Freed British-Israeli hostage says Starmer ‘risks rewarding terror’
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Woman dying of cancer sent to osteopath by her mum, inquest told
Paloma Shemirani, 23, had declined chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She suffered a fatal heart attack caused by her tumour at the Royal Sussex County Hospital last July. She visited osteopath Nick Gosset on instructions of her mother Kate. He told her inquest he felt “deeply aggrieved” he had been put in a professional position of trying to treat Paloma when there was clear advice from her GP to go to A&E. He said any referral to a GP was “refused” and all suggestions of going through medical channels were “dismissed” Paloma’s twin brother Gabriel also asked her: “Did you explicitly tell her this will not treat her cancer?” She replied: “I never said I was treating her cancer”
Image source, Gabriel & Sebastian Shemirani Image caption, The 23-year-old, from Uckfield in East Sussex, died from a heart attack caused by her tumour
Author, Nathan Bevan Role, BBC News, South East Author, Sara Smith Role, BBC News, South East
3 hours ago
An osteopath who saw a woman with cancer shortly before her death has told her inquest he had “never seen anything like” her case in 43 years of practice.
Paloma Shemirani, 23, who had declined chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, suffered a fatal heart attack caused by her tumour at the Royal Sussex County Hospital last July.
Days before, she visited Nick Gosset on the instructions of her mother Kate, a prominent online Covid conspiracy theorist who had been involved in her “treatment programme”.
Mr Gosset told the hearing in Maidstone that he felt “deeply aggrieved” he had been put in a professional position of trying to treat Paloma when there was clear advice from her GP to go to A&E.
He told the hearing on Wednesday that Paloma, a Cambridge graduate who was originally from Uckfield, East Sussex, had come to him complaining about shortness of breath and that he could only offer her palliative treatment at that stage as she was “clearly very ill”.
“My understanding was this was an advanced disease process that she was no longer winning,” he said.
“It was obvious to me I was not the right person to be treating her and I made it very clear there were more qualified agencies that would (help her).
“She was very upset by that.”
Mr Gosset said that any referral to a GP was “refused” and all suggestions of going through “normal medical channels” were “dismissed”.
He explained he would have offered to treat her again in the vain hope of possibly persuading her to seek help elsewhere, adding he had been “horrified” to learn she had subsequently died.
Also at the inquest was Linda Scotson who said she was qualified in hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
She said Paloma had not been sure she had cancer and was aiming to “improve her immediate quality of life”, after which she had claimed to feel “better in herself”.
Asked by Kate Shemirani if she had seen others in Paloma’s situation coming to her centre, Ms Scotson replied: “We have people with a whole variety of problems, such as ME, Long Covid, sprains and fractures.
“It’s amazing what a little extra oxygen can do for the body. You are lifting stress.”
Paloma’s twin brother Gabriel also asked her: “Did you explicitly tell her this will not treat her cancer?”
Ms Scotson said: “She knew it wasn’t treating her cancer in a direct way. I was treating her whole body and her wellbeing.”
When asked by Gabriel if she had left it “deliberately vague”, she replied: “I never said I was treating her cancer and she wasn’t certain that she had cancer.”
The inquest continues.
Warwick councillor deactivated social media after online abuse
‘I will not be silenced by sexist abuse online’ says Councillor Becky Davidson. Warwick district councillor received hundreds of misogynistic and sexist comments online. Green Party councillor said she made the decision to deactivate her social media after she received abuse last year. She called out people leaving negative comments on her TikTok and Instagram, by telling them their posts were inappropriate and unacceptable. “It’s OK to have a debate, but hatred comes from a fear of not understanding,” she said. “I always said once I got elected I’m going to wear what I’ve always worn. Because I’m not a career politician – I am a local resident who cares about her community”
Image source, Handout Image caption, Councillor Becky Davidson said she had received hundreds of misogynistic and sexist comments online
Author, Shannen Headley Role, BBC News, West Midlands
3 hours ago
A councillor who deactivated her social media accounts after receiving hate messages has said women’s voices are being silenced by abuse.
Becky Davidson posted her first video online after a one-year hiatus and has again received hundreds of negative and sexist comments.
The Warwick district councillor said in the past she had received misogynistic comments – including being told to “go back into the kitchen” as well as inappropriate references to her body parts.
