Notice of Convening Hearing

GREENSBORO — The Greensboro Police Department, along with members of federal, state and other local policing agencies will help in escorting the body of fallen Greensboro Police Officer Michael T. Horan from Raleigh to Greensboro on Friday. The procession will begin at approximately 4:30 p.m., and police and other authorities will be stationed in tribute to Horan on overpasses along the route on Interstate 40 West into Guilford County. The cavalcade will then proceed to Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home at 6000 W. Gate City Blvd. The public is asked not to park along the interstate or other highways along the route, stop traffic or put themselves in danger near traffic routes. Police officials also ask that the public not gather at Hanes-Lineberry, as the family has requested privacy on Friday. Funeral arrangements for Horan had not been completed late Thursday. People are also reading... Horan, a sworn officer with Greensboro Police since 2018 and an 18-year member of the U.S. Coast Guard, was shot and killed on Monday at the Food Lion at 4709 Lawndale Drive. He had responded to a report of an armed suspicious man inside the store. According to the police and investigators with the State Bureau of Investigation, Horan, 44, and suspect Tarell Isaac McMillian, 34, of Greensboro, struggled inside the store before Horan was shot about 11 a.m. Food Lion employees hand a bouquet of flowers to a driver passing through the parking lot of the store on Lawndale Avenue in Greensboro on Tuesday. Police officer Michael Horan was shot and killed inside the store on Monday. McMillian was arrested about 1 p.m. Monday near the border of Sampson and Duplin counties after a multi-county chase east from Greensboro and is charged with first-degree murder. Horan's death marks the second death of a Greensboro officer in less than one year. Sgt. Dale Nix, who was off-duty at the time, was shot and killed on Dec. 30 while attempting to stop a theft at Sheetz on Sandy Ridge Road in Greensboro. Donations to the family of Horan have streamed in steadily since Monday on the Help for Heroes fundraising site. With a goal of $120,000, the site had already garnered more than $110,000 by 3 p.m. Thursday. To contribute link to: https://helpahero.com/campaign/greensboro-police-officer-michael-t-horan ?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0kVOvx6WVpDkhgL8Pub0Ny-E8Mlc9gHPKh0TM2uV3H-eiT98r5nr6IDGw_aem_vJMgUHYdLmlNBjeZLLMnMw McMillian made a video court appearance on Thursday morning as rows of uniformed officers sat in a Guilford County District Courtroom in solidarity with Horan's family. Judge Michelle Fletcher presided and read McMillian's charges to him and appointed him a defense attorney from the state Capital Defender's Office. McMillian will remain in the Guilford County Detention Center without bond and will next appear in the court on March 20, court officials said. If convicted, he could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole. According to a social media post by a customer of Instacart, the online grocery service, McMillian was an InstaCart worker who had signed up to handle her order at the Food Lion less than a half-hour before the shooting. She said she recognized McMillian's mugshot the next day when she read about his arrest. It is still unknown why McMillian allegedly had a weapon, what type of gun it was, and who saw it and first reported it. Witness Ramona Miller, 63, of Browns Summit, who was at the Food Lion with her 6-year-old granddaughter, said that before she heard five or six shots fired, she noticed a man who looked like McMillian rushing through grocery aisles as she shopped. She said he pushed other carts aside and kept his hoodie pulled close to his face. Miller, her grandchild, and about 45 other shoppers rushed from the store to safety just after 11 a.m. after hearing gunfire. Once she reached her car at about 11:04 a.m., Miller noticed two parked police cars in the Food Lion lot — one on each side. She said the cars must have already been in place before the shooting. Questions remain about whether Horan had assistance from other officers on the call. sspear@rockinghamnow.com (336) 349-4331, ext. 6140 @SpearSusie_RCN Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Adrian Portelli’s $8 Million The Block Giveaway Rescheduled After Livestream Crashes During Draw

TEHRAN - The Israeli regime makes the most of the instability in Syria to expand its expansionist project. As insecurity and a power vacuum emerged in the Arab state after armed groups took control of state institutions, the Israelis seized on the crisis. Israeli tanks were seen crossing into the outskirts of the southeastern Syrian province of Quneitra on Sunday, with shelling heard in the area. The Israeli occupation forces also dispatched infantry to a buffer zone in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, the regime’s military confirmed on Sunday. The occupation army said it would remain in Syrian territory for “as long as necessary” Hebrew media reported that Unit 5101, more commonly known as Shaldag, has reached the summit of Syria’s Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights. Analysts have said the land grab signals new Israeli ambitions to occupy and annex large parts of Syria after the fall of its government. It is the first time Israeli forces have taken up positions beyond the buffer zone since it was established in 1974. The regime further exploited the crisis in Syria with airstrikes on key sites. Israel’s air raids on the Mazzeh district of the capital, Damascus, with explosions heard in the vicinity. Separately, regional intelligence sources told news agencies that Israeli fighter jets targeted the Syrian air base of Khalkhala in southern Syria. By Sunday evening, Israeli warplanes bombarded more Syrian army sites in Damascus. The lightening developments in Syria have sparked widespread comment across Israeli politics. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the fall of President Assad as a “historic day.” “This of course creates new, very important opportunities for Israel,” he said. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said they showed why “it is more important than ever to create a strong regional coalition, with Saudi Arabia and the countries of the Abraham Accords, to work together”. “The Iranian axis has weakened significantly, and Israel needs to strive for an overall political achievement,” he added. Other Israeli politicians called on the government in Tel Aviv to take control of the entire Golan Heights. Government minister Amichai Chikli wrote in a social media post that there must be a new Israeli “defense zone” at the 1974 ceasefire line. A member of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, Tzvi Succot, echoed those comments, saying this measure would be “immense” during a time when the political and military cost “is likely lower than ever”. Meanwhile, former Israeli military intelligence officer Lieutenant Colonel, Mordechai Kedar, was interviewed on Sunday by Hebrew media, Kan Reshet Bet, where he claimed: “I am in contact with the rebels in Syria and I have passed a detailed list of equipment they requested from Israel to senior officials in the country. The rebels are willing to sign a peace agreement with Israel, only if they control Syria and Lebanon.” The Israeli spy agency, Mossad, was also thrilled with the fall of Homs, a clear sign highlighting how significant this development was to the security of the regime. In a post on social media, a Mossad-affiliated channel wrote: “Homs, the corridor used by Iran to bring weapons to Hezbollah, is no longer active.” The post added: "Amazing". There is no credible evidence that Iran had used the city of Homs to transfer weapons to the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah. Experts say militants operating in Syria had previously received medical treatment at field hospitals in the occupied Golan as well as in the Israeli city of Safed. Time will tell what the intentions of this latest mixture of armed groups are. Some have lately vowed to have a more moderate outlook with neighbors in the region and are no longer associated with Daesh and al-Qaeda. Whether this outlook serves Israeli interests is a key factor as most countries in West Asia believe the Israeli regime is the source of instability in the region.

Syrians poured into streets in celebration on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . Russian state news agencies were reporting that President Bashar Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and were given asylum. Russia said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. Joyful crowds gathered in central squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag. Others ransacked the presidential palace and residence. Abu Mohammed al-Golani , a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago leads the biggest rebel faction in Syria and is poised to chart the country’s future. He made his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, at the capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque, and called himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. He said Assad’s fall was “a victory to the Islamic nation.” The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Israel has issued warnings to villages in southern Syria and its forces seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Here's the Latest: Russian state news agencies reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum. The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but had contacted the Kremlin for comment. CAIRO — The Arab League on Sunday condemned Israel for taking advantage of Syrian President Bashar Assad's downfall by moving into more Syrian territory. Hours after Assad’s overthrow, Israel announced it had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights that was established by a cease-fire agreement with Syria in 1974. In a statement, the Arab League said Israel illegally sought to occupy more territories. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement regarding Syrian territory had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating Israel taking over as a “temporary defensive position.” UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations secretary-general is marking the “fall of the dictatorial regime” in Syria and says the future of the country is “is a matter for the Syrians to determine.” A statement by Antonio Guterres also called for calm and the protection of the rights of all Syrians as well as of diplomatic and consular facilities in Syria. He said there is much work ahead to ensure an “orderly political transition to renewed institutions,” and he called on the international community to ensure that “any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity.” KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine’s top diplomat on Sunday responded to Assad’s ouster by describing him as a “dictator” who relied on Russia to prop up his rule - a reference to the military campaign Moscow has waged in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. "Assad has fallen. This has always been and will be the case with