thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Fox News' Brit Hume Proves Why You Should Always Check Screenshots Before Tweeting

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Someone remind Fox News’ Brit Hume to close down the tabs on his internet browser the next time he decides to share a screenshot online.
On Tuesday morning, the conservative network’s senior political analyst posted a screen grab of primary election betting odds showing former Vice President Joe Biden as the Democratic 2020 front-runner, ahead of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
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Twitter users were more titillated, however, by an open browser tab reading “Sexy Vixen Vinyl.”
Biden now clear favorite in betting odds as of 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/cmaIztNLlk — Brit Hume (@brithume) March 3, 2020
Hume tweeted the screenshot at 5:37 a.m. It’s unclear what the Sexy Vixen Vinyl browser tab may have featured.
Hume’s post, still online more than two hours later, caught the attention of plenty of people on social media:
You should zoom in on Brit's tabs here. You won't be disappointed. https://t.co/QQqedMO4VJ — Praying for the President - Psalms 109:8 (@coryprovost) March 3, 2020
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in Brit Hume’s defense the first Sexy Vixen Vinyl tape is an acknowledged classic https://t.co/lcQ2Mmynj6 — The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) March 3, 2020
Hi Brit!
This is fascinating... but please tell us more about your "Sexy Vixen" tab. pic.twitter.com/6EZtuITXbN — Old Rant Dump (@TrumpinTheShark) March 3, 2020
I'm voting for Sexy Vixen Vinyl — Clancy Moped (@CreldBrumple) March 3, 2020
The ole Vixen tab is still there, and at 5:35 am on a Tuesday no less! Brit needs to be ready to go at all hours! — Wade (@WadeStevenson74) March 3, 2020
Brit checking his money, his cash, his hoes, his health status, and election results at 5:30 am on a Tuesday
Same as me. https://t.co/mZU5dIbkfj — #BlackWomensHistoryWeek 2/25-3/3 (@FeministaJones) March 3, 2020
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So i think @brithume it trying to send a message to America. And that message is: I’m a naughty, naughty boy, and I need a good spanking. https://t.co/K3SqihrqPC — eric ½ 🐝 (@PSeigh) March 3, 2020
I too look at 'sexy vixen vinyl' when i can't sleep waiting for my betting odds to change. — Lumpy Louise, Text "F*ck You Mike" to 80510 (@LumpyLouish) March 3, 2020
Unless Sexy Vixen is parlaying election odds, not sure you meant to screenshot this as is. — Christopher Toth (@MCTothSTL) March 3, 2020
Love to wake up early in the morning and research my three favorite things: viral outbreaks, politics, and sexy vixen vinyl. pic.twitter.com/BXHkBXgeaE — AndyH 🍻 (@AndyGHardman) March 3, 2020
People keep laughing about the sexy vixen tab but honestly my first thing was “who banks at SunTrust?” https://t.co/eQf1bLTEaD — Ben Dreyfuss (@bendreyfuss) March 3, 2020
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I hear sexy vixen vinyl gots a 60% upswing — crossfaded tourettes greatest hits 🐒🔧 (@Finkelmeister) March 3, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Coronavirus Cases In UK Jump To 51, Matt Hancock Says

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The number of people diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK has risen to 51, health secretary Matt Hancock said.
The threat to the UK is “increasingly serious”, he added, but stressed the government and the health service are “well-prepared”.
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In a Commons statement, Hancock said: “The situation facing the country is increasingly serious.
“Globally and at home the number of cases continues to rise.
“As of 9am today there were 51 confirmed cases in the UK and it’s becoming more likely that we will see widespread transmission here in this country.”
The health secretary said the approach was to “plan for the worst and work for the best”.
He told MPs the UK is “well-prepared for infectious disease outbreaks of this kind” and said the response remains in the containment phase.
He added: “Contain is about detecting the early cases, following up with close contacts, preventing the disease from taking hold in this country for as long as reasonably possible.
Health secretary Matt Hancock ISABEL INFANTES via Getty Images
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“This approach also buys time for the NHS to ramp up its preparations.
“If the number of global cases continues to rise, especially in Europe, the scientific advice is that we may not be able to contain this virus indefinitely.”
Hancock said the development of a vaccine was part of research the UK is “actively pursuing”, but said it would be “many months away at the earliest”.
“Research is also about understanding what actions will lessen the impact of a coronavirus including what drugs and treatments existing and new will help those who are already sick,” he added.
As uncertainty over coronavirus continues, Boots sells out of handwash at Victoria Station in London. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images) Stefan Rousseau - PA Images via Getty Images
The fourth phase approach, mitigate, would happen “if coronavirus becomes established in the UK population”, the health secretary said, adding: “At that point it will be impossible to prevent widespread transmission so the emphasis will be on caring for those who are most seriously ill and keeping essential services running at a time when large parts of the workforce may be off sick.
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“Our plans include not just the most likely case but the reasonable worst case. We will identify and support the most vulnerable and if necessary we will take some of the actions set out in today’s plan to reduce the impact of absentees and to lessen the impact on our economy and supply chains.”
Labour’s shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth pledged that his party would seek to work constructively with the government on the issue.
Calling for further clarity over sick pay for workers, as well as emergency funding for the NHS resource budget, Ashworth also raised concerns that public health directors do not know their public health allocations for the next financial year.
“The government’s strategy to contain, then delay, research and then mitigate has our endorsement,” he said.
“This is a serious time. Our constituents will be concerned, many will be frightened.
“We will raise our concerns responsively, but we offer to work constructively with the government because the public health interest and safety of our constituents must always come first.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--How To Check For Coronavirus Symptoms Online

HuffPost UK NHS 111 online
The NHS has launched a 111 online service to ease some of the strain off its helpline amid the coronavirus – or Covid-19 – outbreak.
The health service is fielding up to 40,000 more calls a day compared to this time last year, as enquiries about the virus surge. On 1 March 2019, they had 36,671 calls. On 1 March 2020, this rose to 75,963 calls.
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People with symptoms of coronavirus, or those who have come into contact with someone who has tested positive, are being urged to call the helpline rather than heading to GP surgeries and risking spreading the illness further.
The online service is designed to help people get fast advice about coronavirus and has already offered guidance to more than 70,000 people. People are asked about their symptoms, and are then directed to where they need to get help. If deemed necessary, they will be contacted by a nurse.
The new online service comes after HuffPost UK reported that people had waited for up to a day before receiving a callback from call handlers in response to their concerns over coronavirus.
Labour councillor Alev Cazimoglu called NHS 111 after returning from northern Italy with a sore throat and had to wait a day for a callback. She said she was told by NHS 111 it could take up to three days to get tested for the virus. Sky news producer Nick Stylianou said he waited 11 hours for a callback from the service after coming back from Bologna, Italy, and was told he’d have to wait another two days to be visited by a community health team and tested. Last week, an NHS spokesperson confirmed to HuffPost UK the service is “understandably busy” at present and “people may have to wait longer than usual” to speak to someone. “All calls are being responded to thanks to hard working NHS staff,” they said.
How will NHS 111 online help?
The aim of NHS 111 online is to free up clinical call handlers’ time so they can prioritise callers with symptoms. People are asked to input their postcode, gender, and age – and are then asked specific questions about their symptoms.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “We know that 111 has come under pressure as people have understandably turned to the service for help, support and advice which is why we are ploughing in funding to increase staff available to field calls.
“The public is also now benefiting from the new NHS 111 online service which is helping increase capacity and free up clinicians time by offering specific help and advice on coronavirus at the touch of a button.”
In an opinion piece last week, cardiology registrar Dr Dominic Pimenta wrote that the NHS “isn’t ready” for the demand that coronavirus could place on the health service. “There is no cavalry coming. The cavalry has been propping us up for years already,” he said.
“At worst, some estimates show up to 60% of the UK could be infected with Covid-19 – that’s 42 million people, with 2.1 million needing intensive care. That’s the mother of all nightmare scenarios.
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“A much more hopeful 1% estimate would mean less than 700,000 people would be infected, and 35,000 would need intensive care – that’s still nine times as many beds as we have now. That’s still a nightmare scenario.”
NHS England said the public can play their part in slowing the spread of the virus by following public health advice including washing their hands, covering their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze, and putting used tissues in the bin immediately.
Visit 111.nhs.uk for advice.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Why Is Super Tuesday 2020 Such A Big Deal For The US Election?

