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Its not just children who have been learning outside the classroom during lockdown. More people are logging on to online course providers and new classes are popping up all the time.

Established players such as FutureLearn, LinkedIn Learning and Coursera have reported an uptick in users seeking out their services.

Since the nation went into lockdown in March, FutureLearn says more than one million Brits have signed up to its platform.

Globally, people spent 7.7 million hours in April watching content made by LinkedIn Learning, the job sites courses division. This was nearly three times the amount in February.

New services are also emerging, such as the Department for Educations Skills Toolkit website and educational publisher Pearsons UK Learns platform. Even mobile network provider GiffGaff is getting in on the action with free lessons available through its new academy.

The trend is not just a result of having more spare time. Sadly, many companies are laying off staff or going into administration as a result of the crisis. We have yet to see official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) detailing the full effect of the pandemic on the UK unemployment rate, but several surveys point to heightened job insecurity.

All this means people are seeking ways to learn new skills, either to improve their job prospects in their current industry or to pivot to a new vocation entirely.

Namrata Murlidhar, director at LinkedIn Learning, told i: Peoples motivations for learning vary some want to develop new skills or enhance existing skills to be successful in their current role, and others want to reskill entirely to find new opportunities in different functions or industries.

If you are employed at a medium or large company, check if your HR department has access to any online courses. Some may have their own or will be able to give you access to resources you would otherwise have to pay for.

Otherwise, the internet is your friend. The number of free courses available is growing every day. Start with one of those suggested here or simply use Google to start searching.

Just because you might have time to spare for an online course doesnt mean you should invest your valuable hours in the first one that comes along. Check out reviews of different websites on TrustPilot to see what other students have to say about the service. Some sites, like Coursera, have a community where you can find out what other learners recommend.

You can also opt for courses which are created or backed by notable universities or companies.

Ms Murlidhar says you could also try asking friends. When choosing an online learning course, its not only important to select a credible provider, but also to ensure that courses are taught by experts, that they offer the latest skills and are delivered in an engaging way. This will ensure that your time is well spent, and youll get something valuable and lasting from the experience.

Consider asking others in your network if they have any recommendations, or check feedback from those who have already participated understanding what they valued and why will be a good guide for whether itll prove the same for you.

Top sites to start with:

Online qualifications sometimes get a bad reputation for being easy to come by. But as online learning grows in popularity especially now that remote working is common it is becoming more respected. And it cant hurt to demonstrate your commitment to a topic.

Ms Murlidhar said: Its likely that digital skills, as well as essential soft skills such as creativity, empathy and adaptability will be in high demand by employers.She added that getting a qualification on your LinkedIn profile can make you stand out to employers.

Meanwhile Anthony Tattersall, Head of EMEA at Coursera, pointed out that employers are themselves using this kind of learning more. Our Enterprise platform, Coursera for Business is the companys fastest-growing business unit. It equips 2,400 employers around the world, including 100+ Fortune 500 companies, with the tools and resources they need to keep their talent sharp and, in turn, keep their business competitive, he said.

He added: With coronavirus profoundly affecting the way companies operate, weve seen a significant increase in uptake on Coursera for Business. Looking at the most recent stats from March and April 2020, and comparing them with the same period one year ago, there has been a 324 per cent increase in total year-over-year enrolments across Coursera for business.

Rebecca Leigh, 25, from Southwark, London

Rebecca has been on furlough from her job as a marketing assistant at a wine importer and distributor since April. With her extra time, she decided to learn how to build a website from scratch and market an online brand She has since set up beckasbottles.co.uk

When I was told that I was going to be put on furlough, I was hit by the realisation that I wasnt going to get time like this again until I retire. I wanted to have something to show for it when things got back to normal.

In a bit of a daze, I wondered if I should write a novel, but deciding that this might not be the best option for me.

Im interested in digital marketing and how brands are built and function, so I signed up to some online courses to find out more. I worked through Googles Digital Marketing certificate and some Coursera courses in brand management and marketing. What I learnt was that having an online presence is a crucial part of building a brand.

