The Washington Mystics will be just fine if their players take their current momentum into the regular season. Aaliyah Edwards, Jade Melbourne, and others have all represented the franchise well the past few weeks. Edwards made it all the way to the final round in the inaugural Unrivaled one-on-one tournament as an eighth seed on […]
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The St John’s Red Storm smoked the UConn Huskies 89-75 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. This comes just weeks after the Red Storm beat the Huskies 68-62 in Storrs to launch into the top ten. With the Big East Tournament around the corner, Dan Hurley and UConn have work to do for a chance […]
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Should Kyrie Irving earn MVP consideration? Former NBA player and current NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes Irving could enter the discussion, something he said on ESPN, via ClutchPoints. “They have a guy who I believe is writing a story, and could possibly be the best story in basketball by the end of the season, in […]
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Indiana basketball coach Mike Woodson is nearing the end of his time in Bloomington. Before he leaves town, he’s paying homage to the school’s legendary coach Bob Knight. Woodson sat in the infamous chair Knight once threw during a 1985 game against Purdue. Knight was ejected from that game in the first half, after arguing […]
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RANGERS have confirmed Philippe Clement has been sacked after 16 months in the job.
Now we can reveal a former Gers defender is one of the names in the frame to take over.
SunSport were first to break the news on Sunday afternoon that the Belgian was on his way out of Ibrox.
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to St Mirren was the final straw for directors with Clement finally told his time was up by chief executive Patrick Stewart.
We can now reveal former defender Russell Martin is one of the names in the frame to take over.
The ex-Southampton boss is currently out of work and it’s understood he’s regarded as a serious contender by influential boardroom figures who are involved in the ongoing takeover talks with US investors.
The bookies have installed Steven Gerrard as the favourite to make a sensational return.
But it’s believed the Liverpool legend – who guided Gers to the Premiership title in 2021 – may not believe the time is right.
The likelihood is that Ibrox chiefs will name a caretaker boss for Wednesday’s league clash with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park – with Under-18s coach Kevin Thomson and Clement’s No2 Issame Charai possibilities.
But Clement was informed of the club’s decision following behind-the-scenes talks throughout Saturday night and yesterday.
A statement released by the club last night confirmed: “Rangers Football club can confirm it has tonight parted company with men’s first-team manager, Philippe Clement.
“The club would like to put on record their sincere thanks to Philippe for his hard work and dedication during his spell in charge.
“A further update from the club will follow in due course.”
Gers will now be obliged to pay out a hefty severance deal to the 50 year-old Belgian and his backroom staff.
The club handed Clement a bumper new deal last August which meant he was due a big money pay-off if he was sacked.
The current board were hoping to avoid wielding the axe.
But a decision was made yesterday to part ways with Clement with fans demanding he was shown the door.
He survived after Gers crashed out of the Scottish Cup to Queen’s Park.
But Clement himself admitted the performance in the weekend defeat to St Mirren was an even worse display.
Asked about his future following that latest defeat – which has Gers 13 points behind rivals Celtic – he said: “Those are things the board needs to decide.
“In the end, I believe these players want to do the right things.
“I believe I can get results with these players.
“But I am also very disappointed with what we showed today – and I am responsible for that.
“Today was by far not the performance that we have seen in the past.
“It was by far the worst performance from my time here.
“It’s terribly disappointing, because we were so nervous on the ball and in the duels, in everything.
“I don’t know where it’s coming from.
“That’s my frustration and it’s also my responsibility to put a team on the pitch with the right mindset.
“I didn’t see this one coming, this nervousness, everyone below par, almost all game.
“There were a few better spells, but by far we were not what Rangers should be.
“I saw the team drifting apart in islands.
“That’s not been the case in the past, when we’ve had difficult moments and gone behind we have reacted as a team.
“Today, it was reacting one on one and not as a team.
“Then we don’t play the football we need to play and it’s a bad performance
“Leadership is an important one, but leadership is also a collective one.
“In the first place it’s my responsibility.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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.”
COPS must end “pathetic” witch hunts on free speech and focus on real crime, MPs insisted yesterday.
It came after a nan was quizzed for criticising local Labour councillors online.
Two cops called on Helen Jones, 54, at her home in Stockport, Gtr Manchester, after she said councillors in an offensive WhatsApp group should quit.
The nan had posted on Facebook 48 hours earlier about the scandal, which saw Health Minister Andrew Gwynne and Labour MP Oliver Ryan suspended.
Free Speech Union’s Toby Young compared it to “a scene out of East Germany’s Stasi playbook”.
Reform MP James McMurdock said: “Decision-making processes by senior officers need a reality check. It’s time to focus on solving real crime.”
Reform’s Rupert Lowe added: “It’s pathetic. We’re being failed by woke police leadership.
“Crackdown on real criminals, not opinionated grandmothers.”
Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Non-hate crime guidance must be re-written to ensure only if there’s a real risk of imminent criminality should police get involved.”
Ms Jones, who was informed she had not committed a crime, told the Mail on Sunday:
“It was actually quite scary. It made me think I best just keep quiet for the rest of my life.”
Greater Manchester Police said: “We are under a duty to inform her she is the subject of a complaint of harassment.
“No further action is necessary.”
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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