young man died. His family are heartbroken. The person who has been charged by the CPS should come back to the U.K. #Justiceforharry — Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) January 24, 2020
"I called the US Ambassador earlier to express the Government’s disappointment about this decision. We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and we believe Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK."@DominicRaab responds to the US decision not to extradite Anne Sacoolas — Foreign Office 🇬🇧 (@foreignoffice) January 24, 2020
Advertisement
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “I called the US Ambassador earlier to express the Government’s disappointment about this decision. We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and we believe Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK. We are now urgently considering our options. I also explained that the UK would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the US.
“I emphasised that work to improve road safety on and around the Croughton base must continue, and the need to resolve the issue whereby family members at RAF Croughton are immune from criminal prosecution.”
Reacting to Raab’s comments, the teenager’s family told the PA news agency: “We are obviously grateful for any intervention that the Foreign Office (FCO) is making on our behalf. However, the fact remains that the FCO are still defending the judicial review proceedings.
“It remains our position that intelligence officers at RAF Croughton have diplomatic immunity and that if we dare challenge that in court they will seek to effectively make us bankrupt if we lose the case by forcing us to pay legal costs.
“That amounts to a huge arm around the US Government’s position that their (the US) personnel are free to come to the UK, kill UK citizens or shed their blood, and then get on the next plane back home.
“How they have the front to maintain that position after last night’s decision is a complete mystery to us and should trouble everyone on this side of the pond.
Advertisement
“As things stand, it matters more to the FCO that the status quo be maintained and protected than the lives of their own people and their families’ ability to seek justice in the event of the worst happening.
“If we have that wrong, they are more than welcome to make that concession now or meet with us to explain why they will not do so.”
Earlier, in a short statement Seiger said: “If Trump and Pompeo think this is an end to the matter, they have another think coming to them. Team Harry will sit down with the government tomorrow and work out our next steps.
“And next steps there will be. The whole world is on Team Harry’s side. This is not a battle the US government is going to win.”
In a statement released on behalf of the suspect after she was charged in December, Sacoolas’s lawyers said: “Anne will not return voluntarily to the United Kingdom to face a potential jail sentence for what was a terrible but unintentional accident.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--What It Means If You're Grinding Your Teeth (And How To Stop It)

LOADING ERROR LOADING
If you’ve ever heard someone grind their teeth in the middle of the night, you know it’s the stuff of nightmares. As one Reddit user so aptly described it, “It was one of the strangest noises I have ever heard! Made me think of two massive blocks of concrete sliding together.”
The sounds occur when people unintentionally grind, chomp or clench their teeth — a condition called teeth grinding, or, more officially, bruxism.
Advertisement
While we mostly think of teeth grinding as a nighttime ritual, it can actually happen when you’re awake, too. It’s estimated that about 8% of adults grind their teeth and up to 33% of children grind or clench their teeth. But some doctors suspect that number is much higher, as many people don’t even realise they do it while sleeping.
Here’s why so many people grind their teeth:
Stress is a huge factor
Stress and anxiety are the main reasons people grind their teeth, according to Michael Lerner, an ear, nose and throat doctor. When we’re stressed, our bodies release a surge of adrenaline and cortisol — two chemicals known to increase our heart rate, pump up our blood pressure and boost energy levels. Lerner said these intense changes can result in excessive muscle tension in our jaw and chewing muscles, causing some people to grind their teeth.
Others may simply clench their jaw when they’re stressed, something Lerner said is “not so different from more well-recognised anxiety-related behaviours such as nail biting, hair twirling or leg bouncing.” Evidence has found that people who are going through a stressful time — like a divorce, death or relocation — are more at risk for bruxism, as are those with neurotic or Type A personalities.
Some medical experts also suspect grinding is more prevalent in major cities, where stress levels are off the charts.
Advertisement
“People in high-stress environments, communities, or jobs are thought to grind their teeth more — working out their anxiety. So, it may be that most New Yorkers grind their teeth, but this is not scientifically confirmed,” said Derek Steinbacher, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
It could be your medications
Certain medications ― including selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SSRIs ― are thought to cause bruxism. It’s not fully understood why prescriptions like Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft have this effect, but one study theorised it may be because SSRIs affect dopamine levels in the brain — a chemical that helps control muscular and motor activity.
Certain antihistaminergic drugs may also be linked to bruxism due to a disinhibitory effect they have on part of the brain that controls sleep and circadian rhythms, according to past research. (Side note: If you suspect your meds are causing you to grind your teeth, your doctor may be able to change your dose or try another option.)
klebercordeiro via Getty Images
Alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes can trigger it
Researchers have found that sleep bruxism is twice as common in people who drink alcohol, though the reasons still aren’t clearly understood. Some sleep specialists suspect it may have to do with the simple fact that alcohol disrupts our sleep.
Advertisement
“Alcohol is just bad for sleep overall. Alcohol makes you fall asleep faster but it makes your sleep really choppy,” said Rafael Pelayo, a sleep specialist.
We don’t grind our teeth when we dream, and alcohol prevents us from getting into REM sleep, which is the phase of rest where dreaming occurs, according to Pelayo. That means, theoretically, there’s more opportunity for drinkers to grind their teeth since they tend to sleep more lightly. Most episodes of bruxism occur in sleep stages one and two ― which is your lighter sleep ― whereas bruxism in the later, deeper stages of sleep is much less likely.
Smokers are also more likely to have bruxism. One study found that bruxism is twice as prevalent in smokers compared to nonsmokers. The reasons smokers grind their teeth more aren’t well-known. However, it’s thought that nicotine also disrupts dopamine levels, which are related to muscle movements.
In addition, because caffeine is a stimulant, chocolate, coffee, sodas and other high-energy drinks may trigger muscle activity and lead to teeth grinding. And like alcohol, consuming a ton of caffeine (think eight or so cups of coffee) is linked to lighter sleep, too.
It might be a jaw issue or genetics
Often, clenching or chomping may be a response to a jaw issue, such as an abnormal bite or misaligned and missing teeth. Again, while there’s a known association between jaw abnormalities and grinding, the cause-effect relationship isn’t well understood. That said, it may have something to do with how the teeth hit each other.
Advertisement
“Usually the teeth interlock into each other [during sleep], but if the teeth are not aligned properly then the teeth don’t lock in correctly and then they kind of glide past each other — that’s that grinding sound you’ll hear,” Pelayo said.
Up to 50% of people who have bruxism have a direct family member who also grinds their teeth, according to Lerner. But while there seems to be a strong genetic link, researchers haven’t yet identified a specific “bruxism” gene.
JGI/Tom Grill via Getty Images
What to do if you grind your teeth
The telltale sign that you have a teeth grinding problem is if you wake up with jaw pain or a headache on a regular basis. A dentist can also take a look at your teeth and determine if they’re worn down from constant grinding.
If you’re a grinder, there are a few solutions to try out. First is a mouthguard. Invest in a heavy duty one that your dentist can custom-fit to your mouth — it’ll help mitigate enamel damage and relieve muscle tension, according to Lerner.
Advertisement
If that doesn’t do the trick, some doctors recommend trying Botox injections around the jawline. Though injections last only a few months, they can be super-effective and stave off tension headaches, Steinbacher said.
If there does appear to be a genetic influence, you may want to cut out binge drinking and cut back on caffeine. As Pelayo said, “You can’t change your genes but you can change your lifestyle factors.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Here’s What We Know So Far About The Coronavirus Outbreak