I decided to put into practice everything I was learning by building a website for my own brand, Beckas Bottles, a social media-led wine blog. My aim was to create a searchable, user-friendly and engaging website, where I could spark conversations about wine and share useful, educational tips.

Using Coursera resources, I learnt the basic mechanics of the coding languages you use to build a website: HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Languages as they are, the whole experience was a bit like being back at school and grappling with German grammar again.

My search history became full of frantic searches along the lines of where to put meta data tags or how do you wrap text or sometimes, simply why isnt it working?!. However, bit by bit, it started to make sense and my website began to take shape.

By building it from scratch using online resources, I know exactly what each bit of code does. Seeing each piece of code change my web pages with every addition really helped me to get my head around it.

Then, to make sure the website was effective, I also did some research about digital marketing techniques, like search engine optimisation, key word planning and the importance of having a social media strategy.

It has filled in my time on furlough very well, and I am excited to continue working on this project.

There are some other features Id like to add to my website. Im also continuing my study of wine with The Wine & Spirit Education Trusts Diploma. My novel is still on the back burner but maybe thats for the best!

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The free online courses to try in lockdown, from coding to building a business and how to widen your professional skillset - iNews

Amid the visceral national outcry for racial justice in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, a lone US senator is standing in the way of a bill that would make lynching a federal hate crime.

Rand Paul, a Republican with a reputation as a one-man awkward squad in the US Senate, has put the historic legislation into limbo, frustrating black colleagues and civil rights leaders, including the Rev Jesse Jackson.

About 4,075 African Americans were lynched in 12 southern states between 1877 and 1950, according to a 2015 report by the Equal Justice Initiative. Some were watched by crowds, as if attending a form of public entertainment.

Ida B Wells, a crusading African American journalist, once said: Our countrys national crime is lynching.

The killing of Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes, caught on film and seen by millions, has been likened to a 21st-century lynching. It spurred more than two weeks of worldwide protests.

From 1882 to 1986, Congress failed to pass anti-lynching legislation 200 times, but this moment appeared to be different.

Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Tim Scott, the only three African American members of the Senate, led the unanimous passage of the legislation in that chamber in 2018 and 2019. The House of Representatives then passed it by a 410-4 vote in February but renamed it for Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy lynched in Mississippi in 1955.

That was the only change that returned the bill to the Senate, which makes Pauls sudden objection all the more idiosyncratic.

The Democratic congressman Bobby Rush, who proposed the House legislation, tweeted: The language of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act is IDENTICAL to the bill that was unanimously approved by the Senate. The only conclusion I can draw from Rand Pauls sudden opposition is he has an issue with the House bill being named after Emmett Till.

But Paul, a licensed doctor, is notorious for rousing colleagues ire by stalling legislation and for a life and career that are seldom conventional.

In 2017 he was physically assaulted by a neighbour while mowing his lawn; in 2018 he visited Russia and delivered a letter from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin; earlier this year he became the first senator to test positive for coronavirus, shortly after being the only one to vote against a bipartisan $8bn deal to provide emergency coronavirus funding.

He now argues that the anti-lynching legislation is drafted too broadly and could define minor assaults as lynching.

The bill as written would allow altercations resulting in a cut, abrasion, bruise, or any other injury no matter how temporary to be subject to a 10-year penalty, Paul said. My amendment would simply apply a serious bodily injury standard, which would ensure crimes resulting in substantial risk of death and extreme physical pain be prosecuted as alynching.

He has previously worked with Democrats in pushing for criminal justice reform and taken a more progressive stance than many Republican colleagues.

On Tuesday, the Associated Press reported, while speaking with activists in Louisville in his home state of Kentucky, Paul criticised no-knock search warrants, such as the one used at the home of Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead by police in March, and the militarisation of police departments. And he said he is likely to support some form of federal legislation aimed at overhauling police procedures.

Challenged about his opposition to the bill, Paul called lynchings a horror of American history and said he supports the bill, the AP added, but reiterated that its language is too broad.

Last Thursday, as Floyd was mourned at a memorial service in Minneapolis, Paul proposed an amendment to the bill, which would require a vote of the full Senate and would send the bill back to the House currently out of session for additional consideration.