She told the BBC: “It’s done purposefully, to belittle me, to make me feel embarrassed, make me not want to speak up again because they’re trying to quieten my voice.”
The Green Party councillor said she made the decision to deactivate her social media after she received abuse last year.
“I thought I don’t need to be online, it doesn’t matter – but why do women need to come off to protect themselves?
“They’re losing their voice online and that’s not fair.”
Davidson said she first tried to turn off the comments – but realised it meant people that supported her would not be able to interact with her.
She said: “I did my first video, updating people on a local political situation and I was expressing my views and feelings about it.
“Then came hundreds of comments on my appearance, a lot of name calling, referring to parts of body, what I was wearing – calling me a woman of the night.
“It was just removing the attention from the issue I was talking about and making it about my body and what I was wearing.”
Image caption, Councillor Becky Davidson told the BBC she will not let abuse online silence her voice
Davidson said she called out people leaving negative comments on her TikTok and Instagram, by telling them their posts were inappropriate and unacceptable.
She said: “I thought what they’re doing is not OK, and I will not be silenced.”
Speaking on negative comments she had received about her dress sense, she added: “I always said once I got elected I’m going to wear what I’ve always worn.
“Because I’m not a career politician – I am a local resident who cares about her community.
“It’s OK to have a debate, but hatred comes from a fear of not understanding.
“If you feel this way about women and feel they don’t belong in public, politics, football – why?
“What is it that you’re threatened by women taking up space?”
To play this content, please enable JavaScript, or try a different browser Audio caption Listen on BBC Sounds: ‘I didn’t want to see or wear that dress ever again.’
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Belfast TradFest: Hundreds in traditional music flash mob bring park to life
Hundreds in traditional music flash mob bring park to life. Over 900 musicians gathered in Belfast city centre to play traditional music on Wednesday. Artistic Director of Belfast Tradfest Dónal O’Connor led the 900 strong group in a rendition of ‘The Blarney Pilgrim’Thousands of people are expected in Belfast for the week-long celebration of Irish traditional music. The Belfast TradFest summer school is taking place in Ulster University’s Belfast campus. It is now in its seventh year, and runs until 3 August, and is open to musicians of all ages, skill levels and skill levels, from five to 85 years of age. For more information, visit BelfastTradFest.org.
Image caption, Over 900 musicians gathered in Belfast city centre to play traditional music on Wednesday
Author, Alexandra Rosbotham Role, BBC News NI
2 hours ago
Hundreds of musicians have taken part in an outdoor traditional music session in Belfast city centre as part of the city’s Tradfest events.
The usually calm and quiet Cathedral Gardens quickly transformed with a joyful jig performed by over 900 traditional musicians in a spontaneous flash mob on Wednesday morning.
The musicians of all ages and skill levels who took part are attending the Belfast TradFest summer school, taking place in Ulster University’s Belfast campus.
Thousands of people are expected in Belfast for the week-long celebration of Irish traditional music.
Image caption, Dónal O’Connor is a traditional musician and Artistic Director of Belfast Tradfest
Belfast TradFest, now in its seventh year, is running until 3 August.
The Artistic Director of Belfast Tradfest Dónal O’Connor led the 900 strong group in a rendition of ‘The Blarney Pilgrim’.
“We thought it would be a nice idea to have a spontaneous session and bring the students out of their classrooms and come together to play a tune, dance and sing together.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in the company of so many traditional musicians in one place, and the beauty of the summer school is that there are people of all ages, from five years old, to our oldest student being 85.”
He added: “Traditional music brings people together, with young people learning from the old and old learning from the young”.
Image caption, Musicians of all ages gathered in Cathedral Gardens on Wednesday
Mr O’Connor also explained the intentional choice behind the tune “The Blarney Pilgrim”.
“It made famous by the band Planxty in the 70s, but is often a tune that many people learn at the early stages of their music learning career, it is a brilliant unifier.”
Image caption, Éimear has been playing the flute for nine years
Éimear, 21, has been playing the flute for nine years and said it “has been great to see everyone of all ages and all abilities come together to play a tune”.
Nellie, a summer school student, told BBC News NI the importance of the music.
“I live in England and have come over specifically for TradFest. I come from a very musical family and just love playing and listening to traditional music.”
