Latest news with #Siobhan
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I am a surgeon in Gaza – food aid points are designed to be death traps'
Five Gaza experts including a senior British medic and community leaders leaders speak out after Israeli forces killed 116 aid seekers at food points in the deadliest day for civilian deaths Siobhan McNally is a Senior Features Writer for the Mirror and Sunday Mirror – in print and online. Previously she was a columnist and edited the Community Column at the Mirror. Now back in London after 25 years in Winchester – complete with travelling circus of two cats, one ancient pug and a grumpy teenager – Siobhan specialises in general interest national stories, nostalgia, history and music. Also has a passion for quirky, fun foodie ideas and a sudden age-related interest in gardening. Get in touch with ideas and stories to Professor Nick Maynard, consultant gastrointestinal surgeon at Oxford University Hospital I've been operating on trauma injuries in Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis, for the last four weeks. My health care colleagues from Gaza have described the aid points as death traps designed to create chaos and incite rioting. This is my third trip to Gaza since October 7 – and although many things are similar in terms of air strikes, what is different is the rise in the number of shootings at the food distribution points. We're several km away from the aid sites – we're the nearest hospital and all the people come to us. Food is kept in a compound which is locked, and they wait until hundreds of aid seekers have collected and then open up a very narrow gate, and then there's just complete chaos and everyone fighting for food. An anaesthetist colleague of mine from Gaza rushed down to the food site in between operations to get food for his family, came back covered in cuts and bruises because of the rioting. All of our surgeons have seen a pattern of injuries among predominantly – but not exclusively – young teenage males who are sent by their starving families to get food. They seem to be targeting different body parts on different days. Some days they come in with gunshot wounds to the head or the neck, the next day the chest, the next, the abdomen. Nine days ago we saw four small, four young teenagers who had all been shot in the testicles at the same time. I have seen all abdominal and chest injuries – that's what I operate on – and terrible injuries to the pancreas, duodenum, bowel, you name it. So the pattern is a very clear pattern of targeting and it's almost like they're playing a game. I'm getting identical descriptions from people of Israeli soldiers just shooting indiscriminately at people, I've been told they're using artificial intelligence, and remotely controlled hovering quadcopters with four rotors and cameras and guns attached. A friend of mine who's a theatre nurse at Nasser Hospital was shot last year when a quadcopter came into the operating theatre and shot him in the chest. As well as the teenage boys, I've seen women in tents near the food distribution centre and they describe quadcopters firing indiscriminately at all the tents. One woman was three months pregnant and another was breastfeeding her three-month-old baby at the time. It is inconceivable to me that these are collateral damage. This is deliberate targeting and what all of us have witnessed. This is not a famine. It is mass extermination Omar Abdel-Mannan, founder of Health Workers 4 Palestine As we speak, Gaza is being deliberately starved. Today, ambulances across the Strip turned on their sirens in unison – a collective cry for help from a population pushed to the brink. The majority of the territory is now classified as Category 5: the most severe level of food insecurity. Even if aid were allowed in today, many would still die. This is not a famine. It is mass extermination. What's happening in Gaza is not just enabled by Israel – it is facilitated by its allies. And the UK is complicit. It continues to supply Israel with components for F-35 fighter jets – the very aircraft used to flatten homes, hospitals, and refugee camps. British-made parts are helping to slaughter civilians. This is not neutrality; it's active participation. History will judge this moment. And those in power – including Keir Starmer – will not be absolved. They will be remembered as enablers of war crimes. Inside Gaza, doctors are being assassinated, detained, tortured – over 1,500 killed to date and over 400 detained illegally. This is a systematic erasure of a healthcare system – the murder of those who save lives. Meanwhile, in the UK, medics who speak out face career-threatening smear campaigns and regulatory complaints driven by pro-Israel lobby groups. NHS England has