Ozempic ‘slows ageing’ and Jenas ‘battling to save marriage’
A few of Saturday’s papers focus on a new finding that Ozempic may, as the Times puts it, be able to “slow biological ageing”. The drug contains the active ingredient semaglutide, used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity, but experts now believe it can do more – including being able to “reverse kidney disease, prevent heart failure, reduce previously untreatable high blood pressure and cut the risk of dying from coronavirus by a third,” the Times reports.
The drug can offer a “fountain of youth” is the Daily Telegraph’s take, quoting Prof Harlan M Krumholz, of Yale University, who was one of a group of experts to present the findings of 11 semaglutide-related studies at the European Society of Cardiology in London this week. Elsewhere, there is a striking image of British actress Kate Winslet, who is featured in the paper’s weekend magazine to promote her new film Lee – about fashion model turned war correspondent Lee Miller.
The Daily Express has a similar headline, also quoting Prof Krumholz. In other news, the paper carries an image of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who was filmed on Thursday behind a DJ deck in Ibiza. The paper suggests Ms Rayner shows no sign of going through “‘painful’ times”, referring to a speech given by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer this week, in which he warned the upcoming Budget was “going to be painful” for many.
“Rayner’s raving!” is how the Daily Mail describes the footage of the deputy prime minister, while also making reference to Sir Keir’s recent speech. The paper’s main story, though, is about the Royal Family – specifically reports that Princes William and Harry both attended a memorial service and did not speak to one another.
The Daily Mirror has an exclusive interview with former BBC presenter Jermaine Jenas’ father, who says his son is “battling to save his marriage”. Mr Jenas had his contract terminated last week for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a female colleague. “He knows he has hurt his wife,” Mr Jenas’ father, Dennis, tells the Mirror.
Household bills are front and centre for a couple of the papers, with an exclusive in the Guardian about Thames Water having “lobbied the government to intervene with the regulator to allow it to charge far higher bills”. The water company “declined to comment” on the allegations, the paper reports. A photograph of ParalympicsGB cyclist Lizzi Jordan – who won gold on Thursday – also features.
Energy bills are the i weekend’s focus – specifically the results of a poll the paper has carried out on 1,560 adults, which suggests 68% do not feel the government is doing enough to help them with increasing costs. Another story that makes the front page is Oasis ticket sales, which are described as going “supersonic” – the name of a 1994 single released by the band. Oasis were forced on Thursday to issue a warning against reselling tickets to their comeback tour after some were listed online for more than £6,000 – around 40 times the face value of a standing ticket.
A now heavily-circulated promotional image of Liam and Noel Gallagher sits at the centre of the Daily Star, alongside a story that suggests the brothers could “end the war in Ukraine by playing a peace gig on the Russian border”. “Oasis can save the world” is the paper’s headline.
Auctioneer Sotheby’s has reported an 88% plunge in core earnings, and a 25% decline in sales, according to the Financial Times. The business paper puts the news down to a “chill” hitting the fine art market – adding that Sotheby’s rival Christie’s “also feels the pain”.
“Is weight loss drug the secret to the fountain of youth?”, asks the Daily Express. It says that a “raft of groundbreaking studies” have found that semaglutide – which is sold under the brand name Ozempic – could be used to treat “a wide range of conditions”.
According to the Times, that could include illnesses linked to arthritis, Alzheimer’s and even cancer. The Daily Mirror quotes one expert as saying he would not be surprised if it also helped to “slow ageing”. The Daily Telegraph says millions could benefit – adding that the findings will put pressure on the NHS to roll Ozempic out more widely.
Sources tell the Guardian that Thames Water has lobbied the government to intervene – and potentially overrule the regulator – to allow the company to increase customers’ bills. It is what the paper calls “the latest tactic in an increasingly desperate scramble” to repair the firm’s “threadbare finances” and avoid being nationalised. Those familiar with discussions say advisers and board members have warned Whitehall officials that allowing that to happen would have a “chilling effect” on the UK’s appeal to international investors. Thames Water has declined to comment.
The Telegraph reports that pub bosses have been warned that ministers could introduce minimum alcohol pricing in England. A source tells the paper that a senior government figure floated the idea at an event, saying that the industry needed to “get its act together” and do more to tackle the harms of alcohol. The government insists it has no plans to introduce such a measure.
Reuters
According to the Times, defence officials fear that ministers could announce cuts to large military projects in the Autumn statement. Referring to Sir Keir Starmer’s speech earlier this week – in which he warned things would get worse before they got better – a source tells the paper that “every time the prime minister speaks” it sounds less and less likely that defence will be given more money. The government says it will set out the path to investing 2.5% of GDP in defence “as soon as possible”.
The front page of the i weekend highlights the results of a poll, which has found that a majority of people believe ministers are not doing enough to help with high energy bills. The paper declares that “Labour’s honeymoon period appears to have come to an abrupt end”, with the survey also showing declining support among voters.
The Daily Mail leads with claims that Princes William and Harry “did not share a word” when they attended a funeral service for their uncle. It says the occasion is not thought to have led to a reconciliation between the estranged brothers, after witnesses said they left without speaking. Describing it as a “cold reunion”, the Sun says the “warring pair” were “so distant” – despite at one point standing “virtually back to back”.
And many of the papers feature images of the deputy prime minister at a nightclub in Ibiza. According to the Sun, thousands of partygoers cheered on “Angela Rayner the raver” as she “showed off her moves”. Writing in the Mail, the Conservative former culture secretary Nadine Dorries condemns the scenes as “ill-judged and utterly adolescent”. But the Mirror crowns Ms Rayner “the queen of clubs” for “putting the party into party politics”.
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