doctors

Michelle Gayle played Hattie Tavernier in the BBC One soap and also had a pop career – and, unbelievably, she hardly seems to have changed more than 30 years later

EastEnders’ Michelle Gayle appears to have defied the ageing process, looking as youthful as ever despite her stint on the BBC One soap being more than three decades ago. The London-born actress, now 54 years old, was part of the groundbreaking Tavernier family – the first Black family to join the soap.

Her character, Hattie, was a waitress and then Ian Beale’s PA at his catering company, The Meal Machine. She was a hit with EastEnders viewers, navigating through intense storylines involving miscarriage and sexual harassment – famously kneeing Ian in the groin. She also frequently clashed with Cindy, Ian’s wife, who was jealous of their close working relationship.

But the star left Albert Square in 1993 to pursue a music career, enjoying seven top 40 singles on the UK Singles Chart, including hits like Sweetness, Looking Up and Do You Know. She also released two top 40 albums before parting ways with her record company in 1997.

Michelle stepped out at a charity ball last year, looking super-glamorous as she sported a black satin dress paired with a chic black bag, red lipstick and gold earrings, posing against a beautiful floral backdrop.

Previously, Michelle had set X, formerly Twitter, buzzing with her age-defying photos, prompting comments such as: “I’ve literally just had to google how old you are……as you look about 20! ! You look amazing! ! X,” and, “There is no way you’re in the 50+ bracket! ! My goodness.”

She went on to appear on stage at Mighty Hoopla 2024 at London’s Brockwell Park, singing a few of her biggest hits.

After EastEnders, Michelle made a return to television, making guest appearances on Doctors and Holby City, before landing a role in Channel 5’s short-lived soap Family Affairs in 2005. She’s also been a familiar face on various reality TV shows, such as ITV’s Reborn In The USA, where she competed against 80s popstars Sonia and Tony Hadley, and Channel 4’s The Games.

In 2007, she became a guest panellist for ITV’s Loose Women and ventured into writing in 2011, releasing her debut novel titled Pride and Premiership.

In 2019, she went on to play the role of Hermione Granger in the West End production of the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. At the time, Michelle revealed the hardest part of her job was her unusual working hours, saying: “My ‘weekend’ is Monday and Tuesday and all my friends outside of the show are working.”

She was married to ex-professional footballer Mark Bright for 13 years, and they have a son, Isaiah, together. Michelle also has another son, Luke.

WITH chillier months fast approaching, Brits will be grappling with the many illnesses that like to circulate at high levels during winter.

One infection in particularly experts are raising alarm bells about is pertussis, or whooping cough, which they are warning can be fatal in young infants.

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Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection affecting the lungs and airways that causes severe coughing fits, often ending in a ‘whooping’ sound as the person gasps for breath.

According to figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), cases have been rising since late 2023, with significant increases observed in 2024 and 2025.

This increase is part of a natural, cyclical pattern where cases peak every three to five years – with a peak being overdue after a period of very low numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While in adults and older children the cough can be bothersome and last for months, whooping cough in young children can be life-threatening.

In the UK’s 2024 resurgence, infants under three months of age experienced the highest incidence and risk of severe complications, with 328 cases reported between January and June 2024.

This age group is particularly vulnerable due to their undeveloped immune systems.

In an article published in Pediatrics, experts strongly encourage getting vaccinated to protect against the illness.

According to leading author Caitlin Li, infectious disease specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinburg School of Medicine, said whooping cough symptoms are different in infants.

Coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and make a ‘whoop’ sound is one of the main symptoms listed by the NHS.

But DrLi said there’s a key symptom to look out for in kids.

She said: “The characteristic whooping cough may be absent, but apnea, or breathing interruption, is common.”

Whooping cough in infants can also present with very high white blood cell count, which paediatricians might mistake for cancer or other non-infectious conditions.

Extremely high white blood cell counts in infants should prompt strong consideration of pertussis, according to the authors.

“Given that infants are at high risk for complications, pertussis vaccination of mothers during pregnancy is critical, as it protects newborns against this potentially fatal illness,” stressed Dr Li.

“Widespread vaccination is also an important tool to protect everyone.”

Babies under 12 months old with whooping cough have an increased chance of having problems such as dehydration, breathing difficulties, pneumonia, and seizures (fits), according to the NHS.

But in the UK, the whooping cough vaccine is routinely given as part of the 6-in-1 vaccine – for babies at eight, 12 and 16 weeks – and the 4-in-1 pre-school booster – for children aged three years four months.

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People who are pregnant are also recommended to have the whooping cough vaccine.

You usually have it when you’re around 20 weeks pregnant to help protect your baby for the first few weeks of their life.

Rapid initiation of antibiotics is recommended for all patients with confirmed or suspected whooping cough.

If given early, this may improve symptoms, while later treatment is unlikely to impact symptoms, although it does reduce transmission.

The NHS also recommends some things you can do to help ease the symptoms of whooping cough – get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you or your child are uncomfortable

But it urges you call 999 or go to A&E if:

• your or your child’s lips, tongue, face or skin suddenly turn blue or grey (on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet)
• you or your child are finding it hard to breathe properly (shallow breathing)
• you or your child have chest pain that’s worse when breathing or coughing – this could be a sign of pneumonia
• your child is having seizures (fits)

KATIE Price has rushed to the doctors saying she ‘doesn’t know’ why she’s ‘losing so much weight.’ 