The race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination has reached arguably it’s most significant moment: Super Tuesday.
It represents elections in 14 US states, as well as an overseas territory and Democrats who live outside the country, where the candidate to go head-to-head with Donald Trump in November could emerge.
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What happens on Super Tuesday?
The magic number to win the Democratic Party’s nomination for president is 1,991 delegates, with each state having a set number of delegates to award candidates.
About 1,357 delegates, or nearly one-third of the total number, are up for grabs on Super Tuesday, making it the biggest day of the state-by-state contests that mark primary season. The US’s two most populous states, California and Texas, are among those going to the polls.
The delegates will vote for the selected candidate at July’s Democratic National Convention, when the nominee is officially selected. But it could get messy if no candidate has a majority by then.
Who is running for president against Trump?
The field of candidates at this stage was set to be the largest in recent memory, but has been whittled down after Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar dropped out in the last two days as so-called moderates tried to coalesce their support around Joe Biden, the former vice president who enjoyed a resounding victory in Saturday’s South Carolina primary.
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They appear to be attempting a takedown of Bernie Sanders, the independent ‘democratic socialist’ from Vermont and frontrunner who has shaken the Democratic establishment with his grassroots-powered campaign.
Billionaire former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg makes his first appearance on primary ballots in Super Tuesday states, where he has bet hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money to boost his campaign. Biden’s resurgence could stunt his efforts, however.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has fallen well behind Sanders as the left-wing candidate of choice, remains in the race, as does the Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, despite polling well behind the recent drop-outs.
A state-by-state breakdown
The biggest prize: California (415 delegates)
The second biggest prize: Texas (228)
The South: Alabama (52), Arkansas (31), North Carolina (110), Tennessee (64)
The Newly Democrat states: Colorado (67), Virginia (99)
The home turf for candidates: Maine (24), Massachusetts (91), Minnesota (75), Oklahoma (37), Vermont (16)
The surprisingly liberal state: Utah (29)
The wild cards: American Samoa (6), Democrats Abroad (13)
Can Bernie Sanders regain momentum?
Sanders, who says he seeks nothing less than a political revolution, won New Hampshire and Nevada, finished a close second in Iowa to Buttigieg and well behind Biden in South Carolina.
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With his signature promise of government-run universal healthcare, Sanders has again proven to be a fundraising powerhouse, leading the field in total campaign contributions.
Super Tuesday represents Sanders’ biggest chance to prove he can substantially expand the electorate beyond traditional Democratic voters, and are vital as after Tuesday the terrain shifts to states that are not as favourable to him.
Sanders needs as many delegates as possible because his opponents argue the convention itself should decide the nominee should no one secure a clear majority.
Are moderates rallying around Joe Biden?
Biden dramatically under-performed in Iowa and New Hampshire, part of a collapse among white voters that allowed Sanders to vault into the lead. But he regained his footing in South Carolina, propelled by the overwhelming support of black voters.
Biden’s campaign hopes that allows him to vastly overperform his polls for Super Tuesday and consolidate the splintered anti-Sanders factions in the Democratic Party, with the supporters of Buttigieg and Klobuchar most likely to break to him.
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The hope in the former vice president’s camp is that it becomes effectively a two-person race after Tuesday, which may give him an advantage in upcoming states like Florida, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
Which candidates can stay viable?
Another key figure is 15%. That is the share of votes a candidate has to get or they won’t be eligible to receive delegates in most places.
With five Democrats left in the race, there is a real threat that only one or two will actually grab delegates, with the rest splitting the remaining vote in the low teens.
The risks of that diminished with the exits of Buttigieg and Klobuchar, but they did not go away.
That would be a dream scenario for Sanders, who in some states could grab a far greater proportion of available delegates than his vote share would represent.
Some polls have shown it as a distinct possibility in delegate-rich California.
Does Michael Bloomberg’s big bet pay off?
Bloomberg is a billionaire, and rather than competing in the first four primary states, he decided to spend a huge sum of money on advertisements and campaign organisations in the 14 states voting on Tuesday, as well as on other ones voting in the coming weeks.
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But since he first appeared on the debate stage, his polls plummeted and now he runs the risk of falling into the sub-15% zone in a number of states.
Even if he does not, will Bloomberg’s ultimate impact be to fragment the anti-Sanders vote further and help pave the way for the politician he says he got in the race to stop?
How does the California count affect the race?
California is different. It is the biggest prize on the board Tuesday with more than 400 delegates at stake.
But California has an unusual voting system that counts all ballots cast Tuesday, even if they were only put in a mailbox that day. It can take weeks to count the entire vote.
That could help or hurt Sanders. His campaign has been investing heavily in the state, trying to encourage his supporters to send in early ballots.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-03--Tommy Robinson Charged Over Assault At Center Parcs Pool

Former leader and founder of the English Defence League Tommy Robinson ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson has been charged with common assault following an alleged assault at Center Parcs in Bedfordshire.
Bedfordshire Police said the 37-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, of Bedford, was due to appear at Luton Magistrates’ Court on April 2 and had been released on bail.
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He was arrested on Sunday at about 1.10pm after officers were called to Center Parcs in Woburn Forest over an altercation between two men – reportedly in the pool area.
One man sustained an injury to his face and received first aid at the scene.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Boris Johnson Announces Statutory Sick Pay From Day One To Fight Coronavirus

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Boris Johnson has announced that statutory sick pay will be available from the first day of illness under emergency legislation to tackle the coronavirus.
Under current rules workers only receive the pay, £94 a week, from the fourth day off work.
Speaking during PMQs on Wednesday, the prime minister said people who self-isolate were “helping to protect all of us by slowing the spread of the virus”.
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“If they stay at home and if we ask people to self-isolate, they may lose out financially,” he told the Commons.
Johnson added: “Nobody should be penalised for doing the right thing.”
But Jeremy Corbyn, the outgoing Labour leader, warned there were two million workers, “many of them women in the care sector”. who were not entitled to statutory sick pay.
“The prime minister’s statement just now is not clear whether it covers them or not, and those on social security could face sanctions if they miss appointments and therefore they and their families will face terrible hardship,” he said.
Frances O’Grady, the general secretary of the TUC, said the announcement was an “important step forward” but was “not enough”.
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“Two million workers still don’t earn enough to qualify for statutory sick pay. They can’t afford not to work. And statutory sick pay still isn’t enough to live on,” she said.
“Government must go further to ensure that no one is penalised for doing the right thing.”
PA
It comes the day after the government launched its “battle plan” to combat the outbreak with a warning that up to a fifth of the UK workforce could be off sick when the virus hits its peak.
This morning England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, warned the UK is “likely” to see an epidemic.
He said the NHS would cope with a major spread of cases but could come under “very high pressure” in a large epidemic.
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Whitty told BBC Breakfast there could be a need to do “extreme things” to protect the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.
Ministers today launched a new campaign to encourage people to take simple steps to protect themselves.
The publicity campaign seeks to drive home the message that regular hand-washing is the single most important action individuals can take in the fight against Covid-19.
The new adverts say hand-washing should be for 20 seconds, using soap and water or hand sanitiser.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Coronavirus Attack: Police Release CCTV Of Group Wanted Over Attack On Singapore Student

Police have released CCTV images of four men they would like to speak to in relation to the incident Met Police
Detectives investigating a racist attack on a student by attackers shouting about coronavirus have released CCTV images of four men.
Jonathan Mok, 23, originally from Singapore, after being set upon by a group of men and a woman as he walked along Oxford Street in central London on February 24.
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Violence erupted after the group passed Mok, who has been studying in the capital for two years, and one made a remark about coronavirus.
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police released CCTV images of four men they wish to speak to.
Met Police
Met Police
Detective Sergeant Emma Kirby said: “This attack left the victim shaken and hurt. There’s no room on our streets for this kind of violent behaviour and we are committed to finding the perpetrators.
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“I am keen to speak to anyone who has information about this assault. I would like to identify and speak to the four men pictured, who may be able to help me with our inquiries.”
In his account of the assault, Mok described how, as he turned to face the group, one of the men said: “Don’t you dare look at me”, before launching an attack.
The student said: “All of a sudden, the first punch was swung at my face and took me by surprise. When I was still shocked by the first hit, the guy delivered the second sucker punch.
“By then, a few passers-by had stopped and one of them tried to reason with them that four on one was not fair.
“The attacker’s friend tried to swing a kick at me as I was explaining to the passer-by that I hadn’t done anything at all.
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“I tried to react in self-defence but couldn’t do anything substantial because I was still recovering from a broken finger in my master hand.
“The guy who tried to kick me then said ‘I don’t want your coronavirus in my country’, before swinging another sucker punch at me, which resulted in my face exploding with blood from my nose, where the blood was splattered all across the pavement.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Michael Barrymore Labels Channel 4 Documentary About Stuart Lubbock’s Death ‘Vile And Vicious’

The former TV presenter described the “pain and agony” he has gone through in the 20 years since the body of Stuart Lubbock was found in the swimming pool at his then-home in Roydon, Essex.
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The 67-year-old added that he wants another investigation by a new police force into the 31-year-old’s death on 31 March 2001.
Michael Barrymore Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
The entertainer said of the other people at his house on the night Mr Lubbock died: “I’ve never seen them since that day … I haven’t got a number [for them], nothing. I don’t know any of them.
“The wall of silence is because they don’t know [what happened]. I do believe that.”
Asked if he had anything fresh to offer the police, he said: “I honestly wish I did. I haven’t got another [story]. I’ve only got the one story.”
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The former Strike It Lucky host, who pulled out of this year’s Dancing On Ice after he was injured during training, said: “I’ve got nothing to hide. I’ve never had anything to hide.
“I’ve got every right to go out and to be employed and work in the business I’ve worked in without …being kicked in the teeth just because I’m back on the telly.”
'The only reason I got through the last 20 years is from the support of my fans.'
'How many times am I supposed to be kicked? How many times am I supposed to take it?.'
Michael Barrymore joins us in the studio. @piersmorgan | @susannareid100 | @MrBarrymore | #GMB pic.twitter.com/AjIkxGiONz — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) March 4, 2020
He said Stuart Lubbock’s father Terry’s torment “comes before me and everybody” but added: “I can’t live my life. I can’t get on with my life.”
He added that he had been a victim of “innuendo”, saying: “Why would I hide or keep anything and put myself through this pain and agony every time that this comes up?”
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He continued: “The only reason I got through the last 19, 20 years is the massive support from fans and my close mates… They know I’m not a wrong ’un.
“How many times am I supposed to be kicked? How many times am I supposed to take it?” before adding: “I’m not looking for sympathy.”
The former TV presenter appeared on Wednesday's GMB alongside his solicitor. Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
He then accused Essex Police of being “hell-bent on ‘This is how it is…’”
His solicitor, who was also on the show, said: “Two years before the [Channel 4] documentary started, they approached Michael and said they want it to be ‘a celebration of your life’ and ‘Can you come and meet us?’” and that he would receive a fee.”
Michael said he did not want to be involved and then the documentary was made, the solicitor said.
In a statement to HuffPost UK, Channel 4 said: “The documentary was balanced and explored Mr Barrymore and the Lubbock family’s treatment by the press.
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“In accordance with the Ofcom Broadcasting code, Mr Barrymore was given a fair opportunity to respond to significant allegations and his position was fairly reflected in the documentary.
“Channel 4 looked at an earlier proposal for a documentary with Mr Barrymore’s participation, however after further research the programme was not commissioned.
“In 2018, Channel 4 commissioned an independent documentary based on the Leveson court case and in conjunction with the Lubbock family to re-examine what happened the night of Stuart’s death.”
Following today’s Good Morning Britain, Terry Lubbock said he was surprised by what was said during the interview.
Stuart Lubbock's father, Terry. PA
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“The evidence is clear, there is no doubt, my son was murdered,” Terry Lubbock told the PA news agency.
“Barrymore doesn’t seem to be accepting that fact. That surprised me.
“But I’m glad he’s done the interview. I want my son’s murder to stay in the public eye.
“This interview will help to do that. Someone who was in that house knows what happened.
“I beg them. Come forward, talk to the police. Tell the truth. Get this off your conscience.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Spitting Image Is Back, And It Has An Offer For The PM's Advisor Dominic Cummings