already confirmed that antisemitism is covered under the Equality Act, yet the Health Secretary is now interfering with the independence of the regulator to appease political allies. We must end this complicity. We must fight for a future where Palestinian health workers – those who have risked everything – are not only protected, but empowered to lead the rebuilding of their shattered health system. That means Palestinian-led healthcare. That means sovereignty, dignity, and justice. • Voices of Solidarity, which took place on Saturday 19 July, was the UK's largest cultural fundraiser for Palestine, raising money for the Health Workers 4 Palestine (HW4P) Solidarity Fund. Proceeds go towards life-saving healthcare on the ground and supporting health workers under siege – The waste of human lives is sickening Laura Janner-Klausner, former senior rabbi to Reform Judaism and rabbi of Bromley Reform Synagogue We need world leaders to step in and help us get out of this sickening situation. The Israeli government, Hamas, Islamic Jihad – who are also holding hostages – should be applying pressure to stop immediately what they are doing, to ensure there is safe and sufficient humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, getting directly to the Gazans who desperately need it. Release all the hostages, stop the attacks – on both sides. That's for the short term. In the medium term, we need an honourable, quick divorce so there is an end of war, not just a shaky ceasefire. And in the long term, we need to live together: two peoples. Separation has not helped us in the past, and we need responsible adults back in the room who can set aside their hatred for each other and work together to stop the senseless violence. The vast majority of British Jews are absolutely distraught about what is happening in Gaza. The waste of human lives is sickening. An Israeli child and a Palestinian child are the same. Sick and injured people need full medical care wherever they live. Food is food, and people are starving. Both sides are dehumanising each other, but they need to find a way to live together. International community has failed to deliver Tufail Hussain, director of Islamic Relief UK Today's latest atrocities in Gaza are beyond cruel. Desperate, starving people should never be targeted, yet the Israeli military continues to do so. It is heartbreaking to see people who want to feed themselves and their families being heartlessly murdered. This is a man-made catastrophe that the international community could have put a stop to by now. This latest barbarity will once again be condemned, but without political action to demand a ceasefire, lift the siege of Gaza and force Israel to let international aid in, then these condemnations are hollow. For almost two years, aid agencies and human rights groups have been demanding a ceasefire, which the international community has failed to deliver. They must now finally take action to prevent the future horrors that will be inflicted upon the Palestinian people. They are kettling desperate, starving people Brian Brivtai, CEO of the Britain Palestine Project The whole Israeli campaign in Gaza is entirely disproportionate to any kind of self defence. The purposeful targeting of civilians, and the starvation of a population, are crimes against humanity. Recent developments are incredibly disturbing. First, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid operation, which concentrates people in smaller and smaller areas, has basically created shooting galleries. They are kettling people who are desperate and starving, who see food and try and get it, and who then are being shot dead. But Israel's plan for a 'humanitarian city' is the most terrifying development of all. If you concentrate 2 million people in a single, tiny location, and deny them the means to life because you've destroyed their hospitals and reduced the amount of food you're giving them, then you are intentionally committing genocidal acts. Israel wants to reduce the Palestinian part of Gaza to an absolutely minimum geographical area, and they are going to flatten the rest of it, then annex it. We laughed at Trump's suggestion of the Gaza Riviera, but I think that's what we are going to see happen. All the British government needs to do is obey international law, not more than that. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has deemed it plausible that Israel is creating a plausible case for genocide, and it's our responsibility under that amendment to prevent it. Not to wait until Israel has killed 200,000, 300,000 Palestinians, but to act to prevent it now.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Celebrity Catchphrase stumps Derry Girls legend with the final image – but could you have got it?