The amendment was defeated after emotions ran high on the Senate floor. Booker, of New Jersey, said: One man, one man is standing in the way of the law of the land changing because of a difference of interpretation. Does America need a win today on racial justice?

Appearing on The View on the ABC network, Harris described the senators contrarian stance as insulting, adding: What Rand Paul is doing, which is one man holding up what would be a historic bill recognising one of the great sins of America and it was on the day of George Floyds funeral which just added insult to injury and frankly made it so painful that on that day thats what was happening.

Although Paul is often an outlier, there are fears that the holdup could be indicative of wider Republican reluctance to tackle systemic racism in the police and embrace reforms. Moe Vela, a former senior adviser to Joe Biden, said on Wednesday: My thoughts on it are very simple: birds of a feather.

If Rand Paul somehow doesnt believe we need an anti-lynching bill in the United States and his Republican colleagues cant get him to release the hold, to me it says everything Americans need to know about the Republican party. Either youre for lynching or youre against lynching. Its that simple.

But Tara Setmayer, a political commentator and former Republican communications director on Capitol Hill, was less critical, noting the consistency of Pauls libertarian streak.

I understand that he wants to strengthen the bill with certain language as an amendment, she said. He doesnt want it to go away. He wants it to be strengthened from his perspective.

But I think its a bit out of step with the political climate that were in So hes going to get the backlash, but Senator Tim Scott said hes going to talk to him and see if they can work something out in the language. I think they will come to some type of agreement and it will eventually pass. I dont see it being held up forever.

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Rand Paul stalls bill that would make lynching a federal hate crime - The Guardian

Rand Paul, Opinion contributor Published 12:27 p.m. ET June 8, 2020 | Updated 2:06 p.m. ET June 8, 2020

When I ran for office, I promised to read the bills.Apparently, that is not a requirement for Courier Journal columnists.Had The Courier read the anti-lynching bill and listened to the floor debate before launching into an ad hominem attack on me, they might have discovered that not only did I not block the bill, I actuallysought the Senates immediate consideration and passage of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act with an amendment.

I offered an amendment to strengthen the bill because of my long-standing commitment to work in a bipartisan fashion to enact criminal justice reform and ensure that all people, regardless of race or class, are treated equally under the law.

Second, understanding what the anti-lynching bill actually addresses is particularly relevant. To be perfectly clear, lynching and murder are already against the law. Hate crime statutes have been on the federal books for more than50 years and murdering someone because of his or her race has been a federal hate crime for over a decade.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks during a virtual Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing, Tuesday, May 12, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Win McNamee/Pool via AP)(Photo: Win McNamee, AP)

Because I stand so strongly behind the belief that a hateful crime such as lynching deserves a severe sentence, I could not support a bill that places such a low threshold on what could be considered a lynching. My immediate concern was the unintended consequence of making victims out of the very people we seek to protect.

Related: Jesse Jacksoncalls for Rand Paul to end opposition to anti-lynching bill

Gerth: Rand Paul's timing impeccable as he blocks lynching bill during racial unrest

For example, Tiffany Harris is a black woman from New York and was arrested in December 2019 after slapping three Jewish women and making a religious slur. Harris was initially charged with a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail. But, if she were convicted under a federal hate crime statute, she could be sentenced for up to 10years in prison.

I fear that, with the low threshold provided in this bill, the jury trial will be eroded. Prosecutors will inevitably threaten people guilty of the crimes like those committed by Tiffany Harris with trumped up charges in an effort to obtain a plea bargain.

Prosecutors already have enough blank checks. I do not intend on giving them another one.

This is why I have led on criminal justice reform. For too long, Congress ignored the impact of our systems harsh penalties, turning a blind eye as mandatory minimum sentences led to the problem of over-criminalization and mass incarceration. A 10-year sentence for slapping someone is an abomination and the law has already incarcerated too many people unfairly. I am trying to preclude that kind of unintended consequence.

