What the papers say: Friday's front pages

Friday's front pages focus on a range of stories from the majority of Leaving Cert grades being artificially inflated this year to protests outside St Killian's, in Mayfield in Cork as therapeutic interventions were withdrawn in 2020.

The Irish Times reports most of this year’s Leaving Cert students’ grades have been artificially inflated by exam authorities to bring them into line with record highs of recent years.

The Irish Examiner and The Echo both report on protests outside St Killian's, in Mayfield in Cork as therapeutic interventions were withdrawn in 2020.

Here's today's front page of the Irish Independent pic.twitter.com/AwTvP0ZZ8V
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— Irish Independent (@Independent_ie) August 23, 2024

Friday's front page pic.twitter.com/Aqnu5J4iuy

— The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) August 22, 2024

Today's front page of The Irish Sun pic.twitter.com/UstYIW9uPo

— The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) August 23, 2024
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Morning, readers 👋

Here's a look at the front page of today's Belfast Telegraph 📰

Stick with us for all your breaking news throughout the day.https://t.co/ZFlfbJQwqj pic.twitter.com/XIDd1sGXrg
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— Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) August 23, 2024

In the UK, the decision to stop a “game-changing” Alzheimer’s drug’s use by the NHS leads several newspaper front pages on Friday.

The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail report patients have been denied access to the “breakthrough therapy” lecanemab after it was licensed for use, but excluded from the NHS after health regulators said the benefits do not justify the £30,000 annual cost per patient.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:

'Alzheimer's drug is blocked for use on NHS'#TomorrowsPapersToday

Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/81qJhuYl44

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) August 22, 2024

Friday’s Daily MAIL: “Fury As Dementia Drug Denied To Patients On NHS” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/TPgPwU47TY

— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) August 22, 2024

The Daily Express asks why “only the rich” will be able to access the drug.

Friday’s Daily EXPRESS: “Why Is It Only Rich Can Get Alzheimer’s Wonder Drug?” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ALYpocUK6r

— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) August 22, 2024

In other health news, Metro focuses on a world-first trial aimed at tackling lung cancer.

Tomorrow's Paper Today 📰

JAB HOPE IN FIGHT AGAINST LUNG CANCER

🔴 World-first trials begin in Britain

Grab your copy to find 10 great deals from Metro x Time Out Offers#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/DXI9VzPO3F

— Metro (@MetroUK) August 22, 2024

AstraZeneca’s Merseyside vaccine manufacturing facility could be moved to the United States, the Financial Times reports.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Friday 23 August https://t.co/NXOAwB8eq8 pic.twitter.com/zd8R9qdmD0

— Financial Times (@FT) August 22, 2024

The i splashes on a split among trade unions as they discuss how aggressively to push Labour on new public sector pay deals.

The Daily Mirror’s front page claims TV presenter Jermaine Jenas was sacked by the BBC after complaints of inappropriate behaviour. The former England footballer told the outlet: “There are two sides to every story.”

https://twittercom/DailyMirror/status/1826727072703938666

Magistrates have been told to stop jailing convicted criminals for weeks in a bid to ease pressures on overcrowded prisons, The Times reports.

Friday’s TIMES: “Don’t lock up criminals till next month, courts urged” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/6gEFhD0gnE

— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) August 22, 2024

The Guardian leads on GCSE results amid concerns about the regional variation in exam grades.

Friday’s GUARDIAN: “Concern over ‘attainment gap’ as GCSEs return to pre-Covid levels” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/WJdgQgw6yJ

— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) August 22, 2024

Lastly, the Daily Star warns of 75mph winds as Storm Lilian rolls in, but suggests a heatwave may be on the way.