Palestine: Injured children could come to NI for treatment
The story was first reported in the Irish News.Health Minister Mike Nesbitt had previously expressed his support for the scheme.The urgent procedure mechanism would mean the plan is not required to go to the whole executive for approval.The Executive Office and the Department of Health have both been contacted for comment.
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The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘Ozempic for dogs' may be the next big thing in pet health
With the runaway success of drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro effectively helping humans slim down, researchers and biotech firms are now sniffing out a new frontier: weight-loss drugs for dogs. With up to 60 per cent of dogs in the UK estimated to be overweight or obese, the market for such drugs could be considerable. Okava, a San Francisco-based bio-pharma company which specialises in pet health, is planning to run trials for a drug designed to mimic the effects of Ozempic, with the goal to produce an implant-version for dogs, which lasts six-months at a time. According to estimates on the company's website, the current market for such a product could be worth $10bn, and they hope to have a canine weight-loss drug available as early as 2028 or 2029. In human weight-loss drugs, the active ingredient in Mounjaro is called tirzepatide, and in Ozempic, it is semaglutide. Both work in similar ways, mimicking a natural hormone called GLP-1. This hormone regulates blood sugar and appetite, ultimately leading people to feel fuller longer and reducing food intake. The challenge for biotech firms is to reproduce that effect in dogs – a species well-known for practically limitless gorging. The hope is that an Ozempic-style drug may reduce dogs' begging behaviour, which many owners find it difficult to resist rewarding. Often, lack of appetite in dogs is associated with illness, meaning developing an effective drug that doesn't appear to make pets seem unwell is a fine balance. One such drug, named Slentrol, was launched in 2007, but did not sell well, partly due to how owners' perceived their pets behaviour when on the medication. Okava's planned implant, called OKV-119, contains a GLP-1 mimic called exenatide. Michael Klotsman, Okava's chief executive, said he hoped dogs' behavioural changes from OKV-119 would be quite different from illness-related appetite loss. 'What owners should expect to see is their pet eating appropriate portions without the previous food obsession – they'll still eat regularly and show interest in meals, just without the excessive begging, scavenging or gulping behaviour,' he told The Guardian. But not all tails are wagging. Vets have suggested that in most cases, dog owners would be better off avoiding obesity in their dogs through more exercise and by restricting their pets' diets. Caroline Allen, Chief Veterinary Officer at the RSPCA told The Independent: 'A healthy diet and exercise is the best way to keep our pets happy and well but we understand that owners can sometimes struggle to manage their pets' weight. There is currently little information about proposed weight-loss implants or vaccinations for animals, and owners shouldn't rely on them becoming available. 'Before resorting to these sorts of interventions, owners should seek help from their vet about how to reduce their pet's weight with a good diet and providing lots of opportunities to exercise and play in ways that their pet will enjoy." She added: 'It may be that weight loss jabs or implants may have a role to play in future in very limited circumstances where animals are clinically unwell, but the best thing we can do is set healthy habits from the start so our pets can live the best life possible.'
BBC News
18 minutes ago
- BBC News
Sultana: Corbyn 'capitulated' on antisemitism definition
Jeremy Corbyn "capitulated" over the definition of antisemitism while leader of the Labour party, fellow MP Zarah Sultana has Labour MPs Corbyn and Sultana launched a new political party less than a month ago, which they said would change politics, and oppose government policy on to the New Left Review, Sultana praised Corbynism's mass appeal, but said he "capitulated" to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism, saying it equated it with criticism from Jewish groups, with the Board of Deputies of British Jews calling her words "a grave insult", Sultana posted on social media that she was a proud anti-Zionist. Asked how the new party would adapt the model of radical politics Corbynism set out a decade ago, Sultana said he had made "a serious mistake" in being too said: "We have to build on the strengths of Corbynism – its energy, mass appeal and bold policy platform – and we also have to recognise its limitations. "It capitulated to the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which famously equates it with anti-Zionism, and which even its lead author Kenneth Stern has now publicly criticised."Sultana added the movement was "frightened and far too conciliatory" when it was attacked and should have recognised that the state and the media "are our class enemies" because, she said, "you cannot give these people an inch".In 2018, Labour's ruling body, the National Executive Committee, agreed to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism into its code of conduct, after months of the time, Jewish groups attacked an accompanying statement saying "this will not in any way undermine freedom of expression on Israel or the rights of Palestinians".The IHRA's working definition of antisemitism is the internationally accepted standard definition, adopted by the government and most British the guidance on its application, it includes holding Jews responsible for Israel's actions, and comparing its policies to those of the Nazis, as antisemitic Stern, who was one of the people involved in drafting the definition, has since criticised how it has been used, including in the UK, to chill free speech, arguing that "anti-Zionists have a right to free expression".However, Labour Against Antisemitism co-director Alex Hearn said Sultana's objection to the