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Satirical puppet show Spitting Image is making a return to TV with Boris Johnson, Greta Thunberg and Donald Trump among its new victims.
The series will air this autumn on the BBC and ITV’s subscription streaming service BritBox, with Beyonce, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the Duke of York also set to be ridiculed in puppet form.
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Others who can expect the Spitting Image satirical treatment include RuPaul, Adele, Kim Kardashian and James Corden.
Some of the new puppets of Spitting Image BBC/ITV
Programme makers have also made an offer to the prime minister’s chief adviser, with co-creator Roger Law saying: “When Dominic Cummings gets the boot, Spitting Image will give him a job.
“We’ve always employed weirdos and are sure Dom will be a great asset, he seems to hate politicians as much as we do.”
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A sketch of the Dominic Cummings puppet BBC/ITV
Spitting Image originally ran for 18 series between 1984 and 1996 and was watched by 15 million viewers in its heyday.
It cost £300,000 an episode to produce, making it TV’s most expensive light-entertainment show.
Of the decision to revive the show – which will be BritBox’s first original commission – bosses said: “With the world getting smaller and more turbulent, the time couldn’t be more appropriate for an iconic British satirical take on global events.”
Co-creator Roger said it will be the “people’s programme”, adding: “I’ve refused to resuscitate Spitting Image for years but when my pension ran out and my palm was crossed with silver what could an old man do?
“The new Spitting Image will be global through a uniquely British eye, it will be more outrageous, audacious and salacious than the previous incarnation.
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“With scandalous scripts and A-list characters, it will be the people’s programme!”
Spitting Image famously featured Margaret Thatcher in a man’s suit treating her cabinet – “the vegetables” – with contempt, John Major as a grey puppet and the Queen Mother slugging from a gin bottle.
Ronald Reagan was featured in bed with two red call buttons, one marked Nurse, the other Nuke.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Jane McDonald Replaced On Channel 5 Cruising Show By Susan Calman

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Following the devastating news that Jane McDonald will be leaving her Channel 5 travel show, the broadcaster has confirmed they intend to keep the franchise going without her.
Instead, the show will return with a new host and a new name: Cruising With Susan Calman.
Yes, the Scottish comedian and former Strictly Come Dancing star is set to take over both Cruising With... and its spin-off Holidaying With… for future series, following the success of her own Channel 5 travel show, Secret Scotland With Susan Calman.
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She said: “I’m over the moon to be working with Channel 5 on such a prestigious group of shows.
“I can’t wait to go on exciting voyages and incredible journeys and take the wonderful viewers with me. It’s the start of a magnificent chapter and I can’t wait to get going!”
Susan Calman Simone Padovani/Awakening via Getty Images
Channel 5’s Director of Programming Ben Frow also said Susan was his “first and only choice” to replace Jane McDonald, adding that he was “absolutely cock-a-hoop that she is doing more with Channel 5.
He said: “I have encouraged her to make both shows uniquely hers and I am genuinely excited to see how she evolves them in her own, inimitable style. The world is, literally, her oyster and I can’t wait to travel it with her.”
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Cruising With Jane McDonald debuted in 2017, and has since gone on to become one of Channel 5’s most popular shows, even earning the network its first ever Bafta.
Jane McDonald Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Explaining her decision to leave last week, Jane said: “It has been a privilege to call this a ‘job’. After so many years filming abroad I am looking forward to some much needed time in the UK and to focus on my music and tours and exciting new projects.
“Thank you Channel 5 for some great trips and many fabulous memories.”
In a separate blog post, Jane clarified that she was “stepping away from her shows on Channel 5”, suggesting her talk show Jane And Friends would also be coming to an end.
The good news is, Jane is apparently recording her last ever series of Cruising, so at least there’ll still be a few more laughs at sea – not to mention ridiculous musical numbers – before it sets sail with a brand new presenter at the helm.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Crown Prosecution Service To Review Handling Of Caroline Flack Assault Case

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The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will review its handling of the assault case against Caroline Flack, it has been revealed.
The former Love Island presenter was found dead at her London flat after taking her own life on 15 February as she awaited trial on charges she assaulted boyfriend Lewis Burton in December.
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Following a Freedom of Information request from the Daily Mirror, it is understood the CPS will look into its handling of the matter through a post-case review panel, a procedure which is not uncommon, especially in regard to complex or sensitive cases.
Caroline Flack died at the age of 40 last month EMPICS Entertainment
A spokesperson said: “The CPS has an internal process of undertaking routine Case Management Panels on complex or sensitive cases to ensure they are being properly managed.
“This case has had Case Management Panels and there will be a post-case review panel in due course to be conducted by a Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor.”
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It is understood the outcome of the review will not be made public.
The case against Caroline was officially terminated 10 days after her death.
A CPS spokesperson told The Sun: “By law we had to give formal evidence to the clerk of the court that the defendant was deceased.
“We had to provide a death certificate as a record that the defendant was deceased.
“Despite media coverage of Caroline’s death and public comments made by her family about her death we needed to make this a formality to close the case.
“It is a formality that had to be be done and now has been.”
Caroline was bailed after an initial court hearing on 23 December and would have been due to appear for the start of her trial on Wednesday.
After her suicide, Caroline’s management team criticised the CPS for pursuing a “show trial” after she entered a not guilty plea and Lewis said he did not support the prosecution.
Caroline was awaiting trail over an alleged assault on boyfriend Lewis Burton prior to her death MAtrix / MediaPunch/MediaPunch/IPx
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In a statement, Francis Ridley of Money Talent Management, said: “In recent months Caroline had been under huge pressure because of an ongoing case and potential trial which has been well reported.
“The Crown Prosecution Service pursued this when they knew not only how very vulnerable Caroline was but also that the alleged victim did not support the prosecution and had disputed the CPS version of events.
“The CPS should look at themselves today and how they pursued a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest. And ultimately resulted in significant distress to Caroline. Our thoughts are with Caroline’s family at this time.”
In an unreleased statement from Caroline that she was advised not to post on social media – which her family shared after her death – the presenter insisted that what happened on the night of the alleged assault was an accident.
She said: “I have always taken responsibility for what happened that night. Even on the night. But the truth is... It was an accident.
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“I’ve been having some sort of emotional breakdown for a very long time.
“But I am NOT a domestic abuser. We had an argument and an accident happened. An accident. The blood that someone SOLD to a newspaper was MY blood and that was something very sad and very personal.”
It was previously reported that the Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over the contact it had with Caroline before her death for independent assessment, as is standard procedure.
Useful websites and helplines:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Snickers Deletes 'Insulting' Tweets About Welsh Language

Snickers
It seems ‘you’re not you when you’re hungry’ – or when you’re taking aim at an entire nation.
Snickers has come under fire for suggesting the Welsh language resembles the gobbledegook of someone leaning on a keyboard.
On Tuesday the official Twitter account for Snickers UK tweeted: “A place in Wales or someone sat on a keyboard? A thread.”
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In a now-deleted thread, they went on to list place names in Wales, such as Llanfairpwllgwyngyll and Rhosllanerchrugog.
Snickers Snikers
While some Welsh Twitter users stood by the brand, saying Snickers was only “making a joke”, hundreds of others have tweeted their anger.
“People [are] saying it’s ‘just banter’ after Snickers mocked the Welsh language. If they did that with any other language, it would be ‘discrimination’. So what’s so different here then?” Twitter user Tanwen Cox asked.
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Another commenter, Hwyling Morgan, added: “I’m Welsh. You have insulted my language, my culture and my people. The way you people think and act disgusts me. We will spread this wide across the internet. You are a disgrace!”
Other Welsh speakers are threatening to boycott the bar, which is owned by US company, Mars, Incorporated.
“As a Welsh person who liked your Snicker bars I will not be buying your product again. As a large organisation and employer you have a duty to comply to a standard of ethics. But you chose to ignore that (for a laugh at someone else’s expense),” Twitter user Dave Jones said.
Snickers has since deleted the thread and apologised for the original tweet, telling followers: “We are wholeheartedly thankful for our Welsh fans in the UK and all over the world.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--David And Victoria Beckham Share Touching Instagram Posts On Brooklyn's 21st Birthday