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The coronavirus outbreak, which appears to have originated in eastern China, has killed 25 people and infected nearly 830. Millions have effectively been quarantined as cities in China have been put on lockdown to halt the spread of the disease.
In the UK, 14 people have been tested with five confirmed negative and nine still awaiting the results.
Advertisement
But, crucially, no-one has yet been diagnosed with the illness. England’s chief medical officer has said the risk to the UK population is “low”.
Amid heightened global concern, here’s everything we know.
What is coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars). The strain that has recently emerged is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans and is referred to clinically as 2019-nCoV. How did coronavirus start? Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says. The first cases identified were among people connected to the now-closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, a city with a population of 11 million people. Cases have since been identified elsewhere which could have been spread through human-to-human transmission.
Chinese passengers, most wearing masks, arrive to board trains before the annual Spring Festival at a Beijing railway station. Kevin Frayer via Getty Images
How does coronavirus spread?
Questions remain about the outbreak’s nature and mode of transmission. Chinese government expert Zhong Nanshan revealed on state television that human-to-human transmission had been confirmed. WHO says some coronaviruses can be transmitted in this way, usually after close contact with an infected person, for example, in a household workplace, or healthcare centre. Dr Nathalie MacDermott, National Institute for Health Research academic clinical lecturer, King’s College London, said: “While data is still limited it appears likely that the Wuhan coronavirus is spread through contact with an infected person’s secretions and respiratory droplet infection – this is contact with small particles in the air that occur when an infected person coughs or sneezes.” What are the symptoms of coronavirus? Initial symptoms of the new coronavirus include fever, cough, tightness of the chest, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. More severe cases can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and death. There are no specific treatments for a new coronavirus but symptoms can be treated.
Where has it been confirmed and how many affected?
The death toll in China rose to 25 with 830 cases confirmed, the country’s National Health Commission said on Friday.
The update also confirmed the first death outside the central province of Hubei, where the virus is thought to have originated.
At least three cities with a combined population of more than 18 million people have been put in lockdown in an unprecedented effort to contain the deadly new virus.
Chinese officials have not said how long the shutdowns will last.
Cases have been detected in other countries, including the US, Japan and South Korea, as increased precautions are taken to prevent the virus spreading during the busy Lunar New Year.
Advertisement
What about the UK in particular?
Fourteen people in the UK have been tested for coronavirus with five confirmed negative and nine still awaiting the results, Public Health England has said.
One man is being treated in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast after he was thought to have been admitted with a high temperature.
The Scottish government confirmed there were five suspected cases in Scotland.
Prime minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said the tests were “purely precautionary”.
England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has revised the risk to the UK population from very low to low.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said there is an “increased likelihood” of cases of the new coronavirus occurring in the UK. But he said the UK is one of the first countries to develop a test for coronavirus and the NHS is ready to respond to any cases.
He added: “The public can be assured that the whole of the UK is always well prepared for these type of outbreaks and we will remain vigilant and keep our response under constant review in light of emerging scientific evidence.”
Advertisement
The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to Wuhan, but has not changed its advice on other destinations which have reported cases.
Anyone arriving in the UK from Wuhan or via connecting flights is being screened at domestic airports.
Professor Neil Ferguson, director of the Medical Research Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, said the UK is not a major destination of visitors travelling out of Wuhan.
But, he said: “Border screening and in this case, in the UK, alerting the health system, is not 100% foolproof – there could be a mild case.”
What is the public health advice?
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued clinical guidance for the detection and diagnosis of coronavirus and Public Health England (PHE) has developed a diagnostic test.
Advertisement
The UK is also one of the first countries outside China to have a prototype specific laboratory test for this novel disease.
Public Health England says doctors have already received advice, covering initial detection and investigation of possible cases, infection prevention and control, and clinical diagnostics.
Anyone who has developed respiratory symptoms within 14 days of visiting Wuhan, either in China, or on their return to the UK, should seek medical attention - but they are urged to phone ahead rather than visit a GP or hospital.
“They should phone ahead before attending any health services and mention their recent travel to the city,” Dr Nick Phin, deputy director of PHE’s national infection service, said.
Director general of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaks during a news conference following the second meeting or coronavirus. Handout . / Reuters
Advertisement
How does it compare with previous similar illnesses?
The WHO has previously issued four ‘emergency’ declarations for disease outbreaks but says it is “too early” to do the same for this outbreak.
The first declaration happened in April 2009, with H1N1, or swine flu, spreading around the world and killing more than 200,000 people.
Britain recorded 214 deaths, while 20 people died from swine flu in Ireland.
The others were over increased wild polio numbers in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria in 2014, the deadly Ebola disease that broke out in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone from August 2014 to March 2016 (as well as a second declared last July) and the life-threatening Zika virus in the Americas from February to November 2016.
Several experts say the new coronavirus appears to be less severe than its predecessors.
Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said typical flu epidemics can kill tens of thousands of people, but that previous new coronavirus outbreaks have led to fewer deaths.
For example, severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) killed about 800 people, while Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) led to about 450 deaths.
Advertisement
Prof Hunter said: “This new strain seems to be rather less lethal than the previous two outbreaks, however this could still change.”
What are experts saying?
The WHO on Thursday decided against declaring the outbreak a global emergency for now.
Such a declaration can bring more money and other resources to fight a threat but can also trigger economically damaging restrictions on trade and travel in the affected countries, making the decision politically fraught.
The decision “should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious or that we’re not taking it seriously. Nothing could be further from the truth,” WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
“WHO is following this outbreak every minute of every day.”
Peter Piot, professor of global health and director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said it was a “critical phase in this outbreak” and that there “cannot be any complacency as to the need for global action”.
He added: “The good news is that the data to date suggest that this virus may have a lower mortality than SARS, we have a diagnostic test and there is greater transparency than decades gone by. And that is essential because you cannot deal with a potential pandemic in one country alone.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--5 Payday Treats To Indulge In Because January Has Gone On Forever