CELEBRITY Catchphrase has caught out another famous face with a Derry Girls legend getting stumped in the final round. Siobhan McSweeney, who played Sister George Michael in the beloved Channel 4 comedy, appeared on the ITV gameshow hosted by Stephen Mulhern in a bid to raise money for charity. 4 Siobhan was left dumbstruck by this tricky question Credit: ITV 4 Despite missing out on the answer, Siobhan still took out £25,000 Credit: ITV The episode, which first aired in 2023, saw Siobhan go head-to-head against EastEnders' star Charlie Brooks and Coronation Street's Dev Alahan actor Jimmi Harkishin in the 'say what you see' guessing game. After making it through to the final round, Siobhan had her skills put to one final test, going against the clock to answer questions on the catchphrase pyramid. Unfortunately, she stumbled right at the Super Catchphrase final question – but would you have any luck? In the clue, three people are exercising next to each other, but while two are doing quite well, a third is looking sad and struggling to keep up and working on bicep curls. READ MORE CATCHPHRASE On the floor is a painted triangle, square, and circle. Do you get it? Siobhan was unfortunately unable to figure it out in the timeframe, though didn't go home empty handed, earning an incredible £25,000 in the final round. Add that to the £4,500 she had collected already, and that meant she was able to give £29,500 to North London's Maya Centre – a specialist charity offering counselling and holistic support to low-income and minoritised women. Most read in TV After the game was over, host Stephen asked her if she wanted to know what she'd missed out on – but it had already clicked for her. Without the pressure of the clock against her, Siobhan correctly guessed the answer was "Out Of Shape" – as the person struggling was standing outside of the circle in front of them. Watch the moment Nadine Coyle misses out on huge £50k Celebrity Catchphrase prize On top of earning some serious cash for her own charity, Siobhan managed to answer the special double question – meaning that Charlie and Jimmi both got their pot doubled too. Jimmi donated his money Baby Lifeline - which supports frontline NHS staff to prevent injuries and deaths in and around childbirth – while Charlie raised money for breast cancer charity, Future Dreams. 4 The star realised what it meant after the clock ran out Credit: ITV 4 The star was left stumped by the question Credit: ITV
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Celebrity Catchphrase stumps Derry Girls legend with the final image – but could you have got it?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CELEBRITY Catchphrase has caught out another famous face with a Derry Girls legend getting stumped in the final round. Siobhan McSweeney, who played Sister George Michael in the beloved Channel 4 comedy, appeared on the ITV gameshow hosted by Stephen Mulhern in a bid to raise money for charity. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Siobhan was left dumbstruck by this tricky question Credit: ITV 4 Despite missing out on the answer, Siobhan still took out £25,000 Credit: ITV The episode, which first aired in 2023, saw Siobhan go head-to-head against EastEnders' star Charlie Brooks and Coronation Street's Dev Alahan actor Jimmi Harkishin in the 'say what you see' guessing game. After making it through to the final round, Siobhan had her skills put to one final test, going against the clock to answer questions on the catchphrase pyramid. Unfortunately, she stumbled right at the Super Catchphrase final question – but would you have any luck? In the clue, three people are exercising next to each other, but while two are doing quite well, a third is looking sad and struggling to keep up and working on bicep curls. On the floor is a painted triangle, square, and circle. Do you get it? Siobhan was unfortunately unable to figure it out in the timeframe, though didn't go home empty handed, earning an incredible £25,000 in the final round. Add that to the £4,500 she had collected already, and that meant she was able to give £29,500 to North London's Maya Centre – a specialist charity offering counselling and holistic support to low-income and minoritised women. After the game was over, host Stephen asked her if she wanted to know what she'd missed out on – but it had already clicked for her. Without the pressure of the clock against her, Siobhan correctly guessed the answer was "Out Of Shape" – as the person struggling was standing outside of the circle in front of them. Watch the moment Nadine Coyle misses out on huge £50k Celebrity Catchphrase prize On top of earning some serious cash for her own charity, Siobhan managed to answer the special double question – meaning that Charlie and Jimmi both got their pot doubled too. Jimmi donated his money Baby Lifeline - which supports frontline NHS staff to prevent injuries and deaths in and around childbirth – while Charlie raised money for breast cancer charity, Future Dreams. 4 The star realised what it meant after the clock ran out Credit: ITV
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
New tartan unveiled for Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026
The official tartan, designed by award-winning Scottish fashion designer Siobhan Mackenzie, was launched by the Glasgow 2026 Organising Company and has been registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans. Siobhan has made a name for herself reinventing classic tartans into contemporary fashion, with her designs having previously been worn by huge stars such as Justin Bieber and Alan Cumming. She said: "I feel honoured to be designing a tartan for such a momentous occasion in my home country. "When I graduated as a fashion design student in 2014, I took on a role as a tailoring technician for the technical officials of The Games. "At that point, designing the official tartan for the Games seemed like a pipedream, so this is truly a full circle moment. "I love weaving stories into tartan design, and while many people might be expecting a blue or green base, I looked at Glasgow's rich history and felt inspired by the shipbuilding stories. "This led to a steel grey base with the Glasgow 2026 colours woven through in my signature style. "It's incredibly important to me that every thread of this project is made in Scotland, and I'll be working with local textiles and manufacturers to bring this design to life. "I can't wait to see it across next year's Games.' Read more: Team Scotland to wear Adidas gear for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games The tartan features Glasgow 2026's blue, pink, and purple colours on a steel grey background, reflecting the city's industrial heritage. A thread count of 74 represents the nations and territories taking part in the Games, while the dark blue section has been increased to 26 in homage to the Games which will take place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2. (Image: Supplied) (Image: Supplied) The tartan will feature on the clothing of the Games' new mascot and will be manufactured in Scotland using local textiles. Official Glasgow 2026 tartan merchandise will also be made available for fans. Read more: Sports venue undergoing 'major upgrades' for Commonwealth Games Phil Batty OBE, chief executive of Glasgow 2026, said: "Designing and creating tartan is a revered part of Scotland's heritage, and we're honoured that Siobhan Mackenzie is weaving it into Glasgow 2026's story with a bespoke Games tartan, designed in Scotland. "Siobhan is an expert in her field and has collaborated closely with us throughout the production process. "This special tartan draws inspiration from Glasgow's Clyde-built history, and she has carefully selected the threads of wool to celebrate the Games with this one-off tartan. "As Glasgow 2026 fast approaches with our one-year-to-go milestone next week, this tartan is a sign of what's to come next summer and will be part of the fabric of Glasgow 2026 across the city."