“Trad music for me is a way to communicate. I can go in to any pub and have something in common with someone else there, it creates an instant human connection over a shared love.”
Image caption, Eimhear from Portadown took up the harp after being inspired by family members who also play the instrument
Family influence also plays a big part in many of the young people’s journeys with their instruments.
Which is the case for Eimhear, 13, from Portadown who has been playing the harp for four years.
Families of Israeli Hostages Condemn UK Plan to Recognize Palestine
U.K. will recognize Palestinian state this September unless Israel meets specific conditions. Emily Damari, a British-Israeli citizen who was held hostage by Hamas for 471 days before her release in January, said she was “deeply saddened” by the U.K’s position. The Board of Deputies of British Jews said it was seeking clarification that Britain would not recognize statehood while Hamas continued to hold hostages and reject ceasefire terms. An estimated 50 hostages remain in Gaza, 29 of whom are believed to be deceased, according to the Israeli government. The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank and represents the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), welcomed Starmer’s announcement. Hamas has not formally responded but welcomed France’s similar proposal last week, Hamas reiterated its desire to see an independent Palestinian state “all occupied lands,” a phrase broadly interpreted as including all of present-day Israel. The two-state solution is widely viewed by the international community as the most viable path to lasting peace.
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“This move does not advance peace—it risks rewarding terror,” she said. “It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy.” TIME has approached Damari for comment. The announcement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer has triggered sharp responses both domestically and from within the global Jewish community. The Board of Deputies of British Jews, a leading U.K. Jewish organization, said it was seeking clarification that Britain would not recognize Palestinian statehood while Hamas continued to hold hostages and reject ceasefire terms.
Damari was taken from her home in the Kfar Aza kibbutz during the October 7 Hamas terror attack that killed more than 1,200 people and led to the kidnapping of roughly 250 others. She was shot in the leg and hand during her abduction. Her release in January this year came as part of a temporary ceasefire that saw 30 hostages freed.
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The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents relatives of those still being held in Gaza, echoed Damari’s concerns, calling the U.K. move a “clear violation of international law.” “If the international community truly desires peace, it must join U.S. efforts by demanding first the release of all hostages, followed by an end to the fighting,” the group said in a statement Wednesday. An estimated 50 hostages remain in Gaza, 29 of whom are believed to be deceased, according to the Israeli government. U.K. joins other nations in move towards recognizing Palestinian state Starmer announced on Tuesday that the U.K. would move to formally recognize Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, unless Israel halts military operations in Gaza, agrees to a ceasefire, and takes steps toward a sustainable two-state solution. He also urged Hamas to release all hostages, disarm, and forgo any role in governing Gaza.
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Recognition would mark a significant shift in British foreign policy and align the U.K. with growing European momentum behind Palestinian statehood. France made a similar pledge last week, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot hailing the U.K.’s decision as part of a broader push to “break the endless cycle of violence” and “reopen the prospect of peace in the region.” Ireland, which already recognizes Palestine, welcomed the development. “We need aid to flow, release of hostages and a viable two-state solution,” Tánaiste Simon Harris said Tuesday. The growing push for recognition—largely driven by outcry over Israel’s ongoing military campaign, mounting civilian casualties, and the stalled peace process—marks a critical turning point in international engagement with the conflict. The two-state solution—establishing independent Israeli and Palestinian states side by side—is widely viewed by the international community as the most viable path to lasting peace.
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In total, nearly 150 U.N. member states now recognize Palestine, but the backing of major Western powers like the U.K. and France adds new weight to the initiative. If implemented, Britain and France would become the first G7 nations to formalize recognition. Palestine recognition plan draws international support and condemnation The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank and represents the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), welcomed Starmer’s announcement. Hussein al-Sheikh, vice president of the PLO, called the U.K. move “a confirmation of commitment to international law and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.” Hamas has not formally responded to the U.K. statement but welcomed Macron’s similar proposal last week. In that statement, Hamas reiterated its desire to see an independent Palestinian state on “all occupied lands”—a phrase broadly interpreted as including all of present-day Israel.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a scathing rebuke, accusing Starmer of rewarding “Hamas’s monstrous terrorism and punishing its victims.”
“A jihadist state on Israel’s border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW,” he said.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the British decision undermined ceasefire negotiations and the ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages.
