Blogs – Page 106 – open Dazem

Brave Zelensky’s offer to step down as Ukrainian president shows his commitment to peace

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Time to rearm

TODAY marks three years since the start of Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine — a war that has seen more than 1.3million killed or injured.

Brave Volodymyr Zelensky’s offer yesterday to step down as Ukrainian president — in answer to Donald Trump’s bogus charge that he is a dictator — shows his commitment to peace.

British soldiers conducting a military exercise in a forest.

The world is a very dangerous place right now and Europe cannot keep relying on America to fight its battles[/caption]

Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference.

Brave Zelensky’s offer to step down as Ukrainian president shows his commitment to peace[/caption]

But he is not the problem.

Blood-soaked Putin has already sacrificed more than 860,000 of his own soldiers and is no more bothered by current losses of 1,500 a day than he is by the deaths of 12,000 Ukrainian civilians ruthlessly targeted by his forces.

He is supported in this slaughter by the terrorists of Tehran and North Korean madman Kim Jong-un.

Meanwhile, China watches on.

The world is a very dangerous place right now and Europe cannot keep relying on America to fight its battles.

Even pacifists like Stephen Fry recognise that increasing spending on defence is not about ideology. It’s about self-preservation.

Sir Keir Starmer hinted that Britain will raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 and offer 30,000 peace-keeping troops for Ukraine.

But that is meaningless when we don’t have 30,000 troops to spare, when 2.5 per cent is not enough and 2030 is too far away.

What are we waiting for?

Jab safety

THE number of deaths from weight loss and diabetes jabs like Ozempic and Mounjaro shows they are not always the silver bullet that slimmers crave.

Used properly, these so-called “fat jabs” can be transformative for those who are overweight or have diabetes.

Wrongly taken, they can be dangerous.

Endorsed by celebrities, there is huge demand for the jabs but — as our investigation reveals — they are far too easy to get hold of.

Drug dealers have even started adding them to their menu of illicit offerings.

No one doubts the benefits of these drugs, but it is vital they are prescribed by a doctor or reputable medic or more tragedies will follow.

Thought crime

IT’S no wonder real crimes go unpunished when police are busy knocking on pensioners’ doors to warn them not to criticise Labour councillors on social media.

It appears we now live in a country where burglars and shoplifters are given a free pass while innocent people are hounded for thought crimes or just daring to say that the authorities are getting things wrong.

Police should file these ludicrous complaints of non-crime hate incidents in one place — the waste-paper basket.

Fat jabs warning as 82 deaths linked to weight loss drugs and expert warns, only take them if you REALLY need them

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SOME 82 Brits have died after using weight-loss and diabetes jabs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.

The official figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency reveal the toll up to the end of January.

Photo of Susan McGowan, whose death has been linked to a weight-loss drug. — Scots nurse Susan McGowan, 58, died after taking low-dose injections of Mounjaro over a fortnight

The Sun discovered 82 British deaths were linked to anti-fat jabs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro[/caption] Illustration of weight-loss drug death statistics.

Illustration of weight-loss drug death statistics.

The disclosure comes as a Sun reporter paid £280 for four doses of Mounjaro without any checks.

Up to the end of January, 22 died after taking meds for weight loss, and another 60 for Type 2 diabetes, according to the official Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

MHRA chief safety officer Dr Alison Cave said professionals must always advise on whether they are necessary.

She added: “The decision to start, continue or stop treatments should be made jointly by patients and their doctor, based on full consideration of benefits and risks.”

An estimated half a million Brits take the drugs, with the total expected to double in a year.

Mounjaro, known as the King Kong of jabs, is to be rolled out on the NHS.

Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams said they can save the lives of people with “life-threatening levels of obesity”.

The NHS website warns: “Never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you. These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.”

The figures show 18 deaths were linked to Mounjaro – the brand name for tirzepatide.

Another 29 came after taking Ozempic, Rybelsus or Wegovy (also known as semaglutide).

Meanwhile, 35 Brits died after taking Saxenda and Victoza (liraglutide).

The drugs make users feel full, causing the body to burn fat.

It was revealed last year that Scots nurse Susan McGowan, 58, died after taking low-dose injections of Mounjaro over a fortnight.

A probe also found that nearly 400 people have gone to hospital after taking weight-loss drugs.

Side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, leaving sufferers with severe dehydration.

But doctors say they have also seen “life-threatening complications”, including seizures, bowel obstruction and inflammation of the pancreas.