The 47-year-old’s very slimmed-down figure in recent months left some fans more worried than ever as they reached out to express their worry for the mum-of-five.

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Katie has drastically lost weight over the past 12 months amid ongoing fears for her frail frame.

And now the former glamour model revealed that she’s been in hospital due to the worrying weight loss. 

Katie opened up to fans on Snapchat this weekend, saying: “I’ve been up early at the doctors so she could do some bloods and because my veins are so s*** they had three attempts. 

“They could only fill two tubes up, so I’ve got to go back in two weeks. 

“And I’ve got to have my stitches out then because they looked at my little stab wound that I did.

“The reason I’m going to the doctors is because I keep losing weight and I don’t know why. So that’s that.” 

As well as the weight loss, Katie attended A&E recently for another health problem as she accidentally stabbed herself in the hand. 

The former Mucky Mansion star attempted to make curry before she ended up in A&E.

The former Eurovision Song Contest hopeful needed stitches and said the deep cut had left half of her left hand numb.

She revealed the injury ripped through her ligaments and nerves, causing potential damage.

She revealed: “Last night I accidentally stabbed myself with a knife, you can see on the injury how deep it was, and I had to have stitches”.

This comes after the former I’m a Celebrity campmate sparked concern when she told her followers that she spent a night in A&E. 

She took to Snapchat to share with her fans that she’d been to hospital, but Katie didn’t reveal why.

The former glamour model posted a photo of the A&E sign at night and wrote: “Not what I had on my Bingo card for Friday night.”

Then in a second snap, the media personality was seen getting her eyebrows laminated, as she shared an additional update. 

Katie revealed: “What a day, I didn’t plan on ending up in A&E on a Friday night.”

Katie also recently revealed she is undergoing medical tests after recurring pain in the same finger where she previously had cancer.

The star said her recent symptoms have raised fears the disease could return.

Katie has also been having blood work done and discovered she has a low blood platelet count that could have the ability to cause her weight to drop.

The mum-of-five said: “I’ve had my bloods done, and I’ve got really really low platelets and I thought that was (low) iron, and it’s not.

“And that could be a reason why maybe I’ve got thinner.

“I’m tired, no energy. They [the doctors] said it can affect that and I think you might have to have a blood transfusion to get them [the platelets] back up again.

“So I’ve got to go back and have my bloods done again.”

Katie went on to speak about her previous battle with a very rare form of cancer.

Back in 2002 while she was pregnant with son Harvey, 23, she developed a rare form of soft tissue cancer on her finger, specifically a leiomyosarcoma.

Speaking to her sister Sophie on the latest episode of their podcast, Katie said: “Another thing that’s really weird, you know when I had cancer years ago.

“For some who didn’t know, when I was pregnant with Harvey I got cancer, called leiomyosarcoma.

“If you look at my finger, there is like a hole there and a scar there, I had it cut out twice. Can you see that dent? It never hurt.

“But a lump started coming up and I thought I had been riding and done something to my finger.

“But anyway cut the long story short it was leiomyosarcoma so I had to have MRI scans and all of that for six years until I was clear.”

Katie said over the past few weeks the same finger has been hurting again.

KATIE’S CANCER BATTLE

Kate had a rare soft-tissue cancer when she was 24 years old.

The former glamour model previously revealed the ordeal came came just 11 weeks after she had been told that Harvey was blind and had Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Speaking to Katherine Ryan on her What’s My Name Again? podcast, Katie said: “While I was pregnant with Harvey I got cancer. I didn’t know that until, because they couldn’t do all the scans, after.”

A manicurist initially spotted the lump on Katie’s hand.

Two doctors dismissed it as harmless, but after a biopsy was carried out, Katie was told that the lump was leiomyosarcoma.

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Doctors have shared their top tips for travelling with eczema, offering some wise words for people who find heading to different countries can aggrevate the condition

I am very lucky to travel for my work. It’s something I love to do and which has filled my life with eye-opening experiences and encounters.

One aspect of my travel that I don’t love is what it does to my skin. As a mid-tier eczema sufferer, it is possible to arrange my life, clean my flat and eat in such a way that keeps my skin in a pretty balanced, comfortable-enough state. When I travel however, that goes out of the window.

The combination of early starts, sleeping in a hotel room, eating new foods, and drinking holiday amounts of alcohol, all within a new weather system and time zone, means I end most trips not with a lovely tan, but with a flare-up.

Everyone who has a skin condition will know that there is no cure-all for any of them. It’s all about finding the right solution, or combination of solutions, for you. With that in mind, I asked doctors for their best advice for eczema-sufferers who love to travel.

READ MORE: Brits heading to Greece on holiday face new bans in two monthsREAD MORE: Theme park attraction specialist’s one thing you should never do during a visit

Bring your own bedding

“Exposure to new allergens, such as different detergents, bedding, or even local plants, can also provoke flare-ups.”

So says Dr Vincent Wong, who has an extensive background in dermatology and experience in treating eczema.

Given that, controlling what you put next to your body is one of the best ways to stop a flare-up. The one thing I always pack now when I travel is a pillowcase, which I swap for the one provided in the hotel or Airbnb. While it might not reduce irritation on the rest of my body, it stops my head and face from getting wound up by the intense detergents often used in hotels.