definition of antisemitism was "unsurprising given her history", dismissing her as an "extremist"."Without a proper definition, the unlawful harassment suffered by Jews could continue unabated, as it did during Corbyn's tenure of the Labour Party," Mr Hearn said."The three authors of the IHRA definition have stated that Kenneth Stern was not even an author, let alone 'lead author'. "Exaggerating his role is a tactic to give undue weight to his controversial views." Mr Hearn added he hoped Sultana would "remain on the fringes of politics for the remainder of her career, which is where her extremist views belong".The vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Andrew Gilber, said the definition was also "supported by the overwhelming majority of British Jews as it is clear and measured in defining antisemitism"."Calling the recognition of the IHRA definition of antisemitism a 'capitulation' is a grave insult," he said. "Labour's real betrayal under Corbyn was unlawfully harassing and discriminating against Jews. "Those who seek to delegitimise and mis-define the IHRA definition in this way prove themselves to be no friend to the Jewish community and also call into question their wider commitment to anti-racism, the wellbeing of the Jewish community and social cohesion." Responding to the criticism, Sultana posted on X rejecting "smears" and challenging journalists to print that she is "loudly and proudly... an anti-Zionist".In a second post she added: "Legacy media are not our allies. They are the mouthpiece of the ruling class."And how many of them have spoken out against Israel's genocide in Gaza and the direct targeting of Palestinian journalists?"You cannot give these people an inch. Their smears won't work this time."Corbyn's rejection of the IHRA definition was a defining factor in his political downfall from the Labour Party, despite his popularity with many on the left of the stepping down as party leader following his second general election defeat in 2019, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) investigated the party's handling of complaints under his Corbyn rejected the human rights watchdog's critical findings that there had been three breaches of the Equality Act during his tenure, claiming complaints had been "dramatically overstated" by political successor Sir Keir Starmer suspended him from the party and Labour's ruling NEC later banned him from standing for the party in the 2024 general election, leading to him standing as an independent MP.A Labour source said: "The electorate has twice made their view clear about a Jeremy Corbyn-led party."Keir Starmer's Labour Party rightly tore antisemitism out at its roots. Corbyn almost led the party to extinction. We're not going back." Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
Telegraph
18 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Protester arrested over ‘Plasticine Action' T-shirt
A protester has claimed he was arrested for wearing a 'Plasticine Action' T-shirt. Miles Pickering, an engineer from Brighton, was one of 532 people arrested at a demonstration in Parliament Square, central London, on Aug 9. He had been arrested under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which makes it an offence to wear anything supporting a proscribed organisation. Mr Pickering was not wearing clothing supporting Palestine Action, but a T-shirt declaring opposition to 'AI-generated animation' complete with the stop-motion character Morph giving the thumbs up from inside the letter 'O'. Palestine Action was proscribed by the Government in July after admitting that activists broke into RAF Brize Norton. Membership and support of a proscribed group can carry sentences of up to 14 years in prison. The protester later told The Guardian that an officer had glanced at his top and told him 'right, you're nicked' before taking him to Scotland Yard. He said a throng of cheering supporters had gathered by two gazebos where police were processing those arrested. 'They were taking photos of me, and everyone was laughing at how silly it was that I was getting arrested for being a plasticine terrorist,' he said. The engineer claimed a senior officer had enquired about arresting him under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which could have brought a more charge of supporting a proscribed group. But the arresting officer is said to have intervened after noticing the exact wording of the shirt. 'He said: 'I've got good news and I've got bad news.' I said: 'What's the good news?' He said: 'I'm de-arresting you.' 'And I said: 'What's the bad news?' He said: 'It's going to be really embarrassing for me.' And then I walked free, while all the real heroes are the people that are actually getting arrested. Mr Pickering has now started selling the T-shirts to raise money for the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, and hopes to see a number of people wearing them at the next organised protest against the ban on Palestine Action on Sept 6. 'There's people getting on this one, because it kind of works, doesn't it?' he said, adding: 'If 1,000 people wander around the Palestinian march wearing a T-shirt that says Plasticine Action with a picture of Morph, what are they going to do?' More than 700 people have since been arrested for supporting Palestine Action. The Met Police said more than 100 people hauled away by police on Aug 9 were over 70, with the average age of those arrested being 54. Officers arrested 263 men, 261 women and eight people who either defined themselves as non-binary or did not disclose their gender. Those arrested included Moazzam Begg, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee who was once accused of being a member of al-Qaeda. In June, Joe Farley was arrested at a silent demonstration in Leeds for holding a sign that displayed a joke from Private Eye. Ian Hislop, the satirical magazine's editor, described the 67-year-old's arrest as 'mind-boggling'. Last month, Sir Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognise Palestinian statehood unless Israel agreed to a lasting ceasefire, granted entry to hundreds of aid trucks and signed up to a two-state solution.