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David and Victoria Beckham have both shared touching messages in honour of their son Brooklyn’s 21st birthday.
The couple shared separate posts on Wednesday morning, with David posting a picture of Brooklyn as a child, in which he’s seen sporting a temporary tattoo (as an adult, the eldest Beckham has now followed in his dad’s footsteps and boasts an array of body art).
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“Happy 21st to my big boy,” David wrote. “What more can I say about you other than you have grown into the most beautiful human being and that makes dad so proud.
“You are kind, passionate and caring and as a father that’s what you want to see in your son... we have had so many great moments as a father and son together like lifting trophies in all the places that I won them and for me that was always my dream.”
David added: “I love you bust have the most amazing day because u deserve it.”
Victoria later shared a photo of David holding Brooklyn as a baby, writing: “21 years ago today the most beautiful soul came into the world and changed our lives forever.
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“Sensitive, sweet, kind and funny, you are our everything. I love you so much.”
Brooklyn also commented on his mum’s post, saying simply: “I love you so much.”
The Beckhams’ younger sons, Romeo and Cruz, also posted tributes to their older brother on his 21st birthday.
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It’s been a big 12 months for the Beckhams when it comes to big family celebrations, with David and Victoria marking their 20th wedding anniversary in 2019.
Shortly after this, they also shared photos from their daughter Harper’s star-studded christening.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Joe Biden Gets Wife And Sister Mixed Up During Super Tuesday Speech

Joe Biden Gets Wife And Sister Mixed Up During Super Tuesday Speech
Former vice president Joe Biden celebrated a string of victories on Super Tuesday. But the Democratic presidential hopeful got a bit muddled during his celebratory speech, mixing up his wife Jill and his sister Valerie as they both stood next to him.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Sir Oliver Letwin Under Fire For Saying 'Some Autistic Person' Could Bring Down Global Networks

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Former Tory cabinet minister Sir Oliver Letwin has come under fire after saying on live radio that global networks could be attacked by “some autistic person”.
His comments came during an interview on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme about his new book, Apocalypse How?, which is set in 2037 and explains how the world is moving towards becoming dependent on “one network”.
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“If that network goes down, everything we rely on stops,” Letwin said during the interview on Wednesday.
“There are so many ways these networks could be attacked,” he said, arguing that technology is vulnerable to changes in nature and terrorist attacks.
Former Cabinet minister Sir Oliver Letwin outside Number 10 ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Or in fact just some autistic person or some strange youth sitting in some place in the world who is connected to our network by the internet, who gets in and does something.
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“And my point therefore is – you can’t have perfect protection,” he added, calling for an “analogue fallback” to global systems.
Letwin’s comments sparked anger among listeners, who called him “offensive” and accused him of “perpetuating myths” about autistic people.
One listener tweeted: “Just heard ex-minister Sir Oliver Letwin on R4 describing his novel Apocalypse How and saying that ‘it would only take some autistic person or strange youth to ...’ to attack the network.
“Am livid! The dismissive way he referred to autistic people is offensive.”
Oliver Letwin promoting his new book on cyber crime said on risks “some autistic person who gets in” The second time in a couple of weeks that @BBCr4today has conflated autistic people with criminality. I’m in tears of frustration here. It’s just routine now. https://t.co/xhAImNpsqz — Nicky Clark (@MrsNickyClark) March 4, 2020
Oliver Letwin on the radio describing 'some autistic person' as the harbinger of societal collapse, no challenge from @JustinOnWeb, good grief #r4today — Views from Nowhere (@ViewsFrmNowhere) March 4, 2020
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Oliver Letwin on his book, refers to potential attacks on our technology by, “some autistic person or some strange youth.....who gets in & does something,” - in my view neurodiverse folk are more likely to be the ones finding the solutions. Let’s not perpetuate myths #r4today — Victoria Groulef (@VictoriaGroulef) March 4, 2020
Don’t often speak out on things like this - but I am appalled that Oliver Letwin’s comments on @BBCr4today about “strange autistic” young people as part of promo for his book were not challenged immediately. — Phoebe Davis (@phoebe_ivy) March 4, 2020
Oliver Letwin thinks 'strange autistic' person will be responsible for end of life as we know it. Today programme fails to champion neurodiversity #radio4 #r4today — Matt Studley (@MattStudley2) March 4, 2020
Just heard ex minister Sir Oliver Letwin on R4 describing his novel Apocalypse How. and saying that ‘it would only take some autistic person or strange youth to ...’ to attack the network. Am livid! The dismissive way he referred to autistic people is offensive — Hallahan Kathleen (@HallahanKathle1) March 4, 2020
Letwin was an MP for the Conservative Party between 1997 and 2019, before becoming an independent in September. He did not stand in December’s general election.
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During his time on the Tory benches, he served as the chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster and as a minister for government policy.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--ITV Apologises For Piers Morgan's Mimicking Of Chinese Language On GMB Following Backlash

ITV has apologised for Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan’s mimicking of the Chinese language during a recent episode.
The presenter sparked a huge backlash after he made noises live on air during the 21 January broadcast, in what was apparently an imitation of a Chinese advert featuring the Queen’s grandson, Peter Phillips.
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Piers then requested the ad be played again, after which he declared: “Ching chang cho jo”, again trying to repeat what was said in the advert.
After TV watchdog Ofcom received over 1,500 complaints about Piers’ behaviour, ITV has now issued a statement apologising for offence caused.
Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain ITV
The broadcaster said (via Digital Spy): “GMB is known for its lively and robust discussion of the news agenda and recently covered Peter Phillips’ appearance in a Chinese milk advertisement.
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“The discussion was focused on whether it was appropriate for members of the Royal family to endorse products abroad in this manner, and was live and unscripted. Piers Morgan’s comments, and his mimicking of the Chinese language in the advertisement, was a spontaneous reaction to the advertisement.”
“These comments were intended to mock a member of the Royal Family and were not intended to mock or denigrate Chinese people, their language or accent.
“ITV regrets any offence Piers’ comments may unintentionally have caused.”
During the episode, Piers’ co-host Susanna Reid told him that “taking the mickey out of foreign languages is rather 1970s”, to which he loudly hit back: “Surely you can take the mickey out of it! He’s using ‘ching chang chong’ milk from the Chinese state – that’s what they said in the advert!
“I can’t repeat what they’re saying in the advert… I’m trying to mimic the wording of that advertisement.”
The presenter later insisted on Twitter that he wasn’t “mocking Chinese people”, but was instead mocking a “a member of the British royal family appearing in an advert for Chinese state milk”.
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After receiving 1,589 complaints, Ofcom is currently assessing them all before deciding whether to formally investigate, as is standard procedure.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Donald Trump Is Suing The Washington Post For Defamation

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Trump’s campaign sued The New York Times for libel last week over a 2019 opinion piece written by Max Frankel, a former executive editor of the newspaper. Frankel suggested in his essay that Trump’s campaign had engaged in a “quid pro quo” with Russia before the 2016 presidential election.
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The president called Frankel’s remarks “totally wrong” during a press briefing last Wednesday.
“They did a bad thing,” Trump told reporters, referring to the Times. “There will be more coming.”
Trump threatens more lawsuits against media outlets that express opinions he doesn’t like pic.twitter.com/7aq53B1CzH — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 27, 2020
On Tuesday, Trump’s reelection campaign slapped The Washington Post with a similar lawsuit.
Filed in federal court in Washington, DC the suit takes aim at opinion articles from last year that linked Trump to Russian election meddling.
In the first, opinion writer Greg Sargent said Trump had “tried to conspire with” a “sweeping and systematic” attack by Russia in 2016; in the second, writer Paul Waldman questioned whether Russia and North Korea would help Trump get elected this year.
Both articles cited Trump’s assertion, made during an interview with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, that there was “nothing wrong with listening” to a foreign power if it offered dirt on his political opponents.
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The Post and its owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, are frequent targets of Trump’s attacks.
He’s repeatedly referred to the Post as “fake news,” and last September, the president tweeted that two reporters from the paper “shouldn’t even be allowed on the grounds of the White House because their reporting is so DISGUSTING & FAKE.”
Kristine Coratti Kelly, the Post’s vice president of communications, told The Associated Press that it was “disappointing to see the president’s campaign committee resorting to these types of tactics, and we will vigorously defend this case.”
“The Trump campaign has turned to the courts to try to punish an opinion writer for having an opinion they find unacceptable,” Eileen Murphy, a spokeswoman for The New York Times, said in a statement. “Fortunately, the law protects the right of Americans to express their judgments and conclusions, especially about events of public importance. “We look forward to vindicating that right in this case.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--LA Police Admit Cops Took Photos Of Fatal Kobe Bryant Crash

Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Christian Petersen via Getty Images
One day after Vanessa Bryant said she was “absolutely devastated” regarding reports that first responders took graphic photos of the helicopter crash site where husband Kobe Bryant, their 13-year-old daughter and seven others died, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva admitted that eight deputies admitted to their involvement in taking, seeing and sharing the pictures.
Villanueva told NBC News that he learned of the photos during the week of the crash and made it his “No. 1 priority” to have them deleted.
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“We identified the deputies involved, they came to the station on their own and had admitted they had taken them and they had deleted them,” the sheriff said, adding that he was “content” with that and told those involved that “the behaviour is inexcusable.”
“I mean, people are grieving for the loss of their loved ones,” Villanueva said. “To have that on top of what they’ve already gone through is unconscionable.”
Villanueva said that the department underwent a different procedure for deleting the photos, in an effort to ensure that they didn’t become more public.
“Had we done the original, usual routine, which was relieve everybody of duty and everybody lawyers up and all that, that would increase the odds tenfold that those photos would have somehow made their way into the public domain. And that’s definitely what we do not want,” Villanueva told NBC.
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The Los Angeles Times said last week that a citizen reported the photos after a deputy was showing the graphic photos from the accident at a Norwalk bar, while another source said they saw a picture of the victims’ remains.
After the Times report, the sheriff’s department began an internal investigation into the existence of the pictures.
Vanessa Bryant issued a statement through her attorney, Gary C. Robb, on Sunday regarding the pictures. Robb said that Vanessa Bryant specifically went to the sheriff’s office in Calabasas, California, on Jan. 26 ― the day of the crash ― to designate the area a no-fly zone to protect it from photographers.
“This was of critical importance to her as she desired to protect the dignity of all the victims, and their families,” Robb said. “At that time, Sheriff Alex Villanueva assured us all measures would be put in place to protect the families’ privacy, and it is our understanding that he has worked hard to honour those requests.”
The statement added that “first responders should be trustworthy” and added that it was “inexcusable and deplorable that some deputies from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s substation, other surrounding substations and LACOFD would allegedly breach their duty.”
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“This is an unspeakable violation of human decency, respect, and of the privacy rights of the victims and their families,” the statement added. “We are demanding that those responsible for these alleged actions face the harshest possible discipline, and that their identities be brought to light, to ensure that the photos are not further disseminated.”
The statement added contact information for anyone who had more information regarding the “grievous and shameful incidents,” while also thanking the individual who brought the complaints to light.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Puppy That Went Viral For His Cheesy Grin Charms His Way To A New Home

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This shelter puppy’s funny habit of cracking a smile has won him hearts, headlines and a new home.
Burreaux the black Labrador pup and his two siblings, Joe and O, were picked up by Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana volunteer Sarrah Walton after the organisation’s director, Courtney Wingate, spotted the three pups at a kill shelter.
The three dogs had tested positive for parvovirus, a life-threatening gastrointestinal virus mainly affecting young dogs, so they were taken straight to the vet before being brought to the adoption shelter.
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Burreaux was very ill, but when he got better, he quickly began to win over Humane Society shelter volunteers with his charming grin.
Burreaux went viral for his big smile, which a dog behavior expert said he may have picked up due to positive reinforcement. Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana
The three pups ― named after Louisiana State University quarterback Joe Burrow and coach Ed Orgeron, known as Coach O ― were soon split up when Joe got adopted, leaving Burreaux and O to wait for families.
“Nobody was really showing interest in them,” Walton said. “But then Burreaux started smiling. ... The rest is history.”
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In a video published to the organisation’s Facebook page, Burreaux can be seen wagging his tail and smiling as shelter workers coo over him. After that, Walton said, the attention just kept coming.
Burreaux finally found a “happy ending,” Walton said, when he was taken home by a local family last weekend.
Burreaux was adopted last weekend after spending just over a month at the Humane Society shelter in Northwest Louisiana. Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana
Elliot Mason, a dog behaviorist with Dog Behavior Solutions, said Burreaux’s smile is likely what’s known as a “submissive grin,” which dogs sometimes do to show they’re not a threat.
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He said the behavior is totally normal, but uncommon. “There are dogs out there that just naturally are more prone to that kind of expression when they feel a certain way,” he said, adding that it’s likely the dog was conditioned to keep smiling because people responded so positively to it.
“The pup is reacting accordingly when people speak in a certain voice,” he said. “When they greet their dog, typically what happens is the dog is going to respond accordingly with more excitement.”
Wingate, the shelter’s director, has a Chesapeake Bay retriever. Walton said the director’s dog is also a smiler, hence the “funny voice” she can be heard making in the video ― the same voice her own dog responds to with a grin.
Burreaux’s sister O is still up for adoption. She might not be a grinner ― but just look at this face!


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--How To Talk About Your Secret Sexual Fantasies With Your Partner

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As a nation, we’re a bit rubbish when it comes to talking about sex. In fact, only a quarter of us are happy talking about what goes on in the bedroom, a survey by eharmony found. So it’s hardly surprising that when it comes to discussing our sexual fantasies, we can be even tighter-lipped.
This discomfort is particularly common among those in long-term relationships, sex and relationships therapist Miranda Christophers tells HuffPost UK. “The main reasons people don’t usually want to share is because they are embarrassed or feel their partner may react negatively,” she says.
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The good news is that it’s never “too late”. Trust is key – feeling safe enough to open up to your partner (or partners). “It’s important that you are considerate of each other to avoid feelings of rejection or shame,” says Christophers.
Fantasy chat can be introduced at any stage in a relationship – and it’s worth revisiting regularly. “Over time, people get focused on domesticity and the direction changes or they feel scared of triggering negative reactions, so it becomes more unspoken about, which puts up a bit of a wall,” she explains.
This can perpetuate discomfort and result in couples avoiding the conversation altogether. However, talking not only improves your sex life but your emotional connection, suggests Christophers. “It can make you feel incredibly close knowing that your partner has shared their innermost sexual thoughts with you.”
So, that thing you’ve always dreamt of doing? Here’s how to broach it ...
Set the scene.
It’s important both parties feel relaxed, comfortable and bonded, says Cate Mackenzie, a psychosexual therapist couples counsellor. “If people are nervous to mention something, they can rush into expressing themselves, which may trigger the other person. People are more open when they feel safe and their nervous system is relaxed.”
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A good way to set up these conversations is by making sure the setting is relaxed, so sitting down on the sofa or having a bath together. Stay humorous and flirty, making the fantasy sound fun, she adds. You should be able to laugh about it, while also playing with new ideas.
Consent is crucial, Mackenzie stresses – striking the right balance between suggesting ideas, but not forcing your partner to do things. “We are all sensitive people and if you can use emotional literacy, then you can invite your partner into supporting you to enjoy sex even more.”
‘I’ statements involving the other person can help: “I would love it if you smacked my bum” or “I would like to lick chocolate off your breasts”, for example. “You shouldn’t be saying anything along the lines of ‘you are so boring you never try anything new,’” she adds. That’s a sure-fire turn off right there.
Artur Debat via Getty Images
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Ask the question
Turning the focus onto your partner is a great way to kickstart the fantasy chat. Christophers suggests asking them what they like while you are getting busy.
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The most common sexual fantasies, according to a US survey, include having a threesome; engaging in BDSM (including spanking, biting or being submissive/dominated) and shaking up a sex routine with different positions, locations or partners; to public sex and open relationships.
But there are hundreds of potential fantasies – all a fantasy really is is a thought or idea that turns you on.
Play a game
To enter the zone gently, you could suggest a game, such as taking turns to describe a fantasy. Christophers recommends writing out a list of five each, putting them in a jar and then taking turns to pull them out and talk about them. If they’re a turn on for both of you, perhaps explore them a bit more.
Swap stories
An alternative approach is sharing erotic fiction with your partner, suggests Molly Moore, sex blogger at Molly’s Daily Kiss and director of Eroticon UK. “There are lots of excellent erotic anthologies to pick from, such as Best Women’s Erotica. Use that as way of exploring the things that you both like and desire,” she explains.
Talking about why a story turned you on with a partner can be “much less daunting” than directly talking about your fantasies. “But it can open up the conversation and create a landscape between you where you both feel more able to explore those things together,” says Moore.
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Get sexting
Some people actually don’t find it easy to talk about their sexual fantasies face-to-face, which is perfectly normal. If that’s you, why not broach the idea by message? “If you don’t feel comfortable talking about it via your regular message apps you could set up a new messaging app [or thread] and invite your partner to talk to you on it,” suggests Christophers. “This may help to create a new but safe space which can feel more secretive and erotic.”
And remember...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Coronavirus Latest: 5 Things You Should Know About The Covid-19 Outbreak This Morning