HuffPost UK Louise/HuffPost UK
HuffPost UK
In our monthly series, Payday Millionaire, we’ll bring you five treat yo’self products to splurge your hard-earned cash on.
After what feels like an age – just how long can five weeks last? – January pay day is finally here. Congratulations are in order and what better way to celebrate surviving the month than treating yourself to a new pair of kicks, a fancy candle or a luxurious silk eye mask? There’s no better way. Just saying.
If you’re looking for pay-day inspiration, we’ve gathered five of the best indulgences worth your hard-earned pennies and pounds.
HuffPost UK Grenson Nanette Leather Hiker Boots in Leopard, ASOS
Feast your eyes on these beauties. The Nanette boot from Grenson has become something of a cult classic and we’re obsessed with this leopard print pair. The chunky sole mean they’ll withstand wintery weather though we would recommend investing in a suede spray to keep them in tip top condition.
Advertisement
HuffPost UK Diptyque Paris en Fleur Scented Candle, Liberty London
Everyone loves a nice candle, and the beautifully illustrated print on this new Diptyque edition is only matched by the scent – flower petals and patchouli fyi. Plus, once it’s burnt through, you can wash it out and use it a makeup brush holder. Waste not, want not.
HuffPost UK 3 Months of Flowers, Bloom & Wild
For the gift-to-self that keeps on giving, a flower subscription will keep your home in full bloom for months on end. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll forget you’ve ordered them after the first month, so it’ll be a lovely surprise when they turn up at you door.
HuffPost UK Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo, Feel Unique
Advertisement
While we are big fans of the dry shampoo in this range, this shampoo is next level. Don’t be put off by the dark grey colour of it, it works wonders to rid your tresses of product build-up and minimise the impact of hard water – you know that feeling of dry but somehow greasy hair? Oh, the joys of living in a city.
HuffPost UK Slip Elasticated Silk Sleep Mask, Selfridges
Catch 40 winks in style and comfort with this luxurious eye mask that will help shut out the world come bedtime. Made from 100% silk, it’s a dream for any frequent travellers too. And here are some more sleep aids while you’re at it.
We all work hard to earn our money – so it shouldn’t feel like hard work to spend it well. At HuffPost Finds we’ll help you find the best stuff that deserves your cash, from the ultimate lipstick to a durable iron to replace the one that broke (RIP). All our choices are completely independent but we may earn a small commission if you click a link and make a purchase.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Housing Benefit Rise Failing To Make Homes More Affordable

LOADING ERROR LOADING
A planned rise in housing benefit rates will make only a fraction more homes affordable, according to new research carried out by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and published by HuffPost UK.
Earlier this month the government announced that the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), which was frozen in 2016, will be increased in April in line with inflation to “support the most vulnerable in society”.
Advertisement
However, when the Bureau applied the new rate to a list of more than 62,000 two-bed rental adverts across Great Britain collected last September, the rise made barely any difference, with just 900 more properties affordable under the increased rate compared with the current one.
Overall, only 7% of the properties advertised in September would have been affordable had the proposed rate applied then, up from 5.6%. In the majority of the country the increased rates would make little to no difference in the number of affordable properties.
Local Housing Allowance was originally meant to ensure that the bottom 30 per cent of the market was available to those on benefits. However, rates were frozen in 2016 to save about £1.3bn in cash terms in 2016-17, while private rents continued to rise.
“Raising housing benefit in line with inflation is a drop in the ocean to the investment that we know families need.” - John Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis
Advertisement
In Bristol, only one more home in the Bureau’s dataset was affordable once the increased LHA rate was applied, bringing the total to four out of the 450 properties advertised in the city on the day the data was collected. Cardiff showed a similarly dismal increase, from two homes to three. Last year there were more than 2,000 families experiencing some form of homelessness in the Welsh capital, according to the council.
In central London the proposed increase stands to make no difference at all. Out of 4,000 two-bed properties analysed, only seven were affordable on either the current or the planned housing benefit rates.
The government says the increase will give people on average an extra £10 a month, but the Bureau found that would only make the 30% target of the market available in a few areas in central Scotland and Lancashire. On average, a further £87 a month would be needed to hit 30%, but in central London a claimant would need an extra £1,398.
John Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “As this research shows, the government’s recent decision to raise housing benefit in line with inflation, following years of cuts, is a drop in the ocean to the investment that we know families need.
“We see time and again in our services how inadequate levels of housing benefit are forcing people to make huge sacrifices on basic necessities so they can cover their rent or face eviction.”
Advertisement
VISION4RY-L4NGU4GE via Getty Images
A growing homelessness crisis
The gulf between the number of available and the number of truly affordable homes has been suggested as one of the reasons homelessness has risen sharply in recent years.
For many, the end of a private tenancy becomes the start of homelessness, and research by Crisis has suggested that increasing housing benefit rates appropriately could prevent 6,000 people falling into homelessness over three years.
Vulnerable people who approach their local council for homelessness support are regularly told that their best option is to try to rent in the private sector. But, as the Bureau’s research shows, for those on housing benefits that can be a near-impossible goal.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said the charity had heard from people forced to choose between food and rent, and from others using their disability benefits to make up the shortfall in rent.
Advertisement
“The freeze on housing benefit has ruined people’s lives,” she said.
“So, what good will the government’s decision to raise rates by £10 extra a month do, when hundreds of thousands of households face shortfalls of over £100? There’s no way this will close the gap between housing benefit and the actual cost of rents – which the freeze created.”
A recent study by Shelter and YouGov found 57% of private renters claiming housing benefit had experienced stress and anxiety about affording the rent, poor housing conditions and the threat of eviction.
Dashed hopes
Charities and campaigners had hoped for a bigger rise in LHA rates, after a government announcement of planned increases to Universal Credit and job seekers’ allowance that were pegged to inflation appeared to omit housing benefits deliberately.
However, the LHA rise has been kept in line with inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, despite research by the Chartered Institute for Housing finding the index is virtually meaningless when it comes to housing prices, as those costs far outstrip increases in other economic markers.
Instead, the institute recommends that LHA rates be modelled against the index of private housing rental prices.
Advertisement
The government has previously calculated that upping LHA rates to cover the bottom 30% of the rental market would cost £800m in 2020/21, a further £1bn in 2021/22, and £1.2bn in 2022/23.
Announcing the increase, Will Quince, the welfare minister, told parliament: “The majority of people in receipt of housing support in the private rented sector will see their housing support increase, on average benefiting by around £10 per month.”
The Bureau’s analysis shows that extra money will cover the bottom third of the market in just five areas: East Lancashire, Fife, Fylde Coast, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.
Neate said: “What we really need the government to do, and do quickly, is increase housing benefit to a level that at least covers the cheapest third of private rents.”
Advertisement
A government spokesperson said: “Providing quality and fair social housing is a priority, which is why we’ve increased the LHA rates.
“From April around 900,000 people across the UK could see their housing benefit rise.
“We spend around £23bn a year helping people across the UK with their housing costs and we’re increasing support for low-income households in areas where LHA rates have diverged furthest from local rents.”
Methodology
The Bureau captured the details of 62,695 two-bed rental properties advertised on September 15, 2019, and mapped these against Local Housing Allowance rates by Broad Market Rental Area.
Following the announcement of an increase in LHA rates in line with CPI inflation, we replicated this methodology using the new rates. This data and our Reporting Recipe explaining more can be found here.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--The Best Apps To Help Kids Wind Down

