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Cyclist, 16, critically injured after being hit by two cars in south London

Teenager remains in hospital as two men are arrested after collision on Streatham High Road

A 16-year-old cyclist is in a life-threatening condition after being hit by two cars in south London.

The boy was critically injured in the collision in Streatham High Road shortly before 11.20pm on Friday.

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Police watchdog investigates London stun gun shooting

Concerns raised about ‘disproportionate’ use of force after young black man is seriously injured

The police watchdog has launched an investigation after a black man in his 20s was left with a life-changing injury after he was shot with a stun gun by officers in north London.

Police on patrol in Haringey chased the man on Monday after he ran away from them following an approach, it is understood. They used the stun gun as he jumped over a wall and he fell, suffering serious back injuries, which his family fear could leave him at least partially paralysed.

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Coronavirus app has changed the way the Isle of Wight sees itself

Islanders are coming to terms with unexpected publicity from the contact-tracing pilot project


Last Sunday, we woke to the news that the Isle of Wight really had been chosen as the pilot location for the NHS coronavirus contact-tracing app, the idea having been floated by the leader of the council at the start of the previous week.

Thus a manic week began here at News OnTheWight, where we’ve been pumping out stories as usual, taking part in national media briefings, delving into details of the app and exploring privacy issues while dealing with queries from media outlets from around the world. All sorts of organisations started pushing press releases supporting the app – the most unexpected being the Church of England.

When Matt Hancock, the health secretary, announced at last Monday’s press conference, “Where the Isle of Wight goes, Britain follows”, there was a collective spitting out of tea on the island and beyond. Of course there were the predictable jibes – “How do I install the app on my fax machine?” was one of the best we heard, and once again, creativity was ignited with memes and T-shirts.

With such attention, locally it felt like little else but the app was discussed.

How has the app gone down? Lots of people seem to be jumping on board, claiming any perceived privacy downsides as a small price to pay. Others, with earlier smartphones, were excluded. Older residents overheard in the post office said they really wanted to use the app but their steam-powered mobile phones weren’t capable.

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'Harvesting' is a terrible word – but it's what has happened in Britain's care homes | Richard Coker

Epidemiologists use the term to describe tragic excess deaths – but for Covid-19 it seems to be the de facto government policy

There’s a term we use in epidemiology to capture the essence of increases in deaths, or excess mortality, above and beyond normal expectations: “harvesting”. During heatwaves, or a bad season of influenza, additional deaths above what would be normally seen in the population fit this description. Harvesting usually affects older people and those who are already sick. Generally, it is viewed as a tragic, unfortunate, but largely unpreventable consequence of natural events. It carries with it connotations of an acceptable loss of life. It is, in a sense, what happens as part of a normal life in normal times. But the word also has darker connotations: those of sacrifice, reaping, culling. As such, while it may appear in textbooks of epidemiology, it doesn’t occur in national influenza strategic plans or national discourse. The concept of harvesting is restricted to epidemiological circles.

But what if politicians promote the notion of harvesting (while declining to use the term) where it is not a “natural” consequence of events but a direct consequence of government policy? What if the medical and nursing world do not accept harvesting in these circumstances? What if a policy that results in harvesting cannot be articulated because it is unacceptable to the broader population? This is where we have got to with the coronavirus pandemic. Nowhere better exemplifies this tension between a policy and its popular acceptance than the effects of coronavirus in nursing homes.

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Stephen Collins on baking bread during lockdown – cartoon

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  • Life and style

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Imagine the UK getting rid of road rage, congestion and exhaust fumes for ever | Susanna Rustin

Britain is a latecomer to decarbonising transport but changes under lockdown and initiatives abroad could spark a revolution

  • Coronavirus – latest updates
  • See all our coronavirus coverage
  • It was a grim irony that the best transport news in ages was buried in the first few days of the coronavirus lockdown. On 26 March, the government published a document, Decarbonising Transport, which went further in facing up to the problem of emissions from air and vehicle traffic than most campaigners had dared to hope for.