Dr Dilpreet Hoonjan, a qualified medical doctor who specialised as a GP, eczema sufferer and now the founder of a steroid-free skincare brand, suggests going further.

“To reduce the chances of a flare-up you’ll need to pack protective clothing such as long-sleeved pyjamas to reduce irritation from bedding or pack a lightweight cotton pillowcase or sheet from home as this can create a protective barrier against accommodation linens,” the doctor advised.

Keep fresh and clean

Seasonal changes are the bane of the eczema sufferer’s life. Not only does autumn spell the end of summer and the start of specialist-latte-mania, it also brings with it dried-out skin as the rains and Celsius begin to fall.

Being away from home, in a different climate, can have the same effect. Which is why being mindful of what you wear is key.

Dr Hoonjan suggests: “Pack breathable cotton clothing for daytime which helps minimise sweat build-up. If you’re outdoors or in hot climates, shower more frequently to remove sweat (as this is a common trigger), but always moisturise immediately afterwards to prevent dryness. Pack your skincare products that you use regularly, you can pack these in travel-sized containers. Pay attention to known dietary triggers and choose meals that won’t aggravate your skin.”

Pack the right skin treatment

Choosing the right medication is a serious matter and something that you should discuss with your doctor.

When it comes to using moisturiser, consistency is key.

Dr Wong advises: “Carry a travel-sized moisturiser and apply it regularly, particularly after washing. Fragrance-free and microbiome-friendly cleansers and body products are especially helpful, as they minimise irritation while supporting the skin’s natural ecosystem.

“When the skin’s microbiome is balanced, it strengthens the barrier and makes flare-ups less likely, which is particularly important when you’re exposed to new environments and stressors while travelling. It is also important to continue using any prescribed topical treatments exactly as directed, even during short trips, to maintain control over symptoms.”

READ MORE: ‘I’ve visited every country – one luggage essential is a complete waste of time’READ MORE: ‘I went on UK rail route named world’s most beautiful and it lived up to the hype’

Maintain good sun practices

The sunshine can feel like a bit of a miracle cure for the British eczema sufferer. The end of the long winter is over, when the rays finally begin to break through the clouds, always signals a marked improvement in my skin.

Boots Online Doctor, Dr Megha Pancholi, warns that the positive impacts of sunshine on eczema do not mean it won’t also burn you if you’re not careful.

“Some people find that sunlight can help their dry skin condition, while others may find it can trigger flare-ups. It’s important to protect your skin when outdoors all year round. Travel-sized, fragrance-free sunscreen and hats can help shield skin while outdoors,” Dr Pancholi suggests.

Monitor and record

According to Dr Pancholi, keeping track of your symptoms and potential triggers can be very helpful when it comes to treating the condition.

“Keep a brief diary of foods, activities, and environments that seem to trigger flare-ups. This can help you anticipate and prevent future reactions,” she says.

“If you notice a new skin issue while travelling and you’re struggling to see a healthcare professional, tools like the Boots Online Doctor SmartSkin Checker* can be helpful. By uploading a photo of the affected area, it gives an AI-assisted idea of possible skin conditions, offering a useful starting point before you can get expert advice.”

Dr Mimi Syed, a US emergency physician, joins Centre Stage to talk about the horrific reality she witnessed during her two trips to Gaza in 2024. She shares evidence she says indicates the Israeli military is deliberately targeting children, the stories she carries from the patients and families she met and explains why she believes the US is no longer merely an accessory to Israel’s war on Gaza— but fully complicit.

When packing for a much-needed holiday, a doctor is reminding people to prioritise taking her top essentials, from the right medications to skincare products

When going abroad, many of us spend significant time planning our holiday outfits from packing our favourite swimsuit to stunning evening outfits or even activewear for exploring. However, a doctor is reminding people to make enough room in their cases for products to protect their skin, and medicines in case they get ill.

If you are travelling to place where the weather is warm, there’s no doubt that you need to pack suncream. However, Dr Raj Arora, who is a GP and TV doctor, insists that “SPF is just the start”. The passionate medical expert, who owns The Facebible clinic, has shared exactly what she packs in her bad to ensure she is covered in case she falls ill and her skin is protected.

The expert, who boasts over 188,000 followers on TikTok, shared a clip of her shopping in Superdrug recently. “Here’s what’s actually in my skincare bag when I’m on holiday,” she said in the video.

READ MORE: Luxury £40 beauty box is worth £180 and includes a full-size £36 Caudalie ‘elixir of youth’

First up, she highly recommends a hydration spray if you are travelling to a hot place. Dr Arora noted: “I always take a hydrating spray because the thing is if you’re hot and bothered and love to be in the water or just sitting sunbathing in the heat it’s something to hydrate your skin and refresh you.”

She recommends the 150ml Evian hydrating spray which will set you back £7.99 at Superdrug. However she notes that non-branded cooling sprays are also very good, and are typically cheaper.

The medical expert also suggests buying some after bite spray. She said: “Obviously if you’ve been bitten something cooling and calming for wasps, bees, mosquitos, calms your bite down and lets you get on with your holiday without scratching and itching and making a whole red inflamed state of your skin.”