Coronavirus is dominating the headlines as the number of cases grow each day. The latest official figures show 373 people in the UK have tested positive for the virus while six people – all with underlying health conditions – have died after contracting it.
Here are the main developments you need to know today.
Situation in Italy, under lockdown, is getting worse
Italy reported another sharp rise in deaths as a result of the outbreak as all of the country was put on lockdown due to the spread of coronavirus.
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The death toll has jumped by 168 to 631, an increase of 36%, the Civil Protection Agency said on Tuesday,
It represents the largest rise in absolute numbers since the contagion came to light on February 21.
The total number of cases in Italy, the European country hardest hit by the virus, rose to 10,149 from a previous 9,172, an increase of 10.7%.
On Sunday, the stay-at-home decree had been placed on 16 million people in the north of the country – more than a quarter of its population – for nearly a month to halt the relentless march of the new coronavirus across Europe.
But the hardline move has now been extended to the entire country.
Weddings and museums, cinemas and shopping centres are all affected by the new restrictions.
Italian premier Giuseppe Conte said all people in Italy would need to demonstrate a need to work, health conditions or other limited reasons to travel outside the areas where they live.
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British Airways said it has cancelled all its flights to and from Italy on Tuesday. The airline is allowing passengers booked to travel on flights to and from northern Italy up to April 4 to change travel dates or obtain a refund.
BA grounded all flights to and from Italy on Tuesday Steve Parsons - PA Images via Getty Images
Jess Nicholls, 43, an enterprise change consultant, told PA she felt “dumped” by the airline after it notified her by email that her flight from Rome to London would be cancelled.
She said she was seeking an “acknowledgement that they just stranded loads of passengers when they said they would get us home”.
“Their website was down, their call centres are overloaded and we got an email after midnight saying our flight was cancelled. It’s putting more passengers in danger.”
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Meanwhile easyJet has grounded most of its flights to and from northern Italy but is continuing to serve locations such as Milan, Venice and Bologna.
It is advising customers who do not want to fly that they would only be due a refund of “any government tax you may have paid”.
Ryanair has announced it has cancelled all international flights to and from Italy from Saturday until April 9.
Passengers who need to return home can switch to one of the flights operating up to the end of the day on Friday.
Britain at start of peak?
The start of the UK peak of the coronavirus epidemic is expected within the next fortnight, England’s deputy chief medical officer has said, as cases rose to 373 and a sixth death was announced.
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Dr Jenny Harries defended the government’s decision to delay closing schools and the introduction of other stringent tactics, saying experts are assessing new cases on an hourly basis to achieve a “balanced response”.
But new measures – including those aimed at protecting the elderly and vulnerable – are expected shortly as cases rise more rapidly across the UK.
The latest figures show that 373 people in the UK are now confirmed to have Covid-19 as of 9am on Tuesday, up from 319 the day before, and six people have died in British hospitals.
The increase is the second biggest day-on-day rise, and mirrors Monday’s 17% increase.
The most recent patient death took place on Monday night at Watford General Hospital, part of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
The patient, who is believed to have contracted the virus in the UK, was in their eighties and had underlying health conditions.
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French minister contracts coronavirus
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned the country is just the start of a health epidemic as the coronavirus outbreak crept closer to the heart of French political power.
Culture minister Franck Riester said late on Monday he had tested positive for the virus, and Macron’s chief of staff is self-isolating after contact with an infected person, said an official at the Elysee Palace, the presidential residence.
Measures are in place to protect Macron: meetings are kept to a minimum, video conference calls are being encouraged and non-essential visitors are being turned away.
“Don’t start thinking we’re creating a bubble,” the Elysee official said, adding that “we’re still in line with the kind of advice we’re giving to the whole French population”.
Macron visited a paediatric hospital on Tuesday and urged the French people to stay calm after signs of panic buying of staple goods in and around Paris.
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But he cautioned: “We’re only at the beginning of this epidemic.”
The coronavirus has now infected 1,784 people in France and killed 33, the head of the country’s public health service, Jerome Salomon, said on Tuesday evening.
Army called in to New York suburb
The US National Guard has been sent into a New York City suburb to help fight what is believed to be the nation’s biggest cluster of coronavirus cases — one of the most dramatic actions yet to control the outbreak in the US.
The move came as health authorities contended with alarming concentrations of the disease on both sides of the country and scattered cases in between.
Schools, houses of worship and large gathering places will be shuttered for two weeks in a “containment area” centreed in New Rochelle, and the troops will scrub surfaces and deliver food to the zone, which extends a mile in all directions from a point near a synagogue connected to some of the cases, New York governor Andrew Cuomo said.
New Rochelle is at the centre of an outbreak of 108 cases in Westchester County, out of 173 identified statewide. New York City has 36 cases, while its population is more than 100 times that of New Rochelle.
NHS targets fake coronavirus news online
A health care worker holds a surgery mask SIPA USA/PA Images
Official NHS guidance will appear at the top of internet search results about coronavirus as part of a bid by health authorities to stop the spread of disinformation.
The move comes after someone pretended to be the official account for a UK hospital on Twitter and posted inaccurate information about coronavirus cases.
The account – pretending to be a hospital in Andover – said the centre had received a number of patients with Covid-19 symptoms. It has now been suspended.
In response and as part of a new range of features for internet platforms, the health service said it had worked with Google, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram on ways to help promote “good advice” when people were searching online for information.
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The range of new online tools will also include Knowledge Panels – prominent pop-out boxes of information – in Google search results on mobile devices.
The boxes are part of a new partnership between the NHS and Google, and will offer easy access to official information about more than 250 conditions, including Covid-19.
Elsewhere in the UK:
– Health minister Jo Churchill said some patients can expect to wait longer for NHS treatment as doctors prioritise those with more serious illness and multiple underlying health conditions first
– Some air passengers have complained of being stranded in Italy after airlines including British Airways and Ryanair cancelled flights to and from Italy
– The Foreign Office said it was in contact with Britons in Vietnam after reports of nine new cases confirmed among travellers on board the same flight from London to Hanoi on March 2, including seven British citizens
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– Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that “wherever clinically and practically possible, people can access and should access” GP appointments “through phones and digital means”
– There were no handshakes from the Queen as she held an audience at Buckingham Palace, while food banks warned of a drop in donations as stockpiling continues
– NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland mortgage customers affected by coronavirus could get to defer repayments for up to three months
– A healthcare worker at Great Ormond Street was diagnosed with coronavirus, leading to the children’s hospital postponing all non-essential cardiac procedures for two weeks.
Passengers have started leaving the quarantined Grand Princess cruise ship
Passengers aboard the Grand Princess celebrate as they arrive in Oakland, California ASSOCIATED PRESS
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On Monday, passengers who have been stuck onboard a cruise ship off the coast of California because of coronavirus were finally allowed to start disembarking.
Video footage shot by one of the guests on the Grand Princess cruise showed jubilant passengers cheering from their balconies and open windows, some shouting, “We’re home!” as the vessel passed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.
The 2,400 passengers on the Grand Princess cruise – who have largely been confined to their rooms since Thursday – started leaving for quarantine stations or hospitals, depending on their condition.
On Friday, 21 people – who were mostly crew – tested positive for coronavirus after around 45 people were tested.
Except for those who are ill, the 1,100 crew members are to remain onboard the Grand Princess, which will depart the Port of Oakland as soon as possible to be quarantined for two weeks in an as-yet undisclosed location outside San Francisco Bay, officials said.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Coronavirus Is Dividing The Rich And Poor – And Could Drag Hundreds Of Thousands Into Poverty

Heating during the day. Broadband. A laptop. A job you can do at home. Enough disposable income to stockpile food and medicine. A freezer. The right to full sick pay from day one.
All things we would rely on if ordered to self-isolate, or work from home, due to the coronavirus.
And all things that might not be available to people on low incomes or in precarious work.
For those who are just about scraping by, illness or workplace closures could be far more than just an inconvenience – while, at the other end of the spectrum, the virus has been spread across the globe (albeit unwittingly) as people take half-term ski holidays and attend international conferences.
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Like everything, Covid-19 is dividing the rich from the poor.
Charity Turn2us helps people in financial hardship.
Campaigns officer Liam Evans told HuffPost UK: “If you are living paycheque to paycheque, you will not have the ability to buy food in bulk, or if you do not have a freezer, you will be unable to store food for a long time.
“Both these things are vital if you are self-isolating.”
Health secretary Matt Hancock announced on Tuesday that the number of UK cases had risen to 51, and prime minister Boris Johnson is expecting as many as one-in-five people to be absent from work at the peak of the outbreak.
But Turn2us says those who are “just about managing” could be tipped into crisis should they fall ill, or have to self-isolate for medical reasons.
Poorer households are unlikely to be able to stockpile supplies of food and medication, leaving them exposed should stock in shops and pharmacies dwindle.
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The “panic” around the potential spread of the disease has revealed the stark contrast between those who are able to properly prepare and those who aren’t, Evans said.
“People working practical and manual jobs on zero-hour contracts will not have the luxury of working from home,” he added.
“This could result in a serious loss of income and drag hundreds of thousands of people into poverty.”
Liam Evans, from Turn2us Liam Evans
The additional costs associated with working from home – higher heating bills, the cost of internet access and simple logistics – are not easily accessible for lower-income workers, many of whom are unable to do their jobs at all outside of their usual working environment.
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Helen Barnard, deputy director at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, told HuffPost UK: “There are many people, including those working as delivery drivers or in warehouses, or as carers, who have no good options.”
To make matters worse, Barnard said disabled people, those with ongoing and underlying health conditions, and those who look after them could be among the worst-hit in health terms.
“People on low incomes are much more likely to be part of these groups,” she told HuffPost UK.
“They are among those who are at higher risk of getting the virus, and of it being more serious, yet they are also the least equipped to deal with its impact.
“People who are just about making ends meet every month and are struggling to pay the bills are unlikely to have much spare resource.
“For those who are just about managing to stay afloat, if they need to stay off work for two weeks and don’t get very much sick pay, that could be the thing that tips them over the edge and into debt.”
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According to Bloomberg, wealthy Americans have enquired about the possibility of accessing a potential vaccine early – but it will be “months at the earliest” before one is even developed, the UK government has said.
But for those without much disposable cash, even accessing adequate supplies of vital daily medication is a struggle.
Helen Barnard, Joseph Rowntree Foundation deputy director Joseph Rowntree Foundation
“There seems to be very little in the way of advice about accessing supplies of medication [in case of needing to self-isolate], and many doctors will not prescribe large supplies of medication,” Barnard added.
“Advice around stockpiling and making sure you have adequate supplies at home [of food and medicine] is based around an assumption that everyone has a buffer. And lots of people do not.”
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Self-employed people who rely on Universal Credit to top up their earnings could also take a hit, the foundation believes.
“There is a minimum income threshold that has to be met, so anyone who is their own boss and relies on the benefit faces losing out too,” Barnard said.
“All of this highlights the need for a strong labour market – it provides people with resilience in times of emergency, and it is the people on lower incomes who do not have that resilience now.”
On Tuesday, Citizens Advice urged the government to protect the “millions of workers who may be pushed into financial hardship” through self-isolation.
The charity, which offers advice nationwide on a range of issues from housing to debt, wants ministers to clarify sick pay rights and make sure people can access quick financial support if they are not eligible for statutory sick pay.
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“No one should fear getting ill or risk their health because they won’t be able to pay their bills, but this will be the reality for millions of workers if the coronavirus outbreak worsens,” said Dame Gillian Guy, Citizens Advice chief executive.
“Problems with our system for sick pay are long-standing. Even for those eligible for statutory sick pay, at just £400 a month it may not be enough to cover essential living costs, leaving them with the impossible choice of ignoring advice to self-isolate or continuing to work while unwell.
“The government must clarify sick pay rights for workers and ensure the benefits system can respond flexibly so that people have enough to make ends meet if they do fall ill.”
MPs were told that workers not eligible to receive sick pay could claim Universal Credit – but under the current system, initial claimants face a five-week wait for their first payment.
Evans said the circumstances highlight the need for welfare reform – something Turn2us has campaigned for.
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“[There is a] dire need for a welfare state that is timely and responsive, which is another reason to end the five-week wait for Universal Credit,” he added.
“Our plans include not just the most likely case but the reasonable worst case,” he added.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Strictly Come Dancing's 12 Biggest Fall-Outs And Feuds