    The challenge is enormous. In 2016, transport overtook energy to become the single biggest source of domestic emissions. Motor vehicles on their own are responsible for around a fifth of the total. On aviation, the UK is the world’s third-worst polluter, behind China and the US.

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    'You can't ask the virus for a truce': reopening America is Trump's biggest gamble

    With states opening even as Covid-19 rages on, the president is rolling the dice on his career – and tens of thousands of lives

    On Monday the Republican governor of Nebraska, Pete Ricketts, a close ally of Donald Trump and frequent visitor to the White House, opened his daily coronavirus briefing with a big announcement. “Today is May 4,” he said, “the first day of loosened restrictions statewide.”

    With his declaration, Ricketts placed Nebraska at the vanguard of America’s reopening. Churches can now open their doors to worshippers, wedding bells and funeral dirges will be heard once more, hospitals can reschedule elective surgeries, and most Nebraskans will be able to resumehaving their hair cut, nails manicured, bodies massaged and skin tattooed.

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    Gangs take bigger risks to smuggle drugs into lockdown Britain

    Consignments are being moved in bulk across borders as Covid-19 cuts off normal routes, say police

    Organised crime groups are taking increasingly audacious risks as they attempt to smuggle large quantities of drugs into lockdown Britain, senior police figures say.

    Analysing the latest operations of transnational criminal networks, the National Crime Agency’s head of drug threat said that police were making more significant seizures during the pandemic than normal.

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    Weddings and coronavirus: couples forced to cancel but face massive bills

    They believed insurance would cover the pandemic but have received demands for thousands

    Couples who have been unable to get married because of the coronavirus lockdown have had their wedding insurance claims rejected – in some cases despite being assured they were covered before buying their policy.

    The Guardian has heard from people who have lost thousands when claims were turned down by provider WeddingPlan Insurance.

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    Coronavirus cycling boom makes a good bike hard to find

    Would-be cyclists keen to exercise during the lockdown have cleared stores of their stock

    Isabel had not ridden a bike since university 10 years ago when lockdown motivated her to seek out two wheels. But half a dozen cycle shops in south London gave her the same answer: no chance. We’re out of stock.

    One or two said they could sell her a high-spec racing bike for a price in the region of £1,000. The others advised her to place an order, wait a couple of weeks for the bicycle to be delivered from the manufacturer, then another week or so for it to be built by the store. And there was no option to try before buying.

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    Young men more likely than women to break lockdown rules – UK survey

    Researchers call on government to do more to explain need for physical distancing

    Young men are more likely than young women to break lockdown rules, research suggests.

    A team of psychologists led by Dr Liat Levita from the University of Sheffield surveyed 2,000 13- to 24-year-olds in the UK to examine the impact of the pandemic on young people.

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    How to understand Covid-19 antibody testing in 10 steps

    Inaccuracies in the testing, such as false negatives and false positives, are potentially harmful

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    Amsterdam's "Cat Boat" Is A Floating Cat Sanctuary

    Welcome to the one and only cat sanctuary that floats! A true hidden gem in Amsterdam. 

    De Poezenboot (translated in English to 'The Cat Boat') first began not on a boat at all. In 1966, a woman in Amsterdam, known as v. Weddle, found a stray mother cat with kittens and took on the task of caring for them. Soon enough, more and more cats began to come and be taken under her wing. 

    Fast forward to two years later in 1968 and the first boat was born! V. Weedle had a large house with a terrace but was soon becoming too small for the cats so she bought a boat on the canal! The boat was named 'The Tjalk' and was completely furnished and made suitable for all the cats. And as soon as the floating santuary was open people came to help care for all those stray cats -- the first volunteers. 

    Written in the history of De Poezenboot, "The Tjalk has served faithfully for about 10 years and was replaced by an Ark at the end of 1979. And because the Ark was specially built on the yard for the shelter of cats, this boat met all the requirements we set for it. "

    And in 1987, the foundation was founded, "Stichting de Poezenboot."

    De Poezenboot is home to so many beautiful cats but is also working to help cats find a forever home with a family. You can donate to their cause here. 

