Category: Technology

Met Police Investigate After Anti-Vaxxer Compares NHS Doctors And Nurses To Nazis

The Metropolitan Police are investigating after an anti-vaxxer used a rally in Trafalgar Square to talk about doctors and nurses being “hung” like Nazis.

Both Boris Johnson and Labour’s Keir Starmer condemned the remarks by former nurse Kate Shemirani after she used the protest to ask for details of NHS staff to be collected and sent to her.

The rant by Shemirani, who has built a social media following for her anti-lockdown and anti-vaxx views, was referred to the police by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

In her speech to the crowd, she referred to the Nuremberg Trials, which took place after World War Two to prosecute prominent members of the Nazi regime for their role in the Holocaust and other war crimes.

“At the Nuremberg Trials, the doctors and nurses stood trial and they hung,” Shemirani said.

“If you are a doctor or a nurse, now is the time to get off that bus. Get off it and stand with us, the people, all around the world they are rising.”

A spokesperson for the Met Police told HuffPost UK: “We are aware of video circulating online showing a speech that occurred during a rally in Trafalgar Square.

“Officers are carrying out enquiries to establish whether any offences have been committed. No arrests have been made.”

Shemirani was struck off as a nurse for spreading misinformation about Covid-19.

Earlier, a spokesperson for the PM said that the issue was a matter for the police and prosecutors but said: “The prime minister absolutely condemns those comments.

“Doctors and nurses have done a truly heroic job throughout this pandemic and continue to do so. Any violence, threats or intimidation is completely unacceptable.”

When asked by LBC whether the remarks constituted a crime, Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, said: “Yeah.

“I do hope it’s going to be investigated and dealt with appropriately, but it was absolutely shocking.

“And some of the things that are said and done, in the names of some of these protests, I think are an affront to all of us that believe in everything the NHS and the frontline are doing.“

The Royal College of Nursing said the incident was “reprehensible and could put nursing staff at risk”.

Many NHS staff have been alarmed by the footage circulated online, and the Mayor of London tweeted that the incident was “utterly appalling”

Shemirani was suspended from practising as a nurse by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in May this year, and struck off in June.

The NMC said she had “been using her status as a registered nurse as a way of promoting her own distorted version of the truth” and risked “putting the public at a significant risk of harm during a pandemic”.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Shemirani’s son Sebastian said that the authorities had to take action on the incident.

Sebastian, who said he no longer has a relationship with his mother because of her beliefs in conspiracy theories, said she had mental health issues and “a God complex”.

“My mum is definitely beyond help… It’s impossible to talk to somebody when they’ve got that level of God complex.

Gary Lineker Speaks For All Of Us After Piers Morgan Claims ‘No One Cares’ About The Tokyo Olympics

We know Piers Morgan has just had Covid, but does he really have to be such a Debbie Downer about the Olympics?

Gary Lineker certainly doesn’t think so.

The former professional footballer and BBC Sport presenter defended the Tokyo Games after Piers claimed that “nobody cares” about them.

On Sunday, the former Good Morning Britain presenter tweeted: “Nobody cares about these Covid-ravaged Olympics.

“I feel incredibly sorry for all the athletes still trying to live their Olympic dream, but that is the harsh reality. And the great champions like @adam_peaty know it.

“It should have been either further postponed or cancelled.”

But Gary wasn’t having any of it, telling Piers “you’re wrong”.

“You’re wrong on this one,” Gary replied on Twitter. “It’s exhilarating, uplifting and inspiring.

“Exactly what’s needed in these most depressing of times.”

Fast forward almost 24 hours and Piers’ original tweet hadn’t aged well after the country celebrated Team GB bagging three gold medals, thanks to victory for Adam Peaty in the 100-metre breaststroke, Tom Piddock coming first in the men’s cross country mountain biking and Tom Daley and Matty Lee winning their first ever golds in the men’s synchronised 10-metre diving.

Piers then changed tact and turned his attention to anyone who wasn’t winning gold in Tokyo.

“Real sporting champions don’t celebrate coming 3rd,” he tweeted.

When Gary insisted that “to be in the top 3 in the entire world in your sport is an outstanding achievement”, Piers responded: “Words you would never hear from Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps…. true sporting achievement is about winning, not losing.”

Gary’s fellow BBC presenter – and Piers’ arch nemesis – Dan Walker also chimed, telling Piers: “You might not care about the #Olympics but this morning proved once again that a lot of people do. If you really feel that way then just let the rest of us enjoy it while you watch Home Alone 2 on repeat? #TearsForPiers.”