U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, warning that pressuring Israel would amount to “rewarding Hamas,” though he stopped short of directly criticizing the U.K.
Angola’s petrol protest death toll rises to 22 as medics overwhelmed
At least 22 people, including a police officer, have been killed and 200 others injured in protests against a rise in the price of fuel. Interior Minister Manuel Homem says 1,200 people have also been arrested in what began as a strike by taxi drivers against the price hike. Doctors at public hospitals in the capital, Luanda, say they have been overwhelmed over the last 24 hours. President João Lourenço had downplayed concerns over the decision to raise the cost of diesel by more than 33%. It was introduced in early July as part of plans to remove fuel subsidies in the oil-rich nation. The opposition Patriotic United Front (FPU) said it stood in solidarity with “all layers of society currently experiencing the effects of the severe economic and social crisis Angola is facing” A British passenger told the BBC they were told it was due to the “political situation” in Angola.
Image source, EPA Image caption, These are the most widespread wave of protests the country has witnessed in recent years.
Author, Israel Campos Role, in Luanda
1 hour ago
At least 22 people, including a police officer, have been killed and 200 others injured in protests against a rise in the price of fuel that began on Monday, Interior Minister Manuel Homem has said.
Police say more than 1,200 people have also been arrested in what began as a strike by taxi drivers against the price hike and then escalated into one of the most widespread and disruptive waves of protest the country has seen in recent years.
Businesses, including major supermarkets, remain closed and many people have opted to stay at home.
Doctors at public hospitals in the capital, Luanda – who asked not to be named – told the BBC emergency services had been overwhelmed over the last 24 hours.
On Monday and Tuesday sporadic gunfire was heard across the city.
“We have received many protesters with serious injuries, including multiple traumas. Sadly, some have died. We fear the death toll may be higher than the official figures suggest,” one doctor said.
Homem issued his statement after a cabinet meeting chaired by President João Lourenço on Wednesday.
“In the past two days, we have witnessed actions that amount to acts of vandalism and endanger public security in the provinces of Luanda, Huambo, Benguela and Huíla. However, we want to inform citizens that the overall public security situation in the country remains stable,” the minister said.
Many buildings had been looted or destroyed across the country, including supermarkets, shops and banks, he added.
Ambulances, buses and private vehicles have also been damaged during the unrest.
“The acts carried out by the protesters, worsened by the presence of infiltrators with criminal intentions, show that the phenomenon has gone beyond a mere demand and now represents a threat to public order,” the presidency said in a post on Facebook on Wednesday.
Earlier President Lourenço had downplayed concerns over the decision to raise the price of diesel by more than 33%. It was introduced in early July as part of plans to remove fuel subsidies in the oil-rich nation.
He told CNN Portugal the protesters were using petrol prices as a pretext to undermine the government.
Image source, AFP/Getty Images Image caption, This supermarket in Luanda was looted during the protest
The taxi unions – which called a three-day strike – have distanced themselves from the looting and destruction, stating they do not support such actions.
On Tuesday night, a flight from Frankfurt to Luanda was cancelled. A British passenger told the BBC they were told it was due to the “political situation” in Angola.
A Lufthansa spokesperson confirmed the cancellation, saying “safety and security for our passengers and crew has top priority”.
Several consulates and embassies have issued security warnings to foreign nationals. The US embassy advised “US citizens to remain vigilant and limit non-essential movement within Luanda”.
In the capital, long queues have formed at petrol stations as citizens try to refuel and stock up on essential goods.
Police officers are deployed across the city and there are also many military and police vehicles on the streets.
Opposition coalition the Patriotic United Front (FPU) said it stood in solidarity with “all layers of society currently experiencing the effects of the severe economic and social crisis Angola is facing”.
It added this “was a result of public policies disconnected from our country’s reality, poor governance, corruption and the government’s lack of human sensitivity”.
However, the FPU also said it “strongly condemned” the acts of destruction of public and private property carried out by protesters.
The rise in petrol prices has pushed up fares for urban Angolans who rely on taxis and has also driven up the price of staple foods and other basics – as suppliers who transport those goods by road are passing on their additional costs to consumers.
More BBC stories on Angola:
Image source, Getty Images/BBC
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.