all dictators who bet on Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him,” foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. In a separate update on the social network, Sybiha said Kyiv was ready to take steps towards restoring relations with Syria, severed months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of the neighboring state. Kyiv broke off diplomatic ties after Damascus in June 2022 recognized Kremlin-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine as independent territories, in a move welcomed by Moscow and decried by the West as a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has issued a warning to residents of five villages and towns in southern Syria to stay inside their homes for their safety. “The fighting in your area is forcing the IDF to act,” the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman said on X. The military didn’t respond to questions. Earlier, Israel said its troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned their positions. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X that the IDF has been instructed to “seize the buffer zone and control points to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights – Jewish and Druze – so that they are not exposed to threats from the other side.” Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied. BEIRUT - The leader of the largest insurgent group in Syria visited the Syrian capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque and declared that the victory against President Bashar Assad “is a victory to the Islamic nation.” Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, made his first public appearance and remarks since fighters entered Damascus. He told hundreds of people at the historic mosque that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” He added that Assad made Syria a base for the illegal amphetamine Captagon that brought cash to Assad’s circles. Al-Sharaa, the leader of the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, said Sunday that the victory was achieved because of “God and the blood of martyrs.” He said that he left Syria 20 years ago and since then his heart has longed for this movement. LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the end of Assad’s rule as he called for peace and the protection of civilians. “The Syrian people have suffered under Assad’s barbaric regime for too long and we welcome his departure,” Starmer said. He said the U.K. was focused on a political solution to restore peace and stability. “We call on all sides to protect civilians and minorities and ensure essential aid can reach the most vulnerable in the coming hours and days,” he said. AMMAN, Jordan — The vast majority of the Jordanian people are welcoming the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the success of the Syrian revolution. “There is no doubt that I felt overwhelming joy at the fall of the Assad regime," said Badi Al-Rafaia, Engineer, union activist and member of the Islamic Action Front. "There is no doubt that we are happy with what happened in Syria, happy with the success of the revolution, happy with the Syrian people getting rid of an oppressor and criminal who treated the Syrian people and made the Syrian state a failed state.” Al-Rafaia said that Jordan is benefiting from what happened in Syria, and "we hope that Jordan will help the revolution succeed and not work against it.” Amman resident Muhab al-Majali said the fall of the Assad regime is “The end of every unjust and tyrannical rule, and more than that, it mortgaged the country and its people to the Iranians, who abandoned it in minutes... I believe that the future is beautiful and prosperous for the Syrians.” BERLIN — The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria after the fall of Bashir Assad’s government. “Our teams in Syria, including in Damascus, have been closely monitoring the fast-evolving security and humanitarian situation in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent,” the ICRC’s head of delegation in Syria, Stephan Sakalian, said in a written statement Sunday. The ICRC is “responding wherever possible, with further efforts underway, as hundreds of thousands of people need care and humanitarian assistance,” he said. Sakalian called “on all parties to urgently enable safe and unhindered access for medical and humanitarian workers to reach those in need, to protect civilians, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.” BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government said in a statement Sunday that it “supports all international and regional efforts seeking to open a dialogue” for Syria “leading to the adoption of a pluralistic constitution that preserves the human and civil rights of Syrians, and supports cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.” The statement from government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi, said that Iraq understands “the necessity of respecting the free will of all Syrians, and stresses that the security of Syria, the unity of its territories, and the preservation of its independence are of utmost importance, not only for Iraq but also for its connection to the security and stability of the region.” It cautioned against “interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, or supporting one party for the benefit of another.” Iraq, which has a close relationship with Iran - once a strong ally of former Syrian President Bashar Assad - has taken in some 2,000 Syrian army soldiers who fled the country amid the advance of armed opposition groups. CAIRO — The