Dr Arora recommends Jungle Formula, particularly if you are travelling somewhere where mosquitos are present. There are a number of different options from £6.59 to £10.

Sharing another suggestion, the doctor added: “Also Mozzipatch patches are great, just stick them on and wherever you are going in the evening, they can help to repel mosquitos as well.”

Three packets of 20 Mozzipatches can be purchased from Superdrug for £18.

The health expert also insists that you take some medication with you “just in case” of illness; it means you are prepared. She advises taking Calpol for children, Piriton in case of reactions and hay fever, as well as some paracetamol and ibuprofen.

She added: “But also make sure you’re getting yourself some strong antihistamines just in case you’re abroad, can’t get hold of them and you’ve reacted to something, your skin’s reacted.

“Sometimes your skin might reaction to a mosquito bite or an insect bite and that might flare up. An antihistamine can really reduce that and help the itch as well.”

Dr Arora also says it’s “really important to think about” packing something like an Aloe Vera. She added: “If you’ve got a bit of sunburn or some redness, or irritation, something like this can be really cooling and calming. Help you hydrate the skin and relieve the skin after being in the sun.”

Futhermore, she says she “can’t tell you how many times” she has been abroad and needed to some Dioralyte to help with food poisoning, stomach bugs and diarrhoea. “Honestly a life safer,” she insisted.

She also advises packing some antiseptic wipes in case you or children get any cuts or scrapes.

Do you take these essentials on holiday? Comment below…

AI is helping doctors write up medical notes to try to get patients out of hospital beds faster.

The tech means they spend less time filling in forms, cutting delays in discharging those fit to go home.

It creates a summary using information such as diagnoses and test results from medical records.

The document can then be reviewed by medical teams and used to send patients home or refer them to other services.

The technology is being piloted at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This potentially transformational discharge tool is a prime example of how we’re shifting from analogue to digital.

“We’re using cutting-edge technology to build an NHS fit for the future and tackle the hospital backlogs that have left too many people waiting too long.

“Doctors will spend less time on paperwork and more time with patients, getting people home to their families faster and freeing up beds for those who need them most.”

As part of their AI revolution, the Government has also announced tech is being given to all 12,000 probation officers.

A programme called Justice Transcribe will help them take notes in meetings with offenders after they leave prison.

It was found to halve the time officers spent organising notes between meetings and in their personal time.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “This is exactly the kind of change we need, AI being used to give doctors, probation officers and other key workers more time to focus on delivering better outcomes and speeding up vital services.”

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It’s common for food served on flights to seem different and while some passengers enjoy it, others don’t. A well-known UK doctor has spoken about why he doesn’t eat plane food.

Air travel is the main way holiday-goers choose to visit exotic destinations, especially in summer, and regular flyers will be familiar with the food available on planes. Many airlines, such as easyJet, TUI and Jet2 provide a variety of snacks and drinks that passengers can buy on board and longer, international flights often include complimentary meals.

Some travellers look forward to their inflight meals whereas others prefer to bring their own food with them. Dr Rangan Chatterjee is thought to be one of the most influential medical doctors in the UK and is best known for his TV show Doctor in the House and for being the resident doctor on BBC Breakfast. He is also the author of the number one Sunday Times bestseller Make Change That Lasts.

The healthcare professional recently posted a video on TikTok featuring a clip from his Feel Better Live More podcast where he discussed the ‘scary truth’ about plane food with surgeon and wellness expert Dr Darshan Shah.

Dr Chatterjee recalled a time when he spoke to a cabin service director onboard a flight who allegedly said he always brings his own food on planes only because “the stuff that needs to be added to plane food so that you find it tasty at altitudes, if you knew you wouldn’t touch anything on here.”

Dr Shah also shared: “I noticed that if I eat the meal that they gave me in the flight, not only does my glucose shoot up but it would stay up for hours and I was like, ‘I’m going to fast on every plane trip now. It’s just not worth eating’.”

Plane food often has increased salt and seasoning to make up for the reduced ability to taste flavours when flying at high altitudes.

The magazine Prima reported that reduced air pressure and dry cabin air dry out our noses, which dulls our ability to taste.

It further revealed that chefs and scientists have also discovered that umami, a new flavour known as the ‘fifth taste’, enhances the taste of many foods when you’re flying.

This is especially abundant in food like tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach.

Conde Nast Traveller spoke to Ellie Birch, senior nutritionist at Holland & Barrett about the food served on planes.

She told the publication : “Food on planes also typically tends to be ultra-processed and low in nutritional value. The meals tend to be lower in fiber and higher in sugar, salt, and preservatives, which can cause digestive issues, too.”

In his TikTok post, Dr Chatterjee remarked that the conversation he had with the cabin service director was “quite interesting.”

He added: “I already wasn’t eating plane food anyway, but that made me even more convinced.”

Dr Shah responded: “Oh that makes total sense because it just feels like the food has a tremendous amount of additives to it.”

The TV doctor’s TikTok clip has garnered 326,800 views, more than 9,300 likes and almost 200 comments, at the time of writing.

One user agreed: “He’s right, I used to work for an aviation food manufacturer and they have labs to make sure it tastes right because our tastebuds change at that altitude.”

Another added: “I’m always bloated on flights after a meal and I don’t normally get bloated.”