    Follow 'The Cat Boat' on Instagram




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    Fifteen Cats From Tech Support Who Are Busy Making An Update To Your PC (Memes)

    "Don't worry, I'm from tech support...Just lemme get a closer look."

    Well...it seems like these cats are more interested in all those mouses and cookies hiding in your computer.  




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    Stunning Winning Photos From The GDT's Nature Photographer Of The Year 2020

    The German Society for Nature Photography (GDT) has announced its Nature Photographer of the Year 2020. 

    This year, for the first time in the GDT's history, voting was carried out online, due to the pandemic. 




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    Disney Launches a Collection Of Cloth Face Masks Featuring Her Beloved Animal Characters

    People all over the world are now being advised to wear face masks to slow the spread of coronavirus. 

    Luckily, Disney is here to bring a spark to this new corona fashion wear, especially for kids who are more frightened these days. 

    In a statement on its home page, the company expressed its commitment to serving the communities during these challenging times by creating a new line of family-friendly reusable cloth face masks featuring its timeless stories and beloved characters.  

    Disney announced it will donate one million cloth face masks for children and families in underserved and vulnerable communities across the U.S. and pledged to donate all the profits to the non-profit organization, Medshare, which specializes in redistributing medical supplies to hospitals in need. 

    From Baby Yoda to Winnie The Pooh and Mickie Mouse, the masks are aimed at kids and kids at heart who can finally have a chance to let out their inner character. 

    You can purchase a four-pack of face masks for $19.99 in small, medium, and large sizes. 

    Check out some of the cool designs. 




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    How to Prevent Your Pet From Developing Separation Anxiety Post Quarantine

    During this crazy time many of us have been confined to our homes and for some that means to be home 24/7 with our best friends. Our pets. However, because of this, many pets have become accustomed to having us home with them. 

    But then the question is... will they be okay once bans are lifted and people are able to slowly go back to their daily routines?

    Will they be able to handle their best friends not being by their side 24/7?

    It is expected that many dogs (even cats!) can suffer from separation anxiety, and pet experts are saying that it's a good idea to get your pet ready and used to post-quarantine separation now, to minimize their stress later. 

    Here are some useful tips for both dog and cat owners.

    More videos on Cheezburger's Youtube Channel 





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    Uplifting Words Of Encouragement Through Animal Illustrations

    We could all use a daily dose of uplifting these days. And when we think of the word "uplifting," many things come to mind such as; cats, cats, cats, and more cats. 

    But if we places that aside we also think of @TheLatestKate, the Instagram Queen of positivity through beautiful animal illustrations. 

    If you're in need of a pick-me-up, take a moment and read through these lovely inspirational messages. And if you need even more, you can also follow @TheLatestKate on Instagram for daily motivation. 




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    Doggo Feets Running For The Doggo Treats (34 Dog Memes)

    Can't spell doggo without 'good'! 

    It's a beautiful day for frolicking in the dog park! Just kidding, no one is allowed out and we've been cooped up indoors for months now, and others for way longer... but where is your imagination? Regardless of our current whereabouts, one thing we can always count on is doggo memes to lift our spirits! 

    Every week we have fresh hot doggo memes delivered straight to your face and to your heart (insert loud 'aww' sound here.)

    So take a moment to sit back and relax, and enjoy all the good bois and girls this list has to offer! And just in case you're having a ruff day and need an extra lift, check out these doggo memes -- that should cure just about anything.




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    Model Hosts The Cutest Wedding Ceremony For Her Dog And His Bride

    28-years-old model, Emily Ratajkowski, and her husband are the loving owners of Colombo, the cutest good boy.   

    They have all spent their quarantine days with their close friends, Josh Ostrovsky, founder of the Fat Jewish meme account, his wife, Caitlin King, and their dog, Happy.

    On Saturday, Emily decided to hosts a special wedding ceremony for Colombo and happy - 'quarantined together so why not marry our children".  
    Ratajkowski shared plenty of behind-the-scenes footage on Instagram from the ceremony, including individual images of Colombo and Happy posing while wearing dog cones as the "the groom" and "the bride", respectively.