But you dont need to take my word for it. I actually encourage you to take a look at my record and the nearly two dozen justice reform bills Ive authored and co-sponsored In the Senate. But the left would prefer to politicize my record on criminal justice reform contorting facts and quotes to fit a rigid narrative that all Republicans are to blame. That is not only uncalled for, but completely counterproductive to what I thought we all were fighting for.

Instead of personal slander and innuendo you would think a newspaper of record would have the decency to portray my attempts to strengthen the Emmett Till Antilynching Act honestly.

We passed the First Step Act to begin to fix some of the racial disparities in criminal justice.I led that bipartisan effort, first meeting with President Obama and ultimately getting it passed under President Trump.It only happened because partisans put away the slings and arrows of partisanship to address serious inequities in our system.

Is it too much to ask that we try again, in a bipartisan way, to work together to come up with an anti-lynching bill that doesnt unintentionally mete out 10-year sentences for minor altercations?

The terrible act of lynching deserves the most severe penalty we can apply. But the bill as written could potentially define slapping someone as a lynching and thereby eligible for 10years in prison.That is an injustice and the public deserves to know the facts.

We can work together for a better future, or we can continue to divide our nation by hurling unfounded insults and silencing important perspectives that could lead to real progress.No matter how loud the noise gets, no matter what comes my way, I will always continue to work for a more just America.

Rand Paul,a Republican,represents Kentucky in the U.S. Senate.

Read or Share this story: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2020/06/08/anti-lynching-bill-rand-paul-worked-strengthen-bill-not-block/5318469002/

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Rand Paul: I didn't block anti-lynching bill, I attempted to strengthen it - Courier Journal

Dear Friend,

The recent deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are tragedies and injustices. There is no excuse for the actions of those involved, or the abuse of government power that enables tragedies like these.

Since entering the Senate, I have been a leading advocate for criminal justice reform, and you can find a video covering some of my work and statements on this critical issueHERE.

Dr. Rand Paul Introduces Legislation and Senate Rule Change to Enact Congressional Transparency

Too often in Congress, legislation is pushed through without hearings, amendments, or debate.

I firmly believe the American people have a right to be part of the legislative process, and, this week, I reintroduced multiple reforms to improve that process -the Write the Laws Act (filed in the Senate as S. 3904), the One Subject at a Time Act (S. 3845), and the Read the Bills Act (S. 3879), as well as a Read the Bills change to Senate rules and procedure.

The rule change would require the Senate, unless it waives the rule by a three-fifths majority vote after three hours of debate for the American people to see, to wait one legislative day for every 20 pages in a proposed bill before it could hold a vote.

This would help prevent legislation, often totaling hundreds of pages, from being rammed through the Senate at the last minute.

The Write the Laws Act, One Subject at a Time Act, and Read the Bills Act (which would require a seven-day waiting period before voting on legislation) would restore the constitutional principle of separation of powers, end the practice of including more than one subject in a single bill, and preserve the constitutional authority of Congress.

These bills, which I originally introduced in the 112th Congress, will allow citizens sufficient time to read legislation and give input to members of Congress as it considers policies that impact all Americans lives.

I will continue to stand by my pledge to increase transparency and accessibility in the U.S. Senate.

Dr. Rand Paul Helps Military Veteran Receive Honors at Funeral

The novel coronavirus pandemic has changed so much about our daily lives, including some of our most time-honored traditions.

Recently, my team learned that Kentuckian, Vietnam veteran, and Purple Heart recipient James Shaw, who passed away on Saturday, would not be able to receive military honors at his funeral due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

My staff worked together with the Betts & West Funeral Home in Nicholasville, KY, and the VA to make sure this veteran could be recognized for his service, and I'm pleased to report that our efforts were successful, as the Military Freedom Festorganization provided the honors at his service this week.

You can find LEX 18's report on this storyHERE!

Dr. Rand Paul on Justin Walker Nomination Advancing to the Senate Floor

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of Judge Justin Walker's nomination to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, our nation's second most powerful court, and I look forward to his approval by the full Senate soon!

I recommended Judge Walker to the Trump administration for his current seat on the Western Kentucky District Court, and I was honored to introduce him at the Judiciary Committee's hearing on his nomination in May.