Wales Online
12-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
'Caution needed' as HMRC sends letters to four million taxpayers
'Caution needed' as HMRC sends letters to four million taxpayers A financial expert has issued a warning as people are due to receive correspondence from HMRC Scammers use the opportunity to target people who are expecting a genuine letter (Image: coldsnowstorm via Getty Images ) HMRC is issuing P800 tax calculation letters to four million Brits who may have overpaid income tax, including PAYE employees and pensioners who may have been taxed incorrectly. But as these refund letters land on doormats, scammers are seizing the opportunity to pose as HMRC, tricking unsuspecting people into clicking phishing links or handing over personal information. That's according to experts at Ocean Finance, who have carried out new research involving 1,500 UK adults. The firm said that it found one in three (38%) had either been scammed or know someone who has. One in five (20%) said they worried about fraudsters posing as trusted organisations like banks, energy firms, or government departments. It also found that the risk was growing - 20% of Brits admitted they'd click on a suspicious link, making them easy targets for phishing scams. According to Action Fraud, in the year to July 9 alone, 367,456 reports of cybercrime and fraud were made in the UK, with £2.8bn lost to scammers. Siobhan Blagbrough, financial crime manager at Ocean Finance, said: 'Scammers know tax refund letters are landing this summer, which gives them the perfect cover. People waiting for a rebate are much more likely to believe a text or email asking them to 'claim now'. 'But HMRC will never call, text, or email you unexpectedly about a refund. If you're owed money, you'll either get a cheque in the post or be asked to claim it through your online tax account at Article continues below 'Overpayments can happen for a few different reasons. You might have been on the wrong tax code - this often happens if HMRC has outdated information about your income. It's also common if you've changed jobs and were paid by two employers in the same month. Some people find they've overpaid after starting to receive a workplace or private pension, or if they've received benefits like Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance. 'If you weren't expecting a message - don't click, don't reply, and don't share your details. Fraudsters often use pressure tactics, spoofed numbers, and fake websites to trick people. If something feels off, trust your gut and report it using HMRC's phishing scam form. A few seconds of caution could save you thousands.' What to do if you've been scammed Contact your bank or card provider: Siobhan said: 'Your bank can block your card, investigate, and potentially refund your money. The quicker you act, the better.' Request a chargeback: Siobhan said: 'If you paid via debit card, chargeback could help you recover your money. This process allows you to dispute an unauthorised transaction and request a refund.' Report the scam: Siobhan said: 'Contact Action Fraud to help authorities track down criminals and prevent future scams.' Update your passwords: Siobhan said: 'If scammers got hold of your login details, change your passwords immediately. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication. Over half of Brits (53%) use the same password across multiple accounts*, leaving them wide open to hackers.' Article continues below Aaron Peake, personal finance expert at credit score service CredAbility, added: 'A scam won't directly hit your credit score, but the financial damage might. Missed repayments or loans taken out in your name can leave marks on your credit file and make it harder to get a mortgage, loan, or credit card in the future. Set up spending alerts and use services like CredAbility and TotallyMoney to monitor your credit for anything suspicious.'