The Best Apps To Help Kids Wind Down

HuffPost UK HuffPost UK
All The Gear, No Idea is a regular series from HuffPost Finds where we feature product recommendations for parents, by parents. Whether you’re shopping for a car seat for the first time or don’t know what tech to buy your teen, we’ve got you covered with shopping guides, reviews and the latest deals.
It’s not just adults who need help to manage stress, or unplug from our minds
and emotions. Kids need help too – perhaps even more so, as they come up
against challenges, difficult feelings or pressures for the first time.
Advertisement
Whether your child is feeling anxious, is finding it hard to sleep, or is having
difficulty handling big emotions, these apps can help. They offer a range of useful tools and practises that will help them face life’s curve balls, from gratitude journaling, to mindfulness techniques and tactics to diffuse the worst tantrum.
HuffPost UK Headspace for kids
Headspace
Brought to you by the same team behind Headspace, Headspace for Kids works on the premise that teaching children how meditate from a young age can help set them up for life. The sessions are designed for every stage, from toddler up to teen, and parents can do the exercises with their children. These are grouped thematically into Calm, Focus, Kindness, Sleep and Wake Up and include visualisations, soothing sounds and breathing exercises. The app aims to help kids be calm and focussed, as well as wind down and sleep better. It’s free to try for a couple of weeks and then moves on to a subscription service at either £9.99 a month or £4.17 a month for an annual subscription.
HuffPost UK Mindful Powers, Smashing Ideas LLC, Free from the App Store
Advertisement
Mindful Powers
This one introduces your child to mindfulness, via a series of meditations or
“stories”. It engages children with the idea through a “flibbertigibbet”, a cute
purple blob that they have to try to keep happy by petting in a calming motion. The idea behind the award-winning app is to teach kids how to respond to stressful situations through play, which will stand them in good stead for future
(or current) life stresses. It’s suitable for children aged four and above and available at the app store only for iPhone and iPad.
HuffPost UK Breathe, Think, Do With Sesame Street
Breathe, Think, Do With Sesame
This free app teaches children how to use their breath to calm down, problem
solve, find self-control and plan. The aim of the game is to help a blue monster calm down from frustrating situations by taking deep breaths; for example, struggling to tie his shoelaces or separation anxiety. Kids help the monster calm down and then work through his problem by choosing a solution, which they watch him try out in an animated clip. There’s a parent section too with tips and help. Available on iPhone, iPod and Android.
HuffPost UK Three Good Things: A Happiness Journal, Asher Dale, Free from the AppStore
Three Good Things: A Happiness Journal
This is a journaling app that teaches children how to cultivate gratitude. Kids write down three good things that happened to them that day, which, by focusing on the positives, hopes to make them happier. They can track their progress and set a reminder so they don’t forget. It’s free and available on iOS.
Advertisement
HuffPost UK Super Stretch Yoga, The Adventures of Super Stretch, LLC, Free from theApp Store
Super Stretch Yoga
This app teaches kids how to do 12 different, animal-inspired yoga poses. Each
pose is taught by a short animation, led by a caped superhero called Super
Stretch. This is followed by video of children attempting the pose and an
explanation of how to do it. Kids can choose a particular pose or do them in order. Reminders to breathe are given throughout. Super Stretch is free and available on iOS.
HuffPost UK Calm Counter, Touch Autism, £2.99 available only from the App Store
Calm Counter
This app is a visual and audio tool to help kids calm down when they are angry
or anxious. It opens with the “I need a break screen”, which transforms into a
red, angry face icon with the number 10. Each tap makes the icon calmer and
counts backward from 10. This is followed by a deep breath. It also includes a story about anger and explanations of things that can help you to calm down. It was designed for kids with autism and would be helpful for any child feeling strong emotions. Works with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
HuffPost UK Stop, Breathe & Think Kids: Focus, Calm and & Sleep, Free from the App Store
Advertisement
Stop, Breathe & Think Kids
This kids’ version of the popular app for teens and grown ups, is aimed at 5-10
year olds. It features 15 meditation videos called “missions”, which are grouped
into seven categories: Quiet, Focus, Caring, Connecting, Energising, Meltdown, Open Mind and Sleep. Children can either show how they’re feeling by emojis or they can pick a mission to complete. Available on iPhone and iPad.
HuffPost UK Scape, £11.99 from the App Store
Scape
Scape is an ambient music creation app, by composers Brian Eno and Peter
Chilvers. It generates music from shapes, colours, and textures that form a visual palette. These elements react to each other to make different sound scapes, which can be shared with others. The process and result is very meditative and relaxing. It’s not designed specifically for kids, but it has universal appeal. Available only on iPad.
HuffPost UK Let’s Create! Pottery, £3.99 from Amazon
Let’s Create! Pottery
This app soothes and encourages creativity by letting children spin a virtual
pottery wheel. Not quite the tactile experience of the real thing, but they can tap
and press the screen to mould the clay as it turns and put it in a kiln to harden
and decorate it afterwards. They can even have a go at trying to copy a piece of
artwork. It’s relaxing and offers a good diversion from stress or big emotions.
Available on iPad, Android and Kindle Fire.
Advertisement
HuffPost UK Moshi Twilight Sleep Stories, Mind Candy Limited, Free from the Apple store.
Moshi Twilight Sleep Stories
This BAFTA award-winning app is designed to help kids who find it hard to
sleep. It uses over 40 hours of soothing audio sleep stories, meditations, music
and sounds to help little listeners drift off into the land of nod. It boasts an all
star cast of narrators, including Goldie Hawn, Brian Blessed and Patrick Stewart. It comes recommended by sleeps experts and doctors alike. Dreamy lullabies, rhyming journeys, cute characters and mindfulness cues will take the stress out of bedtime. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
HuffPost UK Breathing Bubbles, Momentous Institute, Free
Breathing Bubbles
This is an app aimed at children with anxiety, specifically five-year-olds and
above. It encourages to leave their worries behind, with the help of Manny the
Manatee, who takes them through visualisations and breathing exercises.
Children are asked to name their emotion and how strong it is. Then they must
choose whether to release a worry or receive a joy; with the former, a virtual
bubble floats away and with the latter, a bubble comes towards them. If your
child can’t write yet, they will need your help. Compatible with iOS.
HuffPost UK Sleep Meditations for Kids, Diviniti Publishing Ltd, Free from the Apple store.
Advertisement
Sleep Meditations For Kids
This is a children’s bedtime app, from leading yoga and Montessori teacher,
Christiane Kerr. It uses story mediations with relaxing sound effects and music. It helps children with sleep issues, insomnia, stress and anxiety and promotes
relaxation and well being. Lovely graphics and a mellifluous voice mean it’s sure
to soothe. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Lingerie Sets For Valentine's Day To Gift Yourself (Or Someone Else)