Model Lottie Moss, 27, says she had a seizure after taking high doses of Ozempic.

The makers of Mounjaro, Lilly UK, said patient safety is its “top priority”.

It added: “Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine and Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data.

“If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine, they should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional.”

Inside booming ‘fat jab’ black market as celeb stylist sells jab to Sun reporter for £280 despite deaths linked to drug

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WEIGHT-loss drugs can be bought on the black market with no checks or consultation, The Sun has found.

We obtained self-injectable Mounjaro, dubbed the King Kong of fat jabs, for £280 after responding to a post by celeb hairdresser Ozzy Tudo.

Photo of Katie Price and a man posing together.

The Sun obtained self-injectable Mounjaro for £280 after responding to a post by celeb hairdresser Ozzy Tudo, pictured with Katie Price[/caption]

Sun reporter Rachel Dale was sold potentially deadly prescription weight loss drugs by Tudo[/caption]

Person in Balenciaga jacket using a smartphone.

Tudo advertises the availability of the drug on his social media[/caption]

Mountjaro 5mg pre-filled injection pen with box.

Mounjaro is known as the ‘King Kong’ of slimming jabs[/caption]

He openly advertises the drug to 72,000 Instagram followers and promised our reporter she would shed at least one stone in two weeks, saying: “It’s magic.”

He advised a 5mg dose “is enough”.

Without being asked her height or BMI, our reporter met an assistant in North London who handed over the pen.

It holds four jabs, to be taken once a week for a month.

Tudo then sent a video on how to inject the drug.

We took the pens to Harley Street doctor Sophie Shotter who said: “This is a controlled, prescription-only drug. It is a UK-approved pen so has not been smuggled in.

“How has it got on the black market? If you came to me asking to go on a weight-loss drug, I’d say ‘No.’ It’s terrifying you’ve been able to buy it, and that you’ve been placed on a higher dose.”

Confronted about the illegal sale, filmed on hidden cameras, Tudo said: “I don’t even have Mounjaro here.”

Pressed on how he prescribed the drug — linked to dozens of deaths — without qualifications, he said: “Deaths? No. Just a few overdoses.”

Eating disorder charity Beat said: “We’re incredibly concerned that it’s so easy to access these injections. They cause severe side effects such as vomiting and nausea.

“And while it may bring down BMI in isolation, it will do nothing to address the root cause of an eating disorder.”

Mounjaro maker Lilly said: “These black-market products are often made in unsanitary conditions.

“They may contain wrong ingredients, no active ingredient at all, or other harmful ingredients. No one should ever risk putting them into their bodies.”

Person wearing white pants and a black Balenciaga jacket standing by a doorway.

Tudo meeting Rachel[/caption]

Person in Balenciaga jacket using a phone.

Ozzy charged our reporter £280 for the pen[/caption]

Man in Balenciaga jacket and white pants walking down a street.

He promised she would shed at least one stone in just two weeks[/caption]

Man in Gucci outfit taking a selfie with luggage.

Tudo sent a video on how to inject the drug[/caption]

Woman holding a Mounjaro KwikPen and its box.

Rachel was not asked her height or her BMI by Tudo[/caption]

Everything you need to know about fat jabs

Weight loss jabs are a hot media topic at the moment, with hundreds of success stories from people who shed the pounds.

In March 2023, the NHS announced it would make Wegovy, a drug made by Danish firm Novo Nordisk, available on prescription to thousands of obese Brits.

It contains the drug semaglutide, which is said to have helped reality star Kim Kardashian and Twitter boss Elon Musk lose weight.

Wegovy, which helped a third of people reduce their weight by 20 per cent in trials, is now available from pharmacies like Boots.

How do they work?

The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less and therefore lose weight.

To do this, semaglutide mimics the role of a natural hormone, called GLP-1.

GLP-1 is part of the signalling pathway that tells your body you have eaten, and prepares it to use the energy that comes from your food.

London GP and founder of wellgoodwellbeing.com, Dr Zoe Watson, said: “Your body naturally produces an appetite regulating hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1.

“These jabs work by regulating your appetite, which can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight.”

Aren’t they diabetes drugs?

Semaglutide, the active drug in Wegovy, was originally sold under the name Ozempic specifically for diabetes patients.

But people started noticing it helped suppress their appetites, stopping them eating as much and helping them shed the pounds.

Novo Nordisk then developed Wegovy, which contains the same chemical but at higher doses specifically to aid weight loss.

Wegovy is not prescribed for diabetes patients.

Can I get them?

Wegovy is offered on prescription to obese adults given specialist weight loss treatment.

The NHS currently also offers a similar drug called Saxenda, or liraglutide.

Both are only available throught specialist weight management services, which means you have to be referred to clinics led by experts.

GPs can’t prescribe them on their own, Dr Watson said.

The jabs have to be taken as part of an overall programme to help with lifestyle changes and psychological support to get the best effect from the medication prescribed.

Are there any risks?

Like all medicines, the jabs do not come without side effects.

Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.

Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”

Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.

What other options are there?

Mounjaro (brand name for tirzepatide) also came onto the market in early 2024.

Like Wegovy, tirzepatide stems from a drug originally designed to treat diabetes.

The weekly injection helped overweight people drop more than two stone in 18 months.

It is available with to order with a prescription online from pharmacies including Superdrug and LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor.

It works in a similar way to Wegovy and Saxenda, but is more effective.

Dr Mitra Dutt from LloydsPharmacy says: “Based on clinical trials, 96 per cent of people were able to lose more than five per cent of their body fat using Mounjaro. In similar trials, 84 per cent of people lost more than five per cent of their body weight on Wegovy, and 60 per cent on Saxenda.

“Mounjaro works by activating two hormonal receptors (GIP and GLP-1), which enhance insulin production, improve insulin sensitivity, and work to decrease food intake.”

Man in Balenciaga shirt holding a professional development certificate and a glass of champagne.

When we later confronted Tudo about the illegal sale, Tudo said: ‘I don’t even have Mounjaro here’[/caption]

Man in yellow sunglasses taking a selfie in an elevator, holding gifts.

He uses his Instagram account to advertise Mounjaro and Ozempic to his 72k followers[/caption]

Person in Balenciaga outfit using a smartphone.

The stylist by his studio in London[/caption]

Where Alex Ovechkin stands behind Wayne Gretzky after 32nd career hat trick

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The Washington Capitals beat the Edmonton Oilers 7-3 on Sunday to win their second straight game since the international break. After an 8-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, the Caps smoked a Stanley Cup contender Sunday. Alex Ovechkin secured his 32nd career hat trick in the Capitals’ victory. How close is Ovechkin to […]

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Dan Hurley reveals reason for UConn’s struggles compared to championship teams

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UConn basketball coach Dan Hurley is opening up about his team’s struggles this season. The Huskies are losing games a lot more regularly than the last few seasons, when they won national championships. On Sunday, UConn basketball lost to St. John’s 89-75. St. John’s swept UConn this year for the first time since the 1999-2000 […]

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Warriors signing Australian star

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The Golden State Warriors are rounding out their roster ahead of the final playoff push. With just over one month remaining in the regular season, the Warriors signed NBL star Taran Armstrong to their active roster. Armstrong, 23, will sign a two-way contract with the Warriors and their G-League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, Shams […]

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Alex Rodriguez wins $10,000 for a lucky Bucknell student with half-court heave

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New Minnesota Timberwolves owner Alex Rodriguez is riding high after winning his arbitration battle against Glen Taylor and the old ownership group, allowing the MLB legend to go through with his group’s purchaser of the team. On Sunday, Rodriguez kept the good times rolling with a memorable moment during the Army-Bucknell basketball game. At halftime […]

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Indiana basketball’s Mike Woodson reacts to getting mobbed by players after stunning Purdue upset

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The Indiana basketball program picked up a big 73-58 win over No. 13 Purdue at home on Sunday, and after the game, head coach Mike Woodson was mobbed by his players. The head coach spoke on how he reacted to that reception from his players. “It means a lot,” Mike Woodson said, via Zach Osterman […]

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Colorado football’s Shedeur Sanders unveils NFL Combine plan

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Former Colorado football quarterback Shedeur Sanders has unveiled his plans for the NFL Combine, via Ian Rapoport. Sanders plans to focus on his interviews with teams at the combine to help them continue to learn about him as a person, and he plans to throw later in the offseason at his Pro Day with Colorado […]

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Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell gives Knicks their flowers despite playoff rivalry

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Revenge isn’t always instant. Sometimes, it simmers, waiting for the right moment. For the Cleveland Cavaliers taking on the New York Knicks, the moment was just right. On national television, under the bright lights of the newly named Rocket Arena, the Cavs obliterated the Knicks, 142-105. However, for Cleveland, it wasn’t just another late February […]

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