Im very pleased that President Trump reached outside the Beltway-to-New York bubble to elevate a judge who is committed to our Constitution, I said at the time.

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Rand Paul's weekly report - The Falmouth Outlook

KENTUCKY-GOVERNOR-HEALTH CARE

Kentucky governor looks to address racial inequities

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) During his first six months in office, Kentucky's governor has juggled dual crises he had no way of anticipating. Now, Gov. Andy Beshear wants to take on racial inequities as he grapples with fallout from the coronavirus and protests over the shooting death of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police. Beshear declared his intent to expand health care coverage to every black Kentuckian, to provide anti-bias training for police and increase the number of black teachers. Beshears focus comes as COVID-19 spreads disproportionately among black Kentuckians, and as Louisville copes with protests demanding justice for Taylor.

JEFFERSON DAVIS STATUE-KENTUCKY

Kentucky panel votes to remove Davis statue from Capitol

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) A Kentucky commission has voted to remove a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis from the state Capitol. The panel supported a push from the governor as the country faces protests against police brutality following the death of a black man who had been pinned down by a Minneapolis police officer. The Historic Properties Advisory Commission voted 11-1 Friday to move the 15-foot (4.5-meter) marble statue of Davis to a state historic site in southern Kentucky where the Confederate leader was born. The decision came two days after another Davis statue was toppled by protesters in Virginia.

POLICE BRUTALITY COMPLAINT

2 teens accuse Kentucky police of brutality

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Two Kentucky teenagers have accused police in Lexington of using too much force during a fraud investigation. Eighteen-year-old Preston Gage Slone and 19-year-old Elena Amayrany Perez told news outlets they were assaulted by Lexington police and a Kentucky State Police trooper when Slone attempted to redeem several U.S. savings bonds at a Chase Bank. Lexington police said the encounter on Tuesday is under review and the agency regrets any fear, anxiety, and injuries" that officers caused. Slone said at one point he was pushed to the ground and felt officers knees on his neck, head and back. Officers determined there was no fraud, and the teens weren't charged.

AMERICA PROTESTS-KENTUCKY-BREONNA TAYLOR

Louisville bans 'no-knocks' after Breonna Taylor's death

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Louisville, Kentucky, has banned the use of controversial no-knock warrants and named the new ordinance for Breonna Taylor. She was fatally shot by Louisville officers who burst into her home in March. The citys Metro Council unanimously voted Thursday night to ban the controversial warrants after days of protests and calls for reform. Taylor was shot eight times by officers on March 13 conducting a narcotics investigation. No drugs were found at her home. Her mother, Tamika Palmer, said the new law will save lives. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul also introduced federal legislation Thursday that would ban the use of the warrants nationwide.

JEFFERSON DAVIS STATUE-KENTUCKY

Kentucky governor seeks vote to oust Davis bust from Capitol

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) Kentuckys governor has asked a state commission to vote to remove a statue of Jefferson Davis from the Capitols Rotunda, a day after another statue of the Confederate president was toppled by protesters in Virginia. Gov. Andy Beshears request comes amid a rapidly unfolding protest movement to pull down Confederate monuments around the U.S. after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minnesota. The Davis statue is one of several in the Rotunda and is located not far from a bronze likeness of Abraham Lincoln. Both Civil War adversaries were born in Kentucky.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-FOREST SERVICE

Developed campgrounds reopen in Daniel Boone National Forest

WINCHESTER, Ky. (AP) Developed campgrounds within the Daniel Boone National Forest are reopening to visitors after being temporarily shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Forest Service said in a statement that campsites were available to visitors beginning on Thursday. Restroom facilities were open, but the agency said some amenities could be limited and suggested calling ahead. Visitor centers and swimming sites remain closed. The Forest Service says it is reopening sites as it assesses facility cleanliness, maintenance status, and health and safety. Other recreation sites including Red River Gorge, picnic areas and shooting ranges had already reopened.

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Latest Kentucky news, sports, business and entertainment at 3:20 pm EDT - WYMT News