HuffPost UK
I’ve got a theory: 99% of women are wearing knickers that come from M&S multi-packs and ill-fitting bras most of the time. I don’t know one person who wakes up in the morning, with a to-do list the length of their left arm, and spends ten minutes fussing over matching their silky knickers to their bra. If you are one of those people: I’m in total awe of you, but if you’re not, welcome, you’re in good company here.
Valentine’s Day, however, is a different story. I know it’s a commercialised day and there’s no real pressure to turn into a sexy minx for the night but, not only does it delight my partner, it makes me feel empowered – so it’s win, win.
Advertisement
If you’re someone who doesn’t typically feel comfortable parading around in your underwear, and even less so when it’s partly see-through, that doesn’t mean you can’t partake in this bedroom catwalk, it’s all about finding something you feel comfortable in. The lingerie sets I’ve picked here aren’t about showing as much skin as possible, they’re about showing off the bits of your body you like – and the confidence boost you’ll get from that will be sexy enough – trust me.
So, give your granny pants a well-earned night off and join me on this whistle-stop tour of the spiciest underwear sets and sexy night dresses out there.
HuffPost UK Silk & Lace Underwired Set with Full Cup Bra A-E, Marks and Spencer
Just because it’s Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean we necessarily need to change the habit of a lifetime, so this lingerie set is from my beloved Marks and Spencer. I know Rosie Huntington-Whiteley could make a binbag look sexy but, don’t be put off, the high-waisted knickers are flattering on fuller figures too and the lacey bum allows for extra coverage if you’re feeling a little… exposed.
Advertisement
HuffPost UK Sainted Sisters Scarlett Leopard-Print Silk Satin Night Dress, Selfridges
This dreamy night gown can be worn every night of the year, not just V-Day. Made out of pure silk and framed with a flattering V-neck, this is proof that leopard print works both in and outside of the bedroom. I’m tempted to pair this with a pair of tights and shoes for a daytime look too…
HuffPost UK Fuller Bust Eliana Padded Underwire Babydoll With Lace Cup, ASOS
This is a lot sex appeal for a little price and a brilliant option if you don’t feel comfortable with a tiny bra and thong set. It’s sexy without being self-conscious and it means that they can undress you themselves…
HuffPost UK Figleaves Curve Blush Smoothing Luxe Moulded Bra And Firm Control Waist Nipper, simply be
Advertisement
Understated, flattering and incredibly comfortable, this beautiful scallop-edge detailed blush set hits the perfect balance between elegance and ‘come hither’. The silhouette hugging high-waist design can also be worn easily under your date night outfit as a seamless underwear option.
HuffPost UK Hanky Panky High-Leg Leopard-Print Lace Thong Body, Selfridges
Hanky Panky is pretty apt here, because these signature lace briefs are sure to lead you that way. The V-neck style and high leg skims curves and flatters your waistline perfectly, plus, you can wear this with high-rise jeans or a skirt on your date night and then be ready to go when you get home.
HuffPost UK Laura Underwire Bra And High Waist Knicker, Full Disclosure Luxe
Flirty and fun, this set is tasteful yet playful and is sexy without being sordid. The bra and high waist knickers can also be worn separately day-to-day as they provide ample coverage and support. I defy you not to feel all powerful in this!
HuffPost UK Bluebella Marina Body, John Lewis
I adore this body for the fact that it’s just as at home in the bedroom as it is lounging on the sofa in front of an Amazon Prime boxset. The semi-sheer chiffon is feminine, soft and beautifully fluid. It’s a playful boudoir invite that no human could resist…


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Michael Chakraverty: ‘It's Isolating If You Can't Voice Who You Are'

Ness Ridley Michael Chakraverty
Michael Chakraverty’s first recollection of feeling lonely was just before he came out as gay, seven years ago, while studying at university.
“I felt unable to talk to people, even though I was surrounded by them,” he tells HuffPost UK. “Feeling lonely in a group of people is really isolating.”
Advertisement
He knew his friends would support him and his sexuality, but he didn’t want to burden them with the “confusing, difficult feelings” in his head – and he didn’t even know how to express those feelings. The result? Crippling loneliness.
“It can be isolating if you can’t voice who you are or how you’re feeling,” he says. “That’s one of the main times I remember feeling a barrier between me and other people.” In reality, of course, those people were more than happy to help share his burden and talk, but he didn’t feel, or know, that at the time.
Is this a common experience among the LGBTQ community, loneliness before coming out? Chakraverty thinks so. “The community feels that a lot, because it’s not seen as normal yet – boys don’t go around kissing boys on the playground, and girls don’t go around kissing girls – therefore exploring those parts of your personality can’t happen outwardly, so generally happen inwardly.”
Advertisement
Chakraverty used to think loneliness simply meant being alone, but he now realises it’s more about a lack of human connection. “You can be a positive, fun, bubbly person and feel lonely as well,” he says.
Despite describing himself as quite a happy person, Chakraverty identifies periods of loneliness as times when he doesn’t feel a connection to people, where he’s unable to ground himself, “and if I’m unable to ground myself I can quite easily let my thoughts spiral out of control.”
When the 26-year-old starred in Bake Off last year, he came across as an animated character, full of vibrance and charm. A few episodes in, he broke down in tears during a technical challenge – and later revealed he’d been in the throes of a panic attack. His open display of emotion was widely praised by viewers, and since the series ended, Chakraverty has spoken about life with anxiety and depression.
Filming Bake Off was a particularly isolating time, he says, because he couldn’t share what he was doing with other people. When he wasn’t working, every hour would be spent practising his skills – and his mental health began to suffer. There was a bakers Whatsapp group, but he didn’t want to burden fellow contestants with how he was feeling.
Ness Ridley Michael Chakraverty
Thankfully, he was able to tell a few friends from his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon his Bake Off secret – and he credits them with helping him through that time. “Their friendship really, really helped,” he says. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without them.”
Advertisement
Small acts of kindness helped him stay grounded during that time. One friend would turn up at his home with food to make sure he’d eat. Another would come over and encourage him to get out and go for a walk. “One of my friends was literally coming for 15 minutes every so often just to clean some dishes, and we’d have a chat while she was cleaning them,” he says.
“They reminded me there were people who loved me and supported me – and it reconnected me to the world that I started to feel isolated from.”
Feeling lonely or isolated is one of the main reasons people get in touch with Samaritans, especially during winter. A survey by PG Tips, in support of Samaritans’ Brew Monday campaign, found two thirds of Brits have felt lonely in the past year, with 25-to 34-year-olds experiencing the highest levels.
Chakraverty, who supported the campaign, which encourages people to have a cuppa with someone who might be lonely, believes speaking to others is so important. Despite living in a connected world, he believes “we’re less connected than we’ve ever been.”
Since appearing on Bake Off, his life has changed massively – he juggles work with media appearances and writing articles. Days are long and busy, which can sometimes be a challenge. “When you’re busy, generally you’re doing things on your own being busy. You don’t tend to be busy with other people, talking properly about how you feel.”
Advertisement
But now, more than ever, he knows how to avoid those past feelings of intense isolation. “It’s so important to schedule in time to connect with yourself and other people,” he adds.
If you struggling with loneliness, or need someone talk to, you can call Samaritans helpline 116, 123, or email your thoughts and receive a response within 24 hours.
Useful websites and helplines:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--This Is How My Dad’s Suicide Shaped The Parent I Want To Be