head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government welcomed the fall of the government of President Bashar Assad of Syria. “It’s a historic moment,” Rashad al-Alimi, who chairs the ruling presidential council, wrote on X platform of Assad’s downfall. “It’s time for the Iranian regime to stop meddling in Yemen, respect its sovereignty and identity.” Al-Alimi, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, was referring to Iran’s support of Houthi rebels who are at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government for a decade. DAMASCUS — Families wandered through the high-ceilinged halls of the presidential palace in Damascus on Sunday, along with some armed men. Some paused to take family portraits or selfies on the few remaining couches against the backdrop of mosaiced walls, while others walked out with chairs and other items under their arms. On the massive parking lot out front, cars drove in circles honking ecstatically. In central Damascus’ Umayyad Square, drivers passing by also honked jubilantly, while young men piled onto a tank abandoned in the square. But for some the celebration was bittersweet. “I am very happy, but this happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of the prison and know where is he is,” said Damascus resident Bassam Masr. “I have been searching for him for two hours - he has been detained for 13 years.” TEHRAN, Iran — Iran says the Syrian people should decide their country’s future “without destructive, coercive foreign intervention.” The Foreign Ministry statement issued Sunday marked Iran’s first official reaction to the overthrow of President Bashar Assad, who it had strongly backed through nearly 14 years of civil war. Assad’s government was a close ally of Iran that served as a crucial conduit between it and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The rebels who toppled Assad view Iran as a hostile foreign influence, and the abandoned Iranian Embassy in Damascus was ransacked as they entered the city. The Foreign Ministry statement said Iran supports Syria’s unity and national sovereignty, and hopes to see “the end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist activities and the start of a national dialogue” with the participation of all groups. “It is expected that the wise and farsighted relations of the two nations will continue based on mutual ties and interests,” the statement said. TEL AVIV, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria. He spoke from an overlook near the border between Syria and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, after Syrian rebels tore through the country and dramatically ended Assad’s rule on Sunday morning. Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating the Israeli takeover as a “temporary defensive position.” Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied Syrian territory. Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began construction of what could possibly be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping force in the demilitarized zone called the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF, with around 1,100 peacekeepers from Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Uruguay. After the 1973 Mideast war, the U.N. Secretary Council voted to create UNDOF to patrol a roughly 400 square kilometer (155 square mile) demilitarized zone and maintain the peace there. MASNAA, Lebanon — At Lebanon’s Masnaa crossing into Syria, the mood was festive Sunday with some local Lebanese residents handing out congratulatory sweets to Syrians lined up to return to their country. Sami Abdel-Latif, a refugee from Hama who was heading to Syria to join his wife and four children, said while the future in Syria is still uncertain, “anything is better than Bashar.” He said he expected some chaos initially but that eventually the situation would settle down. “Look at Aleppo now,” he said, referring to the first major city taken over by opposition forces more than a week ago, where life has continued more or less as normal. Abdel-Latif, a construction worker, said he is also hoping that there will now be plentiful work in Syria to rebuild. Malak Matar, who was preparing to return to Damascus, said, “This is a feeling we’ve been waiting 14 years for. “You feel yourself psychologically free - you can express yourself,” he said. “The country is free and the barriers have been broken down.” Now, he said, “Syrians have to create a state that is well-organized and take care of their country. It’s a new phase.” DAMASCUS, Syria — An Associated Press journalist in Damascus reported airstrikes in the area of the Mezzeh military airport, southwest of the capital Sunday. The airport has previously been targeted in Israeli airstrikes, but it was not immediately clear who launched Sunday's strike. The Israeli military refused to comment on the airport strike. Israel often does not publicly claim responsibility for attacks in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that Israeli warplanes also targeted warehouses belonging to the Syrian army’s Fourth Division and another former military site outside of Damascus Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border between Israel and Syria. Agricultural areas along the border were declared closed military zones and some schools shifted to online classes in anticipation of unrest. MOSCOW — Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed Sunday that Bashar Assad had left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups, and gave “instructions” to “transfer power peacefully.” In a post on the Telegram messaging app on Sunday, the ministry