It’s known for being one of the most upbeat and cheerful shows on telly, and for the most part it is, but it turns out that there’s often a little more going on behind the scenes of Strictly Come Dancing than viewers might realise.
While the hit ballroom show is renowned for sparking lasting friendships (and, of course, a fair few romances too), it seems not everyone has felt the love under the Strictly glitterball in the past.
In fact, celebrities and their professional partners butting heads behind the scenes actually goes on more than most fans would think,
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Here’s our rundown of the biggest infamous Strictly feuds and fall-outs of all time...
Fern Britton and Artem Chigvintsev (2012)
Fern and Artem danced together in series 10, just missing out on the halfway point when they went home in week six.
In 2015, she claimed that she hadn’t enjoyed working with Artem, claiming he used to “kick” and “shove” her during rehearsals, also suggesting: “He was like, ‘Shut your face. Go home before I kill you’.
“I would say, ‘Oh please just kill me, it would be easier’. Or what was his other one? ‘If you go for a cup of tea now, I will blow off like an atomic bomb.’ I thought, well I won’t correct him on that one.”
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Artem later claimed Fern’s comments were not reflective of “any situation he recognised”, insisting he treated the former This Morning host with “respect and genuine care”.
Fiona Phillips and Brendan Cole (2005)
Back in Strictly’s third series, daytime star Fiona Phillips was paired up with Brendan Cole, but it sounds as though they didn’t exactly hit it off.
In fact, more than a decade later when it was reported that Brendan had not been invited to return to Strictly, Fiona branded the move “karma” for the way she’d been treated by the professional dancer.
“Brendan was a real bugger, actually,” she said in 2020. “He wasn’t very nice. He was really naughty.
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“He’s not on the show now. Karma indeed. It works its way every time.”
Lynda Bellingham and Darren Bennett (2009)
The late Loose Women star lasted four weeks in the competition back in 2009, where she was partnered with Darren Bennett.
A year after her death, Lynda’s widower Michael Pattemore gave an interview claiming she “hated” her experience on the dancing show.
“She said her partner Darren Bennett was such a miserable git. There was no laughter, no fun,” he explained.
“All the way through rehearsals she didn’t mind training hard, but it was solid dance. He was just hard work. If Lynda had had a partner like Anton Du Beke or someone, now they would have had some fun together.”
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Gregg Wallace and Aliona Vilani (2014)
The Masterchef star was the first celebrity eliminated from his series, which he put down to the fact that his professional partner wasn’t exactly his biggest fan.
“I love dancing, but if I were paired with somebody who liked me then I would have done better,” he said.
Following their elimination, Aliona also retweeted a number of messages calling for her to get a better partner in future series, with select messages including “could someone please give Aliona a decent partner next year”.
As it goes, the following year would see her lifting the Glitterball trophy with help from former The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness.
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Laura Whitmore and Giovanni Pernice (2016)
In 2018, Laura Whitmore published a blog on HuffPost UK in which she outlined the difficulties she faced when she took part in Strictly two years earlier.
“I cried every day,” she wrote. “And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.
“To the outside world I tried to suck it up and smile, and I did that to the best of my ability, but it affected me deeply. My friends and family knew that I was struggling. And they were there for me. The media, however, saw me as blonde bait in a sequinned dress.”
Giovanni Pernice had previously dated Georgia May Foote, Laura’s close friend, until shortly before the series started.
Danny John-Jules and Amy Dowden (2018)
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Things between Danny John-Jules and Amy Dowden got off to a strong start, with the pair landing some high scores in their first few weeks of dancing together on Strictly.
Unfortunately, by the time they bowed out of the competition, the pair had been dogged by rumours of a fall-out behind the scenes, with tabloid reports claiming he’d left her in tears after a blazing row.
During an appearance on It Takes Two, the pair admitted an argument had taken place, but refuted any “bullying” claims.
Laila Rouass and Anton Du Beke (2009)
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In what was genuinely a low-point for Strictly Come Dancing, Anton Du Beke made headlines during an early series of the show, when he used a racial slur to describe his partner during an off-air conversation.
Anton later issued a statement insisting he’d only used the term “p**i” towards her as backstage “banter” (his words, not ours), and unreservedly apologised for his choice of language.
Former Strictly host Sir Bruce Forsyth later took a bit of heat after the scandal, when he claimed that Anton hadn’t done anything wrong.
He said at the time: “We used to have a sense of humour about this. You go back 25, 30, 40 years and there has always been a bit of humour about the whole thing.”
The presenter was later forced to backtrack in a more official capacity, with a statement saying: “To be absolutely clear, the use of racially offensive language is never either funny or acceptable.”
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Anastacia and Brendan Cole (2016)
Back in 2016, Brendan was forced to deny reports that he was bickering behind-the-scenes with his then-partner Anastacia, telling Digital Spy: “We’ve definitely had some conversations, I won’t lie about that.
“I think we’re both two very strong-minded individuals in a process, but we get along very, very well.”
Two years later, Anastacia revealed she was still in touch with “pretty much everyone” from Strictly, apart from her professional partner.
“We don’t have that kind of connection. It was just for the show,” she said.
Nancy Dell’Olio and Anton Du Beke (2011)
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During a public event shortly after he and Nancy were voted out of Strictly, Anton was asked for his thoughts on her dancing abilities, joking they were “shit” and that his celebrity partner “never got that good”.
When asked whether he thought the judges had been “cruel” in their comments about Nancy, Anton responded: “I think the producers were cruel giving her to me in the first place.”
Reports around that time also claimed that Nancy had blamed Anton for her poor performance.
Lulu and Brendan Cole (2011)
That same year, another couple were apparently clashing behind the scenes, with Lulu and Brendan Cole both later revealing their working relationship wasn’t the best.
Brendan has suggested the Shout singer was “not a particularly nice person” when they worked together, and has since branded her his worst ever partner during an interview on Loose Women.
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“Blooming awful,” he said. “But she felt the same about me, so it’s alright.”
Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse (2019)
They danced their way to victory and became firm friends in the process, but Kelvin and Oti were candid throughout their Strictly journey about the fact that they didn’t always see eye to eye during training.
In fact, in the weeks leading up to the final, Kelvin revealed that he and Oti had “come to blows” on more than one occasion during a particularly “hard week”.
Michelle Visage and Giovanni Pernice (2019)
Similarly, Michelle and Giovanni were both open about the fact that their fiery natures meant that they clashed during rehearsals, even if they always made up in the end.
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The RuPaul’s Drag Race judge maintained that she and Giovanni were still friends despite their occasional spats, most notably after a tabloid report that she was “unhappy” with her partner, shortly before she was eliminated.
“Gio is my best friend in this competition, he is my rock and I trust him with everything,” she wrote on Twitter. “We have the most fun and laughs together and to suggest otherwise is just sad.”
Brendan Cole and Shirley Ballas (2017)
Karwai Tang/Getty
But it isn’t just the stars and their partners who have rubbed each other up the wrong way over the years.
During her first series on the show, Brendan and Shirley had an awkward moment when he contradicted a critique she’d given of one of his performances, and the Head Judge later admitted that there’d been some tension between them.
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“He’s confrontational,” Shirley said. “Every other professional was extremely respectful, very well-mannered, ‘How are you Mrs Ballas? You’re doing a good job’.”
Brendan later admitted that he thinks the confrontation may have cost him his job on the show.
Craig Revel Horwood and Brendan Cole (c 2004- 2018)
(L-R) Craig Revel Horwood and Brendan Cole Getty
Long-standing judge Craig admitted he “locked horns” with Brendan during his 13 years on the show before he was sacked in 2018.
In a new interview, Craig revealed he did offer an olive branch to Brendan after he was axed but his attempt to mend their rift didn’t go to plan.
“We did lock horns” Craig admitted on Kate Thornton’s podcast White Wine Question Time.
“I invited him around two years ago to my house. I hadn’t spoken to him for years. I thought ’wouldn’t it be nice to see Brendan, just to see if he’s working...”
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“What a bitch,” Kate laughed.
Craig added: “Oh god this is going out to people isn’t it. Anyway he had an electric car. He was showing that off.
He then added: “We hated each other.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-03-04--Coronavirus Panic Is Even More Real When You Have Hypochondria