HuffPost UK Courtesy of the author
I always saw my dad, in the best way, as a Del Boy-like character.
For those too young to know, Del Boy was the star of Only Fools And Horses, an ’80s sitcom in which a perpetually unsuccessful market trader with the gift of the gab. Along with his plonker sidekick younger brother, he constantly embarks on one deal after another – many of which backfire and cause them to only end up back where they started: skint, or counting a small win.
We all loved Del Boy and Rodney’s slapstick escapades – in much the same way we get a vicarious thrill from watching others slip on a banana skin. But for people like my Dad, who felt forced to replicate the same kind of risky ventures in their own lives in order to simply provide for his family, the results were rarely as fruitful or comedic.
Advertisement
My dad even had an uncanny resemblance to Del Boy, walking with that same cocksure swagger. I recall the many conversations about money making ventures he would have with my mum, who was always less averse risk, and how on rare days off from his job, he found himself in the local bookies having a flutter on horses or mingling with the local wheeler dealers.
“He who dares, wins”, Del Boy’s famed mantra, just never came true for my Dad. Between the laughs huddled on the sofa watching the show, I would catch a momentary glimpse of sadness in his eyes which in hindsight is clearer now than it was back then. After one too many dares that lost, and with his ongoing misfortunes taking a toll, my father took his own life one night, leaving behind an absence none of us could have prepared for.
“Eighteen years since that day, and I still see the same issues Dad was dealing with affecting hardworking mums and dads across the country...”
I had never imagined a life without Dad. And from that fateful day, that sense of security every young boy has with his father around just vanished forever. He had never been medically diagnosed with any form of mental illness, and as was often common amongst his generation of migrant males, he had always been quite resilient with regard to life’s ups and downs. But that also meant he was of a generation that never spoke about their feelings openly with others.
Advertisement
Eighteen years since that day, and I still see the same issues he was dealing with affecting hardworking mums and dads across the country. Just as then, we’re in an era of financial uncertainty for so many families, with austerity impacting particularly hard on those at the lower end of the economic scale.
The latest statistics when it comes to suicide rates – male, female, young, elderly – show we are at epidemic levels, and that the mental health of far too many of us is being affected by the consequences of a culture obsessed with winning and losing rather than appreciating the more meaningful aspects of what life brings; of corporations fixated on forever making more profits at whatever human cost.
HuffPost UK Courtesy of the author
Almost two decades later, I now myself am playing that role of the grown-up father figure to my own kids. Being a dad is certainly not always an easy ride, and will always be riddled with daily obstacles, challenges, mistakes, and at times misfortunes. But equally, and if not more so, the rewards of fatherhood is my primary focus and daily source of motivation.
I don’t think my Dad allowed himself to enjoy parenthood in the way I am able to now. He was so preoccupied with simply keeping us afloat and providing us with the opportunities he never had, that time just caught up with him. Before he knew it, we were adults finding our own feet, while he had become older, tired and still not where he had imagined he should have been. Understandably, he was simply trying to live up to the expectations imposed on him by his circumstances and he knew no other way. Losing my dad in the way we did is what has shifted my focus towards the more qualitative aspects of life and beyond simply acquiring better things.
Advertisement
To confront the void I still feel to this very day from losing my own father in the way that I did, I’m healing by being kinder to myself and my needs, as well as being more aware of the needs of others around me too. Investing regular focus on the mind, body and spirit balance routines is something I’ve learned to incorporate into the daily grind to be able to operate fully for those that rely on me. When I think back to the way my dad parented, I recognise now that so many of his generation often felt the only way to be a good dad then was to sacrifice their own needs to provide for their families.
“Losing my father to suicide has also naturally developed a much deeper compassion for people struggling everywhere.”
Losing my father to suicide has also naturally developed a much deeper compassion for people struggling everywhere. I often recognise that same sadness my dad had in his eyes in others who are themselves also simply trying to get by daily and the signs of our wider systems failing more people are clearer for all to see today. It certainly feels as if the demands for a new model of living that enables us all to look out for each other more is greater now than it has ever been.
I appreciate that we all respond to the many traumas that life can bring us in our own unique ways, but what has helped me most in being the parent I want to be has been understanding that there’s so much more to being a dad than just being responsible for the money. As important as it is, it isn’t the sole focus.
I wish this was something my father could have realised.
Vin Sharma is a freelance TV producer and director. Follow him on Twitter at @vinsharma
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Three Children Found Dead In House After 'Unexplained' Incident

Tallaght hospital in south Dublin Julien Behal - PA Images via Getty Images
Irish police are investigating the deaths of three children – two boys and girl – in a house in Newcastle, Co Dublin.
A woman in her 40s has been taken to hospital following the discovery in the village of Newcastle, which is south west of Dublin city.
Advertisement
Irish police have described the deaths as “unexplained”and Gardai have launched an investigation.
It is understood officers are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.
The children were found in a house in Parson’s Court – a small housing development in Newcastle village.
Councillor for the area Emer Higgins described the events as an “unimaginable tragedy”.
“My thoughts are with everybody impacted,” said the Fine Gael representative.
“This is a really tight-knit community, it’s a small area, it’s a quiet area and it’s just unthinkable that something like this could be happening on our doorstep.
“It’s so tragic. It’s unbelievable that three young people’s lives could be cut short like that, in what seems to be a particularly tragic case.”
A Garda incident room has been set up in Clondalkin Garda Station and gardai have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Michelin-Starred Chef Claude Bosi ‘Refused Permission To Stay In UK After Brexit’

PA Media
A Michelin-starred chef says he has been refused permission to remain in the UK permanently after Brexit despite living here for 23 years.
Claude Bosi, who runs the Bibendum restaurant in Chelsea, said his application to allow him to remain living and working in the UK was denied.
Advertisement
According to a post on Instagram, in which he pictured a letter he received from the Home Office, he said: “I have been in England for 23 years and today they have send me this.
“I love Britain I considered until today like home but they just told me after 23 years of tax paid /VAT paid I’m not welcome anymore.”
He added: “WTF it’s going on in this world.. #thankyoubrexit @borisjohnsonuk did I do something wrong…?”
Advertisement
According to the letter, Bosi applied in October for permission to live permanently in the UK after being in the country for more than five years.
But the response, dated this week, said this request had been “refused”.
The 47-year-old is the son of Italian parents who moved to France to open a restaurant, according to a profile on the Sauce Communications website.
Raised in Lyon, where he established his passion for cooking, he left France for England in his early twenties, the entry said.
He first worked as a sous chef at Overton Grange in Ludlow, Shropshire, before being promoted to head chef and by January 1999 it received its first Michelin star.
In 2000, he opened his own restaurant Hibiscus and was awarded a Michelin star, receiving his second four years later.
Advertisement
He relocated the venture to London and then, after it closed in 2016, moved to run the kitchen at Bibendum in the Michelin House building.
It was awarded two Michelin stars less than a year after opening, according to the website.
According to the Home Office, Mr Bosi applied for permanent residency but did not supply sufficient evidence to meet the criteria and has instead been advised to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme.
A spokesman said: “Mr Bosi made an application for a permanent residence document – something which EU citizens living in the UK are not required or encouraged to do. His application for permanent residence was not successful because he did not provide sufficient evidence to show he met the criteria.
“We have spoken to him to help him to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, which has already guaranteed the rights of over 2.5 million people.
“It’s free, there is plenty of support available online, on the phone or in person, and EU citizens and their families have until 30 June 2021 to apply.”
Advertisement
Last week, the department said more than 2.45 million applications from EU citizens in the scheme had been approved.
There is a backlog of more than 300,000 applications waiting to be processed.
Those not granted a permanent right to live, known as settled status, may have been granted pre-settled status – meaning they have temporary leave to remain and would need to apply again for permanent permission at a later date after living in the country for five years.
The government is spending an extra £1 million advertising the scheme – in addition to £3.75 million already allocated for marketing – after a radio advert was banned for failing to make clear that further documentation as well as a passport or ID card would be needed to apply.
Under the scheme, EU citizens and their relatives, plus those from the European Economic Area (EEA) countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as well as Switzerland, are asked to apply to confirm their immigration status so they can live and work in the UK when freedom of movement ends.
Relatives of EEA and Swiss citizens who are not from any of those countries but all live in the UK under EU law are also being urged to apply.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Rebecca Long-Bailey Wins Support Of Unite Union In Labour Leadership Race

EMPICS Entertainment
Labour leadership candidate Rebecca Long-Bailey has won the crucial support of the Unite union.
The decision means the shadow business secretary, who is the favourite of the current leadership to succeed Jeremy Corbyn, is one step closer to securing her place in the final round of the contest.
Announcing the decision, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “Unite’s executive council has voted overwhelmingly to back Rebecca Long-Bailey to become the next leader of the Labour party, and Richard Burgon to become the deputy leader.
Advertisement
“The conclusion of this thorough debate was that Rebecca Long-Bailey is the candidate best-placed to take the fight to the Tory party on behalf of Unite members and their communities looking for a leader who is one hundred per cent on their side.”
Keir Starmer, the frontrunner in the race as it stands, is already through to the next stage, as is backbencher Lisa Nandy.
Rebecca Long-Bailey said: “I am honoured to receive Unite’s nomination. I didn’t see myself as the kind of person who could ever become an MP. It was Unite, my trade union, that supported me to realise my potential
“In unions, working people came together to secure a better life for themselves through achievements like the weekend, better wages, and parental leave. The Labour Party must draw inspiration from this legacy by giving economic power back to communities and enabling them to take charge of their own futures.”
Advertisement
To make it onto the final ballot, candidates have to win the backing of three Labour affiliates - including at least two trade unions.
Alternatively they can proceed by securing the nomination of 33 constituency Labour parties (CLPs).
Labour’s 500,000-strong membership will then vote, with the result announced on April 4.
Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, will likely have to take the second route to the ballot but so far appears to be struggling to win support.
Thornberry admitted to ITV it would be a “squeeze” to get on to the ballot paper due to Starmer and Long-Bailey dominating on opposing wings of the party.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--The Villa Is Finally Heating Up | Love Island Unpacked

The Villa Is Finally Heating Up | Love Island Unpacked
While the South Africa villa has got off to a slower start than usual, new bombshell Rebecca descended upon the villa this week and caused more than a stir with the existing couples. Now two new boys, both called Luke, are here to do the same.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Coronavirus: What Are UK Authorities Doing To Prevent A Possible Outbreak?

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Over the past few days, newspaper headlines have been dominated by one thing – coronavirus.
Originating in the Chinese city of Wuhan – which is home to 11 million people – the virus is believed to have infected hundreds of people in the country.
On Thursday, authorities in China effectively put Wuhan on lockdown in an attempt to stop the virus spreading, with flights suspended, train stations closed and check points put in place.
Advertisement
While the vast majority of cases have been reported in China, incidents of the virus have also been detected in at least eight other countries.
But what about the UK – what are authorities doing to prevent an outbreak of coronavirus? And what happens if cases are discovered here?
What is coronavirus?
First things first: What is coronavirus? Coronaviruses are actually a large family of viruses – the strain that has caused this outbreak is known clinically as 2019-nCoV.
According to World Health Organisation, these viruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. However, experts believe there could also have been human-to-human transmission in the case of 2019-nCoV.
Advertisement
Symptoms of the new coronavirus include a fever, coughing, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Current data suggests that 26 people have died during an outbreak of this virus in China – where it began – while more than 800 people have been infected.
The virus has also been detected in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the US.
Has coronavirus reached the UK?
So far, the 14 people in the UK tested for the virus have all received the all-clear. However there are checks ongoing on other people, according to the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty.
However, while health secretary Matt Hancock insisted on Friday that the risk to the public remains low, Professor Paul Cosford – emeritus medical director at Public Health England (PHE) – said it was “highly likely” that cases would be seen in the UK.
Advertisement
A medic treating someone with coronavirus in Wuhan, China Stringer . / Reuters
What are authorities doing to prevent an outbreak?
Flights in and out of Wuhan – the city in China where the outbreak originated – have been suspended while Chinese authorities attempt to quarantine the area.
However, PHE has said that if the flights resume, a number of procedures will be put in place to stop potentially-infected passengers from spreading the illness in the UK.
These include playing a message on the plane to encourage travellers to report if they don’t feel well and creating an isolated area at Heathrow airport for any planes where its suspected passengers have been infected with the virus.
Meanwhile, medics have been given advice about how to detect cases of coronavirus and how to control the infection.
Advertisement
GPs, for example, have been told to isolate anyone who has recently travelled from Wuhan who shows symptoms of the virus. According to the guidance, patients with suspected coronavirus should not be physically examined by staff or allowed to use communal toilet facilities.
Private schools have also been told to plan for the possibility that some of their overseas students may not be return home over the holidays due to the coronavirus outbreak in China.
A passerby wearing a face mask in Manchester's Chinatown
Peter Byrne - PA Images via Getty Images
What will happen if there are coronavirus cases in the UK?
According to authorities, the UK is one of the countries outside of China that has “assured testing capability” for the 2019-nCoV, which means medics should be able to work out if people have been infected or not. (Coronaviruses can be difficult to differentiate from one another.)
If someone is diagnosed with the virus, they will be sent to one of the country’s specialist treatment centres – otherwise known as ‘High Consequence Infectious Disease’ (HCID) treatment centres.
Advertisement
These centres have the facilities and specialist staff to implement “robust infection control measures”, PHE said.
There are four airborne HCID treatment centres in the England, with services provided by six NHS trusts:
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, with a paediatric service provided by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, with a paediatric service provided by Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Meanwhile, there are two principal contact HCID treatment centres – the Royal Free London High Level Isolation Unit and the Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Coronavirus: Tests On All 14 UK Suspected Cases Are Clear

LOADING ERROR LOADING
All 14 people tested for coronavirus in the UK have been given the all-clear but checks are ongoing on other people, the chief medical officer for England has said.
Professor Chris Whitty spoke following a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee in Whitehall, chaired by health secretary Matt Hancock.
Advertisement
But two cases have been confirmed in France, the first to be reported in Europe.
All the people tested in the UK had visited Wuhan – the Chinese city where the outbreak originated.
Four out of the five patients tested in Scotland were Chinese nationals.
One of those cleared in the UK was Michael Hope, 45, who spent two days in quarantine this week after returning to Newcastle from Wuhan.
The two confirmed cases in France were announced by the health minister Agnes Buzyn who said both of the sickened people had travelled to China.
The minister said she expects more cases.
Public Health England (PHE) is not advising people to use face masks at the moment, but is monitoring developments carefully.
If a GP suspects a patient has coronavirus, they should be placed in a room away from other patients and staff with the door closed, the PHE guidance states.
Advertisement
They should not be allowed to use communal toilet facilities or be physically examined, it adds.
Callista Images via Getty Images
A letter from the chief medical officer to clinical staff said anyone who is confirmed as having the virus will be transferred to an airborne high consequences infectious disease centre (HCID).
There are four interim airborne HCID centres in England – two in London, one in Liverpool and one in Newcastle.
Meanwhile, the official death toll in China has risen to 26 with more than 830 confirmed cases.
The Chinese city of Wuhan is rapidly building a new 1,000-bed hospital to treat victims of a new coronavirus, while Disneyland Shanghai and parts of the Great Wall of China have been closed to visitors.
Reuters reported that hospitals in Wuhan are struggling to cope due to medical shortages.
Almost 30m people and 10 cities in China are now facing travel restrictions.
The UK is monitoring direct flights arriving into the UK from China as a precaution.
Passengers are receiving leaflets and advice on what to do if they develop symptoms, and a PHE health team is on stand-by at Heathrow.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Petition In Support Of Keeping Victoria Derbyshire's Show On BBC Gathers Huge Support