Over the weekend, Piers revealed he thinks he caught coronavirus while watching England play in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

He told the Mail on Sunday he contracted Covid despite being double vaccinated.

In a post on Twitter, he said it has been “a long ten days”.

Tom Daley Sends Inspiring Message To LGBTQ+ Community After Olympic Gold Win

Tom Daley has sent an inspiring message to the LGBTQ+ community after his Olympic gold medal win. 

The British diver and his competition partner Matty Lee triumphed in the men’s synchronised 10-metre diving event at the Tokyo games on Monday.

After four Olympics and two previous bronze medals, it marked 27-year-old Tom’s first gold at the games. 

Tom Daley poses with his gold medal after the Men's Synchronised 10m Platform Final 

Speaking during a press conference after his and Matty’s win, Tom said he felt empowered to say he was a gay man who is now an Olympic champion. 

Addressing the fact the 2020 event features more openly LGBTQ+ athletes than any other previous games, Tom said: “I came out in December 2013 and when I was younger, I always felt like the one who was alone and different and didn’t fit in and there was something about me that was never going to be as good as society wanted me to be.

“I hope that any young LGBT person out there can see that no matter how alone you feel right now, you are not alone and that you can achieve anything. There is a whole lot of your chosen family out here ready to support you.”

He continued: “I am incredibly proud to say that I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion. I feel very empowered by that.

“When I was younger, I thought I was never going to be anything or achieve anything because of who I was and to be an Olympic champion now shows that you can achieve anything.”

Tom’s words were hailed as inspirational and powerful as people shared his comments on social media…

Tom – who made his Olympic debut as a 14-year-old in Beijing before finishing third in the 10m platform in London and synchronised 10m platform in Rio – also spoke of his pride at his son Robbie being able to watch his win. 

“It’s kind of unbelievable. I dreamt, as has Matty, since I started diving 20 years ago for this moment,” Tom said.

“I thought I was going to win an Olympic gold in Rio and that turned out the complete opposite by a long shot.

“My husband [Dustin Lance Black] said to me my story wasn’t finished and my son needed to be there to watch me win an Olympic gold medal.

“I can say my son watched me become an Olympic champion, albeit on TV as they couldn’t be here. It’s such a great feeling.”

The Funniest Tweets From The Opening Weekend Of The Tokyo Olympics

We might only be a few days in, but the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have already served up plenty of truly memorable moments.

From a certain Australian swimming coach getting just a little excited to a frankly terrifying basketball robot, there’s been much to raise a smile about.

Twitter, as ever, had a lot of thoughts…

Tom Daley finally got his gold medal, much to the delight of this fan

…and Tom’s husband, Dustin Lance Black

But not everyone was tuned in… 

Aussie swimming coach Dean Boxall celebrating Ariarne Titmus winning gold was all kinds of iconic

Adam Peaty’s dad admitting to Dan Walker on BBC Breakfast that he watched his son’s gold medal-winning victory on a different channel was a mood

Skateboarding made its Olympics debut, something US bronze medalist Jagger Eaton was super-chill about…

Peru’s Angelo Caro Narvaez suffered this wince-inducing moment…

Skateboarder Margielyn Didal of the Philippines also lost her footing, but took it like a pro…

The sheer talent on display from the teenage competitors left many of us questioning ourselves…

Yeah, we’d be taking selfies if we’d just won gold in the archery too…

That basketball robot wasn’t a slam dunk with everyone… 

And finally, Susan Boyle featuring in the opening ceremony is the gift nobody saw coming…

UK Covid Cases Are Down And 2 Things Explain The Dip

Covid cases are consistently falling for the first time since February – but we’re not home and dry just yet. A total of 29,173 cases were reported by the government on Sunday, down from the 48,161 recorded a week ago on July 18.&nbsp…

Dieter Brummer, Home And Away Actor, Dies Aged 45

Australian actor Dieter Brummer has died at the age of 45. He was best known for playing Shane Parrish on Home And Away between 1991 and 1996. In a statement (via BBC News), Dieter’s family confirmed he died on Saturday morning.“O…

The Most Painful Moment Of The Olympics Yet Left Nearly Everyone Wincing

Skateboarding made its Olympic debut in Tokyo, and along with some incredible feats of agility the event was marked by at least one moment that made nearly everyone wince.

It was when Peru’s Angelo Caro Narvaez did… well… he did this:

Amazingly, Narvaez got back up… got back into the competition… and made it to the finals, where he finished fifth. 

Japan’s Yuto Horigome won the the gold.