Getty Images HuffPost UK
I will never forget my first panic attack. One morning, aged ten, I was being particularly difficult and simply refused to ‘ruin’ my Weetabix with milk. My mum brought out the big guns, and said: “If you don’t drink milk now, you’ll get osteoporosis. That’s a nasty disease that breaks all your bones.”
Now sobbing, Mum desperately tried to calm me down – “don’t worry darling, that won’t be until you’re really old” – but the damage was done. We settled for drinking calcium orange juice and didn’t think anything more of it. I was just a fussy child having a tantrum.
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Years later, I read about a young boy who had died of meningitis. I felt my heart thump as my eyes glossed over the symptoms. Light sensitivity. Rashes. Headaches. In the following weeks, I was suddenly and constantly complaining to my teachers and parents that I had a headache and had to go to the doctor. I began inspecting every bruise, bump and itch, convinced I had somehow caught the disease through the newspaper. Again, my parents never thought anything of it. I was just a silly teenager overreacting.
As I grew older and more aware of my body – and the things that could go wrong with it – these intrusive thoughts blossomed into something much deeper. I was going to the opticians twice a week, convinced I was going blind and not believing anyone who assured me otherwise. I was frequenting the doctors, panicking about every funny-looking mole or my throat closing up. Friends would get irritated at constantly having to answer my questions: “do you have spots on your nipples? Is it breast cancer?” Google would tell me that I’ve got gangrene and my entire leg would fall off, just because my toenail hurt (although in most cases my brain had already reached that conclusion by itself).
“Every update, every new confirmed case, feels like a punch to the stomach.”
When I finally visited a GP and was handed a health anxiety diagnosis leaflet, I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted. I wasn’t crazy! Or I was, but it was justified. And although my diagnosis didn’t quash my neuroses, it was a step toward finally understanding that most of my ‘symptoms’ were actually in my head.
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In the years since, my anxiety has fluctuated between non-existent and unconquerable. Hypochondria is on the OCD spectrum, so to contain your obsessive thoughts you have to accept where they come from and understand that you can’t take them as fact. This is easier said than done, and I would love to say that the anxiety has improved with time.
However, since the outbreak of the coronavirus, newspaper headlines have done nothing but warn of impending doom. Everyone is rightly worried to some extent – but for someone with my condition, it’s something that preoccupies your mind 24 hours a day.
Every update, every new confirmed case, feels like a punch to the stomach. I’ve reached the point where I have muted the word ‘coronavirus’ on my Twitter feed, unfollowed all news sources, and asked everyone I know not to mention it in an effort to stop myself from thinking about it. This isn’t a realistic solution, as you can’t control other people. I hear my colleagues joking about it, or someone I know comes back from holiday and they don’t seem worried. Someone on Twitter spells coronavirus wrong and you’re right back to square one.
So I have turned to preventative measures: I no longer take the tube, where the germs (or the thought of them) can be suffocating. Instead I spend an hour longer commuting on the bus, where at least I only have to share personal space with whoever sits next to me.
I don’t breathe when people walk past me, as if their aura can infect me. I’m scared to see my best friend, who works in a hospital – she says she comes across similar viruses every day, so how can I spend time with her now, without worrying what she may have picked up?
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“I don’t want to be so anxious and I don’t want to overreact. This is mental illness: would you tell someone with depression to just stop being so down?”
This isn’t unique to coronavirus; I went through something similar with swine flu, and then ebola. But this time it seems more real – because everybody is talking about it, all the time. I can’t slip in the old “please don’t talk about coronavirus around me because it will cause me great discomfort” every time. It’s almost always received with judgement or “don’t be ridiculous,” which rings true to reactions I’ve received my whole life. What they don’t understand is that I don’t want to be so anxious and I don’t want to overreact. This is mental illness: would you tell someone with depression to just stop being so down?
It was only when I had a panic attack in the middle of London after accidentally glancing at an article about it at work that I realised: wow, I really should get help. I’ve considered finding a therapist before, but life gets in the way and it never seems like the right time. Mainly because I’m completely and utterly afraid to not be so afraid of coronavirus or any illness. Because if I’m not conscious of the symptoms, or how to protect myself, then couldn’t I miss something potentially life-threatening? If I get better, will I get worse?
If you’re reading this and think it sounds like you, then please know that you are not alone. If you’re reading this and perhaps finally understanding this is a real illness that can’t be brushed off with a ‘just don’t worry about it,’ then my work here is done. If you’re reading this and thinking to yourself ‘get over it’? Well, then you’re lucky – and most probably right.
There’s no use crying over spilt milk (on your Weetabix), after all.
Phoebe Brown is a TV PR manager living in London. Follow her on Twitter at @PhoebeBrown37.
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--2020-03-04--Super Tuesday: 5 Takeaways As Democratic Presidential Race Narrows

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Super Tuesday hasn’t revealed who will be the Democratic Party presidential nominee to take on Donald Trump. But a once vast field of candidates now appears to have been whittled down to two: Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders.
The two veteran politicians - both are in their 70s - represent the competing wings of the party. Sanders, the ‘democratic socialist’ promising a radical reshaping of American politics, was the frontrunner heading into the bumper day of voting in 14 states where one-third of the delegates who will pick the eventual nominee at a July convention were up for grabs.
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But it was Biden, the ‘moderate’ former vice president, and his dramatic comeback that will dominate the headlines. The former senator gained the momentum (dubbed ‘Joe-mentum’) with wins in African American strongholds in the South and, more notably, states that were seen well beyond his grasp just a week ago.
Wednesday's front page: Joe Biden's campaign made a shocking rise from the dead on Super Tuesday, The Post's Michael Goodwin writes https://t.co/mgjfIKkGhA pic.twitter.com/WYs4U9nqh1 — New York Post (@nypost) March 4, 2020
With votes still being counted, here are the main takeaways.
It was a good night for Joe Biden
Biden’s campaign looked dead and buried after his fifth place finish in the New Hampshire primary in early February. But after a huge win in South Carolina at the weekend, he appeared to be a candidate reborn.
Biden was projected to win seven large states, including Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama. Significantly, he was on course to take the Midwestern state Minnesota, a win being credited to the coalescing around Biden in recent days - including the endorsement of the state’s senior senator Amy Klobuchar, who dropped out of the race this week. Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, also endorsed Biden after withdrawing from the fight as the ‘stop Sanders’ candidate was anointed.
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In the biggest shock of the night, Biden won Texas in one of the closest races of the night between him and Sanders.
There has been predictions of a comfortable win for left-winger Sanders, driven by support from the Latino community.
In a sign the consolidation of recent days has been hugely successful, Biden was triumphing in states where he had spent little to no money and had few official campaigners on the ground. “People are talking about a revolution. We started a movement,” Biden said in Los Angeles, referencing one of Sanders’ signature lines.
Joe Biden speaks during a primary election night rally in Los Angeles after a shock night for his campaign. ASSOCIATED PRESS
There’s big questions for Elizabeth Warren
Warren led the polls at the end of last year, but on Tuesday she was defeated in her home state of Massachusetts. It’s an embarrassment that will be difficult to come back from as Biden notched up a remarkable win in her backyard.
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The disappointing finish in the state she represents, and a weak showing in other Super Tuesday states, marked a striking collapse for the onetime darling of progressives who was known for having a plan for nearly everything.
Warren appeared set on remaining in the race, at least for now. Speaking to supporters in Detroit ahead of next week’s Michigan primary, she introduced herself as “the woman who’s going to beat Donald Trump”.
But she will face pressure to concede and throw her support behind Sanders, her long-standing rival in the campaign for ‘leftist’ Democrat voters.
Bernie Sanders took the biggest prize
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders arrives at a primary night election rally in Essex Junction, Vermont. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sanders headed into Tuesday with 60 delegates to Biden’s 54 in the state-by-state nominating fight, and in early voting he was projected to win in Colorado, Utah and his home state of Vermont.
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On paper, that would be a disappointing haul. However, Sanders was leading where it mattered in California, the country’s biggest state, with plenty to spare.
The corporate media & establishment panic over Sanders created a myth that pretends tonight was some epic defeat for Sanders. In reality, he is fighting very powerful political & economic forces and insidious smears and propaganda. This is a close race. Keep all this in context. — jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) March 4, 2020
Without citing his surging rival by name, Sanders swiped at Biden from a victory speech in Vermont.
“You cannot beat Trump with the same-old, same-old kind of politics,” Sanders said, ticking down a list of past policy differences with Biden on welfare, trade and military force. “This will become a contrast in ideas.”
It was a bad night for Michael Bloomberg
The billionaire businessman appeared on the ballot for the first time at Super Tuesday after spending more than a half billion dollars (£400 million) on his campaign. But it could be for nothing: his sole victory was in the territory of American Samoa.
Millions of dollars went toward states such as Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee – all three of which went to Biden - but the damage inflicted by his opponents and his own poor performance during his first TV debate in Las Vegas last month is looking ominous.
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Reports suggested the former New York mayor will reassess his campaign on Wednesday. Having made little secret of his desire to block Sanders from the nomination, will he now throw his considerable weight behind Biden?
There’s still a long way to go
The Super Tuesday final numbers matter as each percentage points represents more delegates. The magic number to win the Democratic Party’s nomination is 1,991 delegates, with each state having a set number of delegates to award.
No candidate is yet close to that number and there’s a chance no-one will come the party’s convention in July, which would lead to a messy ‘brokered convention’ where the decision is made on the day.