LOADING ERROR LOADING
A petition urging the BBC not to axe Victoria Derbyshire’s current affairs show has now reached more than 11,000 signatories.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that the BBC was planning to take Victoria’s morning show off the air, as part of a round of budget cuts.
Advertisement
Since then, a Change.org petition has been set up calling for the BBC to reconsider their decision.
Victoria Derbyshire BBC
The petition – set up by Katie Kendrick – says: “Victoria has delivered exceptional award-winning journalism over the years; representing the marginalised in our society and reaching audiences many others struggles to get to.
“Victoria Derbyshire has given a voice to so many people in our society including: survivors of historic sexual abuse, children’s care system [and] young people’s mental health [and those in] poverty… that’s why I’m urgently calling on the BBC to reconsider their decision.”
At the time of writing, just over 11,000 people had shown the petition their support in the space of two days.
Advertisement
Victoria addressing the audience at the beginning of Thursday's show BBC
Victoria broke her silence on the BBC’s decision on Thursday, revealing that she’d found about her show being axed in the press.
She said: “Absolutely devastated at the plan to end our programme (which I first learned about in yesterday’s Times).
“I’m unbelievably proud of what our team and our show have achieved in under 5 years, breaking tonnes of original stories (which we were asked to do); attracting a working class, young, diverse audience that BBC radio & TV news [programmes] just don’t reach (which we were asked to do) [and] smashing the digital figures (which we were asked to do).”
Advertisement
Victoria added: “I’m gutted particularly for our brilliant, young, ambitious, talented team - love ’em. And for all those people we gave a voice to. Love them too.”
At the beginning of Thursday’s show, she also gave a defiant statement, saying: “Good morning and welcome to the programme. We are still here, telling your stories and covering the issues that are important to you in your life.
“And do you know what? We don’t give up.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Danny Tetley, X Factor Singer, Sentenced To Nine Years In Prison After Sexually Exploiting Teenage B

Danny Tetley, X Factor Singer, Sentenced To Nine Years In Prison After Sexually Exploiting Teenage Boys

Former X Factor singer Danny Tetley has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Last month, he pleaded guilty to five charges of sexual exploitation of a child, after being accused of offering to pay five boys between the ages of 15 and 16 to send him sexually explicit images.
On Friday, he appeared in Bradford Crown Court to receive his sentence, where a judge ruled he should spend nine years in prison.
Tetley appeared on The X Factor in 2018 Dymond/Thames/Syco/Shutterstock
Advertisement
After completing his sentence, Tetley will then be closely monitored on licence for a further eight years as part of a 17-year extended sentence, the Telegraph And Argus has reported.
The messages in question were sent between October 2018 – a month after Tetley first appeared on The X Factor – and August 2019.
Accusing Tetley of “exploiting” the celebrity status he’d earned as a contestant on X Factor, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC also told him he had “abused [his] status to satisfy [his] perverted sexual needs”.
He said: “This has been most distressing for the victims. The press are here in force for the extent of gravity of the case, the number of child victims. Your celebrity is now gone, tarnished and destroyed.”
Advertisement
Tetley had previously pleaded not guilty to making indecent images of children and perverting the course of justice, with prosecutor Michael Smith telling the court last month that Tetley would not stand trial on the other outstanding allegations.
The singer reached the semi-final of The X Factor in 2018, where he was mentored by Robbie Williams’ wife Ayda Field, having previously worked as a professional singer in Benidorm.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-24--Why Does The Wetherspoons 'Two Drinks Per Parent' Rule Touch A Nerve?

HuffPost UK
Wetherspoons can restrict parents to two alcoholic drinks each if they’re with their kids – a little-known rule that’s been in place at the pub chain since 2011.
The guidelines, which individual pub managers can enforce as they please, have been highlighted this week, however, after there were reports of a notice in a pub in Gravesend, Kent. The sign stated adults in charge of children were allowed one drink, plus “a further alcoholic drink with a sit-down meal”.
Advertisement
It has since been taken down in that specific pub, but the sign sparked heavy debate among parents – myself included. “Boycott Wetherspoons,” one person angrily wrote on Twitter. “[We] don’t want to be dictated to by idiots.”
NataliaDeriabina via Getty Images
I live close to a Wetherspoons and it’s somewhere I go with my parent pals for an affordable, no-frills tea with the kids. We don’t go often, but on a Friday every now and then – after school pick-up – to celebrate the start of the weekend? Absolutely. And when we go, it’s orange juice for the under 10s, and a glass of wine or two for the grown-ups. Hell, sometimes we’ll have a couple of G&Ts, instead.
Like any parent, I’d never get drunk if I’m in charge of my children. For one, it’s not safe – we have to navigate buses and busy roads on scooters, bikes and buggies to get home. And secondly, they’re my responsibility. I don’t see anything wrong, however, with having a small glass or two to celebrate the end of a long, arduous week of childcare. Wine can even be the secret to a successful playdate, I’ll have you know.
Advertisement
And that’s why Wetherspoons’ rule feels... wrong. It’s not just about the booze. The fact is, being told how much we should – or shouldn’t – drink by a pub chain raises our hackles because it smacks of being “judgy”. And if you’re a parent, you’re sensitive to being judged – because it happens so often.
I remember taking my (then) six-week-old baby to a shopping mall on my first trip out the house, which was somewhere other than the local park. It was winter. She’d vomited all over her baby-grow, then had an extreme nappy explosion on her spare set of clothes. We were on the third emergency outfit change, she was screaming, and I was attempting my first ever public breast-feed (no small source of stress, I can tell you), when two older women decided to tell me exactly what I was doing wrong.
“She’s too cold,” they said disapprovingly, pulling at her blanket while I struggled to get her to latch onto my new-mum nipples. “She should have a coat on.”
I looked at them, dumbfounded, wondering how they could be so... unaware. Unaware that I was simply doing my best. That I wasn’t exactly having a brilliant time myself, at that moment. That sometimes, parents may get it wrong. That we’re all just struggling to make it through.
But mostly, that they assumed they knew what my daughter needed more than I did.
Advertisement
The Wetherspoons saga taps into those feelings, you see, because when you become a parent, you’re told what you’re doing wrong far more than what you’re doing right. The caution over parental drinking may be dressed up as a well-meaning safety check, but what it really feels like is interfering.
Put simply, none of us really like being told what to do. It’s obvious that if you have small kids to look after, you shouldn’t be getting so pissed you can’t walk straight – and many parents wouldn’t have more than a few glasses, anyway.
But do we need a chain whose very livelihood is promoting affordable drinking to tell us that? And if there are parents to whom this applies to more seriously, is a notice in the pub the best way to tackle that issue? Shouldn’t intervention come from their friends, or loved ones?
Plus, there are plenty of people in Wetherspoons who should probably stop at two – or stick to soft drinks altogether. So why are parents, specifically, being targeted in this way, rather than judging it on individual behaviour?
“Strangers commenting on your parenting can be very intrusive as well as upsetting,” Siobhan Freegard, a mum, parenting expert, and founder of ChannelMum.com, previously told HuffPost UK.
As she puts it: “Being a parent is tough at the best of times, and when you’re doing your level best to protect and care for your child, of course it’s going to hurt when a stranger still finds reason to criticise you. Remember, you’re the parent, you set the rules.”
Advertisement
Too right.