    Congrats, Colombo and Happy! 




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    Cat Gifs Is The Ultimate Uplifting Gift

    Cat gifs are the gifts that keep on giving! When in doubt, just take a moment to catch up on your daily cat gifs to lift you up! 

    Trust us, we've been doing it for awhile and can confirm this. 

    Did you need some proof? Just scroll down and let the good times roll! 




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    Mega Cuteness: Tiny Crocheted Couches With Matching Little Granny Blankets

    Our pets are our children, and they deserve to be spoiled as such.

    That's why we had to share with you these tiny crochet cat couches created by the crafty people on the subreddit r/crochet.

    Sure, you could go and just buy a cat bed without exerting much effort, but they're not as fun or cute as this too cute to handle cat couch.

    So, if you're looking for a new crochet project to tackle, this has got to be it! 

    The couches are shaped with thick foam and polyester filling to really give it that comfy sofa look.

    There are a few craft stores online who are offering the crochet patterns if you like. 





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    Common Animal Sounds In Languages Around The Globe

    This is neat! We've never given much thought as to what "sounds" languages around the world would give certain animals. 

    Not to sound naive but we definitely thought "meow" was universal for the sound a cat makes... turns out, not so much. 

    Creator of this super interesting and well-drawn graphics is freelance illustrator James Chapman. You can follow his Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook and/or Twitter to be kept up-to-date with these fanasinating graphics! Did you know, in English, we say dogs go "Woof," but in Romanian they go "Ham Ham?"

    Just something to think about. 




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    Interesting Facts About Donkeys On Their Special World Day

    Found on every continent except Antarctica, donkeys are some of the most well-bred and well-known animals in the world. 

    World Donkey Day is a show of respect for one of the most enduring and respectable animals in the Equidae family. 

    Throughout history, it has served throughout the world as both a mount and a beast of burden in some of the most challenging terrains and forbidding climates, and has done so with pride and endurance. 

    But how much do you know about these surprisingly deep and intelligent creatures? 

    Here are some fun facts you probably didn't know. 






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    Things I want




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    it sucks being an artist in quarantine.

    i'm apparently part of a band now? i mean none of us live close to each other but i'm making contributions to this group's songwriting and like i'm the only guitarist so,, i probably have to stay but it's stressful when you're trying to write your own songs for your own projects and then there's all this school stuff hanging over your head and it's like you're procrastinating on literally everything.
    i'm painting my own killjoy mask. i got a party poison one but i'm doing one for myself too.might go crazy and cut the sleeves off a denim jacket i never wear and use all that fabric for patches for uh. crust punk jeans or something. maybe i'll learn to play in drop d tuning, maybe i'll go in the basement when people leave and teach myself a good ol fashioned screamo scream. learn to play the solo for demolition lovers and go nuts, do that song both guitar and singing. figure out how to use the multitracker thing i have and learn how to actually record stuff. i can't be "productive" by societal standards right now. i gotta create. i don't like how we live in a culture of guilt with that type of stuff. if art is supposed to come out of world crises there shouldn't be any shame in that.




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    Automated Pancake Making For Devotees Of Fluffy Pancakes

    We have a weakness for automated pancake machines here at Hackaday, but in terms of complete pancake machines rather than CNC batter printers we’re surprised to see more from the rest of the world than we do from the USA. Perhaps this has something to do with differences in opinion …read more




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    Measuring the Speed of Light in 1927

    It is hard to remember that a lot of high tech research went on well before the arrival of electronic computers, lasers, and all the other things that used to be amazing but are now commonplace. That’s why we enjoyed [Michel van Biezen’s] two part post on how Michelson computed …read more




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    Open Laser Blaster Shells Out More Bang for the Buck

    [a-RN-au-D] was looking for something fun to do with his son and dreamed up a laser blaster game that ought to put him in the running for father of the year. It was originally just going to be made of cardboard, but you know how these things go. We’re happy …read more