said Moscow had not directly participated in these talks. It also said it has been following the “dramatic events” in Syria “with extreme concern." It also said Russian troops stationed in Syria have been put on high alert and that as of early afternoon Sunday, there was “no serious threat” to the security of Russia’s military bases there. Russia has waged a military campaign in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. While Russia now concentrates the bulk of its military resources in Ukraine, it has maintained a military foothold in Syria and keeps troops at its bases there.The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting tech startups and entrepreneurs in building a robust technology ecosystem. The state Commissioner for Business, Innovation, and Technology, Mrs Damilola Yusuf-Adelodun, stated this on Saturday during the 7th edition of the Kwarabuild Tech Conference, which marked the conclusion of a three-day event held in Ilorin, the state capital. According to Yusuf-Adelodun, the state government has made significant investments in youth development and technological advancement. She emphasised that the Kwarabuild Tech Conference provided startups with a platform to network and grow their businesses. The commissioner also reiterated the government’s commitment to collaborating with tech experts, professionals, and entrepreneurs to address key areas such as funding, policy formulation, and innovative programmes. The Managing Director of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Temi Kolawole, praised Kwarabuild for organising what he described as the largest youth-focused tech gathering in the state. “The Kwara government consistently supports individuals and groups committed to addressing youth challenges. We are focused on empowering our youth on a massive scale,” Kolawole said. Panel discussions featured experts such as Engineer Taofik Abdulkareem of Plat Technology Limited, Temi Kolawole of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, and Olushola Gegele of Premium Blue Economy Innovation and Investment Limited. These experts enlightened participants on exploring opportunities in technology, agriculture, and commerce. Related News Civil servants without residency registration won’t get Nov salary – Kwara No November salary without resident registration, Kwara warns workers Police recover severed head of Kwara motorcyclist In his opening remarks, Kwarabuild Co-Founder, Ibraheem Zulkifli, revealed that approximately 1,500 youths from the North Central region and beyond participated in the two-day pre-conference workshop. He said the training aimed to foster technological self-reliance and economic empowerment. “Our goal is to uncover hidden talents among these participants and equip them with the tools to achieve self-dependence,” Zulkifli stated. He called for greater collaboration with the state government and key stakeholders to provide easier access to resources for youths eager to escape poverty and unemployment. Zulkifli added that participants were trained on identifying and solving various technological challenges during the workshop held on Thursday and Friday. He also commended the state government for creating an enabling environment for youth development, saying, “Kwara State has never experienced this level of support before. We are truly grateful.” Adeola Olaleye, another Co-Founder, noted, “Our platform provides an avenue for youths to discover and harness their talents.” Participants, including Salahudeen AbdulRauf and Kulepa Boluwatife, expressed gratitude for the program, stating that it significantly improved their knowledge of technology and computer software development.Regrets? Joe Biden may have a few.

Decoding Bitdeer Technologies's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?Doctors have raised concerns about a “dangerous” weight-loss black market after The i Paper found second-hand prescription drugs being advertised on Facebook. Ozempic and Mounjaro were among the medicines – which are only available in the UK via a prescription – that were seen promoted for sale in weight-loss groups on the social media platform. The drugs have soared in popularity after Elon Musk, Jeremy Clarkson and a slew of other celebrities said they had lost weight after taking them. Ozempic, one of several brands that contain semaglutide, and Mounjaro, which contains tirzepatide, are administered via injection of pre-filled pens. They work by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, which is released after eating, and suppresses a patient’s appetite. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommends semaglutide for adults who have at least one weight-related comorbidity and a body mass index (BMI) score of at least 35, or a BMI of at least 30 and meet criteria for referral to a specialist weight management service. People with a BMI score between 30 and 39.9 are classified as obese, with those scoring 40 and above deemed severely obese. Ozempic is only approved for the management of diabetes but can be prescribed off-label to aid weight loss. Mounjaro is only approved on the NHS to treat diabetes. It is mainly aimed at those with a BMI of at least 35 but can be prescribed to people with a lower BMI if they meet other criteria. The restrictions around the medicines and their wonder-drug status has led to them being highly sought after by people who want to lose weight but do not qualify for them via the NHS. Several posts seen by The i Paper show Facebook users are using the platform to exploit the hype of the drugs and sell them on the black market. It is illegal to advertise