However, some viewers weren’t as concerned about the food on planes as a third said: “Depends on how often you fly. It makes perfect sense for a steward to avoid it.”

A fourth chimed in: “Stuff they add to our everyday food, if we knew we wouldn’t eat anything.”

July 25 (UPI) — Thousands of National Health Service resident doctors in England walked out Friday at the start of a five-day strike in a dispute with the government over pay.

The British Medical Association, the doctors’ union, said in a post on X that the strike could have been avoided if Health Secretary Wes Streeting had put forward a “credible offer” to address a one-fifth real-terms drop in their pay since 2008.

The 190,000-member union pointed to the inequity that after seven years of study and training, doctors in their first year as a fully qualified resident were paid more than $7 an hour less than a physician assistant in their first year.

“This is why resident doctors in England are taking a stand against the government — it’s time to pay us what we’re worth,” said the BMA, adding that it was seeking a raise of just $5.39 a hour to $30.45.

The union called on doctors to join picket lines outside designated large hospitals in London and seven other regions of England as the strike got underway at 7 a.m. local time, three days after negotiations with the government collapsed.

Streeting and Prime Minister Keir Starmer appealed to the doctors not to take industrial action due to the damage it would inflict on the NHS, which the Labour government had been working hard to rebuild since coming into office in summer 2024.

In a video posted on X, Streeting warned that striking doctors would make the working conditions of their colleagues who remained at their posts much more difficult, expressing “incredible frustration” over the action despite significant pay hikes over the past year.

“These strikes were unnecessary because resident doctors have already had a 28.9% pay increase since this government came to office. They’ve had the highest pay increase of the entire public sector two years in a row,” said Streeting.

He said the action was also unnecessary as he had been asking for the union to postpone for just three weeks to allow time to put together a package that would have made “a real difference to resident doctors’ working lives” by addressing training costs and other associated costs, as well as career progression issues.

Streeting vowed the impact on patients would be kept to a minimum, with NHS leaders ordering hospitals not to cancel non-emergency appointments and surgeries, with senior doctors stepping in to cover for their striking colleagues.

“Resident doctors should break ranks with the BMA leadership. The industrial action that starts on Friday is in no one’s interests and medics should not follow their union down its dangerous and destructive route, Starmer wrote in The Times.

The NHS leaders’ organization, the NHS Confederation, laid blame for “the impact of strikes and the distress they will cause patients” squarely at the feet of the BMA.

However, the Conservative opposition’s shadow health secretary, Stuart Andrew, said it was the government’s fault and that it had put patients in danger.

“Labour’s capitulation to union demands has fuelled this chaos. The real tragedy is not just the political cowardice that invited this chaos but the disruption of care patients face. It’s a threat to lives,” he wrote on social media.

The industrial action, the 12th round of strikes, is part of a long-running dispute over pay dating back to 2023 with doctors in the early years of their careers claiming inflation over the past 17 years has eroded away their pay, leaving them 20% worse off.

Inheriting the dispute from the previous Conservative government in July 2024, Labour gave doctors an immediate 22% raise, followed by an average of 5.4% for this year.

NHS doctors’ base salary is relatively low to start but rapidly rises to more than $100,000 a year, and can go much higher.

“Resident doctors are not worth less than they were 17 years ago. Restoring pay remains the simplest and most effective route toward improving our working lives,” BMA resident doctor co-leaders Dr. Melissa Ryan and Dr. Ross Nieuwoudt told the BBC.

“Mr. Streeting had every opportunity to prevent this strike going ahead, but he chose not to take it.”

Washington, DC – Josephine Guilbeau’s voice remained steady as it rose with anger and frustration outside the United States Capitol while she described the Israeli-imposed hunger crisis in Gaza.

“The level of evil that it takes to make a decision to starve a baby as a means of war, as a weapon of war – what have we come to as a humanity? What have we come to as a country?” the 17-year US Army veteran said on Thursday.

Guilbeau had joined several fellow veterans, doctors, former officials and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib in calling on the lawmakers and President Donald Trump to listen to the US public and end unconditional support for Israel.

The advocates banged on empty pots outside the Capitol to draw attention to the starvation in Gaza, where many have not eaten in days and more than 100 have died of hunger due to the Israeli blockade, according to United Nations agencies and local health officials.

Holding photos of famished Palestinian children, doctors and veterans stressed the US role in enabling Israel’s conduct through military aid, weapons provision and diplomatic support.

Tlaib called on her colleagues in Congress to join their constituents in opposing Israeli atrocities.

Recent public opinion polls have shown growing US public discontent with Israel over its treatment of Palestinians, but Congress remains staunchly supportive of Israel on a bipartisan basis.

“Americans serving in Congress, wake up because the American people are telling you over and over again: We’re not in support of this,” Tlaib told reporters outside the US Capitol.

“So maybe for once, would you listen to your constituency? Poll them like you like you poll everything else. They will tell you they do not want one goddamn freaking dime going to starve a whole people.”

‘Stop enabling the genocide’

Tlaib appeared to criticise a vote by her progressive ally Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez against a measure to stop $500m in missile defence aid to Israel.

Only six lawmakers voted in favour of the amendment, introduced by Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, last week.

Ocasio-Cortez, who was one of 422 legislators to vote against the proposal, argued that cutting off “defensive” aid to Israel does not help end the bombardment of Palestinians.

Tlaib, however, suggested on Thursday that she is not convinced by that justification.

“No matter what weapons – I don’t care if it’s offensive or defensive, whatever you call it – let’s stop enabling the genocide,” the Palestinian American congresswoman said.

Although Ocasio-Cortez has described Israel’s war on Gaza as genocide and supported measures to restrict arms to Israel, her vote last week stirred a backlash from left-wing activists who said any weapons to Israel would enable its bombardment campaign against Palestinians.

Washington provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance annually despite allegations of rights violations that would make the country ineligible for security aid under US law.

UN experts and leading rights groups have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Stacy Gilbert, who resigned from the US Department of State last year after a 20-year career in protest to a government report denying that Israel is blocking aid to Palestinians, said on Thursday that the starvation in Gaza is the result of a “deliberate” decision by Israel.

“I am calling on Trump to make a break with this policy that started under Joe Biden, this disastrous policy of unconditional military support for Israel,” Gilbert told reporters.

Doctor says Trump ‘failed’ supporters

Nidal Jboor, a Michigan-based physician with the advocacy group Doctors Against Genocide, also warned Trump against following the same policies as his predecessor, stressing that the US president has the power and leverage to end the war.

“If you don’t stop it today, then you are as sleepy as Joe was. It’s your call,” Jboor said, invoking Trump’s moniker for Biden, “Sleepy Joe”.

“This is not who we are. Americans are better than this. What we are supporting in Gaza does not make America great again. Shut down the killing zone. Flood Gaza with aid. End the genocide. History will remember at this point and this moment what we did and what we failed to do.”

During the election race last year, Trump courted the sizable Arab and Muslim communities in Michigan with promises of bringing peace to the region.

The US president initially took credit for a truce that came into effect in January. But shortly after taking office earlier this year, he proposed removing all Palestinians from Gaza – a plan that rights advocates say would amount to ethnic cleansing, a crime against humanity.

Moreover, he has continued to arm Israel, and his administration has backed Israel’s resumption of the war in March, the siege on Gaza and the upending of the aid system in the territory.

Jboor said Trump “failed” his Arab and Muslim supporters.

“People were voting for him because he promised peace, and now he’s breaking his promises,” the doctor told Al Jazeera.

US touts GHF

In May, the US and Israel launched an initiative to monopolise aid distribution through a private entity, dubbed GHF.

But Palestinians and rights groups have described GHF aid distribution sites, concentrated in the south of Gaza, deep inside areas under Israeli army control, as death traps.

Israeli troops have been opening fire daily at aid seekers, killing hundreds of people.

While the US proudly proclaims that GHF has distributed 90 million meals since May, the tally amounts to a fraction of the food needed to feed the territory’s two million people.

In recent weeks, Israel has allowed some aid convoys to enter the north of Gaza, but the assistance trucks have also come under Israeli firing and shelling there, as well.

Despite the bloodshed, the US has been touting the GHF operation as a success, reiterating false claims that Hamas steals aid distributed through the UN and its partner organisations.

Asked about the hunger spreading in Gaza, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott told reporters on Thursday that the US is “aware” of the humanitarian situation in the territory and wants to see an end to the devastation.

“That’s why we have seen this commitment to get aid to the people who need it, in a way where it is not weaponised by Hamas,” Pigott added, referring to GHF.

Shortly before Pigott expressed continuing support for GHF, Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu appeared to confirm that his country is purposely starving Gaza, saying that “there is no nation that feeds its enemies.”

“The government is racing ahead for Gaza to be wiped out,” Eliyahu said in a radio interview, according to The Times of Israel.

Back on Capitol Hill, the advocates appeared confident that their voices could make a difference, even after 22 months of war that have seen the crisis deepen and the death toll mount daily.

“Every single voice is so powerful to move the needle; we have to change the minds of our leaders and make them understand that if they do not stop funding Israel, we will vote them out,” Guilbeau, the US Army veteran, told Al Jazeera.

Doctors in Gaza have been forced to operate in darkness as hospitals face a power crisis due to Israel’s war on the enclave. Two of Gaza’s largest hospitals have issued desperate pleas for help, warning without power the medical centres will be turned into ‘graveyards’.

July 9 (UPI) — The Justice Department on Wednesday announced that it had sent more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics performing gender-affirming care for minors, as the Trump administration ramps up its attacks on this marginalized community.

No information about the doctors and clinics subpoenaed was provided by the Justice Department, though it suggested the subpoenas were part of investigations into “healthcare fraud, false statements and more.”

“Medical professionals and organizations that mutilate children in the service of a warped ideology will be held accountable by this Department of Justice,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.

On June 18, the Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law restricting access to gender-affirming care for minors.

The subpoenas come despite every major American medical association supporting gender-affirming care for both adults and youth, including the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Gender-affirming care includes a range of therapies, from psychological, behavioral and medical interventions, with surgeries for minors being exceedingly rare. According to a recent Harvard study, cisgender minors and adults were far more likely to undergo analogous gender-affirming surgeries than their transgender counterparts.

Despite the support of the medical community and the evidence, conservatives, Republicans and the Trump administration have continued to target this community with legislation affecting their medical care and rights.

The subpoenas were announced the same day that the Federal Trade Commission hosted a day-long workshop titled “The Dangers of Gender-Affirming Care for Minors,” during which Melissa Holyoak, an FTC commissioner, said that while they cannot make policy decisions limiting gender-affirming care, they can target the medical practice for deceptive statements.

“The FTC has previously enforced — and will continue to enforce — against deceptive representations made by medical practitioners, including claims in connection with treatments for transgender children,” she said, according to a copy of her remarks.

Also on Wednesday, the Department of Justice sued California over alleged Title IX violations concerning transgender athletes competing in women’s and girls’ sports.

The Democratic-led state has refused to comply with the Trump administration’s ban on transgender women and girls competing in sports that align with their gender identity.

Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has signed several executive orders targeting transgender Americans, including one directing the federal government to recognize only two sexes determined at “conception,” another restricting gender-affirming care for youth and a third banning transgender Americans from the military.

A 16-month-old Palestinian baby is among a growing number of children in Gaza suffering from meningitis, as overcrowding, poor sanitation, and collapsing healthcare caused by Israel’s war on the enclave drive a surge in cases.

It’s been claimed that staff at the BBC are in an ‘open revolt’ after the broadcaster scrapped a documentary about Gaza which will now be shown on Channel 4

Staff at the BBC are said to be in an “open revolt” after the broadcaster decided to scrap a documentary about Gaza, according to MailOnline. On Saturday, it was revealed that Channel 4 will now air the said documentary instead, which was earlier commissioned by the BBC.

Gaza: Doctors Under Attack was created by two Emmy award-winning filmmakers and commissioned by the BBC over the year ago. However, it’s been claimed that the corporation had put a pause on production in April after an investigation was launched into another documentary, titled Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone.

Following this, Channel 4 will now be broadcasting Gaza: Doctors Under Attack on Wednesday, July 2, at 10pm. But the BBC’s decision is said to have left a bad taste in their staff’s mouths and they are reportedly in uproar over the broadcaster not showing the documentary on their channels.

The aforementioned publication has claimed that more than 300 people have reportedly signed an open letter to director-general Tim Davie to raise concern about censorship at the BBC as it pertains to reporting about Israel.

An insider told MailOnline: “The people at commissioner level who are experienced journalists and take these decisions on an almost daily basis are being overruled by people who are pretending to be journalists.

“There’s open revolt [at the BBC]. [Bosses] approved the film multiple times and then delayed it at least five times but confirmed in emails that it would go out and that the delays were not due to the Johnstone report into Gaza: How to survive in a war zone.

“They said this [new documentary] was a vital film that exemplified ”public interest journalism’. After these multiple delays over six weeks they then apologised and said, ”Sorry, it is because of the Johnstone report”.’

Gaza: Doctors Under Attack is a one-off episode, produced by Basement Films, that examines allegations against Israel that the nation have repeatedly targeted hospitals which is a breach of international law. The documentary was made by journalist Ramita Navai, director Karim Shah and former Channel 4 News Editor Ben De Pear.

The source went on to tell MailOnline that they had to “handle the duty of care” for doctors and medics who couldn’t understand why their interviews wouldn’t be going out on the BBC.

“The film has been fact-checked and complied by Channel 4 to ensure it meets the broadcaster’s editorial standards and the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

It was greenlit by Channel 4 Head of News and Current Affairs and Specialist Factual and Sport, Louisa Compton. She said: “This is a meticulously reported and important film examining evidence which supports allegations of grave breaches of international law by Israeli forces that deserves to be widely seen and exemplifies Channel 4’s commitment to brave and fearless journalism.”

Basement Films has added: “This is the third film we have made about the assault on Gaza since October 7th at Basement Films, and whilst none of them have been easy this became by far the most difficult. As ever we owe everything to our Palestinian colleagues on the ground; over 200 of whom have been killed by Israel, and the doctors and medics who trusted us with their stories.

“We want to apologise to the contributors and team for the long delay, and thank Channel 4 for enabling it to be seen.” Mirror have contacted both the BBC and Channel 4 for comment.

A BBC spokesperson told the Mirror: “Robust discussions amongst our editorial teams about our journalism are an essential part of the editorial process. We have ongoing discussions about coverage and listen to feedback from staff and we think these conversations are best had internally.

“Regarding our coverage of Gaza, the BBC is fully committed to covering the conflict impartially and has produced powerful coverage from the region. Alongside breaking news, ongoing analysis, and investigations, we have produced award winning documentaries such as Life and Death in Gaza, and Gaza 101.”

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A group of doctors is pleading with EU leaders to pressure Israel to end its siege on Gaza. Members of Doctors Without Borders revealed the extreme conditions they’re working under and said that the world didn’t want to believe them.

A NEW blood test to pick up early signs of a cancer which kills more than half of people within three months of diagnosis is being trialled by UK doctors.

The genomic test uses blood samples to look for markers of the deadly disease, which often has vague symptoms.

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Currently, the UK doesn’t have a national screening programme for pancreatic cancer like it does for breast or bowel cancer. 

A huge issue is the disease is often diagnosed at a late stage because it frequently lacks noticeable symptoms in the early stages. 

But a new pancreatic cancer test is being trialled in patients with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes – a known risk factor for the disease.

People over 50 with a new case of type 2 diabetes have a higher chance of also being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within three years.

Early data suggests the Avantect test is 68 per cent accurate in picking up people with early stages of the disease, which kills almost 10,000 people every year in the UK.

It’s also 97 per cent accurate in ruling out people without pancreatic cancer.

The new clinical trial has been launched at the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit.

Zaed Hamady, consultant surgeon and pancreatic researcher at the University of Southampton, who’s leading the trial, said: “There is currently no targeted early detection or surveillance test for the disease meaning patients are often diagnosed late when they become really unwell.

“If we can develop approaches to detect the cancer sooner, then there are more options we may consider to treat the disease, and patients will have a much better chance of long-term survival.

“Although most people with diabetes will not go on to develop the disease, new onset diabetes is associated with a six to eight-fold increased risk.

“This patient group gives us a way to test how accurate the new diagnostic blood test is, and that could potentially help thousands of people in the future.”

According to researchers, newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients often have similar symptoms as a person with early-stage pancreatic cancer.

This is because the cancer destroys the same insulin-producing cells that are also destroyed in diabetes.

‘Earlier diagnosis would have meant time to make more memories with our children’

Sean Cleghorn’s wife, Allison, discovered she had pancreatic cancer at Christmas 2020 but died four weeks later aged 54.

Mr Cleghorn, a father of three from Kingsclere in Hampshire, said: “The only symptom Allison displayed was some slight indigestion and then she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the autumn of 2020.

“Allison had always eaten healthily, was active and avoided processed food, so this diagnosis was puzzling for us.

“When we learned that new-onset type 2 diabetes was a potential risk factor for pancreatic cancer, we asked for further testing and a scan confirmed she had terminal cancer.

“We hoped she could have chemotherapy to prolong her life, but she became too weak and died four weeks later.

“Perhaps if she had been diagnosed sooner with a test like the one that’s currently being trialled, we may have had time to make more memories with our three children.”

Angelica Cazaly, senior trial manager for the trial, said: “We are asking people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who are attending GP surgeries or diabetic clinics whether they would like to take part in the study.

“Initially, we will collect blood samples from 800 people for testing.

“The results from the test, together with medical information collected from each patient, will help provide researchers with important information on how best to proceed with the rest of the study that will evaluate how accurate the test is at predicting pancreatic cancer.”

‘Exciting time for early detection research’

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Around 10,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year and just one in 20 survive the disease for 10 years or more.

Samuel Levy, chief scientific officer of ClearNote Health, said: “Our early data demonstrate that our Avantect test can identify pancreatic cancer in stages I and II.

“We are excited to collaborate with the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust on this transformative study that could redefine how pancreatic cancer is detected and managed for patients at high risk.”

Dr Chris Macdonald, head of research at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said over 80 per cent of people with pancreatic cancer are currently diagnosed too late for treatment.

He added: “This is an exciting time for early detection research, with tests using blood, breath and urine in development which, if shown to be successful in clinical trials, could save thousands of lives every year.

“Early findings from these tests are very promising, but more research is needed to ensure that they are as accurate as possible before they will be available in the GP surgery.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has urged doctors in England to “vote no” in a ballot on industrial action which gets under way on Tuesday.

In a BBC interview, he urged resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, to “work with the government” and warned strikes risked hampering the progress being made in the NHS.

He said it was in no-one’s interests for strikes to take place.

Last week it was announced resident doctors would be getting a 5.4% average pay rise this year – more than other doctors, nurses and teachers.

But resident doctors, who took part in 11 strikes in 2023 and 2024, said it was not enough to make up for below-inflation pay awards since 2008.

The union is urging members to vote for industrial action, with sources saying strikes would be the likely action taken.

This year’s pay rise comes after resident doctors were awarded rises worth 22% over the previous two years.

Streeting agreed to that deal shortly after coming into office, ending a dispute which had lasted more than a year.

Taking account of this year’s pay rise, it means the starting salary for a doctor fresh out of university has risen by £9,500 over the past three years to around £38,800, the government said.

But the British Medical Association (BMA) said even after the latest pay rise another 20% was needed to bring wages back to where they were in 2008.

Resident doctors’ committee co-chairs Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said: “We are urging doctors to vote yes to strike action.

“By voting yes they will be telling the government there is no alternative to fixing pay – this cannot wait for different fiscal circumstances and a healthier NHS. The answer is to fix it today.”

The vote on industrial action runs until 7 July.

Streeting said his door was always open but added there was no more money to increase salaries above the latest award.

And he said a fresh bout of strikes would put attempts to rebuild the NHS at risk.

Speaking to the BBC, Streeting said: ” I don’t think strikes are in their interests, in patients interests and I certainly don’t think it’s in the interest of the NHS overall.”

Streeting has often cited the deal he reached last year to end the previous round of strikes as evidence of the government’s ability to reform the health service and cut waiting lists.

Meanwhile, BMA sources said consultants were likely to start a dispute process over their 4% rise – the first step towards moving to an industrial action ballot.

Other staff including nurses, midwives and physios have been given a 3.6% increase. The Royal College of Nursing said it was “grotesque” nurses were getting less than doctors for the second year in a row.

The Scottish government has agreed a deal worth 8% over two years with health unions representing all staff apart from doctors and dentists. There have been no strikes by health workers in Scotland.