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    Crying Freeman's Ryoichi Ikegami Launches New Manga in June

    Ikegami also serializes mini-series spinoff of BEGIN manga




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    The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Fantasy Light Novels Get TV Anime

    Story of minor noble's talentless son with access to secret training dungeon




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    Bungo & Alchemist Anime's Episodes 5-7 Scheduled for Later This Month

    Episode 4 was previously delayed to May 8




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    Golgo 13 Manga Goes on Hiatus for 1st Time in 52 Years

    Saito Production, Big Comic staff prioritize manga staff's safety




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    Princess Connect Re:Dive Anime Reveals 3 More Returning Cast Members

    Kana Hanazawa, Mariko Kouda, Ayaka Ohashi return from smartphone game




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    Man-gatarō Launches Manga With Direct Reader Input

    Reader participation determines protagonist's direction in story




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    Dragon Goes House-Hunting Anime Reveals Staff, Visual, TV Format

    Signal.MD produces fantasy anime




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    Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! Anime's 2nd Promo Video Reveals New Cast

    Yousuke Akimoto joins cast for series premiering in July




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    Shinichi Ishizuka Launches Blue Giant Explorer Manga

    New manga in Blue Giant franchise sees Dai going to America




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    Voice Actor: Bakugan: Armored Alliance Anime's English Dub Continues Production

    Out-of-studio recordings continue from cast, crew's homes








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    Neighbors Go Full Petty, Guy Tows In Pro Revenge

    We love a good neighbor revenge story. People can turn real petty on their neighbors, and sometimes that pettiness is addressed with a calculated, borderline genius, pro revenge. In this case, the dude had had enough of his neighbors' rampant pettiness, and how they'd park in his spots. So, he towed in a whole lot of "redneck hardware" and parked it out front of their place, when the moment presented itself. Just imagining what those two weeks must've been like for those neighbors; oh boy. 

    Get some more neighbor revenge goodness over here with this entitled neighbor who tasted his own medicine.





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    Freeloading Housemates Get Introduced To Court System

    Man, these people sound like a ball of toxic energy. You have the one dude offering nothing but generosity and understanding to the rest of the roommates, who are basically going around, freeloading, and taking advantage of one's good nature. A kind of icky feeling can arise just thinking about it. Well, the freeloading roommates ultimately learned their lesson, and were introduced to the court system. Maybe that will set them on a different path in the future. Who knows? 





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    Amusing Images of Confusing Double-Takery

    The brain works really hard to make sense of the constant stream of information coming at it, and for the most part it does a pretty good job. That said, a small shift in perspective can turn unassuming situations into double-take inducing photos of intriguing perspective. Your brain is doing its best, but at times it's name match against double-take causing images of skewed perspective.




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    Karen Demands Spiciest Wings, Doesn't Get Refund

    Anyone who has worked in retail or the service industry has had to deal with wildly entitled customers, like this Karen who lied to a restaurant owner's face. There are customers out there, who, out of some weird desire to bully people and get their way, will even demand a service that will potentially hurt them, like this Karen who demanded a "fresh" donut straight from the fryer oil.  When trying to understand how someone can be so ruthlessly rude to the people around them, it helps to get some insight from people who know Karens explaining what that's like.




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    Terrifying Signs that make their Message Clear

    There are many hazards in this world, and appropriately there are many ominous signs that speak the language of fear. You never know it there could be some hidden mine shaft or risk of monkey attack. Whether they're warning of some totally extreme danger or their scary in their own right, it's usually best to pay attention to spooky signs.




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    Plumber's Customer Won't Pay In Full, Sweet Grout Revenge Ensues

    Man, this is a fine example of why it pays to be a reasonable, good human being, and not mess with your servicemen. This plumber was just doing his job, to the requirements asked of him, and the clients decided to make a mess of the whole peaceful operation. Clearly, they were trying to skip out on paying the whole bill. So, the plumber was extra sweet with finishing up the job. What might seem like a petty revenge on the surface, really evolves to be more of a cold and calculated pro revenge that likely haunted the folks for a long while after the job was "done."