prescription-only medicines to the public, sell them outside legitimate supply chains or for patients to sell prescription drugs to others. Patients who want to get rid of medicines they no longer need or want are encouraged to take them to a pharmacy so they can be disposed of safely. Under Facebook’s parent company Meta’s regulated goods policy, users are not allowed to post content about weight loss that contains a miracle claim and attempts to buy, sell, trade, donate or gift weight loss products. Some buyers are being courted by sellers after posting in search of advice on where to buy the drug cheaply or after complaining of shortages. One member in a UK weight loss group wrote: “There’s a possibility I won’t be able to buy my next pen after this one due to my husband being laid off work just before Christmas. I’m starting my 5mg pen on Monday which takes me to 30th December if using 5th dose, if I was to take a month or two break, do I then restart at 2.5mg or will they let me pick up where I left off? Maybe 5mg though rather than 7.5mg.” Another user responded: “Ive got 2 for sale cheap [sic]”. The author of the original post replied: “Oh yes please!” One prospective buyer said she bought Mounjaro from a UK online pharmacy but they are struggling to fulfill the prescription. She continued: “I’m sure it will arrive as soon as they get stock but I’m reluctant to buy my next pen from them – I don’t want to have to stop/start... Can anyone recommend another provider?” Some members of weight loss drug-themed Facebook groups complained of being inundated by private messages from people offering to sell them the drug, while others warned against scammers on the platform. Those offering to sell the drug included one member who wrote in a UK group: “I finished with my weight loss journey and unfortunately I stayed with a few boxes of Ozempic in my fridge that the pharmacy will not be able to reimburse me [sic] so whoever is interested can leave me a message”. Another member in the same group said: “I’ve got extra Mounjaro and Ozempic in my refrigerator FDA approved. Pm if you need for improvements”. It comes after The i Paper revealed that 274 hospitalisations have been associated with the increasingly popular slimming injections – far higher than the 68 detailed by the health regulator. The overall number of adverse reactions linked to weight loss jabs has now reached 14,996 – more than double the figure reported by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) only last month. Dr Lizzie Toberty, GP lead at Doctors Association UK, warned that if the NHS does not “quickly catch up” to demand and fund “prompt” access to weight loss drugs “this is the inevitable result”. She said: “Thousands, if not millions of patients are desperate to lose weight, and we now have effective drugs to help, but once again no funding to help them. We urge the Government to urgently review and help these patients. “If not a risky black market will be created with the NHS having to pick up the unintended and serious consequences of patients buying these drugs.” Dr Ellen Welch, vice chair of the Doctors Association UK and vice chair of North Cumbria Local Medical Committee, said a “postcode lottery” exists around access to weight loss injections on the NHS. She said: “We have so many patients who do not fit the criteria for referral to weight loss services, but do need help with obesity. These medications do make a difference and they are being rationed. Read Next Weight-loss jab hospital cases surge by hundreds with online sales blamed “Of course lifestyle measures also need to be part of management but I can’t imagine any other condition where there is a treatment that works that is rationed to the extent patients seek it via the black market.” Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, warned against these drugs being purchased via social media without a prescription, saying: “In many cases people might not actually be getting what they think they are, which is really dangerous. “It can also be a genuine threat to patient safety if drugs are not being used for what they are licensed for – and potentially contributes to supply shortages, for those who could really benefit from them. “We would encourage patients to take caution when accessing medicine online, and only use outlets that follow GMC remote prescribing guidelines and have been approved by the CQC.” Facebook owner Meta and the makers of Ozempic and Mounjaro have been contacted for comment. An Eli Lilly UK spokesperson said: “Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) should only be used when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional and prescriptions should be fulfilled and supplied by reputable pharmacies and providers. We provide information about the benefits and risks of all our medicines to regulators around the world. “If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking a Lilly medicine, they should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional.” A Novo Nordisk statement read: “Patient safety is a top priority for Novo Nordisk, and we are in close dialogue with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to support patients against falsified products. “Buying prescription-only medicines without a prescription through non-legitimate routes poses a direct danger to health. The contents of the falsified medicines can be entirely different from the genuine medicine and should not be used.”

NoneDonald Trump said he can’t guarantee that his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers and he suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned.